Renovations - Can Anyone Help Me Critique The Following Quotes

Apartment is a 2 bedroom apartment about 75sqm overall. So not huge.

  • Painting of 2 bedroom, 1 bath, 1 laundary, open kitchen and lounge. Wall and ceiling surface cleanup, patch and filled cracks, applied 2 coats of ceiling white paints and 3 coats of Duluxe lexicon white paints to walls. - $4950 + GST
  • Oil based painting of 1 Wardrobe and 2 storage cabinets, and 7 internal doors except the outer surface of entrance door (it is deemed to be the common property of the Strata ) - $2150 + GST
  • Carpet removal and replace with standard residential grade carpet - $2300 + GST
  • Blinds for all windows - $2150 + GST. (2 windows + 2 sliding glass door to balcony)

I feel like paying $7000+ for some paints are very expensive. Is this in-line with standard expectations?
Carpets are not unreasonable but depending on the quality and material.

Comments

  • +3

    Just get 3 quotes for each trade, its the only true way to know the market value of these services in your area.

  • Blinds seem expensive to me. We had a 3 bedroom apartment (3 bedroom windows, additional large living room window plus two large sliding doors) done with the double blinds (blockout and privacy) for $2050 last year. This included installation and was in the metro Melbourne area.

  • Got 2 bedroom apartment paint done for $2600 inc GST.

    Dulux 2 coat including ceiling.

    Blinds can be easily DIY have 7 double roller blinds for $600 inc gst from bunnings and installed by myself.

  • +1

    I’ve used www.blindsonline.com.au they were good and cheap. Self install. Paint seems expensive. Get more quotes.
    Carpet varies depending on what you pick, could be a good price or a bad one.

  • +1

    Paint is expensive. What is the condition of the ceiling and walls?

    I call bullsh!t on 2 coats for ceiling and 3 coats for walls. If he says it, make sure he does it.

    • The ceiling will need to coats for sure. If he's repairing the wall it might need an undercoat first. He might be using 3 coats to help mask the repairs.

  • +1

    Get another couple quotes.

    When you do select one make sure they actually use the paints you pay for (Good scam).

  • Painting labour is about $500 per day and make sure you get receipts of all paint purchased. That paint quote is way off the mark.

  • Carpet seems the expensive one to me

  • +1

    Just a tip put lexicon quarter on the ceiling a friend of mine who is a builder says plain white paint gets a yellow tinge over time. I DIY all may painting so I have no idea on the quotes. (I only done oil based once it turned out OK). But I always get 3 quotes and go for the middle quote.

  • +1

    Sounds like your hiring one company to do the lot.

    Given the reno is just paint, carpet and blinds I would reccomend getting individual quotes. You can atleast pick out a carpet you like as "standard residential grade carpet" translates to "cheapest possible crap available".

    • +1 Suggest obtaining separate quotes. And ensure as much detail as possible eg. quote inclusive of any furniture handling (if applicable), exact carpet details, exact type of blinds, etc as it varies alot.

      We had a handyman do similar range of works a number of years ago as thought it would be easier and quicker dealing with one person only as the apartment was between tenancies at the time. The quote also included a laundry renovation which was the handyman's specialty as he is a carpenter. Laundry turned out great however painting not-so-much - wasn't prepped properly and started peeling within a couple of months. We also noticed that the doors weren't removed for painting so the tops and bottoms weren't painted - found out that this is extra and needs to be specified beforehand. The things you find out much later so never assume!

  • +1

    Paint is fairly expensive, but painting is very expensive. It takes a fair amount of time to do it right. My guess is 4-5 days for two people for what you describe. If you think it is too expensive, go and buy some brushes or pay a smaller amount for a sub-par job.

    • Yeah I agree with this. The painting quotes seem pretty right for me. I DIY all my painting and I'd want to be paid at least that much for a similar amount of work. It might look simple, just brushing and rolling paint, but there's a lot of prep work involved and you do need good technique to get nice even cover and a good finish. Edging etc can get extremely tedious too.

      • +1

        Edging etc can get extremely tedious too.

        But potentially lots of fun.

        I think you were thinking of "cutting."

      • Lots of people will do their own painting for this reason, myself included. It isn’t difficult, but there is a technique. It is time consuming.

Login or Join to leave a comment