Written from the field by Groovy Hues Painting of Philadelphia — 25 years painting Greater Philadelphia, OSHA 30 · BBB Accredited · PA HIC #PA189587, 5.0 rated across 1,100+ reviews.
When three painting quotes come back far apart, the usual explanation isn't greed — it's that they describe three different jobs. The lump sums just hide it. Here's the line-by-line reading that makes every bid show its work.
Line 1: The prep steps — named, or missing?
Washing, scraping, sanding, patching, caulking, priming. Prep is roughly 80% of what makes a finish last, and it's exactly where low bids win by quiet omission. If a quote's prep section is "prep as needed," the real answer is "as little as possible."
Line 2: Products — brands and lines, not "premium paint"
"Premium" is an adjective; a product name is a commitment. You want the actual coating specified — and matched to the surface: breathable systems on masonry, enamel on trim and doors, washable products where family life happens. (Why it matters: interior and exterior paints are engineered completely differently.)
Line 3: Coats and colors — count them
Two coats over primer and one thin coat are different products with different lifespans. Sheen changes, accent walls, and deep color changes add labor; a real quote counts them.
Line 4: Protection and cleanup
Masking, floor and furniture protection, daily cleanup, and — on pre-1978 homes — careful containment and disposal. On tight Philadelphia blocks, sidewalk and neighbor protection belong here too.
Line 5: The paper trail
Warranty in writing (ours is a 5-year written workmanship warranty — but check any bid for its equivalent), proof of insurance, and a verifiable PA HIC registration (here's how to check one in five minutes).
Line 6: The exclusions
What ISN'T included is the sharpest lens: carpentry repairs, plaster work, second coats, ceilings, closets. An honest bid names its exclusions; an incomplete one lets you discover them as change orders.
Put them side by side
Score each bid on those six lines and the "cheap" quote usually reveals itself as the smallest scope, not the best price — spread over the years a properly prepped job lasts (here's the lifespan math), the thorough bid is routinely the cheaper one. And if you want a referee: bring all three quotes to our free second opinion. If the other bid is fair, we'll say so — that's the deal. Call (267) 467-2640.
