I need to know the average hourly rate for a house painter (interior).?
Hi there: I've been painting both interior and exterior for around 30 years now ... I never give anyone an hourly rate when quoting a job. But I use one as a frame of reference for myself --- that is, I figure out about how long the job will take and try to quote it so I make somewhere around $25.00 - $30.00/hr. Seriously, if you charge $50.00/hr. your estimate would undoubtedly be way out of line. I can give you a couple of quick estimating tips: any opening ... that is a window or a door & frame ... you should charge anywhere from $20.00 - $50.00 depending on how much prep there is - if you'd have to put a lot of patches on, lots of sanding go more toward the $50.00 range. If it's just pretty much straight painting, maybe a little light sand and caulking a couple of spots go lower, around $20.00 - $25.00. An average ceiling - with no patching: an automatic $100.00. Lots of caulking around the crown molding and some patching would, of course, raise the price. When I estimate I always cross-reference my figure before I give it to the homeowner: think about how many days it would take, how much I would make per day/per hour and add a little extra for things like setting up/cleaning up time ... -- and I never give them a figure right on the spot. I tell them I'll get back to them in a day or two. When I do get back to them I give them a price and say "plus materials" if it's a larger job --- or build the materials into my price if its a smaller job and easier to estimate how much paint/plaster etc. I would need. One last thing: I never leave an estimate on an answering machine --- if I call and they're not home I just say I've worked up an estimate for you ..... This eliminates it being easy for them to not call you back --- or any guessing games: did they get my message and not like the price? are they out of town and didn't get my message? etc. etc...... PS .... I also do 'excellent' work -- and am a perfectionist.... hope this helps you out....