A Massachusetts homeowner getting three exterior quotes will routinely see the high end run 2–3× the low end. That's not because painters are charging whatever they want — it's because each crew is bidding a different job. Reading the line items tells you which one to trust.

1. Scope of prep — the biggest swing

Prep is roughly 60–70% of an exterior repaint's labor budget. A $4,800 quote on a typical Metro West Colonial usually means power-wash and two coats over whatever's underneath — failing caulk left in place, peeling paint scuffed but not removed. A $9,500 quote on the same home includes scraping to sound substrate, oil-bond priming bare wood, replacing every failing caulk joint, and skim-coating damaged trim. Same paint, same color — completely different finish life. See typical MA exterior painting cost ranges for what each prep depth typically costs.

2. Paint tier

Builder-grade flat eggshell at the box store covers ~270 sqft/gallon. Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior covers ~350 sqft/gallon and carries a 25-year warranty. The labor to apply both is identical; the materials are roughly 3× different. A quote that doesn't name the brand and line is implicitly bidding the cheapest possible product.

3. Crew structure

One-person operations carry less overhead and quote lower. Crews of 3–5 carry workers' comp, liability insurance, certifications (EPA RRP for lead-safe work on pre-1978 homes), and warranty backing. The quote difference reflects whether you're hiring someone with backup or a contractor whose mid-job back injury becomes your problem.

4. Hidden line items

Look for explicit mention of: drywall patching, switch-plate removal/reinstall, daily floor protection, color consulting, sample boards, EPA RRP containment if applicable, and walk-through quality check on the last day. A "painting" quote that doesn't mention these is bidding a paint job; a quote that includes them is bidding a finished project. Our painting quote red flags post breaks down the 7 lines that should worry you.

How to compare apples to apples

Ask each contractor for the same checklist:

  • Paint brand + line + sheen for each surface
  • Coats — 1 or 2 (and whether primer counts as a coat)
  • Prep depth — scrape-to-substrate vs sand-and-clean
  • Caulking — replace all vs spot-fix
  • Warranty terms in writing on the quote
  • Insurance certificate before work starts

Quotes that don't answer those questions in writing aren't quotes — they're sales pitches. Try our interactive cost calculator for a rough $ range based on standard MA contractor pricing — then bring that number to your on-site walk-arounds.