How to choose a painter in Adelaide

Choosing a painter in Adelaide is mostly about risk management. The paint itself is a solved problem — there are half a dozen great Australian brands and most painters use them well. What you're really buying is labour: thousands of brush strokes, hours of surface prep, and care around your home and belongings. The difference between a great job and a mediocre one is almost always about the painter, not the paint.

The five things to check before hiring

1. Licensing

In South Australia, any painting and decorating work over $12,000 (including materials) requires a Building Work Contractor licence from Consumer and Business Services. Ask the painter for their licence number. Verify it on the CBS public register. Below $12,000, licensing isn't legally required but trade qualifications and insurance still are.

2. Insurance

Request a current Certificate of Currency before any work starts. It should list public liability cover of at least $5 million (preferably $10 million) and workers compensation if the painter has employees. The certificate should be within 12 months of the current date and must name the painter's business, not a different contractor. A painter who says "I'll send it through later" is a red flag.

3. Written quote with scope

A proper quote is more than a number. It should itemise: areas to be painted (room-by-room or elevation-by-elevation), number of coats, paint brand and grade, prep work included, exclusions, timeline, payment terms, and warranty. A single-number quote ("House paint $8,000") is unprofessional and makes comparison impossible.

4. Three comparable quotes

Get three quotes for exactly the same scope. They should cluster within 15-20% of each other. If one is dramatically lower, it's almost always because the scope is smaller — less prep, cheaper paint, or missing line items. Don't automatically pick the cheapest; pick the one whose scope and approach matches what you actually want.

5. References

Ask for three recent references — jobs in the last 12 months, preferably in your suburb or a similar home style. Call at least two. Ask: did they turn up on time, did the quote match the invoice, was there any mess or damage, would you use them again.

Red flags to walk away from

• No ABN or unable to produce current insurance
• Unwilling to provide references
• Pushes for cash-only payment
• Vague or single-line quote with no scope breakdown
• Demands large deposit (over 10%) up front
• Can't name the specific paint brand and grade they'll use
• Pressure tactics or time-limited pricing

How Adelaide Painters helps

Every painter in our network has been vetted on licensing, insurance and references before they can receive a quote request. We match you with three painters who are all qualified for your specific job, so you can skip the initial vetting and focus on comparing scope and price.