Is there an art to painting a property - been quoted 8k!

[sh77]

Just moved into new home and want to freshen it up by having it painted. Flat is 90 sq m with 3m high ceilings and 2 m high windows. There is some filling of cracks on walls that needs doing. The first quote for the whole flat was 1 k. The second was 8k from a Polish firm who has done several big renovations for family. Even if i didn't get the most experiened painter, would it be obvious? I thought painting was straightforward. Am i missing something?

£8k just to paint through? What are they going to use? Real gold?

Bog standard Dulux. Straightforward paint job throughout. No stripping of walls.

How many hours is each quote reckoning on? What is the hourly rate for each?

That'll help you see why the massive difference.

I have similar sized house, though lower ceilings, reckon a straightforward paint job all through from the chap who's just quoted for painting 2 small rooms and wallpapering the stairs (eek) would be in the region of £1,500.

Wow I generally find if the price is crazy they are too busy and basically don't want the job.
I have also found over the years there is very little you cannot do yourself, painting is very very straight forward. Plumbing isn't even that difficult.

I paid 3k including paint, 3 coats worth, and repairs to lining paper and cracks, so sanding etc, required. 3 bed house. The rooms were not as tall as yours though. 99 sq m. They also did some handy work for this, like putting up shelves, varnishing all the kitchen units, varnishing my 20sqm deck, clearing the garden (totally overgrown, took 2 days) and painting all my garden furniture.....
The job took a month. One solitary man, who sometimes got a mate in to help.

Thank you all for your comments - really helpful. 1k to 3k sounds like a reasonable quote.