Hey everyone! I'm looking for your thoughts on a situation I'm having with my landlord. They want me to pay **$800** to fix a small drywall patch from damage in a garage conversion. The drywall feels softer than regular stuff, and I believe it's just a basic job of cutting out the damaged area, putting in a patch, mudding, sanding, retexturing, and repainting. From what I've heard, this kind of repair shouldn't be too expensive, especially in the Bay Area. What do you all think? Is this cost reasonable or way too high?
3 Answers
Honestly, you shouldn’t need a pro for this unless it’s to fix what a landlord messed up. It’s a small job, but multiple trips can inflate the cost. If your landlord does it right, great! But without a detailed receipt or proof of quality, I’d be skeptical about that $800. I'd wager it could be done for less than $300, even by a handyman.
That price seems a bit high to me, especially for what looks like a small patch job. You're in a high-cost area, which plays a part, but don’t forget that a solid repair might need a few visits: one for the patch and texture, and maybe another just for painting. If things don't match up perfectly, you could be looking at having to repaint the whole wall, which can drive the costs up even more! Just keep that in mind when discussing with your landlord.
$800 seems pretty steep for a simple fix like this! A professional might charge that, but honestly, it’s a quick job. You could probably do it yourself and save a ton of cash. Just make sure your landlord knows you’re aware of how doable this is—maybe that will encourage a fairer price!