Drywall install costs?

[ThunderCAT]

This week I got my first bid to sheetrock our unfinished basement. I believe the project is fairly straightforward. Majority of the area has 9' ceilings (which I am aware requires more labor) with some soffit work that drops it to just below 8' in some areas. Ceiling would most likely be popcorn acoustic to tie into the rest of the house and save on cost. Finished area is about 750 sq ft in total (estimating 2500 sq ft of finished drywall). Installer would be limited to working with 8' sheets, however, due to the turn-around staircase and lack of sufficient windows to get the drywall into the basement.

My first quote came in higher than I expected (about $3600, including materials). I was expecting (perhaps hoping) for someting significantly less based on what friends have said their drywall install cost for their basement remodels.

I've attached a scan of my rough plan...I'm not sure if I've provided enough detail to get accurate feedback, but figured it's worth a shot. Was the first bid too high? I'm planning to get a couple more bids, but also don't want to go with the cheapest one and get a bad finish job.

[Big Slick]

Get a bunch of your friends over to put up the drywall then hire someone to tape it. My brother did that stuff a few years back and he is on the annual seasonal construction lay-off right now. He might be interested in taping it if the price is right.
I could ask if you want.

[22lex]

I'll second that slick. I've been a part of a bunch of drywall installs for friends, who hire out the taping.

Save a bunch if you do that. Just go by specs, and get all your permits in case you need to sell.

[ThunderCAT]

DIY hanging is always an option...
I am going to see what the other 2 quotes come in at. Was just wondering if the first quote sounded right, or if it seemed a little high.

[Fawkinnae]

Well here's how I did it.
I paid someone to put up the sheetrock. It came to $1000. I also have 9' ceilings. I paid for the sheetrock, I don't remember the cost.

Then I got an estimate for taping and I think it came to $3500. So I decided to do the taping myself. A friend and I did it. Lot of work but saved me a bunch of money.

Just some ballpark numbers that might be a useful reference.

[nitrokfa]

you will want to check with the tapers before hanging yourself alot of them will charge more or wont do the job if they dont know the person that hung the rock

[sandmannd]

Hang it yourself and mud the screw holes. It's a pretty easy job. If you are going to texture the walls (I did a knock down on mine) then tape it yourself as you can't see the imperfections that way. I paid like $100 to have a guy come in with a sprayer and texture the walls and popcorn the celing. Did my whole basement for under a grand easily. I think it was around 500. Only about half the space you have though.