Check the scope room by room

Start by marking the surfaces you expect to see freshly painted when the decorator leaves. For a bedroom, that might be the walls and ceiling, the skirting boards, the door and its frame. In a hallway, check the landing and stairwell separately. Ask whether the handrail, spindles and both sides of any doors are included. If a fitted cupboard needs painting, specify whether that means the outside faces, the inside or both.

A simple room schedule can prevent misunderstandings. For example, “Hall, stairs and landing: walls, ceilings, skirting and three door frames” gives you something concrete to compare. If you also want the doors painted, have them listed. The same applies to radiators, window reveals, panelling and built-in joinery.

If the job includes exterior work, have it listed separately. Painting a front door, its frame and the surrounding masonry involves three different surfaces. Ask which are included and whether any access equipment is covered by the price.

Ask what preparation the price allows for

“Prepare and paint” leaves room for interpretation. One quote might allow for filling a few picture-hook holes. Another might cover sanding old gloss on the woodwork, removing loose paint and priming exposed areas. Ask the decorator to describe what they’ve allowed for wherever the surface condition could affect the price or the finish.

Check that known issues are named. If wallpaper needs stripping, ask whether the quote also covers removing old paste and making good the wall underneath. If the condition behind the wallpaper can only be assessed once it comes off, ask what level of repair is included and how anything more extensive would be priced.

With our painting and decorating services in London, we discuss the surfaces, preparation and finish before agreeing the work. Larger plaster repairs and additional surfaces should be identified separately where they’re needed. If you’re preparing the property for a visit, photograph the surfaces you’re concerned about, including doors, ceilings and woodwork, so those can be named in the quote.

Confirm the paint, finish and who supplies it

Ask for the proposed paint range and finish for each type of surface. A decorator might specify one product for the walls and another for the doors and skirting. Agree who supplies the paint and whether primer, undercoat and other materials are included in the price where required.

If you’re still choosing colours, confirm when the decorator needs your decision. A feature wall, a change from a very dark colour to a light one or a switch to a different paint range can affect what the decorator needs to allow for. Ask whether samples and any extra coats needed for your chosen finish are included or would be priced separately.

If you’re supplying the paint yourself, confirm the products and quantities with the decorator before ordering. Ask how they would handle a shortage or a delivery delay so you can plan around it.

Agree protection, access and the order of work

If you’ll be living at home while the work is done, ask which rooms you’ll be able to use and when. A hallway may be your only route upstairs. A home office may need to stay usable during certain hours. Tell the decorator about those constraints before accepting a quote so the programme reflects how you use the property.

Check who will move furniture, take down curtains or blinds and clear pictures from the walls. Ask what will be covered, what you’ll need to move yourself and whether tidying and waste removal are included.

For a London flat, mention any parking restrictions, lift bookings or building rules about working hours and protection of communal areas. If a visitor permit or paid parking is needed, agree who arranges it and whether it’s included. Ask for a proposed start date and an expected duration, especially if you’re coordinating decorating with flooring, a move or a tenancy handover.

Check the total, payment terms and how extras are approved

Ask for the total payable, including VAT where applicable, and check how long the quote is valid. Make sure any booking payment, interim payments and final balance are set out clearly. Ask what the final payment is tied to and agree how you’ll review the finished work together.

Look closely at exclusions and allowances. If one quote excludes ceiling repairs, parking or waste removal, ask the decorator to price those items separately where possible. That will help you compare the likely cost of the same job across both quotes. If a repair can only be priced once the work starts, ask the decorator to explain the issue and get your written approval for the extra cost before proceeding.