How Professional Painters Quote Jobs in London: What to Expect
A clear explanation of how reputable London decorating firms quote jobs: the site visit, schedule of works, what should be in a written quote, and how to compare prices fairly.
How a Professional Painting Quote Should Work
Getting a quote for a decorating job should be a straightforward process, but a surprising number of clients in London have had poor experiences — vague estimates over the phone, quotes that exclude preparation, prices that increase once work has started, or decorators who simply do not show up. This guide explains what a proper quoting process looks like so you know what to expect and what to insist on before any work begins.
The Site Visit: Why It Cannot Be Skipped
A credible quote for painting or decorating work in London requires a site visit. There is no reliable way to price a job accurately without seeing the surfaces, assessing the existing condition, understanding the access, and taking proper measurements.
A decorator quoting a full flat refurbishment over the phone or from photographs alone is guessing. The figures they produce may be too low — and the price will change once they see the reality — or too high, because they have padded the estimate to cover the unknown. Neither outcome serves the client.
During a site visit, a professional decorator will look at several things: the condition of existing paint or wallcovering, whether walls are stable or show signs of movement or damp, the amount of preparation required, the condition of joinery, the height and accessibility of ceilings and stairwells, the scope of woodwork, and any specific requirements such as specialist finishes, working around fitted furniture, or tight access in a rented property. All of this feeds into the quote.
The site visit should take twenty to forty-five minutes for a typical flat or house; longer for larger properties or complex refurbishments. It should cost you nothing — any decorator charging for an initial visit on a residential job in London without explaining this upfront is unusual.
What a Written Quote Should Contain
Once the site visit is done, you should receive a written quote — not a verbal figure, not a text message with a round number, but a document that specifies exactly what is included. A professional schedule of works and quote will cover:
Scope of works — which rooms, which surfaces (walls, ceiling, woodwork, floor if applicable), and what is specifically excluded.
Preparation — whether filling, sanding, spot-priming, or lining paper is included or priced separately. This is the most common source of disputes: a quote that excludes preparation will look competitive against one that includes it, but the latter will produce a better result and a more accurate final cost.
Number of coats — at minimum, the number of coats of finish. Preparation coats should also be specified where relevant (mist coat on new plaster, stabilising primer on porous masonry, undercoat on bare wood).
Products — ideally the specific paint products and systems to be used. At a minimum, whether the specification is trade emulsion, premium estate emulsion (such as Farrow & Ball or Little Greene), oil or water-based on woodwork. This allows you to compare quotes for the same job rather than comparing a trade-quality spec against a premium one.
Price breakdown — labour and materials either combined or separated. Knowing the split helps you make decisions: if you supply your own paint (common with Farrow & Ball where clients have existing tins), you need to know the labour-only figure.
Programme — an indicative start date and duration. For a single room this may be a day or two; for a full house refurbishment, a realistic programme matters for planning.
Payment terms — stage payments are normal for larger jobs. A deposit on commencement, a mid-project payment, and a final balance on completion is standard. Be wary of anyone asking for a large upfront payment on a small job before work has started.
How to Compare Quotes Fairly
If you have received multiple quotes, compare them on the same basis. Three quotes that differ significantly are usually quoting for different things. Check whether each includes the same preparation scope, the same number of coats, and the same products. A quote that is thirty percent lower than the others may simply have excluded two days of preparation work; alternatively it may reflect a lower day rate, faster working, or less experienced operatives.
Questions worth asking of every decorator:
- Is preparation included in this price?
- What products are you proposing to use?
- Are you VAT registered? (Relevant for invoicing if you are purchasing through a company)
- Do you have public liability insurance? Can you provide a certificate?
- Do you have references from similar projects in the area?
A professional decorator who has done good work in London will be comfortable answering all of these. Hesitation on insurance or references is worth noting.
Red Flags in a Quote
Several things in a quote or quoting process suggest caution is warranted. Verbal-only quotes on larger jobs, prices that seem dramatically lower than other quotes, requests for cash payment without an invoice, unwillingness to provide an insurance certificate, and a vague or missing scope of works are all indicators that the job may not go smoothly.
The cheapest quote is not always the best value. A poorly prepared room will need redecoration in two or three years rather than seven to ten, at which point the saving on the initial job has been more than reversed.
To discuss a project and receive a clear, written quote, contact us here or request a free quote and we will arrange a site visit at a time that suits you.