How to Select Professional Painters and Decorators
A fresh coat of paint can completely transform your home, protecting the exterior from the weather and breathing new life into your living spaces. Similar to sourcing any tradesperson, finding skilled painters and decorators in Hove requires careful consideration as working with the right team makes the difference between a mediocre makeover and a stunning renovation that adds value to your home. You want to build a trusted long-term partnership with talented professionals but, with a tyranny of choice, where do you start? Here’s our impartial guide to selecting a painter and decorator in Hove.
Find Professional Painters
Start close to home by asking neighbours and friends as word-of-mouth is perhaps the most reliable source of trusted recommendations. Inspect the paint projects of neighbours and friends so you’re confident with the standard of work as it’s not uncommon for friends to have varying views on craftsmanship. Expand your search for painters and decorators in Hove using a search engine as websites are automatically ranked by quality, relevance, authority and engagement. Painting and decorating websites should demonstrate professionalism, showcase services, share galleries and provide a clear indication of the quality of work offered.
Avoid Review Sites
Online reviews and tradespeople portals are notoriously open to exploitation as it’s relatively easy to game the system. Journalist Oobah Butler famously made his garden shed London’s top rated restaurant! Even if phantom reviews weren’t an issue, the business model for many ‘community’ sites is to charge tradespeople to appear higher in the results so they’re not necessarily a true reflection of quality, professionalism or reputation. Reputable painters and decorators don’t need to pay for these perks or manage a dozen portals to build trusted client base so take online reviews with a pinch of salt and trust your instincts.
Provide Clear Brief
Ensure you’re in a good position to discuss your project with local painters so your brief is consistent and you’re comparing apples with apple. You probably have a good idea of the overall vision and colour palette however most projects usually involve some remedial work, removing imperfections, painting woodwork etc. A professional painter and decorator will discuss these aspects so your brief covers everything to deliver a professional result. It’s common for clients to supply the paint so understanding the quantities and sequence of work is essential to budgeting.
Sample Colour Schemes
What works in a magazine or in a friend’s home doesn’t always translate to the unique shape, size, architecture, windows and aspect of your home. Test colours on different walls and live with them for a few weeks. Natural sunlight, different aspects and artificial light change how a room feels at different times of the day. Once you’ve selected your favourites, discuss these with a professional painter so you’re confident with your decision and the final result.
Request Detailed Quotes
Quotes should ideally be based on a visual inspection and face-to-face meeting as professional painters and decorators will ask questions about your vision, discuss the colour scheme and identify if remedial work is required so there’s no hidden extras to get the job done properly. Insist on a detailed breakdown of the works and materials as this reveals much more than the bottom line figure. Professional painting and decorating quotes should include a detailed scope of work so everyone’s clear about what’s included in the project to avoid misunderstandings down the line.
Agree Fixed Price
It’s best to agree a fixed amount for a specific scope of work so you’re clear about the budget and what’s included. Professional painters and decorators will calculate number of days to complete each task and, with a clear scope of work, plan the sequencing of tasks to maximise time at your home. Day rates can sometimes be misleading as tradespeople operate different opening hours e.g. Hove Painter work for 10 hours each day which doesn’t include the time to source materials, collect paint etc.
Selecting Painter Tips
Shortlist painters and decorators via recommendations from friends, neighbours and search engines.
Take review sites and tradespeople portals with a pinch of salt as quality isn’t guaranteed.
Clarify your vision and think about all aspects so you have a detailed discussion with painters.
Paint A3 cardboard with different sample colours and live with your ideas for a few weeks.
Insist on a detailed scope of work so you’re clear about timings, techniques, materials and budget.
Agree a fixed price quote so everyone’s clear about the budget and what’s included in the work.