With thousands of painters and decorators operating in London, finding one who is genuinely skilled, reliable, and honest is harder than it should be. Here's what over a decade of professional decorating in North London has taught us about what separates excellent tradespeople from time-wasters.
The Essential Checks Before Hiring
1. Are they VAT registered and insured? Any legitimate decorating business turning over more than £90,000/year must be VAT registered. Public liability insurance (minimum £2m) is essential — ask to see the certificate, not just a policy number.
2. Can they provide local references? Request two or three references in your area and follow them up. Any decent decorator will have happy clients within a mile of your home. Ask specifically about punctuality, communication during the project, and whether there were any snagging issues afterwards.
3. Do they specify what they're quoting? A proper quote lists the rooms, the preparation required, the number of coats, and the specific products being used. A price with no specification is not a quote — it's a guess that will expand.
Comparing Quotes Fairly
The lowest quote is almost never the best value. Quotes vary because decorators include different amounts of preparation, use different quality materials, and have different overheads. A decorator charging £3,000 for a job another has quoted at £2,000 is probably including proper preparation, better paint, and a workmanship guarantee. The cheap quote often costs more in the long run when it fails in two years.
What We Offer at Hampstead Painting Company
We provide detailed written specifications with every quote, public liability insurance to £10m, carry out all preparation personally (no subcontracting the key stages), and offer a two-year workmanship guarantee on interior painting. Call 020 7101 3168 to book a site visit and free quote across North London.
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Use this guide as a starting point, then explore the most relevant service pages, recent project examples, or request a quote for your own property.
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