How to Get an Accurate Painting Quote in London: What to Watch Out For

Getting painting and decorating quotes in London can be an exercise in frustration. Prices vary enormously between contractors. Some quotes are detailed and clear; others are a single figure scribbled on a piece of paper. Some quotes omit major items — like paint, access equipment, or preparation — that then appear as extras when the job is underway. This guide explains how to get quotes that are genuinely accurate, comparable, and trustworthy — from the perspective of Hampstead Painting Company, who provide hundreds of quotations every year across North London.

Why Painting Quotes Vary So Much

It is not unusual for quotes for the same painting job in London to vary by 50% or more between different contractors. The reasons include:

• Different scope: One quote includes paint, another does not. One includes preparation, another assumes the homeowner will fill and sand. One includes two coats, another three.
• Different labour rates: Self-employed one-person operations working informally have very different cost structures to established companies with employed staff, insurance, and overheads.
• Different quality assumptions: A quote for Dulux Vinyl Matt and a quote for Farrow & Ball Dead Flat for the same room will differ by £500–£1,000 in materials alone for a large Victorian terrace.
• Different risk profiles: Established companies include contingency for unexpected complications; low-cost operators who cut corners do not — and then raise extras when complications arise.

How to Get Comparable Quotes

Write a Clear Brief

Before inviting quotes, write down exactly what you want: which rooms, what scope (walls, ceilings, woodwork, or all three?), how many coats, which paint brand, and whether the paint cost is included or separate. Send this to all contractors so they are quoting the same scope.

Always Request a Site Visit

Reputable decorators should always visit the property before providing a written quotation. A quote issued remotely without a site visit cannot be accurate — the decorator has not seen the condition of the walls, the access requirements, or the complications that will affect the price. Any contractor quoting without a visit is either guessing or setting a low figure that will be revised upward during the job.

Request Itemised Written Quotations

A reliable quotation should specify: the exact scope of work, the number of coats per surface, the paint products to be used, whether paint cost is included, any exclusions, and the estimated programme. A one-figure total without any breakdown should prompt further questions before acceptance.

Check What Is Not Included

Ask specifically: Is paint included? Is access equipment included? Is furniture moving included? Is preparation included? These are the most common areas of omission that generate disputes and unexpected costs.

What a Trustworthy Quote Looks Like

Hampstead Painting Company provides detailed written quotations that specify every element of the work, the products to be used, the programme, and our terms including our 12-month workmanship guarantee. Our quotes are the same whether we are the cheapest or the most expensive bid — they reflect the real cost of doing the job properly.

If you are comparing quotes and Hampstead Painting Company's quotation is higher than another, ask us and the other contractor the same questions: What preparation is included? What products are specified? What guarantee is offered? The comparison often becomes clearer. Request your free, detailed quote today.