What Should a Decorating Quote Include?

A verbal figure is easy to misremember and hard to rely on if something goes wrong. A written quote protects both sides: you know what to expect, and the decorator knows what has been agreed. It also gives you something to compare when you ask for more than one quote, which is always worth doing. Ask for the quote to be sent by email or as a document you can keep, and read it before you say yes.

The quote should list every room or area included and what's being done in each. "Hall, stairs and landing" is clear. "Redecorate downstairs" is not. It should say which surfaces are included: walls, ceilings, woodwork such as skirting boards and doors, radiators and window frames, and whether anything is left out. If you want the inside of cupboards, the backs of doors or a loft hatch done, say so. These are the details that get missed.

This is the most important line, and the one most often left vague. A good quote says what preparation is allowed for: filling cracks and holes, sanding woodwork, stripping wallpaper, treating stains or mould, filling gaps with caulk and priming bare surfaces. If the quote simply says "paint walls", ask what happens to the cracks, the marks and the old wallpaper. Where the condition of a wall is unknown, a good decorator will say what's assumed and what would change the price.

The quote should say how many coats are included, which type of paint will be used and what finish, such as matt on walls and ceilings and satin or eggshell on woodwork. It should say whether the decorator supplies the paint or you do, and if you've chosen a particular brand or colour, that should be written down. Two quotes that look very different in price may simply be pricing different paints or a different number of coats.

Look for a line on how your home is protected and how the job is left. Floors, furniture and fittings should be covered, edges masked, and rubbish and old wallpaper removed or at least bagged up. The quote should make clear whether moving furniture is included, or whether you need to clear the rooms before work starts.

You should be given a start date, or at least a clear start window, and an estimate of how long the work will take. Remember that this is an estimate. Drying times, weather on exterior work and any hidden problems can move it. A good quote also says what happens if the schedule changes, and how you'll be told.

The price should be clear, with materials either included or listed separately. Check whether VAT applies and how it's shown. The payment terms should be written down: when payments are due, whether a deposit is asked for and what it covers. For larger jobs, payments in stages tied to progress are common. Be cautious about large payments upfront for work that hasn't started. The quote should also explain how extra work is handled. If the walls turn out to need more preparation than expected, what will it cost, and who agrees it before it's done?

It's reasonable to ask whether the decorator has public liability insurance, and whether there's a guarantee on the work and what it covers. Ask how long the quote is valid, because material prices and availability change. If anything you've been told in conversation matters to you, such as working hours or access arrangements, ask for it to be added in writing.

Before you accept a quote, check that it lists:

• every room and surface included, and anything left out
• the preparation allowed for
• the number of coats, and the paint and finish
• who supplies the materials
• how floors and furniture are protected, and how the job is left
• a start date or window, and an estimated length
• the total price, VAT, deposit and payment stages
• how extra work is agreed

If two quotes differ widely, compare them line by line. Look at the preparation allowed, the number of coats, the paint and what's included. The cheaper quote may be leaving things out, or the more expensive one may be allowing for work the walls really need. Ask both decorators to explain the difference. A decorator who is confident in their quote will be happy to talk it through.