Decorating inside 3 bed semi

Ilovemilkbottles

I've been quoted £1150 to redecorate the following rooms in a smallish 3 bed semi:

Hallway & landing - remove paper, make good, paint 2 coats
Kitchen & pantry - make good and paint 2 coats emulsion
Lounge/diner - make good and 2 coats emulsion
3 beds
Loo

Includes painting of 7 radiators & glossing of woodwork (i.e bannisters & 7 doors)

Dulux paint & materials included.

What do you think?

Barneysmom

So that's, what, 6 rooms including paint?
Not too bad at all I think I would pay.
The stairs are a pain to do too.

Solstice_Twilight

OH and I have recently done out our bedroom, which included taking off the old (badly applied!) wallpaper, using masses of pollyfilla to seal cracks and small holes, applying plain white wallpaper and painting it. Looks masses better and the room is much nicer for it, but it certainly wasn't a "professional job". I'd hope that a professional would do a much neater job of it than our bodging! All in all, including tools, a new curtain pole and curtains, it came in at almost £100.

So for six rooms, including the time, materials and labour, I think what you've been quoted is pretty fair. It took us almost four weeks to do the bedroom ourselves, on weekends and evenings whenever we had the time, and spent that time sleeping in the spare room on the futon (NOT comfortable for more than a few nights!) so consider some of it as paying to not have the hassle.

Mojisola

Ilovemilkbottles wrote: »

I've been quoted £1150 to redecorate the following rooms in a smallish 3 bed semi:

Hallway & landing - remove paper, make good, paint 2 coats
Kitchen & pantry - make good and paint 2 coats emulsion
Lounge/diner - make good and 2 coats emulsion
3 beds
Loo

Includes painting of 7 radiators & glossing of woodwork (i.e bannisters & 7 doors)

Dulux paint & materials included.

What do you think?

I suppose prices vary around the country but that's really cheap compared to quotes in our area. It's so cheap that I'd be a bit concerned about the quality of the work.

Have you had more than one quote? Has the company that's given you this quote been recommended by anyone?

Ilovemilkbottles

Thanks for your replies.

I was recommended him by a neighbour who was v pleased with his work. I will knock on her door tomorrow and politely ask if I can have a look at his work and take it from there. I am also getting another quote to compare.

I'm a little concerned though as he says it will only take 7 days to complete. However he did back this up by saying he would work long hours (7 to 10pm possibly!) to get it done. The job is for a property I'm renovating to rent out out so it is empty which would make things much easier too.

I live in the South-East.

McKneff

Dont forget to get a quote in writing, make sure its a quote and not an estimate.

And I also think its not too bad a quote, in view of where you live.

The only thing that concerns me is where he is taking paper off and painting, It would be better
getting some lining paper on the walls before painting. You never get smooth enough walls to paint
when yuve taken paper off.

See what he says, anyway.

Superbiatch

Including materials is a good price IMO, in fact I'd probably pay the same for the 2 bed dump i'm currently living in with OH

Ilovemilkbottles

Good point McKneff

We do have it in writing but just noticed that it is an estimate so will definitely have to ask a few more questions and also ask my neighbour if she had any problems.
The wallpaper comes off quite easily. I've managed to pull quite large strips off without the aid of a steamer and the wall looks okay so far but I take your point about the lining paper.
Also he works alone and did originally estimate £1700 but DH managed to knock it down. Sounds keen to get the job.

Superbiatch

If he is showing willing and reducing his costs he's probably foreseeing further work from you as a landlord so its in his interest to give you discount

Besides reputation speaks louder than any advertising imo, if he does a good job for you, you'll tell your friends and acquaintances etc.

john0612

A £550 reduction on just haggling , wow !!

he'll be quiet like many of us, but even then that's a hell of an amount to reduce by and is using dulux paints.

his original price was nearer the mark imho

nickj_2

Superbiatch wrote: »

If he is showing willing and reducing his costs he's probably foreseeing further work from you as a landlord so its in his interest to give you discount

Besides reputation speaks louder than any advertising imo, if he does a good job for you, you'll tell your friends and acquaintances etc.

if he's giving such a big discount then maybe he's desparate for the work becos he's no good ,
i never give discounts to my customers unless the work has taken less than i accounted for , then i normally knock off a bit as goodwill ,