Get two or three written, itemised quotes from decorators whose recent reviews and real job photos you have checked. Confirm they are insured, and ask exactly how they will prepare the surfaces and protect your home.
This guide was written by PDS Painting Birmingham, a painting and decorating firm, so it is fair to say we have an interest. The checks below are the same ones we would want any customer to run on us, and they work whoever you hire. You will find more practical help in our painting and decorating guides.
What Does a Painter and Decorator Actually Do?
A painter and decorator prepares and finishes surfaces. Most of the job is preparation: filling cracks and holes, sanding, caulking gaps around skirtings and frames, and priming bare plaster, filler and timber. Then comes the painting itself - walls, ceilings, doors, skirtings and windows - in the right products and number of coats.
Many decorators also hang wallpaper and paint outside: masonry, render, fascias and timber windows and doors. Some take on commercial work or specialist coatings.
A handyman is different. They do general repairs and smaller paint jobs as part of a wider mix of tasks. Neither is better. A handyman may suit touching up a room alongside fixing a door; a decorator suits a full room, a whole house or anywhere the finish matters.
Where to Find a Good Local Decorator
Personal recommendations are still the best starting point: ask friends, family and neighbours who they used and whether they would use them again. If you see a freshly painted house nearby that looks good, ask the owner who did it.
Google reviews let you read about other people’s experiences in detail. Local listings and trade directories can help you build a shortlist too. Whichever route you use, treat it as the start of your checks, not the end.
Seven Checks Before You Book a Painter and Decorator
Run through these checks for every decorator you are considering.
1. Read Recent, Detailed Reviews
Look for recent reviews that describe the actual job - what was painted, how tidy the decorator was, and how any problems were handled. A handful of detailed reviews tells you more than a high star rating with no comments. Check how many reviews there are, not just the average, and read how the business replies to criticism. You can read PDS customer reviews the same way.
2. Ask to See Real Photos of Their Work
Ask for photos of real jobs, ideally local and similar to yours. Stock images of perfect rooms tell you nothing. Before-and-after shots are useful, and photos of preparation - filled walls, sheeted floors, masked edges - are even better, because that is where standards differ. Here are examples of our recent jobs.
3. Get a Written, Itemised Quote
A good quote lists the rooms and surfaces included, the preparation, the products and number of coats, who supplies the paint, what is excluded, the start date and timescale, and the payment terms. A single-line price makes comparison impossible and leaves room for disagreement later. Itemised quotes also make it easier to judge prices fairly, and our guide to what painting and decorating costs in Birmingham explains what drives them.
4. Check Insurance
Ask whether the decorator holds public liability insurance and ask to see the certificate. It protects you if your property is damaged or someone is hurt during the work. Check that the name on the certificate matches the business you are dealing with, and that the policy is in date.
5. Ask Who Will Be in Your Home
Will the person quoting do the work, or will it be passed to someone else? Ask who will actually turn up, and whether the painters are DBS-checked. That matters most if you will be out while they work, if vulnerable relatives live with you, or for schools and care settings.
6. Ask How They Prepare and Protect
Ask how they will deal with cracks, old filler and bare patches, how they will protect floors and furniture, and whether they tidy up at the end of each day. Good decorators answer these questions specifically and without hesitation. If you want to know what good preparation looks like, read how decorators prepare walls before painting.
7. Agree Payment Terms Up Front
Agree any deposit, stage payments and the final payment in writing before work starts. Be cautious about paying the full price in advance, especially on a large job. Pay the balance after a walk-round of the finished work. Citizens Advice has clear guidance on your rights if something goes wrong.
Quick checklist before you book
- Recent, detailed reviews read
- Real photos of similar jobs seen
- Written, itemised quote received
- Public liability insurance certificate seen
- Know who will be in your home, and whether they are DBS-checked
- Preparation and protection explained
- Deposit and payment stages agreed in writing
Red Flags When Hiring a Decorator
- No written quote, or a price scribbled with no detail.
- Pressure to decide on the spot, or a “today only” price.
- A large cash-only payment demanded up front.
- No business address, landline or way to check who they are.
- Reviews that are all very new, or all read the same.
- Reluctance to show an insurance certificate.
- “We can start tomorrow” on a large job without ever visiting.
One red flag is not always a problem - a good decorator may have had a cancellation. Several together are a reason to walk away.
How to Compare Quotes Like for Like
Put each quote into a simple grid and fill in the gaps by asking questions.
| What to compare | Quote A | Quote B | Quote C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rooms and surfaces included | |||
| Preparation described | |||
| Number of coats | |||
| Paint brand or range | |||
| Who supplies materials | |||
| Timescale | |||
| Payment terms | |||
| Insurance shown | |||
| Reviews checked |
Once the grid is full, the differences usually become obvious. The cheapest quote is often the one that leaves out preparation.
Your Rights When You Hire a Decorator
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, a trader must carry out a service with reasonable care and skill. If the work falls short, you can usually ask for it to be put right, or in some cases for a price reduction.
If you agree a contract in your own home rather than at the trader’s premises, you normally have a 14-day cancellation period under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013. Citizens Advice and gov.uk explain both in more detail. This is general information, not legal advice.
How PDS Painting Birmingham Answers These Questions
Here is how PDS Painting Birmingham, painter and decorator in Birmingham, measures up against the same checks:
- Reviews: we are rated 5.0 on Google from 21 reviews.
- Real photos: our work page shows real jobs, not stock images.
- Written quotes: every quote is written, after we have visited and seen the job.
- Insurance: we are insured, and you are welcome to ask to see the certificate.
- Who is in your home: our painters are DBS-checked.
- Preparation and protection: we will explain on the visit how we will prepare the surfaces and protect your floors and furniture.
- Experience: over 27 years in the trade - read more about PDS Painting Birmingham.
- Payment terms: ask us, and agree them in writing before work starts, as you would with anyone.
If we pass, request a written quote or call 0121 752 9229.
Questions about hiring a decorator
How many quotes should I get from decorators?
Two or three written, itemised quotes is a sensible number. It gives you a feel for the going rate and shows who has looked at the job properly. More than that rarely adds much and takes a lot of your time. Compare them line by line rather than just the total.
Should I pay a decorator a deposit?
Some decorators ask for a deposit, often to cover materials on a larger job. That is normal, but agree the amount and what it covers in writing before work starts, and be cautious about paying the full price up front. Keep the final payment until you have walked round the finished work together.
Do painters and decorators need to be qualified?
There is no legal requirement in the UK to hold a formal qualification to work as a painter and decorator. Some have trade qualifications and many learned on the job. Either way, recent reviews, real photos of their work and a detailed quote tell you more about the standard you will get than a certificate on its own.
What insurance should a painter and decorator have?
Public liability insurance is the one that matters most to a homeowner, because it covers damage to your property or injury to others caused by the work. Ask to see the certificate and check the business name and the dates. A decorator with nothing to hide will be happy to show it.
Who supplies the paint, me or the decorator?
Either can work, as long as the quote says which. Decorators usually buy trade paint and know how much the job needs. If you want a particular colour or range, tell them at the quote stage so it is priced in, and agree who is responsible if more is needed.
Is it worth paying more for a decorator?
The gap between a cheap and a mid-priced quote is usually preparation and product quality, and those decide how long the finish lasts. A cheaper job that needs redoing in two years is not cheaper. Our guide to what painting and decorating costs in Birmingham explains the price factors.