Start with work similar to your property
A period flat with tall ceilings and decorative plasterwork presents different decisions from a recently built home or a commercial interior. Look for photographs that show work relevant to your rooms and surfaces, including preparation where it is available.
Ask what the photographs show and which parts of the project the decorator completed. A useful discussion should connect the examples to the work you need, including any repairs, woodwork or wallpapering.
Read beyond the star rating
Customer comments can help you understand communication, organisation, preparation and how a finished job was handed over. Look for specific experiences and read a selection of reviews rather than relying on a single short endorsement.
Check the original review source so you can see the wider feedback. Returning customers and comments describing a similar type of property can be especially helpful when deciding whom to invite to quote.
Compare written scopes, not just totals
Each quotation should identify the rooms and surfaces included. Check whether it covers ceilings, walls, doors, frames, skirtings and other woodwork, as well as the preparation planned for their current condition.
Ask how loose paint, cracks, stains and damaged areas will be assessed. The quotation should explain the proposed paint system and any exclusions or additional work that may need separate agreement.
If two prices differ substantially, check the preparation, materials and included surfaces before assuming they describe the same job.
Discuss how the work will happen
Agree arrangements for furniture, floor protection, access, working hours and tidying up. Explain whether you will live or work in the property during the project. If other trades are involved, discuss their sequence before a start date is agreed.
Ask about payment stages and how changes to the scope will be recorded. Before handover, allow time to review the agreed work together and identify any finishing items.
Send useful information with your enquiry
Include your Edinburgh postcode, photographs, the rooms and surfaces involved, and your preferred timing. Mention access constraints and any known surface problems. This gives a decorator a useful starting point for arranging an assessment and preparing a clear quotation.
You can see examples in PAINTTEC’s previous jobs and read customer feedback on Google.