£1,000–£1,500 to paint a medium lounge?! Is this normal?

[Blueberrymuffin8]

I'm in Hertfordshire and have been getting quotes from painters and decorators ranging from £1,000 to £1,500 to decorate our medium sized lounge in a standard three-bedroom terraced house. There are also two sets of shelving to paint, but nothing particularly complicated!

Am I completely out of touch, or does this seem ridiculously expensive?

What frustrates me even more is that they expect me to clear the entire room and move everything out of their way beforehand. Fair enough, but at these prices I would expect a bit more of a service!

None of the decorators has provided a proper breakdown of costs either. Just a figure seemingly plucked out of thin air, with no explanation of labour, materials or how many days the job will take.

I'm now sitting here looking around the lounge thinking that, for £1,500, perhaps I should just roll up my sleeves and have a go myself!

Has anyone had a similar-sized room decorated recently? What did you pay? Particularly interested in hearing from anyone in Hertfordshire or the South East.

Am I being unreasonable to think these quotes are excessive?

£370! That works out at about minimum wage … for a skilled trade. You got a bargain, but a tradesman surely deserves a better wage than that, especially in the South East where the cost of living is particularly high

Most certainly do. Lot more so than you by the sounds of it.

Are you really trying to say that you need to prime previously painted walls and woodwork each time?

The OP just wanted some white walls and shelves painted

Exactly

If you want the job doing right then yes. If you want a slap of paint and a quick clean and clever job then no however, op was also put out that she had to move her own furniture. None of us know what the decorator has billed her for but it certainly sounds like a proper jobs worth to me, if she's not happy about that she either needs to ask for a breakdown of costs or she needs to slap some paint on without any prep like you've said...

Exactly, it can easily take several hours to prepare a quote. That's a lot of time for a sole proprietor. Especially when you know it's unlikely they're going to go with you anyway.

I decorate myself. So do friends and family. If you follow instructions it is not difficult.
But I would be incapable of rewiring or plumbing the house. Or building a set of shelves or putting in a,staircase. But doing a good job of decorating is perfectly possible if you do your research. That estimate too high.

This.

Please tell your friend to just say “we don’t have any availability atm” instead of wasting people’s time.

Well, no, because that is the cost that would make it worth it to the tradesperson. The customer can continue to look for quotes, now has a baseline for comparison and can just say no if the price is too high.

And some customers would be willing to pay the higher fee, to them it would be worth it.

Someone's work is worth whatever the market will pay for it.

Sanding once for emulsion is enough. And it is very quick. Not like wood . And doubt if much feeling needed on lounge walls. Maybe a few picture hooks. And one coat of painting takes a couple of hours. They may have to come the next day for a couple of hours.
Exhorbitant price.

But they are available - for the right price. Which is more than a lot of people are willing to pay, but not everyone. There are lots of affluent, time-poor people out there who will happily pay inflated prices - and decorators are very keen to build long-term relationships with those sorts of clients.

She has 2 shaving units as well she said. They would sand over any parts they’ve had to fill. They also prime it not just straight on to paint. If you don’t want a decent job then do it yourself. No one is forcing anyone to pay for it.

Yes, I did pay similar for my small lounge

the chap charged by the hour and it took him 4/5 days. He did an absolutely amazing job but i didnt book him again. I prefer to pay someone cheaper who isnt such a perfectionist

Its the prep work that takes up time

I did some painting once, never again. I am useless. I was covered in paint. The cutting in and edges. Oh ly christ. The duck taping took me hours to get straight. And don’t get me started on working up a ladder.

i prefer to pay!

I'm also in herts. Recently been quoted 1.5k for an empty newly plastered room to be painted. Prices are insane. It is a self contained room which isn't that big. Did you manage to find anyone good and reasonably priced you can share?

We’re going away next week and the painter is coming whilst we’re on holiday to de paper, re line, paint living room, hall stairs and landing & spare room. 2k. We’ll come back to a perfectly finished house

If you live in a private rental or housing association property don't expect them turn up even if they have quoted and promised you the moon on a stick, there is a high level of prejudice in the trades community against rentals they just don't want to work in them

Wow. I had my hallway done this year - it’s got the front door plus 4 other doors off it and I hate cutting in so yeah, fuck that!
walls, ceiling, skirtings and 5 doors painted and I think it was £210 including the paint