Decorating - am I being ripped off?

[faustina]

Can anyone help me? These prices seem incredibly steep, but I"m having a huge problem finding anyone who'll even bother to give me a quote.

It's one smallish bedroom in a victorian semi cottage. Measurements are 12' 7" x 10' 11" (3.84m x 3.33m).

Job 1: remove small and very flimsy built in wardrobe and make good. make good a few other holes (one where pipes were put, one where previous owners ripped out curtain pole). Paint walls and ceiling with paint supplied by me. Rehang door which DCat somehow managed to take off its hinges.

only quote received - £975

Job 2: take up knackered floorboards and replace with soft wood tongue and groove which have already been primed.

£900+vat inc, materials but not skirting boards which will be extra.

I'm in Suffolk which isn't (shouldn't be?) super expensive.

I'll ask dh when he's up. He's a decorator

The only way you will really know is if you get two independent quotes.

Chelle - thank you so much!

Dustoff I am trying to! I can't tell you the number of emails sent and even people who came round. I have another two people coming this evening.

Sounds like he thinks hes on £100 an hour.

No way.

Describe the cupboard job in greater detail, maybe?

I'd expect to pay 900 for at least a week's worth of work, maybe more, exclusive of materials. Here in London carpenters charge between 120-150/day.

Extortionate! My neighbour paid around £1000 for 4 rooms and woodwork to be painted - with paint supplied!! They did a good job.

I'd say job 1 should be about £500-£600 max.

Now way. They'd take a few days at most together wouldn't they? I'd expect to be charged about £100 - £160 per day round here.

Any chance you can watch enough YouTube vids to be able to do it yourself?

I'm in London and have big room and I pay about £450 for a room to be decorated which would naturally include making the walls good in places. Find someone else on checkatrade a one man band would be better.

Apple sets sail - I'll try to put a pic up. It is so flimsy - the top is basically just two loose planks. It's about 150cm wide

Sounds very steep to me. Dh and I recently removed a much bigger sturdier fitted wardrobe ourselves in just over half an hour. Have you considered doing that bit yourself? You just need a screwdriver.

Last time we paid a decorator it was about £500 for a big room (15'x15') with high ceilings, fitted wardrobes and 3 sash windows to paint. In an area that should be similarly priced to Suffolk.

I can't do it myself - I have health issues which mean I only have a couple of hours energy in a day, also means my brain is really foggy most of the time. I wish I bloody well could - and I do wonder sometimes if being on my own and female means these 'special' prices.

Like a soul I've done it in the past too! (with a crowbar I think). I just can't right now. I had to cut the mattress in half to get it out of the room, and then rip out the carpet and I couldn't move for a week afterwards : (

No experience on the second but job 1 is about 50% over priced at least. My whole house was 'made good' and painted for less than £500! She charged £80 a day 'mates rates' but I believe that painters I my area charge anything from £100-120 a day

Just a thought but my local council does a handy man service for elderly and disabled people. It might be worth enquiring ?

I enquired about a handyman service when I moved here and there wasn't one. I usually try to avoid telling people as the few times I have, I've had really horrible experiences (taking advantage ones). I don't 'look' disabled (hope that doesn't sound disablist) and I'm not particularly old - in my 50s.

Thanks all of you for the advice - it at least makes me feel better.

I think the floor quote isn't too bad, right? He is a carpenter and it includes the wood

faustina I've had similar health issues over the past 18 months and it's horrible. (Dh did the heavy lifting with the wardrobe removal)

DH is a handyman/decorator. He would charge "at least £600" for the first job. Unfortunately we don't live near you .

I have CFS - it's grim isn't it?

it is horrible and grim and having people trying to overcharge makes me feel even worse - Riddo, do you mean he would charge at least 600 for the painting? or the floor?

thank you for the flowers

So... lovely update: I had a painter recommended by the flooring man here today and he'll paint the whole room for £375 (and seems absolutely lovely) - and then I had a handyman company and they'll get rid of the wardrobe and fit a new radiator for £70, so my faith in humanity has been restored today - hoorah! Thanks for all your help this morning - it makes a huge difference when someone says no you're not imagining it.

.. and I am going to go with the flooring quote because it doesn't seem bad and he is a proper carpenter

I'm actually on the Cambs/Suffolk border so probably a bit far, but thank you anyway!

Ive been known to tell tradesme, after they quoted me, that I will talk the price over with my (non existant) partner when he gets home.

Its amazing how some then cough & splutter "oh well, erm of course thats a top quote, Im sure we can do it cheaper'

Ive now found a chap through a friend that does odd jobs.