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I'd like a quote, but am worried about COVID. Are you still visiting at the moment ?

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• Yes, I will wear a face mask and maintain a 2m distance, having used antibac gel in my van just prior to ringing your doorbell... When working in your home, antibac spray is also used where appropriate. Again, hands are cleaned just prior to entering your property each morning as well. If you are at home during the day, I'll maintain a suitable distance as well as wearing a mask if you request it.  I bring my own thermos of tea, drinking water, etc so you don't even need to worry about having to disinfect one of your own coffee cups..

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Do I need to add VAT your prices?

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• No, there is no VAT applicable to my quotations. 

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What paints do you use? 

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• I have favourite - tried and tested- paints that I will favour across emulsion, woodwork as well as priming and specialist undercoats. These are top quality paints that will give you the best possible finish and are specific to the application. Dulux Trade, Crown Trade and Zinsser are examples. The cost of paint as a percentage of the total is fairly small, so it makes sense to use good quality paint

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Can I provide my own paint?

 

• Trade paints will always offer superior results to the retail versions which are cheaper to buy but are often a false economy.  I am happy to work with Johnstones, Dulux trade as well as Farrow and Ball and other quality brands. 

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We have carpets in the bedrooms, lovely Oak flooring in the dining room, tiles in the bathroom, etc.    How do you ensure these don't get damaged? 

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• This should never be a concern for you if using a professional and trustworthy Decorator. I use a range of floor covering products such as Roll and Stroll  and Proplex hard surface protection 

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We've had "trades people" here before and they left a lot of mess. Are you messy? 

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• No, I'll always keep your home as tidy as possible, I wont leave tools lying around and will make sure you are happy with the location of my supplies overnight. At the end of a job all areas are hoovered and left at least as clean as they were before I started. I'll treat your home with the same high regard I treat my own home.

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We have small children / pets in the home. Should we be concerned about paint fumes or touching wet door frames?

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• The worst of these come from Oil (solvent) based woodwork paints. In 2018 I moved to using only water based / Hybrid paints for interior woodwork. These have progressed a great deal in recent years and in addition to being fast drying, (touch dry in less than 1 hr), they provide minimal odour. Unlike solvent paints, White paints will also STAY white!. Sometimes it is necessary to use a specialist primer or mould resistant emulsion which do have a little more odour. I'll always open windows where possible to help alleviate this. But I wont leave your home with these left wide open at the end of the day! - They'll either be closed or secured on a latch and I'll always try and ensure you know if this is the case. I'm not allergic to cats or dogs and happy to say hello.

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We've been let down by people in the past; not communicating properly, not showing up when they said and issues over the price agreed. Can we trust you?

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• I pride myself on ensuring that communication - whether that's prior to the first visit or mid way through a job, is properly maintained. I'll always be there as you expect, with an approximate time given for starting and finishing each day. In addition, on the very rare occasions if and when I'm unable to attend due to, for example, having a cold, ensuring you receive a message first thing that morning. I provide quotations, in writing, not verbal estimates. This means that there is never any confusion or possibility of a misunderstanding over the cost when it comes to settling an invoice. 

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Will there be lots of dust?

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• Dust is kept to a minimum through the use of a near dust-free sanding system that uses the power of vacuum to take the dust away at the source of the electrical sander. Very little if any dust is therefore left lying around. 

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How do we know you'll do a good job?

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• Please review some of my testimonials. Many of my clients have asked me to return at a later date and continue decorating another area of their home. I also often visit a new client to discover they have been given my details by a previous satisfied customer. 

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Why don't I just attempt to do the work myself?

 

• And many people do. Before you start, just ask yourself: Do I have a van full of fillers, sanding equipment, brushes, rollers, protective equipment, several ladders including a method for accessing the stairwell, the time, the inclination, the knowledge, the experience to obtain the level of finish I want, the enthusiasm....

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What is "Dulux Select" ? 

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courtesy of www.duluxselectdecorators.co.uk

"Only the Best are Selected

All potential Dulux Select Decorators are required to undergo a rigorous assessment in order to become members.

This goes well beyond a basic vetting process, so that we can ensure that you receive only the highest standard of workmanship. Our team of trained and accredited assessors are experienced industry experts who have up-to-date knowledge of decorating practices and a strong history of providing great customer service.

In order to qualify initially, a decorator must have three years experience and have run their own business successfully for at least one year. They must also complete at least 60% of their work as domestic jobs, so we know they will treat your home as if it was their own.

Once referencing and qualifications are confirmed, potential new members are required to undergo a practical workmanship assessment on a current job enabling us to see, not only their decorating skill, but also how they interact with customers and assess their business practices."

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