Princedomino
Well-Known Forumite
I need to get some painting & decorating done at my mums house. She is a pensioner living in Lichfield. Before I get people in to quote I need to plan how I can influence her that this is the right thing to do. She was born in 1943 so she says she will make do and mend. But the sad reality is none of us are well enough to do it ourselves & the shabbiness is really getting her down. If I can give her an idea of a figure & show how its good value for time spent then she might then let me get a few people in to to give a proper quote. I think I can influence her if she realises it will be done in 10 days if we get someone in or never if we don't or at the best 6 months if she tries to do it herself. She's been resistant so far to letting me get anyone in the house to quote as she keeps saying its going to cost a fortune. If I can show her that it may seem a lot of money but compared to the outcome then its good money spent. So my question is- what range is a painter & decorator going to charge. What should I expect to pay? I need the lounge done - its 15ft 4" x 9ft 6". I need the 4 walls stripped but not the ceiling stripped. Then the walls papered. I don't think it'll need lining paper as well as its a 1970s house. Then the ceiling needs painting. The woodwork needs painting. One wall is virtually all window and the other 2 walls have doors on them so its not even really 4 walls. That's one job. Then I need the hall, stairs and landing done. The walls and ceiling need stripping. Then it needs papering. Then the paintwork needs painting. The hall, stairs & landing has more doors coming off it. There's the front door plus 6 other doors - 2 downstairs and 4 upstairs. I think we'll choose thick paper for the hall, stairs & landing so I don't think that will need painting. I need a rough idea of the range we can expect to pay a competent good decorator. So if anyone can help me that would be really great. Then I know if its just a pipe dream or if I could somehow come up with a plan to get enough money & influence her its money well spent. She's 70 this year so it would be great if we could get it done by then. I want her to have a good few years enjoying her surroundings and keep trying to tell her she must benefit from all her years working and not keep trying to leave money to us as we must make our own way in the world. If anyone could give me an idea too of how many days it'll take to complete the 2 jobs then that would be helpful as I think that could be a really powerful influencing tool to show her she can be living in more pleasant conditions within x days compared to the 7 years in shabby conditions that she's lived whilst trying to get round to it with ill health. Sorry about the long post and thanks to anyone who can help. Xxx
