01
Photograph the places that keep marking up
A rubbed patch beside a dining chair needs a different conversation from a stain that comes back after every shower. Show the painter where the finish is peeling, where cracks return and when stains appeared. If a leak or movement is suspected, arrange the appropriate inspection before paying to repaint the area.
02
Put two samples on the actual wall
Paint a test patch near the window and another on the wall you see when you walk in. Look at both in daylight and with the lights you normally use at night. Keep a piece of the flooring or curtain nearby. A white that looks clean on a small card can look cold next to warm timber across an entire room.
03
Ask what the preparation price covers
Get repairs, sanding, sealing or priming and the proposed coating system described in the quote. Check whether ceilings, doors, skirting and touch-ups are included. In an occupied home, agree who moves furniture and which rooms will be clear for how long, including time for ventilation and drying under the product instructions.
04
Keep a record for the next touch-up
Before the furniture goes back, check the finish in the light the room normally gets. Look around sockets, corners and the line where the walls meet the ceiling. Keep the paint name, colour code, sheen and room list. A labelled leftover tin is much easier to identify later than a row of nearly identical whites.