Quoting software for painters and decorators
TradeKwote helps UK painters and decorators turn notes from a walk-round into a clear, professional quote in about 60 seconds, from a single bedroom to a whole house exterior. You set the prices; TradeKwote writes the scope.
Most decorating disputes are about prep and coats. The customer expected the cracks filled and two coats; the decorator priced one coat over what was there. A room-by-room quote that says exactly what you'll do avoids that conversation.
What a good decorating quote includes
- Room by room, or elevation by elevation for exteriors, what's being painted: walls, ceilings, woodwork, doors, radiators.
- Preparation: filling, sanding, caulking, sugar soaping, and a mist coat on new plaster.
- The number of coats and the finish, such as matt emulsion or satinwood.
- Who supplies the paint and the brand or quality, since this affects both price and finish.
- Protecting floors and furniture, and whether the customer needs to clear the room.
- What isn't included, such as major plaster repairs or wallpaper removal, unless you've priced it.
How decorators usually price work
Many decorators price per room or per job, based on the time it will take plus materials. Day rates are common too, especially for larger or less predictable jobs. Exterior work depends on access, such as ladders, towers or scaffold, and the weather, so it's worth saying how you'll handle rain days.
Health and safety worth mentioning
- Older properties can have lead-based paint on woodwork. Dry sanding it is hazardous, so HSE guidance should be followed.
- Textured ceilings applied before 2000 can contain asbestos and shouldn't be sanded or scraped without testing.
- Working at height on exteriors needs the right access equipment.
- Membership of a trade body such as the Painting and Decorating Association is worth showing if you have it.
How TradeKwote helps painters and decorators
- Dictate each room as you go round, and TradeKwote writes a room-by-room scope covering prep, coats and finish.
- You enter each line, such as each room or materials, with your price. The AI never adds items or changes prices.
- Add up to 5 photos so the scope reflects the condition of the walls and woodwork. Photos stay private.
- Add notes to the customer about clearing rooms and drying times.
- Ask for a deposit and choose payment terms.
- On Pro, customers can accept online, and unanswered quotes are followed up for you.
Tips for winning more decorating work
- Spell out the prep. It's what separates a job that lasts from one that peels, and it justifies your price.
- Name the paint brand and finish so the customer knows what they're getting.
- Give a start date and how many days the job will take, as customers often plan around it.
- Send the quote while the walk-round is fresh in the customer's mind, ideally the same day.
Example
Job note: Lounge and hallway. Fill cracks, sand, mist coat on patched areas, two coats matt emulsion walls and ceilings, satinwood on skirting and doors. Your lines: lounge £480, hallway £420, materials £160.
A room-by-room quote setting out the prep, coats and finishes, with your prices and VAT.