If your living room needs a fresh coat of paint or you're tired of the scuff marks of bags and shoes in your hallway, a spot of DIY could spruce up your home in no time. Not everyone has the time, the skills or the condidence for DIY however, and then you'll nede to know how to find a good, local painter and decorator.

Knowing a good painter and decorator is incredibly useful for lots of jobs – big and small. Here are a few quick tips on finding a good local painter decorator near you:

Ask around

It’s an obvious starting point but if you haven’t already, ask your friends and family if they know a reliable local painter and decorator in your area.

The chances are someone will, and having a personal recommendation is always very reassuring. It could even get you a slightly better price.

A personal recommendation from someone you know and trust is often the best course of action

Alternatively, if you have the number of a tradesperson like a plumber or an electrician, try asking them too. They might be able to give you the number of a painter and decorator they can vouch for.

Check community groups

Community groups, like on Facebook and other social networks, will contain lots of in depth local info, including on tradesperson recommendations. Try a few and see if any names pop up frequently.

Hire a Local Hero

Of course, if you don’t find a personal recommendation, the quickest and easiest way to find a painter and decorator near you is to hire a Local Hero. All Local Heroes painters and decorators have been vetted by us and have at least three years of experience. Our 12-month guarantee backed by British Gas adds another level of reassurance.

We pride ourselves on our skilled workforce and we guarantee to find a painter and decorator that can come in and get the job done quickly and to a really high standard.

Question your painter and decorator

If you’re hiring a painter decorator based on a recommendation or from a local group and you’re using them for the first time, it’s worth doing a few simple checks:

• Search for them on third-party review sites to check there are no negative reviews of their work
• Look out for testimonials and pictures of their work on their websites and social media pages
• Get a feel for how much the job you have in mind will cost before they start – and get a second opinion. You can also check out our article on 'How much do painters and decorators charge?'.
• When they come to give you an estimate for the job, ask for it in writing and ask whether it’s covering all labour, materials like paints, and extras like VAT