How to choose your painter in Geneva — with confidence.

1. The 7 questions to ask before signing

A visit with a painter rarely lasts more than an hour. That is enough to ask seven questions that reveal the company's level of professionalism.

1. "What is your UID number?" — A legitimate Swiss company has a CHE-XXX.XXX.XXX number registered with the Commercial Register.
2. "Do you have a professional civil liability certificate?" — It is mandatory in Switzerland. The certificate can be sent by email after the visit.
3. "Who oversees the project from start to finish?" — A dedicated point of contact for the quote, the work and the handover greatly reduces loss of information.
4. "Which paint brand and range do you use?" — A precise answer (Sikkens Alpha Rénova, Caparol Indeko-plus, etc.) indicates genuine technical expertise.
5. "How many coats on which substrate?" — The standard is a suitable primer + 2 finish coats. Any deviation should be justified.
6. "How quickly can you return the quote?" — A well-organised company gets back to you promptly after the visit.
7. "How do you handle any defects within 2 years?" — The expected answer: free repair under the Swiss legal warranty.

2. Understanding a painting quote — the required lines

A professional quote in Geneva contains at least ten standard lines. If certain points are missing, do not hesitate to ask for additions before signing.

• Measured surface room by room.
• Description of preparation work — filling, smoothing, levelling, sanding, dusting.
• Type of paint named — brand, range, finish (matte, velvet, satin, enamel).
• Number of coats — primer if needed + finish coats.
• Protection — floor coverings, masking of joinery, furniture protection.
• Additional finishes — skirting boards, frames, silicone joints if redone.
• Execution timeline — working days, planned schedule.
• Applicable warranty — legal duration (2 years CO) confirmed in writing.
• Payment terms — any deposit, balance, due date.
• Quote validity — 30 days is the standard.

A quote detailed room by room lets you compare several offers objectively and avoid unexpected invoicing adjustments.

3. Matte, velvet, satin or enamel — which finish to choose?

The choice of finish is not just aesthetic: it depends on the substrate, the use and the room.

Matte (the most common in living rooms/bedrooms)

Diffuses light, hides substrate flaws, gives depth to colours. Slightly more fragile when washed than velvet. Ideal for living spaces, ceilings, bedrooms.

Velvet (washable compromise)

Almost matte in appearance, but washable. A good compromise for halls, corridors, high-traffic areas. Reflects very little.

Satin (washable, slightly glossy)

Holds up to regular washing. Reflects more — which highlights substrate flaws (so it requires very careful preparation). Ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, some halls.

Enamel (lacquered, the most durable)

Roller-applied lacquer, smooth satin or glossy finish. Withstands moisture and heavy washing. Reserved for doors, frames, skirting boards and damp rooms. Requires rigorous preparation to deliver a clean, durable result.

4. Realistic timelines for a painting project in Geneva

The duration of a project varies with the size of the property, the condition of the substrates and the nature of the work — it is estimated case by case, in the quote, rather than on a fixed scale. Here is what really weighs on the schedule:

• The surface area and number of rooms — a studio does not take the same time as a large apartment.
• The condition of the substrates — filling, levelling, treating cracks or moisture lengthens the preparation, which determines the finish.
• Ceiling only — a shorter project than a full repaint of a room.
• Water-damage repair — you must first wait for the substrate to dry (often 5 to 15 days depending on the extent) before any painting: that is a technical delay, not a project delay.
• Wallpaper hanging — preparing the substrate often weighs more than the hanging itself.

If an announced timeline seems very short (for example a large apartment repainted in a single day), ask to understand how execution quality is maintained — the durability of a paint job is measured six months later.

5. Swiss legal warranties on painting work

In Switzerland, defects in the work are governed by the Code of Obligations. For painting work, the key points are:

• 2-year legal warranty from the handover of the project — free repair of defects.
• Obligation to give immediate notice — report the defect as soon as it is discovered (ideally in writing, within a few days).
• Repair to the agreed standard — the company restores the work to the agreed standard, at no charge.
• Mandatory professional civil liability insurance — covers any damage caused to third parties or substrates during the project.
• Good workmanship — preparation, application and finishes to the recognised standards of the trade.

Check that these points appear in writing in the quote before you sign.

6. The points to clarify before signing

Before signing a quote, here are six concrete items to check or to ask about if the information is not immediately available.

1. The company's legal identity. UID and registration with the Commercial Register: transparency on this point should be total.
2. The room-by-room detail of the quote. A detailed presentation makes it easier to compare offers and avoids ambiguity on the final invoice.
3. The payment terms. Any deposit, due dates, balance on handover: everything must be clearly written before signing.
4. The professional civil liability insurance certificate. It should be available on request, ideally by email after the visit.
5. The consistency of the price with the detail. A quote well below the others warrants a question about the nature of the preparation, the paints or the number of coats planned.
6. The point of contact in charge of the project. Knowing who oversees the work from quote to handover secures communication throughout the operation.

And then? How Renovhome SA aligns with these criteria

This guide is deliberately neutral — it applies to any painting company in Geneva. Here is concretely how Renovhome SA meets each of the criteria above:

• Your free quote, detailed room by room.
• UID CHE-356.898.007 registered with the Geneva Commercial Register.
• Professional civil liability insurance in force — certificate provided on request.
• Swiss 2-year legal warranty restated in writing in every quote.
• A dedicated point of contact who follows your project, from quote to handover.
• Payment terms that are clear and explained before signing, adapted to the scale of the project.
• Paints used: Sikkens, Caparol, Sigma depending on the substrate and the room — range specified in every quote.

To compare concretely, request a visit and a free quote: