Questions to ask before hiring a painter in Switzerland

This page focuses on the precise questions to ask a painter before signing. For the complete approach — understanding a quote, choosing a finish, timelines and warranties — see the guide to choosing your painter in Geneva.

Checking the legal identity: company ID (UID) and commercial register

The first check is free and takes a few minutes. Every company active in Switzerland has a company identification number (UID) in the format CHE-XXX.XXX.XXX. It normally appears on quotes, invoices and email signatures.

Questions to ask:

• What is your company ID (UID)?
• Are you entered in the commercial register, and under what legal form (SA, Sàrl, sole proprietorship)?
• Who runs the company?

How to check for yourself: the federal database zefix.ch lists companies entered in the commercial register; for Geneva, the cantonal register completes the picture. A company that shares its UID without hesitation, and whose details match the register, ticks an important first box.

Renovhome SA is entered in the Commercial Register of Geneva under company ID CHE-356.898.007.

Professional liability insurance: the certificate to request

A painting project carries material risks: a stained parquet floor, a marked neighbouring wall, damage to a third party. Professional liability insurance covers this kind of damage. Without it, a claim can fall back on you, especially in a rented building or a condominium.

Questions to ask:

• Do you hold professional liability insurance, and can you send me an up-to-date certificate?
• What exactly does this policy cover in the event of damage to a third party?

A reliable company provides its certificate without difficulty. Property management companies, for that matter, systematically require it from their providers. Renovhome SA holds professional liability insurance and provides its certificates on request. If a provider stays vague on this point, treat it as a warning sign and ask for the document before signing anything.

The Swiss legal warranty (Art. 371 CO): what the law says

In Switzerland, painting work falls under the contract for work and services governed by the Code of Obligations. In the event of a defect in the work, the client has the rights provided by Articles 367 to 371 CO: to report defects on acceptance, to require their remedy, and to invoke the warranty within the time limits set by Article 371 CO.

Questions to ask:

• How does acceptance of the work take place?
• How do you handle a repair if a defect appears later?
• In what form is the legal warranty confirmed in writing?

Useful points to know:

• The warranty covers defects in the work (blistering, early flaking, poorly executed joints), not normal wear and tear or later impacts.
• Visible defects accepted on handover are in principle no longer covered: take the time to examine everything, in natural light.
• The warranty on the work lasts two years (Art. 371 CO); have the framework confirmed in writing in the signed quote and contract.

The itemised quote: what it should contain

A detailed quote is a reliable indicator of how serious a company is. It commits the provider to a precise scope and makes it possible to compare genuinely equivalent offers. A vague or “to be confirmed” document offers no protection.

Here are the elements a painting quote should specify, and why:

Element	Why ask for it
Room-by-room measurements	Lets you check surfaces and compare offer with offer
Surface preparation	Filling, sanding, primer: a decisive part of the work, often underestimated
Number of coats and type of finish	Matt, satin, enamel: the finish determines the result and upkeep
Paint brands and ranges	Indicates the level of quality chosen
Terms and validity	A dated quote, valid over time, is a reliable quote

Questions to ask:

• Is the quote drawn up after an on-site visit?
• How many coats are planned, and over what primer?
• Is the quote itemised room by room?

A reliable quote is built after an on-site visit: that is what allows the condition of the surfaces, the preparation required and the access constraints to be assessed. Renovhome SA draws up its quotes using this method, itemised room by room. A quote given over the phone or from photos is rarely reliable.

Point of contact, how the project runs and handling unforeseen events

Beyond price, it is the organisation that determines whether a project goes well. Three subjects deserve clear answers before you sign.

Your point of contact:

• Who will be my point of contact, from survey to handover?
• How can I reach you during the project if I have a question?

A single point of contact prevents information from being lost between several people. At Renovhome SA, a dedicated point of contact follows the file from survey to handover.

How it runs:

• What are the planned stages (protection, preparation, coats, finish, inspection)?
• How do you protect floors, furniture and woodwork?

Unforeseen events:

• How do you handle a surface that needs reworking or drying that takes longer than expected?
• How is any additional work approved and priced before it is carried out?

A provider who answers with method, without stock phrases, shows that they have a firm grip on their organisation. For a water-damage repair, also ask how drying is monitored: a drying-out confirmed with a moisture meter determines the application of a stain-blocking primer before the finishes, and the coordination with the insurer should be explained.