Expert Painters

How to Prepare Your Home Before the Painters Arrive

Interior Painting In Melbourne House
24 Sep

A little preparation before your painters arrive makes the job faster, cheaper and far less stressful. Painters charge for time, so anything you do yourself is time they are not billing for, and it protects your belongings.

Here is a practical checklist for the week before.

Two weeks before

  • Confirm the start date, daily hours and which rooms are being done first
  • Choose and confirm your colours and finishes so nothing holds up the start
  • Arrange parking for the crew, especially on narrow inner-Melbourne streets
  • Let neighbours know if scaffolding or ladders will affect shared access
  • Book pet boarding or plan where pets will be during the work
Interior painting preparation

The week before

Clear the walls. Take down artwork, mirrors, shelves, TVs and curtains. Remove picture hooks if you do not plan to reuse the same positions, and tell your painter which holes to fill.

Move what you can. Small furniture, lamps, rugs, ornaments and electronics should be moved out of the rooms entirely. Painters will move and cover heavier items, but an empty room is a faster room.

Empty the built-ins. If wardrobes, cupboards or shelving are being painted inside, they need to be emptied.

Take down window furnishings. Blinds and curtain rods usually need to come off for trims and frames to be painted properly.

Clear the outside. For exterior work, trim back plants touching the walls, move pots and outdoor furniture away, and clear a path around the house.

The day before

  • Vacuum and dust the rooms, as dust in the air ends up in the paint
  • Make sure the crew can access power and water
  • Put away anything valuable or fragile
  • Decide where pets and children will be during the day
  • Sort out keys, alarm codes or gate access if you will not be home
Interior walls ready for painting

What the painters should handle

You are not expected to do the trade work. A professional crew covers floors and remaining furniture, masks off fittings and edges, fills and sands, removes or masks hardware such as handles and switch plates, and cleans up at the end of each day.

If a quote expects you to do the masking and protection yourself, that should be stated clearly upfront.

Things people forget

  • Wi-Fi routers and cabling behind furniture that is about to move
  • Smoke alarms, which can be set off by dust from sanding
  • Gutters and downpipes blocked with leaves, which affect exterior prep
  • Loose or damaged fittings worth fixing while walls are accessible
  • Touch-up paint from previous owners, which helps match existing colours

Living through it

Most people stay home during an interior repaint. Expect one or two rooms unavailable at a time, some paint smell even with low-odour products, and noise during sanding. Opening windows helps enormously. Plan to sleep in a room that is not being painted that day.

Talk to your local team

Expert Painting and Renovation is a family-run, Aussie-local company based in Richmond, with more than 9 years of experience. We tell you exactly what to move and what we will handle before we start, so there are no surprises on day one.

See our house painting services in Melbourne, our house painting page, or our guide to choosing house painters near me.

FAQ

Do I need to move all my furniture?
Not all of it. Move small and valuable items; painters will move and cover larger pieces.

Should I clean the walls first?
No, washing is part of the preparation. Just dust and vacuum the room.

Do I need to be home?
Not usually, as long as the crew has access. Be available by phone for questions about colours or damage found.

What about my pets?
Keep them away from work areas and wet paint. Many owners board pets for exterior jobs.

Related guides

Booked your repaint? Contact Expert Painting and Renovation if you have questions before we start.

About Expert Painting & Renovation

Expert Painting and Renovation is an Aussie-local, family-run company based in Richmond, Melbourne, with more than 9 years of experience in residential and commercial painting and renovation. Our specialists deliver premium workmanship, timely service and durable finishes designed for Melbourne homes.

Whether you need maintenance advice, a single-room refresh or a full home makeover, our team is just a call away.

đź“Ť Our Service Areas Across Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula, Surf Coast & Phillip Island

Melbourne & Bayside

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Surf Coast & Bellarine Peninsula

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