Planning guide

How to prepare your home for painters

By JJ Lengyel, Pelican Painting | October 21, 2026 | 3 min read

A little preparation before painters arrive makes the job quicker, cleaner and less stressful for everyone. Here is what to do, room by room and outside.

Good painters handle the real prep work, such as cleaning, repairs, masking and protecting floors. But there are a few things only the homeowner can do, and doing them ahead of time keeps the schedule on track. This checklist covers interior painting and exterior painting.

Before the job: the big decisions

• Finalise your colours and write down the exact names and codes, room by room.
• Get HOA approval for exterior colours if your community requires it (see our HOA approval guide).
• Confirm the scope in writing: which rooms, walls, ceilings, trim, doors and closets, or which exterior surfaces.
• Plan around your life. Guests, events and travel are easier around a painting schedule than in the middle of one.

Inside the house

1. Clear small items. Ornaments, lamps, books, electronics and anything breakable.
2. Take things off the walls. Pictures, mirrors, clocks, shelves and TV mounts if they are coming down. Leave the nails in if you want things back in the same place.
3. Make space. Move small furniture out of the room if you can. Larger pieces are usually moved to the centre and covered.
4. Clear closets if they are being painted.
5. Remove window treatments such as curtains and blinds if the frames and walls behind them are being painted.
6. Point out problem areas: stains, cracks, water marks or anything you want special attention on.
7. Protect valuables. Put away jewellery, documents and anything of sentimental value.

Outside the house

1. Clear the perimeter. Move patio furniture, grills, planters, toys and decorations away from the walls.
2. Trim plants back from the house so there is room to work and the walls can be reached.
3. Turn off sprinklers for the painting days so they do not wet fresh paint.
4. Plan for the pool area. Covers or clear paths help if work is happening near the pool.
5. Unlock gates and make sure side yards can be reached.
6. Move vehicles away from the house, especially if the garage door or nearby walls are being painted.
7. Check for wasp and bee nests under eaves and point them out.

Practical details

• Parking: space for a work vehicle, and any community rules on contractor parking.
• Water and power: access to an outside tap and an outlet.
• Gate or building access: codes, passes, elevator bookings for condos.
• Pets: a plan to keep them away from the work area.
• Kids: a reminder that ladders and wet paint are off limits.
• Contact: the best way to reach you during the day.

The first day

A short walkthrough at the start is worth it. Confirm colours, areas and any special instructions, show where things are kept, and agree how the end of each day will look: which rooms will be usable, and where materials will be stored.

During the job

• Avoid touching fresh paint, and keep doors and windows from closing on wet trim.
• Keep ventilation going, especially in bathrooms and kitchens.
• Raise any questions as they come up rather than at the end.

After the job

• Do a final walkthrough together and point out anything that needs a touch up.
• Ask for leftover paint, labelled by room, for future touch ups.
• Wait a few days before rehanging heavy items, and be gentle with fresh walls while the paint cures.
• Keep the colour names and codes somewhere safe.

Questions we hear

Ready to get on the schedule? See interior painting and exterior painting, or call (727) 490-9640 any time, 24/7.