You do not need to empty your entire home before the painters arrive. You do need a clear agreement about what is being painted, who is moving what, and which rooms must stay usable. Sort those details early and the rest of the preparation becomes much simpler.

The short checklist

  • Confirm every room and surface included in the quote.
  • Ask who will move heavy furniture and remove wall fixtures.
  • Pack away small, fragile and personal items.
  • Clear a safe path from the entrance to each work area.
  • Finalise colours and finishes before the agreed start date.
  • Point out stains, cracks, peeling paint and previous repairs.
  • Plan around children, pets, work calls and rooms you still need to use.

1. Confirm the exact painting scope

Walk through the written quote room by room. Check whether it includes walls, ceilings, skirting boards, doors, door frames, windows, wardrobes and other joinery. A phrase such as "paint bedroom" can mean different things to different people, so the individual surfaces should be clear.

Also identify anything that is staying as it is. You may want to leave natural timber unpainted, keep one feature wall, or exclude the inside of built-in cupboards. Marking those decisions before work starts is easier than resolving them once a room has been set up.

If the scope is still taking shape, an on-site painting quote gives the painter a chance to inspect the surfaces and discuss access with you.

2. Decide what happens to furniture and fixtures

Ask the painter how much space they need around the walls and what their quote allows for. Small pieces are usually best removed from the room. Larger furniture may be moved to the centre, moved into another room or handled in stages, depending on the size and layout of the home.

Do not assume that heavy wardrobes, beds, artwork, televisions, blinds or curtain tracks are included. Agree on those items in advance, especially if something needs a specialist to disconnect or reinstall it.

Keep one list for each room. Note what you will remove, what the painter will move and what must stay in place. This is more useful than a single house-wide list when work is being staged.

3. Pack away the small things

Remove photos, ornaments, books, lamps, loose electronics and anything fragile from the work area. Pack them into labelled boxes and store the boxes in a room that is outside the current stage of work.

Take down light items from the walls once you have agreed who is responsible for hooks, brackets and fixings. If a picture will return to the same spot, tell the painter before a hook is removed or a hole is filled.

It is also worth emptying the top of cupboards and clearing shelves close to the walls. Even when those surfaces are not being painted, open space makes the room easier to protect and move through.

4. Make access simple

Clear the route between the entrance, work rooms and any agreed storage or wash-up area. Move shoes, floor lamps, side tables, toys, pet bowls and loose rugs out of the path. If the property has a lift, loading rules, limited parking or building access hours, pass those details on before the start date.

Apartment owners may also need to check what their strata manager requires for contractor access, lift protection or work hours. The rules vary between buildings, so use your building's current instructions rather than assuming.

5. Finalise colours and finishes

Colour decisions tend to take longer when they are made room by room during the job. Confirm the selected colour for each surface and record the paint name or code clearly. If you are using similar whites across walls, ceilings and trim, label them carefully so there is no ambiguity.

Discuss sheen as well as colour. Walls, ceilings, doors, trim and wet areas may call for different finishes. The right choice depends on the surface, the room and the look you want, so include it in the pre-start conversation rather than relying on a colour name alone.

For broader help with scope and finishes, see the residential painting service guide.

6. Point out damage and previous repairs

Show the painter any cracks, water marks, peeling areas, recurring mould, old patching or sections that have been difficult to coat in the past. Mention leaks or moisture problems even if the surface currently looks dry. Paint cannot resolve the cause of a building problem, and the cause may need attention before decoration begins.

Avoid sanding, scraping or filling simply to "help" unless it has been discussed. Preparation is part of the coating system, and unplanned DIY work can change what the painter finds when the job starts. If an existing coating or building material is unknown, ask what should be checked before disturbing it.

7. Plan for life during the job

Decide which rooms must remain available and explain that during scheduling. A home office, nursery, kitchen or only bathroom may affect the order of work. If several rooms are included, a staged sequence can be easier to live with than opening up the whole home at once.

Keep children and pets away from active work zones, equipment and stored materials. Choose a door or gate arrangement that works for everyone entering the property, and make sure the painter knows about pets that may try to escape when doors are opened.

If you work from home, flag important calls or quiet periods. Painting still involves movement, surface preparation and equipment, so it helps to agree on expectations rather than hoping a particular room will be silent.

What to confirm before the start date

A short pre-start check should cover the practical details that are easy to miss:

  • the rooms, surfaces and exclusions in the scope
  • the final colours and finishes
  • who moves furniture and removes fixtures
  • where equipment and materials can be stored
  • parking, keys, alarms, lifts and building access
  • the order of rooms and any spaces that must remain usable
  • how changes or newly discovered repairs will be discussed

Once those points are settled, your own preparation can stay focused: pack the small items, clear the paths and make each room ready for the agreed stage.

Ready to plan the repaint?

GTS Painting Projects provides interior painting for Sydney homes and apartments. To discuss your rooms, surfaces and access, request an on-site quote or call 0424 002 044.