You’ve booked the crew and picked your colors — now what should you do before day one? A little preparation before your house painters arrive in Newtown, PA protects your belongings, speeds the project, and often keeps the cost down (crews spend less time moving your things and more time painting). Here’s what you’ll learn: exactly what to handle yourself, what the painters take care of, and a room-by-room checklist so nothing gets missed.
Why prep matters (even with a pro crew)
Professional painters handle surface prep — sanding, patching, priming, masking. But the room prep, especially clearing and protecting your belongings, goes faster and safer when you’ve done a little groundwork. The payoff: a quicker job, less risk to your furniture, and a smoother experience for everyone.
What you handle vs. what the painters handle
| You handle | The painters handle |
|---|---|
| Removing breakables, valuables, and wall décor | Moving/covering large furniture |
| Clearing small furniture and clutter | Surface prep: sand, patch, prime, caulk |
| Securing pets and planning parking/access | Masking trim, floors, and fixtures |
| Taking down curtains and small fixtures | Drop cloths and protective sheeting |
| Pointing out problem areas and priorities | The painting itself and cleanup |
Knowing the split means you won’t waste effort taping off trim (they’ll do it better) — but you will get the personal, breakable, and valuable items to safety.
Your room-by-room prep checklist
Work through this before the crew’s start date — clearing rooms for painters is the single biggest time-saver:
- Remove wall décor. Take down art, mirrors, shelves, and TVs; pull nails/anchors from walls you want smooth.
- Clear the surfaces. Empty shelves, mantels, and countertops in the work zones.
- Move small furniture out. Relocate lamps, side tables, and chairs to another room.
- Center large furniture. Slide big pieces to the middle so the crew can cover them and reach the walls (or ask them to).
- Protect what stays. For protecting floors during painting, the crew brings drop cloths — but lifting rugs and clearing floors helps.
- Take down window treatments. Remove curtains, blinds, and hardware you don’t want painted around.
- Handle electronics. Unplug and move computers and media gear; note anything delicate.
Prepping the walls themselves
Your painters do the technical prep, but a couple of things help:
- Point out problems — stains, cracks, water spots, or past repairs — so they’re addressed.
- Clean greasy areas in kitchens if you can; it helps paint bond.
- Don’t over-tape. Leave masking to the pros; DIY tape lines often bleed or pull finish.
People, pets, and access
The logistics that keep a painting day running smoothly:
- Pets: plan a quiet, closed-off room or a day out — open doors, ladders, and fumes aren’t pet-friendly.
- Kids: keep them clear of wet paint and equipment.
- Parking & entry: leave a spot for the crew and a clear path to the work areas.
- Color confirmation: have your final colors and sheens decided before day one to avoid delays.
What painters need from you
The short version of what painters need from homeowners: access, decisions, and a clear space. Confirm colors and sheens, clear and protect the rooms, secure pets, and flag any concerns up front. Do that and prepping your home for a repaint becomes a genuinely faster, smoother painting project.
A little prep goes a long way
If your rooms are cleared, your valuables are safe, and your colors are locked in before the crew arrives, you’ve set the project up to move quickly and finish clean. Anything you’re unsure about, just ask — a good crew would rather answer a question than work around a surprise.
We make this easy for our clients. Our interior painting team walks you through exactly what to prep, and our proven process is built to protect your home and keep things moving. Because the technical surface prep is on us, your only job is to clear the space and pick your colors. For a general homeowner prep primer, This Old House is a helpful reference.
Ready to get started?
A well-prepped home makes for a faster, cleaner, less stressful paint job. Aspen Painting & Wallcovering serves homeowners across Newtown, Pineville, and the surrounding Bucks County communities — and we’ll tell you exactly how to prep so your project goes smoothly. Clean, Courteous, Reliable, start to finish.
Call 215-773-8422 or book a free, no-pressure estimate. We’ll walk your space, share a prep plan, and get your repaint on the calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do before the painters arrive?
Remove wall décor and breakables, clear small furniture and clutter, center or clear large pieces, take down curtains, secure pets, and confirm your colors and sheens. The crew handles surface prep, masking, and protecting large furniture and floors.
Do I need to move all my furniture?
Not entirely. Move small and valuable items yourself and clear the floors; your painters will slide and cover the large pieces. Doing the small-item clearing yourself speeds the job and keeps your belongings safest.
Do painters move furniture and cover floors?
Yes — a professional crew moves and covers large furniture and lays drop cloths to protect floors. Clearing rugs and small items ahead of time just helps them work faster and more safely.
Should I tape off the trim myself?
No — leave masking to the painters. DIY tape lines often bleed or peel finish when removed. Pros mask trim, floors, and fixtures properly as part of the job.
How can I make my painting project go faster?
Clear and protect the rooms, secure pets, confirm colors and sheens in advance, and point out any problem areas up front. Access and locked-in decisions are what let the crew paint instead of waiting or working around obstacles.
Ray is an inspiring leader with a strong work ethic stemming from his exemplary upbringing in a caring and loving family environment. His parents modeled the importance of integrity and hard work to him and his siblings, values which Ray now instills in his teenage daughter. As the owner of Aspen Painting & Wallcovering, Inc., he leads by example by expecting nothing but the best from himself and his employees. His primary goal is to provide superior service and quality craftsmanship to each of his clients so that they become enthusiastic ambassadors for the company. Ray is a passionate team player who always strives to exceed expectations.