How to Prepare Your Home for a Painting Contractor

Hiring a professional painting contractor is one of the best ways to ensure a clean, long-lasting, and beautiful finish—but your role as the homeowner doesn’t end once you’ve booked the job. With a little preparation, you can make the process faster, safer, and more efficient.

If you’re in Strand, Gordon’s Bay, or Somerset West, here’s a helpful checklist to prepare your home before Fair Value Painters arrive.

1. Move Small Furniture and Décor Items

While we’re happy to help with large pieces, we recommend that homeowners:

Clear out smaller furniture (side tables, lamps, chairs)
Remove decorative items from shelves and walls (clocks, mirrors, paintings)
Take down curtains, blinds, and rods if painting near windows

This protects your belongings and gives our painters space to work efficiently.

2. Cover or Relocate Valuables

We always take care to cover floors and furniture, but it’s a good idea to store away:

Electronics
Fragile items
Houseplants
Rugs

If you’re short on storage space, simply move items to the center of the room—we’ll cover them with drop cloths.

3. Clear the Walls

It may sound obvious, but many homeowners forget to:

Remove nails and picture hooks
Take off switch plate and socket covers
Patch small holes (or let us know—you can include it in your quote)

Having clean, clear walls saves time on paint day and ensures a more seamless finish.

4. Clean the Surfaces (Lightly)

Before our team arrives, a quick wipe-down of dirty walls—especially in kitchens or near light switches—can make a big difference. Removing surface grease, dust, and cobwebs helps paint adhere better.

Don’t worry about deep cleaning or sanding—Fair Value Painters will handle full surface prep.

5. Provide Access to Key Areas

Make sure we can easily access:

Driveways or garages for equipment
Water taps (for cleaning brushes or prepping walls)
Electrical outlets (for lighting and tools)
Entry points (unlock gates, doors, and security systems)

If you won’t be home, let us know in advance so we can make proper arrangements.

6. Secure Pets and Children

For safety reasons, it’s best to keep pets and small children away from painting zones. The smell of paint, open ladders, and tools can pose risks. Plan ahead for a temporary play area or take pets to a relative or pet sitter, especially during exterior or multi-room projects.

7. Ask Questions and Set Expectations

Before we begin, we’ll walk through the project and confirm:

The colours, finishes, and surfaces being painted
The estimated timeline
Any special considerations (e.g., repairs, feature walls, accent colours)

Feel free to ask questions. We want you to feel comfortable every step of the way.

Why Proper Prep Makes All the Difference

When you prepare your home properly, we’re able to:

Start promptly
Work more efficiently
Reduce the risk of damage
Finish faster—so you can enjoy your freshly painted home sooner

At Fair Value Painters, we handle every job with care, whether it’s a single room or your entire home in Somerset West, Strand, or Gordon’s Bay. We’ll guide you through the prep process and help make your painting experience stress-free from start to finish.

📞 Call: 067 643 5319
📧 Email: nazeem@fvpainters.co.za
🌐 Visit: www.fvpainters.co.za