Make a room-by-room list
List walls, ceilings, baseboards, doors, frames, closets, and built-ins separately. Mark rooms that need drywall repair, stain blocking, wallpaper removal, or extra protection. If the home is occupied, identify where belongings can be moved and which rooms need to remain accessible.
Choose finishes for use and light
Think about cleaning needs, wall condition, and how daylight changes a color. Test samples in the actual room, including evening artificial light. Ask for a written product and sheen schedule instead of relying on a verbal color choice.
Discuss the working sequence
Agree on room order, furniture movement, floor protection, ventilation, daily cleanup, and access. For a seasonal property, determine who will approve samples, receive updates, and perform the final walkthrough if you are away.
Finish with a walkthrough
Check coverage, trim edges, patched areas, doors, and cleanup in normal lighting. Record touch-ups before the crew leaves and retain the color and product information for future maintenance.
If the home was built before 1978, ask about lead-safe work practices before disturbing old painted surfaces.