We just bought a townhome in Surrey - should we repaint before moving in or after?

Painting before you move furniture in is almost always the better approach, especially in a Surrey townhome where rooms tend to be on the narrower side. Empty rooms are faster and cheaper to paint because there is nothing to move, cover, or work around. Your painter can finish more efficiently, which usually shaves a day or two off the timeline and saves you money on labour.

With an empty home, the crew can prep and roll entire walls without cutting around furniture or worrying about overspray on your belongings. They can also address the ceilings much more easily - ceiling work is the most disruptive part of an interior paint job, and doing it over bare floors is far less stressful.

If your townhome is a new build from a Surrey or Langley developer, keep in mind that builder-grade paint is typically the cheapest flat finish available. It scuffs easily, marks up within months, and often has poor coverage. Upgrading to a quality eggshell or satin finish on the walls before moving in means you start fresh with durable, washable surfaces.

One practical tip: coordinate your painting schedule with your flooring installer if you are replacing carpet or vinyl. Paint first, floors second. Painters inevitably drip, and it is much easier to protect subfloor or old carpet than brand-new luxury vinyl plank.

Your best next step is to book your painter for the week after possession but before the movers arrive. Most Metro Vancouver painters can turn around a full townhome interior in three to five days.

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