🎨 Should You Paint Your New House Before Moving In? (Here’s What this Family Did in South Elgin)
Just bought a house and already hate the colors? You’re not alone.
When Zac and Natalie closed on their new home in South Elgin, they had big dreams—and zero desire to stare at orange sponge-painted walls while unpacking. So before a single box made it through the door, they gave us a call.
And boy, are they glad they did.
Let’s walk through what we did for them—and why painting before you move in can save you time, stress, and money down the road.
🛠️ Real-World Project: South Elgin’s “Before We Unpack” Makeover
Zac and Natalie’s home was a 4-bedroom, 1-office fixer-upper with great bones but a lot of… let’s just say… questionable choices.
- 🍊 Dining room had a burnt-orange faux finish wall
- 🕯️ Candle soot stained the ceilings and upper walls
- 🧱 Trim was half-painted in a muddy brown—and they couldn’t unsee it
- 🧰 DIY patch jobs everywhere (we suspect a YouTube crash course was involved)
To save money, they tackled some of the prep themselves: removing old shelves, painting closets, and even trying to touch up door frames (spoiler: we had to redo most of those). But hey, sweat equity counts.
What we handled:
✅ Full drywall repair
✅ Ceilings with soot-blocking primer
✅ Walls painted throughout
✅ Window and base trim (some previously botched)
✅ Priming over odd color transitions
🛑 Oops Moment Alert:
One of the rooms had a strong lingering paint smell… why? The prior owner had layered cheap “odor cover” paint over candle damage. It took us three coats of primer and GARDZ to finally neutralize it. Lesson learned? Always prep properly—or you’ll just be sealing in stink.
🤔 Why Paint Before Moving In?
You’ve probably heard this myth before:
“You should live in the house first to feel what color fits.”
Sounds poetic. But here’s the reality:
🛋️ Moving furniture twice? Not fun.
🎨 Waiting to paint usually means never getting around to it.
😣 You end up living with colors you hate for months—or years.
Natalie said it best:
“I knew if we moved in first, we’d never touch those walls. Life gets too busy. I wanted to feel at home from day one.”
✅ Pros & Cons of Pre-Move-In Painting
Pros:
- No furniture in the way – Cleaner and faster work
- Less stress – No kids or pets breathing in paint fumes
- Fresh start – Paint over candle soot, old DIY jobs, or outdated colors
- Better outcome – We can spot hidden issues (like cracked drywall)
Cons:
- Budget timing – You’re already spending a lot on closing and moving
- Tight timelines – Gotta plan right after you get the keys
- Touch-ups – If new carpet or furniture gets scuffed, a few fixes may follow
⏳ How Long Does It Take?
| Scope | Time Needed | What’s Included |
|---|---|---|
| Walls only | 4–5 days | All rooms, basic prep |
| Walls + ceilings | 5–6 days | Adds ceiling paint, minor repairs |
| Full interior (walls + trim) | 7–8 days | Trim repaint, priming, cleanup |
| Add doors + closets | 8–10+ days | Detailed work, multiple coats |
Zac and Natalie’s job was a 5-day plan—but once they added trim, ceilings, and a few “while you’re here” requests… we wrapped up in 7 days flat.
💰 What Does It Cost?
For homes like this in South Elgin, Bartlett, or Crystal Lake, here’s a ballpark:
| Scope | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Walls Only | $5,000–$6,500 |
| Walls + Ceilings | $6,000–$7,500 |
| Full Interior + Trim | $7,000–$9,500 |
| With Doors & Closets Added | $9,000–$11,000+ |
🛠️ DIY Tip: Want to save? Do your own closets, bathroom walls, or hardware removal. Sarah and Mike saved over $1,200 with some elbow grease.
🧱 Hot Trends for 2025 Interior Painting
Want to love the look of your home from Day One? These are the top-requested styles in the Chicago suburbs:
- 🎨 Greige walls with crisp white trim (Sherwin-Williams “Agreeable Gray” or BM “Revere Pewter”)
- 🎯 Accent walls in navy, emerald, or charcoal
- 🧻 Wallpaper bathrooms – bold prints in small spaces
- 🖼️ Textured feature walls – think board and batten or wood slat walls
We include free color consultations, so no stress if you’re color-shy.
🙋♀️ FAQs: Painting Before You Move In
1. Can I move in right after the paint dries?
Technically yes—but we recommend a 1–2 day buffer for dry time and airing out.
2. What about new carpet?
We paint before it’s installed! That way no stress over spills. A few trim touch-ups after install are common.
3. Will you work with my timeline?
Yes. We often start the same day our clients close. Just give us a heads-up during your final walk-through.
4. What if I want to do part of it myself?
Perfect. We’ll help you figure out what makes sense—closets, bathrooms, or door frames are common DIY spots.
5. Do you help with drywall repairs too?
Absolutely. We fixed dozens of seams, cracks, and dents for the Jones family. GARDZ primer is our secret weapon.
🏁 Final Word: Paint First, Settle In Happy
Painting before move-in is like setting the tone for your new life. Clean walls, calm colors, and no regrets about putting it off.
Whether you’re in South Elgin, Bartlett, Lake in the Hills, or Crystal Lake, our team can help you love your home before the first box lands on the floor.
📺 Watch the full transformation
👉 D’Franco Painting & Wallpaper YouTube
💸 Don’t forget!
Ask about our “Give $200, Get $200” referral program!
🎯 Ready to get started?
📅 Book your estimate
✔️ Free color consults
✔️ Background-checked painters
✔️ Free touch-ups for one year