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Original poster

Paint before we leave?

26 replies

Shimneycweep · 08/06/2025 18:17

Sold our house and I’m just packing up to leave. I’ll deep clean everything but as I’m moving furniture I’ve seen bits that need painting (walls are all white).

I vote we paint them out of kindness and courtesy, DH says don’t bother. The house we are moving to needs painting and I’m not expecting it to be done, I’m expecting us to do it.

What are your thoughts? What did you do?

OP posts:
Hatty65 · 08/06/2025 18:25

I don't think I would. It's a kind thought, but I would be immediately looking to decorate when I moved into a new home, and white walls are not my thing.

It would be wasted on me because I'd be painting them something different very quickly.

TheLurpackYears · 08/06/2025 18:26

Absolutely not. Save your energy for the new place.

unsync · 08/06/2025 18:31

Nope.

Doris86 · 08/06/2025 18:48

No don’t waste your time and money painting. It probably won’t be to your buyers taste and they’ll likely re do it all anyway.

When I bought my first house, the sellers had freshely painted it all magnolia. I was sick of living in magnolia rental houses and wanted a bit of colour. Within 3 weeks of getting the keys I’d repainted the whole house to my tastes.

Sunnyside4 · 08/06/2025 20:49

Seriously, I wouldn't waste my time. Over the next couple of years, the buyers will make it their own in terms of decoration, flooring, so your hard work will be a short term thing.

hby9628 · 08/06/2025 20:49

Nope. I wouldn’t do this.

JeremyFischer · 08/06/2025 20:54

Jesus, you've got a lot of energy if you're considering that during a house move

Icanttakethisanymore · 08/06/2025 20:55

You’re lovely to think of it but no.

LibertyLily · 08/06/2025 21:04

Definitely not. It would be a complete waste of time if I were your buyer as I'm not a fan of white and I'd be repainting with lots of colour ASAP.

In your position, I'd be saving my energy for my new home.

westcott · 08/06/2025 21:18

Definitely don’t bother. Really other than cleaning, you should leave the house in the state they offered on.

Pipsquiggle · 08/06/2025 22:10

No. A waste of your time and money.

Ketzele · 08/06/2025 23:44

That is lovely and considerate of you - but no! They'll probably redecorate anyway.

flowerpink · 09/06/2025 00:10

Noo they'll only redecorate anyway, plus the buyers obviously wanted to buy it how it is, so I wouldn't worry

user1471505356 · 09/06/2025 08:20

They, the buyers may think you are trying to hide defects.

CloverPyramid · 09/06/2025 09:46

Unless it’s really obvious, I wouldn’t do it. We plan to paint a couple of skirting boards as it turns out they have large coloured paint splashes on them (that don’t match the room) that were hidden by furniture. But I’m not going to go mad touching up everything.

slidingsideways · 09/06/2025 09:57

Leaving the house clean, absolutely yes.

Painting it, no, not necessary. Are there any holes from where you’ve taken down furniture or pictures? Maybe you could fill those neatly so you feel at least you’ve done your bit!

I’ve moved house a lot and honestly all I would like is that it’s clean enough to be able to touch things without catching something and to be able to use the loo. There’s only one property I moved into that I didn’t even do too much cleaning and that was one that had been used very occasionally as an air BNB. It was spotless (I’m not sure it was ever that clean again if I’m being honest), so I just sanitised the kitchen and bathroom surfaces just in case and got on with unpacking. Current house was a very different situation, an experience I try to forget!!

Limehawkmoth · 09/06/2025 10:16

Check your initial questionnaires you completed with solicitor. Some of these state you must fill and repair any holes left with removal of fittings etc. some of them don’t. It depends what you agreed.

I did fill all holes in my old home, painted. It was quick enough job as had paint in garage anyway,

but then I moved into house when they’d not done it, despite the questionnaire saying they needed to. They also left house in mess

what was I go to do? Sue them? Clearly not!

but if you legally agreed (albeit in small print) anything about paint/decor it would be nice to think that most people would be respectful enough to stick with that commitment.

but painting normal rub marks where a sofa has rubbed the wall? It would be courteous to do so, if you have paint to hand..it’ll only take 20 mins to dash round and touch up with quick 1 coat in spepcifc areas.

but it’s unlikely that purchases will complain, and they’re not going to sue you if you don’t.

pimplebum · 09/06/2025 10:17

JeremyFischer · 08/06/2025 20:54

Jesus, you've got a lot of energy if you're considering that during a house move

Agree!!! Very kind but a deep clean is nice enough

Limehawkmoth · 09/06/2025 10:18

user1471505356 · 09/06/2025 08:20

They, the buyers may think you are trying to hide defects.

That’s nonsense…the time for them hiding defects was in survey and before exchange. After completion there’s no need to hide anything..contract has been done and dusted

24Dogcuddler · 09/06/2025 11:42

I’d be mortified if there was recent painting just as we were moving in (waiting for a date atm!) I’m asthmatic and it would be a trigger for me.
It’s lovely you are being so thorough with cleaning though. Hope your buyers appreciate it.
Good luck with it all.

Gownie · 14/06/2025 21:54

Before handing over my old place to the new owners I filled picture hook holes and painted (even when I had to buy a new pot of paint), did some caulking, had the chimney swept, and the lounge carpet professionally cleaned so that it wouldn't smell like my dog to their dog. Yanked out every hint of a weed and went out litter picking. Hit the brasso until the door furniture gleamed). Bought them a new washing up bowl and drainer, as well as a lovely brand new electric stove since something in the Scottish standard contract (name could be wrong) made me think that they might expect mine left but it was a gift. Left toilet roll and kitchen roll, and bin bags in the bins.

I may have over-reacted.

This was around two months after we got the keys to our new house and it was an absolute disaster. Chips and dirt and holes everywhere. Massive gouges in the walls from their furniture being taken out. Thick solid lumps of ketchup on kitchen cupboards. Washing machine filter stank like something had died in it. Did maybe half a dozen cleaning cycles before using the dishwasher felt safe. Gungy disgusting composite sink. Mould around all the windows, on the blinds, and so bad on the porch walls that I only used the back door for the first month. A corner of one of their kids bedrooms was cat pee central. The parents bedroom had mould growing between laminate planks.

That first month of owning my new house was one of the worst times in my life and no way did I want someone else feeling that way. I wanted them to be delighted.

CuarloDeFonza · 14/06/2025 21:56

Shimneycweep · 08/06/2025 18:17

Sold our house and I’m just packing up to leave. I’ll deep clean everything but as I’m moving furniture I’ve seen bits that need painting (walls are all white).

I vote we paint them out of kindness and courtesy, DH says don’t bother. The house we are moving to needs painting and I’m not expecting it to be done, I’m expecting us to do it.

What are your thoughts? What did you do?

New buyer will likely want to put their own mark on things, leave the painting to them. They want your property regardless, don't worry about it.

Fallulah · 14/06/2025 21:56

I wouldn’t. They’ve viewed it and know what they want to do to put their own stamp
on things.

The people we bought from put a thin coat of white emulsion over everything (including the bathroom and the bannisters) to freshen it up, and it’s been nothing but annoying!

Ariela · 14/06/2025 22:06

No, I wouldn't bother. If you really really want to waste your time you could get some sugar soap and wash the worst walls down.

user1471548941 · 14/06/2025 22:09

Pretty sure my vendors thought they were leaving us an immaculately freshly renovated house in tasteful shades of grey! We hated it so much we didn’t even more into the main bedroom until I’d stripped all the grey, painted the woodwork white and the walls burgundy…. Same with lounge, it’s got a crazy navy and gold print wallpaper and my spare room is pink and gold 😂 I think it’s fair to say we have different tastes!