“We live in Vancouver and we’re moving to Victoria. We just bought a house, and we need a painter who can work with our realtor to get access and paint it before we move in.”
If that sounds like you — whether you’re coming from Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, or anywhere else — you’re not alone, and you don’t need to be standing in the house to start planning your pre-move-in painting.
The Challenge of Hiring From Out of Town
You’re hiring contractors in a community you may not know well, giving someone access to a home you’ve just purchased (possibly before you’ve spent a single night in it), and trying to coordinate everything from another city. You can’t just drive over when a question comes up, and you probably don’t know which local painting companies are established and reliable.
That uncertainty is stressful on top of an already stressful move.
How We Plan Before You Arrive
Pride Painting has established teams serving the Nanaimo and Greater Victoria areas. Depending on the property, we can often begin planning using:
- The real-estate listing
- Listing photographs
- Floor plans
- A video walkthrough
- Photos from your realtor
- A walkthrough with a local representative or keyholder
From there, we can start identifying scope, potential repairs, colour decisions and scheduling — before possession day. This follows the same step-by-step process we use for every pre-move-in project, just adapted for remote coordination. An on-site review may still be needed to confirm the final price and scope, but you don’t have to wait until moving week to start the conversation.
The earlier we know your dates, the more options you have.
Staying Involved Without Being There
You remain part of every important decision without needing to physically stand in the room for it. That can mean:
- Working through a realtor, property manager or local keyholder for access
- A lockbox or another agreed-upon access arrangement
- Phone calls, photos, and video meetings (Zoom or Google Meet) to stay aligned
- Progress photos throughout the project
Questions Out-of-Town Buyers Often Ask
“I just bought a house in Victoria and take possession two weeks before I move in. Is it worth painting before the furniture arrives?”
In most cases, yes — an empty home is faster and easier for our crew to work in, and you avoid painting around a house full of belongings later.
“Can I hire painters in Nanaimo to paint my house before I move to Vancouver Island?”
Yes. We regularly plan and complete projects like this using the listing, photos, and your possession dates before you’ve arrived.
“Is painting an empty house cheaper than painting after we’ve moved in?”
Often, yes — less furniture to move and protect generally means a more efficient job. Size, condition and scope still affect the final price.
“What should I get done between possession day and moving day?”
Painting is one of the best things to knock out in that window, since it’s disruptive to do once you’re settled in. We can help you figure out what realistically fits — see our guide on how much to paint before moving in for the options.
Related Reading
- How Pre-Move-In Painting Works: A Step-by-Step Guide
- How Much Should You Paint Before Moving In? Choosing the Right Scope
Send us your property address, real-estate listing, and possession/move-in dates on our Pre-Move-In Interior Painting page, and we’ll tell you what’s realistic before you’ve even arrived on the Island.
Pride Painting Ltd. — pre-move-in interior painting for buyers relocating to Victoria, Nanaimo, Saanich, Sidney, Langford, Oak Bay, Ladysmith, Parksville and surrounding Vancouver Island communities.