If you are getting your home’s exterior painted by a professional, most company’s will take care of the prep work. But if you are doing the work yourself, there is plenty of preparatory work you can and should do to make the job go smoother and thus faster and more cost-effective.

1. Wash the Exterior

For starters, you need to make sure that the surface on which you plan to apply the paint is clean. One of the biggest causes of paint jobs gone wrong are dirty walls fouling things up by causing pumps or dirt and debris to show through the paint color being applied. You don’t want to have hundreds or even thousands of dollars’ worth of paint be spoiled by an undercoat of filth, so washing the walls with soap and water beforehand is essential. Simply hosing down your wall beforehand can save you a lot of frustration later on.

2. Scrape and Sand Away Imperfections

The same reasoning holds for scraping away bumps, crannies, and other imperfections. Sand the area down until it’s as smooth as needed for painting. Conversely, if you are repainting an old wall, you might want to chip away at the preexisting paint so as to provide your painters with a clean canvas. This can likewise keep the old paint from showing through and polluting the new color.

3. Apply Caulk and Repairs First

One of the biggest mistakes people make when having their homes painted is waiting until after they have already done so to affect repairs. Doing so will only ruin the nice, neat sheen and even color you are trying to achieve. Make sure you have performed any repairs that are necessary, including caulking up any holes or crannies, before proceeding with the paintjob.

4. Clear Away Plants and Debris

You also don’t want plants getting in the way of your paint job and getting painted and trapped underneath the fresh coat of paint. On the flip side, you don’t want flecks of paint to ruin them. You should therefore clear away any debris and move or cover any plants before painting. Ideally, you should make sure that your foliage is covered with a tarp that is thick enough to keep the paint away while not crushing your plants. If possible, try and temporarily move any potted plants.

5. Apply Primer

A professional painter should typically do this themselves, but if you want to get a jump on the action or are looking to paint your exterior yourself, you’ll first want to prime the surface. This makes it easier to paint the surface in a smooth and easy fashion. The less painters have to fight rough patches, the smoother the paint job will be in terms of both the time it takes to complete as well as the texture.

These simple steps can help ensure that your property is properly prepared to be painted.