Buying a new property can be a stressful experience. Not only we spend a lot on the property itself but also we have to cover all the additional cost associated with the purchase and move. Estate agents, mortgage brokers, bankers, solicitors, lawyers, moving company employees, all these nice people you meet want to be paid for their work. In the end you are left alone standing in front of your new home with a shiny set of keys in one hand and set of bills to pay in another. If you have done your research properly and have found good moving company, boxes with your precious belongings were carried inside. If not, though. You will have to carry them inside all by yourself.

But lets get to the point. If you want to save on redecorating your new property just do it yourself. It easy. If I've managed to do it, everyone can. You have to devote your time and effort though. If you have friends and family ready to help for pizza or crate of beer the better. It will cut the time necessary for the task.

Here are quick steps:

1. Examine walls and ceilings. Is there a wallpaper or paint? What is their general condition? (surprisingly I came across properties where somebody put wallpaper on ceilings. I'm not saying that is wrong, but if you don't have experience with papering don't even considered doing it. Save yourself a hustle, sore arms, and angry look on your helper's face and paint the ceiling)
2. What would you like to have on these walls? (In this article we will focus of painting.)
3. Buy paint, sandpaper, rollers, brushes, masking tape, and some plaster. Unfortunately there is no way to save on these necessities other than looking for bargains. Always read instructions on paint. If you are unsure it the paint you chose is proper for the task ask in the store just before you buy it.
4. Cover floors. If you're really on budget you can use boxes your belongings arrived or you can buy tarpaulin ground sheet (or similar product).
5. Prepare the surface. Regardless what you want on your walls (and ceiling) that's very important step. Plaster all the wholes and let it dry. Depending on climate leave it for 2 hours to a day to dry. The less plaster you leave on the wall the less work you will have sandpapering the remains off.
Now. If there was a paint it is advisable to sandpaper the surface. It will help new paint to adhere better.
If there is a wallpaper I would advise you to remove it before painting or papering it. In one property I visited I saw 3 layers of wallpaper one on another! And believe me, it doesn't look pretty.
After removing old wallpaper we have a task of cleaning the wall of the old glue. Use dump rags and soap or cleaning liquid.
Unfortunately if you removed old paper and it took off some of the old paint underneath you have a bigger challenge. You have 2 options. Remove all the paint using sandpaper or try to wash of the old paint and glue that was left. That would
depends on the kind of pain that was used there.
6. Using a masking tape cover sockets, bits of door frames.
7. Paint the ceiling first. Once the paint dries use masking tape on the ceiling in the corners preventing ceiling from being painted. Unless you decided to paint the ceiling the same paint as walls.
8. Now the easiest task. Painting. If necessary paint the wall more than once. Remember to wait between each coat. If you do it too soon the paint from previous painting will roll artistically on your roller.
9.When you satisfied with the result, wait for the paint to dry, remove tape from sockets (and ceiling) and its ready for you to move in.

That's easy. Just remember the rule. The better you're prepared the less time it takes for the task.

Chris Kolaczyk