Interior Painting • Houston TX
Move-Out Turnover Painting
Vacant rentals and apartments repainted between tenants, scheduled around your move-out and move-in dates. Get a free instant quote.
Executive Summary: Move Out Painting Houston
Move out painting in Houston repaints vacant rental units between tenants, with patching, stain sealing and 2 coats in the building standard color.
Units get primer + 2 coats as the standard system. Most units take an estimated 1 to 3 days with a 2 to 4 painter crew. Typical Houston-area pricing is $2.50 to $4.50 per square foot of floor area, or $2,250 to $4,050 for a 900 sq ft unit (estimates).
Heavy drywall repair extends the timeline, and smoke-stained or dark walls need primer because one coat fails. Units built before 1978 need lead paint testing before sanding.
Typical Houston Projects
Three common turnover jobs and how we scope them. These are typical scopes, not past projects.
Example scope: Two-bedroom apartment, Sharpstown (77036)
What to expect: about 1 to 2 days (estimate), usually $2,250 to $4,050 at Houston-area rates.
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Project Size: about 900 sq ft unit
Neighborhood: Sharpstown (77036)
Service: Move-Out Turnover Painting
System: spot primer + 2 coats of building standard eggshell
The Problem: nail holes, scuffs and a greasy kitchen wall
The Solution: fill, patch, degrease, spot-prime, then 2 coats wall to wall
Example scope: Smoke-stained rental, Greenspoint (77060)
What to expect: about 2 to 3 days (estimate); expect $2.50 to $4.50 per sq ft at typical Houston-area pricing.
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Project Size: one-bedroom unit with yellowed walls and ceilings
Neighborhood: Greenspoint (77060)
Service: Move-Out Turnover Painting
System: odor-blocking primer + 2 coats
The Problem: nicotine staining and odor that bleeds through regular paint
The Solution: wash walls, seal with stain-blocking primer, then 2 coats on walls and ceilings
Example scope: Single-family rental, Aldine (77039)
What to expect: about 2 to 3 days (estimate), with Houston-area pricing usually at $2.50 to $4.50 per sq ft.
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Project Size: 3-bedroom house, two rooms with heavy damage
Neighborhood: Aldine (77039)
Service: Move-Out Turnover Painting
System: patch + spot primer + 2 coats
The Problem: doorknob holes, crayon on walls and a dark accent color
The Solution: patch and prime damaged rooms, tinted primer on the accent wall, then 2 coats
Stop Letting Fading & Damage Hurt Your Property Value
Holes and dents from the last tenant
Anchors, nails and doorknobs leave damage in every unit. We patch and spot-prime before paint, and bigger damage goes to Drywall Repair Houston TX.
Smoke and grease that bleed through
Nicotine and kitchen grease come back through regular paint. We clean, then seal with a stain-blocking primer before 2 coats.
Vacancy days that cost rent
Every empty day costs money. We book around your move-out and move-in dates and put the schedule in writing.
Schedule a Walkthrough
We walk the vacant unit, note damage, stains and ceilings, and confirm the building standard color. Your written estimate lists the unit, repairs and schedule.
Our Process: Done Right the First Time
- 1Detailed Estimate & Color ConsultationWe walk the empty unit with you, list every hole, stain and scuff, and confirm the building’s standard color. Owners picking a new standard can start with a Paint Color Consultation Houston TX.
- 2Expert Prep & PaintingFloors get covered and outlets masked. Holes get patched, stains get sealed and kitchen walls get degreased, then 2 coats of the building standard color.
- 3Final Walkthrough & Clean-UpYou or the leasing agent walk the unit before the next tenant. Touch-ups get done on the spot, and all trash leaves with us.
What to Expect: Your Project Timeline
| Stage | When | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Estimate & booking | At move-out notice | Walkthrough, written estimate, dates matched to move-in |
| Prep day | Day 1 | Patching, degreasing, stain-blocking primer |
| Paint application | Day 1 to Day 3 | 2 coats on walls, ceilings if included, then trim |
| Dry & walkthrough | Final day | Walkthrough with the property manager and touch-ups |
| Curing | First few weeks | Paint keeps hardening; new tenants should clean walls gently at first |
These are estimates. Smoke odor or heavy wall damage can add a day.
The Right Time to Schedule Move Out Painting Houston
You have a move-out notice.
Book the walkthrough when notice is given. The paint schedule can be set before the tenant leaves.
Floors need replacing too.
Paint first, then flooring. See Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring Installation Houston for rental-grade floors that handle water.
Kitchens look dated.
Painted cabinets refresh a rental kitchen for less than new ones. See Cabinet Painting Houston TX.
Matching Your Move-In Date
Turnover painting runs year-round. Summer is the busiest move season in Houston, so book as soon as you get notice.
The Henry Contractor Difference
No hidden fees
Your written estimate lists the unit, repairs and schedule before work starts, so the number does not change at invoice.
Local Houston crews
Local Houston crews work rentals in Sharpstown, Greenspoint, Aldine and East Houston every month.
Prep done by the book
Patch, clean, seal, then paint. Units are left broom-clean for the next tenant.
Transparent Pricing for Move Out Painting Houston
| What Affects the Cost | Standard vs. Premium | Hidden Costs to Watch For |
|---|---|---|
| Scope and size: unit size, ceilings, closets | Standard uses one building standard eggshell; premium uses a scrubbable line | Ceilings are a separate line |
| Surface condition and labor: holes, smoke, grease, color changes | Standard spot-primes; premium adds a full stain-blocking coat | Heavy drywall damage priced as its own line |
| Extras: cabinets, doors, trim | Standard covers walls; premium adds doors and trim | Lead paint testing for units built before 1978 |
Typical Houston-area range (estimate): $2.50 to $4.50 per square foot of floor area, or $2,250 to $4,050 for a 900 sq ft unit. Your written estimate after an on-site walkthrough sets the exact price.
Get an Exact Number
Damage and stains vary by tenant. We see the unit and price it in writing.
Move Out Painting Houston vs. DIY vs. Cheap Labor
| Feature | Henry Contractor | DIY | Cheap Labor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prep Work Quality | Patch, clean, seal stains, then 2 coats | Often skipped to save time | Patches painted without primer |
| Time Investment | An estimated 1 to 3 days, ready before move-in | Several weekends | Fast start, uneven finish |
| Material Quality | Washable mid-grade or premium lines | Whatever is on sale | Builder-grade flat |
| Clean-Up Process | Unit swept and trash hauled before turnover | Drips and tape residue left | Clean-up often missed |
| Pricing Transparency | Written estimate before work starts | Supply costs add up | Low quote, add-ons later |
Who We Partner With
Property Managers
You need units back on the market fast. We match your move-in dates.
Apartment Managers
You turn several units a month. We use one standard color so touch-ups match later.
Leasing Managers
You need a unit ready to show. We leave it painted and broom-clean.
Proudly Serving Greater Houston
We proudly provide professional painting services to homeowners and businesses throughout the Greater Houston area, including: The Woodlands, Katy, Sugar Land, Pearland, Cypress, Memorial, and surrounding neighborhoods.
We turn rental units in Sharpstown (77036), Greenspoint (77060), Aldine (77039) and East Houston.
Other interior services are on the Interior Painting Houston TX page.
Frequently Asked Questions
The short answer is an estimated 1 to 3 days for most vacant units, including patching, stain blocking and two coats. We book around your move-out and move-in dates. Heavy wall damage, smoke odor or a color change can add a day, and your written quote says so.
Units in good shape between tenants may need only Interior Touch-Up Painters.
The short answer is about $2.50 to $4.50 per square foot of floor area, or roughly $2,250 to $4,050 to repaint a 900 sq ft unit, based on typical Houston-area pricing. Unit size, wall damage and ceilings move the number. Your written estimate sets the exact price.
A single room typically runs $300 to $800 (estimate) when only part of the unit needs paint.
Move-out turnover painting usually requires filling nail holes and anchors, patching dents and doorknob holes, wiping down greasy kitchen walls, sealing smoke or water stains with a stain-blocking primer and caulking gaps at trim. Outlets get masked and floors covered. Then two coats of the building standard color go on.
Large holes and damaged corners are handled as Drywall Repair Houston TX.
The short answer is full walls, corner to corner, rather than patches. A spot repaint shows as a different sheen once the unit is empty and the light is bright. Nail holes and scuffs are patched and spot-primed first so the finish reads as one surface.
Ceilings are only included when they are marked or stained, which keeps the turnover cost down.
Ready to upgrade your property?
Fill out the free estimate form at the top of the page to get started, or call us directly to schedule your on-site consultation.