Every vacant apartment needs to be painted before it’s placed on the market. Generally, it is best to use off-white colors; these are easy to integrate into any decorating scheme a tenant may choose.  Select a basic color and stick to it.  Buy paint of that color in bulk for economy’s sake and to reduce pilferage.  Nowadays, manufacturers can blend any paint shade exactly, so it is easy to match one lot against another.  This means that, in some cases, you will not have to paint the entire room just because one wall is bad, simply paint the wall that needs it and the blend is perfect.

The Manager (or Owner), rather than the painter, should purchase the paint, so color and quality can be controlled.  Latex paint is used almost universally today.  It wears as well as other paints, is easier to clean up, and does not produce odors that are annoying to tenants in the building. Do not spray paint; use only rollers or brushes.  Spray paint is messy, and you run the risk of over spraying/damaging apartment components (carpeting, appliances).

Have the painters use drop cloths and make them responsible for all spills. Painters also should be responsible for unclogging drains if they clean their brushes and rollers in an apartment sink or tub.
Use semi-gloss paint in kitchens and bathrooms and on painted doors and woodwork, including window frames.  Semi-gloss is more resistant than flat paint to water, dirt, and stains. It is also easier to clean and wears longer.

Do not paint any baked enamel surfaces in the apartment, such as grills, ventilators, or convectors.  These surfaces attract dirt, cannot be washed as easily.  Leave them the way they are.