What your crew handles
A professional crew will move and cover furniture, mask floors and fixtures, and remove switch plates and outlet covers as part of standard prep. You generally don't need to do this yourself, but knowing what's included helps set expectations.
What's helpful to do beforehand
Clearing small, breakable, or sentimental items off shelves and walls reduces risk and speeds up the crew's setup. Taking down curtains or blinds in rooms being painted, if you're comfortable doing so, also saves setup time, though most crews can do this too.
Very large or heavy items
For pieces too large for the crew to move easily — large sectionals, china cabinets, pianos — clearing a path or having them positioned toward the center of the room in advance helps, but you don't need to move them out of the house.
Pets and kids on painting days
It's worth planning where pets will be during active painting, since doors are often propped open for ventilation and drop cloths and equipment are in high-traffic areas. Most homeowners find it easiest to keep pets in an unaffected room or outside during the workday.
Access and parking
Make sure crews have clear access to the areas being painted and, if relevant, a place to park a work van or trailer near the house — this matters more on narrow LA streets than it might elsewhere.