Its spring and you might be having some painting done, here's a few tips:

If your having any rooms painted in your house, here are a few tips:

1. To keep costs down take off vent covers and outlet covers yourself and move any furniture that you can yourself. This does a couple things, it lets the painter paint which is what he does best and it prevents covers and screws from getting lost.
2. Tape off what you don't want to mistakenly get paint on it or make sure the painter has on his quote that thinks like outlets, trim, and door hardware will be taped off.
3. Make sure your painter has plenty of drop clothes to cover floorings and furniture, all flooring and furniture should get a cover over it or a piece of plastic.
4. If the painter has to do any mud work, make sure the vents to your hvac are covered when he sands or your house will be very dusty and your hvac equipment will not run efficently.
5. An average size room should run about $500.00 - this includes all materials and labor for ceilings, walls, and wood base and crown molding. Things like cofferd ceiling will run more.
6. For large rooms, figure .40/psf(wallht x length of wall gives you the sf), .50/psf for ceilings, and $1 a foot for trim work.
7. Take three quotes and be weary of very low numbers, ideally use someone a neighbor recommends or atleast call their references.
8. Be prepared more a minimum of two days work even for just one room.
9. Don't leave any valuables out and plan to keep an eye on the painters.
10. Don't pay for anything up front not even materials, if this guy can't afford the materials and wait a few days to get paid when he is complete, he is not the guy you want to use.
11. Ideally they carry workers comp in the amount of $500,000.00 and general liability in the amount of $500,000.00 as well.
12. Paint smell can be heavy so ideally paint when its cooler and you can open a window.

Hope this helps!

1. For exterior, figure $75/ea for doors and windows, $1 a foot for any soffitt or gutter, $2/psf for any siding, etc.
2. Painter will probably charge $250 - $500 to pressure wash
3. An average size two story brick home with doors and windows and an average amount of siding, gutters, etc. will run $3,000.00 t0 $4,000.00.