Decide if you will need extra colors, which means the purchase of additional paint. Factor in both interior and exterior paint at $40 per gallon. A gallon of paint gives approximately one coat of coverage for every 360 square feet of wall. Add that to your total.
Of course it takes a lot of time on the job to become a really good painter, but not all jobs require that fine touch. If you work with someone who does have years of experience, you’ll be corrected when you err, and painting mistakes can almost always be corrected (learning how to fix them should be one of your priorities).

Of course, there is no set timeline since every home is different. However, there are some guidelines to follow, although several factors can change the timing.
Use soap and water to clean up latex paints, and paint thinner to clean up alkyd paints. Clean your brushes and gear right after painting. Do not ever pour paint thinner or excess paint down the drain or onto the ground—this is a very serious source of ground-water pollution. Keep old paint and solvents in an old sealed paint can, and dispose of it at a toxic-waste collection site. Don Vandervort has developed his expertise for more than 30 years, as Building Editor for Sunset Books, Senior Editor at Home Magazine, author of more than 30 home improvement books, and writer of countless magazine articles. He appeared for 3 seasons on HGTV’s “The Fix,” and served as MSN’s home expert for several years. Don founded HomeTips in 1996. Read more about Don Vandervort