Don't spend too much to paint your home! Like other products and services, there are deals to be had when it comes to hiring a professional to paint the interior or exterior of your home. Typically, the cost for painting a 2,500-square-foot home costs around $4,000 for the exterior and around $5,500 for the interior, including labor and materials. A professional painter can charge anywhere from $20 to $60 an hour, with $40 an hour being most common. While this can feel expensive, there's nothing like a fresh coat of paint to create a new, warm feel. Plus, there are ways to cut the cost when working with a professional, including researching local deals, using a free online service, and doing some of the work yourself. Read on to find out how to score deals on house painting nearby.

One of the best ways to find a deal on a local painter to refresh a home is to research local coupon sites. Sites like Groupon or Local Saver specific to cities can help homeowners find local house painters, supporting the community at an affordable price. House painting companies create deals - for example, 40 percent off the regular price of painting three bedrooms and a hallway - that homeowners can buy and then redeem when ready. When shopping these types of deals, shoppers need to be aware of the terms of the deal - such as expiration dates and work limits - as well as finding reviews of the house painting companies that are online.

Another way that homeowners can find deals on local house painting is to use an online recommendation service. Three of the more common ones for home improvement are Thumbtack, Angie's List, and HomeAdvisor. Using their apps or websites, homeowners can find established painting companies or freelance house painters look for work. There are filters available to narrow down availability and specific needs. Users can request estimates from profiles of businesses they choose, and users can see if companies are licensed and insured. When customers request quotes, the companies contact them to set up appointments and provide estimates, making the process very convenient. Plus, basic memberships with these organizations are free.

There are still ways to save money with local house painters once a company is chosen and the contract is settled on. The most cost-effective negotiation for homeowners is to put in the contract to do some of the work themselves. Homeowners can help clear the way for professional painters by trimming trees and shrubs, moving furniture and clearing the perimeter for work space, removing outlet covers and switch plates, and prep work like sanding, scraping, and patching. A time-eater like taping windows might also be something that homeowners can do to reduce the cost of a house painter. When it comes to your home, every penny counts!