When hiring a painter, either for an interior or exterior project, it is essential to find a high quality professional that can give you the results you are looking for. At the same time, you should do whatever it takes to save money along the way.

The best way to save money on a painting project is to do it yourself. That being said, many people are opposed to this for one reason or the next.

If you come to the conclusion that hiring a professional would be in your best interest, here are three money saving tips to employ:

1. Obtain a minimum of three quotes. Since you do not know what the job truly costs, the only way to get a better idea is to receive multiple quotes for comparison. This will give you a better idea of which company is offering the best deal.

Note: although you may be tempted to choose the painter with the lowest price, there are other details, such as experience and reliability, to consider.

2. Opt for one coat. Is it possible for your walls to be painted without being primed? Is it possible to choose a color that will only require one coat? The answers depend largely on the current color of your walls.

For example, if you have white walls, you may not need a primer. Subsequently, you can save a lot of money. The same holds true if your walls are currently a light color and you are opting for something darker.

3. Pay cash. Many painters will cut you a deal when you pay cash as opposed to with a check or credit card. In fact, do not be surprised if you are offered a discount of as much as 10 percent. This may not sound like a lot, but on a $3,000 job this works out to $300.

These are just a few of the tips you can follow to save money when hiring a professional painter. If you implement one of these, you can expect to save big. If you implement all three, you may be surprised at just how affordable it can be.