Just like you may have to think carefully about which contractor to hire, the size of the team is just as important. In my experience, from years in the industry, I have witnessed homeowners making a blunder by hiring the wrong people for the job in an attempt to save a buck or two. Moreover, often the budget on home-upgrade projects runs dry mid-project, resulting in less money left to fund the painting process that often comes last,

Hiring the right team for the job is crucial as the quality of work and its timely completion can often be hampered by the wrong team. It is necessary therefore to look at the pros and cons that will go along with two of the most common scenarios, when it comes to residential painting contractors—the "one man painting show" and the "small scale painting crew".

Don’t get me wrong; there are many fantastic solo painters that I could recommend. However, one has to be realistic as whether or not a solo painter is the right fit for your project. Who you hire depends predominantly on the scope and size of the job. Lets looks at the pros and cons of each:‍

When is it a good idea to hire a solo painter? ‍

1) Projects that are small scale

2) very little preparation required

3) Time frame is not an issue

Pros

Saves money
Can terminate project at any time

Cons

Client has to be available to supply paint/materials at any time of day
Supervision and constant snagging is needed
Can take a long time to complete job
Very little recourse if something goes wrong

When is it a good idea to hire a team of  professional small-scale residential painting contractors ? ‍

1) Medium to large project size or scope of work
2) Lots of prep work required
3) Busy lifestyle doesn’t permit you, the homeowner, to be on site.

Pros

Quality paints at the correct quantities are provided by the contractor
Painting crew is supervised ensuring that the objectives are reached
Recourse action can be taken - depending on the contractor you hire

Cons

Will generally cost more that a solo painter
Deposit may be required before commencement
Additional items can exceed initial budget incurring extra costs

Once you have an idea of the scope of work for your residential painting project, you will likely have an idea of the kinds of team you wish to hire. However, under budget constraints it may be useful to further weigh up the pros and cons of each option so that you are able to make best decision that is a perfect for your desired quality of workmanship as well as for your pocket.