Hi,

We are getting a carpenter to build a entry way bench/cabinet system. The carpenter comes with good recommendation from friends and we like working with him. He told us from the beginning of the conversation that he doesn't do the paint. He only does the woodwork, staining, and installation.
The work we ordered looks something like this.


The carpenter will stain the bench with dark wood color to match our floor.

He gave us a name of a guy who can do the paint. While the carpenter's price(2k) for work is reasonable, the painter(500) isn't. My husband thought maybe we can paint it. We are planning to paint it white/beige color. But more i think about it, I think it's pretty complicated job. Since he won't let us or the painter paint at his workshop, he would deliver and install the whole unit unpainted. Whoever does the paint would have to take the hinge off the door, take the hooks off, paint the unit, paint the door, rehook the door, put the hook in again.

Should we:

1. Paint ourselves. It's not that bad. We do have all the tools including sanding stuff from our in-laws.
2. Hire the painter. 500 is reasonable. BTW, if I want to compare the price by trying to hire my own painter, how do we go about it? Do we find people who paint house and ask if they paint furniture too?
3. Go with someone else who does build and paint too. Even thought this is probably going to be over 4k job with other guys(we already asked a few people).