My husband and I are doing some side jobs through word of mouth for extra money and I need help in the right way to bid painting a 2 story 4 bedroom house exterior walls and trim , labor only. The repairs have already been done and the house pressured washed. The homeowner is providing the materials and paint. We have our own tools ladders and paint sprayer.

How long do you think it will take? Figure your hourly charge and go from there.

So you think its better to figure an hourly rate at how much an hour? Or would it be better to figure by the square footage of the house and what is the average cost per sq. ft.

Your business, your price. I have no idea what price YOU should charge or what is the average sq. ft. where you live. I charge different rates depending on distance (add more for gas), age of customer(senior discount), height I have to go, inside or outside work etc.