Guitar building is fun, I've got 8 build projects in various stages of "stalled out" right now...
THese kits are a great way to start off, I personally started with a "Saga" Tele kit and went on to piecing guitars together from Ebay/CL/used parts from the store, etc.
http://www.reranch.com/101.htm Read this a couple times, if you follow all these instructions your guitar will look 100% as good as anything at Guitar center. If I (TOTAL HACK) can do it, so can you. These guys are all a bunch of talented luthiers. I've built a couple guitars (and ruined a whole bunch of others, ha ha) They also sell good "Nitrocelluose Lacquer" paint, in rattle (aerosol) cans. You don't NEED nitro, but lots of people like to use it still because it's what all the big guys used back in the 50-60's. (Most current guitars are painted with Catalyzed Urethane, but you need $$$$$$$ UV curing lights to do that stuff) I did a couple guitars with Nitro, and a couple with whatever Krylon is (enamel?) and honestly they look the same, and the enamel resists wear better and is cheaper. But I've never understood the whole "relic guitar" thing, I want mine to look shiny and new as long as possible.
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-home-depot/THese guys are also a big group of really skilled guys, they don't just build Teles and they're really freindly and forthcoming with advice, tips, etc. Especially the mechanics/woodworking part, although they have a separate forum for just the finishing too. THere's lots of good info at both those links above. And really, as long as you don't do a Pete Townsend on your guitar, nothing you do isn't going to be reversible if/when you change your mind.