Outdoor living projects can be an exciting addition to your home — especially when they are done right. There are seemingly endless options when it comes to customizing your perfect backyard paradise.
Yet, for some homeowners, a backyard renovation can be overwhelming and intimidating if you’re not sure where to start. Even if you’re just in the elementary stage of considering a patio or pool project, we encourage you to book a free estimate with one of our hardscape designers. Here are 5 reasons why you shouldn’t wait any longer to book your free consultation.
Getting The Design Just Right
The first design meeting is typically a general discussion of what you’re looking for in an outdoor living project. When one of our designers meets with a prospective client, the topic we first discuss is the reasoning behind the patio installation. Why do you want to build this project in the first place? Do you want a space to entertain friends? Are you looking for fun ways to keep the kids busy at home? How many people do you have over for annual celebrations, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and the Super Bowl?
Answering all of these questions will help you determine what elements you’d like to incorporate in your outdoor living project. Once you get a preliminary design, it’s important to take the time to consider how the space will fit your needs. We encourage homeowners to lay out their design by using a hose, spray paint, or construction flags — we’ve even seen a client use golf balls!
Once you’ve laid out the patio, you should consider the type of furniture you want to use. How many people do you usually host at a dinner party? From there, you can make tweaks to your design plan. As you can see, there are quite a few things to consider. This process can take time to solidify, which is why we encourage homeowners to go ahead and get the process started.
Queue Time
We’re not going to lie; our queue isn’t the shortest. At peak season, you could be looking at waiting over 3 months before we can start your project… Gulp!
At the moment, we have 4 and a half crews running full time. Hardscape projects aren’t easy. This kind of work requires a high level of skill and experience.
People always ask us why we don’t just “hire more guys”. The short answer is that these projects require a certain level of craftsmanship. Bottom line, we’re not going to compromise our quality just to shorten or queue. So getting your design started sooner rather than later will allow you to get your project installed when you want to.
Financial Planning
The truth is that most people have no idea how much these projects cost. And, to be honest, we’re probably not the cheapest contractor you’ll meet with.
Even though you might not be ready pull the trigger on a hardscape project until next year, it’s a good idea to get a bid going. By doing so, you can make a plan to budget for the project. You may find that saving a little bit extra towards your project can get you some awesome features such as a seating wall, fire pit, or grill station. After all, if you’re going to invest in this type of renovation, you might as well make it the perfect space you’ve been longing for.
Material Selections
Most of our clients select their material selections once they’ve already signed up for their project. However, some homeowners often go back and forth with material selections. A month can easily go by while you’re comparing stamped concrete and pavers.
This is also true when comparing elements. Do you want really need that fire pit? Or would you rather invest in a beautiful grill station with a stunning granite countertop? Maybe you’re debating if you should pull the trigger on that custom fireplace you’ve had your heart set on. After all, your flat screen would look awesome hoisted above it.
Comparing Your Contractors
We know that we are probably not the only contractor that you’ll get a bid from, and that’s OK! In fact, we welcome this!
If you ever want to send us a bid from another contractor, we’ll do a free comparative analysis to make sure that you’re really comparing apples to apples. Often if a contractor is significantly cheaper than another, there’s a good reason why.
Sum It Up
As you can see, there are many things to consider when building an outdoor living project. Don’t hold off on waiting until next month to get your free design! Come on, what’s stopping you?
To get started, give one of our team members a call at (816) 741-2035 or click this link.
We look forward to earning your business! Hinkle Hardscapes has served Kansas City and the surrounding areas for over the last decade. We take pride in the work that we do and would be honored to build your outdoor living project.
