saving tips Archives

Tips To Save For Landscaping Upgrades

Posted on May 26, 2017June 26, 2017 by Hidden Creek Landscaping

Creating a beautiful landscape can be done over time, especially if you are restricted by budget. There is no rule that dictates you have to put all desired elements in your landscape all at once. In fact, many breath-taking landscapes you see today took a while to come together. Below are some saving tips you can use to upgrade your landscaping:

Plant Research:

Carrying out research is the best way to get started on any landscaping project. Formulate a plan that covers things like plants and flowers, hardscaping and lighting. Regarding flowers, to get the best results, choose the ones you want to incorporate into the landscape. After which, you can visit a few nurseries, tell them what you are trying to achieve and do a cost analysis to get an idea of what it will cost to get those plant into the landscaping design. Price out what you can comfortably fit into your budget at this time.

Plants are expensive and can take up a big chunk of your budget; therefore, it is important to spend a lot of time thinking about you options in the planning stage of the project. Although mature plants bring instant beauty to the space, buying a smaller version can save you money. Additionally, there are a number of nurseries that have sales on plants. Taking advantage of these sales is a great way to save for your landscape upgrade.

Getting Professional Assistance:

While this might not be automatically seen as a cost-saving tip, hiring a professional could save you from making expensive mistakes that could haunt you for years.

Creating the outdoor space of your dreams could take a while; however, there is no rush and you can work at your own pace. Saving and adding elements over time is a great way to go when creating your landscaping paradise on a budget.

Tips For Homeowners to Save For Landscaping Upgrades

Posted on February 10, 2017March 3, 2017 by Hidden Creek Landscaping

Patio lovers can make their dreams come true this year by saving up for a beautiful new outdoor area. A patio is a perfect spot to relax, entertain, and enjoy the outdoors in every season. Here are some tips for homeowners to save for landscaping upgrades and a lovely patio this year:

Be selective. If you’re working with a budget, you’ll want to be selective about where you spend the bulk of your money. Focus on the must-have features that you want. Do plan to spend money on high quality patio furniture, since it will make your space more stylish and comfortable. Choosing quality outdoor furnishings will also ensure that they hold up well in the outdoors. Think about other features you would love to include, such as a water feature, a heat source like a fire pit, and any kind of outdoor food prep area.

Hire professionals. Don’t risk losing money on a poorly done patio. Hire skilled professionals who can show you a portfolio of attractive completed jobs they’ve done for other clients. Share your vision with them and ask questions. They should be able to understand what you want and what will work best for your property and budget. Make sure that the contractors you choose are insured and have references. They should be able to understand your wants and execute your vision within a reasonable amount of time and for a fair price.

Plan on plants. Plan to soften and beautify the patio by using plants to enhance the surrounding landscaping. Choose colorful flowers, shrubs, and other plants that are the right size and shape for the space around the patio. Depending on the space you have, you can create colorful flower beds that will add texture and charm without costing a fortune. By focusing on a great design, you’ll be able to save and achieve the patio you’ve always wanted.

How To: Set A Budget For Your Dream Landscape Design

Posted on October 21, 2016October 26, 2016 by Hidden Creek Landscaping

For many homeowners, the process of having their property landscaped to their liking can take months or years. A lot of these individuals have to budget and save to get the yard of their dreams. If you fall within this category of homeowners, the tips below could be useful to you:

Work Closely with an Experienced Design Professional:

A landscape designer has a wealth of knowledge that he or she will use to come up with the best plan for your landscape and your budget. Additionally, the designer will be able to give you a very good idea of what different budgets can achieve.

Listen to the recommendations of your design expert and give feedback. This will ensure your desires will be taken into consideration. Ultimately, he or she will know methods of reducing costs, while transforming your dreams into reality.

Being Realistic is Important:

When planning the budget, you should be realistic and forthcoming regarding what you can truly afford. This way, your landscaper can bear the limitations in mind while designing your yard. If you would like extras in your landscape like a swimming pool, fire pit or built-in Barbecue, it is important to realize these will call for a bigger budget. When creating your budget, being realistic regarding will get you on your way to fulfilling your dream.

Be Flexible:

There should be some amount of flexibility in your budget when planning your dream landscape. Inevitably, there will be some materials that cost more than others. Make sure there is a buffer to offset materials overrun. Your designer will be able to help you with this.

Have detailed discussions with your design professional. Ensure that the landscape design and budget will enable a positive return on investment. Spending money on your landscape design should ultimately boost the value of your property.

How To: Save For Your Dream Backyard In 2016

Posted on October 30, 2015November 9, 2015 by Hidden Creek Landscaping

If you are ready to transform your backyard, but don’t have the funds to do so, then it’s time to start following some smart saving tips. By starting now, you can budget and plan for the yard of your dreams. Here’s how to save for your dream backyard in 2016:

Plan the Design. Begin by planning the design for your dream backyard. Create a sketch so that you can lay out the placement of each area, such as a vegetable garden, flower beds, seating areas, open space, etc. Take measurements of your yard so that you know just how much space you have to work with.

Select the Features You Desire. Choose the features that you really want to have, such as a dining table and seating, a grill, water features, or a patio for entertaining. Do research on the approximate cost of those features so that you have a better idea of what your total cost may look like. You may find that you have to let some ideas go in order to get the design elements that are a priority. Think about how the space can most benefit your entire family and suit all of your needs over the years.

Set the Budget. Before you buy anything for the yard, settle on a budget that you know you can realistically handle. Since you will have priced the features that you want, you’ll have a clear idea of how much you need to spend. Once you know how much you can spend, then you can start to save.

Put money aside from each paycheck into a savings account that you have dedicated for the dream backyard project. Over time, you should be able to save up enough to purchase the features that you want and cover any labor costs for the work to be done.

These backyard tips will help you to create the outdoor space of your dreams. Start planning, set a budget, and be realistic about the features you want and need for a functional, stylish space. It may take some time and some discipline to save the money, but once you do, you will be able to make enjoy an amazing backyard for many years to come.

How To Budget And Save For An Outstanding Backyard

Posted on July 9, 2015July 14, 2015 by Hidden Creek Landscaping

When it comes to outstanding landscaping, the backyard is where it’s all at. Although the front must garner some attention in order to improve your property’s curb appeal, it’s the backyard that is king when it comes to outdoor landscaping.

Saving for outdoor landscaping can seem slightly daunting as landscaping experts recommend you budget 5% to 10% of your home’s worth to properly landscape your property. Yet how do you accomplish this feat when you’re already spending thousands of dollars per months on a new mortgage? Budgeting tips to help construct your ideal backyard are simple. By building your backyard retreat in stages, you’ll have outdoor rooms and relaxation areas that meet your needs sooner than you think.

First off, consider your home’s worth. Can you afford an all-out design that takes your home outside during warmer weather, or do you have to watch your budget? If budget is a consideration, stay closer to the 5% figure. By giving yourself a ballpark figure, you’ll have a rough idea of how much you can spend on the backyard of your dreams. Once you have a rough estimate, determine how much you can spend per year, or even every to years or three years to accomplish your task.

After your total budget has been determined, you can begin to research how much each element will cost. Backyard tips to keep in mind when designing your outdoor living space include specific usages. Do you need a pool? What about outdoor dining? Do you want a dedicated kitchen, or is a deck more suited to your needs. Another element to remember is lighting, both ambient and task-centered, that will make your backyard more accessible at night for you, your family and your guests.

Once you have determined which elements are important to your backyard design, work with a backyard architect to help determine which elements should be built and installed first. Working with a designer to oversee your backyard installations will ultimately save you money in the long run as a designer can coordinate a cohesive plan that can be added onto year after year and will not appear to be a mish-mash of ideas.

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