Your starter home may have worked out well for you when you were young and single, but now that you are married and have a baby on the way, you may be interested in adding outdoor space to your residence. Some areas that could benefit from improvement are the entryways to your home. If the front and back door have a single stoop adjacent to each of them, contemplate adding a front porch that can be used for relaxing or displaying foliage and a back deck that can be used for grilling out and social interactions with your loved ones and friends.
Visualize The Outcome And Set Your Budget
Do you long for lazy summer days, when you and your spouse and child can sit outdoors and appreciate a sunset or share a barbecued meal together, or are you more inclined to show off your prized rose and potted plant collection and interested in laying on a chaise lounge while sipping a cold beverage? Your dreams are a realistic look at your perception, and you can utilize your preferences to come up with a workable renovation project that will fit into your means.
It is important to set a budget for upcoming renovations. If you fail to pinpoint an amount that you can afford and go over budget, you could wind up with a half-finished project that won't meet your expectations. In addition, you will be dealing with a home that has an 'in transition' look about it. If you have ever seen homes that had scattered tools laying about the property, tarps covering parts of the exterior, and various hand tools and large machinery scattered about, you were probably not too impressed by what you envisioned.
This could become an occurrence again if you go plan on spending above your means. Your best bet is to relay your project preferences to a contractor, discuss the cost and the materials that will be used, and make revisions to either the front porch or back deck. Find a way to save on costs, and utilize a comparable material or design that will work well for the renovations.
Be Patient, Available, And Ready For The Changes
Patience is a key attribute during the home renovation phase. Things will likely not be as orderly as you are used to, and you and your spouse will be dealing with noise and a disheveled yard until the renovations are complete. Make sure that your remodeling contractor always has a viable way to touch base with you. Altering your plans may become necessary, especially if there is a shortage of supplies or if the contractor's crew cannot complete the project on time due to bad weather.
