You’re about to invest in your home to create a space that brings your dream to life. Whether it’s a home renovation, a new sunroom or screened porch, a new deck space, or even a storage shed, you’re making an investment in your home and lifestyle. Here are five things to do before investing in an outdoor living project. 

1. 1. Figure out your non-negotiables
   2. Determine your communication style 
   3. Determine what the investment is worth to you 
   4. Design forward or budget backwards
   5. Lean into your vision

Figure out your non-negotiables

Before starting the project, figure out your non-negotiables. When you close your eyes and envision your dream space, what is in that vision that you can’t do without? What outcomes have to happen to make it worth the investment? Whether that’s:

• • The perfect look that you want for the space, whether that’s deck boards, shiplap ceiling, trim finishings or even the final staging of the room. 

• • How many people do you want in that space? Does it need to be big enough to host Christmas dinner for your entire family or a simple retreat for you and your significant other in the quiet mornings? 

• • Is it staying within a budget so that you don’t invest more than you want financially?

• • Is your concern more about hitting your timeline so that your space is ready for a specific event, season, or date? 

• • Is it the overall experience with a great contractor that communicates effectively and helps you understand the process and all the details

• • Or is it just having a contractor who will take care of all the details and get it done so that it’s one less thing on your plate?

Whatever those non-negotiables are for you be sure to share them with your contractor so that you can be on the same page from the beginning and help create a great experience from start to finish. 

Determine your communication style

Communication is one of the most important aspects of life. We don’t always notice when someone is a good communicator but we do notice when someone isn’t. For projects that could last weeks or months, great communication skills are essential for a smooth and successful project. Make sure you determine with your contractor how you want to be communicated to.

For example, some clients like daily check-ins on progress. Here at Lincoln Built we’ve had clients that love morning and afternoon check ins so they know where we are at and what’s next. Some clients want high-level communication for example when the next progress payment is or whether we’re hitting all our inspections on time, and yet some only want to know about delays or change orders. 

Whatever category you fall into, it’s important to make clear with your contractor so you both have a great working relationship going into the project. 

Determine what the investment worth to you

What is this investment worth to you? We’re not only talking about the budget or te financial investment, but also what are you hoping to use the space for? Who do you want in the room when it’s complete? What type of parties are you going to host in this space? Will it be your morning sanctuary before the busyness of the day?

Envision the outcome of your investment as you begin the design and construction phase. Knowing what the investment is worth to you will not only help the creative process but will also help you make decisions about your financial investment. 

Decide Design forward or Budget Backwards

Now let’s talk about money. Money is a huge factor in any project. After figuring out your non-negotiables, and figuring out what that investment is worth to you, you should start to think about how you want to budget. We like to call the two budgeting options 1) Design Forward or 2) Budget Backwards. Learn more by reading this blog.

Design Foward

If you have a Pinterest board of your perfect outdoor living project, if you have the accent rug picked out and the look and feel of the space all figured out in your mind, You should start with a design-forward approach. 

Focus on the design of the project and build out the cost from there. At Lincoln Built, we give a range of what a project would cost before you commit to working with us then once we complete teh design phase we can give you a better idea of the final cost of the project. 

Budget Backwards or Budget Engineering

If you thought about investing in an outdoor living project and pulled out an Excel spreadsheet or know exactly what budget range you want to stay under you should probably work backwards from your budget and create your dream space with the cost in mind. Your contractor can work with you to stay within budget by choosing materials that are mid-tier or standard designs vs high-end custom materials. 

Lean into your vision and create anew

Lean into your vision. When you’re ready to start an outdoor living project you are making an investment into your home and space and creating something anew. Your non-negotiables, your budget and what all of that is worth to you is the priority. A sunroom or deck is a space that you will enjoy with family and friends, to host, to have your own quite time alone in the stillness of the morning or enjoy the sun all year round. Whatever your vision is, lean into it and create anew. 

Our vision at Lincoln Built is to Create Anew. Create a new space, a new memory, a feeling, an aroma or a connection. It’s why we focus on spaces that bring people together, a space to connect with others and with yourself and the outdoors.

Ready to get started on your dream space? We’re here to help! Lincoln Built can help build your custom outdoor living space that brings your vision to life.