Preparing for Your Consultation
Whether you’ve been dreaming about your new yard for a long time, or just decided that it’s time to do something new, we know you want the process to go as quickly and smoothly as possible so you get start enjoying the end result. While we can’t control the weather or many other factors, there are some things you can do to make the process a breeze.
In fact, many of these steps can be done any time of year, and you can start before you even reach out to us! It’s especially important to do some thinking and fact-finding before our first consultation so we can make the most of that time together.
You can do this in whatever order you like, but we find most things fall into two categories: what you want, and what you have.
What You Want
This is your chance to dream about what you want your space to be. We can help provide inspiration and ideas, but we want your yard to reflect you.
How do you want it to look?
Find some pictures of yards you like. Pinterest and Houzz are great places to find and save inspiration photos, but keep your eye out for ideas around your neighbourhood, in magazines and catalogues, or browse our portfolio for local ideas.
Try to pinpoint what you like about these yards. It might be the layout, the way the space is used, the overall look and style, or just a particular element or material you love. The more specific you can be, the easier it is for us to incorporate your ideas into our design.
How will you use the space?
Think about what you want to do in your yard. Who will use your yard and how? The kids might need space to play that’s separate from where your dog…goes. Maybe you want to entertain, or create a relaxing sanctuary. If you want a fire pit or a space for your hammock, this is the time to dream big. List every use you can think of.
Then prioritize. Once you have a list of how you want to use your space, prioritize that list into “must haves” and “nice to haves.”
Consider maintenance. Not everyone loves gardening, or even mowing the lawn. Spend some time thinking about how much work you want to put into maintaining your yard, so we can create a plan and select plants that allow you to enjoy your yard instead of resenting how much work it involves—or worse yet, ignoring it!
What You Have
Get your site plan. To create a landscape plan, we need the measurements, layout, and location of what’s in the yard now. If you have a copy of the surveyor’s certificate, that’s great! If you don’t, we can work with a rough drawing that includes:
- measurements;
- where the property lines are;
- where the utility lines are; and
- any easements.
Do a mental and visual inventory. Take some pictures/video from various angles, since we will ask for these before the consultation. While you’re out there, think about what you like and don’t like in the yard. There may be some things you absolutely want to keep…or absolutely want gone. Note this alongside the “must haves” and “nice to haves” you jotted down.
Put together a budget. We know how to use your dollars well, so think about what you can realistically afford for this project. Knowing what you’re willing to spend to achieve the look, functionality, and feel of your ideal yard helps us make the best plan, choose the right materials, and get the most out of every penny.
Getting all the details ready in advance means we can make the most of our consultation and that we can create a yard you’re excited to make memories in. It’s also a great way to get through a Saskatchewan winter as you imagine soaking up the sun in your outdoor paradise.
Did all this dreaming about your yard motivate you to get in touch to start designing? Get in touch, and we will see you soon!
