What improvement projects do you have in mind for the exterior of your home this summer? Maybe you need to repair your worn-down roof after a particularly harsh winter or replace the siding on your house in Northern Illinois. Maybe you have something more fun in mind, such as building a deck, upgrading your landscaping, or creating another luxurious outdoor living space.
Whatever type of project you are considering, now is the time to start planning for your outdoor remodel or maintenance. Getting a head start gives you plenty of time to tackle the steps necessary to ensure your home improvement is successful.
Why Should You Plan Ahead for Your Summer Projects?
The key to making your Northern Illinois property beautiful on the outside is careful planning and preparation. Certain maintenance projects should be done according to a regular schedule to help your house preserve its eye-catching façade and overall curb appeal. If you are actually adding new features and specific outdoor spaces, you should do so strategically in order to cultivate cohesion and optimize the function and design of your backyard.
So, why the wait? Here are a few reasons why you should get a head start on your outdoor landscaping, maintenance and remodeling projects for 2021:
1. Narrowing Down Your Wish List
If you are not sure which summer projects to prioritize this year, starting the planning process now gives you plenty of time to evaluate your needs and make a wish list. You don’t have to set a hurried pace for your beautification or maintenance project. You can do plenty of research, browse multiple websites to collect ideas and inspiration, calculate estimated costs, and figure out what renovations are essential to preserve—or increase—the value of your home and support your family life. You don’t have to figure out all the specifics at this point, but your project will run more smoothly and efficiently if you have clearly defined priorities and a strong vision.
2. Securing Your Financing
It also takes time to put together a budget for your exterior home improvement project. With a general idea of the scope of work you plan to accomplish, you can set a preliminary budget. Being proactive and getting ahead means that you have several weeks or months to save up for the project or to secure another form of financing. Applying for a home equity loan, home equity line of credit (HELOC), home improvement loan or other type of financing may take a while, and you don’t want to be held back by your budget. Start planning now so that you can get a realistic idea of how much you will want to spend on your outdoor project and how you will pay for it.
3. Hiring a Top-Notch Contractor
Late spring and early summer are busy times in the construction world. Multiple homeowners in Northern Illinois plan their outdoor renovations for those months to take advantage of warm, dry weather and extended daylight. That means local contractors are in high demand throughout that time period. If you want to make sure you nab a highly trusted and qualified contractor from around DeKalb and Kane counties, then it’s better to start your search sooner rather than later. You want to have at least a couple of weeks to do sufficient research, vet prospective residential remodeling companies, and get the ball rolling. As a result, you will have adequate time to work through your design ideas with your professional team while still getting the project done when you want to.
4. Developing a Suitable Timeline
Summers also tend to be a busy time for families. If you intend to be involved in any activities or take a vacation while your children are out of school in the coming months, you want to make sure those plans don’t interfere with your outdoor summer project, and vice versa. That’s another reason to get ahead. You can look at your projected schedule for the late spring and early summer, make note of your personal and professional commitments, and share that information with your design-build contractor to help them develop a suitable construction schedule for your exterior renovation. With the timing carefully and preemptively thought out, you can expect less disturbance to you and your family when the project begins.
5. Finding Materials and Products
Whether your outdoor project involves sprucing up your landscaping, undertaking perfunctory home maintenance, or creating a new feature like a deck, gazebo or summer house, you are going to need plenty of materials, decorative items and natural adornments, like plants, rocks and trees. Planning ahead will let you collaborate with your designer and make your selections in a low-pressure environment. With a little extra time on your hands, you can be more selective about the plants you choose for your garden or the appliances you pick for your outdoor kitchen. You don’t have to worry about any of your construction materials or other products for your exterior renovation being delayed and derailing your project. Meanwhile, by starting early, you will also be able to finish the work sooner and have more time this summer to enjoy fresh air and sunshine in your new and improved outdoor space.
Planning and Designing Your 2021 Summer Project
If you already know you intend to embark on a home improvement journey this year, there’s no reason to wait. Getting a head start enables you to set a more relaxed pace, do your due diligence, and be thoroughly prepared in terms of project goals, budget and timeline. You can also make sure you to find the right residential contractor with whom to collaborate. At Ken Spears Construction, we offer complete start-to-finish services to handle each aspect of your outdoor project. That means even if you are still in the planning and preparation stage, we can come aboard to help you navigate the design phase and the selection process, getting you ready to start construction when the time is right.
