Building a new home? Don’t forget the landscape!
We’re here to help guide you on your journey as you build your new home, here are some of the common mistakes we often see.
Consider the uses of your outdoor spaces
A well-designed landscape should consider how you want to use each space, from your entertaining area to your bin storage. A clear understanding of how you want to use each space is key to success.
A common mistake we often see is that people are left with awkward or limited space to store their bins. We have written about that before read it here! They are usually left with the only space available, at the front door or right next to the driveway! When speaking with your architect or builder, have them include a designated, level area for storing bins (for 2-3 bins, however many you need). Think about where it is going to be the most convenient to put rubbish in and wheel it to the road each week. Don’t forget about screening, some new developments mandate that they are not visible from the street. A good rule of thumb is to have a hard surface of 1x1m area for each bin to store comfortably.
Don’t forget the clothesline! It seems simple now, but it can make a huge difference. You want to make it as easy as possible to access and for your clothes to get the right amount of sun to dry quickly.
Think about where you’ll get the most sun, where is the access from your laundry, and what type of surface finish leads me from your laundry to your clothesline (you don’t want to be walking on gravel without shoes). Are there any windows overlooking my clothesline?
How much do you like to maintain your garden?
Are you a garden whisperer, or more of a “set it and forget it” type? If you don’t want to spend hours every week in your garden, make sure you’re choosing plants that are slow-growing, drought-tolerant, and require little maintenance.
This also applies to materials. If you opt for decking, just remember, it’s a commitment—like a long-term relationship to oil it each year.
Have a clear vision and plan
Who needs plans when you’ve got dreams? But seriously, don’t wing it. Get yourself a landscape architect (we would love to help you!!), because building a landscape without plans is like trying to bake a cake blindfolded – sure, it might work, but it’s probably going be messy and not end up looking like the picture you were dreaming of. The design will give you peace of mind you have a cohesive home and landscape.
Before approaching a designer, sit down and write a list of everything you want in your landscape, budget aside. Gather images of gardens you like or we love a good Pinterest board they are very useful!!
Have a clear budget
Before approaching a Designer have an idea of how much you want to spend on your landscape, at least in the first stage if you plan on staging it over a few years. We can guide you with how much is achievable or create a design you can stage over a few years. We can recommend cost-saving options on materials or create a design that achieves your vision for your budget.
We have often heard people say that they used the general rule of thumb for their landscape budget and allocate 10% of the home value towards landscaping (eg. 10% = $80k for landscaping a new home worth $800k). However, this does not always leave you with an amazing outcome. With new builds, often you’re starting fresh which means you’ll need fencing, soil, paving, irrigation, you might need retaining walls. This can all add up very quickly and $80K will not always go very far. The price can also vary significantly depending on your block and access to it. So this needs to be taken into consideration.
If you are planning to design and build your new home, give us a call. We love to help. Or if you already have house plans, we can review your existing layout and provide expert advice that could save you thousands down the track.