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8. Skimping on Borders
“Many clients understandably don’t want a high-maintenance [yard] and this seems to manifest in them asking for narrow flower beds, as these will require less work — right?” Reader says. “Actually, this is wrong.”
Solution: Use shrubs. “The best low-maintenance plants are shrubs,” Reader says. “They last many years, don’t require a lot of looking after and can deliver interesting structure, flowers, berries and autumn leaf color — and many of them are evergreen, so look good in winter too.
“The thing about shrubs, though, is many of them will get quite big,” he continues. “So if you put them in a narrow bed, you’ll fairly quickly be having to cut them back frequently, as they’ll overhang the lawn or paths. This destroys the beauty of their natural shape, creates woody holes in the foliage canopy and creates maintenance.
“By having a wider bed to start with, the shrubs can be gently pruned as they reach their mature size every three to five years and be kept looking beautiful,” he says.
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2. Not Anticipating Mid-Project Disputes About Budget
Budget can be a major cause of problems during a project, particularly when initial costs increase during the process.
Solution: “It’s best to ask clients for their budget, so you can work around that,” says Saimir Zejneli of The Home Refurbishment Co. He believes this is the best way to avoid wasting time or causing problems later on.
“It’s easy to get into a dispute with clients if the [finish work] is included in the quote, as clients are likely to choose more expensive products,” Zejneli adds.
He recommends setting a budget for just the roughing in. For example, a kitchen budget might include supply of the kitchen cabinets, electrical and plumbing, but the client would choose items such as appliances, faucets, sinks and tile.
“You can give clients the links of traders you have accounts with to get a discount, but when they’re able to decide on their own [finish] materials, they’re in control of their budget,” he says.
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
When planning your remodel, make sure you put your kitchen’s busiest areas — the sink, stove and fridge — in practical locations that are relevant to one another while allowing enough space for people to use and access them comfortably, Findlay says.
When choosing cabinetry, make sure the doors won’t block your workflow when they’re open, she says. “The last thing you want is your fridge and cupboard doors banging into each other every time you open them!”
Solution: Plan your kitchen layout as far in advance as possible, and choose your appliances before you start looking at cabinetry, Findlay says. “This will allow you to fit your units around your appliances, rather than the other way around, giving you a seamless look that’s both smart and space-efficient.”
Tip: Think about how many people live in your home and will be using the kitchen at one time, she says. If it’s going to get crowded, you may have crammed too many elements into the kitchen layout and may want to consider scaling back.