How to Choose a Contractor For Your Outdoor Project

Nothing is more frustrating than chasing down a contractor that can’t finish the job or dealing with permitting issues post-construction that can waste both a lot of time and money. Whether you’re planning to build a fully equipped outdoor kitchen, deck with retractable screen system, or the custom backyard of your dreams, choosing a partner you can trust and rely on is important.

This is why it is best to hire a partner who can combine your design, project management, and build. A design/build partner will eliminate stress and hassle throughout your backyard transformation while making the entire process simple, easy, and fun for your entire family!

Here are some questions to ask before you hire a partner for your outdoor living space:

• How long have you been in business?

Fly-by-night contractors can be dangerous and frustrating. Most aren’t known for delivering quality outdoor living projects and oftentimes you could be left with an incomplete or dangerous structure in your backyard.

Before you hire a partner to design and build your outdoor living space, you will want to determine how long they have been in business, preview photos from their project portfolio, and read references from past clients.

Tour some amazing outdoor living spaces in the Lehigh Valley →

• Do you receive incentives for the materials used in my outdoor space?

Some contractors will steer their clients to specific stores or vendors when purchasing materials for their new outdoor living space in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania. This could be because they have developed profitable relationships with these businesses and know what to expect when it comes to delivery, schedules, and costs.

However, some suppliers might give gifts, favors, or “kickbacks” to deck or patio contractors in the Lehigh Valley when they use certain materials. This could result in a space that features materials that don’t match your home, require monthly maintenance, or contain safety hazards. To protect yourself from a dishonest contractor, make sure you understand exactly how much your space will cost, what materials are available, how they will look, and where they will be ordered before any part of your build begins.

How lumber and plywood prices will impact the cost of your new deck in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania →

• When will I know how much my space will cost?

Building a new outdoor living space in the Lehigh Valley is a significant investment that can bring immense value to your family. But, you don’t want to be bombarded with change orders, surprise expenses, and other issues throughout your project. This is why it is important to know exactly how much your space will cost before any part of your build begins.

A budget study will help you determine the cost and understand all of your options when it comes to designing and building your outdoor living space. We realize that a design with no sense of cost structure is useless and the last thing we want to do is design an outdoor living space that is over your budget. This is why every MasterPLAN design includes a Budget Study that will provide a rough range of costs, laid out a la carte, so you can make educated and informed decisions for every detail of your project.

How to determine the cost of your outdoor living project →

Designing and building a new outdoor living space should be an exciting experience, but we get that you don’t want to work with a contractor that will waste your money and you don’t want to get stuck wasting your valuable time managing multiple crews, contracts, permit applications, and other important details.  You are not alone!

At MasterPLAN, we have partnered with hundreds of homeowners – just like you – to eliminate stress and hassle when transforming your backyard into an outdoor living space in the Lehigh Valley.  We make your unique journey stress-free by using our award-winning design/build process to handle all communication with your HOA and township, develop your plans, obtain your building permits, manage any engineering, schedule your inspections and so much more!

Here’s how to do it:

Call: Schedule your meeting!

Collaborate: Create your perfect plan!

Construction: With an approved design, construction starts!

Celebrate: Raise a toast to your transformed home and the new life that comes from it!

CALL TODAY TO SCHEDULE YOUR DESIGN MEETING!

(610) 628-2480

In the meantime, download your exclusive copy of the Top 5 Design Secrets your Contractor Doesn’t Know. So you can stop fearing that you will make the wrong decisions about your new outdoor living space and instead be confident when selecting the right firm to help transform your backyard into the outdoor living space you always dreamed of!