Establish budget:  

• Budget Target(s). 
  • Evaluation:  Once the design component of the project has been substantially concluded, you now have an overview that can be thoroughly evaluated. Re-assess every element contained within the planned scope of work and re-affirm the inclusion of that item.  Re thinking the plan will give valuable insight to the cost vs benefit element to the item and whether items are more whimsicle than sensical, realistically identifying it as such, then decide if that item should still be included.  An item may be whimsical and non-sensical, it may not have to make sense that you want it but as long as the true cost associated with having it is something that you won't have a regret about, then it makes sense when you include it. 
• Phased Layers.
  • Once the final decisions have been made regarding the full scope of work, evaluate whether all of the phases included are items that you want and can afford to expedite at the same time.  While some people would rather just do all of the components of the grand design at the same time even though there is greater financial exposure, others may decide to layer the project, even if it increases costs in the end, in order to keep within set budgetary restraints.  Perhaps executing phase 1, 2 & 3 now, 4 & 5 the following year and subsequent phases added as time goes on.  This method can allow the backyard environment to be refined through evolution and maturation, as the client "settles" into the use of the backyard environment.  
• Finance Options.  This is meant to be a aid as a rough guide, subject to scrutiny by the reader, as not all people have the same level of knowledge on financial items.  What may be obvious to one person may not be to another
  • Depending on the scope of goods and/or services involved, finance options can range and in certain circumstances make sence, just depends on the priority.  Costs verses value.
    • Coventional/line of credit:  Chartered banks & trust companies.  Usually the easiest, fastest and least expensive way to obtain funds.  Extended as a independent financial vehicle based upon the equity of your home, lowest rates & most flexibilty for repayment.  Home equity loans can be obtained through your current bank, bank that holds your home mortgage or through an alteranate banks that are motivated to sign home equity loans.  Certain conventional lending institutions focus their lending criteria on different factors.  While some are debt to equity ratio, others will concentrate on income and the abilty to pay back, while others will be equity lenders as they value the amount of equity in the home and considering that the loan will likely be secured against the home and the work is considered a home improvement.
    • Second tier finance:  Trust companies & private lenders.  Borrowing interest rates are generally a few percentage point higher than a conventional lender will offer.  Usually a little easier to obtain because the lenders base approvals upon a more relaxed set of criteria.  An adequate Beacon score will likely secure this loan type with the lenders being less concerned with the debt to equity ratio or income.  If the equity is there to be secured, the loan is likely obtainable.
    • Revolving/non revolving:  Credit cards, floor plan borrowing & specialty finance companies like "FinanceIt" (non revolving).  Usually best for a smaller ticket item such as a packaged spa or manufactured product.
      • A no interest or low interest credit card may be a choice enabler to establish a credit rating, borrow money for a short term at little to no cost, enable a time sensitive purchase and/or take advantage of a sale price.  It can also add warranty, give security by way of recourse and take advantage of other renumeration programs such as Air Miles, Aeroplan and the like.
      • Specialty finance companies including 'Floor Plan" products and "FinanceIt" can, depending on the set up, facilitate purchases at low to no cost.
      • Specialty finance companies can facilitate loans on pools, spas, landscape and renovations from 6.99% interest rate & amortization periods up to 15 years.
      • Floor plan finance generally comes at no interest for a prescribed period, 6 to 12 months, after which time the entire purchase price is due.  Failing to pay in full at that time may result in a high interest rate, often up to 28.8% or more, to be applied to the account and made retroactive to the original date of possession of the product.  Adhiring to the responsibility to pay as agreed from the start can enable an interest free use of capital thus allowing that capital to be used elsewhere on something more beneficial.
  • Notes:  Obviously the best and least expensive way to purchase something is to have all of the funds from the start, however, it's not necessarily a bad thing to have finance work for you.  Most everyone uses finance for homes, autos, recreational items, home accessories etc at some point in their lives.  Pools, spas, landscape & renovation/home upgrades are also items that can be put on that list if it's important to the purchaser.  It's all about the priority that an individual places value upon.  People use finance to facilitate things for many reasons including, awaiting the maturity of investments, redistribution/allocation of funds etc, right down to simply rationalizing that a backyard amenity or environment for the families use is more important to purchase at a cost of borrowing than waiting and letting time elapse that cannot be reattained. 
• Payment Schedule.
  • Pools, Spas, Landscape, Manufactured Products, etc:  Schedules are designed based upon the progress of goods and/or services that are being provided and can vary somewhat depending on that content.  These payment schedules have been designed by taking into account many variables with the objective to being fair to both sides.
    • Pools:  This established payment schedule encompasses the pool portion and related extras & options.  The landscape portion could be included within this schedule only if not too involved, detail & cost wise.  The Landscape portion follows the payment schedule as noted below.  This payment schedule is generally non negotiable and redesign of it would only be considered in the case of extremely rare circumstance.    
      • Vinyl Lined Pools;  Standard progress payment schedule: 15% deposit, 50% upon delivery of pool kit, 15% upon start of excavation, 10% upon liner or coping installation (whichever comes first), 10% on completion (as specified in contract description).
      • Concrete
        • Pneumatically applied (Gunite & Shotcrete); Standard progress payment schedule: 15% deposit, 30% upon completion of excavation, 40% upon completion of rough shell installation, 10% upon completion of interior finish (waterline tile & marbelite), 5% upon completion (as specified in contract description).
        • Form & Pour (cast in place); Standard progress payment schedule: 25% deposit, 30% upon completion of excavation, 30% upon completion of rough shell installation, 10% completion of interior finish (waterproofing & tile), 5% on completion (as specified in contract description).
    • Landscaping:  This established payment schedule encompasses the landscape portion and related extras & options.  Consideration of payment schedule redesign can be accomodated depending on the set of circumstances.
      • Hard Scape (stone work);  Standard progress payment schedule: 50% upon delivery of material, 25% upon completion of required base, 15% upon completion in aggregate (decks & walls), 10% upon completion (as specified in contract description).
      • Soft Scape (plant materials);  As arranged on a job by job basis.  
    • Spas:  This established payment schedule encompasses the spa portion and related extras & options.  Schedules are designed based upon total scope, from product only to installation of product, and with or without other components and/or as part of other contracts.  
      • Spas; manufactured by 3rd party:
        • As product only;
          • Locally: 25% deposit upon placing of order, 75% upon delivery.
          • Shipped within Canada: 35% deposit upon placing of order, 65% upon delivery.
          • Imported from the USA: 50% deposit upon placing of order, 50% upon delivery.
        • As part of an installation; same as "producty only" payment schedule combined with "landscape component" payment schedule for related items, and in combination to third party subcontractors for services or other as noted;
          • Transportation and/or placement (cranes etc).
          • Electrical requirements.
          • Gas or other fuel hook up requirements.
          • Stuctural requirements (wood decks, concrete walls etc).
          • Other profesional services (engineered drawings etc).
      • Spas; Hand built in house: 
        • As main contract; as noted within pool payment schedules with related contruction type/method.
        • As a part of a main contract; as dictated within that contract.   
    • Manufactured Products:  This established payment schedule encompasses the manufactured products portion and related extras & options.  Schedules are designed based upon total scope, from product only to installation of product, and with or without other components and/or as part of other contracts.  
      • Spas; manufactured by 3rd party:
        • As product only;
          • Locally: 25% deposit upon placing of order, 75% upon delivery.
          • Shipped within Canada: 50% deposit upon placing of order, 50% upon delivery.
          • Imported from the USA: 70% deposit upon placing of order, 30% upon delivery.
        • As part of an installation; same as "producty only" payment schedule combined with "landscape component" payment schedule for related items, and in combination to third party subcontractors for services or other as noted;
          • Transportation and/or placement (cranes etc).
          • Electrical requirements.
          • Gas or other fuel hook up requirements.
          • Stuctural requirements (wood decks, concrete walls etc).
          • Other profesional services (engineered drawings etc).