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How to Finance your Landscape & Garden Projects

Whether your home’s exterior needs some improvement or you want to increase your property’s value before selling, a little help from a finance provider can sometimes be just the ticket to get it done.

There are a few steps to figuring out the financial side of your landscaping project. First, you need to find out what costs will be involved and how much you will need to budget. From there, if need be, you can start looking into your financing options.

Read on to find out about financial marketplaces, home improvement financing and how to add value to your home through landscape design.

Before you start your project

Rather than diving head first into a landscaping project, make sure you do your research. Landscaping project costs can vary hugely, with spa pool installations sitting around the $50,000+ mark, outdoor kitchens ranging from $20,000 - $40,000+ and decks and pergolas costing anywhere between $10,000 - $50,000+.

Once you have a clear idea of what you want your landscaping project to include, get in touch with a landscaping consultant so that they can provide you with a clear cost estimate. From there, set your budget, allowing some extra room for any unexpected occurrences.

If the purpose of your project is to add value to your home before selling, landscaping is a great place to start. The New Zealand Herald recently reported that landscaping is the simplest and most affordable way to add value to your home, due to added street appeal.

Fencing, decks, swimming pools and outdoor kitchens can all add significant value to your home. However, a good design is possibly the most important aspect to any landscape; work with a designer for best results.

*Please note: costs presented in this article are rough estimates only. Discuss your project with a specialist for a price accurate to your design.

Arranging home improvement financing

Once you have figured out your budget you will also know whether or not your project will require financing. Many Zones customers consider financial marketplace Harmoney as a solution. Through Harmoney, homeowners can apply for a home loan of up to $70,000.

Harmoney is a peer-to-peer marketplace where individuals can seek loans from institutional and retail lenders. Once you have completed an online application, Harmoney assesses and verifies the information you have given them. From there you can select your terms before making your request live within the marketplace, where most loans are approved and fully funded within 24 hours.

You wmay find that your credit score may impact the amount you can borrow as well as the interest rate that you pay on your loan. If you want to know more about things that affect your credit score, check out Harmoney's article on 5 things you didn't know impacted your credit score

Alternatively, if you're living in New Zealand, and you want to improve your credit score in the fastest way possible, download the free ebook: 10 Ways to a Better Credit Rate.

Whether or not you choose the financing route, the Zones process is designed with your budget in mind. Your landscaping specialist will manage the project schedule for you, ensuring your budget is adhered to and that you are aware of the costs involved at all times.

When your landscaping project is complete

Once your project is complete you will need to tie up any loose ends. The good news is you can do this from the comfort of your laptop, ideally while looking over your new landscape design.

If you haven’t done it already, check in with your insurance company to get your cover updated. From there, it’s time to prioritise paying off your loan. If your financing was granted through Harmoney your repayments will need to be made monthly. Harmoney provides interest rates based on your personal circumstances and this will be reflected in your repayments.