You want to transform your balcony or terrace into something special, personal, and truly you. After all your research, looking at Pinterest Boards and websites, you’ve come to appreciate something critical: small spaces are demanding to design and finish. It’s easy to run into trouble when you’re upgrading a balcony or terrace, and there are no ways to hide bad choices when it comes to selecting the decking, lighting, furniture, plants or colour scheme. 

In spite of all this, it’s really important to you to get it right. 

If you’re scratching your head about how to get started, you can talk to someone who will help you see the path forward. Our Garden Connections complimentary, no-strings-attached consultation session helps our potential clients get a better grasp on how to make their dreams come true.

Whether you’ve already requested your Garden Connections Complimentary Consultation, or are still thinking about clicking that button, this blog will help you get started on your planning.

Read on for an overview of questions we’ll ask, what you can do to prepare before the consultation, and what you can expect to learn from us. It may be the best 45 minutes you can invest in your home!

How to Get Ready for Your Complimentary Consultation 

• Your consultation will be a video meeting, up 45 minutes long. It's great to get face-to-face and get started on the right foot.

• The fun part: Think about what are your values, interests, and your expectations for your ideal balcony. What are your expectations about the design and installation process? Some condo owners sre you looking for a fast-but-beautiful upgrade, while others want the full luxury experience.

• Before the consultation, it’s helpful if you have a budget in mind. If you’re unsure, we can help you to understand your investment required — and the return you’ll get by beautifying your outdoor space. 

  
  

 What We’ll Ask About You

It’s our mission to make sure we’re a mutual good fit, as we’ll be working together for several weeks or months on your new outdoor space.

• How would you like to feel when the space is complete? Don’t worry if you don’t have an exact idea — it’s our job to draw out your ideas.

• What do you look forward to doing on your balcony or terrace? Entertaining, exercising, or just chilling? No matter how you want to use the space (and there are ten possibilities we’ve discovered), getting clarity on how you want it to work for you will help us design the right layout and maximize the use of the space.

• Understand your why: We want to know what’s motivating you to start your balcony project, why you think now is the best time, and why it’s so important for you to create this oasis in your home. 

• What are the concerns you’re facing? Perhaps you’ve already tried to do something with your outdoor space, and found yourself hitting a wall? Dealing with  your Condo Board or Strata Council can also be a concern. We want to understand your pain points and what’s getting in your way.

• Who are the decision makers? It’s important for us to know who will be using the space and their vision for it. Not every couple or family is on the same page at the beginning of the project! If you share your space, we’d like to hear a little about your loved ones and their ideas about your balcony or terrace project. 

• What’s at stake if you don’t upgrade your balcony? When you make the most of your outdoor space, you’ll be surprised how much impact it can have on your mental health and enjoyment of your home. As spring quickly approaches, time is of the essence. While it may seem like a minor detail compared to the design and decor of your condo, it can be disheartening to see a blank, unfinished expanse when you look out your windows. 

What You Might Ask Us

At the consultation stage, it’s enough to be interested, and ready to ask us any questions you need to in order to feel comfortable. It’s our job to make sure you feel confident about working with our team. Ask any questions you’d like during your consultation, and ensure you fully understand the process of The Beautiful Balcony – Terrace Solution Program™. We’ll let you know what’s expected of you during the design and installation phases, and the guarantees in place from our team. 

You may want to know:

• How involved in the design process do I need to be?

• Who manages the timing,  trades and logistics - and how long will the upgrade process likely take? 

• What budget is likely required to get what I really want for my balcony or terrace?

• How much control will I have over the process and costs?

Did You Know?

The Return on Investment (ROI) of a balcony or terrace upgrade is $1-2 for every dollar spent, while a kitchen or bathroom reno offers only 65-85¢ on the dollar.

What You’ll Learn from Us

Though the primary purpose of the consultation is for our team to learn about you, and your dreams for your balcony or terrace, you’ll also learn a great deal about the Garden Connections process.

• Should we decide to partner together on upgrading your balcony, the assessment and design phases will be very thorough — they may take more time than you’d think! We want to feel confident that we understand your needs, and that you’re getting the right design for you, not a copy of someone else's ideas.

• You’ll also understand the physical constraints of your outdoor space, which involve a lot more than its just size! But don’t worry, we have strategies to minimize issues like wind, privacy, noise and sun exposure. 

• Our five-phase process (assessment, design, condo board approval, fabrication, and installation) includes an estimate of the length of time for each phase. We’ll let you know when to expect cost estimates and billing after each stage, so you can plan appropriately.

• Regulations for Condo Boards and Strata Councils. When you retain our services, we take care of all communication with your Condo Board, so that you can focus on the fun of participating in designing an exciting, ideal outdoor space with our team.

• Our track record: Garden Connections has a 99% success rate in gaining permission from Condo Boards. We understand the Condominium Act regulations and restrictions, and know which plans, materials and paperwork are most likely to get the required seal of approval.

How to Schedule a Call

When you work with Garden Connections, you get a full-service, headache-free chance to design an outdoor space that perfectly fits your lifestyle and your tastes. To get started, book your Complimentary Consultation. We will send you a calendar invitation and a link for a video meeting at your chosen time.

We look forward to helping you take the next step to creating the balcony or terrace of your dreams… and Completing your Beautiful Life!