Know your budget and your cost!
We have found that often a budget is established long before a realistic dollar amount for the price of the house and its operating costs are determined. These initial “guesstimates” for greenhouse projects can then become set in stone and carried out to the end of the project - for better or worse. Avoid this potential pitfall by taking the time to understand your needs before purchasing your greenhouse.

It’s not your job to know everything.
Hobbyists aren’t expected to know everything about designing a greenhouse. That’s where we come in. It’s not uncommon to be unfamiliar with the entire project, but still want a greenhouse. For many years International Greenhouse Company has specialized in helping people choose and implement successful greenhouse projects. We look forward to offering any advice we can. Even if you don’t ultimately end up purchasing your greenhouse from us, we want you to know we are, “The people who know greenhouses.”

Know your costs beyond the initial purchase.
Too often we have sold a great greenhouse only to see it left unused for a period of time due to a lack of operating funds. To avoid this problem, consider the following when drawing up your initial budget:

• The costs to heat and cool a greenhouse can be significant and is directly related to the greenhouse size. Be sure to understand this cost before deciding upon how large of a greenhouse you can afford.
• Who will maintain the greenhouse? Can you perform any needed maintenance work yourself or will you be required to call on outside help if problems ever occur?
• Where will you be getting your supplies, what types of quantities are you going to be using and how much will you be spending on an annual basis?

Before sourcing a supplier you should know:

• Your first step is to investigate and research your options for suppliers before ever talking to them.
• Upon initial contact, don’t be shy to ask for references. This is not uncommon in the industry so stay clear of suppliers who do not provide them.
• Make sure the supplier you deal with has a good record with the Better Business Bureau. Online suppliers can be checked at www.bbbonline.org.
• Ask lots of questions and be sure to clearly understand everything that is being said to you. Don’t be afraid to sound uneducated; it’s their job to teach you.
• Double check that your project includes everything you need: heating, cooling, ventilation, benches, electrical work, concrete and so on.