Most homeowners plan the pool and figure out the outdoor living space later. That's the mistake. In this episode, landscape architect Trey Watford, lead designer at River Pools Virginia, walks you through the design process from discovery to final plan, so you can approach your own project with confidence no matter who you work with.

Trey covers the questions every homeowner should ask themselves before a designer ever shows up, why site analysis is the most underrated part of the process, what a $250K–$300K backyard project actually includes, and how to bring that number down without losing what matters most.

Whether you're early in your research or already speaking with builders, this episode will give you a clearer picture of what great backyard design looks like, and what questions to ask to make sure you get it.

Topics covered:

• Where the design process actually begins (it's not where you think)
• The "dot connecting" method for deeply understanding your backyard vision
• Site analysis, elevation readings, and why skipping this step is costly
• Professional designer vs. order taker - what's the real difference?
• Live design walkthrough of a real River Pools project
• Budget reality: what drives costs up, and how to bring them down
• Where to start if you want to begin planning tomorrow

Resources mentioned: riverpoolsandspas.com — pool type selector, shape and size tool, and pool cost calculator