If you want to know from the outset how much you’re likely to pay to install an outdoor basketball court, create a budget breakdown that lists the following expenses:

• Labor: How many work hours will you need, and what is the average price of labor in your area?

• Materials: What material do you plan to use, and what is the average price per square foot?

• Drainage, grading, and laying cement slabs: Do you need to level or prep your area? Have a professional evaluate your property to determine what you will need to pay a contractor to do this work.

• Hoops, lighting, fencing, painting lines, and other extras: What extras are non-negotiable? Create a list of all of the extras you want your court to have.

It may be tempting to DIY the construction of a swing set to save money, but we don’t recommend it. Since children will use the swing set, the entire system must be solid and safe, meaning the cost savings aren’t worth potentially endangering them. Plus, most DIYers will have to build their swing sets out of wood, which won’t last as long as metal or vinyl and introduces the risk of splinters. Instead, hire a local playground equipment installer to ensure the swing set is built safely and efficiently, setting up your kids for fun for years to come.

If your seedlings have reached a few inches in height and the weather outside has stabilized to where you’re no longer seeing overnight temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, it may be time to start hardening them off to get them ready to be planted in the garden.

Generally speaking, building a swing set is cheaper than buying a prefabricated one, but this assumes you have all the tools and knowledge to complete the project. The average cost to build a swing set is $514, but you should also factor in the time and effort it will require—if you don’t want to give up your weekend, it’s worth considering buying instead of building.