So, here's where we're at. We met with our first contractor yesterday and the ballpark estimated cost was more than double what I was expecting. I had mixed feelings about the contractor. On one hand, he has a lot of satisfied clients, according to him, and his description of the process of how they go about a job, was very reassuring. He definitely seems to know what he is doing, is really well organized and pro active, we share similar philosophies, for instance, he suggested we might retain the floors and the windows. And he seemed very confident that what we want to do can be done. But - it's a lot of money. I am usually a very hands on person, as far as researching and monitoring any work done in the house, but a large remodel like this would be difficult and with this contractor, I feel I might not have to be as involved. So it is tempting. But - it's a LOT of money. So - I added together the value of our home, with the cost of the remodel and have been using that figure as a price range to look for new homes. In the communities we would want to look, right now there is nothing. Even homes that are higher priced than that, look like they would also need renovating. So, right now, I'm feeling stuck. So, maybe a pro/con list and a talk with all involved will have some benefit.

Hope my post isn't late, and that it's a little helpful. I used to live in Augusta, GA, but I wasn't an extensive gardener. If I had to start with what you have, I would first reference all of Walter Reeves' advice on The Georgia Gardener. He'll have great grass recommendations, especially for grass. I know you'll want to start soon because you're entering the spring rainy period when the grass can establish. Then, I'd figure out what others above have asked: How do I want to live in this house? For example, we have four kids. That means we spend significant time just driving in and out of our driveway. So, the driveway area gets attention because we see it all the time. It makes little sense in my opinion to put a garden bed in a place that "looks like a bed would go there" if it's in a spot you will rarely enjoy. We inherited a bed like that in this house, and it provides little pleasure, so it is being turned into a 100% pollinator bed (at least they'll enjoy it!). Do you use the front door or back/garage door? If you only use the back, the front door might not be an early priority for planting. Next, consider what you see from inside the house. Any place near Augusta means summer is spent mostly indoors in the air conditioning. Why have summer flowers if you never see them from your windows? Think about your views out the window during the hottest days of summer when planning. (We have the opposite problem. Summer is nearly perfect for being outdoors, but I have to think about my winter viewing.) One issue with lawn is getting rid of grass if you want to replace it with gardening beds. Certainly it's done all the time, but it's a pain, in my opinion. If you can decide how you want to live in your yard and where some future beds might be enjoyed, instead of planting grass there now, just turn them into a simple mulched area. No grass will grow to become a head ache to remove, and the beds wait for you whenever you're ready to plant. I have had some areas of my yard just mulched for over a year while i was waiting to plant things there. One reason mine were just plain mulch for so long was because I was killing grass and weeds, but I would have done just mulch to preserve the area for future planting just as readily. This technique also allows you to spread out the cost. You can put plants in slowly over time as you can afford, and as you decide what you want there. Lastly, if I lived in the south again, I'd plant these things in a heartbeat: Rosemary as a hedge: Why plant boxwoods when you can have a row of fragrant Rosemary? It is so beautiful with the fine blue-grey foliage. Camelias: So nice to have them blooming in January, which is when they bloomed for us in Augusta. Such a great color during the brown time of year. (Now, per my comment above, if only the blooming Camelia had been placed so we could see if from the house!) Gardenias: Oooo. Such an amazing smell. I miss the fragrances you can get from gardenias, wisteria, and honeysuckle. (But wisteria and honeysuckle are supposed to be invasive, I think, which makes me sad!) Lantana: Lantana is so nice they sell it as an annual up here. It's perennial for you, and the color variations are beautiful. I especially like 'Miss Huff,' a variety that Miss Huff herself discovered in Athens, GA. Butterfly bushes: Place them where you can see from a window and you'll get the pleasure of watching scads of butterflies feed. Southern Magnolia: Talk about beauty, fragrance, and structural interest. Such a winner! Crape Myrtle: Another beautiful small tree that produces flowers when the color is very welcome. Dogwoods: I know I'm in the south when I see dogwoods blooming everywhere!

So - you bought a fixer upper. If AC and heat need to be serviced/repaired then call someone in. However you might find that you need to tackle the electrical and plumbing to get your Hvac serviced/repaired. Not sure how severe the basement leak is, but I'd have someone look into this as well. The floors in the entire house need to be releveled, or just specific rooms? Put plastic over the windows in the winter until you can replace them, not unless you have the skills to do so.

" I don’t know anything about the art of landscaping - are there any design principles or functional aspects that I should take into consideration? " Most definitely!! Landscape design is an integrated profession that combines horticulture with basic design principles. There are online tutorials (most of which are only so-so) as well as numerous books (available at libraries or Amazon) that explain the concepts and principles quite adequately. I'd suggest you check to see if these would help with your learning curve. And while you are checking out those books, look for The Undaunted Garden by Lauren Springer. She is an accomplished garden designer, author and horticulturist based in Colorado and her books are well suited to both your climate and garden aesthetic.