Cooler temps will soon be here. And while cold, wind, and snow may move you indoors for the blustery winter months, the time to start planning your outdoor project is right now! Depending on the size and scope of your project, there are a few essential team members, including your contractor, landscape designer, and maybe even an architect. We’ll walk you through some of the critical details, so you can get started.

The team at The English Contractor frequently hear our founder, Craig Russell, explain that the home is likely a family’s biggest investment. Any time our crew gets involved, we’re helping a household grow their investment, with a feature that adds equity in use, or with an update that will help the house capture top dollar when it’s time to sell. We’ve tapped into a local expert, fellow member of The Scout Guide Cincinnati, Erin Satterwhite with Comey & Shepherd for some insight on the best updates to make to your home to maximize your investment.

A few weeks ago, we shared with you Craig Russell’s check list for spring maintenance for the interior of your home. Although his list is not exhaustive, it is a thought starter and meant as a tool to help keep you on track for those home maintenance projects that will just get away from you over time. Now that you’ve had the time to tackle your list of interior maintenance, it’s time to head to the great outdoors. Don’t let the size of this list intimidate you. Instead, your first step is to merely take a nice, leisurely walk around the outside of your home, looking at the ground around your home, the structure itself, and then important elements like driveway, decks/patios and roof. Once you get into the habit of using this checklist, you’ll be come that much more familiar with your house. This way, when something is wrong, you’ll see it right away and can either take care of it or call in the appropriate professionals.

Craig Russell, founder and CEO of The English Contractor, is a custom builder and bespoke remodeler. But he’s known to dole out one piece of financial advice from time to time. He’s no E.F. Hutton, but when Craig speaks, but sure to listen. Beyond the charming accent, he has some good advice to share. Namely, your home is likely your biggest financial investment. Not only because of that mortgage payment, but also because of the continued investment you might be making in your home with remodels, renovations, and repairs. Keeping up with home maintenance helps protect both your investment and the people who live inside it.

Stay-at-home orders don’t mean the end to home improvement. There are lots of steps that homeowners can take to begin their planning for a home renovation or remodeling project that begin from the comfort to home. The English Contractor, a custom home building and renovation company located in Cincinnati, Ohio, is currently walking customers through the process of planning and budgeting for their new home improvement project with contactless consultations.