Hi friends!  This is a sponsored post written by Adam Taylor on behalf of Bathrooms.com.  Thanks for supporting the sponsors that help me keep things running here at BWH.

Many people would love to increase the value of their home. If you’re serious about
doing this then it definitely helps to invest some money in the building, as this can
make a significant difference to what your home is worth. Read on to find out about
some of the best ways to increase the value of your home through investing money in
it.

Get a loft conversion
One of the best investments you can make in your home is a loft conversion. In some
areas of the country, it can add as much as 20% to the value of the building. Loft
conversions can be used for many purposes, such as an extra bedroom or a study
depending on your needs. This means it could be a really practical addition to your
house that benefits you and your family as well as the value of the property.

Renovate the bathroom
Bathrooms are another area of the house where it definitely pays to invest. If you are
looking at bathroom suites, it can be a good idea to go for something fairly neutral
in terms of color, as this makes them more appealing to potential buyers. You can
also get some fantastic bathroom furniture, such as cabinets and cupboards, which
add valuable extra storage space and are very attractive to many people who might be interested in buying your home in the future.

Consider planning permission
Even if you aren’t planning to extend your property while you are living there, it can be a good idea to investigate the possibility of getting planning permission for doing so anyway. For instance, many people who buy houses are interested in the potential to extend them in order to add extra living and bedrooms. If your house is sold with planning permission then this can make it more valuable to the people who are interested in buying it. Having planning permission for an extension means that a lot of the hassle is removed from the process in the future, as well as showing off the potential of your house.

Upgrade plumbing and electrics
Another good investment to make in your house is an upgrade to your plumbing and electrical systems. Modern, high quality plumbing and electrics are not only attractive to buyers and therefore beneficial for the value of your house, but they also make your house much safer and more efficient. This means upgrading your systems can be something worth doing even if you’re not interested in selling the house.

Get a garage
Finally, if your property doesn’t already have a garage, it can be a good idea to build one if possible. Garages are especially attractive to people looking to buy houses in crowded urban areas. If you have a double garage, it can add as much as 15% to the value of the property and so this is definitely an investment worth considering even if you don’t plan to use it yourself.

Overall, while investments by nature cost you money up front, if you are careful about what you spend and where you spend it, any investments you make in your home should more than pay off in the long run.

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PartyLite Simple Pleasures Holiday Sweepstakes. All opinions are 100% mine.

PartyLite is the world’s #1 direct seller of premium candles and home-fragrance products.   Their products are sold through home parties, on-line in every state, and in 17 other countries.  There’s always a PartyLite party going on somewhere in the world!
 
Nearly 60,000 people worldwide sell PartyLite products and more than 12 million people attend PartyLite parties each year.  PartyLite parties are known as fun parties that can bring together friends and associates, but that’s not why people buy PartyLite candles.  People buy PartyLite candles because they love the way they look, smell and the way they burn.  PartyLite has always offered customers Platinum Quality!  These are very best candles you can buy anywhere!

One of the most exciting things is that when you host a PartyLite party, there are so many FREE products you can earn!  Just by bringing together your friends, neighbors, and coworkers you can redecorate and refresh your home at little to no cost by earning scented candles, candle warmers, home decor accessories, and more.  And on top of that, if you register by December 15th, you get automatically entered into the PartyLite Simple Pleasures Holiday Sweepstakes where you can possibly win 1 of 5 $500 PartyLite gift certificates!

Remember that to win this fun sweepstakes, you must enter by Dec. 15!  I would love to have $500 to spend on the Clearly Creative Collection at PartyLite.  It is my favorite collection they have.

If you like PartyLite on Facebook, you’ll find out about special monthly offers online for party hosts and guests.

Also, the PartyLite Winter/Spring 2012 Catalog launches on Dec. 16.

Here’s a peek at some of my favorite items in the Fall/Holiday catalog:

And it gets better, I have a giveaway for one  Budget Wise Home reader!  One of you will win a coupon code to take $15 off an online order!  That’s FREE money to spend on whatever you like. Yay!

To enter:

Simply “Like” the PartyLite Facebook page and leave a comment on this post.

Hi Friends!  My photo editing system is down right now, but I will post some pics as soon as I get it running again.  Thanks for your patience.

Hi friends!  This is a sponsored post written by window blinds direct.  Thanks for supporting the sponsors that help me keep things running here at BWH.  

October is that time of year when the temperature starts to drop and your home can spontaneously decide that it is going to make you feel very cold. Energy prices have continued to rise and it’s becoming increasingly important (imperative even) that we become more energy efficient. Most of us cannot afford to be frivolous with our money over the winter period, so a few little lifestyle and decoration changes, could make the coming months less likely to result in the breaking of a piggy bank.

Not many of them remain, but if you’ve ever lived with single pane windows, you will be acutely aware of the ridiculous amount of heat they allow to escape and cold air they allow to come in. Installing double pane windows is the obvious and ideal answer, but it is more often than not, a very expensive job. If you live in a rental property, installing double pane windows may not even be an option if your landlord refuses to pay for them.

What I suggest instead, as an alternative method of minimizing this heat loss, is using cellular blinds. The structure of cellular blinds, makes them proficient insulators. Aesthetically, they are very similar to the standard pleated blind, but unlike their close relatives, they consist of small hexagonal “pockets”. Sometimes referred to as “Honeycomb Blinds”, they work by trapping air inside the specially designed pockets, which minimize the effects of convection, keeping your home nice and toasty in the winter.

If you’re not really a fan of blinds, you could use curtains. To make them even more effective, you could line them with a thick inexpensive material. This is an excellent idea for those whose budget won’t stretch enough for high quality, heavy curtains. I used this technique myself when I moved into my first home after graduating. I used a cheap cream cotton canvas material, which helped keep my bedroom a lot warmer during the winter. It is also possible to have a combination of both blinds and curtains. That way you achieve the look you desire, as well as improve the level of insulation throughout your home.

The next piece of advice I like to offer is to get some draft stoppers; the most efficient and less costly way of fighting drafts. If you know how to use a needle or thread (or even better, a sewing machine) you can create your own. Simply sew a long cylinder the same width as your door and then stuff it full of insulating foam. You could also have a little fun and make draft stoppers that look like snakes. This can often be really fun for the kids. You can be even more frugal by filling them with rice or sand, which results in a nice tight fit. If you can’t afford to do that, or don’t feel confident enough sewing, you could just roll up old blankets and stuff them under the doors. This is particularly useful when you go to bed, as it will trap the heat in your bedroom, making it less necessary to leave the heat on.

If the main heating technique in your home is radiators, you could get the most from the heat being produced by putting aluminum foil behind the radiators to reflect a greater quantity of heat into the room. This may sound ridiculous, but you can actually buy specialized kits for this. But since the nature of this article is to be frugal, it is just as effective to take some corrugated board and cover it with common baking foil. You then stick this to the wall behind your radiator using adhesive strips or tape.

Today is truly the start of a wintery season for my family and I.  It is so dark and gloomy and rainy and cold outside.  I was hoping to take some great pictures of my dining room, but there is no light.  I’m going to have to work some magic with my images on the computer.

I’ve also got my oldest son home sick from school today and I’m so not ready for the cold and flu season to begin.   It seems like my kids always get sick no matter what.  It’s just part of being a kid and being surrounded by other kids, toys, and germs.

Here are a few things I try and do during the season to keep my family healthy and clean and sick-free.

1.  I always have tissues with me.  I’ve got a small pack in my purse and a small box in the car.  They are handy wherever we go and this is a huge help.  I also keep a box on the kitchen counter where my boys can reach them.

2.  I keep a good stock of Lysol disinfecting wipes.  These are my favorite cleaning product.  It makes cleaning every day surfaces a breeze and I love that I can just toss them when I’m done.  I frequently use them to wipe down by kitchen and bathroom counters, doorknobs, light switches, and to quickly clean the most used toys.

3.  I try to have everyone wash their hands regularly.  I think is one of the best defenses against getting sick.  I’m far from perfect here, but I do my best to make sure they at least wash after the potty, before snacks and meals, and before bed.

4.  Get a flu shot.  We were slackers last year on getting our flu shots, so this year I’m changing that.  I’m setting up appointments today to get them next week.  I don’t know if I’m completely sold on flu shots because I feel like we all get sick no matter what, but I’m sure it’s better than not getting one.

5.  Plan healthy meals.  The key here for me is to plan ahead.  I try to tentatively plan out the week’s meals on Sunday so I’m not left wondering what to cook every day.  My kids are the worst, most pickiest eaters so I really have to make an effort to make sure they are eating right.  I’ve become a master at hiding the veggies in our meals.  I have a turbo mini chopper that I use to finely chop vegetables.  If I’m making something that has a sauce, like spaghetti, I dump the veggies into the sauce with the meat.  They don’t have a clue and will usually eat.  It’s a lot of work to  get my kids some good nutrition, but I know it is worth the effort.

How are you guys keeping your families healthy this season?  I would love to get some more helpful tips.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Lysol blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here.