5 Ways to Add Value on to Your Home

The housing market is a volatile place where it is difficult to predict trends and a local school can be more important that the number of bedrooms in the property. If you are thinking of selling your house you will want to ensure you get at least the amount you paid for it in the first place. However, depending on the market this can be a tall order. However, there aremeasures you can take which are sure to add value to your home. Not all of the following suggestions are cheap fixes but they are a guarantee of justifiably pushing up the price of your property without detracting potential buyers.

My Bathroom Makeover

The fact that I've wanted a new bathroom for what feels like forever is certainly no secret. I even wrote a poem about how desperate I was to get rid of the horrendous wallpaper and tatty old suite last year! It was so uninviting and I really wanted somewhere I could escape and relax in comfort and style. Thankfully, 2014 was the year and not only did I get a new bathroom, I had the house fully insulated, rewired, and a new kitchen installed. I was a little bit spoilt when it came to renovating our home.

I opted for a minimalistic look with white paint on the freshly plastered walls and ceiling, a white suite and white tiles. It makes the room look bright and fresh but enables me to add my own accessories to personalise it. Being a blank canvas it means if I fancy a change I can just alter the

Christmas Gift Giveaway - Day 11

My Christmas Gift Giveaway is back! 30 days, 30+ fantastic prizes.

Just my way of saying 'thank you' to all of my followers this year.

WIN 1 of 2 Tins of Sugru

This ultimate stocking filler will add more colour to your Christmas...

Project 365 - A photo a Day #2

This week seemed to fly by! Here is what we got up to...

• We visited Badby Woods on Sunday for an afternoon walk with the poochie. The Mr decided to walk through what appeared to be a small puddle and sunk right up to his thigh - hilarious!
• We had some more outdoor fun at Draycote Water Monday. The Mr and Mini Mes love to see how high they can go... even if their expressions say otherwise.
• Our last afternoon together before school restarted was spent at our local park. We played chase and this was taken while I was 'it' and they escaped to the climbing frames!
• Spartan doesn't really understand what personal space is and he likes to ram himself between the armrest and I while I'm trying to work.
• After school the Mini Mes asked to go to the indoor play centre so we headed there straight away. I was surprised by how quiet it was! You can just about see them right in the centre (Jamster in a yellow t-shirt).
• A yummy homemade jam sponge for dessert - mmmm!
• We received some lovely furniture from Ikea to review so Saturday was a DIY day.

What photos have you taken this week?

DIY disasters ...and how to avoid them

We’ve all been there. ‘I could do that’, we think to ourselves as we see the achingly expensive plumber do another five minutes on the pipes. However, biting off more than you can chew on the DIY front can leave you forking out more than you might pay a professional contractor.

For those who haven’t learned the hard way, here are some key tips for avoiding a DIY disaster.


Insurance
This is your biggest safety net. It’s definitely worth checking the details of your policy before you dive in hammer first. It may well be worth getting accidental damage cover before you start your project.


Safety first
Make safety your primary concern. Your own safety and that of your family is far more important than whether you finish a job on time. Make sure you read exhaustively the instructions for any tools you haven’t used before and consult a professional if you have any questions.

Be sure to get all the protective gear you need – such as eye protection and gloves – before you start a job.


Know your home
One of the most common DIY disasters is vicarious damage: causing accidental damage to one of the systems in your house while you’re working on another. Make sure you’re certain of key details, like where your water shut off valve is, where you can turn off your electricity and the position of important pipes and wires before you start so you don’t cause any disasters!


Cut costs at your peril
Everyone likes a good deal, and no one likes to pay over the odds for anything. But when it comes to building materials or tools, scrimping and saving can just mean a greater outlay in the end. Stick with really reputable brands and speak to any DIY-keen friends for their recommendations.


Leave it to the professionals
You can’t do everything. Some jobs really are for the professionals. Don’t risk injuring yourself or causing significant damage to your home. Do as much research as possible for any prospective job to see if it’s really DIY-appropriate.

I found these and other helpful tips on the AA’s website when I was looking for deals on contents insurance for my home.

*This is a sponsored guest post*