"I started messing around because everyone seemed to be doing it," says Todd. Guess how that turned out?

After flipping an investment property near their Baltimore home in early 2006 for a tidy profit of $40,000, Todd, 40, and Heather, 32, got the bug. In April 2006 the Wades bought a run-down house in a questionable Baltimore neighborhood for $62,000. So far the project has produced a lot of pain but no profits. "It just took us a little longer to get this house in order, and we missed the window," says Todd.

IF YOU are looking to increase the value of your home significantly, your best option is to build an extension. Halifax says that a substantial extension can add more to a home’s value than any other home improvement. Creating an extra room should be the objective, although extending a room such as the kitchen may change the use of other rooms, thus having the same effect.

However, Halifax ranks a loft conversion as offering the best value for money because it has the most potential to recoup your outlay through the value it adds. A new kitchen is the second-best for value for money; redecorating is third because of the minimal cost of materials. Building a substantial extension is ranked fourth because it requires the largest financial outlay, despite its potential for the highest return.

Halifax distinguishes between conversions and conservatories on one hand and extensions on the other. A loft conversion is good, particularly if it is a bedroom. A garage conversion, if connected to the house and properly heated and insulated, can offer similar financial benefits to a loft conversion. Conservatories are tricky to get right. They are comparatively cheap to construct and therefore their perceived value is low. However, if the conservatory becomes a primary room of the house, such as a dining room, it can add more. Ideally it should connect two rooms (for example, the back sitting room and an existing kitchen extension).

MANILA, Philippines -- Structural experts say that condominium buildings are designed by architects and engineers based on sound engineering standards.

Inquirer Property recently talked to a structural engineer and an architect who gave assurances that the majority of new condominiums in the Philippines are inherently safe structurally.

Gideon Javier, project management director of Colliers International, said the practice of employing and regulating structural engineers in the country is “very strict.”

MANILA, Philippines—Do you believe that the design of a house can affect the relationships between family members?

Most definitely. While it is true that the basic function of a house is shelter, proper design can actually bring families closer and enhance relationships. The size of the house is not as important as its functionality. When planning to build or improve your home, consider these tips, which have been known to inspire family interaction.