Most of us would be aware that a very tall tree growing close to a house is not a good thing.  There’s the potential damage to the foundations of houses to consider and the danger of trees dropping large limbs into yards and onto houses posing a danger to people and property, not to mention the risk of the trees being blown over in bad storms – particularly if they’re older trees or trees with rot or weaknesses in the structure.  Some people might be relaxed about leaves in the gutters, but if leaves are allowed to build up in gutters, gutters fill and overflow in downpours, potentially causing damage to ceilings and interior walls.  And of course dampness leads to attractive conditions for termites and then there’s a termite risk... oh the joys of being a home owner! 
I was researching businesses to fell and lop large trees and clear overgrown residential blocks recently and came across this video.  It has to be seen to be believed!  Do play it with the sound ‘on’ for added effect – although not too loudly if the children are asleep! 
http://youtu.be/MdyfJpTif5w
Can you see the tree wobble as he drops the heavy limbs to the ground?  Shudder!  I’ll keep my feet firmly on the ground thank you very much!

Do you remember as a child being told to "Go and clean up your room.  It looks like a Rat's Nest."  (I hope I'm not the only one....)  Well, did you ever wonder what a Rat's Nest actually looked like?  I often did, and today I saw one - a real Rat's Nest!  There were no rats at home and I suspect there hadn't been any at home for a long time, as there was no smell around the nest, as you might expect.

Pulling out a 25 year old kitchen today, in preparation for floor sanding next week, we uncovered this beautiful specimen of (what we presume) is a Rat's Nest.  Lovely and warm, and dry, and cosy, with a ready food source nearby!  They're not silly. 

So not only are there termites, spiders, ants, cockroaches fleas and wasps to keep out of our living spaces, there are also rats to keep at bay!

To avoid rat problems, put all food and food scraps away in the fridge or in the bin outside, close off any possible entry points (keeping in mind that vermin only need very small holes to squeeze through if they want to access a warm, dry and cosy home...) and pick up any windfalls (fallen fruit from trees) in the garden.  There are DIY solutions, from rat traps loaded with tempting, tasty morsels, to poison to owning a cat.  And if all else fails, pest extermination companies will be only too happy to help.  Do you have any best remedies to share?  Comment below, if so!

I have fallen in love with a steam cleaner!  Over all of the years that I have been renovating, I have often thought to  myself that at least 50% of 'renovation' is just cleaning up other people's messes.  If something is cleaned and maintained, it looks 100% better than something that is grotty and falling apart.  Does anyone else have the same theory?  Well, yesterday I was shopping in ALDI for some bikkies - you know, those delicious ones that have a chocolate topping?  I came out with two packets of those bikkies, two blocks of chocolate, two shirt and tie sets, a new pram, a grumpy toddler AND a fabulous little steam cleaner for not very much money.  I'm just embarking on a renovation and since, in my opinion, cleaning is the first step of any serious renovation, I figured that a steam cleaner might just make my life easier.  Well, it is just the bee's knees!  I'm sure there are steam cleaners and there are steam cleaners and the likes of Choice Magazine reviews will help the purchaser select the right one for their needs, but I am in love.  I love renovating and delight in swooshing out someone else's grime and making a tidy profit from it, but at the same time I am a bit squeamish about - ugh - dirt.  I don't mind my own dirt, but I swoon at other people's, well, uncleanliness - especially when I have to live with it!  So anything that cleans, shines and disinfects a secondhand living surface is a friend of mine!  The little steam cleaner I bought cleaned, shone and blew away quite a bit of dirt, grime, mould, toothpaste, scum, scale and I don't like to think what else and now I'm much happier to live in that 25 year old bathroom!  The fittings and fixtures still need to be replaced before we move on and sell the place, but for the short term, the master bedroom ensuite looks 100%!  And all it took was a jolly good clean.  Steam cleaning is evidently known for powerful, hygenic cleaning without harsh chemicals.  Elbow grease is all very well, but it wears one out after a short while!  Great for kitchens and bathrooms, windows and glass, I can't wait to have another go and see just what else I can clean with my trusty little home improvement helper!

Hey! Look who we ran into at the recent Spring Home Show in Brisbane!  TV personality and the face of CUA (Credit Union Australia), Scott Cam, was at the recent Home Show signing copies of his new book and meeting and greeting with visitors to the Show.  RenoSave’s very own Vivienne Halliday had her copy of Scott Cam’s book personally signed and a happy snap taken with the very personable and easy going former carpenter.  Viv confidently reported back to the RenoSave stand that Scott thought the RenoSave Card was ‘a good idea’!  Well, we did already know that, but thanks for the thumbs up, Scotty, and all the best with sales of the book “Home Maintenance for Knuckleheads”.