The next time I decorate by a colour of the year will be the first time. Don't hold your breath. I have nothing against this particular colour but it doesn't work with all the things I've collected over the years, and I am not about to discard carpets bought after hard bargaining with dubious merchants in Istanbul or Islamabad because they don't "go" with a paint colour that someone voted "colour of the year." In its place, I think the colour would be quite nice (better than this years choices, certainly). It's just that my place isn't the right place for it.

@Karen Hodge, I hear you!! Sometimes I think the estate agent should carry quite a bit of the blame actually. If they do their job correctly like you see in the adds on TV, they should bring these discrepancies to the attention of the sellers, stand on their morals and say if you can't get it better than this, then you'll have to find someone else to sell your home!! I know you can't make everybody "house proud" but the saying "do unto others" springs to mind. I bet if these same people bought a house not up to scratch, "a current affair" would hear about it but they don't think it wrong to simply walk out on a house that isn't being left nicely for the next family!! I have some friends that recently sold a house in Essendon, Melb and whilst the buyers were back and forth selling their own home, my friends kept watering the plants and even did things like painted out the wardrobes because of the scuff marks made over time!! They cleaned the entire two storey house from top to bottom and finished by mopping the floors as they were exiting. The buyers were so taken by the entire home, they bought it with almost all the furniture that my friends had in it!!

On the surface this subject raises quaint images of flowering vine-adorned little granny flats and harmonious extended families 'taking tea' together on the patio surrounded by grandchildren and laughter, visiting care-givers helping the elderly live at home with family, receiving visits from Caregiver services...everyone smiling...but wait, there's more. At a certain stage along the planning process a percentage of us fall foul of the expectations, hopes and idealistic scenarios and maybe, for some, that is because of religious upbringings..."honour they father and thy mother" etc. adding guilt to the already difficult decisions. Housing our elderlies is not an easy topic to bring up for discussion in public because there is no "one way" to address and resolve this issue. I felt that HOUZZ, was a good place to have a discussion about an otherwise difficult and emotional subject that many would be reluctant to approach. On deciding to tell a bit of my own experience I felt that it would open up an opportunity for others battling with the complexities of this problem. So, congrats to all the Houzzers who've had a go at telling their stories here and making the rest of us feel that we are not alone having to deal with this life-situation. Taking care of our elderlies is about much more than building them a comfy granny flat or putting on extentions to our own homes and its not about applying a "One size fits most" solution...( Would that it were all that easy!) I found that my religious upbringing, coupled with unhappy experiences had with my parent made my final decision ever so much more difficult despite that certain 'rules' no longer applied in my own life....or I thought they did not! I discovered that the religious expectations put on me in my childhood coupled with those of friends and family members had reared their heads from the distant past to make my decisions more difficult. I discovered the power of guilt! Mum did not practise her faith but the rules about children and parents were convenient, those indisputable, fearsome rules to enforce compliance and obedience...or else.... I will never forget the day she quoted her favourite "honour thy father and thy mother" at me just once too often after she'd exacted very severe discipline: : I'd found my indignation at being treated unfairly and, through my bloodied handkerchief I screamed : -"What if thy father and thy mother are not honourable ?" There was no answer to that question, no hour long lecture to reinforce the point. Again I paid dearly for my retort. This example to illustrate that domineering parents can be very cruel when they call to bear witness to their demnds any rationale that they have inculcated in their children from a religious perspective and a socio/ cultural perspective So - pondering on wheher we would house our elderlies ( probably meant to call for accomodation suggestions and financial solutions here on HOUZZ) for me, and maybe for others. brought out a dilemma I did not know was there...Obligation irrespectively and Guilt.....they are your parents no matter what. Maybe today I would have guarded more jealously the life I'd won for myself.

Australian homes face some of the world's harshest conditions! Termite attacking your home is one, that unless your paying attention can cost you lots of money. Did you know that your home insurance generally does not cover the cost of repairs to your home should termites cause it damage ! There are some small no cost things you can do to spot these destructive little pests. Now before i explain the signs to look out for please understand the most important thing you can do if you suspect termites is nothing! The reason I say this is the moment you disturb termites or their nest they will disappear ! (that may sound fantastic), but when they believe the threat has gone they will return ! If you suspect termites in your home don't disturb them, instead call a certified pest specialist. A termite specialist will inspect you home, advise on the best way to treat the problem to eliminate the whole colony & possibly an ongoing maintenance program to keep them out of your home for the long term ! Now the things you can do & the signs to look for ! Take a slow walk around the entire outer perimeter of your home. Your looking from the point where your brickwork/slab edge makes contact with the ground to the weep hole (i'll explain this below & please see attached photo). If your home isn't brick & it's outside walls are timber or some other cladding there should be a pressed metal devise running along the bottom edge of the cladding, commonly this projects out at 45 degrees to the wall & is painted to match the cladding. You are looking for a weep hole (concrete path should be lower). Weep hole with termite tracks "mud track" more mud tracks. Termite "mud track" to cladding. (again please see attached photos), this track will extend from the ground to the weep hole or up to & over the ant cap (the 45 degree thingy) for those of you with cladding. If you see these tracks it can be an indication of termites getting into your home. Take note of where these tracks are, now take a nail, piece of stiff wire, pen anything with a reasonable point really & "gently" inside your home opposite the mud tracks at the bottom of your wall where the skirting board meets the floor covering look for ripples in the finish of the skirting or visable mud around this area. I f there is mud call the pest expert, if there is rippling in the skirting gently poke it where the rippling is, if it flexes or your nail disappears into the board & it feels hollow beyond the painted surface don't go any further call your pest expert. There are other things you can do to help maintain your property & reduce the risk of termite attack, these involve some sweating & hard work but it's worth doing to help keep the termites away. Remove any timber you may have stacked against the home, keep it away from the edge of your house ! Move all gardens away where possible, "only footpaths should abutt the slab edge or brickwork". There should always be a minimum 75mm (3 inches) from the bottom of the weep hole or ant cap to any finished surface i.e: ground, footpath, pavers, garden mulch or lawn. This doesn't stop termites it just gives you a clear area to inspect to detect their entry (mud tracks). If your home is not built on a concrete slab, it may be a timber floor with a crawl space underneath and if you're game to inspect under your home take a torch and get under there! (there should always be a gate/ door to access this space). Your looking for the same "mud tracks" that I described above. Make sure concrete paths, gardens & ground levels fall away from your home. This keeps water from ponding around your home, termites are attracted to moisture and ponding water can affect the foundations of your home also. If your handy fix leaking outdoor taps quickly, not only will this save you money on water bills but it will keep ground dry around the home. Inspect your home as i've advised above every 3 to 6 months. And have it professionally inspected by a pest specialist every 6 to 12 months. If the worst happens and a pest inspection discovers termites ask this professional to advise you when to get a builder (like myself) to undertake your repairs. Keep in mind that quoting on repairs to termite damage can be difficult as until plasterboard is removed from the inside it can be difficult to assess the damage done ! If your building a new home or renovating/ extending your existing home ask your builder to include treated timber into the frame of all construction they do for you, this will cost you a bit more as treated timber is more expensive, however knowing that the structural timbers in your home won't be on a termites menu may help you sleep more soundly at night ! If you would like more information/ advice or are considering building, renovating and or extending go to our web site on the attached link below.