@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!!

So should the oldies have a proper meal. My parents were quite vulnerable to eating a poor diet as they aged, with no one to take them in hand. I'm determined that won't happen to us. Plus, I spent a fair bit of my life in places where you ate what was available seasonally, so it was all fresh and unprocessed and had actual flavour. (Of course, in some of those places, you were desperate for anything even remotely green by the end of winter!) I also spent a good part of my life eating fruit and veggies trucked several thousand km from California or Florida to Canada. Been there, done that, never again. Eating apples that have been in cold storage for months, or tomatoes that have travelled hundreds of kilometres, or someone's idea of a 21st century version of the old TV dinner, just doesn't cut it with me. As much as possible, local produce, my own herbs, and meat from a reliable local butcher. Frozen peas, beans, even spinach and broccoli, fine, all good,along with canned tomatoes and beans. But that's where I draw the line. Life is too short to be eating mediocre food just because it's convenient.

From someone who has lived in fourteen houses in twenty three years, I would say give yourself a minimum of six to twelve months to turn your house into something that feels like home. Live in it, sleep, work, and play in it; little by little, you'll be inspired to add details that will make it yours. Unless you can afford to hire a professional designer, and know you're on target with your designs, don't rush to buy new furniture or artwork, or really anything home decor wise until you've had time to get a "feel" for your new house. An exception might be plants. I love how a well placed house plant adds warmth. And of course, if the walls are painted in something you know you can't live with, please do paint before you move in! Neutral shades are always best. That vibrant green you loved in your previous bedroom may feel tacky and garish in your new one.

We have just finished our renovations including a new kitchen. Whilst my husband and I both like to cook and experiment, it is just so much more enjoyable and less stressful to do so in a well designed space customised to our tastes and needs.