@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!!

Sorry but the water line blue and white flowery tiles look old fashioned and if you're going for that kind of sandstone on the top it won't go with the terracotta tiles you have already Do like the pool and tiles that Hayda Natural Stone have posted Very nice!

What a lovely house, a paint update will look really exciting! Contrary to all the colours you've chosen, I'd go instead with a warm grey (hint of taupe in it). It will always be classic, would look amazing with fresh white window frames and dark charcoal eaves (e.g. Dulux Monument). Cue my favourite colour: Dulux Dieskau. I just think there's quite a large area of uninterrupted rendered wall so I'd worry that if you go too bluish, it could look to be verging on pastel and a gingerbread house type effect. My brother painted Tranquil Retreat on his rendered Victorian and it has come up more blue than he'd thought (actually he was also considering Milton Moon). But of course, test paint a few walls sections with different aspects and check during the day from different angles (and even across the road)!! Actually there's another photo and paint colour I love that reminded me of this, I'll try and track it down.

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.