Depending on where you are with the purchase decision, get a book on home inspections, which will list all potential issues and how you can spot possible problems. Bring along a friend or family member with experience. Once you've decided to buy, get a good inspector and spring for any extras he recommends. (We were recommended to get someone to send video up the chimneys, which turned out to be unlined and not particularly safe). We bought a house in good shape, but thanks to our inspection report, negotiated down the price based on a number of items that needed to be fixed that we didn't see, but our inspector did. For stuff like the chimneys, which didn't get negotiated down, we had an estimate. Many things will be clues as to how well the house has been maintained and upgraded over the years. Have the electrics been redone? When? What about the heating? Or the roof? The house looks pristine, but you want to know if the house has been care fully and lovingly maintained over the years, or just recently painted for resale. The bath shower arrangement, for example, is strange. What happened to the shower curtain rod? Was there a miserable moldy -- or worse yet, rotting --- bathroom that got fixed up and they didn't put the curtain rod back because a quick sale was more important than doing a good job. It's great if someone else took care of headaches so you don't have to, but make sure they did a good job. Ask questions about the history of the house and its updates. Unless there's another serious buyer who sounds like he'll buy at the asking price now, honest sellers will be happy to answer questions.

Add a fabric wall hanging – looks like there is space on the wall behind the Chesterfield loveseat? A woven shawl or table runner from your travels overseas (if you've bought anything) on a dowel would complement your Tintin in Tibet art, and not add clutter to the space. And an ottoman that doubles as a storage box or small coffee table (put a tray over it as a stable base for your coffee) would be nice to put your feet up on as well as add to the bohemian look.

We have continued to watch out but seen nothing that is right. At this point we are holding off. Found one place in Auckland however they were all pedestal rather than any storage capacity.Thanks

Thanks so much for your comment Phoebe. It was a simple but elegant solution to a rather dismal backyard.