I know that I *should* look at the bones of the house, myself, but I'm not sure I'll be able to do that next time. The house we're currently living in supposedly has good bones. However, the work is taking forever. Granted, my husband is working on his thesis at the same time. But we've been using the bathtub to wash our hands for over a year because there's no sink. In the one bathroom. The other bathroom has nothing at all... no toilet or sink, no tile floor, etc. I'm just really, really tired living in a home that is under renovation. Our next house needs to be completely finished, or at least only need very small, quick repairs. No "needs TLC" house for me! And we'll only be there 4 years, so it's not like I can figure on getting the house how we want it "someday." (I wouldn't count things like painting and carpet, which are quick short-term fixes, in that. I'm thinking more like a bathroom needing retiling, a kitchen needing new cabinets, etc.)