It’s here. It’s finally here. After months of searching, negotiating, and many faxes, today we take possession of our new recreational property, a three bedroom townhouse at Creekside in Whistler, B.C. I must admit, instead of feeling excited and elated, I am feeling a little overwhelmed.

I have no idea what the previous owners have left us, so I am preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. This means I’m running around my house shoving pillows and sheets into big green garbage bags. I am however, resisting the urge to go to Costco and just start buying stuff, something we did when we bought our cabin on Horne Lake, B.C.

My husband and I power shopped our way through Nanaimo, stopping at every big box store enroute to the cottage. We forgot that our cabin didn’t have power, so the coffee maker and toaster were a complete waste of money.

I’m also conscious that unlike our cabin, our new townhouse will be in a rental pool. While I prefer pretty, functional and long lasting are going to be a better choice. Heather Bayer, my favourite blogger, gives the following recommendations in her article, The High Cost of Buying Cheap:

1. Buy a self cleaning oven - spend the extra $200- it will be worth it in the end
2. Buy a good vacuum cleaner
3. Invest in good glasses - as cheap ones chip easily (Ikea makes a great box set)
4. Good coffee maker (and spare carafe) and coffee bean grinder
5. Good Quality knives - Heather’s guests often commented on her poor quality ones
6. Good sheets - avoid the really cheap ones and the really expensive ones because they wrinkle coming out of the dryer
7. Good Bedding - comforters, blankets
8. Good mattresses - most important

The lesson here is to buy good quality items the first time down the isle. Heather found buying cheap ended up costing more because they had to replace it. I’m also going to make a list of everything we need and then go shopping. Here’s to getting it right the second time.

Cheers.

Julie