yes it does scratch easily and while I like to look at it I would never install marble again on the floor with high traffic. Soft stone, even with sealing it is still prone to etching, staining from rust etc. My DH so much in love with heated floors in our full bathroom so now I have great excuse to remove marble floor from powder room, put radiant heat with Ditra and choose some nice looking porcelain/ ceramic tile for the floor. I did buy travertine tile for the walls with bunch of elegant listellos- so I am not against using stone, just marble is poor choice for high traffic areas IMHO. Of course you can always hire people to come to your house and repolish/ restore your marble but I've heard it is one of most $$$ services...

Hi raelyn! Chiming in a little late here, but your question really hit home for me! I didn't have dd till I was 41 and till then dh and and I just used the house pretty much as a closet - working all hours, little entertaining. Then when dd was about three I realized what a pig sty the house was. I read all the books in the library on cleaning, but the one that worked for me was the flylady system - the book is called "Side Tracked Home Executives" and recommends using a card system to keep track of your cleaning chores. Since I started using the system, I: Put away all my clothes immediately (shoes too) and have got dh and dd to do this (dd with help.) Make the beds first thing every morning. Keep the public rooms (entry, dining, living rooms) clutter free. Have all the dishes done and counters cleared and wiped before going to bed. Keep the bathroom clean and tidy. Vacuum the house at least twice a week. Doesn't sound like much, but just doing these things has made a HUGE difference. There are things I still get stuck on - I hate cleaning the refrigerator, and keeping the toys in order is a never ending battle, though dd is becoming more and more helpful with that. I'm shooting for "presentable" rather than "spotless" and it's working, without giving me a nervous breakdown. Having a system really helps to clarify what needs to be done. I don't worry about the dog hair on the sofa if it is not vacuuming day; I let the laundry pile up until wash day (and encourage everyone to wear things at least twice. It's not like we're coal miners here.) I have also made changes in the furniture to help keep the house clean. For example, I put a big dresser in the entry for gloves, hats, sunblock, gardening things, etc. I put an armoire in the dining room to keep dd's art supplies handy but easy to put out of sight. I put a lot of knick-knacks into storage (a couple of boxes in the laundry room) so I can keep the bookshelves, piano etc. dusted without it being a major job. I have carted MANY boxes of clothes down to the Salvation Army - it's a lot easier to put things away when you don't have to cram them into overflowing dressers and closets. Labeling bins for toys, getting boxes for photos - basically, finding or creating a place for everything and trying to keep it there! So I guess there are really two parts - organizing your home so it is lower maintenance, and then setting up a schedule for maintaining it. To me these two evolved together. I also have a sister who could give Martha Stewart a run for her money in housekeeping - thank goodness she doesn't live across the street! I bet your sister has some good advice on housecleaning though, if it is not too hard to ask her. People who are naturally tidy often love to come to other people's houses and help out - it might turn out to be a real boon! My sister would like nothing more than to organize all my photos and put them in albums for me :-) I have a small dog but still the shedding is a nuisance - see the link below for Shed-stop. I am not recommending the store, just the product. It really helps reduce shedding - my brother has started using it on his two German Shephards and says he can't believe the difference. BTW, I have also created a card system for dd (6) and she makes her bed and puts her clothes in the hamper, helps clear the table. If your kids aren't doing their share, this might work...at least for the 10 year old. I don't recall being super cooperative when I was 15 :-) but it is worth a try. Good luck! ps - one more thing - dh and I now take turns (weekly) doing the dishes. This has worked out really well (though he does say we always use more dishes during HIS week.) Here is a link that might be useful: Shed-stop

I HATE rock foundations. I have three buildings with them and they are a maintenance nightmare. I am in New England and we keep having to replace sections due to frost action. Also, they need repointing. And they leak. And they are drafty. Never again am I buying a building with a rock foundation without the budget to just replace the #&$@ thing! Anyway, good luck. That actually looks to be in pretty good condition.

It all depends on your existing interests, skill set and physical abilities, your willingness to learn, to make mistakes and the actual location and site conditions of the land you want to transform. It is potentially DIY for a gardener. For the average homeowner, not so much. PS. You should delete the other two exact posts you did.