“The garden’s overgrown, The walkway’s not swept.” Our red front door got the thumbs up but our welcome mat wasn’t welcoming enough, the light fitting above the door was “shabby” and you couldn’t really see the number above the door.”I bet you didn’t know it was so bad and I haven’t even got in the front door,” she said.Now we expected her to be wowed. Dressed immaculately in a tight fitting skirt suit and power heels, Maurice marched sniffily through the front garden which was showing the after effects of July’s heatwave. But pitch an American estate agent against my wife, a designer with a very strong idea of what she considers good design, and blood, sweat and tears were bound to flow.The visit started badly. We don’t have any pets, but we do have a major creator of both mess and smell, in the shape of a 22-month-old toddler. I half expected Maurice to ban him from the home.It wasn’t quite as bad as that. She stars in five’s House Doctors which is now in its sixth series.

And to see just the sort of treatment she gives, we let her into our charming, four bedroom north London home, which were are trying to sell in a rather sticky market.I have to say I had my fears. In past programmes Maurice has shown a strong aversion to mess and smells, and anything that creates them, particularly pets. That’s until we let Ann Maurice into our home.
Maurice, in case you haven’t come across her, is the tough talking, Californian former estate agent whose expertise is preparing homes for sale. Up until now we thought that our fashionable, understated Neisha Crosland wallpaper, quietly exuding class from under the dado rail in our hallway, might just be a plus point for our house. It was the wallpaper. Pre-release prices range from one-bedroom apartments from around £110,500-£124,500 and two bedrooms are for sale from £132,500 to £242,000.Possidon Beach Gardens: Halcyon Properties, 01323 891 639 Praia d’el Ray: World Class Homes, 0800 731471 Vera Garden Apartments: Overseas Homesearch, 0870 240 3258.

Each flat has 24- hour emergency response, walled and gated security plus CCTV. Each apartment has its own patio or balcony, beach access, two swimming pools, tennis courts and allocated parking but it is the development’s focus on security that is again appealing to buyers, who may leave their properties empty for long periods and also adds confidence while they are there. Other developers are responding to the demand for sports facilities on site, even when developments are targeted at older buyers.In another development, Complejo Rey have launched Vera Garden Apartments near the small town of Vera, on the sunny coast of Almeria. Nowadays with ISDN lines you can work from anywhere so it’s easier to divide your time between here and the UK.”Praia d’el Ray owners are entitled to discounted golf club membership and have access to a tennis academy. It’s also good for those who may have business elsewhere such as Frankfurt or Brazil.”Roberts is finding younger buyers are also opting for the lock-up-and-leave option: “People are retiring earlier but often continue working as consultants.