Yep, I read how to remove the paint if need be. I only started read the actual booklet itself after I posted . Obviously, it will take a bit of time to read, but thank you again for posting.

Sixteen layers of paint! Wow, hard to believe! I've only ever wet-sanded cars (good bye fingerprints!), so the thought of wet-sanding something timber is a bit foreign, and a bit scary. I guess the timber dries out properly before you can paint it? How long did one bucket take to dry out?

Your statement about doing it yourself and the reasoning are exactly what I was thinking. I just didn't want to be hopeful that it was something that was a possible DIY. We are pretty handy (the Man and I), so want to be doing everything we can on a place (except the things that need to be done by licenced tradies).

The house we are looking at is over one hundred and twenty years old. Unfortunately we can't get in to inspect it before towards the end of the first week in April (not too long really), but will be walking around the outside with the agent tomorrow.

Yep, have learnt from the cars that good prep is the only way to a good finish. Many many thanks.