A solid teak dining table is heavy, awkward and often unable to turn into a narrow gang. Before you commit, measure the piece, measure your doorway and gate, and agree in writing who is carrying it and up how many steps. Delivery across the island for a large item can add a meaningful share of the purchase price.

On timber, look at the joinery rather than the finish. Mortise-and-tenon or dowelled joints that are still tight will outlast a beautiful surface on a stapled frame. Reclaimed teak is common and good, but check the underside for old bolt holes and splits that have been filled.

Upholstery and rattan are the humidity casualties. Foam collapses, and mould gets into cushion cores in open-air rooms. Press hard into every seat, and lift the cushions to smell the inside of the covers before you agree a price.