Of course, of you buy a 5-10 year old house, you're likely to need to do some repairs/replacement during the 5-8 year holding period you're looking at anyway. - One advantage to buying a newer home is that you're more likely to get some on the in features already- granite countertops, open floor plans, etc.
If you are uncertain about how much to give, just to tip based on your bill. Generally, 10% - 15% of the bill is the most proper amount. For the tour guide and the driver, 10-70 RMB (1 - 10 US dollars) a day per person is adequate.
I always tip 20% in cash, and that's on a sliding scale, depending on the quality of service. I tip a little bit more if I haven't been to the salon in a while and the tech has to work extra hard to get rid of my calluses.