The Blandings live in New York in a tiny apartment. They decide to move to the country and find that buying and building and living in their own home is easier said than done.

Baxter returns as a holiday tutor for Clarence's grandson, George. To Clarence's horror, Baxter plans to weasel his way back into permanent employment at Blandings. Blandings is threatened by the ...

Connie hires a personal secretary, Baxter, to tidy up Blandings and Clarence, and impress the visiting Schoonmakers; but Freddie's attempts to sell them dog-food contribute to the extreme discomfort ...