IrishHouses.ie | Sligo Property Blog
IrishHouses.ie is a new property website designed and maintained by a group of private home owners. We have no connection with any estate agency or property related business.
We have tried to create an easy to use website that will display our houses for sale as well as possible and allow potential buyers to view them properly.
Estate agents and private sellers are welcome to place ads for properties for sale, rent or exchange.
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EU Approves Nama Property Bond Plan
The European Union recently approved the Irish Government plan for the National Assets Management Agency (Nama) to commence buying loans from the Irish banking
system. The EU will however, still need to scrutinise individual transactions to ensure that excessive state aid is not being provided to Irish banks. In the long run, this additional level of oversight may possibly reduce the cost to the Irish taxpayer if Nama overpays the banks on the true value of the bad loans.
Full Article | EU Approves Nama Property Bond Plan
Property Developers and Banks: The Nama Gamble
Imagine that, in early 2007, a property developer purchases a parcel of land that is zoned for residential development. The developer intends to build a mixed development of 3 bedroom semi-detached houses and 1 bedroom apartments. He borrows 90 million euro from the banks and invests 30 million euro of his own, or his shareholders, money for a total land purchase price of 120 million euro.
Then, during the months since early 2007, the housing market starts to slump and the developers finds that he cannot afford to
repay the monthly amounts due to the bank on the loan of 90 million euro. The bank obtains a court order for repossession of the
land in lieu of the debt and tries to sell it. The continuing slide in property values means that the site is now worth
say only 36 million euro, which is a reduction of 70 percent from the amount originally paid.
If the bank is fortunate enough to find a buyer at a price of 36 million euro, they would still suffer a loss of 54 million euro. The developer and any shareholders will lose the 30 million euro put into the development.
Full Article | Property Developers and Banks: The Nama Gamble
House Building & Construction Industry
The recent downturn in the Irish economy has affected all aspects of the property sector, including estate agents and
property developers. The house building and construction industry is a major portion of the Irish economy and in the last two years over 200,000 jobs have been lost.
One estimate put the current number of construction industry related jobs in Ireland as around 180,000.
Many contractors involved in construction projects face major difficulties on obtaining payments for work done on time.
Late payments and sometimes non payments have become increasing common.
Full Article | House Building & Construction Industry
Property Advice: Moving House
It's vital to pack well ahead of moving day. If you are moving house during the summer, get your winter clothes packed. Pack up those kitchen implements that you won't need. In the bathroom, you can do without weighing scales and spare towels in the days before you move house.
It's a good idea to keep valuable possessions, such as silverware, collections, or antiques, with you. Either way, check your homeowner's insurance to see how you are covered during the move, and if you need additional insurance from the mover. Also, find out what paperwork (receipts, photos etc) you might need to make a claim if you do lose these items. As well as valuables, make sure you keep any important papers with, such as passports, id cards, birth certificates, etc.
Full Article | Property Advice: Moving House
Mortgage Rate Increase For Property Owners
Most banking experts believe that Irish house and commercial mortgage variable interest rates will increase shortly. The
standard variable rate may rise by 1 or 1.5 percent during 2010.
Previously, mortgage borrowers faced with an increase in the standard variable mortgage rate had the option of transferring to a more competitive rate from another bank.
Full Article | Mortgage Rate Increase For Property Owners
Greatest Demand is for 3 Bedroom Houses
A recent article in the Irish Times newspaper estimates the number of currently empty properties in Ireland at over 300,000. Many of these vacant house and apartments will probably be among the slowest to sell for two main reasons: they are in the wrong location, based as they are in new estates far from major towns and because they are the type of property that is currently least in demand.
Full Article | Greatest Demand is for 3 Bedroom Houses
Reducing House Flood Damage
Changes to your house that will minimise the damage caused by
flooding include:
Fitting non-return valves on drains and inlet water pipes, which will prevent contaminated water from entering.
Replacing fitted carpets with ceramic tiles on the ground floor of your house. If you want a softer floor material, use rugs
that can be removed from rooms if necessary.
Full Article | Reducing House Flood Damage
Advice on Water Damage and Flooded House
Flooding can ruin the interior of a house in a very short time, but unfortunately there is no easy or fast way to repair
the damage.
It can take many months to dry out the house, especially in the winter. If your home is flooded, each vertical inch of
the brickwork of your house walls affected by the flood will take about a month to dry out.
Full Article | Advice on Water Damage and Flooded House
Foundations of a New Build House
Before you proceed with the foundations of your new self build house, you will need a site soil investigation and engineers
report. This is an important part of the self build process and your mortgage lender will most likely expect you to obtain it.
With more difficult ground conditions, you will need to consult an engineer. On site trees with heavy clay may involve a deeper foundation with the sides of the trench covered with compressible material. Really difficult ground may require a reinforced concrete raft foundation.
Full Article | Foundations of a New Build House
Sound Proofing A House For Rent
If you are building your own house to live in, a higher than average level of soundproofing will help to make it more comfortable for you and your family. If you are hoping to rent out rooms, you should be aware than tenants often leave for another house because of high noise levels in their existing accommodation. So the money spent in increasing sound insulation is well spent.
Sound levels in houses are measured in decibels (dB). The dB is a logarithmic unit used to describe a ratio. A reduction of 3
dB is enough to produce a noticeable lowering of the noise levels in an adjoining room in the house.
Full Article | Sound Proofing A House For Rent
Maximise Space in a house for rent
Tenants looking for houses to rent can afford to be more choosy about their accommodation in today's market, so landlords have to work harder to make
their houses for rent as attractive as possible.
If you are restoring a small house in order to rent it , here are a few ideas to increase its income potential by maximising the space of the rooms.
Full Article | Maximise Space in a house for rent
Restoring A House For Rent
If you are considering restoring an older house in order to rent or sell it, you are probably aware that it needs to comply
with the BER standard.
As part of the process of modernising your property, especially if it is an older house, you may also want to think about
fitting a damp proof course in the walls of your house.
A damp proof course is a water impenetrable barrier that is placed into the walls or floor of a house to prevent water rising up from the ground.
Full Article | Restoring A House For Rent
Solicitors, House Conveyancing and Legal Terms
Completion Date.
The completion date is the date agreed by the buyer and the seller of the property by which the seller will have removed
their belongings from the house and the ownership of the property will be transferred from the seller to the buyer. There are many reasons why this agreed date may not be met by one or both of the parties concerned and it is essential that the delayed party should let the other side know about the delay and ask for a rearrangement of the date.
Full Article | Solicitors, House Conveyancing and Legal Terms
Removing A Name From A House Mortgage
Your original house mortgage application may have been made and approved as a joint mortgage. Due to separation or
divorce, you may now wish to have the mortgage entirely in your own name.
To remove a name from a joint mortgage agreement involves the consent of both partners involved in the mortgage.
In addition, the mortgage lender must agree to the removal of the other name.
Full Article | Removing A Name From A House Mortgage
Arrears on Your House Mortgage
If you are lucky enough to secure a mortgage, especially if you are a first time buyer, you should be aware that you have a
number of financial responsibilities that will accompany the excitement of owning your own property.
Firm control of your personal finances is now more important than ever. The danger is that you may not have needed to
exercise this control if you were living at home or in rented accommodation before you moved into your new house.
Full Article | Arrears on Your House Mortgage
Self Build Houses on a Budget | Posted 8.11.09
Every new house build, from exclusive penthouse apartment schemes right down to the simplest self build, always involves
compromises in terms of design, materials used and the building techniques involved.
For the experienced house self-builder however, the only aspect that cannot be compromised is the total cost.
Full Article | Self Build Houses on a Budget
Older Houses With Flat Roofs
Flat roofs have a bad reputation for causing expensive problems for house owners. Although modern buildings that feature
flat roofs are designed with the latest technology and built to a much higher standard than older houses, if you own or are
looking to buy an older house with a flat roof, you should be aware that it is almost inevitable that it will leak.
Local leakage problems in flat roofs can be solved by the keen DIYer, although more serious damage can only be fixed by
removal and replacement of the top layer of the roof.
Full Article | Older Houses With Flat Roofs
Architects & New Build Houses
In the past, a residential house architect was primarily expected to produce drawings to guide the construction team
building the house and, in many cases, the architect's input was limited to that role.
Today however, building techniques have advanced, planning laws are more stringent and the remit of the modern architect has expanded accordingly.
By listening carefully to the client, and then asking the relevant questions, an experienced architect can
greatly assist a property owner, helping them achieve their vision and bring to life a building that will last for
generations.
Architects & New Build Houses
Building A Green House | Posted 6.11.09
5 Steps Towards An Energy Efficient House
A Warm Water Underfloor Heating System.
Consider fitting a warm water underfloor heating system, as it is more energy efficient than a conventional radiator based
system. The amount of heat supplied to any room in your house depends both on the temperature of the radiating surface and
the area of that surface, so whilst ordinary radiators can get too hot to touch, underfloor systems, at a lower temperature, can spread heat more evenly
around the room.
Full Article | Building A Green House
Energy Efficient House Heating
An energy efficient form of house heating, which is particularly suitable for new build houses, is the ground source heat
pump system.
Although the initial expense of fitting a ground source heating system is high compared to the normal gas or oil fired hot
water systems, the running costs are lower and, since the heated air is taken from the ground under your garden, you are
immune from future increases in home heating fuel bills.
A geoexchange heat system is a heating and cooling system for both domestic houses and commercial property. In a normal
central heating system, oil or gas is burnt in a boiler to heat water which is then pumped through radiators in your house
and heats the air in each room in your house.
Full Article | Energy Efficient House Heating
Starting To Build Your New House
After receiving the final grant of house planning permission and submitting the commencement notice to the build control
section of the planning authority, you can then begin to build your new home.
The first job to do is to remove all the plant material and topsoil from the sections of your property that you intend to build on.
As well as the actual house build area, you will need to remove topsoil from the parts of your site that will later support
paths, driveways and any other buildings such as garages.
Full Article | Starting To Build Your New House
Project Management: Self Build House
Although you can submit the planning application for your new self build home directly to your local planning authority, if
you have no previous experience of the planning process, you should strongly consider employing the professional services of
a planning agent or architectural firm. This is especially true if the proposed development is anything other than a very straightforward
change of usage.
The local planning authority will expect detailed descriptions of your house, plans, drawings, scale maps and test hole
percolation tests etc. There are many reasons that may cause your local authority to deem your planning application invalid
and the more prepared you are to answer their questions, the better.
If you decide to be your own project manager on a self build home however, here a few of the things that you should be aware
of before committing yourself to the role.
Full Article | Project Management: Self Build House
Entrance Doors and House Security
Finding the right front door for your house is a balance between protection and hospitality. You need your house to be as
secure as possible and at the same time you want to make your friends and visitors feel welcome as soon as they walk up the
garden drive.
The latest entrance doors on the market are composed of steel reinforced fiberglass frames covered with a timber effect
outer layer. These doors also feature triple glazed windows which are securely protected against external removal.
Any door is only as secure as its lock and the newest entrance doors are fitted with multipoint locking systems. These
lock not only the centre but also the top and bottom of the door. The locks are designed to protect against
picking and drilling, and to resist brute force entry attempts.
Full Article | Entrance Doors and House Security
Heating Your House With A Cast Iron Stove
Almost everyone likes the idea of an warming, cheery fireplace in their home. However, open fires are very inefficient at converting fuel to heat, with around 70 percent of the heat they produce going straight up the chimney of the house.
Modern cast iron stoves can provide the look and feel of an open fire, providing a comforting focal point in a room, whilst at the same time using fuel much efficiently than open fires.
Stoves can burn many types of fuel such as wood, peat briquettes, turf and coal and a kilogram of fuel burnt
in a stove will produce at least three times more heat than when it is burnt on an open fire.
An open fire will keep drawing warm air from the rooms of your house as long as the rooms are at a higher temperature than
the air outside your house. So all the heat produced by an evening fire is lost because the open fire is constantly drawing
in massive amounts of air from the room. Open fires can also remove all the heat generated by other heat sources in your
house such as night storage heaters or hot water radiators and waste it straight up the chimney of your house.
Full Article | Heating Your House With A Cast Iron Stove
Planning Ahead For A House Mortgage
Obviously, both mortgages and jobs are difficult to come by these days, but if you really want a house or apartment of your
own in the future, now matter how long it takes to get it, now is the time to think ahead and to put yourself in the best
possible position to get a mortgage when the economy improves.
The list below includes some of the questions that the banks will ask you when assessing your house
mortgage application. The better you are able to answer these questions, the more chance you have of getting a mortgage and
owning your own property.
Full Article | Planning Ahead For A House Mortgage
First Time Buyer Stamp Duty Exemption
If you are a first time buyer and you are lucky enough to secure a mortgage, you are exempted from paying any stamp duty on
your house, whether you bought it from new or second hand.
If you have previously owned a property, even if it was abroad, or you have built your own house in the past, you will not
qualify for stamp duty exemption.
The rate of stamp duty liable for non first time buyers purchasing second hand properties is 7 percent of the price over
125,000 euros, up to 875,000 euro and then the stamp duty rate rises to 9 percent on any excess above 1,000,00 euros.
If the property is being purchased by more than one person, stamp duty exemption will not apply unless each of them is a first time buyer.
Lenders do not now take into account overtime payments and/or bonuses, and an applicants basic salary is a crucial factor in
the mortgages lenders decision to grant a loan.
Full Article | First Time Buyer Stamp Duty Exemption
Natural Gas Connection To New Build Home
When building a new house to live in yourself, or for sale or long term rent, you obviously need water and electricity
supplied to your property.
You may also decide to use gas for heating and cooking in your house, in which case you have two options, either a connection
to a natural gas supply or to a gas storage tank in your back garden.
The natural gas pipeline network is not yet as widespread as water and electricity supplies, and to get a network connection to your new house you must take the following steps:
Contact Bord Gáis Networks, who will advise you if a natural gas pipeline is near enough to your new house to enable them to connect you to the gas network. Obviously if you are building your new house near existing houses, its very easy to find out what system they are using and check for yourself if piped gas is available.
Full Article | Natural Gas Connection To New Build Home
Electricity Supply To New Build Homes
To obtain an electricity connection to your new house, you need to show ESB Networks that you have received planning
permission from your local planning authority. An application form, Form NC2, should be completed and sent to ESB Networks
along with an ordinance survey map at 1:2500 scale for rural areas and 1:1000 for urban areas, indicating the position of your
new house. ESB Networks will also require a site plan of your new house at scale of 1:500.
You can tell ESB networks on which external wall of your new house you would like to have the electricity meter fitted.
Full Article | Electricity Supply To New Build Homes
Insurance Cover & Safety on a New Build Home
The construction of your new self-build property is an exciting time, watching your house being built from the foundation
right up to roof level and completion.
A much less exciting, though absolutely vital aspect of self-build houses however, is the provision of proper levels of
insurance cover. Your loan provider may insist on you obtaining adequate insurance cover before releasing the staged
payments of your mortgage.
The insurance cover you need for your self-build house can be divided into various categories.
Public liability insurance provides you with insurance cover against the possibility that visitors to your new house site,
whether invited or not, receive injuries to themselves or to their property whilst on your land and building site.
Full Article | Insurance Cover & Safety on a New Build Home
Working With Your Builder
If you are planning home improvements, in addition to a builder to do the actual physical work, you may, depending on the scope of your plans, also need the services of a surveyor, an architect or even a dedicated project manager to work on your behalf.
Price should not be the only consideration when choosing a builder. You also need to be confident that your property project is as important to your builder as it is to you. If you are not impressed with the level of commitment shown by the builder, find another one.
You should also insure that the builder has the appropriate level of insurance cover. Depending on your project, the builders may be around your house for weeks and even months and you need a good relationship with them.
Full Article | Working With Your Builder
Water Supply To Your New House
If you are building a new house, whether to live in yourself or for sale or long term rental, you obviously need your home to be connected to a water supply and to be provided with a safe and environmentally friendly waste disposal system.
To deal with the waste water issue first, it is vital, even before you apply for planning permission to have a test
percolation hole drilled. This will establish the water drainage capabilities of the land beneath your house. Sites with
high water tables or hard rock near the surface may not allow for safe water drainage and, in order to receive planning
permission, you must satisfy your local authority that your waste water system conforms with their regulations.
Unless you are sure that you will receive a water connection from the local supply, you should refrain from
building work until you receive written conformation from the local authority they will connect your new house
Water supply to new houses comes in three way: mains, group and well.
Full Article | Water Supply To Your New House
Property Charges and Taxes
The last budget altered the threshold amount for the calculation of capital acquisitions tax. A person can now receive or
inherit up to a maximum of 434,000 euros by a parent and still be exempt from capital acquisitions tax.
If a person receives an inheritance or gift from other family members, the capital acquisitions tax threshold is reduced to
43,400 euros. The threshold for gifts or inheritances from non-family members reduces to 21,700 euros. Gifts or
inheritances between married couples are exempt from capital acquisitions tax.
The current capital
acquisitions tax rate is 25 percent for inheritance or gifts received after the 8th of April, 2009.
Full Article | Property Charges and Taxes
House Purchase: Making an Offer
Although houses prices have dropped by up to 50 percent in the last two years, this does not necessarily imply that housing
has become any more affordable to larger numbers of people.
Over the last 18 months, the income of many people, although fortunate to keep their jobs in the current recession, has also
fallen, because of pay cuts and tax increases. In addition, it is much more difficult to obtain the mortgage needed
to purchase a house or apartment, so for many people the dream of a house of their own, despite falling house prices, is
still as far away as ever.
Full Article | House Purchase: Making an Offer
Rent To Buy House Purchase Schemes
In today's market, with house prices continuing to fall and no obvious end in sight, many potential house buyers are in a
position of having to rent a house or apartment and then waiting until they believe that the time is right to make an offer.
Although rental prices are currently also declining, from the tenants point of view, paying rent each month is still wasted money. In
a "normal" housing market, tenants could be using that money to pay off a mortgage and eventually own their own homes.
Full Article | Rent To Buy House Purchase Schemes
Safety on a New Home Construction Site
Building a new house yourself, or having it built for you, is an exciting time. However, amid all the excitement, planning
and decisions, you should never lose sight of the fact that a building site is potentially a very dangerous place.
Make safety on your construction site a number one priority.
All of the machinery used on a construction site, from mini excavators, cranes, scaffolding and ladders, right down to
ordinary electrical drills, will have it's own particular safety issue. As well as static machinery, there will generally be
a large amount of truck and van traffic moving on and off site, often through confined spaces on rough ground and on rutted
tracks.
Full Article | Safety on a New Home Construction Site
House Building & The Final Grant of Planning Permission
If you intend to develop your land in some way, before construction or development actually begins, you will need obtain planning permission, unless you are certain that your proposed development is exempted.
The timescale for obtaining planning permission from local authorities in Ireland can vary widely, depending on how involved
the proposed development is and how well prepared the applicant is to respond to the issues that will raised by the members
of the local planning board.
The first stage of the planning permission process takes four weeks.
After the receipt of application for planning permission, the local planning authority will then spend time checking that the
application is valid and then they will acknowledge receipt of the valid application in writing.
Full Article | House Building & The Final Grant of Permission
The Planning Permission Process
Types of Planning Permission
Outline Planning Permission. If your proposed development is granted O.P.P., this means that the
local planning authority agree to your proposals in principle. If you need full planning
permission, you will have to apply for "permission following the grant of outline permission".
Permission Consequent to Outline Permission. This type of permission follows the grant of OPP and
provides for the applicant to submit full drawings and details of any proposed development.
Full Planning Permission.
To be considered for the granting of full planning permission, a developer must submit a valid
application, which should include detailed drawings and plans of the proposed development.
Exempted developments do not require any type of planning permission.
Full Article | The Planning Permission Process
Planning Permission: Exemptions For House Extensions
Planning permission exemptions are generally based around various well defined aspects of a property
such as its total volume or height.
If these thresholds are exceeded, e.g. building an extension on a house that exceeds a certain height,
then planning permission must be applied for.
The idea behind exemption is that development on a relatively simple scale should not be hindered by
excessive or non-essential regulations.
Examples of structures that can built within the immediate area of land connected with the house,
e.g. front or back garden include a greenhouse, garage or sheds. No exemption from planning permission can be granted for structures built forward of the front wall of the house.
Full Article | Exemptions From Planning Permission
Types of Planning Permission
Some of the developments requiring a grant of planning permission from the local planning authority
include:
The building of a dwelling house.
The carrying out of maintenance, improvement or alteration of an existing dwelling house in order to
create an extension of the living area.
The change of use of a garage shed, outhouse or any other structure to become part of the house.
The provision of buildings for the purpose of agriculture.
The change of use of previously uncultivated land to intensive agricultural production.
Full Article | Types of Planning Permission
Planning Permision: Architects & Planning Agents
To increase your chances of being granted planning permission in the shortest possible timeframe,
you should strongly consider having pre-planning discussions with your local planning authority.
These meetings can often save an applicant a lot of time and money that would otherwise be spent in
having to resubmit, and possibly re-resubmit, improperly completed planning application forms.
Although you can submit the planning application directly to your local planning authority, if you
have no previous experience of the planning process, you should think about employing the
professional services of a planning agent or architectural firm, especially if the proposed
development is anything other than a very straightforward change of usage.
Full Article | Planning Permission: Architects & Planning Agents
Planning Permission New Build Houses
Planning authorities usually define development as something along the lines of "the carrying out of work on, in or under
land" or alternatively "making any material change to the use of building or structures already present on the land".
Unless the new development is specifically exempt from planning permission requirements, the developer must formally apply
for planning permission from the local planning authority to proceed with their development proposals.
Planning permission is required for a large variety of changes of use of the land, ranging from the obvious, e.g. building a
house on a new site, through less common change of uses, such as the replacement of broad leaf high forest by conifer species
or the use of uncultivated land for intensive agricultural purposes or peat extraction.
Full Article | Planning Permission For New Build Houses
Garage & Attic Conversions
Over the years, your house space requirements will often change. You may need an extra bedroom, or an en-suite bathroom. Removing or repositioning the internal walls of your property will often introduce more light and warmth into your house and create a sense of more space.
In most cases, unless your property is a listed building, you are free to put up partition walls as well as to install en-suite and understairs toilets. etc. Building work that involves load bearing walls or changes to the outside of the house may require compliance with the relevant building regulations.
These modifications will allow you to make the most of your existing space and convert otherwise unused space from one room into say, a larger kitchen or living room.
Many building firms specialise in attic conversions, and the introduction of even a small window into the roof or gable end wall can transform a house. Even if your attic is small, you may have enough space for a child's bedroom or study area.
Before you make definite plans for this space, you should check to see if any beams and trusses that take up additional space can be built around. Also, is the floor reinforced to take the weight of the furniture you intend to put in the attic? You may need specialist advice on your options before going ahead.
Full Article | Garage & Attic Conversions
200 Euro Second Home Property Charge
The Local Government (Charges) Act 2009 provides the details of the new 200 euro per second property charge. The payment is to be
made to each local authority within whose boundaries rental properties and holiday homes lie.
Payment must be made by liable house and apartment owners to their local authority before the end of September 2009.
Full Article | 200 Euro Second Home Property Charge
Getting a Mortgage in a Recession
Most mortgage providers today will demand a deposit of 20 percent of the price of the property for which the mortgage is
being sought. Banks and building societies no longer offer the 100 percent mortgages that were available 18 months ago. Now
the maximum on offer is generally 90-92 percent.
Bank of Ireland offer a maximum mortgage of normally 90% of the property value. As a general rule, loan amounts are subject
to monthly repayments not exceeding 30% to 40% of the borrowers disposable income and will vary according to individual
circumstances.
Full Article | Getting a Mortgage in a Recession
Landlord & Tenants
One of the most common, yet most
easily resolved disputes between
landlords and tenants, relates to
the condition and the content of
the property to be rented.
Landlords should provide tenants
with a detailed list of the
contents of the house and
agreement should be reached as to
the condition of the house before
the new tenants move in.
Landlords must be prepared to
accept a certain amount of
unavoidable normal wear and tear
in the furnishings and fittings
of the house, especially if they
are lucky enough to have their
property continuously rented out.
Full Article | Resolving Rental Disputes
Legal Issues
Steps involved after you have agreed a price with the Buyer,
Appoint a Solicitor
Once you have agreed a price, you should seriously consider appointing a legal representative as early as possible. Solicitors need your agreement to find and secure your property's Title Deeds if they are held by a bank or building society. The earlier this is done, the less chance of any delay in issuing Contracts at a later stage.
Take up Title Deeds
After they have received your written authority, the Solicitor will take up your Title Deeds from your Bank or Building Society. This takes about 14 days and at this stage your Solicitor will pay a scheduling fee to your Bank or Building Society on behalf of you, the seller.
Details Of Sale
The details of sale should be written once the price and conditions have been agreed by you and the booking deposit has been paid by the buyer. The details of sale contain basically what has been agreed by the buyer and seller, that is: the price, conditions of sale contents, buyer's name and address, name of buyer's solicitors and estimated closing date.
Contracts are Issued
After receiving the details of sale, your Solicitor will write the contracts and send them, together with a copy of your Title Deeds to the Solicitors representing the buyers.
www.moloney-solicitors.ie, 6 O'Curry Street,
Limerick, is a firm of solicitors based in the heart of Limerick City, with a broad range of specialist legal knowledge. They offer practical and insightful advice, tailored to the needs of each individual client.
More information here
Full Article | Legal Issues | Selling Your House
Log Cabins
Log cabins are available in a variety of sizes and designs. They provide an ideal and affordable way of obtaining that "little bit of extra space", with minimum disruption. Most small cabins are erected quickly and can be custom built to your own specifications or to standard designs. Log cabins range in size from small units suitable for home offices, teenage retreats, utility rooms etc. to dwelling houses and larger buildings.
Small units such as home offices, playrooms etc. up to 25 sq/m do not usually require planning permission falling as they do into the category exempt from development. However larger buildings and dwellings may require planning permission depending on size and proposed use. Full details regarding planning permission may be obtained from your local county council offices.
Coppola Cabins are constructed from Scandinavian Spruce with different log thickness, tile effect felt roof, wooden double glazed windows and doors.
Wooden Windows
Many modern homes have uPVC windows and doors, which for the most part, are virtually maintenance-free. However, if your property features wooden windows and doors, you will need to protect them from damage caused by rain, frost and the suns' UV rays.
Weather protection systems for wooden structures are either paint based or varnish based. In the past, most exterior paints were oil based, but nowadays many paints are water based, which allows for easier brush cleaning and less toxic residues and reduced heavy odors.
The technology behind varnish coats has also improved recently, with a vast range of colors and stains to choose from.
Whatever system you choose, the key to long lasting protection is preparation. The effort taken to remove all loose paint and sand down surfaces is well worth it, as it will save you time later in repairing damage due to badly applied paint.
The best time to renew your woodwork paint is at the end of summer when the least amount of moisture will be trapped within the wood.
Before starting the actual painting, you must spend as much time as necessary in the preparation of the surface. You will need a scraping knife, sanding paper and a sanding block for flat surfaces. If you are burning old paint off woodwork, make sure you can quickly and safely douse any small fires that may result. Paint stripper may be a better choice and remember to keep oil-based paint and white spirit away from sources of heat. Wear rubber gloves and protective glasses whilst working.
Full Article | Wooden Windows
BER Certificate
The EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD) recently passed into law in Ireland. It lists a new set of provisions aimed at improving energy performance of residential and non-residential property, both existing buildings as well as new or proposed structures. Property owners are now obliged to provide a Building Energy Rating (BER) certificate, which is basically an energy performance label. They will be required at the point of sale or rental of a building, or on completion of a new building. A BER is similar to the energy label for a household electrical appliance.
The label has a scale from A to G. A-rated homes are the most energy efficient and G the least efficient. The information contained in the BER certificate allows consumers to check the energy performance of a building and enables them to take this into consideration in any decisions on property transactions.
The Directive is designed to ensure that building standards across Europe comply with the goal of minimizing energy consumption. This Directive affects consumers all across Europe and attempts to reduce energy consumption, whilst not requiring huge additional expenditure at the consumer and business level.
Full Article | BER Certificates
Mortgages
Before applying for any mortgage, no matter how small, you must be absolutely certain of how much you can afford to pay back. If you need to, get some independent professional advice and make sure that you have included everything in your budget calculations. Be realistic about the sacrifices, such as a smaller car or the lack of an overseas holiday, that you may have to make in order to repay your mortgage.
Obviously the amount you can borrow will depend primarily on the amount of money you earn. Shop around for the best deal or go to an independent mortgage broker.
There are two things to bear in mind when applying for a mortgage: what is the percentage of the house value you can receive as a mortgage, say 80 to 95 percent, and what earnings limit will the lender impose, a typical example being three and a half times your salary.
If you are applying for a mortgage with your spouse or partner, what extra amount of mortgage is available if two salaries are available for repayment?
Many people applying for a loan worry about being turned down, but remember, lenders can usually adjust loan terms in many ways in order to help you qualify for a loan.
Full Article | Applying for a Mortgage
Bedrooms
A bedroom is not complete without beautiful and comfortable furniture. Bedroom sets such as beds, dressers, armoires, chests, and nightstands come in a variety of style, shape and size. Beautiful furniture sets adds a beautiful look to a bedroom.
Bedroom Studio features Flou, one of Italy's foremost design house for bedroom furniture. Since 1978, Flou have been trendsetters in this area through collaborations with world-class designers.
Architects
Using an architect from the earliest planning stage of your project allows them to gain more opportunities to understand your needs, develop creative solutions, and propose ways to reduce your construction and maintance costs costs. A well designed building can both reduce your costs and increase its long-term value.
Architects can manage your project from site selection to completion.
In many building projects the role of the architect includes co-ordinating a team of specialist consultants such as landscape architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, interior designers, builders and subcontractors.
Louise Sliney Architects, based in Munster, is a dynamic young practice offering a full range of architectural services for residential and commercial projects including:
one-off housing,
house extensions and renovations, interior design consultations, multiple housing, apartment developments and office and commercial developments.
House Insulation
Efficient home insulation, as well as reducing your home heating bills, has another major benefit, it reduces sound transmission, both from nearby houses but also from noise created in your own house from home appliances such as your heating system, washing matching as well as TVs and radios.
Three main types of insulation are used in modern houses.
Fibrous insulation uses narrow fibers bonded together and which trap air between them. Examples of fibrous insulation include fiberglass blankets and boards. In the past asbestos wool was often used as insulation but health concerns now prevent its use in the home.
Cellular insulation again uses small pockets of air but now they are trapped within tiny bubbles or foams. A prime example of cellular insulation is polystyrene.
Fibrous and cellular insulation reduce heat loss by absorbing air, whereas radiant barriers and coatings are composed of a surface that reflects radiant heat. Aluminum paint and metal foil are examples of reflective coatings.
One measure of the usefulness of home insulation is given by the R Value. "R" stands for resistance to heat flow. The higher the R- value, the more heat it can resist.
Premier Insulations Nationwide are established over 25 years and are considered market leaders in the home insulation business. Based in the midlands and operating nationwide, they offer advice, surveys and quotations on cavity wall insulation,
Full Article | Home Insulation