My Home Ireland

Posted by myhome on April 22nd, 2009 in Auctioneers, Auctioneers Fees, Buying, Cavan Auctioneers, Change of Address, Cork Houses For Sale, Donegal Property, Estate Agents, House Prices, Houses For Sale, Houses For Sale Galway, Houses For Sale Mayo, Houses For Sale in Kerry, Selling Your House

Estate Agents can charge as much as 2% commission - so getting one to sell your house could leave you with a bill for four or five thousand euro. The more expensive the house - the bigger the fee (usually).

Do you really need an estate agent to sell a house?

Legally - no.  The perception seems to be that  you must employ the services of an estate agent to sell a house. Most people do it - and everyone just does the same.  Once a buyer has been found - all the important technical  legal work is taken care of by solicitors or conveyancers. The estate agent’s job is to find buyers - but in today’s world of online property websites is the old fashioned estate agent really needed?

If you want to reduce a bit of the hassle of selling a house and get someone else to take a few pictures and write some nice things about your house - and pay them at least €3000 euro - then by all means use an estate agent. But it is not beyond most people with a computer , a digital camera and a few hours to put their house up for sale in Ireland. Even when you use an agent - they are still (hopefully) going to be calling you to pass on offers etc and arrange viewings. You could easily do that yourself.
The internet is  a powerful tool for house buyers - so being online is vital for anyone trying to sell a house. In larger towns and cities - there will be people looking around for properties for sale - and the usual “For Sale” signs will be another major source of attracting buyers.

There are a few websites in Ireland that cater for “For Sale By Owners”.

The biggest one I could find that deals exclusively with owners selling themselves is SellitYourSelf.ie . For just €195 Euro you can get your property listed online on their site and they also provide quality “For Sale” boards for you to put up outside. The feee of €195 is the only fee you pay - and the listing and photos remain on the site until the house is sold. You can also use their telephone helpline. See more details and register here
Daft.ie is probably the busiest property website in Ireland that allows owners to sell their own house. The majority of houses on the site are put on by estate agents - and there are thousands. For €195 euro you can join them.

Myhome.ie dont seem to take listings from individuals as far as I can see.

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Posted by myhome on February 10th, 2009 in BER, Grants, Green Building, Housing Grants, Renewable Energy

Grants for Roof and Wall Insulation:

The Home Energy Saving (HES) scheme has been launched this year in Ireland to provide assistance to homeowners  in improving the energy efficiency of their home in order to reduce energy use and costs and greenhouse gas emissions. It is a national scheme and thus open to all owners of existing houses. The scheme is administered by Sustainable Energy Ireland and its agents.

Homeowners can’t apply for the grants yet - they have to wait until there are sufficient registered contractors available. Contractors are invited to register to be used for the scheme.

The scheme will involve the payment of fixed grants.
How Much are the Grants Available?

Roof insulation  €250 Euro
Cavity wall insulation  €400 Euro
Internal Dry Liing €2500
External Wall Insulation €2500
High Efficiency Gas or Oil fired Boiler with Heating Controls Upgrade €700
Heating Controls Upgrade €500

and heating controls. There is also a grant for households who choose to get a Building Energy Rating (BER) assessment Before and After the works are completed.

Conditions:  Grant Approval must be in place prior to any purchase of materials or commencement of measures undertaken.  You may apply several times, however the grant value of your first application must be €500 or more . Note: The BER assessment grant cannot form part of the €500 amount.
* All works must be carried out by a contractor registered with Sustainable Energy Ireland for this particular scheme.

The €100 million scheme will, it is expected, employ 4,000 people and benefit some 50,000 homes in 2009. It is estimates that about oOne million of the houses in Ireland require  need some retrofitting to achieve energy savings.

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Posted by myhome on January 14th, 2009 in Broadband, Change of Address, DSL, Eircom, Selfbuild, Telephone Connection, Telephone Line

When you are building a house or moving house - getting the telephone line connected is one of the important things to remember. In Ireland - Eircom is responsible for the telephone infrastructure and connections.
Normally - getting a land line connection may involve Eircom charges from €25 euro up to €121 Euro for a new house where new  line work has to be carried out. If the previous owner or tenant asked for the line to be disconnected - there will be a charge to reconnect.
Until January 28th 2009 - Eircom are offering FREE connection for all telephone lines.  to take advantage of this offer.

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Posted by myhome on January 13th, 2009 in Broadband, Change of Address, DSL, Eircom, Telephone Line

When you are moving into a new house - or getting one built - one important thing to remember is to sort out the telephone connection.
Eircom is the  company in charge of the telephone system in Ireland . You can choose another provider eventually - but you have to go through Eircom for a new landline connection.
In recent years the takeup of landlines has reduced with the popularity of mobile phones . Mobile phone costs can be easy to lose track of - especially if you use Pre-Pay. A Land line connection is  almost essential in many places if you want a good broadband connection speed.
Eircom have a special offer of FREE connection for landlines until January 28th 2009. See the Eircom website for more details. They also have some great deals on broadband and phoneline bundles - with 500 free minutes of calls to any Meteor mobile phone. If you are thinking about getting your phone connection in 2009 - do it now while it’s  free.

If you make a lot of calls from landline to family members of friends on mobiles - it could be easily worth your while getting all the family to change their mobiles over to Meteor.
Eircom give you upto 500 free minutes of calls to all Meteor mobiles per month. That alone is worth about €100 euro a month.  With packages that include free landline calls at anytime of the day local and national as well as 1Mb broadband and line rental for €50.15 a month. Free connection till Jan 28th and a free wireless modem thrown in - can’t be bad. See Details Here

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Posted by myhome on January 1st, 2009 in BER, Green Building

Building Energy Rating Certificates are now mandatory on existing homes that are put up for sale or rent from today (Jan 1st 2009). Homeowners who are not selling or renting their house do not have to apply for a BER cert. If a house was put on the market before January 1st 2009 - it does not need a BER cert - but soon most buyers will expect to see one - so getting one done will probably help the sale of your house especially if the Energy Rating is a good one ( A, or B) .
SEI has been designated as the Issuing Authority with responsibility for the registration of BER assessors, logging of BER assessments and the overall administration of the BER Scheme. In order to obtain a BER, a homeowner must have an assessment carried out by a certified BER assessor who is trained under the National Framework of Qualifications and registered with SEI. A BER is based on the building’s characteristics, (walls, roofs, floors, windows, doors) as well as levels of insulation, ventilation, lighting, and heating systems, including renewable energy technologies.

Anyone buying or renting a new house or apartment may already be entitled to a BER and should ask the seller/landlord or their agent for it. Along with the BER certificate, they will also receive an Advisory Report which will help identify how to improve the energy performance of the building, reducing the energy costs in the home, and helping them do their bit for the environment.

A BER is valid for up to ten years provided that there is no material change to the dwelling. New homes offered up for sale off plans can be issued with a provisional BER which is valid for a maximum of two years.

Fines of up to €5,000 apply for non-compliance with the regulations.

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Posted by myhome on December 15th, 2008 in Buying, Change of Address, Removals, Selling Your House

Moving house or apartment can be a  stressful time with so many things to organise . If you are moving house in Ireland there are several places you need to inform of  your change of address.

Re-directing post:

An Post - the Irish Post Office - offers a postal re-direction service, which will ensure that all your post is forwarded to your new address. There is a fee for this service -

Up to 3 months €50.00 ; Up to 6 months €70.00 ; and up to 12 months €100. The charges are more if you are moving outside Ireland.If you use this redirection service -  you will still have to inform all your important contacts of your address change.

There is a company in Ireland that will change your address details with a number of relevant service providers and companies. My Address will - for a small fee - notify companies on your behalf - such as Eircom, Sky, Chorus, NTL , O2, Vodafone, Tesco, Quinn, Meteor, BT and others. You just notify My Address of the details and which companies need informing - and they do the rest.

Gas, Electricity and Waste collection

When you move house - Electricity ,  Gas and  Bin Collection accounts  will need to be either closed or transferred into the name of the new owners. If you are moving from rented accommodation, your landlord may request that you transfer these services into their name to avoid having to pay reconnection fees. Make sure you take final meter readings for gas and electricity services just before you leave. Contact your local authority or Bin Collection company to let them know you are leaving and make sure you have paid all the waste charges that are owed on the property.

If you are moving into a home that has been previously occupied, ask the previous owners to transfer the utility accounts into your name. Take meter readings for gas and electricity as soon as you take possession of the premises. If utilities need to be connected, contact your electricity service provider (ESB Customer Supply or other) or Bord Gáis in good time to ensure that everything is working by the time you take possession of the premises.   Make sure there are no outstanding waste changes on your new home as you may be liable for them.

Telephone Landline

Telephone accounts can be transferred between old and new addresses like electricity and gas accounts. This will save you paying a reconnection fee and means that you’ll have a working phone as soon as you move in. Likewise, if someone is moving into your old home immediately, you can transfer the account into their name. If you use the change of address service at My Address they will  inform Eircom , BT , UTV or Magnet of your change of Address.

Television licence

In Ireland, if you have a television you must hold a Television Licence. If you are moving house, you will need to transfer the address on your TV licence. Bring your existing licence to your nearest post office, together with evidence of your new address (a household utility bill or a bank statement will do). Staff in your post office will then amend the details on your record and your licence will be updated and re-issued to you. This service is free.

Cable/digital television

If you subscribe to cable or digital television services, you will need to contact your service provider to either cancel your account or arrange for a service in your new home. You may be able to transfer your account from your previous address, depending on where you are moving.  My Address will contact Sky, NTL or Magnet on your behalf if you use their online change of address service. See here for more details.

Electoral register

The Electoral Register is held by your local authority. A new register is compiled each year and you have until 25 November to have your name included or to make any changes (such as a change of address) to your details. If you miss this deadline, you can apply to have your name included in the Supplement to the Electoral Register. To do so, you will need to complete a Change of Address form and return it to your local authority. There is no fee for this service.

Driving licence, car insurance and vehicle registration details

Car Insurance :You must contact your insurance company or broker and let them know your new address so that your insurance policy can be updated.

AA/ RAC - If you are a member of a break-down service, don’t forget to change your address with them also.

Vehicle Registration: Remember to fill in the change of address section on your vehicle registration certificate and return it to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. You will find the address on the certificate. They will update your details and send you a new registration certificate. There is no charge for this service.

Driving Licence : You are not obliged to change the address on your driving licence, but it is advisable to do so. My Address will also Contact the DLA about your change of address..

House, health and life insurance

You will need to contact your insurance company to discuss your house insurance as coverage varies from one company to the next. You should also ask if the contents of your house will be covered during the move. Many insurance companies will insure your house contents in transit as long as they will be packed and moved by a professional moving firm. If not, most moving firms provide moving insurance.

Your health insurance company will also require your new address details so information on your policy and renewal can be forwarded to you directly.
Again - My Address contact some of the major insurance companies for you ( Quinn, Friends First BOI, Standard Life, FBD, IIB, Nationwide , PTSB )

Children’s schools

If your children will continue to attend their current school, you just need to make sure that the school has your new address and contact number. If you have enrolled your children in a new school, make sure your child’s school records have been transferred there before they start. Don’t forget to let your children’s current school know when they will be leaving.

Financial institutions

If you are moving to a new area, you may want to move your bank account to a local branch. There is no charge for this service. If you are staying with the same bank branch, make sure they have your new address. You will also need to contact your building society, credit union, credit card company, pension provider, etc.

Revenue Commissioners

You will also need to notify your change of address to the Revenue Commissioners. Make sure you contact the correct tax district; you can get the contact information from any of your tax documents. Always quote your PPS number in correspondence or on the phone.

Employers

Get in touch with the Human Resources (HR) and the payroll departments where you work and give them your new contact details.

Social insurance and social security payments

If you receive any social welfare payments, such as Child Benefit or Jobseeker’s Benefit you will need to contact your local social welfare office to let them know your new address. Failure to do so may result in disruptions to your payments. They will require proof of your new address, such as a utility bill or bank statement.

Health professionals

You will need to notify your change of address to your doctor, dentist, optician and any other health professionals that you deal with. If you are moving to a new area, you can contact your Local Health Office for details of health professionals in your area. Make sure your health records are transferred to your new professionals.

Save time - and use My Address to make sure all the important people in Ireland know your new address.

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Posted by myhome on December 1st, 2008 in Books, Building Regulations

Renovating for Profit by Michael Holmes (Author) Buy new: £25.00 £17.50 32 used & new from £13.50 (Ranking is updated hourly. Visit the Bestsellers in Home & Garden > DIY & Home Improvements > Home Extensions & Renovation list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Original Source Site

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Posted by myhome on December 1st, 2008 in Books, Selfbuild

Poultry House Construction (Gold Cockerel) by Michael Roberts (Author), Sara Roadnight (Editor), Roberts Michael (Illustrator) Average Customer Review: Buy new: £8.50 £8.49 30 used & new from £3.40 (Ranking is updated hourly. Visit the Bestsellers in Home & Garden > Buying & Developing Property > Building Your Own Home list for authoritative information on this product's current rank.)

Original Source Site

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Posted by myhome on September 18th, 2008 in Green Building, Renewable Energy, Selfbuild

Heat recovery ventilation is a ventilation system that employs a counter-flow heat exchanger between the inbound and outbound air flow. HRV provide fresh air and improved climate control, while also saving energy by reducing the heating (or cooling) requirements.

The Benefits:

As building efficiency is improving with more insulation and with  buildings  made more air-tight, - there is less ventilation . Since all buildings require a source of fresh air, the need for HRVs has become more widespread. Openng  a window does provide ventilation, - but the building’s heat and humidity will then be lost in the winter and gained in the summer, both of which are undesirable for the indoor climate and for energy efficiency. Heat lost must be replaced by the heating system . HRV technology offers a solution: fresh air, better climate control and energy efficiency.
The Passive House approach is to first reduce the air leakage of the structure to an absolute minimum. This ensures that you don’t have to heat more air than you actually require. Then you run inlet and outlet ducts around the house and you draw in the fresh air via a heat exchanger, which pulls as much heat as possible out of the exhaust air. This is what is known as a Mechanical Ventilation System with Heat Recovery.  MVHR.

These air-to-air heat exchangers have been getting more and more efficient over the years and some claim to recapture as much as 90% of the heat from the exhaust air. Also the electric fans that drive them have also been getting more efficient, thus further increasing the CoP (Coefficient of Performance).

Even with a 90% recovery rate, you still need an additional heat source to keep the house warm, but not much. You have reduced the overall heat loss to a minimum. The structure doesn’t transmit much heat, the air leakage is all but eliminated and the supply air is pre-heated by the exhaust air.

Heat Recovery Ventilation Information Here

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Posted by myhome on September 7th, 2008 in Green Building, Plumbing, Renewable Energy, Selfbuild, Solar

Solar water heating

An average household can save about 50% of the annual cost of hot water using solar panel.

There are two main types of solar water heating panels - flat plate and evacuated tubes (referring to the way in which water interacts with the panel). Evacuated tubes are more efficient than flat plate versions, so are often smaller but generate equal amounts of hot water.

Choosing a solar water heating system

When choosing a solar water heating system, you’ll need to consider a number of factors including your average hot water usage, the area of south facing roof, the existing water heating system and your budget.

You’ll need roughly one square meter of collector area per person in the household. Each metre of panel area will need between 30 and 60 litres of water tank volume.

If you use a less efficient collector (like flat plate solar water heating panels), you’ll need to cover a larger area than if you use a more efficient collector (like evacuated tubes). You’ll also need to select system components (like a hot water cylinder, controls and pipe work) and choose the location for your panels considering shade, pipe runs, roof pitch and future access.

Solar water heating can provide about a third of your hot water needs
Pros

* Solar water heating can provide you with about a third of your hot water needs and about £40 a year off your hot water bills, depending on the fuel replaced.
* Solar energy is free, plentiful and clean.

Cons

* Provides hot water but not electricity.
* An unshaded, south-facing location is necessary to install solar panels.
* Initial costs are higher than conventional electric and gas-heater systems.
* Solar panels can be heavy, so your roof must be strong enough to take their weight, especially if the panel is to be installed on top of existing tiles.
* Solar panels are expensive compared to the amount of electricity they’ll produce in their lifetime.

Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels

PV solar panels generate electricity from the sun’s energy rather than just heating your water. You’re more likely to see these on offices or large developments than on homes.

You can use PV systems for a building with a roof or wall that faces within 90 degrees of south, as long as no other buildings or large trees overshadow it. Less energy will be generated if the roof surface is in shadow for parts of the day.

The are three basic types PV panels: monocrystalline, polycrystalline (or multicrystalline) and amorphous. All are made from silicon, but differ in the way the silicon is cut and treated to create collar cells.

To install a system you need to decide how much electricity you want to generate. After submitting details of your property, a PV installer should help you to conduct a site survey and discuss your options with you.
Pros

* Only daylight is needed to create energy - not sunshine.
* Can cut average household electricity bill by about 30%.
* Solar energy is free, plentiful and clean.

Cons

* A large roof area is needed to generate lots of energy.
* Significantly more expensive to buy and install than solar water systems.
* Solar panels are expensive compared to the amount of electricity they’ll produce in their lifetime.
* The efficiency of solar panels depends on the number of solar light hours and climate.
* Initial costs are higher than conventional electric and gas-heater systems.
* An unshaded, south-facing location is needed for installation.
* Solar panels can be heavy, so your roof must be strong enough to take their weight, especially if the panel is to be installed on top of existing tiles.

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Posted by myhome on September 7th, 2008 in BER, Green Building, Selfbuild, Selling Your House

With BER - Building Energy Ratings coming iinto force for all house sales in January 2009 - Insulation is an easy way of increasing your property’s BER.

Each type of insulation is fitted differently but most insulation can be installed as a DIY project. Whatever type of insulation you choose, you’ll need to make a few preparations before you start.
Before installing insulation

When you insulate your loft you’ll need to insulate pipes and tanks too

Wiring needs to be dealt with safely. Wires should be kept above the insulation but not stretched if they don’t comfortably reach. An electrician will be able to re-route any problematic wiring - see our guide to hiring an electrician.

All pipe work and tanks in the loft space should also be insulated correctly since there will no longer be the same amount of heat escaping into the loft space to protect pipes from freezing.

Insulation must be installed following the manufacturer’s instructions to achieve the full benefit.
Fitting blanket insulation

Blanket insulation is sold in rolls of different widths so start by measuring the distance between joists and buying the nearest size.

Ideally it should fit neatly between the joists. To calculate the right amount, measure the length of the floor space to be covered. Don’t stretch or tear blanket insulation - use scissors if it needs to be cut.

Unroll the insulation blanket and lay it flat between loft joists. If possible add a further layer of blanket insulation across both the joists and the lower layer of insulation. Boards can then be placed over the insulated space for easy access in the roof space.
Fitting loose fill insulation

Work out the floor space in square metres - you’ll need approximately 200 litres of material to cover each square metre to a depth of 200mm.

Before laying the material, ensure the space between the joists is relatively dust-free and that the depth of the joists is sufficient to hold an acceptable level of loose fill insulation.

The material should be poured between the joists in the roof space, ensuring there are no cracks or holes in the ceiling. Brush or rake between the joists to ensure the fill is consistently level.

If you’re not fitting boarding over the loose fill, check the level of the material during winter months as high winds can unsettle loose fill insulation and blow it around the roof space.

To insulate a loft hatch, it’s best to use blanket material held in place by plastic or an old sheet.
Fitting sheet insulation

This type of insulation is fixed between the rafters rather than between joists, and like blanket insulation it can be cut to fit or bought in pre-cut packs.

To avoid condensation build up, always allow sufficient space between the insulation and roof slates or tiles to allow for ventilation.
Fitting blown fibre insulation

In most cases you’ll need to hire a professional to install this type of insulation as it needs to be blown into place with specialist equipment.

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Posted by myhome on September 7th, 2008 in Donegal Property

Category: Homes to Let | Type: Semi-Detached | Location: Killybegs | Price: €850 p.m Description: The Waterfront is an ideal location, within walking distance of Killybegs town centre and all its essential amenities. The property would ideally suit a professional couple or students attending the nearby catering college. Accommodation includes: Entrance Hall, Sitting room, Kitchen/Dining Room, Utility, Guest Toilet, 4 Bedrooms (1 ensuite), and Family Bathroom. Fully furnished. Available with immediate effect....

Original Source Site

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Posted by myhome on August 29th, 2008 in Cavan Auctioneers, Selfbuild, Sites For Sale

c.14 acre farm with F.P.P. for auction on Thursday, Sept 18th at 4pm in Lisgrey House, Lisgrey, Virginia in one or four lots. Lot.1. Entire. Lot 2. c.8 acres Lot 3. c.5 acres. Lot 4. c.1 acre site with F.P.P.

Original Source Site

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Posted by myhome on August 28th, 2008 in Cavan Auctioneers, House Prices, Houses For Sale

c.64 acre residential for auction on Wednesday, Sept. 24th at 4 pm in the Naper Arms, Oldcastle, in one or four lots. Lot 1. Entire. Lot 2. c.21.5 acres. Lot 3. c.40 acres. Lot 4. Residence on c.2.5 acres.

Original Source Site

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Posted by myhome on August 28th, 2008 in Cavan Auctioneers, Selfbuild, Sites For Sale

Lands are laid out in a number of divisions, in good heart, with some road frontage, having site potenital location; along the Bailieboro/Cavan road, c.4km from the N3 route at the Lavey Inn

Original Source Site

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