Skip to contentFor the Buyers
- Make a realistic estimate of your current property’s resale value – most people become consumed with the monthly mortgage repayments and the associated expenses involved in closing the sale. But remember to include the cunning costs of your purchase, including lighting, heating, service charges property taxes, or general maintenance. A recommended annual figure for this is approximately 1.5pc of the value of the property.
- What is the properties parking like. Is the property located in a built up area, what are the parking facilities like ?. Is it on-street or permit and if so how much does it cost. If you are buying an apartment, is the parking allocated or is it communal? This is a very important factor to consider when potentially buying.
- Check the quality of any home improvements that have been done. If any construction has been done make sure to request and check out any permits and that all planning permissions are correct. Make sure to check out the standard of workmanship to asses if any future repairs will need to take place.
- Check with your local authority on the plans for the area you are proposing to buy in. Is there a road being planned or a large development? Some of these improvements may increase your properties value and some may decrease it. Again this is a very important factor to consider.
- Have patience. Getting a mortgage may take three to six months. It is the most important and biggest purchase of your life, so don’t underestimate the stress or expense. Consider using a specialist mortgage broker for the heavy lifting. It will cost around €500.
For the Sellers
- Organise all your paperwork. If your property has a separate septic tank, make sure it is registered and check whether the septic tank and percolation area are inside your site boundary. Make sure any rights of ways are correctly shown on your property. Ensure all planning permissions and building certificates are to hand for alterations and extensions. Explore carefully whether the property has any development potential. Carry out a Building Energy Rating Assessment – these need to be updated every 10 years and cost approximately €150.
- Don’t follow the herd; people traditionally sell in autumn and spring but demand is constant and less seasonal than it once was. It may work to your advantage to sell off-peak when there are fewer new properties and less competition on the market.
- Clean, clean, clean. Make the house clutter free, fresh and ready for a new owner to move in. This attracts those who do not have the time, inclination or patience to do work. If this means painting, it has to be done. Pick light neutral colours, use loads of white paint and replace old tired carpets. Wash the windows, let as much light in as possible, when viewing make sure all curtains are open. Viewers love bright properties.`
- Try to look at your house with fresh eyes. Make sure each room has a use and a purpose – make a wasted space into a study, put a cot in to a tiny box room, a dining table in that second downstairs room you never use. Get rid of bulky furniture and make sure that the circulation and flow through the house is seamless.
- Decide on one fragrance for the house in terms of candles and diffusers, and stick to it. Don’t have a curry or fried fish the night before a viewing.
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