Room to Improve (v2)

Which road is it in Howth?

Loved the block party. Great idea.

I agree, its not worth a million. They would have gotten a far bigger house and garden had they just had a million to spend to begin with.

But instead it was a purchase for 650k odd and then some mission creep with the renovation to take it past the million mark. Thats a lot of money to pay to be still be living in a housing estate with no real garden. I think it was more a matter that they felt they had to live in that part of Howth to be close to family and friends so to them its probably worth it, they are what estate agents call special purchasers in that regard.

But their money would have gotten a lot more space and a better house elsewhere, for a million they even could have been closer to the city centre than Howth. Here is a much bigger house near Clontarf, 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms across 284sqm and a garden plus sea views, asking 875k. And doesnt need all the stress of a big renovation and moving out paying rent while its ongoing

yeah given they ultimately demolished about 80% of the house what they actually paid 600k for was the land it sat on. Thats a lot of money to pay for a site. I know it had sea views but they werent uninterrupted either, there was a house in front of the view with its chimney obscuring the view to Lambay Island, that would do my nut in. I think with a view if its not uninterrupted then its not worth buying.

I think some people are far too open to buying a house that needs these major renovations and they lose sight altogether of how much money they could have saved by just spending more and buying a house that suits their needs in the first place. I totally get major renovations for people who are in a house for 10 or 15 years and its just not working for them. But buying a house at full market value and then go spending 300k+ on it just a year or two later just doesnt make any sort of economic sense.

I think everyone is missing a point on that one, the house was purchased for lifestyle parents nearby, good neighbours(the bbq) very family friendly estate, children playing in tbe cul-de-sac. Those children will have tbe whole neighbourhood keeping and eye on they, they will be in the sailing club together, hang out together, go to each others debs people are willing to pay a lot of money for that lifestyle.

He got redundancy of 100k so that would have helped.

From the LinkedIn link it looked like he went straight into new employment and he's working in a well paid sector.

I suspect the grandparents down the road are the main source of childcare for them.

cant beleive they left a hole in the roof for months like that

Two houses for half a million is a tight budget

Other than being freezing, that house has it all with a little reconfiguration

Circa €150k for energy upgrades, I'd expect it to turn water in to wine at that price.

The size and position of the extension looks well within the exemption parameters.

Dermot wearing a Farah jacket. The Donegal fella wearing a Farah shirt. The husband wearing a Farah fleece!

Exactly it’s 20 grand you definitely be making sure it was done to spec and not fretting you were about to suddenly lose the grant.

I would presume to get grant you have a very particular set of rules to follow and up to contractors to get that done