Room to Improve (v2)

I thought the dormer was very clumsy and the front facade treatment didn’t work. Liked the kitchen living area

Nah Dermots first plan was over by 30k,

They then said they wanted a bigger extension, an extra en-suite, and to move the master bedroom downstairs. That ballooned it to the 320k figure.

They did the same with the extra 20k they got from him being promoted to Prinicipal, Clare said the comically large list they gave her for landscaping cost 46k of the 20k they had for it.

They had no concept of money.

I have it on good authority that DB's fee is calculated as a % of the final construction cost. If that is true, not only is he incentivised to have the build go over budget, he is also benefitting from the couple getting grants to further spend on the property. And he is at no loss, as if the grant doesn't materialise the build is still complete, and the couple have to find a way to pay the builder.

Nothing unusual with the fee structure there, Architects fees can range from 7%-10%, usually decreasing as the construction build increases. All depends what client agrees at start of discussion with Architect.

DB's fees are free for the people who appear on RTI, so the structure is irrelevant.

Most architects will fixed price the work; if costs rack up as the clients want a new en-suite or a bigger extension then its fair enough if the architect looks for more money.

From experience its almost impossible to not go over budget on a house renovation, the estimates included in the tender are for the cheapest fittings and fixtures; e.g. white plasic sockets and if the Home Owners want to upgrade to chrome sockets it costs extra. The quote we received for the splashback in the kitchen was a joke - there were literally no splashbacks for that price.

If you go on RTI his fee is paid by the production company. If you book him yourself, you pay.

I'm an Engineer involved in house building and a client recently told me he was quoted 12 percent of project cost by an architect to cover design, planning and construction stage which included Engineers fee as well.

This was on a 450k build. So 54k..... and they wonder why only a tiny portion of house builders actually use an architect.

I’m an Engineer as well but haven’t worked in housing for a while, Time to go back into it if that’s the case. That is absolutely insane. I’d actually have to see it to believe it to be honest.

Didn't hear the whole promo piece but Liveline is covering something about the show today. Not sure what.

So it seems all they had to do to qualify was get an affidavit signed by a solicitor or commissioner of Oath and say on telly that they are not living there!

Yeah but a school principal could be trustworthy.

It'll be interesting to see what comes of all this but I wouldn't be in the slightest bit surprised to see a few of the owners coming out in the near futures to say they didn't get the grants that DB had informed them of / led them to believe they would get.

The way this show is edited can be very different from reality. I know that for certain, as I know of one couple who had an absolute nightmare and a lengthy legal battle coming from one of the episodes.... and you wouldn't have had a clue while watching it.

I would certainly hold off on any anger at either of the couples so far this season. The grant talk is all on the side of DB / RTI. And it seems that some of it was very poor / reckless advice.

If an episode of RTI is making people that angry then those people should take a step back imo.

We haven't a clue about the couples real financial situation.

Some people seem to think that the budget is all that the couple should or do have. It would be very foolish if your budget was indeed all the money you had to play with, with DB around.

There could be inheritances, land to be sold etc. etc. sitting outside of budgets.

I am very fortunate not to have any inheritance yet and I wouldn't dream of spending the money the couple did on their home... but that's their own business. And it's their own business not to disclose if they're sitting on loads of money.

What backlash? A load of whingers online moaning and saying "its not fair its not fair". I dont think Bannon will be in front the Oireachtas any time soon.

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People saying they didnt do this and they didnt do that and its fraud this and fraud that. How do you know? You are aware that this is a TV show and there is a lot of clever editing in place, yeah? Maybe this all was explained but they didnt show it, cos it would be pretty boring for us to see DB explain step by step how to apply for a grant and how to get one. This isnt a youtube tutorial, its a TV show in a prime time slot. These people getting grants are not what stop you getting grants or stopping you from getting on the housing ladder. Thats a government issue. A bit of perspective here folks.

I'll go out on a limb here and say these grants are going to be a feature of every episode from here on in. So if its gonna annoy you, dont watch it.