FabSwingers.com forum: Buying a house

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

So, what are peoples experiences here? What about those houses built late 60s early 70s around Dublin? Any key tips what to look out for or what to walk away from?

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By *osmicGateMan
over a year ago

louth

Ber rating is very important ..A being the most efficient and G being the least..basically with a G rating house once you turn the heating off the heat escapes quite fast in the space of 10 minutes its freezing..so you want something with a high ber rating thats insulated properly to keep heat in longer..older houses tend to be less insulated than newer ones..check for cracks in walls on viewing and if possible get a building surveyors report so you wont be buying a ruin..anyway best of luck

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Sound. Yeah seems to be e1 rated, and by the looks of it cavity block build. Half thinking of just walking away. Locations great tho.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Rising damp

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Sound. Yeah seems to be e1 rated, and by the looks of it cavity block build. Half thinking of just walking away. Locations great tho. "

Ber can be brought up easliy enough espcially in cavity block builds. There was grants going not sure if they are still available.

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By *kcoupleCouple
over a year ago

.....

Spend a couple of hundred quid and get an engineer's report. A house from that era could need 50k worth of work to bring it up to standard no matter how good the paint looks. It's worth it even if you do find problems, at least you know what future work needs to be done. Good luck

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Rising damp"

Absolutely terrifying thought lol. The builder will be put to look when he's out

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Spend a couple of hundred quid and get an engineer's report. A house from that era could need 50k worth of work to bring it up to standard no matter how good the paint looks. It's worth it even if you do find problems, at least you know what future work needs to be done. Good luck"

Very true. Better to spend a few hundred than a few hundred k on it.

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By *ouble Trouble 1000Couple
over a year ago

ireland

Definetly get an indepeth survey ,could save you a lot of money in the long run .

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"Definetly get an indepeth survey ,could save you a lot of money in the long run ."

Seems to be the running consensus. Definitely think you and the others are right to get a proper detailed survey done. Hopefully it wont throw up too many issues.

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By *ore of thatMan
over a year ago

skerries

Oh yes get it checked before you buy .remember this Will probably be the biggest purchase of your life .don't balls it up

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By *allyCD123TV/TS
over a year ago

Wexford

Get a GOOD solicitor to do they conveyance once asked a solictor friend for a good cheap solicitor and he said do you want a good one of a cheap one LOL. In Dublin older houses can have lots of complicated legal issues. A good engineers report too and if it needs work get a quote on what it might cost to remediate and use that to bargain. DO NOT overpay always go with your gut.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"So, what are peoples experiences here? What about those houses built late 60s early 70s around Dublin? Any key tips what to look out for or what to walk away from? "

Having worked at housing for a lot of yrs now.

I believe that the older houses are generally better built.

The need ones may look better but not as solid.

Insulation etc is relatively cheap. A lot of good products out there for that.

If u can get a good tradesman to look st it for u it’s the best.

A lot of the Surveyors will write pages on small stuff.

Door locks not working. No lid on attic tank. Window hinges Etc etc. Small stuff that is mostly irrelevant. But very often don’t see real stuff.

That’s just my opinion.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Sorry typo.

Should have read “The newer ones”

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By *kcoupleCouple
over a year ago

.....

"So, what are peoples experiences here? What about those houses built late 60s early 70s around Dublin? Any key tips what to look out for or what to walk away from?

Having worked at housing for a lot of yrs now.

I believe that the older houses are generally better built.

The need ones may look better but not as solid.

Insulation etc is relatively cheap. A lot of good products out there for that.

If u can get a good tradesman to look st it for u it’s the best.

A lot of the Surveyors will write pages on small stuff.

Door locks not working. No lid on attic tank. Window hinges Etc etc. Small stuff that is mostly irrelevant. But very often don’t see real stuff.

That’s just my opinion.

A tradesman is not qualified to nor will he have the correct equipment to do full checks on a house. His opinion also won't be taken into account if there are legal issues due to build quality and faults like subsidence, unfilled cavity walls, poor quality radon barriers. Excess moisture in the plaster inside and out. An engineer will have the correct equipment like scopes and moisture meters. IR cameras to detect cold spots etc. They will give you a certified report, very few if any tradesman can do the above and to a standard that is legally certified

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"So, what are peoples experiences here? What about those houses built late 60s early 70s around Dublin? Any key tips what to look out for or what to walk away from?

Having worked at housing for a lot of yrs now.

I believe that the older houses are generally better built.

The need ones may look better but not as solid.

Insulation etc is relatively cheap. A lot of good products out there for that.

If u can get a good tradesman to look st it for u it’s the best.

A lot of the Surveyors will write pages on small stuff.

Door locks not working. No lid on attic tank. Window hinges Etc etc. Small stuff that is mostly irrelevant. But very often don’t see real stuff.

That’s just my opinion.

Take a drive around location at night, check out ur neighborhood.

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By *etergemmaCouple
over a year ago

South Dublin Area

"Sound. Yeah seems to be e1 rated, and by the looks of it cavity block build. Half thinking of just walking away. Locations great tho. "
I dont think Ber really makes that much of a difference, its the location thats most important, like someone else said, it can be brought up easily if it is on the lower level.

If you have a builder mate get him to look over it, subsidence and cracks in the walls are the main things to look out for.

But most importantly, try and suss out the next door neighbors, look at their gardens etc.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Sound. Yeah seems to be e1 rated, and by the looks of it cavity block build. Half thinking of just walking away. Locations great tho. I dont think Ber really makes that much of a difference, its the location thats most important, like someone else said, it can be brought up easily if it is on the lower level.

If you have a builder mate get him to look over it, subsidence and cracks in the walls are the main things to look out for.

But most importantly, try and suss out the next door neighbors, look at their gardens etc. "
.

Good sensible advice.

It’s not as frightening or as complicated as some people would lead u to believe.

If the price suits and the location suits most other stuff can b easily sorted.

A lot of it is just common sense.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Bring an experienced plumber with you. If the heating system is knackered it will cost about 15 to 20 k to refit

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By *eijaWoman
over a year ago

City Centre

Don't buy anything second hand without a surveyors report..worth the cost...best of luck OP

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Bring an experienced plumber with you. If the heating system is knackered it will cost about 15 to 20 k to refit "

Not at all, just replumbed a 1500sqft house and changed it from oil to gas for 8500euro all in, certified and all.

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By *evil_u_knowMan
over a year ago

city

Nearly every house will need work if you want it to be "modern".

Sometimes older houses with no insulation, needing new wiring, new plumbing, new kitchen, blah blah blah sell for bigger money than you would believe.

A lot of people pay a premium for it, cause its a blank canvas, and once the shell is sorted they can pretty much know exactly how much it will cost to get the exact standard they want etc.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

If it is 25-30 years or older and it hasn't been done before you are better off doing rewire, replumb i, new windows and external doors and proper insulation.

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By *aucyladMan
over a year ago

Dublin

Good advise there.Get a surveyor to give you a report and depending on the report you can get alot of info off that.Also may be no harm to consider what youd like to do to the house and then get a builder to give you a quote for those works and see what it will cost.Some works may need to be done immediately others may take years to get to but you will wabt to move in straight away ideally and then add to the house as you go along.The BER rating is important but can be improved,however a very poor rating can mean extra costs such as new windows etc.The heating system and electrical systems are often expensive to modernise if they are on an older system.You will need to factor all those costs into your offering price as the offer may only get you the house,making the house to your satisfaction or style can cost more depending on what you wanna do with it. In terms of practical advise,if you know a local guard ask them for an off the record opinion of the area,or possible neighbourhood issues.

Also remember the day you buy is the day you sell,so always keep that mind,if its a 2 bed and you intend on having children or family down the line then a 2 bed may not be of use then.Because any subsquent purchase of a 2nd house will mean 20% deposit so keep that in mind.Ideally get the house that will serve your needs long term.Also if you ever needed to sell or rent the house out then you should know what houses in the area make.

In terms of a solicitor,most solicotors are well versed in conveyancing and whilst some homes may have title issues,no solicitor will know that unless the auctioneer has advised you before or else once the solicitors pulls the folio for the property.Lastly try and make sure its freehold rather than leasehold if its a house that your buying. A solicitor will explain the difference to you but most houses are freehold,apartments are often the opposite.

Happy househunting.

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Buying a house - what to watch out for