Full details here.

For your FREE, no obligation, valuation in the South Wicklow and North Wexford area, call into one of our offices (located in Carnew and Gorey) and chat to any of our expert team or you can contact us online at www.KinsellaEstates.ie. We are happy to facilitate overseas buyers and sellers via Skype or similar, outside of regular office hours.  Alternatively, email me directly on michael@kinsellaestates.ie or telephone: +353 53 94 21718

Kinsella Estates’ Top Tips for Bringing Summer into your Home

 

For your FREE, no obligation, valuation in the South Wicklow and North Wexford area, call into one of our offices (located in Carnew and Gorey) and chat to any of our expert team or you can contact us online at kinsellaestates.ie. We are happy to facilitate overseas buyers and sellers via Skype or similar, outside of regular office hours. Alternatively, email me directly on michael@kinsellaestates.ie or telephone: +353 53 94 21718

Full details here:

https://kinsellaestates.ie/property/kilmichael-gorey-co-wexford/

 

 

For your FREE, no obligation, valuation in the South Wicklow and North Wexford area, call into one of our offices (located in Carnew and Gorey) and chat to any of our expert team or you can contact us online at www.KinsellaEstates.ie. We are happy to facilitate overseas buyers and sellers via Skype or similar, outside of regular office hours.  Alternatively, email me directly on michael@kinsellaestates.ie or telephone: +353 53 94 21718

 

 

Okay, now here’s something we don’t talk about too often – bathrooms – yet, the bathroom is one of the places house-hunters will be most interested in seeing. If your bathroom is a few decades old, it may not be particularly impressive, however, there are ways you can bring it to life without it costing a small fortune. A few little upgrades can make all the difference and make prospective buyers see the full potential of the property.

 

Here are a few (hopefully!) helpful tips on making bathrooms shine for viewings:

 

Change the taps

Changing the taps is a quick, easy and cost-effective way to bring a bathroom sink area to life. Taps come in all sorts of shapes and sizes now so you can play around with the look that suits the bathroom best.

 

Paint the bathroom

You may have a fully tiled bathroom and if you do, that is great but don’t forget to paint the ceiling of the bathroom as it will freshen the bathroom up. If you don’t have a fully tiled bathroom there is no need to panic as a fresh bit of paint over the walls will put a spring into the bathrooms step. There is also a cheap option of painting old or tired tiles as well as regrouting them to brighten them up or you could change it altogether…

 

Change the flooring 

If you find that your flooring needs a revamp and you have the budget, then definitely consider changing the flooring with either new tiles or engineered wooden flooring. The engineered wooden flooring is best for bathrooms as it has a plywood base that holds up well against high moisture. Of course, you can always opt for porcelain or ceramic tiles either which depending on the style can range in price. 

 

Scrub the bathroom

This might sound obvious but we are talking DEEP, deep cleaning. This means getting down and cleaning everything in the bathroom including the toilet bowl and bath. The hint of dark marks do not make the best impression so ensure the bathroom surroundings are sparkling. Before viewings do a final check on the space and make sure there is no rubbish or unsightly marks on the bath or sinks.

 

Check the lighting

If your bathroom has an overhead light then it will need to be cleaned too as some get rather dusty and attract a whole manner of species. Make sure the lightbulb is the right wattage and allows viewers to see the bathroom properly.

 

Remove mats and create a sense of space

Again, this comes down to decluttering as no viewer needs to see the huge amounts of shampoo you have. Remove the things that aren’t needed and even if bits and bobs are stored in cupboards, remember that viewers like to snoop so create a sense of space by half filling the shelving and cupboards. Mats were traditionally used in bathrooms but they are messy and a better option is a bamboo wooden mat that sits on the floor perfectly.

 

Add some plants

A bathroom will look brighter with the addition of some plants and natural influences. Reduce the clutter and think minimalist to have a bathroom that is clean and sophisticated. Too much clutter, colours or textures could prove off putting to some prospective buyers.

 

 

For your FREE, no obligation, valuation in the South Wicklow and North Wexford area, call into one of our offices (located in Carnew and Gorey) and chat to any of our expert team or you can contact us online at kinsellaestates.ie. We are happy to facilitate overseas buyers and sellers via Skype or similar, outside of regular office hours.  Alternatively, email me directly on michael@kinsellaestates.ie or telephone: +353 53 94 21718

 

Before you rush out to buy furniture for your investment property, think very carefully about what you need and even if it’s necessary to provide lots of furniture. it’s worth noting that many prospective tenants today are looking for unfurnished accommodation. Lots of properties are now unfurnished and tenants choose to get their own bits – it doesn’t generally impact the rental price if a property is furnished or not. The best rule of thumb is to consider your market, an apartment in the town may need to be furnished as young professionals or students will be hoping to rent with furniture. Students especially won’t want to buy furniture and professionals may be reluctant to do so too. However, for family homes in residential areas they may already have their own furniture so consider your demographic before planning the kit-out of your investment property.

 

When it comes to white goods, there are some items that you will need to supply for tenants such as a washing machine and oven, whereas for additional machines like a dishwasher and tumble-dryer, keep in mind that if whatever you supply needs to be maintained and replaced in time.  Most properties, particularly investment properties are sold with white goods and some  can be purchased with contents included. If so,  keep track of how old the contents are and plan for phased replacement over time.

 

Bedrooms should be furnished with wardrobes, drawers and possibly desks but again this is depending on the situation. You could advertise the property saying partly furnished and once a tenant is established consider what is or isn’t needed.

 

If you are buying new furniture you should make a list, shop around and order as required. Consider the size of the property and what is needed in each room. If it is for a high-end market most professionals or corporate tenants will expect a property to be comfortable, modern and stylish. Consider adding rugs, cushions and curtains to rooms to create an ambiance that is relaxed and trendy. However, be careful of going crazy and be mindful that some things may get damaged or broken. Don’t add an expensive white sofa that it likely to be damaged over a short period of time.

 

If buying beds, consider the bedrooms sizes and whether singles or doubles are appropriate in each room. Place mattress protectors on beds to sustain the lifespan of the mattress and choose beds that are easily moved and cleaned under. Again, consider your potential tenant and who will live in the bedrooms. A family home will need a double bed and the other rooms will probably require single beds especially if they have a baby that will need a cot with space to put it in. Buy a sofa that can have its covers removed and cleaned while pick tables and chairs that are durable and easy to clean. Remember everything should be fire-resistant too and check with retailers if unsure.

 

Think about the durability of additions to the home, items should be hard-wearing and easy to clean. When painting try and keep colours neutral but don’t be afraid to go further than magnolia either. Keep rooms fresh, clean, simple and warm but with an element of flair. The garden too shouldn’t be overlooked, and you need to make it as maintenance-free as possible to avoid messy gardens. Neighbours will not appreciate a garden in their area becoming an eyesore simply because your tenant does not have the time or green-fingered talent to maintain it. If gardening is an issue, consider getting a local service to look after the upkeep. Finally, everything in the property should be in full working order and you should carry out an extensive itinerary list prior to the signing of the lease agreement.  This list will be used for subsequent lettings so keep it up-to-date.

 

If you are considering buying or selling in the South Wicklow and North Wexford areas in 2018, call into one of our offices (located in Carnew and Gorey) and chat to any of our expert team or you can contact us online at kinsellaestates.ie. We are happy to facilitate overseas buyers and sellers via Skype or similar, outside of regular office hours.  Alternatively, email me directly on michael@kinsellaestates.ie or telephone: +353 53 94 21718

 

Checklist for Property Sellers

Selling your home (or investment property) can seem overwhelming when you first start thinking about it.  As second-generation estate agents, we genuinely understand that a lot of work goes into researching and actually making the decision to sell before you even consider embarking on the sales process.  So, with that in mind, we wanted to make life a bit easier for prospective sellers by preparing a handy checklist – be sure to add your own and to let us know anything else that ought to be included on this list:

1. Is selling the right decision for you?

So often, this very important first step gets overlooked as being obvious but for many people, it is not obvious at all.  Irish people tend to move home less often than our UK neighbours (not counting the dreaded student and early career rentals!) so, in our experience, it is something that families think about for a year or perhaps even two years before they actually bring their homes to the market.  And we understand that.  It is a huge decision for people to make for their families, whether their children are young or whether they have left the family home for college or to start their careers elsewhere, the family home is still considered the family home.  The decision is about more than finances and convenience or even suitability, there is an emotional component that makes it difficult to reach a decision. At Kinsella Estates, we get to know our sellers and try our best to understand the emotional elements as well as the practical aspects like whether this is a good time to sell the type and value of property that you own.  We see our job at this stage as providing the right market and financial information so that you, the seller, can make the right personal decision.

2. Check local property prices via the property price register

Once you have made the decision to sell, it is important to get a sense of local values.  Local properties listings are helpful, as it the national property price register – which is publically accessible.  Please bear in mind that this register can be a few months behind as the conveyancing process usually takes a few months from going sale-agreed to actually closing the contracts and handing over keys so get up-to-date market information from your local agent.

3. Get valuation and local insights – supply vs. demand

The next step is to get a valuation on your property, at Kinsella Estates, this is a complimentary service we offer to property owners.  This valuation is important, but of more importance, is to find out about local supply and demand levels.  This just one of the ways that local estate agents bring their expertise to the sales  process.  Market valuation is one thing, but you need to know what other properties on the market your home will be competing with.  Also, you need to know what level of demand exists – roughly how many buyers are currently looking for a property, similar to yours, and have the right budget to purchase?  This level of detail will greatly help a seller by setting very realistic expectations of the market and how well the property is likely to sell.

4. Get your legal documentation in order and instruct your solicitor

Once you are happy with the valuation and ready to kick off the sales process, we always recommend instructing your family solicitor.  Once instructed, your solicitor will ‘take up’ the title deeds and supporting documentation from your bank.  Or, if there is no mortgage on the property, your solicitor will draft the contracts for sale so that they are ready to issue as soon as the property is sale-agreed.  By taking this step early, it eliminates potential delays and gives your solicitor an opportunity to request further documentation from you , for example, receipts of property tax or NPPR tax.

5. BER

Most homes that have now been bought or sold in the last decade are unlikely to have a Building Energy Rating or BER certificate.  This is a mandatory certificate that every property being sold or leased must have and provide to the buyer or tenant.  At Kinsella Estates, we can organise  that for you quickly and at an inspection time that suits you.

6. Preparing the property exterior

The next step is to prepare for the marketing photographs and content for your brochures and online listings.  In this increasingly busy  – and digital – age, it is crucial to have great photos (which we appreciate can be difficult in Irish weather, but luckily we work in the sunny south east so we have an advantage!).  If it is possible to spruce up the exterior and give it a paint job then we definitely recommend that, if not, clear away as much as possible and give the front door a fresh coat of paint and perhaps a seasonal planter outside.

7. Preparing the interior for photos

We talk about preparing for viewings with buyers in another post but for today, it’s all about preparing for photographs.  The golden rule is to maximise light and space and to minimise ‘stuff’ or clutter.  Prospective buyers need to see your home presented in the best possible way and they want to see as many photographs as possible.  Remember, you are unlikely to sell your home to someone who doesn’t view it (with the exception of remote buyers via 3D tours, which we now offer) so the job of the brochure and online listing is to showcase your home to its best so that house-hunters will want to visit.

Kinsella Estates are on-hand to offer helpful and practical advice at every stage of the selling process.  We understand the importance of bringing your home to the market in a way it deserves, and we know how to attract attention from the right buyers to maximise the value and potential of your property.  Talk to us about your individual property and let us help you create the best first impression for your home.

 

For specific queries or to speak with a local property expert about your buying and selling needs in Wexford, Wicklow and surrounding areas, contact Michael, Alan or Eileen Kinsella at kinsellaestates.ie . 

Email me directly on michael@kinsellaestates.ie or telephone : +353 53 94 21718