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

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

 

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

Property Update for Wicklow & Wexford

According to the most recent Daft.ie House Price Report, prices nationally rose close to 3% between June and September.

County Wicklow remains the fourth most expensive area for buyers but this does not allow for the huge discrepancy in prices between the north and the south of the county.

The average house price in Wicklow is now €287,581, an increase of 3.6% year on year.  Interestingly, the rate of increase in County Wicklow is one of the slowest in the country, although this is likely explained by the early rapid increases experienced in the area.

Looking the Wexford market, house prices have increased by 8.3% year-on-year.  The average house price in Wexford is now €175,472.

For home-buyers trading up and down, there are just over 400 houses for sale across County Wicklow with a price tag under €500,000, where as in Wexford, that figure jumps to over 800 houses. The great thing for first-time buyers is over half of those houses in Wexford are available below €200,000, whereas less than a quarter of the available houses in County Wicklow carry that price tag.  This is why first-time buyers are back looking at the South Wicklow and Wexford area for their house-hunting.

This will also be of interest to cash investors looking to buy a house (usually in need to upgrading) for under €100,000.  While less than 20 such properties are currently available in County Wicklow, investors will have approximately 100 budget houses to select from in neighbouring County Wexford.

When you look at the rental figures, the above pricing makes great sense for investors.  Rental demand in consistently strong across both counties, while lease prices in North Wicklow can reach double the levels of those in rural area across the south of the county. The national average rent price has risen by over one third since bottoming out in 2011 and is now at its highest level since records began.  In most areas, monthly rents are now almost 10% higher than they were just one year ago.  This is bad news for tenants but good news for investors.

The improved road infrastructure has played a huge part in attracting commuters from the capital but the affordability, increased space and quality of family life have been the main drivers in our experience.

The forecast from Daft.ie:

 “This situation in the general market is not going to change over the next few weeks.”

 

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