As always the steps to buying your dream home are never as simple as made out but you must begin the process to get further ahead so the best advice is to start now to buy your new home in 2020. Kinsella Estates understand the property journey so we want to share some tips on buying your home in 2020 to make the process a little bit easier. 

The all important mortgage approval is still as important as ever when you are buying a property. The Central Banks decision to not relax the mortgage lending rules for 2020 was met with some criticism but it is not going to change so the best advice is to keep working towards the mortgage deposit. Looking at properties online is a great way to determine how the market is performing and what sort of budget you will need. Local and online web portals are the best place to look for an idea of what price (the type of property you are hoping to buy) is advertised for. Remember the asking price is only a guide price and it could go up (due to bidding) so you need to be aware of this and when you have the mortgage approval talk to your local estate agent about prices and they’ll be happy to advise. 

If you are buying a new home in the south east we recommend (obviously) going online to kinsellaestates.ie where you will be met with plenty of properties to fall in love with.  Keep track of the properties you like and invest in a good quality notebook and folder to place leaflets into and print off information yourself. When you begin to view properties this will help you take notes as a lot of viewings can cause confusion – note what you liked about the property or worries you may have and then chat to the estate agent dealing with the sale. Buying a home in 2020 means it is a lot easier to view homes without having to be at the house itself as Kinsella Estates accommodates virtual reality tours, after hours appointments and weekend viewings. 

When you do view properties ensure you get a good feel for the property and if you are ever confused you can ask for a second viewing to go over things or more for that matter! It is a big purchase and obviously, a huge decision so take time to think about it but don’t take too long that the property is whipped from under your feet. While property deals may close slowly others can go through quickly and leave prospective buyers on the verge of bidding before being told the property has gone sale agreed.  

Remember bidding doesn’t guarantee you’ll get the keys to your dream home and it may take a few bids to get the deal closed and if it doesn’t go your way, you may find yourself viewing other properties again.  This is one of the most frustrating parts of the buying process but at Kinsella Estates, we understand this, so we operate a transparent bidding process to help make this process easier. Everyone is delighted when a property goes sale agreed but there is still lots of work to do with solicitors and paperwork which is totally worth it – in the end but at the time is a lot of work! Then relax (or prepare for moving) as closing takes up to 12 weeks (on average) and you’ll need to be patient! 

If you are thinking about buying a home in 2020, get in touch with us and we’ll help you in your dream home hunt. 

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

Thank you to everyone who took part in our successful ‘The 12 Rooms of Christmas’ competition. It was great fun and wonderful to see so many people get involved. Now for the BIG announcement we have all been waiting for…

See below the list of days from 1-12 with the winners name next to it. 

If you see your name on the list, get in touch with us via PM on our Facebook page or by calling us on 053-9421718, alternatively you could email us at gorey@kinsellaestates.ie. 

List of winners: 

2/12 Day one – Hallway Winner: Aoife Dillon

3/12 Day two – Dining Room Winner: Dermot Kelly

4/12 Day three – Bathroom Winner: Mary O’ Neill

5/12 Day four – Pet’s corner Winner: Betty Moorehouse

6/12 Day five – Garden Winner: Emma Roche

9/12 Day 6 – Bedroom Winner: Ken Mernagh

10/12 Day 7 – Kitchen Winner: Mary Collins

11/12 Day 8 – Home Office Winner: Josephine Doyle

13/12 Day 9 – Playroom Winner: Darren Redmond

14/12 Day 10 – Sitting Room Winner: Eilish Kenny

16/12 Day 11 – Garden Shed Winner: Magda Branka

17/12 Day 12 – Utility Room – Winner: Mary Gregan Kinsella

Congratulations to all our winners and thank you to everyone who took part. 

From everyone at Kinsella Estates we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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

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

There are so many benefits to living close to the coast; areas of natural beauty, beaches within walking distance, the fresh salty air and sea breeze to mention a few. However, coastal homeowners know that there is a price to pay for this natural luxury on an on-going basis.  If you live near the coast, features of your home and garden are likely to have a shorter life span, but it will be beautiful and scenic. Coastal homes are exposed to more of nature’s elements, which can cause a few problems. Here are a few ways to get the best out of your coastal home and avoid letting it get worse for wear:

Painting                    

As a coastal home doesn’t have as much protection as one in a more urban or inland setting, this leaves them open to constant wear. Homes surrounded by trees and shade reduce this slightly, but a coastal home is located right in the centre of harsh winds and sea air. Doing some regular painting will reduce the chances of your home becoming incredibly tired looking or alternatively, power washing is another good method to get rid of sand, dirt and grime.  There is a special range of paint designed for coastal homes, speak to your painting contractor about this.  It might be worth going premium for the longevity of your home’s exterior.

Maintenance

Check seals around windows and doors, especially if your coastal home is an apartment. Penetrating water can damage window and doors seals; the upkeep of them is a lot less costly than them breaking altogether. Check wires and cords all over the house every 6 months or so to ensure they are safe and repair if needed. Inspect bath tubs, showers and sinks too to ensure they are working properly. If they show any sign of deterioration replace them at your earliest convenience. Preventative maintenance is always more cost-effective than neglect and repair.

Gardens

For starters, if you have decking it will need to be treated annually to stay healthy and clean. This isn’t too difficult to do with some decking oil/paint to keep it in the best shape possible. The shed/roof needs to be inspected at least once a year too as again, the harsh air can cause damage to structures but getting it early saves a lot of hassle down the line. There will be some plants and flowers unable to live in such a habitat so when buying plants or flowers at your garden centre for advice and design some sheltered areas into your garden design.

Sand woes

If your property is right on the beach you may understand how difficult it is to keep the sand out of your home – by the way, know that this is a problem most people are envious of!  Having said that, sand in the home comes with its own problems, including sand in the shower or pipes. You will need to be meticulous in reducing sand in your home. Clean off everything before you enter your home and don’t be afraid to ask others to do so as if there is a huge amount of sand build up it could cause problems in your drains later. Most coastal homes install a tap outside the door or a shower just inside to eliminate this problem.

Cleaning

You may not realise this but by leaving your windows open – particularly with sea air – can erode your appliances which can be costly. It is advised that you clean down everything regularly and perhaps, keep windows and doors closed for a few hours during the day. A bit of deep cleaning is required when you have a coastal home but by doing so you are saving yourself money and hassle with potential breakages.

On balance, the benefits of living in a coastal home far outweigh the issues outlined above.  Some simple and regular maintenance will help to avoid problems so you and your family can enjoy the best Ireland’s sunny south east has to offer!

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