Kerb Appeal

KERB APPEAL

Whether the market goes up, down, or remains static that is outside any one persons control. Therefore a vendor looking to maximise his price must look at what can be done internally and externally to make his property more appealing.

A Canadian couple I once acted for were our clipping, sweeping and washing windows at the front of their house when I came to take photos. On asking the reason for such industry he replied “Harry this house must have kerb appeal,” advice I have often passed on to vendors over the years. A good first impression is most important.
Internally all the usual apply – toys cleared away, clean and neat presentation, beds made, animals tied up or in kennels.

The other area I want to highlight (which only applies to estate dwellers) is the condition of the estate itself.

To get an estate looking well it requires collective responsibility, which also involves a small investment. It astonishes me to hear that so many residents associations have difficulty in obtaining payments of just €100 or €150 from households considering the value that such a contribution makes to their property. It is easy to adopt a “me fein” attitude – I am not selling so why should I bother but at some stage that attitude is likely to bite back.

A purchaser viewing property first visits the estate and if there isn’t a “kerb appeal” to the estate itself then often they may not wish to pay an internal visit to the house chosen. A poorly kept estate with graffiti, broken trees, un-mowed greens gives a really bad impression and irregardless of how any one individual might keep their house its value is greatly undermined by the estate itself. You are not talking small money here it could be €10/20,000.

A well-kept estate sends out a very positive message – we care, the kids are well behaved, your neighbours are likely to be decent, there won’t be vandalism. Whilst some of those may not be borne out non-the less those are the qualities that most purchasers want to find.
There are many examples of well kept estates in Carlow, probably the most eye catching being Heatherfield Court. It is no surprise therefore that houses sell quickly in this area.


Harry Sothern, F.I.A.B.C.I.
Director REA.

REAL ESTATE ALLIANCE Announce New Chairman for 2011/2012

Real Estate Alliance, welcome their new Chairman, Mr Michael Boyd of Boyds REA, Kilkenny, coupled with a wealth of property experience, Michael has a special interest in protected structures and period buildings and the planning and legal environment within which they are owned, operated and developed. He is a long term member of the Irish Georgian Society, An Taisce, and the Kilkenny Archaeological Society

Newbridge Farm sold at auction for €2.37 million

Brophy Farrell, Newbridge, Co Kildare sold a c.197 acre farm was sold today at auction for €2.37 million. Well done Brian.

CHAIRMAN OF REA RE-APPOINTED TO THE BOARD OF THE VALUATION TRIBUNAL

Real Estate Alliance welcomes the recent Government Re-Appointment of Patrick Riney to the Board of the Valuation Tribunal, which he has been a Member of since 1994. He is the Chairman of Real Estate Alliance, a Director of Orchard REA, Dublin, and Vice-President of the Irish Chapter of FIABCI, the International Real Estate Federation.
Pat’s experience of the Irish and International Property Business spans over 30 Yrs. and as a respected Chartered Surveyor, he has extensive experience in Commercial, Industrial, Residential, and also has considerable experience in the Social Housing Sectors.
Pat deals with Valuations, Sales, Lettings, Property Management and all other aspects of the Property Market.

Philip Farrell announced

Real Estate Alliance is delighted to announce the recruitment of Philip Farrell to the position of Business Development for the Group. Philip, a recognised expert in the field of property will be responsible for the continuing development of the REA Group across Ireland and abroad.

Boom property details at last laid bare

Vast scale of operations of a State agency vital to Ireland’s recovery is disclosed in a timely and transparent way, writes SIMON CARSWELL, Finance Correspondent in the Irish Times.
FROM ZERO to a working State agency with €72.3 billion in loans and a staff of 150 people in just 20 months is quite some feat.Add to this the fact the National Asset Management Agency is one of the most controversial political creations and one of the most unpopular, and you get an idea of the work completed.
It was timely therefore that Nama should disclose more information than ever before when it published its first annual report, covering 2010, at the Treasury Building in Dublin yesterday

Great value properties on www.realestatealliance.ie

Check out the lower end of the market on the website as there are alot of properties under 200,000 for sale throughout Ireland