House Next Door

Initially I spotted the house next door but one to me for sale on another agent's site so made enquiries with the neighbour about who owned it and also who owned next door and whether that was for sale.

View from next door over looking my garden

Initially the owners wanted 15,000 Euros for this, which I thought was rather steep, particularly having viewed inside and seen that it needed a lot of renovation, had many cracks in the ceiling and would require some outside rendering. There is basically a large central hall downstairs with kitchen sink and then one living room off this to the left and another cellar type room to the right.

External stairs lead to another large hall area and three bedrooms.

Outside was a small mud brick building with an open fire place which would make an ideal BBQ area. The plot was around 1,000 sqm.

The owners eventually agreed to 14,000 E and a preliminary contract has been signed and exchanged and a deposit paid.

I intend to renovate this into a 2/3 bedroom house for rental.

February 2008: Deal now completed and should get keys shortly so I can have a good look around and start thinking of ideas for renovation.

March 2008: Got an idea of costs to make this into 4 bedroom house with 2 bathrooms - will be around 26,000 Euros. I am going to use individual tradesmen with someone employed as project manager and so far costs are coming in much cheaper than using full building company.

April 2008: Builders have had a quick look at roof and seems many of smaller timbers rotten and so larger job than we initially envisaged. Work should start soon.

May 2008: EVN (electric company) have now been and fitted electric meter to outside of house in line with new regulations that will come in and in time all houses will have their meters switched to outside. Paying to have this down now means no need to alter electrics in the future.

New roof and guttering being done

July 2008: All new white PVC windows in, all electrics and plumbing done, new super duper septic tank installed that recycles water for garden, all plaster boarded inside and painted. Some damp discovered on lower floor so measures taken to concrete area outside to prevent rain seeping into ground and new water proof plasterboard put on.