FAO YBIG Tradesmen

I'm looking at buying a place at the minute and I've had to go back to square one today so I'm kind of curious as to how much that sort of thorough refurb would cost without extending. I figured about 20 to 25k was fair but wasn't sure.

Put a bid of 232 on a place about three weeks ago, asking 249. No movement since. Grand. It needs a bit of work but not much more than a kitchen, double glazing and a lick of paint. Vendor didn't accept it. Then I saw another place, asking 255, put 235 on it. Similar size but no work needed. That bid was rejected. 240. Rejected. 245. Rejected. Apparently there were other potential bidders in the background and the vendor wouldn't go sale agreed for less than asking price. Nonetheless, it seemed I was the only one bidding on it, about a week apart each time.

Grand. Today I get a call back on the first place. First word of a 240 bid put on it from a new bidder (bear in mind this is three weeks after my 232). I think its worth about 15 less than the second place given the work that needs done so I'm like, grand, I'm not sure, I can't commit to bidding on it (obviously); at the time I was thinking the second place is nicer and there is f**k all interest in it, so I should be grand if a bid of 250 is accepted, and even if it isn't, I'll go to 255. Go back to the second place. Sort of had an indication 250 would be accepted. Put on 250 and say I want an answer by Monday, thinking I have both in the air.

This afternoon, two phone calls in the space of about ten minutes. Second place: new bid of 262, way out of my range. F**k that, so I ring the first place back, thinking I can still, possibly, beat the 240 if I go 245. Vendor has already accepted the 240 bid and told the purchaser and won't go back on it, because they don't want to f**k the buyer around, having told them on a Friday evening that they have it.

Honestly, I could f**king cry.

Back to the start and I'm looking at places priced around 220 that need a bit of work and I'm wondering how much they'll cost. Still, it's very tough not to be disheartened after getting slapped like that today.

I got that news on the train back from cork today and the ficking thing had run out of gin. I felt like I was being shat on from a height. I’m not looking pity or anything but it’s f**king grim out there if that’s anything to go by. 

You would most definitely be talking about a ‘cash’ job to get it done for that amount.

It’s doable but you need to shop around.

As others have said, you don’t need to do everything at once.

Do the main things that need to be done and the rest can be done but by bit.

Be doing very well to get that done for anywhere near €20k. Moved during the year to 3 bed house. New windows, new boiler and couple of new rads when old ones popped during flushing, internal insulation on all external facing walls, new front and back door, new fireplace in and some extra skimming and that came to close to 20k without looking at rewiring or re plumbing or new kitchen / bathroom. Did painting ourselves to try and save a few bob. Taking a break now but still loads to do. Will be doing the rest bit by bit. 

Central Heating - €6k for 3 bed house but we did have gas connection on site. Would cost a lot more if Bord Gais have to run in supply.

Rewire - rough guide is €100 per socket.

Replumb - N/A if getting central heating, kitchen and bathroom, I would have thought

Double glazing - Can be done for as little as €300 per window.

Upstairs bathroom - the fact that you don't have one to begin with could be troublesome. Depends on how big and if you want bath/shower etc. Roughly €3k but to run in plumbing too???

New kitchen - again depends on the size. If you are just swapping out presses, appliances and tiles from old small kitchen I.e. sink, cooker, washing machine and fridge freezer, about €2,500

I'm not a tradesman but did this a few years ago and going off memory of rough quotes we would have gotten. As someone else said, it is possible, but you'd be paying cash.

Please note, if you have a missus, you can double your budget.

I always say it's like buying a car. You can get one on done deal for a grand or do you want a Toyota job or BMW job? Do you want the brakelight guarantee or a written x year guarantee? 

Make sure you know what your getting into either way and have a clear and concise plan. Also a 10% contingency is usually a good idea. 

There must have been about 30,000 worth of repairs in it