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David Kieran

November 5, 2018

Cork first-time buyers’ event aims to simplify the house buying process

David Kieran

November 5, 2018

Buying a first home can be a daunting task, but with the right advice it can be simplified a great deal.

Lisa O’Brien, best known as a former quantity surveyor on RTÉ’s Room to Improve, as well as founder of O’Brien QS, will be one of the headline speakers at the first-time buyers’ event, being held in Cork this November. The Irish Times event, in association with Ulster Bank, will go a long way towards easing the minds of those considering stepping into the property market for the first time.

An array of industry experts will be on hand on the evening, passing on tips for what to look out for when buying a first property.

O’Brien will cover everything from due diligence, to snag lists, new development launch days to moving in days. She says it’s so important to know the basics and even though first-time buyers might think they are aware of everything they need to look out for, inevitably there will be something that they forget or miss, so a check-list is vital.

“In relation to viewing new developments, I will be telling people to sit down before launch day and do what I call due diligence, to get to know the area. This covers everything from transport links, to sports clubs and schools in the area. I would advise them to contact the county council to see if there are any future developments planned for the area or, for example, an incinerator that is planned for close by.

“It can get very agitated on launch day and there is generally a huge amount of footfall, so I’ll advise people to get out to the development beforehand, so they have a good idea where to park.

“I’ll also advise them to pick the house type that they want and can afford before launch day. If they can only afford the three-bed type A1 to A3 in the €320,000 to €360,000 bracket, that might only leave them with six houses to choose from, so they should prioritise their top three choices.

“I’ll tell them what to look out for in terms of finishes in the common area; road finishes, planting, man hole finishes as these will give a good indication of how the development will be handed over.”

As well as O’Brien, there will be many more industry experts speaking on the day, including Angela Keegan, managing director of Myhome.ie who will discuss the current state of the housing market.

She will provide an insight into the Irish property sector in 2018 and beyond. Due to her many years of experience, she will be able to highlight to attendees what they should be looking out for in new developments, such as good surrounding infrastructure, as well as reasons why a fixed variable rate might better suit first-time buyers.

Nicki Halley, owner of Hinspo Interiors, will discuss how to put a unique stamp on a new home. She will detail the A-Z of everything buyers will need to know to transform their new property into a comfy home and will highlight how to make small things look great, and how to personalise the space on a budget.

Wayne Kirby, Ulster Bank Cork area manager will discuss how the overall mortgage application works and will walk attendees through what they will need to have in order in advance and what they’ll need to bring to a meeting with a mortgage manager. He will also advise on the usual length of proceedings, common mistakes that can derail the process, and tips and tricks to streamlining the process.

Irish Examiner columnist Annmarie O’Connor, the MC for the evening, will introduce panellists, and each will give a five-minute talk with a focus on advice for first-time buyers from their area of expertise. The presentations from the panellists will be very practical and tip-focused so as to inform the attendees of the dos and don’ts of first-time buying.

Once guests have heard from all speakers, there will be a short break where guests can top up their glasses, indulge in Ulster Bank-branded treats and take the opportunity to chat to Ulster Bank’s mortgage specialists, who will be on hand for the rest of the evening. Attendees will then be given the opportunity to put their own questions to the panel in a Q&A.

Attendees will receive goody bags, and there will be spot prizes for various competitions run on the night such as: Best Instagram, Best Tweet and Best Question.

This is a free event taking place on November 8th, 2018, from 6.30pm-9pm, in the Mirror Room, The River Lee Hotel, Cork.

Approximately 100 first-time buyers will attend the event. Guests will have the opportunity to speak to the Ulster Bank mortgage specialists prior to the panel presentations and discussions, as well as post-discussion.

Book tickets now for the Cork first-time buyers' event on November 8th.

David Kieran

May 3, 2018

The Ultimate End of Tenancy Cleaning Checklist

David Kieran

May 3, 2018

Cleaning a rental property at the end of a tenancy agreement is a tenant’s responsibility and is crucial in them getting their full deposit back. Tenants can use this ultimate end of tenancy cleaning checklist to ensure they don’t miss a spec of dust…

Landlords could also use this cleaning checklist when inspecting the property against the original inventory report, to make sure that the tenant has fulfilled their responsibility.

First thing’s first, tenants must remember to leave plenty of time for cleaning, as losing out on your deposit is simply not worth an extra few days of housework.

Bedrooms

Step one is to take care of dust and dirt. The best way to tackle this is to wipe rooms from top to bottom.

Remove cobwebs from ceilings and corners
Dust reachable surfaces – wardrobes, shelving and cupboards
Wipe accumulated dust and dirt from top of doors
Wipe accumulated dust from top of picture frames
Wipe dirt off curtain rails
Properly vacuum and dust both sides of curtains and blinds
Wipe and polish mirrors, pictures and other wall hangings
Wipe off dust from skirting boards and decorations
Dust off all light fittings and lampshades
Clean and polish metal ornaments
Wipe and polish switches
Remove/repaint dirty marks from walls
Carefully clean power sockets and extension cords
Thoroughly vacuum all mattresses
Mop hard floors and laminate

Bathrooms

The Ultimate End of Tenancy Cleaning Checklist

Dirt and mildew are most visible and least tolerable in bathrooms. Toilets, showers, tiles and baths should be cleaned and polished as well as possible.

Clean basins, taps and fittings
Remove hard water stains
Remove limescale if present
Scrub and rinse soap dispensers
Wipe and polish radiators and towel rails
Scrub and rinse toilet and bidet
Clean plumbing behind toilet if reachable
Wipe marks and stains from shower screens
Scrub and rinse bath marks and signs of mildew
Make sure to clean drains
Wipe and polish mirrors and glass surfaces
Descale, rinse and wipe showerheads, taps and metal surfaces
Scrub and rinse accumulated dirt from the toothbrush area
Clean extractor fans
Wipe reachable bathroom tiles

Kitchens

Cleaning the kitchen is a quarter of the job. Your kitchen is most likely to be the most used room, not to mention the most heavily exposed to various germs and dirt.

Wash and polish all worktops, countertops and the sink area
Clean inside cupboards, drawers and shelving
Throw leftover food and carrier bags away
Wash and polish sinks and shine taps
Remove accumulated limescale
De-grease and polish wall tiles
Remove mould growth between grout
Clean and de-grease ovens internally and externally
Clean grime from extractors and hobs
Scrub gas rings and gas control knobs
Clean microwaves inside and out
Clean out the fridge/freezer
Clean the washing machine inside and out
Clean the dishwasher inside and out
Clean exterior of all appliances
Sanitize the bins and remove rubbish
Clean outside of cupboards and drawers
Stack and arrange cutlery, utensils and other dining accessories
Clean inside of windows and wipe down sills, ledges and frames
Wipe dirt from woodwork (doors, handles, doorframes, furnishings and skirting boards)
Wipe down radiators if applicable and accessible
Remove dust from plugs and light switches
Vacuum, mop and polish floors

Furnishings

Landlords or their letting agents will pick up dirty furnishings upon their inspections. You must carefully wipe, vacuum and clean all furnishings.

Wipe and polish tables, countertops and other worktop surfaces
Make sure you remove all fingerprints and marks
Look our for oil stains
Take sofa cushions outside and pound them until the dust is removed
Vacuum the sofa with and without its cushions on
Move all furnishings to vacuum underneath
Wipe and polish all wooden units

Carpets

Carpets always come under scrutiny from landlords/letting agents. Carpet cleaning is one of the hardest jobs to tackle, but the best way to do it is to hire a carpet cleaning machine.

Thoroughly vacuum all carpet edges
Move furniture and vacuum underneath
Steam clean, if possible
Try hand-washing stains if a carpet cleaning machine is not available

Windows

Everything within your rental property should be subject to a thorough clean before you move out. Cleaning the inside of the windows is no exception.

Remove any marks, fingerprints and oily stains
Wipe down to prevent streaks when drying
Dust off and clean windowsills
Wipe down frames
Dust off blinds, curtains and shades

Drawers, cupboards and shelves

It’s quite common to forget to clear a drawer or cupboard that you don’t use often. Always inspect each drawer, cupboard and shelf.

Clear drawers inside and out
Remove any unnecessary items or leftover goods
Wipe down the inside and out
Wipe around handles

Fridge/freezer

Check your tenancy agreement to see if your landlord wants the fridge/freezer turned on or off upon check-out. To clean it properly, you may need to defrost the freezer or at least turn it off a day in advance.

Remove dirt, mildew and leftover food
Wipe and polish handles
Clean rubber seal
Move it and clean underneath and behind
Dismantle, wash and rinse slots, grills and shelves inside
Wipe and polish the exterior

Appliances

You will need to check your tenancy agreement regarding your responsibilities on cleaning appliances.

Clean the dishwasher of food and soap deposits

Remove all dirt, mildew and food deposits
Inspect and clean filters
Wipe the rubber seal
Move it and clean underneath and behind
Wipe the soap dispenser drawer and remove marks and stains
Wipe down handles

The washing machine

Clean the drum from leftovers and stains
Inspect and clean filters
Inspect the rubber seal
Move it and clean underneath and behind
Wipe the soap dispenser drawer and remove marks and stains
Clean handles

The tumble dryer

Clean inside and out
Inspect the rubber seal
Clean the soap dispenser drawer
Inspect and clean the filter

Ovens and microwaves

Clean and de-grease oven, extractor fan, hob and grill
Clean and de-grease the microwave
Scrub off food deposits and grime
Clean grill pan and oven racks
Clean the inner of both the oven and microwave
Inspect and wipe the rubber seals
Inspect and wipe all buttons
Clean exterior and remove stains and marks

The toaster

Clean, wipe and polish the exterior
Remove any food deposits and bread crumb leftovers
Clean within as much as possible
De-grease handles
Remove grime

Smaller details

There are many smaller tasks that you’ll also have to remember in order to get your full deposit back. Remember to:

Clean and dry all kitchen tiles
Get rid of leftover rubbish
Rinse out rubbish bins
De-grease fans and extractors

Tenants, make sure to tick off everything on this cleaning checklist (but check your tenancy agreement first!) to have the greatest chance of getting your full deposit back when you move out.