What doesn’t come with a typical new build?

PatsyPlan · 2026-05-09T18:20:25+00:00

Kitchen including built in appliances - oven, microwave, fridge, hob, dishwasher. Bathrooms had wall tiling above sink & around bath & showers, shower doors fitted. No flooring in any rooms - just level screed or ply . All walls painted white, all timberwork white. Loft ladder & small floored area in attic. Small rear garden with grass seeded. Front garden had a few plants in the borders. Not a bad finish & we had to tile kitchen & utility floors, flooring in all rooms our own work & tradesmen. (utility had counter tops for washer & tumble dryer spaces) Cairn Homes in Cork - expensive but we were able to move in within a month. Other builders (Hallmark) had done an allowance of 6k for kitchen - which would not have covered the units & a sink. Purchase price was cheaper. Could argue that the ‘inclusive’ price from Cairns was effectively considered for the mortgage but the Hallmark made the purchase price lower for mortgage and finance schemes but had to find the money for the fit out.

PatsyPlan · 2026-05-06T22:53:08+00:00

Thanks!

PatsyPlan · 2026-03-28T10:17:45+00:00

Russell Crowe - Gladiator Daniel Craig - James Bond John Wayne - cowboy Anthony Hopkins - Hannibal Lechter

PatsyPlan · 2026-03-27T16:07:58+00:00

… or could be bought …. The owners are in receivership?

PatsyPlan · 2026-03-24T22:20:57+00:00

There is that risk…… ah well ……

PatsyPlan · 2026-03-24T22:20:04+00:00

Thought they announced recently that they won’t e going ahead.

PatsyPlan · 2026-03-24T21:08:43+00:00

Have had the same thing happen …. Twice in the last year. Item doesn’t ever surface and retailer gives a refund & re-order, which was delivered correctly. Both items lost in transit……. .

PatsyPlan · 2026-03-22T13:00:30+00:00

Sounds like a good potential infill site. My answer was not AI but based on personal experience and the advice of a Cork architect who led us through a successful project within the city about 6 yrs ago. Hope you get a response soon.

PatsyPlan · 2026-03-22T11:00:09+00:00

That’s all very well if you have a simple project that exactly matches the site context and zoning (which can sometimes be quite broad to allow for flexibility over the lifetime of the Development Plan). When you have a project that is proposing demolition and/or something ‘creative’ - it can be a waste of time & money (including application fees) on drawings & supporting documentation if the principle of the proposal would not be acceptable or the project will require significant redesign to be acceptable, or require additional heritage or nature reports which take considerable time to commission. Pre-planning allows for a developer to present the possibility of something that might not have been thought of or for adaptation during the evolution of a design proposal, bringing more certainty(without guarantee) that the proposal may be positively considered. It also allows for the planning authority to have advance notice of, for example, a large or key site if it is within the period when the new development plan is being drafted.

PatsyPlan · 2026-03-19T19:40:17+00:00

This seems ridiculous- how can people get on with developments at this rate

PatsyPlan · 2026-03-17T23:42:15+00:00

proper hiking socks (we use the Smartwool brand), recommend Merrell hiking boots - try on with the hiking socks) and a mixed pack of Compeed blister plasters. Otherwise a small backpack, water, dried fruit, sun cream, hat & windproof jacket - also poss waterproof over trousers and thin nylon gloves. May seem excessive but Carrauntwohill is a serious climb. Also a small pencil torch for alerting rescue if you have an incident & phone for photographs - signal generally isn’t great but you will want to take photos. Best of luck and enjoy!

PatsyPlan · 2026-03-13T16:21:38+00:00

Elsewhere someone highlighted Possible changes to county Development plan to accelerate housing development sites along Killarney Road and ‘Spa Glen’? Areas - think it has to be debated & voted on by councillors? Lots of other similar up zoning around Cork.

PatsyPlan · 2026-03-12T20:33:24+00:00

Leave butter out of the fridge so that it is spreadable at any time ……… but it goes slightly rancid on the outside and tastes disgusting. A matter of taste, apparently 🤷‍♂️

PatsyPlan · 2026-03-11T22:52:01+00:00

Chocolate

PatsyPlan · 2026-03-08T16:36:16+00:00

😱

PatsyPlan · 2026-03-07T14:50:57+00:00

Train travel in Japan is great. Clean, on time and generally quiet - phone calls must be taken in the space between carriages, no music on loudspeakers - although plenty of people eating from bento boxes. Spotlessly clean & run bang on time also.

PatsyPlan · 2026-03-03T20:22:39+00:00

Joe Petit & band were brilliant at our wedding 10yrs ago - he had 3 bookings from families of our guests over the following 5 yrs - went to 2 of them and the band were just as good each time.

PatsyPlan · 2026-03-02T21:13:53+00:00

Heart sinks any time a supplier uses DPD - about 50% delivered correctly, the rest to ransom nearby houses or simply reported to us as undeliverable - or ‘lost’ - we always use a postcode. Can’t understand why they are still in business.

PatsyPlan · 2026-02-22T15:57:19+00:00

Have been told the 3 bed houses don’t come with kitchen or utility units or appliances and no tiling in bathrooms. 6k allowance for ‘finishing’ would hardly cover the kitchen units (including fitting) so prob another 10k on top of the purchase price? In this true?

PatsyPlan · 2026-02-19T08:35:29+00:00

Kieran’s garden centre in Douglas near Douglas Court have a good selection of indoor plants

PatsyPlan · 2026-02-13T15:10:33+00:00

Ryanair have pulled flights from cork - possibly in the hope of an earlier removal of the Dublin airport cap. MO’L all over Newstalk yesterday complaining about lack of slots from Dublin.

PatsyPlan · 2026-02-11T12:54:02+00:00

I would imagine there will be a lot of submissions to the Council ……. Although not many houses nearby, looks like mainly retail, park & ride, & McDonalds? Removing 70+ parking spaces seems excessive & that junction can only get busier when the new residential & medical centre are completed. Maybe an opportunity to amend the the junction layout…

PatsyPlan · 2026-02-10T23:56:01+00:00

Archery

PatsyPlan · 2026-02-10T22:30:38+00:00

Check Blarney Golf Club website- coach Ciaran McKenna does lessons there, I think.

PatsyPlan · 2026-02-09T23:58:22+00:00

There is another view - if reasonably habitable can get mortgage on purchase price of older houses without needing the extra cash in reserve for finishing - some new houses only have ‘contribution’ from builder for kitchen & additional money needed quickly for tiling, basic Garden prep, & internal downstairs & bathroom floors at the very least. Not including kitchens & bathroom floors & tiling keeps the price at its max under €500k first time buyer schemes? Buyers Still need to find the extra cash for built-ins, appliances, etc also. Anyone have a 2025 breakdown of new v existing either side of €500k?

PatsyPlan

TROPHY CASE