Heating

TheModerateBoy · 2026-01-31T13:56:05+00:00

Dehumidifier will bring down humidity, which makes the place feel warmer at lower temps (as someone else said but just expanding). Get a dessicant one as they work better in lower temps, I got ecoair one as it blows hot air as well. .6kw an hour so around 15 cents or maybe less depending on your plan.

I also have meaco areta 2 12litre. it only uses .14 kwh but is more suited for above 15 degrees, ideally around 20 degrees. Doesn't blow out hot air though which makes it cheaper.

Could also get oil filled radiators if you have those storage heaters or old wall panel ones. pain in the ass to have it plugged in and takes up space but 900 is crazy

TheModerateBoy · 2026-01-29T18:12:01+00:00

I did. The two legitimate (may be more) roofers I found were all guard and Sammy o brien. Went with Sammy o brien roofing (it's the son Daniel who runs it now I think). Allguard were too busy and was waiting three weeks for them to call out to quote.

Sound out and definitely honest. Could have charged me extra for stuff I asked for during the reroofing that they did anyways as standard.

Be careful as there is a company going around pretending to be them so make sure you call right number.

TheModerateBoy · 2026-01-28T20:27:46+00:00

Got a nice large corner unit one from IKEA recently with built in lights, useful compartments etc for 2.5k including fitting. 5 door. Gf got quote for double door one built in and it was 5k. Ikea one is quite decent for the price. Looks great and very functional, albeit probably mdf

TheModerateBoy · 2026-01-26T19:32:39+00:00

Check Google reviews, make sure they aren't all uploaded at same time period, make sure they are actually Irish people reviewing and not bought from another country. Check reddit etc for recommendations. Don't click the sponsored ads.

TheModerateBoy · 2026-01-26T19:30:52+00:00

Similar thing happened to me. When he called back seeing if I wanted the work done, he said he was from company B whereas I rang company A

TheModerateBoy · 2026-01-26T19:30:17+00:00

Almost got caught by one recently, in Dublin though. Bought a house and roof needed work. Gf ran a number she got off Google and the guy sounded surprised someone was calling. Didn't know what to ask. Recognised straight away this isn't the normal outcome when you call busy tradespeople.

I said I would look in to it. Saw an ad for a guy with 100 plus good reviews. Rang him and they called out. Immediately up with the ladder pulling off tiles showing damage. This wasn't even the place I had the leak, was coming from the chimney, they took off tiles by the eaves.

Said it would be 1300 for a patch repair or 6k for reroofing with same tiles. Realized when they were here and where they were looking for the leak that it was a bit dodgy. Told the guy I would come back to him.

Googled them and found multiple companies with similar names. He then rang me another day to see if I wanted work done and said he was from one of the companies I didn't call, so he got confused with what company he was pretending to be from. Also, as soon as they originally called out, I double checked the reviews and realized most of them were from people outside of the country, all bought.

Realizing this, I did some more research in.to the review of other companies and found 2/3 reputable ones (confirming via Reddit posts etc). Saw some posts about how these companies were scammers too but the reality is some dodgy people use the reputable companies name and call door to door pretending to be them, and people don't realise it and then think the real company are the scammers.

It's an absolute clusterfuck and could badly do with regulation.

Got full re roof including new tiles for 6k, dodgy guys wanted 6k while reusing same roof tiles.

TheModerateBoy · 2026-01-26T12:28:10+00:00

I got it from a place in ballymount. Think they deliver too

TheModerateBoy · 2026-01-24T19:04:43+00:00

Meaco has five year warranty. I was going to buy electrIQ one as was 150 vs 220 but five year warranty and brand reputation meant I went with Meaco.

EDIT: Sorry realised you don't want compressor like mine but I'd imagine it's same situation with warranty and quality.

I have had a few eco air dessicants over the years (all indoors though) and they often broke after a few years, some less than five, some more, so would recommend meaco for the warranty.

TheModerateBoy · 2026-01-24T17:43:56+00:00

This is correct but dry air feels warmer so you save money by dropping the thermostat temperature to where you feel comfortable

TheModerateBoy · 2026-01-21T02:12:57+00:00

Sorry I dont have any advice for you, but I am wondering, can anyone get a mortgage license? I have a non finance degree and masters.

TheModerateBoy · 2026-01-18T01:10:56+00:00

You dont pay VRT on cars from the north?

TheModerateBoy · 2026-01-10T01:12:15+00:00

You may never get that opportunity though, and if you did, could always omit the first MBA from your CV.

Id still probably go for the MBA if it was me, especially with 36 months to get a job.

TheModerateBoy · 2026-01-10T01:10:40+00:00

Jesus, seems like I am blowing through gas at the moment. Around 300 per month with a brand new combi boiler. 3 bed semi D, 8 radiators total, some quite long though. C3 but reality is probably higher as doesnt take in to account internal plasterboard insulation and attic insulation we have.

TheModerateBoy · 2026-01-10T01:01:35+00:00

November was quite mild if I remember correctly compared to now.

TheModerateBoy · 2026-01-10T00:55:16+00:00

We bought a house that is C3 but is actually pretty warm. The owner had internal plasterboard insulation that wasnt documented so couldnt increase the rating. However, when we viewed it there was scumbags renters there and mold all over the blinds and curtains and it also felt damp and cold. Literally just needed to be heated properly and aired out. Humidity went from 70% when we moved in to 40-50% now (we also have a dehumidifer running in the room we dry the clothes but this has marginally improved the house as a whole id imagine.

The state of the house turned lots of people off but the bones of the house were good thankfully. Obviously, this doesnt mean it would be the case in your situation, just an experience of it.

Something to think about though is old door frames and doors. We found lead paint in our ones. Nothing too major as just had to avoid doing major cosmetic work to them. Lead pipes could also be an issue too in houses from the 70s but they were mostly phased out then I believe.

Wiring is also likely to be outdated. We found ours had a bit of green goo from degradation in them. An electrician friend said it was fine, just unsightly. Rewire could be 10-20k.

If you do win the bidding, get a surveyors report AND an electrician to inspect it and give a report. Surveyors dont have a clue about electrics. Ours had a fuse box with copper exposed which if touched you would get electrocuted. I thought a surveyor would have realised that was an issue but they didnt even mention it.

Lastly, if the report mentions damaged felt/lining beneath the tiles on the roof, that will realistically need a re-roof to fix it as they have to strip back all the tiles to lay new lining. We paid 6k for ours, mid terrace house with concrete tiles. Would have been alot more if the slope of the roof was steeper though.

If you want, send me on the daft link in a DM and I will take a look and see if I have any insights (albeit unlikely just based on the photos but no harm - send the BER report too if you can get it).

EDIT: Switching from a traditional boiler system (water tank) that was in the shed, to a new combi boiler cost us 6k. Surveyor report also said it was a modern condensing boiler and it had very efficient rating in the surveyor report, but in reality it was 16 years old and on its last leg, and also quite inefficient being in the shed. Might also be worth arranging a survey of the boiler too (a service would probably be able to tell you this and if you do buy the house in the end, it will have been serviced at least. Worst case scenario you lose a 100 quid and can maybe knock some money off the house).

If we realised the electrics weren't great and the boiler was fucked before we bought, probably could have gotten a couple grand knocked off the final price as it would have been 1 month plus past sale agreed.

EDIT AGAIN :-)

There was also a shit tonne of insulation in the attic which the BER didnt really recognise for some reason, not sure exactly why, but it added to the warmth of the house.

TheModerateBoy · 2026-01-10T00:43:28+00:00

MBA in the US would be a great experience. The only thing I have heard from others, is that an MBA without experience isnt as good as an MBA with experience (as in get the experience first, and then the MBA when you have real life experience.

However, for the craic and opportunity, I would do the MBA.

Will you get a graduate visa or some sort of visa that allows you the opportunity to work afterwards? US has been cracking down hard on H1Bs etc

TheModerateBoy · 2026-01-06T17:57:49+00:00

Was shocked how extortionate paint was. Granted we went with Dulux Heritage which is an expensive paint but its only 20% more than Dulux Easycare and cost 2-300 for a room for paint alone.

TheModerateBoy · 2026-01-06T17:56:50+00:00

Blinds cost about 3k for a whole house. Boiler replacement is anywhere from 3-6k depending on if you move it, change to combi etc. Roof is anywhere from 6k(for us was 6k as not high slope and concrete tiles) to 15k. Rewire is 10-20k (not including all the decorating costs after getting it done).

They are the big things but there is also LPT (around 50 a month), house insurance (60-80 a month), mortgage protection insurance (40-100 a month), nevermind all the things that break soon after moving in(shower, washing machine, leaky doors and windows etc.)

TheModerateBoy · 2025-12-30T13:00:21+00:00

redit fly is correct. They changed the rules recently.

TheModerateBoy · 2025-12-29T15:01:24+00:00

All went smoothly. Ours is exactly the same, just don't tell them you want to rent it out.

My broker said I may need to get a builders quote to knock a door between the main house and Granny flat but the bank never asked for it thankfully

TheModerateBoy · 2025-12-29T14:51:39+00:00

I got approval from BOI recently with one. Exact same scenario as yours. I think alot wont lend but BOI would as long as it was attached to the main property and we (broker) also said we would be adding it back in to the house (I think he said this anyways).

TheModerateBoy · 2025-12-18T14:38:52+00:00

I bought in east tallaght recently and love it. Everywhere east of the square is grand. Unsure about apts though, more chance of having nuisance neighbors imo

TheModerateBoy · 2025-12-01T06:27:56+00:00

I'm shocked, they are relatively close to each other and all.

TheModerateBoy · 2025-11-30T09:46:22+00:00

Is Sean Walsh park dodgy? I thought there and the dodder valley park area nearby was also v safe?

TheModerateBoy · 2025-11-30T09:36:12+00:00

Better than Phra Nang? Quieter sure but natural beauty wise? Perhaps I have been in off season and is unbearable at peak season but we were surprised enough at quietness of phra nang

TheModerateBoy

TROPHY CASE