We have received a detailed survey on the property. Let’s dive into what it reveals about our renovation journey.
When purchasing any property, a comprehensive survey is essential for understanding what you’re really buying. 🏡 For our beautiful new home in Carrickbyrne, the survey results were a refreshing contrast to what we initially expected with the 1930s dormer property.
From Renovation Challenges to Turnkey Excellence
Our property journey took an unexpected but wonderful turn when we discovered this turnkey home. After previously commissioning a detailed survey on the 1930s dormer in Wellington Bridge—which revealed numerous renovation challenges—we were delighted by the exceptional condition of this 2009-built property.
The Level 3 RICS Home Survey we received painted a picture of a home built to exacting standards with quality materials and craftsmanship throughout.
Unlike our original property choice, which would have required significant structural work and upgrades, this house presented us with a solid foundation upon which to build our sustainable dreams.
Key Survey Findings
The survey highlighted several impressive features of our new property:
- Excellent structural integrity with no significant settlement or movement
- High-quality construction with superior materials throughout
- A B1 BER energy rating, indicating strong energy efficiency credentials
- Modern insulation standards far exceeding those of older properties
- Solar panels already installed for water heating
- Underfloor heating in key areas
- Sound electrical and plumbing systems
- Well-maintained grounds with mature hedging and established drainage
A Different Kind of Planning
With the 1930s property, our planning would have focused on fundamental renovation works—roof replacement, insulation upgrades, window replacements, and basic structural improvements.
The property allows us to skip these essential but time-consuming steps and move directly to implementing advanced sustainable technologies.
Our planning now centers on enhancing rather than rebuilding:
The Path Forward
Rather than facing years of basic renovation work, our survey has confirmed we can immediately focus on:
- Converting the oil-fired central heating to a modern heat pump system
- Installing a large battery wall to store renewable energy
- Expanding the existing solar capabilities beyond water heating
- Creating a productive permaculture garden on our 1.95 acres
Energy Efficiency Assessment
The survey particularly highlighted the property’s energy efficiency features—a crucial aspect for our eco-focused goals. With a B1 BER rating (Energy Performance Indicator: 96.36 kWh/m²/yr), Our new home already stands well above average for Irish homes.
This solid foundation gives us an excellent starting point for further improvements, making our goal of creating an energy-independent home much more achievable in a shorter timeframe.
Sometimes life’s unexpected turns lead to even better destinations! While we initially set out to renovate a character property, discovering this house has allowed us to leapfrog the renovation phase and move directly to implementing the advanced eco-technologies that were always at the heart of our vision.
We’re excited to share this journey with you as we transform an already excellent property into a truly sustainable haven.