Property surveys often reveal hidden problems and expensive surprises, but occasionally they deliver wonderful confirmation that you’ve made the perfect choice. 🏡 Our detailed survey of our new home in Carrickbyrne has given us that rare sense of relief and excitement that comes when professional assessment validates your emotional connection to a property.
We recently received the comprehensive survey of our new property, and unlike our previous experience with the 1930s dormer in Wellington Bridge, this report highlighted excellent construction, thoughtful design, and a solid foundation for our sustainable living ambitions.
On this page, we’ll walk you through the key findings, comparing them with our previous property considerations, and share why we’re even more excited about transforming this already beautiful home into our eco-friendly haven.
Understanding the Property Survey
Just as with our previous property interest, we commissioned a comprehensive RICS Level 3 Home Survey to get an in-depth look at every aspect of our new home—inside and out.
The survey examined everything from the roof structure to foundation, electrical systems to drainage, giving us a detailed understanding of what we’re purchasing. This level of detail is crucial even when buying a modern property, especially when planning significant eco-upgrades.
Key Findings from the Survey
1. Excellent Structural Integrity
Unlike the 1930s property which needed significant roof work, our new home’s natural slate roof is in excellent condition with no significant issues identified. The survey noted proper installation, adequate roof ventilation, and well-maintained flashing and guttering systems.
The chimneys are well-pointed with no structural concerns, though the surveyor did recommend routine maintenance to ensure continued performance of the chimney serving the Chesney stove in the family room.
This excellent roof condition means we can skip straight to planning our expanded solar panel installation, without having to first invest in basic structural repairs.
2. Superior Insulation Standards
One of the most significant differences between our previous property interest and this turnkey property is the quality of insulation. While the 1930s dormer had minimal or non-existent insulation, our new home features:
- Cavity wall insulation throughout
- Modern double glazing to all windows and doors
- Well-insulated roof space
- Underfloor heating in key areas including the kitchen/family room and master en-suite
The property’s B1 BER rating (Energy Performance Indicator: 96.36 kWh/m²/yr) confirms its excellent energy efficiency, giving us a strong foundation for our planned upgrades.
3. High-Quality Windows and Doors
The survey confirmed that all windows and external doors are high-quality, double-glazed units in excellent condition. This is in stark contrast to our previous property interest, which would have required complete replacement of single-glazed, deteriorating windows.
The solid wood front door with side panels was noted as being particularly well-crafted, though the surveyor did recommend adding small angled weather bars at the base of the side screens to direct water away and prolong their lifespan.
4. Modern Heating and Water Systems
The oil-fired central heating system is in good working condition, though the external boiler shows a small leak that the surveyor recommended addressing. This minor issue aside, the system is well-maintained and significantly more modern than what we would have faced in the 1930s property.
What’s particularly exciting is that the property already has solar panels for water heating, providing us with an excellent starting point for our planned renewable energy upgrades. The surveyor confirmed that the hot water cylinder and associated plumbing are all modern and well-maintained.
5. Well-Designed Grounds and Drainage
The 1.95 acres of land surrounding the property are well-drained and thoughtfully landscaped. The survey confirmed that the property’s wastewater treatment system is modern and well-maintained, though it recommended annual servicing (which is standard practice for such systems).
The gravel driveway, patio areas, and boundary fencing were all noted as being in good condition, requiring only routine maintenance rather than significant work.
From Renovation to Enhancement: Our New Path Forward
The survey results have completely transformed our approach. Instead of planning extensive renovations to make a property habitable and efficient, we’re now focused on enhancing an already excellent home with cutting-edge sustainable technologies.
Our priorities have shifted to:
- Replacing the oil-fired heating system with a modern heat pump
- Installing a large battery wall system
- Expanding the existing solar capabilities beyond water heating
- Creating a productive permaculture garden on our mature grounds
- Implementing water conservation and management systems
The survey has given us confidence that this turnkey property provides the perfect canvas for these enhancements, without the uncertainty and potential hidden costs that come with renovating an older property.
A Fortunate Change of Direction
Looking back at our journey, we’re struck by how fortuitous our change in direction has been. Had we continued with the 1930s dormer, we would now be planning years of basic renovation work before even starting on our sustainability goals.
Our new home allows us to begin implementing our eco-vision immediately, without compromise. The quality construction, modern amenities, and beautiful setting give us everything we were hoping to eventually achieve with the dormer property, but without the lengthy renovation process.
Life has a way of leading you to unexpected treasures when you remain open to possibility. While we initially set our hearts on a character renovation project, discovering this wonderful property has allowed us to focus on what truly matters to us—creating a sustainable, off-grid lifestyle in harmony with nature. Sometimes the path to your dreams takes an unexpected but wonderful turn! 🌿
Next Steps
With the survey complete and the purchase finalised, we’re now moving forward with detailed planning for our sustainable upgrades. We’re researching heat pump options, battery storage systems, and expanding our knowledge of permaculture principles for our land.
We’re excited to share this journey with you—documenting our successes, challenges, and lessons learned as we transform our new home into our dream eco-haven.
Follow us here on the blog and our YouTube channel as we embark on this exciting new chapter. If you’re considering implementing similar eco-technologies in your home, we hope our experience will provide both insight and inspiration.
Call to Action
Are you planning to upgrade your home with sustainable technologies or create an eco-friendly garden?
We’d love to hear your thoughts! Comment below with your experiences or questions, and don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel to follow our progress.
Together, let’s make sustainable living a reality—one thoughtful upgrade at a time.
Comments on this entry are closed.
Exciting times.
What are your time-scales? When do you plan completing your project?
Hi Robbie, sorry for the delay in replying.
The main issue at present is a probate issue, so until that’s resolved it’s difficult to give clear time-scales.
Once resolved, we estimate 12-18 months for completion, aiming to finish before Autumn of 2026.