The explosion in property prices in Ireland in the recent past means that the reality of home ownership has disappeared for many - at least not during their 20s or 30s, when earnings are more modest and family outlay is expensive. For those lucky enough to already own a property, high second-hand house prices and the increased taxation by way of higher stamp duty charges means that staying put is a more practical option and building an extension becomes the priority. AIB Bank mortgage division, in association with the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland and the Irish Energy Centre have addressed these issues in a very useful guide called A home of your own making - a guide to building, extending or renovating your home which offers all sorts of practical and helpful advice. The 38-page booklet contains advice on what to do before you start building or extending your property, how to organise the project and deal with its financial requirements. The booklet also contains a list of those agencies and organisations you will have to contact about such a project.
The contribution of the architects' organisation and the Energy Service mean that this is a much more relevant and comprehensive guide than one would expect from a financial organisation whose main priority, naturally enough, is to get you to buy your mortgage from it. There is considerable space dedicated to designing a proper house or extension to suit a new millennium - keeping it green and environmentally friendly gets more than just lip service. And there is sensible advice about how to deal with contractors and suppliers, how to check references and professional standards as well as the need to copperfasten all supply times and contracts.
Design suggestions are very useful and explicit. The guide reminds the reader that a property that is being specially built or one that is being extended suggests a long occupancy period and should take into account the requirements of young and elderly occupants. Entrance steps should be shallow and few in number, it suggests, handrails, window handles and kitchen taps should be accessible and easy to use, baths and showers should be the slip-proof kind. Though AIB takes plenty of space to promote its own services, it also takes a very responsible stance on the need to examine your financial position very carefully before taking a loan and there are prominent warnings about the risk involved in investment mortgages (i.e. endowments) and about defaulting on loan payments. The list of appendices on their own would make it worthwhile to pick up a copy of this guide. Particularly useful is the jargon-free chapter devoted to planning and building regulations and the lists of agencies and organisation that can help you plan and execute the building of your new home or extension and claim whatever grants may be available. AIB's A home of your own making is available free from any AIB mortgage office.
