Your property questions answered
Neighbour's election sign doesn't get my vote
A neighbour has erected a large election hoarding in her front garden which I regard as highly intrusive.
Is he allowed to do this? Surely one needs planning permission for such a sign - even it if is only temporary?
From the outset it would appear that the answer is no, but this can vary from case to case depending on the factors involved.
We put your query to a planning officer in your local authority area and discovered that there is a long list of rules and regulations relating to advertising hoardings. In general, if your neighbour suddenly erected a hoarding on his house advertising cornflakes then he would definitely be in trouble if he put it up without hard-won planning permission. However his big let-out in this case is that his poster is an election one. The Planning and Development Regulations 2001 exempts advertisements relating to an election to the office of President of Ireland, an election of members of Dáil Eireann, Parliament of European Communities, Local Authorities, Údarás na Gaeltachata or a referendum.
If the poster is really upsetting you - and remember it will be down in a week's time otherwise, like all election posters it will be classed as litter and the candidate is subject to a fine - contact the candidate and let him or her know. It will help your cause if you have a large number of voters in your house!
How much work should I do to sell my house?
My house (more than 25 years old) was extensively damaged by flooding so I had to replace all the walls and flooring. I have painted the interior and have cleaned up the outside so it's like new. I am putting it up for sale now.
Should I put up lampshades and curtains or how much additional work, if any, should I do now with a view to selling it?
You've done all the boring, expensive work, don't stop now when all that's between you and getting a good price for your house is adding some smart furniture, good lamps, appealing decorative details and a bit of personality. Undoubtedly you are near a branch of Dunnes Stores, a shop whose interiors section is always full of the sort of goodies that will smarten up your house without breaking the bank.
It's really important, for example, to dress the beds in crisp new bedlinen, put new towels in the bathroom and certainly dress the windows in a simple way (perhaps with ready-made curtains on plain poles to the front and, inexpensive white roller blinds at the back).
Smart looking light fittings and lamps are a must. If you have good floorboards, show them off, otherwise carpet throughout with neutral carpeting.
Buy a couple of interiors magazines for ideas or, better still, cruise around any one of the showhouses or apartments on view this weekend and be inspired by the ideas used by the professional interior designers employed by developers.
Your house will photograph better - a must for the brochure and website - and your decorative work will give a much better instant impression.
• Send your queries to Property Questions, The Irish Times, The Irish Times Building, 24-28 Tara Street, Dublin 2 or email propertyquestions@irish-times.ie. Unfortunately, it is not possible to respond to all questions. The above is a representative sample of queries received. This column is a readers' service and is not intended to replace professional advice. No individual correspondence will be entered into.
