The House Hunting Nightmare

monkey24

So in brief, I have been living in Dublin since 2001. I have always lived with friends and managed to get a house within a reasonable time period. I went travelling for 8 months last summer and just arrived back in May. I managed to get a good job with an IT firm within my first week back in Dublin. That was the beginning of May, since then I have been looking for a 4 bedroom house with 3 others. We have a budget of around 2,100 - 2,200. All we ask is to be within a reasonable distant from town ( i.e. I work in town so would like to be able to get in and out without spending hrs on public transport ) and a decent house ( which we should expect for our budget ).

Well we honestly have seen some places that have shocked me and I thought I would be pretty hard to shock. One place in Rathmines for 2,000 that was honestly, a half built house. It had two bathrooms, apparently, 1 had nothing more than a toilet in it, no carpet, no anything, just a concrete room with a toilet, oh and a washing machine. The other had a dirty little shower with a chest of drawers in it
And the list of places like this goes on, especially in the SouthSide. We have attempted to get one place we thought was decent and we lost out because we are all "guys", the landlord would prefer girls.

Anyone got any advice, any suggestion for areas I may have missed. We have been mainly looking at Harolds Cross, Rathgar, Rathmines, Marino, Fairvew, Drumcondra, Phisborough and basically anywhere else along those lines.

I have stayed clear of Beamont so far because I figured it would take an age to get in and out of town during rush hour ( i.e. when going to work, am i wrong ).

I am starting to crack up and wished I went to London as orginally planned ...

Thanks for listening
m

the_syco

Ever think of Maynooth/Leixlip? Dublin Bus serves them, and also there is a rail link from them. Maynooth has a morning train (to Connolly)that bypasses about 6 of the first stops, as well. Both have a 66X bus service, one of which bypasses Lucan, both which bypasses Chapilizard.

Or maybe another commuter town that has a train service to it?

iguana

Stoneybatter, Portobello, Kimmage, Rialto, Drimnagh, Kilmainham, South Circular and parts of Crumlin. They are all in reasonable distance of the city centre, you could feasibly walk it, and there are decent bus or Luas services.

The other thing is that 4-bed houses aren't hugely common in central dublin, unless you are willing to accept that one "bedroom" was originally intended as one of two reception rooms on the ground floor. But you probably already know that.

godtabh

the_syco wrote:

Ever think of Maynooth/Leixlip? Dublin Bus serves them, and also there is a rail link from them. Maynooth has a morning train (to Connolly)that bypasses about 6 of the first stops, as well. Both have a 66X bus service, one of which bypasses Lucan, both which bypasses Chapilizard.

Or maybe another commuter town that has a train service to it?

Even try Lucan. Takes about 30-40 mins to get to town if your on the bus by 7.

I love the way people spell Chapelizod some times!

monkey24

Cheers for the input. Yep I know with 4 bedroom houses, you always get a bedroom that was orginally a wardrobe ( similiar in size ) but thats ok because we have one person who wants to pay less rent.
I think Maynooth is too far out. I am currently staying with my sister in Clonsilla and I think its a bit of a killer. Especially if you want to head out on a Saturday night or visit mates who live nearer town. 30 euros for a taxi from city center for me to get back home at the moment.
We are looking at a place in Kimmage, I orginally never considered living there but have expanded my search to take in a lot more areas.

Are South Circular and Rialto not dodgy enough areas, I am not to familiar with a lot of places but I thought someone told me that before ( could be way of the mark )

Moonbeam

Try Stillorgan, it is near the city,near Dundrum shopping centre and you will get a place for that maount no problem,Dundrum is handy for town too.

LegacyUser

are you commited to the south side? plenty of nice spots on the northside, clontarf, killester, raheny, and would be less rent than some of the southside area's mentioned.

as long as you're on the dart line you're sorted, 10min into town from killester.

Glenbhoy

As someone else said there are'nt many 4 bedroomed houses available close to town. Maybe make more sense to get 2 2 bedroomed apartments in or around city centre, they should'nt cost anymore than 1200 each - could probably get them in the same complex.

AOR

monkey24 wrote:

One place in Rathmines for 2,000 that was honestly, a half built house. It had two bathrooms, apparently, 1 had nothing more than a toilet in it, no carpet, no anything, just a concrete room with a toilet, oh and a washing machine. The other had a dirty little shower with a chest of drawers in it

what were you doing in my house!!?

iguana

monkey24 wrote:

Are South Circular and Rialto not dodgy enough areas, I am not to familiar with a lot of places but I thought someone told me that before ( could be way of the mark )

All of the areas I mentioned are ones that in the last few years have become popular with first time buyers who want to get a place within walking distance to the city centre. While they are no Ranelagh, they are ok. You should take a look at the areas, see what is available and get a feel for the place. You have nothing to lose.

If I was moving back to Dublin they would be the first places I would look. You could also try East Wall and North Strand, on the northside.

b3t4

If you think house hunting is a nightmare try room searching. With all the interviews and rejections it becomes the most soul destroying experience.

One suggestion, if you have lost a house simply because you are guys agree with the landlord/lady that ye will pay someone to come to the house once a week to get it cleaned. If it's written into the lease everyone should be happy. This worked for friends of mine.

I'd say your best bet if you need to get into the city centre would be to look on the luas lines. In daft you can do a commuter search which will pick up all the place on whichever luas line http://www.daft.ie/searchrental.daft?s%5Bcc_id%5D=ct1&s%5Bmnp%5D=&s%5Bmxp%5D=&s%5Bbd_no%5D=&s%5Bpt_id%5D=&s%5Bmove_in_date%5D=0&s%5Blease%5D=&s%5Bfurn%5D=0&more=&tab=2&s%5Bsearch_type%5D=commuter

As you're probably more than aware some places will lie about their proximity to the luas line. You can check out the walking distance from the luas stop to where the house is at http://www.dto.ie/web2006/station_maps.html

I'd try that if I were ye. Best of luck finding a place.
A.

Miss Fluff

Stillorgan has some beautiful houses within your budget and is a 15-minute journey into town on the 46A. Blackrock and Booterstown also served by regular DARTs in morning and evening, lots of nice houses there too. This one has just been posted, looks nice:


5. Belmont Grove, Galloping Green, South Co. Dublin - House to let
4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, furnished - €2,000 monthly
An instantly appealing detached family residence in this beautiful idyllic location just off the stillorgen Dual Carriage way. Located approximatley 20mins minutes from the city Centre,next to Sandford Industrial est,Luas, Dun laoghaire, Stillorgan shopping centre and Blackrock.Accomadtion comprises entrance hallway,guest wc, 2 interconne...
Date Entered: (today, 13 minutes ago)

the_syco

kearnsr wrote:

I love the way people spell Chapelizod some times!

Would love to know how its spelt, sometimes its an "o", sometimes an "a", all on "official" sites.

godtabh

the_syco wrote:

Would love to know how its spelt, sometimes its an "o", sometimes an "a", all on "official" sites.

The way I spelt it is the correct way. Both my parents are from there so over the last 25 years I've learned how to spell it!

monkey24

Thanks again for all the advice, really appreciate it. Yep I started looking at places on the Luas Line ( Dundrom and Milstown, sorry spelling is probably wrong. There are no places available at the moment ).
I actually was talking to an estate agent about that house in Strillorgan ( again forgive the spelling ). So I may take a look at it. One of the lads isnt to keen on that area. But we defo have a lot more to go on now. I have taken a note of the places mentioned and will defo give anything a try. At the moment my whole life revolves around looking for a house. Cant believe its been 9 wks, it really is a nightmare. Standing outside a house with a group of people all dressed up, looking professional in the hope they will be the lucky ones. Groups of girls don't really need to do this, they are always going to have first pick.

Right thanks again.

LegacyUser

Miss Fluff wrote:

Stillorgan has some beautiful houses within your budget and is a 15-minute journey into town on the 46A. Blackrock and Booterstown also served by regular DARTs in morning and evening, lots of nice houses there too. This one has just been posted, looks nice:

You don't sound like someone who has stood in the pissing rain on the N11 at 8.10 in the morning waiting for a flippin 46A to stop.

Be very careful where you rent in Stillorgan. If your local bus stop is anywhere between Galloping Green and the library - then forget it. The buses are full of school kids and they don't stop. You end up being late for work!!

iguana

To the OP, it is also worth considering where you do most of your socialising. Being on a Luas line is all well and good during the day. But if you spend much time in the city centre at night, you need to factor in the cost of a regular taxi home. (And the irritant factor of time spent finding one). As however bad public transport in Ireland is in the day, it is truely appalling at night.