Athlone thread

Athlone had been doing well, but schools and might life back every urban centre is going to feel it. We've had reason for a few tests in this household, heading to mullingar, tullamore and castlerea in equal measure.

IMHO there should be a testing centre here permanently.

Some goings on Sunday morning

Anyone know of restaurants/ hotels doing Christmas Day dinners for someone who can't be arsed to cook and all that palaver for 3?

Just looking at that new development beside the rugby club. Does anyone else think the prices are mental? Pure boom time prices again. By my calculation. Assuming you are borrowing 90% you would need to be earning 71k per annum to get a mortgage for a 2 bed apartment.

71k is approx 3.5 times the minimum wage for a full year.

That's before you go looking at 3 beds (from €325k) and 4 beds (from €355k). Key word is "from"!

And that's before a large section of houses will no doubt be acquired by housing agencies, so circumnavigate the laws regarding councils taking too much social housing. Mental altogether.

Is Athlone that wealthy and big a town that people will be able to afford these houses?

Exiled to the far side! 😂

That's it exactly... A couple on 40-50k each are buying those. Or Johnny or Josephine that's saved 50k on their own, with bank of mam and dad giving them another 50-100k. The single person is either living at home with mam and dad, killing themselves paying rent somewhere or going social housing route.

But don't listen to the "Rose tinted glasses" crowd that it was easier back in the day. It has always been thus... I remember when I was in my 20s, there was no way I could afford a house on a single income either. Until I had an astronomical deposit saved, by living at home with my parents for 5-6 years and driving a 10 year old banger.

Plus the houses built now are to a way higher specification than the ones I was buying in the late 90s and early 00s

Your last point is a crucial one.

People are no longer ALLOWED to build or buy a house they can AFFORD... Rather they are forced out of the buying market, partly because of high costs that result from the high specification that you mention, and into an entirely dysfunctional rental market in which they are absolutely screwed by upward pricing and negligible supply.

Too often, regulations and rules force people into a life where their circumstances mean they will never have a place they can call home. And, as someone who is fortunate to live in my own home, and to gave raised my family here, I believe that is an appalling indictment of our country.

It's actually really handy. Just get a measuring tape and a sheet of paper and freehand with rough measurements. It's just to do rough design. After you are happy and pay a deposit they will send out someone to do a precise measure and tweak the design if necessary.

Don't over think it. They just can't send out people to measure every speculative kitchen.

By the way I went with cash and carry kitchens in Mullingar.

Very good to deal with, shortest lead time and very happy with the quality and price. Seto said he would call out to me and do the measurements etc and if I choose to go somewhere else I could just pay him for the drawings which I agreed too but he didn't call or respond to me afterwards. TJ Doyle responded but lead time was so long, and Mark Lohan in Roscommon were all talk but found their service lazy and decided no way was I giving them money when they were that bad before I paid them money. Also heard mixed reports about the quality of their kitchens, but I did get some good ideas from their Instagram which cash and carry were able to replicate a couple of grand cheaper.

Folks, I'm coming to this particular corner of boards seeking some advice.

My in-laws are in Athlone and on a recent visit with them I became aware of a pile of issues with their house that need addressing for their own safety and comfort.

With that in mind, I need to source a roofer to replace an existing flat roof on their garage/utility. A company to install a new overhead garage door? And a chimney specialist, to check out their chimney and reline if needed?

Any suggestions for the work via PM will be very much appreciated.