Questions from US clients

Renovating in Ireland from four thousand miles away.

The questions American owners ask us most, answered plainly.

Do you work with American clients who own a holiday home in Ireland?
Yes — most of our clients live in the United States. We hold calls on Eastern Time, send filmed walkthroughs at every stage and manage all trades on the ground in Ireland, so you don't need to be in the country during the build.
Can an Irish renovation really be managed remotely from the US?
It can, and it's the majority of our work. We start with a measured survey and a costed concept, then appoint and supervise the builders, joiners and conservation consultants, reporting weekly with photos, video and written minutes until turnkey handover.
Do you quote in dollars?
Every budget is presented in USD alongside EUR, with the exchange assumption stated and a contingency line, so you can compare costs to what you'd expect at home and there are no surprises on the invoice.
What does an Irish holiday home renovation typically cost?
A cottage refurbishment with kitchen, bathrooms, heating and full furnishing usually runs from the low hundreds of thousands; a larger coastal house with structural work, planning and an extension is considerably more. We give a realistic range after the first survey rather than a headline figure before it.
How long does the work take?
Six to nine months on site for a cottage refurbishment, twelve to eighteen months from first survey for a larger house needing planning permission. Irish weather and lead times on joinery are the usual constraints, and both are built into the programme.
Do I need planning permission?
Internal renovation usually doesn't, but extensions over the exempted size, changes to a protected structure, or work in a scenic or conservation area do. We assess this at survey stage and run the application with local architects and conservation consultants where it's needed.
Which parts of Ireland do you cover?
We renovate holiday homes across Ireland, with recent projects in Waterville and Co. Kerry, West Cork, Galway and Dublin. Anywhere on the island is possible; we tell you honestly at the outset how site visits will work.
Can you design the house for holiday letting as well as family use?
Yes. Where a house is let between family visits, we specify finishes and furniture that survive a rental season, provide a spares and replacement list, and brief a local caretaker or management company on the house.
Can you view a house before we buy it?
We're often asked to view a property before contracts are signed and give an honest renovation cost range, so an American buyer knows the true all-in number before bidding.

Still have a question?

Send the house address and a rough budget in dollars, and we'll come back within two business days.

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