PROPERTY UPDATE: MY VIEW:THE market is still moving and people still want extensions and attic conversions done because they want to improve their standard of living

It is tough time. It’s more competitive and that’s why we have to be as cheap as possible and give our clients fantastic quality – there’s no cutting corners.

We only started to feel an improvement since February 2010 as it was really difficult to work through 2009. Everyone was so scared by the recession and nobody knew what to do – to save money or continue spending .

Our main bread and butter is small builds, extensions,renovations and attics – domestic improvements costing between €20,000 and €50,000.

A traditional typical extension will be around €30,000, however even at these rates our clients are finding it increasingly difficult to get finance from the bank to fund their works. Generally we find dealing with the local planning authorities quite frustrating

A lot projects are either held up or refused permission due to red tape or insignificant conditions, ie “local needs” which borders on discrimination.

The refusal of projects and the general time scale of the application is keeping people out of work in the construction industry.