Do all agents charge 1.5%? I will be selling my house in September and, while I have not contacted any agents, I am wondering if the recent announcement by Sherry FitzGerald means that everyone will be charging 1.5 per cent. Isn't this anti-competitive? And if I can't shop around on price what other criteria should I use?
Sherry FitzGerald has announced that its fees will now be 1.5 per cent - but there wasn't a queue of other agents lining up to do the same. That's because there is real competition in the market. In most areas, particularly Dublin, agents continue to undercut each other so when when you go sell you will be quoted different fees from different agents. Fees are one part of the consideration and, as in everything, the cheapest is not necessarily the best choice. When deciding on an agent, get details on the service on offer so you can compare like with like. Who will be showing your house, a junior or a senior negotiator? What is the standard of their brochures/photography? Web presence? Their knowledge of your area and their recent success in selling houses in your area? This are key questions so get clear answers. Estate agents provide a service and it's up to you to exercise your choice and your financial muscle and to shop around.
Use of planning permission
Three years ago I bought a house from my brother. He applied to build a two-storey extension but never built it. As the time limit on the planning is running out, I am now interested in building. The planning permission was in his name. Can I use it?
Yes. Planning permission is related to the property not the person. You will see, looking at planning permission notices pinned to gates, that in many cases the person applying for the permission is the architect not the home owner. As the owner you have a legal interest in the house so you should be able to enforce the planning permission. From your note you are living in Dublin, so there shouldn't be any problems - where the link between planning and ownership becomes more complex is in country areas where rural housing guidelines apply. Under these complex guidelines permission is often given to the person as much as to the land - noting the person's relationship to the area (if the person applying for the permission is born in the area and so on). This means that planning may not transfer. That's something that people looking for holiday homes should be particularly aware of. When land is advertised as "with outline planning" it's worth establishing from the outset, before any costs are incurred, whether the planning comes with any restrictions as to who it applies to.
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.
