Bolster Properties Part of the Bolster Group A helpful guide to your new home 1
Congratulations! Dear Homeowner, First things first, congratulations on your new home. We know you ve worked hard to get where you are today and we hope you enjoy it for many years to come. Secondly, we d like thank you for buying your new home from the Bolster Group. It means a lot to us that you like what we do and trust our judgement. Buying a new house can be a stressful time For many people, it s one of the most important purchases they ll make in their lives. There s a lot to consider in terms of arranging finance and changing address, not to mention everyday life and work. That s why we ve put together an information pack to make the transition as smooth as possible. What follows is a simple guide to your house and home. It will tell you what to look out for, where to go for more information and how we can help in any way. Rest assured that your new house is a wise investment It will keep its value for many years to come and hopefully provide you and your family with many happy memories. We invite you to read through the following pages at your leisure and complete the short questionnaire at the back. There s also a reward scheme where you get 800 if you recommend us to a friend and they buy from us. It s just our way of saying thanks for sending any business our way. If there s anything else we can do for you, please don t hesitate to ask. We look forward to getting to know you better over the years and being on hand whenever you need us. Best regards, William Bolster Bolster Group 2
Your New Home A new home is like a fine wine. It takes time to mature properly. You need to treat it gently. The single most important thing is to avoid extremes of hot and cold. The central heating should be used sparingly for the first few months and not turned above 18 Celsius. This will help prevent minor cracks that occur in every house due to initial shrinkage of timber and plaster. It will also reduce the risk of warping woodwork and ill-fitting doors. 3
Things to note: Shrinkage The main ingredients of a new house are timber, plaster and concrete. Together they contain an average of 1,500 gallons of water. This means there is a lot of damp around when you move into a new house. You will not feel it and it won t do you any harm. As the house is lived in and heated, it will dry out quickly. As the wood and plaster in particular dry out, shrinkage will occur, whereby small cracks, not structurally important, will appear. These can be fixed through redecoration but we recommend that you wait about six months for the house to dry out fully before you do anything. As these cracks cannot be prevented, they are not covered by our after sales service, unless they are unusually large. Once you follow our advice though, such large cracks shouldn t occur. Shrinkage is not a new problem but has become more common with central heating and better insulation. Warmer, better-insulated houses cause timber to lose more moisture than colder, draughtier houses, thus increasing the risk of shrinkage and cracks. We take great care to minimise the risk of shrinkage by ensuring the timber we use is sufficiently dry and always protected from the rain during building works. Condensation After shrinkage, the next most common problem is condensation. In order to minimise the risks, you need to air or ventilate your home by keeping windows, cupboards, wardrobes and internal doors open wherever possible, while maintaining a reasonable level of heat. Fully open all windows at least once a week to allow a complete air change in your home. This will help keep moisture levels to a minimum. Always keep your wall and window vents open to help air circulation, and do not, under any circumstances, block them with cloth or plastic as they re designed to facilitate airflow throughout the house. When cooking, bathing, cleaning or washing, keep the room door closed and the room window open. If you intend to leave the house unoccupied for a long period, especially in winter, try to have somebody drop in from time to time to ventilate it. If at all possible, leave the heating on the timer. If condensation does occur, wipe down the moisture with a cloth, heat the room, open the window and shut the door. 4
Traditional Blocks All our houses are built using traditional blocks, the advantages of which are numerous: Energy efficient Fire resistant Sound resistant Structurally sound Strong, durable and versatile Safe, secure and robust Economical 5
Estate Maintenance We maintain all our estates for the first 12 months leading up to handover to the local authorities. That way, nothing is left unfinished. We also provide full cover to all homeowners for 12 months after they move in. This deals with any potential snags or teething issues that may arise. After 12 months, the house becomes the homeowner s responsibility and you are advised to contact a local tradesperson (plumber, electrician etc.) to fix any problem that may arise (e.g. burst pipe, faulty switch etc.). It is also the homeowner s responsibility and that of residents at large to maintain the estate in which they live, i.e. grass cutting, landscaping etc. We recommend the formation of a residents committee to address such issues and manage the estate s affairs on everyone s behalf. It is also a good way of fostering community spirit and getting to know your neighbours. Finally, on the issue of litter and dog fouling, it is the responsibility of every resident to keep their property and that of the wider estate as clean as possible. Dog dirt in particular can be a health hazard and danger to small children. Pooper scoopers and dog bags are available free of charge from the local authorities, veterinary offices and pet stores so there s no excuse for unnecessary fouling. 6
Bathrooms & En-suites When having your bathroom and en-suite tiled, make sure you use a reputable tradesperson and that all bath and shower trays are properly fitted. We also strongly recommend a tanking system under the shower before tiling. As both your shower and bath are subject to heavy usage, make sure you have the silicon seals checked annually to prevent leaks. Attic All our houses have substantial loft insulation to conserve energy. We have provided ventilation in the loft that must be left clear and unobstructed. Do not store heavy objects up in the attic. It s not designed to carry additional weight. Roof The slate on your roof is not designed to take a person s weight. If any work has to be done on the roof, use a roof ladder to protect the slate. Do not place ladders against plastic guttering without support. Keep gutters and gullies clear of leaves and debris. Drainage In most cases, a blockage in a drain on your property is caused by household waste such as disposable nappies and solidified fats. If a blockage occurs, you will need to contact a plumber or drainage expert at your own expense. Paths Paths and paving may develop some minor cracks as the ground settles and the years pass. There s nothing you can do to prevent these from happening. They re perfectly natural and don t pose any threat. Pictures & Shelving Your new home has pipes and wires within the walls. We recommend, for your safety, that you check nearby switches before nailing or screwing items into walls. Electric cables usually run vertically or horizontally to and from the power source. Smoke Detectors Make sure to read the instructions to your smoke detectors and change the batteries when the low battery warning is sounded. When you change the batteries, it may continue to bleep for an hour or so. Don t worry. This is normal. If it continues to bleep however, there may be a fault with the replacement battery or alarm itself. In this case, have the unit checked by a qualified electrician. MAKE SURE YOUR SMOKE DETECTORS ARE WORKING PROPERLY. THEY COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE. 7
Property Extensions Should you wish to make any structural changes to your home, such as building an extension, be sure to seek professional advice. In fact, any additional building that you want done at the outset should be agreed with us in advance. This is to ensure water tightness so the extension forms part of the original envelope of the build. Garden Your garden is part of your house and should be treated as such. It s the first impression people get of where you live and should be properly planned and maintained. Of course, what you to do with it is up to you. We ve simply got you started by landscaping it and planting a lawn. You need to decide whether to plant flowers, shrubs, vegetables (or a combination of all three). Much will depend on your knowledge of gardening, the amount of time you can give to it and the occupants within. A single couple will have different needs to a young family with lots of children. As a new house owner, you may wish to seek professional advice from a gardening expert or garden centre. We can help you in this regard and point you in the right direction. You just need to define your objectives and set aside a realistic budget. Needless to say, the best time to get your garden in order is when you move in. The longer you leave it, the harder it becomes. 8
Essential Services Water Water is generally supplied to your home from a supply pipe connected to a local authority water main. The supply to the house can be controlled by an on/off switch (stopcock) generally installed in the public footpath outside your house. The stopcock box may be capable of accommodating a consumer meter, if required, to measure consumption. A second stopcock is installed inside the house, generally under the sink, which allows the homeowner to turn off the supply in an emergency or for maintenance. From the internal stopcock, water enters the rising main to supply the cold water storage cistern in the attic. From this cistern, water is supplied by gravity feeds to the sinks, toilets, basins, showers, baths and appliances. Usually only the kitchen tap is connected directly to the rising main to supply drinking water. Be careful when connecting kitchen appliances to the water supply and drainage system. Check that hoses are properly connected and tightened before turning on the water. It is a good idea to re-check the connections once the appliances have been in use for a day or two as dripping connections can cause serious damage. 9
Essential Services Electricity Your home is supplied with a complete electrical installation for your convenience and comfort. The installation has been carried out by qualified electricians and in accordance with ESB requirements. The fuse board and meter are located in a convenient position. Other than resetting the trip switch and replacing bulbs, it is extremely dangerous to tamper with the installation itself or other household electrical appliances. Should a fault arise, be sure to call an electrician. Please remember that electricity can kill. Do not: Overload a socket by means of double adaptors and the like. This can blow a fuse or worse. Forget to unplug all electrical appliances at night and when the house is unoccupied. Under any circumstances, remove socket or switch plates. Bring electrical appliances such as hair dryers or heaters into the bathroom. To get connected, contact the ESB, Airtricity or Bord Gais directly. Tip: Ask about the night saver and other off peak options. It could save you hundreds of euro. 10
Central Heating Ensure you know how to use and regulate your central heating. It consists of a gas condensing boiler, radiators, circulating pump and controls. Water heated by the boiler is pumped around the radiators through pipework concealed in the floors and walls. Before drilling or fixing to walls, floors or ceiling, always check for concealed pipes. A programmer is provided that will generally contain an on/off switch and timer control. The thermostat and/or radiator valves allow you to regulate room temperatures. The thermostat controls the heating system by switching it on or off when it drops below or reaches a particular temperature. If, when the heating system is on, the radiators are cool at the top, this may indicate an air lock in the system which needs bleeding. This is common, particularly in systems that have been newly commissioned or restarted after the summer. As previously mentioned, keep the temperature above 18 Celsius for the first few months to minimise shrinkage. It is good practice to have your central heating serviced once a year. Finally, be careful not to cover or block any flues or chimneys. This is because many heat producing appliances require a permanent air supply to assist combustion and reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. A carbon monoxide alarm is ecommended. Foul Sewers & Surface Water Drains Foul sewers collect waste from WC s, sinks and basins while surface water drains collect rainwater from the roofs and paths. If you need to install new sanitary fittings or appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers, never connect them to the surface water system. Care should be taken to avoid hair, rags, pins etc. escaping into sanitary fitting traps for the bath and basin as these can cause a blockage, resulting in foul air from the sewer entering the house. 11
Telephone Your new home is fully wired for a landline telephone. To get connected, simply call the service provider of your choice. There are several options so be sure to find the package that best suits your needs. Some Useful Telephone Numbers The emergency call numbers in Ireland are 999 and 112. Either of these numbers will connect you to the operator where you can request assistance from the emergency services. Here s a directory you can fill with your own numbers: Name Number Doctor Dentist Hospital School Crèche Gardaí Bank Plumber Electrician Work 12
Conclusion In order to keep your new home in good repair, a little common sense and reasonable care should suffice. Simply remember the following: Do not let small repairs become big ones Carry out regular re-painting and re-decorating Keep surfaces clean Attend to blockages and breakages immediately Always call the experts if you ve any plumbing, electrical or mechanical problems Service appliances and systems regularly And don t forget to enjoy your home. It s for living in so make the most of it. 13
Guarantees It s a good idea to keep all your guarantees and warranties for kitchen appliances and electrical items. You never know when you might need them. This is as good a place as any to file all the paperwork. It will stay safe and won t go missing. HomeBond Subject to the terms of the HomeBond agreement, HomeBond guarantees your home in respect of: Major structural defects for 10 years Water and smoke penetration for the first five years of the warranty period Protection against loss of deposit or stage payments before completion These guarantees are only available through builders who are registered with HomeBond. This is the national organisation dedicated to providing homebuyers with peace of mind on a number of key aspects of purchasing a new home, including deposits, stage payments and structural warranties. The Bolster Group has been a member of HomeBond since its establishment. 14
Buying a Bolster Group home is the start of a beautiful relationship. Many of our customers go on to buy other homes from us, as their families grow or circumstances change. Recommend a friend - and get 800* Many of our customers tell their friends about us. Now that you re the proud owner of a Bolster Group home, we d like to reward you. Simply spread the word and when a friend buys a home from us, we ll give you a cheque for 800, no if s no but s. It s just our way of saying Thank You. 15
Customer Survey Here at the Bolster Group, we try our very best to build houses of distinction and provide a quality service. We re always looking at ways of improving our offering. For this reason, we ve designed a short questionnaire for you to answer. It will only take a few minutes to complete and would assist us greatly. Your feedback is important to us and will be treated in the strictest of confidence. Thank you for your feedback (Please rate the following on a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 being the Least Happy and 5 being the Most Happy) Quality of Finish 1 2 3 4 5 Value for money 1 2 3 4 5 PreSale Service 1 2 3 4 5 Aftersale Service 1 2 3 4 5 Where did you hear about us first? Newspaper: Please indicate Internet: Please indicate which website Other: Please specify How happy were you with the feedback received from the Bolster Group staff in relation to your technical questions? Very Satisfied o Satisfiedo No opinion o Unsatisfied o Very Unsatisfied o And why What was your main reason for buying a Bolster Group Home? Location? o Specification o Build Price o Other o Is there anything we could have done differently? Would you recommend us to a a friend? Yes o No o Please visit our website at and subscribe to our email newsletter for the latest news and information. 16