Lusk Village/McGarrell Reilly

Status
Not open for further replies.
L

lightup

Registered User
Messages
153
Hi, I was wondering if anyone had any info on the Lusk Village development and it's builders, McGarrell Reilly? We are buying there at the moment. How has the finish been? Any problems with snags?
Also, any other info people have about Lusk would be greatly appreciated as we will be new to the area.
 
The finish is OK, but not brilliant. Expect the paint on the interior doors to start peeling shortly after you move in. They are very stingy with the paint on the walls. They've changed the site foreman twice since we moved in (The second change was due to the number of complaints about him), so I'm not sure what snagging is like now. We got most of our snags sorted out quite quickly. The second foreman we dealt with was an uncooperative git, and argued the toss about what we felt still needed doing. I think things have improved significantly since he left.
There's not much in Lusk itself. Currently, there's a Londis, a shop at the garage and another small shop. There is a medical centre currently going in which will also have a supermarket and coffe shop.
You're looking at about half an hour to walk to the station, or 10 minutes to cycle. All the station parking is taken by about 7:30 in the morning. There is generally only standing room on the trains by the time they get into Lusk.
 
Hi Seagull...and thanks very much for the insight. We've bought a house there recently, and at the moment, the (I assume new foreman), has given us a time frame of roughly mid-March for our snag. You've covered a fair bit already in your previous post, but never having done a snag before or anything like it, is there anything else you can think of, in terms of what we should look out for, the potential remedies available, or if there is any other potential pitfalls we should look out for in a Lusk Village house...? Not to put you on the spot or anything like that, but we're getting very close to actually seeing the finished house and arranging appliances and flooring etc...and it's a bit nerve-wracking first time around to be honest...so any information at all would be great.

Thanks again.
 
We didn't have any major problems. The biggest issue was the fact that they'd left the hot press unpainted. That took some doing, with them arguing that that was the standard finish for it, until I pointed out that it was painted in all the show houses. Check that the taps don't leak, and that they have been fixed tightly enough that they don't move when you turn them on or off. Check that your sink and bath plugs are present, and have their chains. Also check around to make sure the place has been reasonably cleaned. We found old tea bags and all sorts of other rubbish under the kitchen cupboards. I know they've changed theor cleaners, but I don't know how good the new lot are.
There may well be a suggestion that you sign off on the list with the outstanding snags to be done. I would suggest that if you can, you only sign off once all the major snags are completed.
 
Hi James,
Where have you bought in LV?
Myself and my girlfriend have been told to expect the snag in the next 3/4 weeks so curious if we might be neighbours!
We're in Wendy Walsh Close.... very similar situation to yourself, trying to sort out applicances, flooring etc at the moment. V nerve wrecking!

Good luck with it anyway!
Colm
 
Seagull said:
We didn't have any major problems. The biggest issue was the fact that they'd left the hot press unpainted. That took some doing, with them arguing that that was the standard finish for it, until I pointed out that it was painted in all the show houses. Check that the taps don't leak, and that they have been fixed tightly enough that they don't move when you turn them on or off. Check that your sink and bath plugs are present, and have their chains. Also check around to make sure the place has been reasonably cleaned. We found old tea bags and all sorts of other rubbish under the kitchen cupboards. I know they've changed theor cleaners, but I don't know how good the new lot are.
There may well be a suggestion that you sign off on the list with the outstanding snags to be done. I would suggest that if you can, you only sign off once all the major snags are completed.
Click to expand...
Thanks a million Seagull, that's a good insight. I'll make a note of those kinds of things when the time comes. Would it be worth getting some kind of surveyor or building specialist to give it a quick once over as regards standards and finishes etc...? To be honest, if something wasn't completely obvious, I'm not sure that I'd spot it.

dunner said:
Hi James,
Where have you bought in LV?
Myself and my girlfriend have been told to expect the snag in the next 3/4 weeks so curious if we might be neighbours!
We're in Wendy Walsh Close.... very similar situation to yourself, trying to sort out applicances, flooring etc at the moment. V nerve wrecking!

Good luck with it anyway!
Colm
Click to expand...

Hi dunner....yeah, you sound like you're in the same boat as ourselves alright...same time frame, around mid-March the foreman told us for the snag list. What are you doing about appliances and the flooring exactly? We've basically just had a look around a few shops and decided what we want, but we've no measurements or anything for the house. I rang the kitchen fitters that are linked to the development because I thought that it would be convenient to have them just put in the appliances as the kitchen was going in, just like the showhouse, but they were fierce pricey compared to what you can get seperately in retail parks etc...and that probably includes getting them fitted as well, although I have no idea what that costs in fairness....Have they been in much contact with you regarding the house as it gets closer to completion? I've had a call or two and a few emails, but I'm really waiting for the measurements so we can sort out a price for flooring.
 
We got in a surveyor. I don't think he found anything significant that we hadn't picked up on. Something I neglected to mention before - check that all your windows and internal doors close properly. If you do the snag list yourself, remember to take a ladder, a torch and a lightbulb.
We wound up getting all our appliances at DID. They don't install themselves, but were able to give us the name of someone who charged €25 per appliance.
 
Hi James,

We havent had much contact from the foreman at all the be honest. We only signed the contracts about a week ago and then a couple of days later the foreman (Mark O'Connor i think his name is) rang us up and said they should be ready to snag by the end of Feb. Havent heard from him since though i've mailed him twice. Will give him a ring tomorrow to check everythings on course.

We've had a look around for appliances etc... to be honest not sure what we're looking for exactly. That E25 per appliance deal through DID sounds good.
We're getting a friend of the family to do our snag, will make sure to double check everything that's been suggested by Seagull (cheers!).

Really looking forward to it... only issue now is making a final decision on the mortgage. Holding out for 3.5% 3 year fixed plus E1000 cash from NIB. Should hear later in the week!

Best of luck. Colm
 
Great stuff dunner,

I wonder does that €25 per appliance fitting scenario apply to integrated stuff like the cooker, dishwasher, fridge etc...if so then it's a proper deal, and I'll be checking that out. Looks like a surveyor is the way to go for the snaglist alright....any idea what's the outlay on one of them? Late February seems cool for your snag if they can manage that, they told us mid-March. I was out there today for a look, can't actually go into the site yet or anything like that, but the house we bought is visable from the road...externally, it seems fine, the grounds outside are still wrecked, and doubtless they're working away internally, but it looks grand. Good luck with that mortgage as well....ours has been sorted for ages, and we did the contracts about a month ago, so we're just waiting for the word now.....and the measurements. I've budgeted not paying rent in the flat for April, so hopefully that'll come true.

Another quick one....have you made any attempt to order furniture yet?...beds, tables and chairs for the kitchen, that kind of thing?
 
Sounds like u must be in our estate then, it's visible from the road & is completely wrecked outside at the moment... we were up on Saturday for a look. Got in around the back of the house and had a look inside. They're just about to put in the Kitchen & all the internal doors.

With regard to furniture, we're lucky enough cos my girlfriends dad is in the furniture industry. Should be able to find us a good deal on anything we need. If your looking, Comfort N Style beside North Side Shopping Centre has some nice stuff for affordable prices. Otherwise I heard Navan can be a good town for furniture shops.

Think surveyor can set you back a couple of hundred, not positive but from what I hear that's the general price range.
 
About Lusk Village,
Have found the house great since moving in over a year ago. It'a got a lot of character and for such a size still feels pretty cosy. it is also, thank goodness quiet. Our dealings with foreman Mark O'Connor have been very good. He was really helpful. However, check the house you are buying with the original showhouse. We found various fittings such as sockets and light fittings , puls a shower, were missing and got them put in. Also our garden is next to useless. bad, compacted soil means the grass barely grows on it. Have had to plan for a completely new garden.
Jimmy O'Connor is agreat tiler and works regularly on the site -expensive though - but does a great job.. The village itself needs a revamp as do the two pubs. Good luck. I think its a good buy
 
I would echo what others have said about checking your home against the show house, also look at the plaster work particularly in the corners and windows.

Cheers

Fintan
www.HomeSnag.ie
 
Thanks for the advise RHagan/Fintan, will make sure to check the show-house.
On a seperate note... Sherry Fitz have raised the price on all new houses in LV! Our 3 Bed Type A going for E350k now whereas they were E295k last September. Ridiculous price increase I think... the houses are nice but they're not that bloody nice. Glad we got in before hand.
 
I can't remember exactly what the wording was on the posters in the show house. I know there was something about 3 phone points. What you have is one phone point that is properly wired up, and then just wires running behind plates at the other 2 points. I had to get the phone jacks and wire them up myself, including splicing the wire in at the main socket.
 
I was out looking at the showhouse again on Sunday, and prices have definately gone up alright, gone up a fair bit actually. I've a 3-bed Type A bought as well dunner, since October or thereabouts, mightn't have been able to afford it at today's prices....even though it's only a few months.

rhagen, do you have a phone number for that tiler Jimmy O'Connor?...she want's a fair few tiles put down, but I don't know any tilers in Dublin.

Was up there on Sunday as I said, and the new phase really looks like it's coming on a fair bit. According to the foreman, we're still on for a snag around mid-March.
 
jimmy oconnor's number is [mobile number removed]As I said, he's expensive, but he's good _ as he`ll ltell you often enough. But if you look at the show houses you'll see his handywork. A word of advice about anyone given a completion date. Be careful. We were given a date and had to move having agreed a leaving date on our old house -but the lusk village house was not complely finished. Be warned when told about completion dates . add on another month at least to the date you are given .
Best of luck
 
Last edited by a moderator:
That's what i'm afraid of rhagan. Myself and my girlfriend have given our notice on the house we're currently in. Supposed to be moving out on Mar 13th. According to the formeman we're still on for snag in late Feb/early Mar but was out there on Sunday and can't really see it to be honest. The kitchen isnt in yet and outside the house is in bits.
Think being in for beginning of April would be more realistic. Hope i'm wrong though!
Another thing if you don't mind. We're thinking of tyling the kitchen & hallway downstairs. Any idea how much this would cost? (we'd obviously buy the tiles seperate). Still waiting on measurements from the foreman.... the man never reads his emails!

James, we deffo would not have been able to afford the house on today's prices. Very glad we got in when we did!
 
Sorry, can't really estimate because don't know sizes. Expensive if you use Jimmy. Maybe 800-1000euro. As i say. he does a good job. A good tiler is hard to get. Also make sure builders have levelled both floors properly before the tiles go on. Also make sure you mention that you want a tiling allowance, which sometimes takes a bit off.
Hope things go well and I don't want to be a downer but I think building is behind schedule even though it's picked up in the last week or so. One consolation is that they seem willing to fix up things after you've moved in if they're not up to scratch. Mark O'Connor was very good. Havn't seen him about recently though.
 
Thanks for that rhagan....what's the story with a tiling allowance?...I've not heard anything mentioned about that at all. I hope you're wrong about the building times mind...I could do without paying another €1000 in rent for April! I spoke to the foreman the other day and he reckoned everything was cool for mid-March....here's hoping.
 
Hi guys, I'm getting my snag done this friday for lusk village, we bought in december and the house was built etc. just been waiting for all the red tape to clear. So hopefully be in soon, how long did your snags take to be completed once you gave the list to the builder?

Also wondering what the story is with TV and broadband service in the area. It mentioned something about not allowing satellite dishes in the area on the contract but there's millions of them last time I was there and also regarding broadband, who supplies broadband out there etc.?

Thanks in advance
Conor
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top