| Blog
| Blog
11 April 2025
Buying a home is a significant undertaking, both financially and emotionally, especially for first time buyers. Our emotions can help us make important decisions in life but also steer us in the wrong direction if we’re not careful; it’s important to be aware of our emotions and the effect they can have on our thinking and behaviour when it comes to buying a home.
We’ve teamed up with Claire Cogan of BehaviourWise to bring you tips on managing the emotional ups & downs of the home buying journey and knowing your BER rating.
Our latest Reflecting Ireland research findings show that those in the market for a new home but who haven’t yet started the process anticipate that each stage will be harder than it actually is, when compared to the experiences of those that have already gone through it. For example, 7 in 10 of those hoping to buy a home believe getting mortgage approval will be difficult, compared to fewer than 4 in 10 among those that have gone through the process. A certain level of anxiety is understandable, but there are steps you can take to manage it so that it doesn’t become overwhelming.
Anxiety stems from uncertainty. The best antidote is to plan so that we are better prepared for what happens. The CCPC (Competition and Consumer Protection Commission) provide an excellent step-by-step guide to buying a home which includes helpful advice, information about available supports for first time buyers and others, useful tools and checklists. To find out more visit Buying a home - step by step - CCPC
The path to home ownership has emotional ups and downs; the excitement of finding the home of our dreams, the fear of missing out if we take too long to decide, the worry that we might make the wrong choice – it’s a rollercoaster of emotion, and emotions can cloud our judgement. It’s important to have someone we can trust, a friend or family member, to act as a sounding board and help us keep a cool head at those emotionally charged moments.
It's also important to choose a mortgage provider you can trust to help you navigate the process. Our latest Reflecting Ireland research shows ‘trust and reputation’ is the second most important factor when choosing a mortgage provider, after rate. It’s worth investing time in choosing the right mortgage provider for you.
A new home represents much more than just bricks and mortar; it can mean the start of a new life. They say home is where the heart is, and we like to celebrate with those close to us when we find that special place. A housewarming is part of the ritual. It’s also good to celebrate the little moments of joy along the journey, to keep us motivated until we get there.
A BER (Building Efficiency Rating) rates the energy performance of your home on a scale between A and G. A-rated homes are the most energy efficient and G-rated homes the least. A BER shows how energy efficient a home is in terms of heating, hot water, ventilation and lighting. There are benefits to knowing your home’s BER rating whether you own your own home, are renting or looking to buy a home. The more energy efficient your home is, the more comfortable it will be to live in and the lower your energy bills will be.
For those in the market to buy a home there are added benefits. A good BER rating can unlock better mortgage rates, saving you money on an ongoing basis.
Our latest Reflecting Ireland research reveals many are unaware of their BER, or of the benefits of knowing it. (25% of homeowners don’t know their BER/ 72% of mortgage holders don’t realise that improving their BER could help reduce their mortgage payments.)
The website of Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) provides information on BER ratings and how to find out the BER rating for your home. It holds a national register of BER assessors to help you find one in your area, and it shares examples from households around the country that have improved their home’s BER rating.
To find out more visit Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) or contact the BER helpdesk on:
Email: info@ber.seai.ie
Call: 01 808 2054
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) offers grants and schemes to help homeowners improve their home’s BER rating. These include:
To find out more visit Energy Efficient Homes - Home Energy Upgrades And Grants | SEAI
Your bank can offer you a Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme - a low-cost, flexible loan to help make your home more energy efficient. Contact PTSB to find out more: SBCI Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme | PTSB
Read the full #ReflectingIreland report here
The content of this blog does not constitute advice and is for general information purposes only. Readers should always seek professional advice before relying on anything stated in the blog. Some of the links above bring you to external websites. Your use of an external website is subject to the terms of that site.
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