Maggie Molloy has one of the toughest jobs in Ireland - as the perpetually-chipper host of RTÉ's Cheap Irish Homes, she has been tasked with finding reasonably priced properties for buyers on a budget.
Five years into the job, and things don't seem to be getting any easier.
When the show first aired, many buyers were adamant that they wanted to live in the hustle and bustle of the city, leaving a spate of countryside homes on offer. As time goes on, though, perspectives are undoubtedly changing.
"What used to be a well kept secret is now common knowledge," she admits, "all the houses are kind of getting snapped up."
Whether it was the lockdowns of COVID, growing opportunities to work remotely, the promise of financial supports through government grants, or the rising cost of living, it seems that people are pursuing a life in the countryside now more than ever.
"It is good, don't get me wrong," Molloy insists, "but it does effect house prices".
Despite the odds, and with building engineer Kieran McCarthy by her side, the bubbly presenter is still adamant that there are diamonds to be found in the rough.
Although she acknowledges that finding a home in Ireland can "feel a bit like a lottery", new opportunities may be uncovered thanks to the Vacant Property Refurbishment and Derelict Property Grant scheme, which is aimed at assisting buyers in finding their 'forever' home.
Up to €50,000 could be on offer for those renovating a vacant property, and up to €70,000 if the property is derelict.
"To have access to that as a young buyer, or any age of a buyer, looking down the barrel of a home renovation project? It's very exciting," she says. "It's a new roof on a house, at the very least."
"I'm a lover of old houses," she continues, "but even if you come in and it's been very well maintained, everything has a life span. Your plumbing and wiring is gradually going out of date - even in newer houses. Sometimes it can be a bit of a ticking timebomb."
"The money really helps because it means you can go in and get that stuff upgraded sooner rather than later."
When it comes to looking at older properties, Molloy has a number of tips to help initial viewings go smoothly.
1. You have to see the potential.
For many, it can be tricky to envision a cluttered old cottage as a dream home worthy of a Pinterest board. To help things along, Molloy suggests picturing it completely empty.
"At the end of the day, every house you walk into is just a series of boxes. Each room is just a box. When I look at a house, I try to imagine nothing in it.
"I think people get bogged down in the 'stuff' that's inside old houses - and it doesn't help - but for me it's about the timberwork."
2. Find a home with good bones.
When a house is washed down, cleared out, and given a good lick of paint, it will become as much of a home as any other. The timber, though, makes all the difference.
"If the doors and the doorframes are rotten or there's holes in them, you know that the house hasn't been kept dry over the last 100 years. There's water getting in somewhere because timber is the first thing to go."
3. Have a reasonable timeline.
When you find your dream home, you'll likely want to get it renovated straight away. However, you may find yourself at the end of a very long waiting list - especially if the property is particularly isolated.
"A lot of the houses are out on their own and the building techniques can range over 100 years," she explains.
"Jobbing tradesmen in small communities have to work on these old houses because it's what's out there, so they've got a great knowledge of how to repair things in a 200 year old house. That's invaluable. There's a real need for it to be passed on before it's too late."
Be sure to ask around for reliable tradespeople who can give you an idea of a realistic timeline and budget for your plans.
Cheap Irish Homes airs Thursday, 5 September at 7.00pm on RTÉ One.
