ShamFixHire the people your neighbours trust.Phase 1 free for Irish renovation tradespeople
Vacant & Derelict Refurbishment Leads in Ireland — Free to Try, No Per-Lead Credits
Ireland's vacant and derelict refurbishment work is surging on the back of the Croí Cónaithe grant. ShamFix matches builders, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, plasterers, roofers and other renovation trades with local private jobs — no per-lead fees, no commission, and free to join during Phase 1.
Why the Croí Cónaithe Grant Is Creating Renovation Work in 2026
Ireland has a large stock of vacant and derelict homes, and in 2026 a record number of owners are finally bringing them back into use. The reason is the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, funded through the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund: a homeowner can get up to €50,000 to renovate a vacant property, or up to €70,000 if it is derelict. The property must have been vacant for at least two years and built before 2008 [citizensinformation.ie, edited April 2026].
Uptake has accelerated sharply. The third quarter of 2025 saw the highest-ever number of these grants paid — around 760 in a single quarter, up roughly 126% year on year [local authority figures, 2025]. A separate Vacant Above the Shop Grant of up to €135,000 also opened in March 2026, pulling even more older buildings into refurbishment.
Every one of those approvals turns into a real building site that needs trades — structural and roofing repairs, rewiring and plumbing, plastering, joinery, windows and doors, tiling, flooring and decorating. The grant pays the homeowner; the work goes to local tradespeople. That is the opportunity ShamFix is built to connect you to, without charging you for every enquiry.
How ShamFix Works for Renovation Trades
Getting set up takes minutes and costs nothing during Phase 1. You list the renovation trades you offer, the areas you cover, and your own credentials. From there an AI concierge matches you to suitable local jobs as homeowners post them — you are not buying leads or racing other tradespeople to respond first.
1
Create your profile — about five minutes, no card required.
2
List your renovation trades, the areas you cover, and your own credentials.
3
Get AI-matched to suitable local refurbishment jobs — no per-lead charge, no commission.
4
Build your reputation through honest customer reviews and ratings.
What Renovation Trades Pay: ShamFix vs Other Platforms
For a tradesperson, the platform's pricing model matters more than any single feature, because it decides whether a quiet week costs you money. The table below compares the three platforms most Irish tradespeople weigh up in 2026.
The pattern is straightforward: on a per-lead platform, unanswered or lost enquiries are pure cost; on a subscription model, your platform cost is fixed regardless of how the month goes. For trades doing refurbishment work — where one job can be worth thousands — a flat or free model is usually the cheaper way to buy work.
| Platform | Pricing model | 2026 cost to tradesperson | Trust model | How you get work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ShamFix.ie | Subscription-only | Free (Phase 1) | Reviews + ratings | AI concierge match |
| Bark.com | Per-lead credits | €20–50 per lead | Self-declared | Open broadcast / bidding |
| Onlinetradesmen.ie | Subscription | From €43.33/month | Self-declared + quals check | Browse a job board |
What Renovation Trades Should Know in 2026
A few honest points before you list.
This is private work, not grant administration. ShamFix does not process the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, and listing here does not make you a council-approved or grant-registered contractor. The homeowner applies to their local authority for the grant; you are hired directly to do the work. What the grant has done is lift the volume of refurbishment jobs being commissioned, and that private work is what ShamFix matches you to.
You are responsible for your own registrations. ShamFix does not check or verify your qualifications — you list your own credentials, and it is on you to hold the correct registration for the work you carry out (RGI for gas, Safe Electric for electrical). Trust on the platform is built through honest reviews and ratings from real customers, not a platform badge.
High-vacancy counties are the early opportunity. Grant uptake is heaviest in rural and western counties. ShamFix has dedicated pages for the busiest of them — see our refurbishment leads pages for Donegal, Galway and Mayo. If energy upgrades are also part of your work, see our retrofit installer leads page.
ShamFix is Ireland-native, headquartered in Clifden, County Galway, and free for tradespeople through Phase 1.
ShamFix vs Bark.com for Refurbishment Work
Bark charges per lead, so a few unanswered enquiries can eat the margin of a whole job. ShamFix is subscription-only — free in Phase 1 — and matches you to local work without taxing every contact.
ShamFix.ie
- Free during Phase 1 — no per-lead charge and no commission, ever
- AI concierge matches you to suitable local refurbishment jobs
- You keep 100% of what the homeowner pays you
Bark.com
- Per-lead credits — you pay whether or not you win the job
- Open broadcast — several tradespeople compete for the same enquiry
- Credits expire after three months
Questions Tradespeople Ask Before Joining
Is ShamFix free for renovation tradespeople?
Yes. During Phase 1, ShamFix is free for tradespeople — no joining fee, no per-lead credits, and no commission on jobs you win. The long-term model is a flat subscription (never per-lead, never commission), and Phase 1 free pricing is currently expected to run to approximately March 2027.
Does ShamFix process the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant?
No. The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant (Croí Cónaithe) is administered by local authorities, and the homeowner applies to their council — not to ShamFix. We do not process, administer or guarantee any grant. The grant simply explains why so much private vacant and derelict refurbishment work is reaching the market in 2026. ShamFix matches you to that private work.
What is the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant worth in 2026?
A homeowner can get up to €50,000 to renovate a vacant property and up to €70,000 if the property is derelict (figures current as of the citizensinformation.ie page edited April 2026). The property must have been vacant for at least 2 years and built before 2008. A separate Vacant Above the Shop Grant of up to €135,000 also opened in March 2026. These grants fund the homeowner — for you as a tradesperson they mean more refurbishment jobs being commissioned.
Which trades can list for vacant and derelict refurbishment work?
General home renovation, carpentry, plumbing, electrical services, drywall and plastering, roofing, painting and decorating, tiling, flooring, window and door installation, and demolition all have existing categories on ShamFix. A vacant or derelict refurbishment usually needs several of these trades, so most renovation tradespeople fit.
Do I need to be registered or vetted by ShamFix to join?
No. ShamFix does not check, verify or vet your registrations or qualifications. You list your own credentials on your profile and you are responsible for holding the correct registration for the work you do — for example RGI for gas or Safe Electric for electrical work. Customers judge you on honest reviews and ratings from real jobs. For any regulated work, homeowners should confirm your registration directly with the relevant authority.
How is ShamFix different from Bark.com?
The cost model. Bark sells leads on credits — you pay to contact a homeowner whether or not you win the job, and several tradespeople may buy the same lead. ShamFix is subscription-only (free in Phase 1) with no per-lead charge and no commission, and an AI concierge matches you to suitable local jobs rather than broadcasting an enquiry to everyone.
Ready for refurbishment leads?
Create your ShamFix profile. Phase 1 signup takes minutes, no card required.