The million euro dormer
THE fact that a dormer bungalow can make up to a million euro may seem a property market too far for some, but then there are people out there who will pay any money to live in a beautiful place.
And, in south Cork terms, that place is Sandycove, the Kinsale of Kinsale, if you will.
In the past while sales in this hamlet have confounded even the most hardened experts. Last year Sheehy Brothers had what could be described as an ordinary bungalow on the market at €490,000 and were astonished to see it bid up to €760,000 in a very short time.
Which means that Seafield, coming in at €985,000 through Pacelli Nolan of SWS Property Services isn’t astronomically priced in those terms. With 2,500 square feet of space, (and a very lovely property to boot), and using a general rule of thumb, it works out at €400 per square foot. Now a tiny cottage of 460 square feet, right on the cove, has just been listed by Sheehy Brothers for €450,000 and the ‘dotie’ property comes in at a whopping €978 per square foot: just one indication of the property peak in this area.
And then there are other discreet properties worth ‘squillions’ tucked into the cliff side, say the local agents, which again puts the sale of Seafield in perspective. Pacelli Nolan is also selling what she describes as a ‘hectare of heaven’ a cliff side site at Sandycove which will only have ornamental value at €350,000 as it has no development potential, whosoever.
And this explains the ballooning of property prices in Sandycove, stringent planning conditions fuel demand and prices rocket.
Seafield has that important pre-requisite of houses in the desired category and that’s sea views - a bit distant, mind you, but there in full colour, while sailing boats add the occasional change of hue. And, there are cute troughs cut in the escallonia hedge that surround the house to facilitate the viewer.
Inside, the big windows at the back of the house offer the same views, with Velux windows placed one on top of the other to give a sense of the outside, in the dormer bedrooms.
Bought second-hand, but still newish, by the McWilliams five years ago, they nevertheless took pains with the interior.
Walls were move around to create an entrance porch and wide hallway and an understated, maple staircase was added to access the first floor. This was then reconfigured to give two bedrooms, a bathroom and a large games/study/playroom area with superb views.
A new maple kitchen was fitted and underfloor heating mats, run on electricity, were laid under the tiled floor for winter mornings and playing grandchildren.
All of the living rooms have windows out to sea and all are decorated with flair and bright, clean colours.
There’s a great choice of accommodation and the house is flexible in its uses - it’s also in impeccable condition and should be an easy move for prospective purchasers.
