Going up... and that’s not just the price

WILLESLEY is a house that has gone up in the world, physically and fiscally.

Last sold two years ago, as a 1,000 sq ft three-bed flat roofed house, it has been more than doubled in size and is all grown upwards as it comes back up for re-sale.

Its site, overlooking the harbour at Crosshaven, justified the spending, and now it has the same selling agent as 2003, but a price more than double its then €300,000-plus sale price.

Estate agent Michael McKenna of McKenna O’Donoghue Clarke Real Estate Alliance is seeking €680,000 for the smartly revamped home on a one-third acre site at Crosshaven’s Upper Road.

The extension, signalled at the time of sale as an obvious move to maximise site value, suits the house and makes it looked like it was always this way, and it now has five bedrooms and bathroom under its new pitched roof at first floor level.

The roof has varied section, with triangular dormers, Veluxes and gable windows added for variety, and the house was also marginally extended at ground level so that there’s now 2,200 sq ft of accommodation.

And, having all the bedrooms moved overhead has freed up the entire ground floor for family living space, with the distinctive corner windows retained. Rooms here include hall, living room with solid fuel stove, 17’ by 14’ kitchen, utility, and bathroom with Jacuzzi, shower and sauna for warming weary and wet bones after a day’s sailing or fishing beyond Cork harbour.

The grounds have plenty of car parking and turning space, room to keep a boat and trailer, while the front of the house has newly-installed decking to capture the marina and harbour views.