Big interest, but property needs some work

“A GREAT house - but it needs work” says Sherry FitzGerald’s Ann O’Mahony about ‘Tara’, at 13, Barnstead Drive in the Cork suburb of Blackrock.

As properties here rarely come on the market, she explains, interest has been huge just a week after coming on the market and she expects offers over 350,000 for this four-bed semi.

With cedar touches, large, spacious rooms and a Blackrock address, small wonder this house is on the list of trader-uppers. However, budgets should be adjusted to take into account the cost of renovations. That being said, the rewards here are good for a growing family.

Apart from the existing space, the house comes with a ‘huge’ attic, according to Ms O’Mahony, and has a walled-in south-facing back garden and a safe, green space to the front.

Set off Church Road, there’s a choice of good schools locally and all the retail attractions of Douglas are a five minute drive away.

The commute to the city is quick and relatively painless and access to the Link road and the Tunnel are to hand, making it an ideal location, practically as well as notionally.

Briefly, the house, (which has a gross area of 1,550 square feet) comes with a lounge, kitchen/dining room, familyroom and guest WC on the ground floor. The upper floor has four bedrooms and a bathroom. Oil heating is installed, (but gas in on the doorstep) and the garden comes with block-built shed.