Early bids put €100,000 on guide

THERE are just eight of these detached houses in a small estate off the Ballea Road in Carrigaline, Co Cork.

And because of this, chances of moving into the neighbourhood are limited and the sale of one should cause a bit of a stir.

Number 4, Briarfield is a simple, double-fronted two-storey house that's in impeccable condition, according to estate agent, Jeremy Murphy, of Downey McCarthy Murphy. The house had a guide price of €475,000 but has already been bid up to €570,000, he says. It really is spic and span inside, adds Mr Murphy, and the same attention to detail is continued in the gardens, which are terraced with a low stone wall at the rear and plenty of parking on the cobble-lock drive to the front.

And there's gadgetry too every room in the house has a phone/internet and satellite TV point with a central patch panel for extensions.

Add to that quality internal joinery, a top of the range kitchen in solid ash with granite and two main reception rooms, plus a family room. There's a playroom or gym, a WC and utility on the ground floor and four bedrooms on the upper floor.

Two of these are ensuite and the smallest room, which would make bedroom 5, is used as an office. A walk-in hotpress and main bathroom complete the top floor.

Gas heating is installed and for those with brush phobias, the red brick and PVC exterior means it's low-maintenance.