Could be just what the government decentralisation transferees need

GOVERNMENT job relocations to Clonakilty with the Department of the Marine might yet be a year or two off but that hasn’t stopped aspiring transferees from house hunting early in west Cork.

Estate agent Martin Kelleher of SWS Property Services has had a handful of Dublin-based families doing house inspections at this Gullane, Clonakilty home, among other fairly large houses on his books, even though the house-hunters he has met reckon they won’t be moving until 2007 at least.

He is guiding this 3,250 sq ft property on a three-quarter acre site at €700,000: it compares favourably price-wise with a standard mid-1900s three-bed semi in the capital’s southside suburbs.

And, notes Mr Kelleher, many of those families looking to relocate from Dublin have already traded up and may have homes there to sell worth up to and over the €1 million mark, which puts them in a strong buying position.

This house is at Gullane, on the edge of the town (walking distance) along the Timoleague road, and is a popular location with families.

Apart from the size, clearly larger than it looks from the outside, he stresses the quality of the interior and finishes.

It has four bedrooms (one en suite) and great living space with extra high ceilings.

Floor finishes include Italian marble and Malaysian teak, and rooms take in hall/lobby, and galleried landing, utility and guest WC, study/play room with double doors linking to a lounge, a drawing room (both main receptions have fireplaces) kitchen with maple units, granite tops and large gas range cooker. The dining space is down a step or two with a bay window, and the conservatory has double doors to the gardens.

The house, in smart order throughout, has mains services and a pressurised hot water system.