Redfords resist real estate doom with Rochestown offering

NOT only did new estate agency Redfords open big now offices last week, they did so with champagne.

And the trend-bucking firm also had latter-day prophet of doom Eddie Hobbs on board to do the official opening.

So what does that tell us? What Eddie said: That Redford are among a number of companies who set up business in a slump, such as Microsoft and Hewlett Packard.

And if they can weather the storm, there will be no stopping them, said the Cork economic pundit who’s not unaware of the tempestuous nature of investment.

The firm’s offices in the former Cork and Country Club, now Hibernian House, entertained 150 guests and the five directors, Chris McCarthy, Mark Hornibrook, Seamus Spillane, Pat Clancy and Declan Madden, were on hand to meet and greet. There was wine, canapes and healthy doses of optimism.

Meanwhile, the business begins with the sale of Snugboro, a detached house at Belmont in Rochestown. Immaculately finished and homely at the same time, it is instantly likeable and, at €750,000, is reasonably priced for a stand-alone Rochestown house on a quarter of an acre.

Located off Coach Hill, in a cul-de-sac, it faces a quiet green and is very private. It’s on the market with Declan Madden of Redfords, who says the house has 2,200sq ft of space and is awash with light.

The kitchen is country cream with granite worktops and there’s an angular window to the front with seating, which creates a sunroom effect in this large double room.

The house is finished in a warm, classic style and it comes with four/ five bedrooms over two floors.

There’s a formal sitting room to the left of a great entrance hallway, with a TV room and kitchen/diner on the other side. The rear houses a utility (fully built-in), bathroom and two bedrooms, one of which is used as a playroom at the moment.

Overhead, there’s a big master bedroom with walk-in wardrobe and four-piece bathroom and the remaining two bedrooms share another main bathroom.

The house has modern fire pieces, good wooden floors, cornicing, recessed lighting and lots of phone points. The grounds are nicely landscaped, not overlooked and Belmont is a safe place for playing children.

It now benefits from the new bus route to Mount Oval Village and a school is planned for Foxwood in the next year or so.

The house is ideal for families trading up: It has the space, the security and a flawless finish.