Higher price, but it’s also new, bigger and better

THIS isn’t the house that sold on this site almost three years ago — it is bigger, better, and brand new.

Last sold back in 2007, it was bought by a builder who demolished it, propped up the neighbouring half of the pair of semis, and reinstated his purchase, on a larger scale and on brand new secure foundations.

Now, though, with several other Douglas houses in his ownership, he is selling Whitethorn House. And, it needs to be seen and walked through.

Auctioneer Claire O’Sullivan of Savills is seeking €450,000, and that’s a level that will see eyebrows raised. In the vendor’s defence, he did pay a startling €320,000 or so for the old house in very competitive bidding (AMV had been ‘just’ €220,000) via Joe Gavin of James G Coughlan Associates three years ago. You can see the money that has been poured into the whole new build — how about €18,000 for a solid oak staircase and panelling, as well as high-quality solid oak floors downstairs, just for starters. Even at the hefty asking of €450k, the vendor/builder will be losing quite a bit still after all his graft.

Bedroom tally now is three, up from the original, far smaller two-bed home that stood here since the early 1900s.

The interior quality is of a level far higher than the stark new exterior dash will suggest, with ceiling coving, brushed steel bright sockets and switches, and solar panels for water heating: the BER cert isn’t yet done, but the rating should be high.

There’s a 21’ by 11’ kitchen/dining/family space across the full width of the rear of the house, plus a front 18’ by 11’ formal front lounge, the hall is wide, with guest WC off, there’s a decent utility, and for extra good measure there’s a block-built garden room with solidly-built glasshouse/conservatory where a vine is happily set to burst into grape. This space adds over 150 sq ft to the existing house’s 1,290 sq ft of accommodation.

Back inside, the largest of the three bedrooms has an en suite, decor levels are pristine, neutral and set to please viewers, and there’s a pull-down stairs to reach attic storage.

Although the front garden is done in cobble-lock, and the private sun-trap back garden is fully paved in sandstone, Whitethorn House still has a garden and something for plant lovers to do (just no lawn), albeit in raised and planted beds, and cut out areas climbers to bed down into. Whitethorn House is a quality job, inside and out. The only question is what price and value will 2010 house buyers put on this €450,000 offering.