Blackrock terraced Victorian

NEEDING lots of doing up, but priced to reflect that fact, is the mid-terraced Victorian home at No 4, Sorrento Villas on Cork city’s Old Blackrock Road.

A bit of a remnant of old glories, the mid-terraced Victorian house is priced at €215,000 by Alan Browne, of Murray Browne, who says it needs refurbishment.

On the upbeat side, it has retained period features, has been underpinned, and is within a walk of the city, just on the city side of Ashton school and the start of the Blackrock Road. The location and period quality of home are in demand — witnessed by the strong and appreciative viewings in the past month of the fully-done-up, neighbouring home Idaville, just across the Old Blackrock Road from Sorrento Villas. Idaville came up for sale in the past month priced at €385,000 with Timothy Sullivan auctioneers, and has had about 40 viewings: it is already under offer, in the mid-€300,000s.

While Idaville has a good back garden aspect in its favour, plus rear access and off-street parking for a car, that unfortunately isn’t on offer at No 4 Sorrento Villas, as it is hemmed in by neighbours behind.

At present, No 4 (its joint agent is Andrew Moore and Co) is quite intact, but jaded, has good bay windows at ground- and first-floor level, has three bedrooms, two reception rooms and touches like marble, slate and cast-iron fireplaces, old, wide floorboards and sash windows. There’s a convertible attic, a large space, with Velux windows.

It’s a bit better than a raw canvas, may have scope for some off-street parking, if done sensitively, as some neighbours in the row have opened up front gardens, and the €215,000 price allows for a renovation budget. Bring a compass, and an architect, find out how the sun tracks around the place, and make plans for an extension to maximise its value and location.