Trading up: Bishopstown, Cork €389,000

Size: 122 sq m (1,300sq ft)

The owner of 30 Allendale Avenue, out in Cork’s Bishopstown, has been here since it was built in the late 1960s — but she didn’t let the grass grow under her feet.

The house is up to date and the gardens (and grass therein) are immaculately under control. But now it’s moving on time, and agent Barry Nagle of Global Properties says not only is No 30 extremely well kept, with insulation upgrades in attic and pumped walls, double glazing and more, but “there is a sense of space that many buyers could only dream about today”.