A cut above at Wheatfield

This impressive family home is bright, modern and spacious and sure to attract buyers, says Trish Dromey.

Carrigaline, Co Cork €575,000

Bedrooms: 7

Bathrooms: 5

BER: B3

Best feature: Big and bold

A flurry of property-related activity at the Wheatfields development in Carrigaline, Co Cork in recent times would seem to indicate good prospects for the owners of No 24 who have just put their seven-bed home on the market.

Part of a development of 52 spacious individually-built detached houses, done on serviced sites at the height of the property boom, it offers over 3,300 sq ft of living space spread over three floors.

There have been relatively few sales in Wheatfields in the past few years but all that is all changing now asNo 24, which is guiding at €575,000, is the fifth house to come up for sale in recent times.

The good news for the owners of No 24, is that the other four are now either sold, sale agreed or under offer. No 3 Wheatfields, a five-bed 3,000 sq ft house with a guide of €550,000 is under offer with Dooley and Howard auctioneers who previously sold its next-door neighbour No 4, a five-bed which had a guide of €500,000. In early October, ERA Downey McCarthy went sale agreed on No 38, a four-bed 2,500 sq ft house which had an asking price of €495,000.

Meanwhile, DNG Creedon — the selling agents for No 24, seen here — have also gone sale agreed on No 18, a new 3,200 sq ft house being sold with a builders’ finish. DNG auctioneer Shane Finn says the price agreed for this two months ago was above asking price of €485,000 which gives an indication that demand for this type of house is coming back.

No 24 Wheatfields has at least two more bedrooms than the properties which preceded it on to the market and Mr Finn reckons that this will make it particularly attractive to families looking to upgrade for open spaces.

“The second floor has been built to comply with fire regulations which means that the rooms can be used as bedrooms and not just for storage. When we were selling Number 18, viewers asked about the possibility of converting the attic into a second floor, and we estimated that this would cost between €50,000 and €70,000.”

No 24 was built in 2007 and has all the mod cons and high-spec fittings which came as standard in this type of house at the time. Features include underfloor heating, and a central data hub bringing TV and surround sound music to every room.

For extra comfort the en suite bathroom in the master bedroom has been fitted with a double Jacuzzi bath, a small wall-mounted flatscreen TV and his and hers sinks.

A high B3 energy rating has been achieved with gas-fired central heating and a water heating system using solar panels on the roof.

Overlooking a green area at the front, the large modern slate-roofed property is on a site of 0 .3 of acre, with parking at the front and a patio and lawned area at the rear.

The interior is bright and modern, with walnut doors, marble tiling and timber flooring and the owners have carried the same colour theme throughout the house — using a warm shade of olive green on some of the walls in the hall, dining room and landing.

At ground level, there’s a spacious walnut-floored lounge with a marble fireplace with a solid fuel stove insert and a kitchen with stylish walnut units, fitted appliances and recessed lighting.

The children of the house have since appropriated the timber-floored living room as a play area but this large room could be put to other uses by a new owner.

Other accommodation at this level includes a dining room, a sunroom with a timber-vaulted ceiling at the rear as well as a guest toilet and a utility room with walnut units.

The first floor has a large master bedroom with a walk-in wardrobe and an en suite as well as four other bedrooms including one en suite.

The main bathroom has a bath encased in a walnut fitting. On the second floor, the house has two giant-sized bedrooms, lit by Velux windows — one of these has an en suite and the other has now been equipped as a gym.

Shane Finn describes Wheatfields — which is located within a short distance from shops and amenities — as “the best estate in Carrigaline”.

He says the interest in this house so far has been good and that nine viewings were booked within days of it going on the market. At the height of the boom some of the Wheatfield houses were valued in excess of €800,000. During the depths of the slump in 2010 a house there sold for €409,000 but by late last year prices were coming back up and No 27, a five-bed detached house, sold for €490,000 although this fell short of its original €580,000 asking price.

The Property Price register doesn’t yet give prices for the house which sold earlier in year but Mr Finn is optimistic give the current, pick-up crop of Wheatfield sales.

“ There is a great appetite for this development now. Based on previous sales we are confident this house will meet the guide price. ”

VERDICT: Everything a family, with the resources to upgrade, could want.