Trading up: Ahakista, West Cork €100,000-plus offered

Mere decoration won’t do much to improve this Ahakista West Cork house, called the Anchorage — it’s as close as you’ll get to sinking beyond rescue.

Set near the evocative, calming stone sculpture memorial to the victims of the Aer India bomb atrocity whose 30th anniversary comes around in June 2015, this one-off house has always had owners from overseas — first Dutch, then two sets of UK occupants, one a WW2 veteran.

And, now, as it comes for sale in absolute, wringing wet rag order after lots of water ingress and damage, another purchaser from abroad seems most likely.

The wide house with first-floor terrace runs to almost 3,000 sq ft all in, and is set on a stunning 0.42 acre site facing the memorial. Selling agent John o’Neill of Celtic Properties has it under offer over €100,000, on behalf of a receiver.

It last sold in 2004, but since then has largely been unoccupied. Thieves took off with the lead flashing from the roof and the veranda over the garage, snooker room and small apartment - so, rain gushed in. And, in a double whammy, water also came up from a spring.

Anchorage went for sale just prior to Christmas, and has had two open viewings, visited by 60 parties and notched up 250 inquiries. Remarkable, says Mr O’Neill.

VERDICT: Knock or do-up? It’s a toss up.