Trading up: Ballintemple, Cork €365,000

It’s called The Berries, and that — in the Cork slang parlance — is exactly what new owners of No 15, Linden Avenue, aka The Berries, may well exclaim.

It’s an extended, mature semi-d, in the popular Ballintemple/Beaumont Cork suburb. It’s close to a popular national school, Beaumont, and a public park and pitch, and is a few minutes from the larger Blackrock and Douglas suburbs, and their amenities.

To the left, the garage space has been converted, so now there’s a ground-floor bedroom four/study option, plus WC wet-room with shower.

In addition, there’s an older-style rear kitchen add-on, plus, up top, the attic has been converted to a useful, 12’ by 12’ room with dormer window, overlooking the long, west-facing back garden.

Estate agent Timothy Sullivan prices No 15, which is halfway along Linden Avenue, at €365,000, and it’s more spacious than most of the original semis. As an incentive, the back garden of homes along here are a particularly decent size, and this home-in-waiting is no exception.

Decor-wise, it’s still a little old-fashioned, and the example of neighbours and of residents in adjoining estates will give an idea of how these vintage homes can be smartly updated and further extended.

VERDICT: The absolute berries.