Starter home: Bandon, Cork €160,000

The four-storeyed Alteration Centre in Bandon could be just the property for a first time buyer with entrepreneurial inclinations.

Size: sq m 120 (1,290 sq ft)

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2

BER: F

Best Feature: Neat as a pin 

Situated in the renovated old corn store close to the centre of town, it offers a ground floor commercial unit of 240 sq ft as well a 1,050 sq ft of residential space spread over three floors.

Ernest Forde of Hodnett Forde says the current owner is retiring after running the business for over 15 years, so there seems to be an opening in the town for a purchaser with good needle skills.

Alternatively a buyer may find some other use for the shop unit or consider renting it out.

Guiding at €160,000, the property has two entrances, a red door going in to the shop and a blue door to the house.

Mr Forde says it’s very well maintained and has some nice features including exposed stone walls, ceiling beams and wood paneling. It has oil-fired central heating and double glazed timber sash windows.

The first floor has a utility room, two carpeted bedrooms and a bathroom while the second floor has a 20’ by 11’ kitchen/living room with modern fitted units and some appliances in the kitchen and exposed stonewalls in the living area.

The fourth floor has a living room with exposed stonework and bedroom with a stonewalls timber panelling and a built in bed. To the rear there’s a small yard and two tiered garden.

Verdict: Mixes old stone with modern comforts — perfect for a buyer who doesn’t want a typical modern house.