Starter home: Ballyphehane, Cork €185,000

This city dwelling is back on the market as a far fresher proposition than it was four years ago and at a reasonable price, writes Tommy Barker.

Sq m 60 (650 sq ft)

Bedrooms: 2

Bathrooms: 1

BER: C2

That old adage of best of goods in a small parcel, applies in spades to 64 Connolly Park, in Cork city’s old suburban Ballyphehane.

It has had a full overhaul since it was last sold in 2011, showing up on the Price Register as having made €160,000 four years ago.

Now, it’s back as a far fresher proposition, yet the asking price is a modest-seeming €185,000: if that’s all it makes now in a stronger market, and after its upgrades, there can’t have been much or any gain for its interim owners. They’ll clearly be hoping for bidding above their asking price, and first starting offer came in this week, at €170,000.

Mid-terraced No 64 is listed for sale now with Johnny O’Flynn of Sherry FitzGerald’s city offices, and he says it’s fully renovated with a new kitchen, new double glazing, new doors, fascias and soffits, has gas central heating, is fully rewired, with internal walls re-skimmed, plus it now has external insulation as a heat-keeping boost.

Layout is quite open plan at ground level, with maple- floored hall and living/dining room with wood-burning stove, and there’s patio door access to a long, smartly spruced up back garden with log cabin.

Overhead are two bedrooms, with built-ins, one room has attic access via Stira, and the bathroom has a shower over the bath, while a block-built shed near the house is plumbed for use as a utility. Out front, there’s off-street parking.

VERDICT: The house is all redone, and done well, but the super back garden alone may clinch a sale..