Trading Up: Church Road, Blackrock €475,000/€550,000

What’s the difference between a detached home and a semi-detached one of identical size and side-by-side setting? 

About €75,000, going on the pricing of three new-builds under construction at Oakbury, Church Road, in Cork’s Blackrock with quality builders Rockforest Homes.

This is the second, infill scheme on Church Road by Rockforest, with two A-rated semis now joining the neighbourhood offer, plus one detached.

All are 2,080 sq ft, each with five bedrooms over upper floors.

Selling agent Sam Kingston of Casey and Kingston says he has good interest already, particularly with the semis priced at €475,000 in this ace location by Willowbank and Blackrock hurling club.

He then guides the adjacent detached at €550,000, with the only difference being that all four outer walls are your own — and well insulated.

Finish levels will be high, as per recent developments by the same rapidly expanding builder, with feature Liscannor dry stone wall on the front facade by full length windows, plus PC sums for tiling, kitchen, sanitary ware etc.

Heating is air to water geothermal, delivered underfloor at ground level, windows are triple glazed and the front living room has a solid fuel stove.

VERDICT: Brand new, “out of the box”, energy efficient and accommodating.