Trading up: Well Road, Cork, €380,000

A sympathetic renovation job has been done to No 73, Ardmahon Estate, just off Cork’s Well Road in the midst of Ballinlough and Douglas suburban hinterland, and now — unless new owners might choose to extend — it’s for sale now as a clean, walk-in job.

The family-owned mid-1900s three-bed semi-d (also called Ormonde) went on open viewing with estate agent Mary O’Donnell of Clear View Auctioneers on Thursday, even though it hasn’t been extended or had walls knocked to make it more open plan, it’s a bit of a stand-out, as so much more work has been done here than is the norm locally for the vintage.

Even the solid timber front door, with bevelled, sandblasted side glass panels once past the porch door is new, with polished brasses. Beyond, the original oak hall floor has been refinished, and the stairs, landing and bedrooms are neutrally carpeted.

It has front and back reception rooms, each with black cast iron fireplaces (the front one’s gas-fired), there’s gas central heating, double glazing, external walls have been insulated, bedrooms have built-ins, the house has been rewired, the replacement kitchen’s simple, with a white ceramic sink and drainer, and there’s now a ground floor guest WC too.

Ormonde’s in a well-serviced suburb, with gardens front and back and “offers significant value for money, owing to its decorative completeness,” says Clear View’s Ms O’Donnell.

Verdict: Buy now, and extend later?