Selling sunset in soft West Cork climes: estate agent Maeve McCarthy reflects on 20 years of highs and lows

In property, you meet people at life’s turning point, be it new beginnings, bereavement, marital breakdown, retirement or relocation. Tune in, or miss the point, auctioneer Maeve McCarthy has learned

Wed, 06 Aug, 2025 - 12:05

IT was a Saturday afternoon, I was in the job a wet week, and I was showing a house somewhere in West Cork. The vendor had forgotten to mention to their twenty-something son that a viewing was scheduled. I opened a bedroom door to find a large lump of a lad fast asleep under the covers, just as a group of viewers came in behind me. He pulled the duvet over his head, I backed out, closed the door, and said the room was not available to view. To this day, when vendors ask me if they should bake bread or have coffee brewing before a viewing, I always think of that incident and feel like saying that just getting everyone up and out of the house is a great start.

Second generation: Maeve McCarthy with Charlie McCarthy of Skibbereen-based agents Charles P McCarthy

This summer marks 20 years since I joined Charles McCarthy Estate Agents, a business established by my father, Charlie McCarthy, in 1968. In that time, I have walked through hundreds of houses, taken thousands of calls, and guided clients through all stages of life —from first homes to final goodbyes. I have worked through the crash, the lockdown, and now a housing market more pressured than ever.

Much has changed since 2005. There were no BERs, no Eircodes, and the Property Services Regulatory Authority had not yet been established.

Not every day is sunny, though.....File image at Raheen and Castlehaven by Denis Scannell

The introduction of licensing, energy ratings, and enforceable standards has improved the profession and raised expectations for both agents and clients. However, what has not changed is the emotional weight people bring to property.

Here are 10 things I have learned along the way.

1. It is never just about the house. You might be selling a three-bed semi-d or a waterfront retreat, but what you are really handling is someone’s next chapter. You meet people at life’s turning point, be it bereavement, marital breakdown, retirement, relocation, or new beginnings. If you do not tune in to what they are really navigating, you are missing the point.

2. Everyone’s move feels monumental. You may be juggling 20 files, but each person is only going through one. To them, it is all-consuming. Your job is to make them feel they matter. That they are seen, heard, and supported.

Kilfinnan Castle, Glandore was a top West Cork sale in 2019 at over €5.7 million

3. You cannot keep everyone happy. Sometimes, buyers lose out, vendors pull out, or deals fall through. It is disappointing for everyone. For someone like me, who naturally wants to keep things running smoothly, that has been a hard lesson to learn and something I still struggle with. But if you are transparent and fair, people usually respect it, even if they are disappointed.

4. Adaptability is key. The job has evolved dramatically, from printed maps to Eircodes, from handwritten directions to Google Street View, from smoky back boilers to BERs, from faxing brochures to posting on social media. You have to evolve with it, without forgetting the basics: Listening, advising, and doing your best.

5. Presentation matters, but practicality wins every time. When I first moved home from Dublin, I arrived at a valuation wearing a pencil skirt and cream, slingback mules. It was the early noughties, after all. The client, kindly but firmly, let me know I was not dressed for the job, and he was right. That day taught me that while it is important to look professional, you also need to be ready to cross a field or climb a stepladder.

A German buyer once summed it up perfectly by saying there is no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothing. In this line of work, few things are worse than spending a day with cold, wet feet.

6. Small things build trust. Return calls. Be on time. Say thank you. These are simple things, but people notice. Trust is built through consistency, and it is the everyday habits that count.

7. The market will keep you humble. I started at the tail end of the Celtic Tiger. Then came the crash, and everything stalled. During the pandemic, demand stayed high, but logistics were fraught. These cycles remind you that things change and that resilience is as valuable as strategy.

The Celtic Tiger left hundreds of so-called 'ghost estates'. Now, there's a complete shortage of homes nationally

8. The best deals are built on compromise. It is natural for people to dig in on principle, especially when emotions are running high. But, in my experience, it is usually the clients who are willing to bend a little, without giving away too much, who get to the finish line. It is a skill knowing when to stand firm and when to shift. At the end of the day, life goes on.

9. The people beside you matter as much as the people you serve. Since my dad’s time, we have always run a tight ship. Those who work with us tend to stay, and that continuity defines how we operate; with loyalty, respect, and a shared commitment to doing things properly. It has been a privilege to work alongside my father for this long.

Charlie McCarthy and Maeve McCarthy marking 50 years in business in 2018

Even now, into his eighties, he still comes in and enjoys the work. We have not always agreed but our goal has always been the same: the best result for our clients. Interestingly, neither of us likes conflict. That, I think, has helped keep the business grounded.

10. West Cork has a way of getting under your skin. Whether it is a stone cottage in Ballydehob or a Victorian terrace in Castletownshend, people form deep emotional ties to place. Twenty years on, I still feel grateful to do this work. There are tough weeks and long days, but I still get that quiet satisfaction when I hand over keys, unlock something for someone, or help them let go. That feeling has never gone away.