Stylish in suburbia with €696k house with a self-contained apartment

Job(s) done at walk-in Bishopstown home

9 Firgrove Lawn, Bishopstown

Bishopstown, Cork
€695,000
Size	184sq m  (1,980sq ft, including apartment)
Bedrooms	4+1
Bathrooms	2+1
BER	B2

Exactly the kind of suburban property that has house hunters falling over each other, No 9 Firgrove Lawn is unlikely to hang about for long.

While similar-era estate semi-ds (1960s) tend to come to market slightly stale, having served their original owners well, No 9 is fresh as a newborn. Not only has it been extended and retrofitted, it has an adjoining, self-contained apartment, well-positioned for students of MTU. If buyers are looking for a fine home that also has the potential to generate income, this could be it.

One of the owners is a tradesman, so he was well-equipped to interact with the contractor who did the extension three years ago. It’s a job well done. The back of the house has been remodelled in to an L-shaped, open-plan space where you can cook, dine, and chill. A south-facing, sunken lounge, with lots of glazing, juts out into the south-facing garden and enjoys lots of light.

A few steps up is a sleek, David Lane kitchen with quartz worktop counter and splashback and feature island unit. Full-height storage cupboards are off to the side, so the kitchen is neat and streamlined. Dining is off to the other side and aluclad double doors open to a raised patio. It’s all very well-finished and presented and the same level of care is evident everywhere.

Walls in the hall, along the stairs, and on the landing have attractive wood panelling, and paintwork, and carpets are fresh in the bedrooms. The family bathroom was only renovated five years ago. A downstairs living room has a feature gas fireplace.

There was also investment in retrofitting: Cavities were pumped, the attic was insulated, and a PIV (positive input ventilation) system installed for better air quality. These improvements, along with new windows and the installation of a modern gas condensing combi boiler, have all fed in to a B2 energy rating, making the buyer eligible for green mortgage rates.

The adjoining apartment isn’t as stylish as the main house, but it has all the essentials for independent living: Kitchen, shower room, living area/bedroom (a Murphy bed can be stored within wardrobe space). It fits the bill for short-term let/granny flat/student digs.

Firgrove Lawn, Bishopstown

Fourteen parties were lined up for the first day of viewings mid-week and selling agent Michael Downey, of ERA Downey McCarthy, said he had logged enquiries from “a lot of re-locators”, including people returning to Cork from other parts of the country, as well as the UK and further field.

As Firgrove Lawn is a short walk from Cork University Hospital, Mr Downey expects medics to view it, along with “a few well-heeled first-time buyers who’ve been away travelling and are looking to put down roots, in Bishopstown in particular”.

Families will definitely feature: The area has all the essentials, like schools, retail, sports clubs, and the house itself overlooks a green.

The vendors — who bought No 9 in 2012 — had planned to stay, but a change in circumstances sees them trading urban for rural.

The 184 sq m house is on the market with a price of €695,000.

VERDICT: Nicely extended and well-insulated, with bonus of independent living space. Expect competitive bidding at this Bishopstown location.