With the autumn selling season kicking into gear, good quality family homes in south Dublin’s most sought after suburbs are beginning to hit the market once again after weeks of little-to-no supply. The following homes have recently come on the market and are well suited to families looking to trade up.
21 Hollypark Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin
€695,000, Lisney, 140sq m (1,507sq ft)
Hollypark Avenue is one of a number of adjoining roads developed by McInerney in the 1960s. Number 21 is easily one of the most desirable houses in the Hollypark estate, being detached with an extensive southwest-facing rear garden.
At present the house is in move-in condition, if a little dated in some parts. Downstairs, to the front of the building there is a large sittingroom with fireplace, which interconnects with the rear family room with extended diningroom. There is a separate kitchen, utility room and garage. Upstairs is a master bedroom with en-suite bathroom, three further bedrooms and a family bathroom.
The property’s key selling point, however, is its 39.5m (130ft) rear garden with mature planting.
1960s architecture may not be to everyone’s liking, however the façade of this house could be relatively easily updated. Number 19, two doors down, first came on the market in November 2008 for €795,000 before reportedly selling for just under €675,000 almost a year later in August 2009. The new owners have replaced the single-storey garage with a two-storey extension, and replaced the windows and porch, transforming the front of the house. They also added rear extensions and converted the attic, adding Velux windows, to add space. Potential buyers of Number 21 might consider similar works if they require additional space.
The most recent sale in the estate was 55 Dargle Road, a 180sq m semi-detached house in good condition with a 14m (46ft) southwest-facing rear garden, which sold for €720,000 in June 2015.
Eversham Lodge, Newtownpark Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin
€675,000, Lisney, 197sq m (2,120sq ft)
Built circa 1906, the lodge was originally about half its current size, with an extension added in the 1960s. A portion of the original house is laid out as a granny flat with its own front door, bathroom and kitchenette. However it could easily be used as a fifth bedroom.
The home’s main entrance, the glazed porch, leads to an entrance hall. On the left hand side is a diningroom, kitchen and a large livingroom. To the right is the newer part of the house, mainly comprised of bedrooms. Downstairs are a master bedroom with en-suite dressing room, a second double bedroom, a family bathroom, a small kitchen and a sitting room. The sittingroom staircase leads up to two further double bedrooms.
The house stands on a generous c 0.19 acre site, however the gardens are not extensive as the sizeable bungalow occupies much of the garden. It is, however, private with a high stone wall on most sides. There is ample parking to the front and side of the house, with much of the garden laid out in gravel. The remainder is set out in lawn, with an abundance of trees and shrubbery.
Eversham Lodge is spacious and full of charm but, as with many homes that have been extended over the years, the layout could be improved and updated. Excluding the bathroom in the former granny flat, on the opposite side of the house to the other bedrooms, four bedrooms share one bathroom. There is plenty of space to resolve this issue by changing an existing room into a bathroom.
The home is just 150m from the Stillorgan dual carriageway, with easy access to the city centre by way of numerous bus services.
9 Woodbine Park, Booterstown, Co Dublin
€695,000, Sherry Fitzgerald, 127sq m (1,367sq ft)
Woodbine Park is a highly convenient road in Booterstown, less than a 10-minute walk from the gates of UCD and close to top schools such as St Andrews and the Teresian School. Number 9 adjoins a number of local shops, including a Spar convenience store and a post office.
The ground floor consists of an entrance hall, living and dining rooms, a kitchen and a store/study with an en-suite bathroom. The store has a garage door rather than a standard window, but could easily be fully converted as many neighbours have done. Upstairs are three double bedrooms, one single bedroom and a family bathroom.
The décor is tired throughout, however potential buyers will be interested in its potential as a fantastic family home in a desirable central location. The kitchen is crying out for a rear extension to open it up to the wonderful long rear garden, which, while requiring some TLC, is one of the property’s key attractions. There is also scope to extend upstairs. At one point the house was clearly extended above the garage, however the extension does not run the entire length of the house. Buyers could, subject to planning permission, extend again to create a master bedroom by constructing an en-suite bathroom.
In May 2005, a slightly larger house with a south-facing garden was for sale asking €860,000. More recently, the last house to sell on the street, Number 1, was a 129sq m bungalow requiring renovation. It sold for €740,000 in April 2015, well above its €695,000 asking price.
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