ANY signs of wear and tear are minimal at No 18 Coopers Grange thanks to a careful female owner who divided her time between Ballincollig and East Cork, where her then beau, now husband, is from.

The home she bought as a new build in Ballincollig’s Old Quarter half a dozen years ago has been so lightly lived in that its next owner will inherit a good-as-new property.

Presentation is excellent, from the cobble-lock driveway with tasteful peripheral planting (and parking for up to four cars) to the pristine, brightly lit interior.

It comes with a stellar A3 energy rating too, an attraction for any buyer keen to avoid an expensive retrofit and/or to reduce their carbon footprint and/or to avail of lower green mortgage rates.

Some neighbouring homes have gone the extra mile and added rear roof panels to heat the water — a good move as the rear of the house faces south.

The upshot of such a robust energy rating is greater comfort, increased re-sale value, future proof benefits, and lower heating bills. 

Roof panels on neighbouring homeRoof panels on neighbouring home

No wonder it’s attracting downsizers, who are also drawn by its proximity to Ballilncollig town centre, where a strong retail mix obviates the need to journey into Cork city centre. 

Not that getting to the city centre is a trek — it’s not, thanks to the bypass and the south link road network, which will get you to the western suburbs in no time, or there’s the option of public transport on a high-frequency bus service.

Norma Healy, of Sherry FitzGerald, is selling No 18 Coopers Grange, and she says it’s an “exceptionally well-presented three-bed semi”.

Front living roomFront living room

“Viewings are due to get underway, and we are expecting first-time buyers as well as downsizers,” Ms Healy says.

If it seems on the pricey side for a first-time buyer — €510,000 — there are plenty of estate agents who will tell you that certain workers are well able to stretch to this level, particularly in the tech and pharma sectors. Recent figures from the Banking and Payments Federation show this cohort are increasingly buying solo.

At No 18 Coopers Grange — built by the O’Flynn Group and sold as a new build in 2019 for €350,000 — the buyer will find a tastefully decorated home, with a nice layout to the rear, which includes an open-plan kitchen/dining room, enhanced by a linked family relaxation area, where light is at a premium thanks to plenty of glazing.

Family relaxation areaFamily relaxation area

 A door leads from here to a neat patio and enclosed lawn, which awaits some colourful planting. Growth should be good, given the favourable south-facing aspect.

Upstairs at No 18, one of three bedrooms has an en suite. 

Another has been used as a home office.

With the vendor now settled in East Cork, Ms Healy is looking after the house sale and she emphasises how convenient the development is to both “the tranquil regional park and the hustle and bustle of the town centre”.

Home officeHome office

“The location offers unrivalled convenience, placing a wide range of amenities at your doorstep, including excellent schools, retail centres, sports facilities, and bus routes. Moreover its proximity to Bishopstown, Cork University Hospital, MTU, UCC, and Cork City further enhances its appeal,” the agent says.

VERDICT: Ready-to-go, high-performance home, in a well-serviced neighbourhood.