A castellated gate lodge with its own swanky gated entrance in Dublin 9 that requires total refurbishment? Would you take it on?
In Dublin, home hunters at the lower end of the property market will find themselves looking at a lot of similar styles of properties, for the range of housing stock at these price points can feel limited.
Those looking for something a bit different will be drawn to the fancy entrance and fanciful exterior of this 1840s gate lodge, in need of total rehabilitation.
Address: The Lodge, Grace Park Road, Dublin 9, D09W1R9
Asking price: €495,000
Agent: Savills
Lovers of period property will fall for its castellated exterior, which gives the little house notions, well beyond its condition and size.
As do the swanky gates.
Facing Church Avenue and at the Richmond Road end of Grace Park Road, you can imagine living here and feeling king of your very own castle.
From the outside, this is one of the sweetest properties to come to the market in Ireland’s capital city in a long time.
On a per square metre basis, this doer-upper could also be one of the most expensive properties to launch.
To buy at the asking price will cost you almost €15,469 per square metre (psm). Even some of the most expensive real estate in the country isn’t commanding those levels.
Square meterage is only one metric with which to try to establish a value on a property.
But it is a helpful exercise to do when buyers are comparing homes.
All this illustrates how much better value buyers with the budget to purchase a large, high-end home have, compared to a small space such as this.
What this is, though, is rare.
Given the level of work required and the fact that the property is a protected structure, Agents Savills suggests that it may be best suited to a cash buyer.
As it is, the property offers off-street parking for two cars, together with a pedestrian entrance that leads to a generous landscaped green area, which has already been developed, serving the Grace Park Wood community.
The double-fronted ashlar cut stone house is currently arranged as three ground-floor rooms plus a main bathroom.
There is scope to extend considerably to the side where you may be able to go up two stories, all subject to planning and the additional monies to execute it.
As it is, it is difficult to determine what work will need to be done. No interior imagery has been furnished, which gives some indication of the condition.
Expect that it will need rewiring, replumbing, insulating and renovation methods suitable for a traditional build, for it is a protected structure, and the right methodologies will be required.
All this will add to the costs.
The property is Ber exempt too.
The upside is that at only 32 square metres in size, it equates to a small one-bedroom apartment.
The property last sold in September 2023 for €437,500, according to the property price register.
