Refurbished D8 villa stands up well to 10-year challenge

Earlier this month social media was abuzz with the 10-year challenge – people posting photos of themselves in 2009 and 2019. Some differences were startling, others less so. A 10-year challenge for property can yield equally interesting results.

Take number 85 Heytesbury Street, Dublin 8. It was last on the market in 2009 looking for offers of more than €1 million – which at the time, just months after the property market collapse, was a significant price drop for a renovated three-bed period house in walk-in condition on the desirable city centre street.

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It didn’t sell at that price. Real interest in the shape of the current owner arrived when the asking price dropped to somewhere in the region of €760,000. He negotiated a price, moved in and when work opportunities changed about five years ago rented out the terraced house. To get it ready for sale it has been repainted throughout, with new carpets, minimally furnished and is ready to move into.

Single storey over basement period houses offer choices in how they are lived in. Number 85 is laid out as a three-bedroom house - with two bedrooms, both large doubles with fireplaces, polished floorboards, shutters on their sash windows and high ceilings, at hall level. These rooms would probably originally have been living accommodation.

Downstairs at basement level the previous owners changed the layout to great advantage knocking through the two main rooms to create on open space – a kitchen and dining room to the front with a utility area under the front steps - and a good-sized living room to the rear. This opens out to a small sunroom. Also, down at this level is the third bedroom but as it has a double door out to the rear garden (currently blocked by the bed). It might be better used as a study or family room.

The good-sized bright and airy bathroom in the hall return has been renovated for the sale.

There’s a rear garden with a grassy section and a paved patio – now looking a little forlorn but could with a little care be a lovely outdoor space. There’s a small patio area to the front. Parking is on street, though Heytesbury Street is so well located a car for most people would seem optional.

Number 85 Heytesbury Street with 134sq m (1,447sq ft) is for sale through Colliers, seeking €725,000.