A five-bedroom house on a third of an acre, Ashton at 5 The Hill, Monkstown, Co Dublin, is back on the market less than two years after a sale was agreed in post-auction negotiations.

The buyer did not complete the sale and the owners, Tricia and Graham Crisp, are now looking for an immediate sale through agents Ganly Walters.

The large Victorian redbrick, on one of the best roads in Monkstown, was sold after auction in April 2000 for around £1.93 million (€2.45m) well over the guide of £1.25 million (€1.59m).

Non-completion of an auction sale used to be almost unheard of but now agents are reporting that in the past six months there have been a handful of cases.

Tricia Crisp is an estate agent and so is used to the business of buying and selling property. Two years ago her agency, McCabe Crisp, merged with Ganly Walters and that merger left their offices at Percy Place overlooking the canal vacant.

The Crisps, who own the building, decided to downsize, move into town and turn the office - a very attractive period house - into their family home.

Ashton had been their home since 1974 when they bought the semi-detached redbrick for £18,000 (€22,860). With its five bedrooms, two reception rooms and two bathrooms, the spacious period house was ideal while their children were growing up. When they bought it most of the period features were intact and over the years they have renovated and redecorated it stylishly.

These two-storey over garden level houses are prized for their flexible accommodation and in the present layout, two of the bedrooms are in the basement. The three other bedrooms are upstairs and the main bedroom suite is the most impressive as it is made up of three rooms - bedroom, bathroom and dressingroom.

Some years ago Tricia redesigned the kitchen, which is incorporated into a large rear-facing morning room. It has simple white units, an American oak floor and a square bay window.

Down at garden level, as well as two bedrooms there is a kitchen, a large family rooms with a wood burning stove, a stylish wood panelled shower room, a wine storage room and a laundry room. There are two entrances to this level which opens up possibilities for its use.

The gardens have been well planned and cared for. The secluded back garden is tiered in three terraces.