Rightsize, downsize, a €350,000 Midleton bungalow is made-to-measure for retirees or a young family starting out

ONCE upon a time “rightsizing” was an economic buzzword used by companies to put a positive spin on downsizing. Nowadays it’s a buzzword in the world of real estate. There’s a certain merit to it. If you were tuned into RTÉ Radio 1 during the week, you might have heard a roving reporter asking older home owners if they were happy with the houses they were in. Some felt the family home was now too big. They no longer needed a three-bed semi-d. But the problem was a lack of alternatives. Builders/developers were not looking at catering for the older community, they said. One contributor said "we are invisible". The point was made that the lack of suitable housing for seniors hastened the road to the nursing home.

While local authorities/housing bodies have recently become active in developing independent living schemes for older people (eg 30-unit Árus Mhuire on Skehard Road and 35-unit Springville House on Blackrock Road, both oversubscribed, both voluntary schemes aimed at ages 60+ who want to rightsize), there’s a long way to go.

 In the meantime, more mature folk must look for their own alternatives.

The house featured here, an overhauled 1970s bungalow within walking distance of Midleton town centre, may be of particular interest to a downsizing/rightsizing cohort. And before you ask – it wasn’t affected by the recent devastating flood, which has crippled so many local businesses.

The bungalow has been in the ownership of a mature couple who bought it a number of years ago and turned it from a ‘70s throwback into a stylish and comfortable home. 

They pumped the walls with insulation, changed the kitchen, laid new flooring and decorated all over.

They thought too about converting the attached garage and went as far as getting drawings done for a new main bedroom with en suite. Those plans are available for new owners to inspect, albeit they will need to pursue planning permission if they wish to press ahead.

As it stands, the bungalow is a three-bed with c1,050 sq ft of living space, taking in a sitting room, open plan kitchen dining area and a shower room, along with the bedrooms. 

A stira leads to the attic space where a window was installed.

Outdoors, the site is fully enclosed and there’s lawn and parking, all more or less to the front. There’s a good smattering of trees, hedges and shrubs, as well as two outhouses. The entrance is gated, making it quite secure, and there’s external censored lighting to the front and rear.

 Safety measures were implemented indoors too, with the installation of a burglar alarm, and smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

Kyle Kennedy of Hegarty Properties is selling the 1973-built bungalow on behalf of owners who are relocating closer to family, and he says the Bailick Road location is “fantastic”.

“It’s in a mature residential area, only five minutes from Main Street in Midleton. It’s ideal town living and there’s great privacy, as the bungalow is detached and the entrance is gated,” Mr Kennedy says.

The guide price for the property is €350,000. As it’s close to schools (Midleton CBS National and Secondary are a five minute walk away, along with St Mary’s High School), it may also attract families.

Outdoor enthusiasts will be pleased to hear that there are numerous safe walking trails on the doorstep, such as the newly installed bridge at Midleton’s Pontoon, connecting to Ballyannan Wood and beyond.

The Cork/Waterford N25 is adjacent to the house, if commuting is a consideration for buyers.

VERDICT: You'd have to say that the bungalow is tailor-made for downsizers as it's on the level, turnkey, and so convenient to town. Security measures are good too.