You know those post-boom property shows, the ones that tell you how to do up your home – painting here, tweaking there – in order to make a quick (and lucrative) sale? Well, none of that has been done to 36 Victoria Road. This five-bedroomed end-of-terrace house was in the same ownership for years, and bears all the hallmarks of a home that was loved for its memories rather than fashion, style or, even, convenience.
The advantage of this for a prospective buyer is that you’re not paying extra for anyone else’s taste. You also get to take your pick from the original features: the tiled fireplaces, stained-glass Arts and Crafts doors, cornicing, and wooden and quarry tiled floors. The disadvantage is the amount of work ahead of you. It’s so authentic, for example, that there’s no central heating, and the kitchen needs vision as well as love to make it your own.
Buyers with that vision will be well rewarded, as the rooms are large, the ceilings high, and it's in a fantastic location on a quiet residential street, near schools (Stratford College and the High School), bus routes, and a very short walk from the shops, eateries and pubs of Rathgar. On the ground floor, there is a sittingroom with a bay window, and double doors through to a diningroom. The kitchen is down some steps to the rear.
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You don’t get en-suite bedrooms, but you do have fire places in all five, and plenty of scope to sacrifice one of them if separate bathrooms are your thing. The house is laid out over three floors. The top floor, currently divided, can be knocked through and opened up to make a super bedroom for a teenager who wants their own space. Sometimes the phrase “house of character” implies a total wreck, but this house is full of character and, though it definitely needs work, a bit of imagination could go a long way.
