This time last year, Ardeevin on Saval Park Road in Dalkey was for sale by private treaty with a price tag of €1.45 million. The detached bungalow on a 1/3 of an acre is now back on the market, with a different agent, Lisney, and this time the owners are going to auction on May 28th with an AMV of €1.25 million.

What happens on the day will be interesting: if it goes well it could add fuel to the theory that auctions are on the way back because going this route eliminates “sale agreed limbo”, whereby an offer is accepted in a private treaty sale and after months and months the would-be buyer is still not able to close the deal often because of financing difficulties.

Last year, a bungalow next door to Ardeevin sold for €1.1 million and the buyer quickly obtained planning permission, knocked the house down and now a smart looking new house is being built – so clearly this is a desirable road.

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Whoever buys Ardeevin is unlikely to go down the demolition route but the four-bedroom bungalow, with 214sq m (2,300sq ft) does present interesting options, especially for buyers seeking to run a business from home. When the owners, who are now downsizing, built it 45 years ago, they included a garage to the front. Some years ago that was converted into office use and as that business expanded a mezzanine level was added. It is now a fully-staffed office, though the only hint that there is commercial activity taking place is the parking out front for three or four cars.

The owners designed their house to follow the sun throughout the day and so there is a large L-shaped livingroom with picture windows, a study, a formal diningroom, a good-sized eat-in kitchen and a more recently added sunroom. One of the four bedrooms has an ensuite as well as a sizeable dressing area.

The south-west facing 32m back garden is planted with great colour and variety.