For estate agent Kim Fleming, selling her house has been an "eye opener". Kim, who works with Hassetts, and her husband John purchased her home, a three-bedroom bungalow in St Crispins, Greystones, nine years ago. It's now on the market through Hassetts with an asking price of €550,000.
Number 6 St Crispins was Kim's first house so this is her first time to experience the reality of being a vendor up close and personal.
"Now I really realise all the trouble people have to go to to prepare a house for viewings," she says. Making sure the house is "spotlessly clean" all the time while having a full-time job is "difficult", according to Kim. "I'm surprised at the amount of work that has to be done."
She says that her experience of selling will inform her dealings with clients in the future. She admits that she will be more "considerate" when it comes to giving clients time to get the house ready.
The house, which she purchased for around €127,000 (£100,000) back in 1999, has been on the market for three months.
The 79sq m (850sq ft) bungalow would suit either first-time buyers or someone looking to trade down, she says. The couple are selling up to move to Newcastle, where they have purchased a 1970s bungalow in need of a big makeover.
"I have studied interior design and it has always been a dream to buy a fixer-upper. We are doing it up at the moment," she explains.
The decision to move has been "difficult" because the couple have been "so happy in the house. But we just stumbled on the house and fell in love with it."
As for No 6 St Crispins, Kim says it is a "hidden gem". The location is very good - near the beach and the pub.
The thing she will miss the most from the house itself is the designer kitchen they installed only last year. It has Chinese slate tiles, granite worktop and integrated wine rack.
There has been interest in the house but no firm offers to date. Like may other vendors at the moment Kim is in the frustrating position of knowing that there are buyers interested in purchasing her house, but they can't commit until they sell their own house.
