Jarlath’s fresh optimism for Property Direct as new premises opens in Collooney

PROPERTY Direct was established in 2020 by Jarlath Gantly MIPAV MMCEPI who is a graduate of TUD (Technological University Dublin) and has over 20 years’ experience within the property sector. His experience spans commercial, tourism and residential management & lettings and the management of SSA’s (Student Specific Accommodation). Property Direct offer Estate Agency services across Sligo, South Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo and Roscommon.

Property Direct are fully qualified and licenced Estate Agents and proud members of the Institute of Professional Auctioneers & Valuers. They hold all 4 Property Service licences which enables them to offer a complete and comprehensive offering across all property sectors.

It is Jarlath’s objective to ensure that Property Direct delivers the highest levels of service to all their clients across the residential, commercial, management, and letting sectors.

“Honesty, Transparency, Integrity, and Professionalism are the pillars upon which Property Direct is built. Exceeding expectations is our constant objective.”

Jarlath said: “We’re offering a professional, attentive service to people who want to sell their homes or for landlords who require property management. We also offer valuations and commercial lettings & management too”.

“We’ve been in business for over two years but we recently opened our new offices on Main Street in Collooney. We felt it was the perfect location to service both Sligo Town and South Sligo and it was an added bonus to help rejuvenate Collooney Village.”

“The property sector at the moment is in a bit of turmoil in that there simply isn’t enough property coming to the market,” he adds.

“There are two issues – firstly, there isn’t enough new stock coming through. Albeit that’s slowly improving in the Sligo area.

“The other issue is that there aren’t enough, what we would call, downsize properties. We need smaller two-bed bungalows coming to market to enable people who are maybe getting older and whose children have flown the coop. They want to sell their bigger house and downsize or right-size as its also known, to an apartment or a smaller home.

“But there are just not enough of those being built to facilitate that sector. The same for first-time buyers. They would like to buy something small to get a foothold in the market and then upscale from there.”

“What is encouraging is that some new developments are coming to the market with two-bed and three-bed properties. However, they are expensive. It’s difficult for developers who are trying to comply with current building regulations and keep the price affordable, the cost of land, raw materials, and labour have all increased significantly.”

“Ideally, we need a batch of smaller properties coming to market to enable first-time buyers and also downsizers/ right-sizers to move, this in turn will free up the bigger houses. That adds a fluidity to the property market that is currently missing.”

As for the future of Property Direct itself, Jarlath views it with optimism.

He said: “In the short-term, we’ll be looking to concentrate on our main office in Collooney, but we are looking at expansion within 12 months.