Auctioneers move into prime location in village

By Mary Dennehy

A FAMILY-run auctioneers that started business more than five decades ago has opened an office in Saggart village, which they believe is a prime location with lots of potential.

CME Auctioneers has moved into a unit at the Slade Castle shopping centre on Main Street, Saggart – which will complement its existing offices in Naas and Newbridge.

Employing more than 40 people across its three branches, CME in Saggart is being run by David Menton, who, with 16 years of auctioneering experience, has been with CME for the past four years.

Mr Menton told The Echo: “We’re delighted to be based in Saggart, which is an area that is expanding all of the time and is a great location with lots of planned developments here and in neighbouring areas such as Citywest.

“There is no auctioneering office based in Saggart Village and we thought that the introduction of one would benefit the area and for us as a business, we saw an opening and felt that it was a right fit.

“We’re in a great location across from Dunnes with a big footfall and the Luas stop is up the road.”

While there is a lot of housing developments planned for Saggart and its neighbouring communities of Citywest and Rathcoole, Mr Menton believes that the banks need to start lending.

“There is a huge demand for houses and family homes, and here in Citywest and Saggart a lot of the developments are houses, which is really positive,” Mr Menton said.

“However, the banks are choking up the market. People who are trading up and trying to sell their apartment or town house for a house are being told they need to get a 20 per cent deposit.

“This is very unrealistic and unfair and the banks should look at dropping it, even to 15 per cent as a start.

“The banks have gone from one extreme to another – they were giving away money a few years back and now they’re not giving anything.

“The banks really need to loosen the strings so that people can get homes. “Any help for first-time buyers in the forthcoming budget would also be welcome.”

According to Mr Menton, CME offers a full range of services covering residential sales and evaluations, commercial lettings, individual property management and more, with individual tailored packages made for each client.

“We have a really polished and professional service with great expertise and we are in constant communication with the client”, Mr Menton said.

For further information drop in to the CME office in Slade Castle, Main Street, Saggart, visit www.cmeauctioneers.ie or call 4580838.