‘Trust is at the forefront of everything we do’

Auctioneer Mark Lawlor

Now celebrating his second Christmas in Cootehill, Mark Lawlor’s top priority is to thank all his clients for their continued support throughout the year.

“We wouldn’t have a business without them, their continued support makes our job possible,” he told the Celt.

“The reality is, if somebody has a house to buy or sell or let, it’s likely the biggest asset they own so they put a lot of trust in you to handle the sale or letting accordingly. Trust is at the forefront of everything we do and without it, we wouldn’t have a business.

“We would like to extend a word of thanks to everyone for trusting us this year and hope that we repaid that,” he said.

With offices in Cootehill and Belturbet, Mark Lawlor Auctioneers cover areas all over Cavan and surrounding counties, having seen some properties in Monaghan come across their books this year, and even extending its footprint to Drogheda in County Louth this year through the Cootehill office.

On the housing front, Mark said “supply remains an issue” however there is a “positive” outlook regarding the new developments in Cootehill and Cavan as a whole.

“In Cootehill and in the county of Cavan there does seem to be some developments getting through or there’s planning going through for them, which is definitely positive and massively needed,” he remarked.

“Nationally planning and the rezoning of land have proved to be the biggest stumbling block in development in recent times.”

Mark hailed new developments around the Cootehill area such as a project by JJ McCauley Construction Ltd to build 49 homes on the Cavan Road into town, the first few of which have been built, along with various other sites with planning coming to the market as a “welcome demonstration by Cavan County Council to tackle the housing issue at ground level”. He is also hopeful that developments such as ALDI in Cootehill will “help the town expand and accommodate the growing population”.

However, for those developers who are looking to build homes, Mark finds “planning is proving to be a huge stumbling block” adding that the grounds for objection “have to be looked at” on a national level.

“Young people hoping to build once-off individual homes have become scarce, this is due to the current building costs for once-off units being extremely expensive,” he observed. “We’ve seen this in the lower demand for sites locally.”

Meanwhile, Mark said grants have made vacant homes in the countryside “more appealing”, although carrying out the required work has become “more challenging”.

“We have seen a broad selection of homes, both in town and out of town, and they’re moving relatively well this year,” he commented.

He reflects on the current market data in Cootehill, where properties were on the market for an average of four weeks before they went ‘sale agreed’ and then sold for 15% above the asking price. This, he said, represents “current market demands”.

“In theory the process of buying a house looks quick, but we are seeing delays in the conveyancing end of things through no major fault of anyone in particular, it can be anywhere from probate delays to banks not releasing deeds, to boundary issues.

“This can be very frustrating for a young person or couple looking to get into their new home.”

With Christmas on the horizon and dark evenings upon us, house viewings have slowed down for the auctioneering business, which Mark described as “seasonal.”

At this time of year, they are “busy” with legal work and “trying to get homes over the line” in time for Christmas.

Mark wished all his customers a merry Christmas and a happy New Year and looks forward to working with them for the remainder of 2025, and into 2026.

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