As property prices continue to increase across Australia, maximising the value of each square metre has become more important than ever. This has driven an increased demand in duplex (and dual occupancy) developments.

The five initial steps for a duplex project

1. Feasibility and quote 

The duplex builder/consultant provides a detailed land appraisal, including potential building concepts and intelligent solutions to overcome any obstacles. Your expected outcomes are thoroughly considered prior to the preparation of a comprehensive and itemised quote.

2. Preliminary works and preliminary contracts presentation

An itemised contract should be presented by the builder/consultant that includes site and drainage costs, along with a choice of alterations and upgrades to personalise the home design.

3. Town planning application and outcome

A specialist planner needs to prepare the town planning drawings for local council approval. More information on planning permit applications in Victoria can be found on the department’s website. 

4. Contract and build permit 

Contracts should be signed once council’s permit conditions have been met. Applications and permissions should then be handled by the builder/consultant, and once everyone is satisfied with the project plan, demolition of the existing property (if required) can occur.

5. Site start

Building commences and it's time to turn dreams into reality. 

Advantages of a duplex home

Duplex homes are quite popular, with major cities and traditional urban hubs thriving by introducing variations of the concept. Building a duplex can be profitable as it utilises valuable land and provides additional accommodation, with little or no loss of privacy. Professional designers, such as Metricon, who are familiar with duplex developments evaluate the potential of the land and design homes which include clever use of space, while still ensuring their spacious designs are suited to council planning regulations. 

By definition, a duplex is a residential building where two homes share a central wall. Outside of this, builders and designers are free to create individual internal plans and designs as well as separate driveways and street frontages along with private backyards. First home buyers and people wanting to get into the property market are all looking for a less expensive way to get into the market and duplex residences are often the answer.

Why choose a freestanding home? 

For land with a narrower street frontage, dual occupancy is achieved with freestanding homes in a tandem design (one behind the other). Apart from the site frontage, the property's depth and orientation also assists in determining freestanding home design solutions. Dual occupancy freestanding homes provide many advantages, including:

•    Unused land is utilised for profit
•    Property maintenance is reduced
•    One or both homes can be sold if the property is subdivided
•    Opportunity to downsize by moving into a new freestanding home
•    Value for money

Why Metricon for your project?

There are three key reasons why Metricon Dual Occupancy is a logical choice. 

Partnership: As Australia's leading residential home builder, Metricon has the leverage to build homes of the highest quality for the best possible price. The security that comes with a trusted market leader shouldn't be overlooked. Building with Metricon is a partnership where owner and builder are on the same page and planning is made easy.

Experience: The desirable reputation of Metricon is a direct result of customer satisfaction. This is made possible in a number of ways, including stringent quality assurance, financial transparency and extensive knowledge of council requirements and regulations. Metricon is a well-known brand with an influential presence in the housing marketplace.

Security and peace of mind: The bottom line is the completion of a quality dual occupancy for exceptional value. This already sets Metricon apart from much of the competition. Add to this a 25 year structural guarantee on all Metricon homes, plus the flexibility to modify designs to comply with council requirements or supply your own plans, and your decision is made easy.

Metricon streamlines the entire process, taking care of submissions and paperwork, engaging professional tradespeople and overseeing the project. You are free to explore and discuss the full potential of your build, knowing that Metricon specialists are with you all the way.  

Contact Metricon on 1300 786 773 or visit their website for further details on Duplex and other home builder options.

This is a sponsored article.