One of the big misconceptions about a duplex home is that it’s small. I hear you. I’ve lived in them before and they can feel quite narrow. But not every side-by-side home has that ‘the walls are closing in on me’ feeling.
The property I want to show you through today is going to change the way you think about a duplex. And I should know; I’ve been in this home a few times and experienced the sense of space myself. And yes, it did make me want to sell my place and move into this one immediately.
The home I’m showing you through is a DualOcc by Metricon, built in the Bayside suburb of East Bentleigh.
The customers who partnered with Metricon on the build, Shane and Bridget Yole, are no strangers to a duplex. This is their second side-by-side build with Metricon and they’re already moving onto their next one. It’s fair to say they’ve been bitten by the building bug. And with good reason!
So Why Build a Duplex Home?
The reason why you’d want to build a duplex home, as you’d imagine, is the profit you can rake in. And the concept behind a DualOcc by Metricon is pretty simple one, too. Buy a block of land, demolish the older home, build as many new homes on the block as the council will permit, and then reap the rewards from there. Sure, I’ve simplified the process, but it really isn’t that difficult to do.
The good news is that you can be as involved in the process as you want to be, and Metricon do almost all of the work for you.
If I had the cash, I’d be doing exactly what Shane and Bridget are doing. Buying, demolishing, building and selling. But of course, with a DualOcc build, your options are endless. You can live in one side and sell the other. Or you can live in one side and rent the other. You can sell both. Or you can rent both. Regardless of your strategy, the benefits are whopping.
Divine Design Inside and Out
Let’s talk about the design features of this beauty, because there are many. And as you well know, stunning design is what I live for. Walking through the home was an eye opener because I expected it to feel small. But it was actually really spacious.
A study meets you as you step inside the door. Beyond that, a powder room and the master bedroom. The master bedroom downstairs is a smart move when it comes to resale; everyone wants a bedroom downstairs. Past the master bedroom you head out to the open plan kitchen, diving and living room. And that opens out onto a spacious back garden.
For a home that has a dividing wall down the middle, you don’t notice it once you’re inside. Yes, the two homes are pretty much a mirror image of one another, but they feel quite freestanding. The colour choices internally have helped the home feel light and airy, which really does make it feel larger. And with ample light coming in side and back windows, it’s a space that feels really inviting.
And Some Dreamy Property Styling too
I should shoutout to the property styling team for this project, because they have done a phenomenal job here.
Once the DualOcc by Metricon was complete, Bridget and Shane brought in Michelle + Co Property to fill the home with furniture and decor. And boy does it help make the space feel homely.
I can’t stress enough how important home staging is when you’re selling a home. It can dramatically increase your sale price and get your home sold quicker. All for a small investment of cash. I’ve worked in home staging in the past, so you’ll never hear me say a bad word about it. I reckon it’s a crucial part of the selling process.
Let’s Talk about the Dollars
Shane and Bridget sold the property you see here for $1.49m and the home beside it for $1.39m, with a total profit of $560,000. Not bad for the small amount of time they invested in the project, which was a little over 20 hours.
Hopefully this is giving you some insight into not only how spacious and grand a duplex home can feel, but also how much potential you might have in your own property. Maybe now is the time to consider knocking down your old home and building some DualOcc homes. Something to think about, right?
If nothing else, I hope the staging of this home has you hooked on using a property stylist when you come to sell your place.
If you want more info about a DualOcc by Metricon, click here.
Shane and Bridget took part in a fly-on-the-wall, eight-part series about the entire DualOcc journey. Above is a preview for you, and you can watch the other episodes on the Metricon Youtube channel here.
What’s your take on the divine design you see in this post? Are you as smitten as I am with the space? Drop me a comment below and let me know what you’ve loving!
This post includes images and/or videos of Metricon display homes and events, reproduced with permission. © Metricon Homes Pty Ltd 2016.
