subject: Duplex Homes: Making The Most Of What You've Got [print this page] A growing trend for home building in urban areas, especially in established suburbs, is to consider a type of medium density housing that has found favour with consumers, local government and State Government alike.
If you have ever travelled to the UK or Europe, in particular, you may know this style of building as "semi-detached". In Australia, a pair of homes side by side (that is to say, with a wall joining them in the middle) are typically called a duplex home design.
Major new home builders are now offering special designs to suit typical homesites, and these can be bought "off the shelf" with a minimum of fuss. Usually a lot of thought has gone into the house plans to ensure that passage through the local Council's planning procedures is quick and simple.
You should be looking for designs that have great street appeal, of course. Strong, dramatic facades that match one another, and separate entrances and driveways that balance and complement each other is a must.
When you get inside, the placement of internal walls is crucial to ensure a minimum of noise transfer between each home, and the positioning of other features such as "indoor-outdoor" informal entertaining areas.
It makes good sense to visit a few display homes to checkout the overall quality of work on offer from your preferred builder, and then ask if they have specialist salespeople handling enquiries about duplex homes, and plans already drawn up. If they don't, it's better to find a builder who does, rather than trying to show-horn a design that was always intended to be a standalone home into something it isn't.
Duplex homes command good prices when built for sale. They are neat, and provide a practical solution to the urgent housing needs of modern Australian cities. And many immigrants (from both Europe and Asia) who don't expect a huge garden all around their home - and don't want it - positively favour this style of housing.
Many Mums and Dads with young adult children also see this as a smart way to keep in touch with their kids and yet create privacy and an independent lifestyle for both. Children are now staying at home longer often well into their twenties and a "side by side" arrangement is often a sensible and practical way to accommodate the changing life needs of both parents and offspring.
Last but not least, remember the basics. Make sure your builder offers a good solid structural guarantee on both homes, and a variety of attractive house plans to choose from.
