Advantages & Disadvantages of Duplex Houses
A home is an emotional place where you feel sheltered and secured. It binds you with the warmth and love of your family member.
So, you want your home comfy and beautiful. Duplexes give the notion of premium living standards and lifestyle since they offer more space and facilities.
Duplex is more of two levels, but duplex project on one level is also at disposal. This article will provide you with the detail of the advantages and disadvantages of duplex houses.
What is a duplex house?
Duplex houses are stylish with enough space and comfortability. Duplex houses denote a two-story buildings attached above each other. Generally, the floors are connected with a staircase.
The structure of a duplex house varies from place to place depending on the country you are living in. The most common designs can be:
- Two living quarters.
- One shared wall either side by side or over-under.
There can be more than two quarters which we would like to call multiplex.
What is it like living in a duplex?
Duplex houses are mostly in nice residential areas, which means you will have a good neighborhood. Also, the front and back yard space will give you such pleasure and a home feeling.
Notably, duplex houses have more space inside than apartments. Hence, you will get more private space of your own.
Furthermore, you can change the interior according to your taste. You also have the freedom to hang your favorite paintings.
All in, life is more peaceful in duplex houses. But yes, your peace will also depend on your neighbor. If you get a neighbor who is listening to music all night, you have to cross your finger.
Advantages of duplex house
Living in a duplex house can be a remarkable experience for you with your family. The advantages are numerous which are as follows:
1. Affordable:
Duplex houses are a cheaper way to buy a house. This is like you will buy an entire house with the price of an apartment. And if you rent, you’ll get the same benefits as a single-family apartment for a fraction of the price.
2. Additional space:
Duplex houses have more space than apartments. Because duplex houses typically have more area than apartments – the yards, garden, and garage are also shared, so the living space is more.
3. Better neighborhood:
Apartment buildings are typically planned and constructed in densely populated areas. And apartment buildings are founded with other buildings.
Simultaneously, duplex houses are built in suburban regions alongside single-family homes, giving them a neighborhood atmosphere.
So, the duplex house area has a better neighbor environment.
4. Privacy:
Duplex houses have more privacy rather than apartments. And these buildings have large spaces, so the yards can be divided into many, maintaining privacy with neighbors.
Moreover, you will have one or two next-door neighbors to you. As a result, you do not have to share lifts which make a more comfortable stay.
5. Decoration:
There will be freedom to décor your house as you wish. You can choose the interior to décor your home like you dream.
Moreover, you are free to change your wall paint, color, accessories, and whatnot. Hang your favorite paintings outside your home. There will be no complaints.
6. Washer:
In duplex buildings, you’ll have access to washing and dryer. So, you need not share laundry space with your neighbor.
7. One or two stories tall:
People who want to avoid long elevator lines and extensive flights of stairs will be happier in a duplex. On the first floor, the bulk of duplex entrances are found.
8. Live with your family next to each other:
If you have a large family, a duplex gives you the option of living next door to them. So, you may appreciate having a close family member nearby. A lovely solid wall running across the center of the house can help you keep your sanity.
9. Cover the cost of mortgage through a renter:
If you buy a duplex house and want to clear your mortgage, you can stay on one side and rent on the other side. You can pay your mortgage from the rent you get.
Disadvantages of duplex house
Though a duplex house is stylish and enhances your living standard, it is not out of its disadvantages. Let’s take a look at the cons of duplex houses.
1. Maintenance responsibility:
The maintenance responsibility of your duplex house will be yours. So, maintenance, repairing, other charges will sometimes take time which will be solely your responsibility.
You need to trim your yard and garden by yourself. Seasonal maintenance sometimes is tough, though.
2. No guarantee of income:
You have no guarantee of income from your tenant as duplex houses may or may not have tenants all the time.
3. Stuck with a next-door neighbor:
As your duplex house will have one or two front door neighbors, so, it may happen that you will not be on good terms with your neighbor, which sometimes will become tiresome for you.
Or if your neighbor is noisy, you can even complain about this to anyone.
4. Noise:
Noise can sometimes be a problem in duplex houses because these houses have common walls. And the shared spaces will not always block every sound.
The people who live on the bottom floor of a stacked duplex will have to cope with a lot of stomping. Residents side-by-side should cross their fingers that there is no television or stereo on the opposite side of the wall.
5. Shared part of the house:
Some areas of the house may be shared by both residences depending on the structure and floor design, including plumbing, roof, foundation, porch, yard, sheds, pool, driveway, and more.
When one of these house components has to be repaired or a disagreement, the issue might get problematic.
6. Getting the right tenant:
It is tough to compromise your privacy in a duplex house if you share with another family. It sometimes may lead to disagreement also.
Final words
A duplex house can be your dream luxury if you ignore the disadvantages. If you want more privacy, you can choose not to share your home with tenants.
But if you are going to earn from your duplex, you can select the right tenant for you so that you will not have to compromise your privacy.
After all, living in a duplex house is an enjoyable experience which you must explore.