Sunshine Coast Dual Key Living Homes

Dual Living Properties Revolutionising the Real Estate Landscape

Have you heard about the latest trend that’s changing the shape of the Australian real estate market?
Dual living homes, or dual key properties as they’re also known, are quickly becoming the hottest topic on the Sunshine Coast with owner occupiers and investors clambering to get a foot into the market. Due to rising house prices increasing demand for new types of living arrangements, the popularity of dual key homes is skyrocketing. These properties are also perfect for people who regularly travel and those looking for increased rental income. We have written this blog to help you learn more about this opportunity and the benefits of having separate homes under the one roof – so read on!

What is Dual Key Living?

Dual key homes look like normal properties from the outside but they are actually two dwellings on the inside. The single property is designed to accommodate two self-contained households or two distinct tenants on the one legal title. Both living areas usually contain bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen or kitchenette and living space/s and dual key properties may have three to four bedrooms as the main residence and one or two rooms as a secondary area. These properties often have their own entrance or foyer area leading to two separately lockable doors and may also share facilities like a laundry. A good way to understand dual key living is as a combination between granny flats and a duplex. Like a granny flat, there are two living areas are on one site however unlike duplexes these spaces aren’t an exact mirror of each other and don’t have to be adjoining. There are many advantages to this arrangement including higher rental returns, accommodating relatives and paying only one set of rates and land tax.

What are the Benefits of Dual Key Living?

Dual key housing is fast becoming the hottest method of property ownership and investment on the Sunshine Coast as it presents lots of benefits to investors and owner occupiers alike. We’ve listed just a small selection of the benefits of dual living properties below:

Double Rent & Single Rates

One of the main advantages of dual key houses is the savings made on maintaining them. Most people know that one of the main obstacles in keeping an investment property are fees and rates that need to be paid. As a dual living property has two tenants but only a single freehold land title, this means you don’t need to pay any body corporate fees like for duplexes you only have to pay one lot of Council rates and water fees for both the dwellings. This can save you thousands of dollars every year and helps with positive gearing. The cash flow positive nature of dual living properties usually covers interest repayments and other costs. Additionally, you’ll simply have a single property to manage. Please note that dual key homes are subject to Council approval however, Optam Building Group can help you with this.

Accommodate Extra Family Members

As dual key homes are fully self-contained, the second part of the home can be used by other family members who may need to live nearby. Your relatives will have their own completely private space which is perfect for an elderly parent or relative who needs to be close by so you can provide them with care. Instead of having a separate Granny Flat and incurring the associated extra expenses, your family members can still enjoy their own privacy whilst you enjoy the savings.

Live in one Area and Rent Out the Other

Owner occupiers can also benefit from dual key living. They have the option to live in one section of the dual key property whilst renting out the other part of the dwelling to a tenant. The main advantage of this strategy is that the rent received from the lease can subsidise the owner occupiers’ mortgage repayments, helping them pay off their home loan and own the property sooner. This strategy is also a good fit for investors who may want to live in the property too.

Lock and Leave While Travelling

Those people who travel will also love dual key properties. Another great benefit is that you can lock up your part of the home if you ever travel whilst still renting out the other section. So instead of going away on a holiday and simply having your home sitting there doing nothing, you now have the ability to generate extra income from the second section of the property whilst you’re absent. Additionally, your tenant will be able to collect mail for you and keep an eye on your property, giving you peace of mind that your home is safe and being looked after.

Contact Optam Building Group Today

Having two dwellings on one legal title using a dual key arrangement takes the humble Granny Flat to a new level and avoids extra expenses like with duplexes. With more and more people on the Sunshine Coast looking for alternative living options and investors hungry for positively geared properties, it’s no wonder this type of arrangement is becoming more and more popular every day. Allowing investors to collect double the rent whist only paying one set of rates is a great advantage as is the potential to provide a private living space for family members who need to be close by due to their care requirements. Owner occupiers can also use this strategy to pay off their mortgage quicker and travellers will love the fact that they’re still earning income whilst on holidays and their property is being looked after.
Optam is one of the leading builders on the Sunshine Coast and pioneers in the construction of dual living homes. We have over three decades in the building industry and a large team of expert trades waiting to help you with your next project. Please contact us today on (07) 5443 3780 or email admin@optam.com.au for your free discovery consultation.

Future Proofing Your New Custom Designed Home with Battery Storage and Electric Car Chargers

Our clients build new homes with Optam for many reasons including to raise a family, as an investment to resell or even just to create the perfect retirement sanctuary to enjoy their Golden Years on the beautiful Sunshine Coast. If you are thinking about building a custom designed home, have you considered whether or not it will meet your needs 5 to 10 years into the future? Before you sign off on the designs for your new luxury home or undertake a major renovation, it may be wise to ensure your home is ready for all the exciting changes the future holds. Sustainability and adaptability are extremely important concepts to future-proof your newly built home and the latest green technologies offer solutions to some of the latest challenges.

Battery Storage to Capture Excess Solar Energy

Battery storage is becoming more popular in Sunshine Coast homes with many locals taking advantage of the plentiful sunshine to capture excess energy from their solar panels. When you install good quality batteries in your new designer home, you’ll be able to store the electricity generated during the daytime to be used at the peak demand time of early evening when more lights and appliances are being used for cooking and entertainment purposes. This allows you to use stored energy even when the sun is not shining and furthermore, you’ll be able to sell back power to the grid using a virtual power plant setup.

There are many benefits to installing a home battery storage system including:

• Save more money using your existing solar system
• Store extra energy from your solar panels
• Get free energy even after the sun goes down
• Have a backup power supply during a blackout and keep the lights on
• Join a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) to sell power back to the grid and make money!

The future of battery storage certainly holds exciting things with the promises of environmentally-friendly energy and the ability to make money from the excess power generated by your home with very little effort. To discuss the best methods to future proof your home, please get in touch with the Sunshine Coast’s best custom home builders today by calling (07) 5443 3780 or emailing admin@optam.com.au.

Get Ready for the Electric Car Revolution

With many people on the Sunshine Coast already investing in electric vehicles (EVs), adding batteries now will also help you future proof your home in terms of the coming changes to the way we get around. With the premium batteries installed in the custom homes designed by Optam, you’ll be able to add charge to your EV batteries quickly with minimal fuss. With a full charge your electric vehicle can travel hundreds of kilometres for a fraction of the cost of a full tank of petrol. By installing a home battery system in your Sunshine Coast property, you’ll not only be doing the right thing by the environment, you’ll also save a substantial amount of money on fuel expenses. And with the price of petrol expected to continue its upwards trend, the savings you could make in the not too distant future by charging your electric vehicle at home will be huge!

The design stage of your major renovation or new custom build is the best time to think about the best way to future proof your home. When considering building your new home on the Sunshine Coast, it makes sense to consider the need to park and charge an electric vehicle. To get ready for EV charging needs, Optam Building Group can help ensure your home wiring and other electrical equipment will last over the long term and be suitable for the coming future of transport. During the design stage of your new custom home, we can help you choose the best grid connection and ensure all planned wiring and your switchboard can adequately accommodate an electric vehicle charger. We can also back-up the main circuits in your new home so you’ll enjoy a constant supply of power to charge your EV and have guaranteed power for your lights, internet, fridge and air conditioning. You’ll essentially be able to survive off-grid using the power stored in your batteries for days. By getting ready now, you’ll enjoy early mover advantages for when you purchase an EV. You’ll also be setup to enjoy a more economical way to get around whilst also reducing your carbon footprint. In fact, by charging your car at home, you’ll enjoy a much lower cents per kilometre expense than traditional petrol vehicles.

With the Australian government forecasting battery-electric vehicles to represent 30 per cent of new car sales by 2030, now is the time to get ready for your home EV charging needs. Electric vehicles are becoming more and more common and many Sunshine Coast residents are considering an EV for their next purchase. The ability to charge your new car for free using solar power stored in your home battery is definitely a major concern when building a new home.

Although, a normal household powerpoint can be used to charge your electric vehicle, this isn’t the most efficient method as it’s quite slow. Additionally, if your new home doesn’t have the correct wiring installed, circuits can become overheated. The best option is to include an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) charging port in the design of your new home. These ports give a much faster charge. Optam Building Group can even help you install a three-phase electricity system in your custom designed home that can recharge an EV even quicker. The good news is that when designing a new home, it’s often lot cheaper to work three-phase power system into the build than on an existing home. To future proof your home, speak to the professional builders at Optam.

Future Proof Your Home With Optam Today

With Optam Building Group by your side, you’ll enjoy construction knowledge gained over 3 decades in the industry. When designing your new home on the beautiful Sunshine Coast, we’ll ensure your battery system operates at maximum efficiency and is ready for the coming electric transport revolution. Enjoy the benefits of battery storage now and EV charging well into the future with a custom home designed by Optam. Please contact us for your free discovery consultation today by calling (07) 5443 3780 or emailing admin@optam.com.au.

Optam Now Building Smart Homes

Sunshine Coast Smart Homes
Smart homes – connected homes – intelligent homes. Whatever you call them, more and more people on the Sunshine Coast are becoming interested in home automation. And why wouldn’t they? With a wide variety of connected devices and appliances to choose from as well as a host of benefits to boot, there are plenty of good reasons to consider making your new house a smart home. Optam are one of the Sunshine Coast’s best home builders and we can help you install these computer technologies when constructing your new designer home or during a major renovation.

So, what is a Smart Home?
An intelligent home is just that – a place where each appliance, device and other fittings are interconnected to make your life easier and more enjoyable. Each room in a smart home is equipped with a variety of timers, switches and sensors which are connected to a central control system using smart wiring or a purpose-built home network. With the help of you local Sunshine Coast home builder, you’ll be able to create different scenarios that can be programmed into the central control system. For example, a “Return from Work” scenario could trigger the garage door to open and security system to turn off as well as turning on the oven and playing your favourite song as you walk through the front door. Basically, smart homes are there to create an environment in your home that can be varied depending on your mood, the time of day or other triggering event.

Types of Smart Home Technologies
With smart homes gaining popularity both on the Sunshine Coast and around the country, more and more devices and appliances are integrating the Internet of Things (IoT) technologies into their design. Just a small selection of areas in your home that could be automated include:

– Automated lighting
– Automated air conditioning
– Automated roller blinds and windows
– Automated garage doors
– Automated smart appliances such as fridges, ovens, washing machines

As time progresses, more and more options will become available and an increasing number of homeowners will jump on the bandwagon. Another smart home technology that is becoming increasingly common are smart locks.

The Best Intelligent Home Technology: Keyless Smart Lock Technologies
One of the newer intelligent home technologies are smart locks. There are many reasons to use a keyless smart lock at your Sunshine Coast home. This access control method is perfect for allowing entry in a variety of different situations including for students, guests and deliveries. Besides improved security, keyless locks enable after hours entry at any time – even if you’ve lost your key. It’s also useful for enabling guests to enter at their convenience without disturbing others at the property. You can also rest easy knowing that you can remotely set a code for delivery drivers to drop off your parcels in the knowledge that they won’t be left outside where they may be stolen.

There are a wide variety of smart locks available including those without handles such as smart deadbolts and those with handles such as slimline smart door locks. Modern day smart locks are wireless with a long battery life and low power consumption. Digital door locks can be opened using a variety of different measures depending on the model. Some of the most common access technologies are:

● Fingerprint access
● Keypad access
● Key card access
● App access
● Smartwatch access
● Smartphone access
● Smart assistants access such as Amazon Alexa or Google Home

These cutting-edge locks have built-in activity logs and alarms that add an extra layer of security for added peace of mind. However, despite their advanced technology, keyless smart locks are simple, intuitive and have user-friendly operation. For those people who might be worried about the potential for their smart locks to be hacked, you can rest easy in the knowledge that manufacturers have added military-grade security features including encrypting access codes, ensuring resistance against electric shocks as well as the smart lock sending push notifications and alerts of any failed entry attempts.

Benefits of Smart Home Technology
Whenever a new technology comes onto the market, it is usually an improvement on the old way of doing things. It is now being applied to our homes to help make us more comfortable and increasingly enjoy our downtime.

Some of the advantages of our intelligent homes include:

● Increased Convenience
Smart home technology makes things such as entertainment a breeze. From turning on the TV with voice to having our favourite happy song play when we wake up in the morning, this setup just helps make everything easier. Additionally, repetitive or complex tasks can be automated so you can focus more on doing what you enjoy.

● Improved Sustainability
IoT can also help make your home more sustainable. Using this technology, you’ll be able to save energy by efficiently controlling when items are turned on and off or when shutters are opened to allow cool breezes in or keep sunlight out. Additionally, you’ll have the ability to keep an eye on exactly how much water and energy your home is using and adjust accordingly. Smart home technologies are also helpful for identifying plumbing issues such as leaking pipes and other problems by the use of smart detectors. This can reduce your living costs as lights can automatically be switched off and the energy use of other appliances are optimised. Your home maintenance costs will therefore be reduced as you save electricity, gas and water through the use of smart technology.

● Disability Management
For those people who have a disability themselves or one of their family members does, smart home technologies can also be used to facilitate access and control features around the home. For example, a person with limited mobility can use voice commands to turn on and off appliances instead of having to physically get up and move.

● More Comfort
Another major advantage of connected homes is improving the comfort levels of those living at your place. Climate control systems such as air con, heating and roller blinds as well as lighting systems can be adjusted according to time of day, surrounding environment or your mood.

● Increased security
Technologies such as smart locks and smart sensors using advanced communication systems are perfect for monitoring your property both when you’re home and away. These modern day fittings help keep unwanted visitors out and their remote abilities means that they can be controlled from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection.

● Add Value
By being an early adopter of smart technologies, you’ll add value to your home. As more and more people will be demanding smart home technologies in the coming years, getting them installed now will future-proof your home and put your in a very good position when you decide to sell down the track.

Get A Smart Home with Optam Building Group
Optam is one of the best-known builders of sustainable and luxury designer homes on the Sunshine Coast. An award-winning company, we have been involved in incorporating sustainable principles into our designs for over 30 years, well before it was popular. In fact, our expertise and experience in this field has been acknowledged with our accreditation as a HIA GreenSmart Certified Builder. We are now applying smart home technologies in our quest to build as many Net-Zero Energy homes as possible. Whether you’d like to incorporate smart technologies into your brand-new build or alternatively add them to your home during a major renovation, Optam have the expertise to find the best solution to ensure sustainability and comfort. If you’d like to be ahead of the curve and consider installing smart technologies in your home, please feel free to contact us and speak to one of our sustainable building experts. For your free discovery consultation, please contact us on (07) 5443 3780 or email admin@optam.com.au.