Duplex (Tery Cui)
720m2, R2, South Coast, New South Wales
The Hidden Pitfalls of a “Simple” Duplex Project
On the surface, it looked like a textbook duplex development CDC-compliant, straightforward, and profitable. But as Terry Cui quickly discovered, even the “simplest” projects can unravel fast when key risks are missed in the early stages.
What seemed like a dream deal became a crash course in managing unexpected challenges:
Flood-affected land meant the entire block had to be raised by one metre, a major hit to both the timeline and the budget. Slab system dilemma: Choosing a suspended Bondek slab over a traditional bearer and joist system added layers of complexity, construction delays, and additional costs. Sales struggles: Once complete, the project faced a soft market with stiff competition. Nearly every site in the area was duplex-ready under CDC, saturating the market and slowing down sales.
This month at the Property Developer Network Meetup, Terry will take you behind the scenes of his Real Deal to show exactly how quickly a “sure thing” can spiral and more importantly, what he did about it.
He’ll walk you through:
- The early warning signs he missed during due diligence
- The true cost of building on flood-prone land (spoiler: it’s more than just dirt and concrete)
- Smarter ways to approach design and construction decisions that can make or break your margins
- Why understanding your end market is just as critical as buying the site right
If you're serious about becoming a savvier developer, one who learns from the mistakes of others instead of making them yourself, this is one session you can't afford to miss. Real mistakes. Real lessons. Real growth.