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Meet Kylie Davies-Culloden and Jim Culloden
Meet Kylie Davies-Culloden and Jim Culloden
November 2020 in Meet Your Neighbours
Project Manager, Jim and his wife, Kylie, bought land at Peppercorn Hill in Stage 4 in July this year. Currently renting in Mernda, they are excited about building their first home together.
Now their two sons have left home, the two empty nesters are looking forward sharing their new forever house with their cat, Henry, with plenty of space for friends and family to come and visit.
Keen outdoor enthusiasts – they love exploring the outdoors, camping, hiking, fishing – they love to travel and can’t wait to get back to Nepal to explore the Himalayas some more. They’re also planning to hike the Overland Track in Tasmania in 2021.
We took this opportunity to chat with Kylie and Jim to discover what made them choose Peppercorn Hill.
There are so many factors to consider when purchasing land and building your own house. What made you choose Peppercorn Hill?
“It was a huge decision! Originally, we moved from Moonee Ponds to Mernda to test out the area and see if we liked it, because it was somewhere where we thought we might be able to buy a house. We hadn’t considered building a house, ever!
“Initially, we didn’t really like Mernda and longed to move back into the city to reduce our commute time and be closer to things we thought we enjoyed (bars, cafes etc). However, like many people, COVID made us re-evaluate what was really important to us – ultimately we worked out we didn't miss living in inner city, we didn’t miss going out to cafes and bars, but we did miss being able to get away on weekends to do the things we really love like camping, hiking and fishing.
“So, we started looking at buying a house in the Mernda/Doreen area. But we didn't especially like any of the existing homes we saw which were in our price range. With the announcement of the Home Builder Grant, we started researching the idea of actually building a house. We then spoke to our lending consultant and realised that this was a smarter option for us.
“We both work full-time in the CBD area either a few days a week or as required. And in fact, COVID has been a blessing workwise, as we both now have far more flexibility and have been able to work from home a lot more – it’s been a game changer!
“We’ve had many discussions about moving further into regional Victoria (and that is probably where we’ll end up eventually), but for now, with our work requirements, Donnybrook is the perfect location. We can access the V-Line train (which will eventually also offer a Metro line) and commute to work when required. Plus, it’s close enough to shops and amenities, but just 5 minutes from the Hume Highway, which means we can easily escape on the weekend without having to deal with any traffic congestion.
“We drove around every land development in the Donnybrook, Kalkallo and Mickleham areas, and we eventually decided on Peppercorn Hill, because it just had a nicer feeling, and we loved the views of the hill. The estate was also very competitive, price wise, and the blocks are all on gentle slopes which will help with site costs. Plus, the masterplan really appealed to us, with all the facilities proposed, and there’s already a real sense of community.
The sales process can sometimes be a pretty overwhelming and daunting process. What have been your biggest challenges so far? And how have the Peppercorn Hill Sales Team helped you and supported you along the way?
“It is really overwhelming and daunting – particularly for first time builders like us. We really wanted to be able to take the time to consider decisions fully but had no idea how quickly new land is snapped up by people. For example, do you buy the land first then decide on the house, or do you find the house you want and then secure the land? So many decisions!
“We changed our minds quite a few times and our Sales Consultant, Deb Teazis, was incredibly helpful and understanding. We initially set our sights on the larger block we ended up buying, but then switched to a smaller block when we were trying to work to a smaller budget. We then compromised so much on everything from block size to house features, that in the end felt we were building a house on a block that we didn’t want and wouldn’t be happy with anyway, so we walked away.
“A couple of months on, we noticed the original larger block was still available, and with some new thinking about what we’d be willing to spend (and find a deposit for), we got back in touch with Deb and finalised the contract.
“We had so many conversations, calls and texts with Deb and asked so many questions, but she was always helpful, transparent, patient and supportive of us every step of the way. While I’m sure we were frustrating at times, she stepped us through each stage, and we are so appreciative and grateful for her help.
“Our biggest challenges have been around the actual house build component – pricing and fixing costs for the house and ensuring the combined house and land valuation is on par with, or higher, than what we’re paying.
“We initially decided on a floor plan and house design we really loved but felt that communication and transparency were lacking. So, we switched builders. That meant that we couldn’t run with that exact floor plan, which would have maximised an alfresco area on our block looking up to the hill. However, we then landed on a similar floor plan with our new builder, which was within our price range, signed the pre works contract, and then our valuation came in $55,000 less! The land valuation was on par, but we had had to make some drastic changes to our house build to increase the value. This is the biggest challenge of building in a new development, without comparable houses and prices for valuers to look at, as it means that your valuation will be made in comparison to houses in neighbouring areas – which, in this instance, didn't work in our favour.
“So, we’re staying with this builder, but we’ve had to make further concessions on the house design – we’ve increased the size of our floor plan but compromised on some premium finishes/upgrades. The changes have been favourably received by the valuer and we’re now just waiting on final finance approval.
“It is pretty stressful and hard when you have your heart set on a particular look and feel. But it’s still going to be a beautiful home, and there are a lot of things we can do post-build, so you’ll never know the difference!
“We just received finance approval for our house and land package which is fabulous! We believe that’s the last major hurdle to overcome and are now looking forward to enjoying the journey of building our home.
“A key takeaway from working with Deb and the team at Peppercorn Hill, our builder and our lending consultant, is the importance of having good relationships, open communication and a strong sense of trust with everyone involved in the process. Like all purchasers, we’ve definitely experienced some challenges, but we know we have great people around us, each one of whom is working really hard to help us achieve our dream of building our home.”
When do you expect to move into your new home?
We hope to have moved in by Christmas 2021 at the latest!
What are you most looking forward to about living at Peppercorn Hill?
“Definitely being in our own home, which we built, and no longer having to rent. We are super excited!
“Building our own little retreat over time, planting our garden, and living with the satisfaction that we’ve finally achieved our goal.
“Watching the sunset over the hill from our alfresco with a G&T in hand.
Would you recommend Peppercorn Hill to your friends and family? And if yes, what would you tell them?
“Of course! Peppercorn Hill offers a relaxed, affordable, tree-lined development on the northern fringes of Melbourne – and importantly one with plenty of lots with limited slope, enabling residents to build homes while minimising site costs. The future development plans for Donnybrook are also really exiting – especially the train line upgrade. And finally, the service and support provided by Deb and the Peppercorn Hill team are outstanding.”
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