May 3rd, 2026To build or not to build, that was my query

I have always been against building. Too much hassle. Easier to buy something already built. But just before the 2020 pandemic, Kyle finally convinced me to subdivide land at the Glenlyon School.
Originally the planning company we signed up with said we could divide it up into four blocks including where the school buildings are, so it seemed like a no brainer. Nice superannuation bonus.
The pandemic came along and we halted the project due to the world being upside down and restarted it six months later. Eventually, three and a half years, after an arm wrestle with Hepburn Shire Council and Goulburn Murray Water, we ended up settling on two blocks. Hmmm. Not quite what Kyle had promised.
Fast forward to October 2025 when Kyle went rogue and created a business case for a new build cutting through the noise and presenting me with one house design. I was instantly taken with not only the design but also the price point and the fact we could visit one in the flesh in Bendigo. It is a Sherridon Winslow 305, a large four-bedroom home we hope to make our forever home on the adjacent block to the school.
Lee Dern, our Ballarat-based sales guy was extremely helpful. He works for Sherridon Homes who say they are Victoria’s leading new home builder. Which is nice to know. Lee is a great bloke who has promised we will be in by October.
So, I thought it was now a great chance to write a few pieces about building in the country – good, bad or ugly. We shall see.
Late November last year we paid $3000 to secure a price which had gone up by $8000 since October that year. Lee had gone in to bat for us which was great. He also gave us a handshake deal about the October build date. At The Local most of our sales are done by handshake or a conversation – we have very little paperwork. So that is how we roll. And Lee too, obviously.
Anyway, in early January this year, after Kyle and I had changed our minds on a couple of features, Lee decided it was better to reissue the contracts so as things remained tidy. Fair enough.
Building, so far for me, seems like a lot of hurry up and wait. Over summer, Kyle put in new tanks, tore down fences, repaired fences and put in a new driveway (or at least hired people for the job) and he also seemed to push a lot of stuff from one side of the block to the other. We were doing our bit.
Late March, after extending our permit to build with the council we were able to get into the place where you “choose your colours”. A world of colour, texture and fittings in Port Melbourne where you go to select everything from bench tops to bidets, tiles to toilets. I nearly had a fit when they mentioned lunch would be on them, after an 8.30am start. Apparently it takes the whole day. FFS.
Anyway, the woman we had was great and Kyle and I were quick in decision making so we were gone by noon.
The next day we paid our five per cent deposit and the journey began. Sort of. To date there hasn’t been much more movement – I guess it’s all the things behind the scenes. We have a portal to keep us in the loop and the latest development on April 24 was that working drawings were ordered, and prior to that were the boring bits like stormwater, soil and sewerage information.
Nothing concrete yet – as in nothing on the block – but we are already paying back the loan in interest and principal. Hmmm.
The jury is out for me so far. I love the idea of a new house but I don’t like the idea of having a mortgage again. We shall see. I will keep you informed. Home Watch.
Words: Donna Kelly