Jack Scanlon, a carpenter, and his partner Natasha Murphy, a hairdresser, embarked on their homeownership journey by building their first Metricon home, a Sullivan 17A, in Lancefield, Victoria. Remarkably, Jack handed over the deposit just a day before his 21st birthday. However, with both of them hailing from Gisborne, they harboured a strong desire to return to their roots and be closer to their families.
Their positive experience with Metricon's exceptional customer service and the high-quality construction of their first home left a lasting impression. Consequently, when the time came to plan for their future and upsize, they didn't hesitate to return to Australia's most trusted home builder, Metricon, just over three years later.
“It was such a smooth process with no dramas, so it was a no-brainer to build with Metricon again the second time,” Jack says. “We made some good money from the first one, and it sold before it even hit the market.” Jack Scanlon
This time around, they opted for a larger home, choosing the spacious four-bedroom, three-lounge Avanti 27 design with the Yale façade in the Willow Estate. "With the first build, we went for a smaller home on a smaller block, that was about prioritising affordability," Jack explains. "But when we moved back to Gisborne, we used the equity from our previous home to build something much larger, making better use of the block." Reflecting on their super-sized home, Jack adds, "With this one, we were able to incorporate the upgrades we wanted and have a big outdoor area."
The detail is magnificent, with Jack and Natasha putting their heart and soul into the selection process at Metricon. “After getting to know our New Home Advisor from the first build, he was pretty happy to assist again," Jack recalls. "He guided us through every aspect of the build, answering my countless questions about bricks no matter what time of day it was."
Jack’s exacting hands are all over this home. “I’m a carpenter and I work for myself, so I was lucky enough to have a pretty good relationship with the site supervisor and he was all for the idea of me taking part in the build,” he says. “And I knew the electricians really well, too, because I’ve worked with them on other jobs, including our first house.”
Jack and Natasha value Metricon’s investment in building strong relationships with local tradespeople. “I know a lot of people that work for Metricon consistently, and I think it’s great that they use tradespeople from the area,” Jack says.
He took pride in overseeing every aspect of the construction process. “I was crossing the T’s and dotting the I’s, making sure that everything was exactly how we wanted it to be,” Jack says.
“The site supervisor knew that I’d be here every day, allowing us to get all the fencing, gates, and garden beds done before we got the keys, he adds. “So by the time we did get the keys, the landscaping was already completed. Natasha also has a keen eye for details, which helped with the smooth execution of our vision.”
Even minor delays were taken in their stride, prioritising the overall vision. "Initially, we faced a brief delay while waiting for the soil report, which is to be expected," Jack recalls. "Then, during the build, there was a pause of about six weeks because our site manager was waiting for his preferred tiler. Given the intricate detailing of the house, he wanted to ensure the best quality."
Reflecting on the timeline, Jack notes, "I began working on the frame around May 20th last year, and we received the keys in the first week of October. It was one of the quickest houses to go up in the estate.”
With plans to possibly size up again, Jack has no doubts he and Natasha will return to Metricon. But for now, they are so happy with their beautiful home, which was well worth waiting for.
“The house itself is exactly what we want, and that’s what mattered to Tash and I,” Jack says. “Our families are so impressed with how it has come together and we love being back home in Gisborne.”
You can read more about Metricon’s happy customers sharing their dream home journey here, here and here.
