Today we’d like to introduce you to Julia Koch.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Julia. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My parents moved our family to Richardson from St. Louis MO. in 1972. My twin sister and I were 7, and our brothers; also twins were 11. I graduated from Plano Senior High School in 1983 and went on to get a degree in Architectural interiors from Texas Tech University in 1987. After returning to the Dallas area working in the Architectural industry for ten years, I made a career change into Medical Device Sales.
During that twenty year career, I always have a small residential project that I was working on in the background… In 2014, I left the sales world, and I am now devoted to what I am truly passional about restoring homes. Having had the privilege of growing up in an “off the beaten path” part of Richardson called Canyon Creek, I have a great affinity for neighborhoods with a lot of architectural diversity.
I have noticed that many of the homes in the neighborhood that I grew up in and now live in with my husband Bill were in need of significant maintenance and that many would benefit from huge renovations. I have been saddened to see some of the homes torn down and I wanted to try to build my business around preserving the homes in the neighborhood and making them more viable for the way families live today.
The business really started when an older couple in the neighborhood approached me about purchasing their home. They had lived in the home for thirty years or more and wanted to move closer to their son and grandchildren in Arkansas. After interviewing several real estate agents, it became clear to them that they would have to make major repairs, updates and clear out most of a lifetimes collection of art and furnishings just make it presentable to the retail market. This was not an option for them, and they felt trapped.
I purchased the home from them in as “as is” state and worked with them so that they could make the move to Arkansas. The costly renovation included replacing all the cast iron under the home, removing all the aluminum wiring in the house, foundation repair, a new driveway, an all-new mechanical system, a newly designed floor plan, all new bathrooms and kitchen, a new roof etc….
What I was hoping is that there were enough people out there looking for a smaller home in a charming neighborhood like Canyon Creek, that would be willing to pay a premium price for a thoughtfully reconstructed home… Turned out they are out there! I have since completed five more homes in the neighborhood and a few more in the North Dallas area.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There have been lots of challenges along the way… most of them having to do with the balance of what I want to do to a home and the cost involved to do it! Finding a reputable contractor that wanted to devote a significant part of his business to my projects was one of them as well… After many interviews, I finally found the right match with someone who shares my vision for quality, and that has been instrumental in the success of my projects.
Please tell us about Nest Canyon Creek.
Nest Canyon Creek specializes in taking older homes and making them ready for another 50 years of memory making. I feel that we bring high-quality renovations to the market so that real estate agents have a great product to present to their buyers… not a home that just looks good at the open house; a home that has been truly renovated well and constructed by licensed tradesmen and talented craftsmen.
I take great pride in knowing that the people that are purchasing my homes have a well-built product. As I also take pride in knowing that I am making a difference to the city of Richardson, my immediate neighborhood and the other neighborhoods I have worked in.
It’s such fun to see how the neighbors directly around my projects start to take a bit more pride in their own homes and lawns when they see the investments being made right next door.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would have started sooner! Like many people, we often need to make career choices for reasons other than what we are most passionate about… I am no different.
Thankfully, I had some success in my first thirty years out in the working world. Now, I have the incredible privilege of doing something each day I am passionate about!
Contact Info:
- Website: nestcanyoncreek.com
- Phone: 214.226.2328
Image Credit:
Vaughn Creative Media
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