Good Neighbor Podcast: Union
Bringing Together Local Businesses and Residents of Northern Kentucky! Based in Union, KY....The Good Neighbor Podcast helps the residents of Northern Kentucky get to know local business owners as people. We allow the business owners and influencers in NKY to tell the stories of how they started their business and why. We hear about their families, their personal interests and why they love living in and serving resident of Northern Kentucky!
Good Neighbor Podcast: Union
From Model Homes to Real Life: Melanie Millson on Thoughtful Home Planning
Have you ever wondered how the pandemic has reshaped our living spaces, or how design trends evolve over decades? Join us on the Good Neighbor Podcast as we sit down with Melanie Millson, an experienced Market Manager at Drees Homes with over 23 years in the industry. Melanie offers fascinating insights into the shifting landscape of home building, including the emerging need for separate spaces influenced by COVID-19 and the growing preference for warmer tones and functional layouts. Through her expert guidance, we also reflect on a personal journey of building a home, highlighting the importance of model homes for inspiration and the benefits of thoughtful planning during the initial build.
In the latter half of our conversation, we uncover the unexpected ways energetic pets can serve as stress relief and share our mutual passions for travel, home design, and gardening. We also discuss Melanie’s availability in Northern Kentucky and the unique opportunities offered by Drees Homes' new Elevate division, which allows clients to build on their own lots. Melanie's dedication to the community shines through as we express our gratitude for her support of local businesses via community gatherings at the model home in Triple Crown. Don't miss this heartwarming episode as we invite you to continue the conversation and possibly meet Melanie in person soon!
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Mike Murphy.
Speaker 2:Hey, Charlie, thank you for that introduction. With me today is another local friend influencer, somebody who helped me tremendously when I built a home here in Union, Kentucky, and that is Melanie Milson with Drees Homes. She is a market manager here in our community and she kind of hangs her hat in a model home that's walking distance from my house. So I see her on occasion and she's been a great friend and a great help to me. So I wanted to introduce her to the community at large. Many of you know her already, Some of you don't, but for those who don't, you're about to. So, Melanie, welcome to the show.
Speaker 3:Thanks, mike, I appreciate being on.
Speaker 2:So I noticed when I kind of updated my information on you, you have over 23 years as market manager with Drees or within the Drees organization, correct? I do 30 years in the industry.
Speaker 3:Yeah, hard to believe. Actually, I started with Zaring Homes about 30 years ago and then Dries purchased Zaring and then, of course, I became a part of the Dries team and I have been here ever since, so it's been a great. It's been a great several years.
Speaker 2:So it was maybe, I don't know, four or five years ago. Time's flying, especially the older I get. Yeah.
Speaker 3:I hear you.
Speaker 2:We came to you and we said we want to build an Adris community and you helped us with that process.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You did a great job with us because we felt a little vulnerable. We had built a house before, but it was maybe gosh, almost 20 years prior and a lot can change in 20 years. Yes, a lot can change in five years. So A lot can change in five years. So you've been around the industry for 30 years, I'd say you know recently. What are some changes that you've noticed in the industry at large?
Speaker 3:Oh, my goodness, yeah, five years ago it doesn't seem possible, right? Five years ago it doesn't seem possible, right? You know, I think that just some differences between when you built, mike, and what we're seeing today is just a change somewhat in floor plans and design. I think that COVID really brought to the forefront how important it was to have some separate areas because everybody was working from home. All of a sudden, all of that open space just didn't serve its purpose as well. I think that, as trends go, a lot of the color tones and whatnot that are being used are a little warmer. We're still seeing lots of the grays, but maybe a little bit warmer tone gray, and then certainly just the areas that have opened up for trees in terms of places to build new locations, new product lines, just trying to adjust to what the marketplace needs.
Speaker 2:I think one thing that new buyers well heck, I mean even seasoned buyers count on is the ability to walk through a Dries model to be able to just sort of see design trends and just get ideas about how you lay out a room properly Right, get ideas about how you lay out a room properly. When we walk through a Dries model and compare it to how we've laid out some of our rooms, we realize we don't know anything, but I guess as long as your home's comfortable, that's all that matters, I guess.
Speaker 2:But, your model homes are just a great way to get ideas. Thank you.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and I think, just like you, you know, not having been in the market for 20 years, if you will, and thinking about how you're going to live in that space, as compared to when you know when your family was at home or when the children were little or whatnot it does give you a sense of, okay, can I see myself living here? And that's truly what we want our buyers to be able to do is to see themselves living there, and the model certainly helped that. I think you came into it. It was great working with you all. You had already in mind things you wanted to change, but then you also had those things that like okay, tell me a little bit more about this and how's it going to work for my family and what can I do? So, yeah, it's a great resource. We've got so many wonderful tools to use.
Speaker 2:Yeah, some of your advice was great food for thought. We thought we knew what we wanted and you helped us kind of narrow things down or change our mind. You know the way we thought about certain things.
Speaker 3:Good good.
Speaker 2:But overall I would say one thing that we made a mistake when we built our first house many years ago, in that we didn't do enough things that we wish we had done, say the wet bar, or finish off this area, a deck, whatever and so you kind of helped us this time, sit down and say, look, even if you think you're going to finish that wet bar by yourself, you're probably not going to, so let's do it now. Think you're going to finish that wet bar by yourself, you're probably not going to, so let's do it now. And we were so, so glad that you made that observation for us or that recommendation. I love my wet bar. We do a lot of entertaining down in our entertainment levels.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Thank you for that.
Speaker 3:Yeah, no, well, that's why I love what I do is everyone's a little bit different in what they um, what they think about, how they live in their home, what they envision um doing in their home, and everyone is different um, so it's it's great to be able to get to know people and really learn more about how you are going to live. Um, for some people, a wet bar wouldn't make any difference.
Speaker 2:For others it's really important, so good so how many, how many buyers come into you brand new deer in the headlights. Just sort of like Melanie, we don't really know where to begin, but we just think we want to build a home and we've got to start.
Speaker 3:the people I work with are new home, new to purchasing a home, certainly new to ever having built a home. I think making that trip into a model home for some people can be very it's daunting, you know, oh, my goodness, what's going to happen. I've heard it's so stressful I'll never be able to make all these decisions. So, yeah, I would say 35 to 40% take that step.
Speaker 2:One thing that was very helpful to us was the design center. So when you reach that point where you need to choose finishes and colors and things like that, you go to the design center and you meet with a design professional and they step you through the process. Yes, so do you yourself ever go with a client? How often do you get to go and see the design center and just kind of update your own, your, you know, download that stuff into your brain so that you can kind of help advise future clients?
Speaker 3:I try to visit myself probably once a quarter just to see what's new. You know it's great for me to be able to talk about. These are the things you're going to be able to see. I'm very much and most of my buyers are visual people, so you like to be able to touch it. You know you want to like is what's the weight of something, just visually? What does that color look like? Because it's difficult on a computer screen, looks lonely.
Speaker 3:It's very different when, when you actually go in and see it, it's an a tremendous tool and we have gotten to the point now that is a part of what I talk about. It is Andres homes calm. There is a link that people can now go into see our different choices not all of them, it's impossible to put them all there and create a wish list so that wish list can be shared with me and we can really talk about the different levels, so that it gives them a little bit more sense of I don't know, I don't want to say empowerment, that they know what they're going into, but maybe a little level of peace of mind is probably the better word. And besides, it's fun. You know it's a lot of fun to go in. I go in and get my own ideas for my house.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it is fun. It is fun. So, gosh, is there a specific trend in design, or I think one thing that comes to mind if I'm asking the question is everything around smart homes. It was something that was trending when I was building, and it seems like that's just getting more and more advanced all the time.
Speaker 3:Absolutely. Do you guys build?
Speaker 2:kind of the smart functionality into the homes.
Speaker 3:We do, we absolutely have. We consider it a smart home. We include quite a few of the data points, the higher speed. You know we're always trying to adapt to new things in the marketplace, so bioptics right now, of course, is in the forefront of everything. So adjusting the wiring that we include in our homes, we actually have our customers meet with our low voltage wiring company and really tailor or customize that low voltage wiring package to their needs. So they offer security cameras oh, my goodness, pretty much anything that you can think of for home office. So many people are still working at home need those secure connections. So yes, you know we do. We do offer the ability to make those customizations.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, it's just me and my wife living here because we're empty nesters, but you know we have our offices set up here at the house, multiple TVs throughout the house, multiple computers, iPads you know there's technology everywhere more than you realize, Right. And so when we kind of one day added it all up, we're like geez, okay, no wonder we need a bigger router.
Speaker 3:Right right.
Speaker 2:So you need to stay on top of that, because there's more technology in your home than you realize.
Speaker 3:Absolutely. There really is Everything from you can get app driven ovens and refrigerators, and I mean it's just. It can be a little overwhelming, you know, for a lot of people, but that really so many of these things set us apart not only from other builders but also when people are considering other homes. You know what types of things are you going to have to modify just to live there. You know your normal daily things and buying new just gives you the ability to do that from the start, and buying new just gives you the ability to do that from the start.
Speaker 2:Well, we were a little intimidated at first, or thought we would be, but then we had somebody who comes in you know when you get into your new home and they step you through everything, and so it's easy peasy, no worries. So then, when it comes to financing, does Drees have a way to help homeowners to finance the purchase?
Speaker 3:Sure, of course. And so financing right now, of course, with interest rates people are starting to come out a little bit more. But that's always one of the first considerations is am I going to be able to afford this? Can I fit it into my budget? Is am I going to be able to afford this, can I fit it into my budget? So, first, equity Mortgage is our partner, great people to work with there that will really walk you through the entire process, give you again that sense of security, that peace of mind that when you finish this there aren't going to be any surprises. We don't like surprises, whether it's from, you know, the start of the bill to the closing. And they can really help people, not only the first time homebuyers, but those people that are also downsizing or making a change and that don't really want a large mortgage. And you know my payment is sensitive, I'm retiring, you know. So, yes, we have great partners in the finance world.
Speaker 2:So, just like my daughter ended up buying a Drees home after I built this one.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You have daughters. I believe as well that built Drees homes. Is that the case?
Speaker 3:Yeah, I do. Actually, I have two children. I have a daughter that built a Drees home in the Virginia market. We are a national builder, so we're in different states. And then I have a son that just moved back after eight years in Chicago and built, well, purchased a market home in Tremor, purchased a market home in Tremor. So of course I'm thrilled that both of my kids were able, you know, to be a part of the Drey's family. They've heard me talk about it since they were little, you know. So it's exciting to be able to have them, you know, in a home that I'm so confident in.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:I make good choices.
Speaker 2:My little brother built a home in Tremor.
Speaker 3:Oh, really OK.
Speaker 2:Beautiful community.
Speaker 3:OK, yeah, it is a beautiful community and it's close. I'm in Union too, so not that maybe they like that, but it's nice feeling on that.
Speaker 2:A lot of growth in Union. It's a fun place to live.
Speaker 3:It is no doubt about it.
Speaker 2:OK, you mentioned your son and your daughter. What does family look like for you? You said your daughter's kind of out in the eastern market, son's here. Who else do you call family?
Speaker 3:My husband, of course. 35 years that just blows my mind, my husband. I have a very small family. I have a brother that lives in California, so of course we don't get to see each other that often. But then we have extended family. I have a bonus daughter and her husband that live in Cincinnati and two great young ladies that one in high school and one in middle school. So I have my bonus granddaughters and then two grandpups. I can't forget that, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I was. I was over yesterday visiting my grand puppy.
Speaker 3:Right now, benny, which is his name, is staying with me, or us, because our son and daughter-in-law are on their honeymoon, so it's been fun actually.
Speaker 2:You know, energetic animals can either raise your blood pressure or help drop your blood pressure help drop your blood pressure. But for me, keeping us active but at the same time just helping de-stress. Now another thing you do to kind of, I don't know, just get rid of the stress. You like to travel, is that correct?
Speaker 3:I do. I love to travel. I laugh. I'll go anywhere one time. You know, I just like learning about different areas, different cultures, um, just doing different, doing different things. Um, I also enjoy, you know, my home. You know, um, it really is that place that it really is that place that I can go in. I love design, so if I have a pillow fetish, so I'm always changing pillows. And I love gardening as well just flowers and whatnot. When I have the time to do that, yeah, Good, good for you.
Speaker 2:Well, you know. Back to the back to the business portion of the show. If somebody wants to reach out to you and kind of start their journey with Dries, what's the best way to reach you? And where are you at Like? Where's your model home at?
Speaker 3:So I'm actually located in Triple Crown in Union at the Justify model the address is 13008 Justify Drive and I'm very fortunate. We have a lot of great product out here. I can help people go throughout Northern Kentucky. So if you would like to be an Independence or Alexandria, I'm still the person that can help you, guide or help guide you through that process. I can also be reached at M Milson and it's M-M-I-L-L-S-O-N at DreesHomescom. Feel free to reach out that way. And then through DreesHomescom there is a link that you can go in and send me messages. And then, finally, the good old telephone. If you'd like to make a phone call, my model number is at 859-384-1800.
Speaker 2:Well, thanks for that. I'll try to put that in the description too, too, when we post this online. But before we go, I just noticed, glancing at my notes, something that is kind of a new division of Drees is the build on your own lot. So I believe that's called Elevate, is it?
Speaker 3:It is. So we're really, really proud of the new division it specializes in. If you have your own lot or you're looking for that five acre piece of property, we're able to help you build one of your favorite Drees homes on that offsite lot. And what happens? If you come to me, we'll talk a little bit about that and then I will introduce you to one of our offsite experts with Elevate and they'll be able to guide you through the process. It's really a great advantage to have that as a division for cruise homes.
Speaker 2:I just know that that's something that many people probably didn't know that you could do, so I wanted to make sure to fit that in before we left each other today.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and I'm glad you did. Yeah, I did that for seven years actually, during my 23 year tenure with Drees Homes, and it really is very nice. Not every one of our communities is going to fit every one of our buyers, so this way we have a nice, nice option.
Speaker 2:Well, melanie, there have been times when the local business community myself and other business owners in the area want to have just small little community gatherings, maybe a thank you party to their clients or whatever. Thank you party to their clients or whatever. You've always been very generous in letting us come to the beautiful model home here in Triple Crown and kind of use it as a little intimate reception area so that it's just so warm and inviting for us to bring our clients in or friends or family to just kind of have a nice experience close by. And people are always blown away by how beautiful the model home is. So I wanted to say thank you for, you know, always being willing to host small groups here locally. You're a great supporter of not only the residents but local business community as well, so thank you.
Speaker 3:You're welcome. I mean that's that's one of the. The things that I truly do enjoy as well is um Dries is very open to being supportive of the community and different organizations, and um you know you meet a lot of people, but you also hear a lot of stories. You find out how you can help different people, and I am always open to that, so I'm glad that we're able to do that. I think that's just one of the benefits of working for a family-owned company that is locally based.
Speaker 2:Well, I'm looking forward to seeing you again in person sometime soon. Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 3:I'll have to walk over again in person sometime soon, Yep absolutely.
Speaker 2:I'll have to walk over and see you sometime.
Speaker 3:I would love that. I would love that.
Speaker 2:We can go to lunch sometime, how about?
Speaker 3:that That'd be perfect. That'd be perfect.
Speaker 2:Well, thanks for spending time with us today.
Speaker 3:Thank you for having me, you're welcome.
Speaker 2:You're welcome. Yeah, we'll do it again. Anytime you want to have a voice in the community, I'm here for you.
Speaker 3:Very good, anytime I can help you.
Speaker 2:Thank you, melanie, all right, well, having said all that, everybody, thank you for joining us today. This is the Good Neighbor podcast, so I want to say to everybody until next time, be good to your neighbor. Thanks, melanie, we'll see you next time. And so long, everyone, bye-bye.
Speaker 1:Thanks for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast Union. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to GNPUnioncom. That's GNPUnioncom, or call us at 859-651-8330.