Honestly, I'd wait till January for our new book!
(a number of the rummor mongers have pretty much confirmed jan for
VC's!)
As for a 1k to fiddle about with right now, I'd say just try out some different units that strike your fancy.
VC's don't actually play well at lower pts right now because we don't gel at all with the current 8th ed rules... Our current book is all about min/maxing, spending as little as possible on core and then raising the added numbers through magic. For example, our book doesn't intend you to take 30+ skeletons in a unit - you take only 15-20 and then raise the extra dozen or so you need.
But those tactics are dead now as 8th edition magic is far too random to rely on raising, plus our wizards can flub their casting roll and become useless for the rest of the phase...
Combat is another sore spot... Skeletons & Zombies are ment to be fodder who soak up damage while our characters massacre the front ranks of the enemy before they get to strike! Worked fine and dany last edition, too bad things like the fear nerf (which was needed), step-up & steadfast exist now. Ghouls aside, our other core bleeds hienous amounts of combat res because they all die to a stiff breeze.
You can't even use zombies & skeletons to support your big hitters anymore! Anyone with half a brain just minces your crappy core and either wipes out any added combat res you have gained, or else they kill more and you start to crumble away some more.
Right now, your list is too core centric; you have no big hitters who can cause damage. 8th edition is all about causing massive casulties and racking up that combat res! Our core outside of ghouls can't fight their way out of a soaking wet, mouldy, half decompsed paper bag!
A lord is likely too costly for 1k, you just don't have any wiggle room for other stuff because he's 25% of your army! Stick to a Thrall who for 150pts you can give heavy armour & shield and make into a Lv2 wizard.
Try out a basic necro (buy him a second spell, maybe the black periapt if you can squeeze it in!) He's a good support caster and you can use him to throw those risky 1D6 invocation attempts, or else start spaming Vanhel's Danse!
Also try out each of the other heroes in turn to see how they gel with your unit/s, it will also give you ideas for when you expand your army come 'Vampuary'
I'd suggest taking a unit of ghouls and a unit of skeletons for core. Don't get too used to having a magic banner on your skeletons though as there's a damn good chance we're likely losing that ability! And also, ignore anyone who tells to invest in 60-80+ ghouls because that list is likely to go away in a new book. (or at least, it won't be nearly the 'easy mode' it currently is)
With your left over pts, definately look into some grave guard! They're our best unit right now, and they've always been a staple of the
VC army. You could also try out, (perhaps with some proxies) alternatives like the suggested vargulf + fell bat combo, or perhaps some black knights (who are heavily rummored to be getting a shiny new plastic kit, so definately proxy them!)
VC's is a gak army right now because there's no viable choices outside of 1 standard build... January is going to turn us back into a proper army that works beyond 'ghouls + regen'ing grave guard'!
