Manor Homes

Sunday, October 26, 2008 – The Oregonian

Defying current real estate odds, Clark County residential developer Manor Homes has sold an average of 22 homes a month in 2008, relying on a potent combination of convenient locations, larger-than-average lot sizes, affordable pricing and high-end standard features.

All of these virtues are on display at Meadow Charm, one of 22 currently active Manor Home communities in Southwest Washington. Meadow Charm is located just east of the I-205 freeway, close to Westfield Vancouver mall and the shopping along busy Padden Parkway.

Buyers at Meadow Charm can choose from 11 standard one- and two-level floor plans, ranging in size from a single-level, three-bedroom, two-bath plan with a base price of $240,000 to a two-level, five-bedroom, 2.5-bath plan priced at $300,000. The wide range of available design choices is another Manor Homes strength, according to Michael Shanaberger, Manor’s marketing and sales manager.

“We’re a production builder, but a lot of what we do is custom,” Shanaberger said. “If a buyer sees a design that’s not offered here at one of our other communities, we’ll build it here as long as it will fit on a lot.”

Meadow Charm was the first Manor Home community to be built to Energy Star standards. Buyers touring the 2,948-square-foot model home are greeted by an entryway with leaded-glass and transom windows. Inside, a bright, spacious living room and pillared dining room lead visitors to the great room, with its large open kitchen. Golden-hued slab granite counters, tiled backsplashes, stainless-steel Maytag appliances, an undermount sink and plenty of custom cabinetry invite culinary expression. The kitchen opens to a dining area and spacious family room, warmed by a gas fireplace with stone surround flanked by built-in shelves and cabinetry.

Upstairs, across the hall from an ample bonus/media room, wide double doors lead to a master suite with tiled bath, soaking tub, walk-in closet and dual sinks. The second full bath in the hall is also tiled; the three additional bedrooms clustered around it are sizable and sunny.

“Buyers are very appreciative of the lot sizes here; so many of the lots in Clark County are under 5,000 square feet today,” Shanaberger said. “They like the convenient access to freeways and shopping. And they like the homes themselves. We build an entertainment-oriented Craftsman-style home. And the level of amenities for the price amazes people.” — Jeff Kuechle

Facts: Address: 6301 N.E. 87th Ave., Vancouver. Number of units: 42, 16 sold as of mid-October. Lot sizes: Average 6,500 square feet. Home sizes: 1,567 to 2,948 square feet. Prices: $240,000 to $300,000. Features: New single-level and two-story homes with three to five bedrooms and two to 2.5 baths; Energy Star certification; laminate floors; kitchens with slab granite and tile counters, tile backsplashes, custom alder cabinetry, stainless-steel appliances; master suites with tiled showers; gas fireplaces; white Craftsman-style woodwork; high-efficiency gas furnaces, water heaters; low-E vinyl windows and insulation packages; landscaped front yards with sprinklers. Builder: Manor Homes, www.mymanorhome.com Open: Daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sales information: Dana Doine, Manor Real Estate, 360-989-0440; danad@mymanorhome.com

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Manor Homes, LLC has been selected for the 2008 Best of Vancouver Award in the Home Builders category by the U.S. Local Business Association (USLBA).

The USLBA “Best of Local Business” Award Program recognizes outstanding local businesses throughout the country. Each year, the USLBA identifies companies that they believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and community.

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Tuesday, January 08, 2008 by MICHAEL ANDERSEN, Columbian staff writer

HOCKINSON - In retrospect, Robin Nelson says, the 6-bedroom, 10,000-square-foot mansion on acreage south of Hockinson tends to give people the wrong idea.

“Everybody who drives up here and looks at it tends to think to themselves, ‘Why would these people need any money?’” said Nelson, executive director of Grace Ministries.

Those people would be wrong. After eight years of efforts to help young, homeless mothers escape the whirlpool of poverty, the nonprofit organization Nelson founded in 1999 is, like Nelson herself, mortgaged to the gills and facing calamity.

If $15,000 isn’t found to pay the mortgage by next week, Nelson said Monday, the house bought for $2.2 million in 2006 will have to be sold.

That was the year when, flush with private grants and determined to help more girls, Nelson double-mortgaged her own house in Walnut Grove to realize her vision of opening the county’s only 24-hour, nonprofit day care.

Even if they can pay this month’s mortgage, they don’t know how they’ll meet next month’s.

“We had a very big dream and a very big idea, and we knew it was going to work,” said Nelson, 48. “We just didn’t know it would be so hard.”

It’s a dramatic turnaround for the group, which has been a shooting star in Clark County’s constellation of behind-the-scenes charities that build their missions in the gaps between government services.

With grants and private donations, Nelson and longtime program director Kris Eikenbary quintupled their group’s revenue from $28,000 in 2001 to $167,000 in 2005.

They’ve never spent extravagantly on staff. Today, all four of their full-timers, including Nelson, live on-site. Their salaries and those of two part-timers total less than $60,000 a year.

Nelson pays herself a monthly salary of $800, which she donates back to the group to fund a horse therapy program, a service she says works miracles for girls who’ve been abused and find it hard to trust animals larger than themselves.

In December, everything seemed to fall apart. First, in the wake of a Columbian investigation involving unlicensed child care facilities, state regulators told them that they would no longer look the other way as their center operated without a license.

Then the group had to pay $16,000 in fees to Clark County for permits to use the building as a child care center.

Then, devastatingly, Mission Increase of Portland turned down a grant that they’d counted on to bring in $70,000.

Nelson said they’d been working on the county permits for a year, and that she hadn’t realized the extent of state regulation of child care.

“They turned a blind eye, because they knew that our program was really solid and good,” she said. “We had no idea that we were doing anything that was not right. — Our hearts have been very pure about this.”

Nelson, who works nights as a hospice nurse, has seen dozens of young women come and go. Her rules are clear: Everyone must attend classes, earn a driver’s license and, if she has a young child, learn to give it the love and care that many of this house’s residents never had.

Working with a counselor who comes every Monday, each young woman makes a plan to eventually leave.

Nelson’s faith in them is fierce.

“These girls who are coming out of poverty — everybody else would call them ‘throwaway,’” she said. “They are going to change that generational course of poverty for their children.”

But when they leave the ministry’s orbit and have to deal with single motherhood on their own, things often break down.

“Eight years of this, you think, ‘How many of these girls survive?’” Nelson said. “And most of them haven’t. This is the problem.”

The problem, Nelson is convinced, is child care. To qualify for federal aid, she says, a young mother must both go to school and look for work — leaving their children in the hands of ignorant or untrustworthy boyfriends, or worse.

Even if they find a job, she says, it’s a service-sector job.

“Our girls don’t work eight to five, Monday to Friday,” Nelson said. “We need a day care that will continue weekends and evenings, or they won’t be working.”

Opening that day care was Nelson’s dream and prayer. Things don’t look good.

“People say, ‘Why weren’t things run more efficiently?’” Nelson said. “I wish to God that they had been. I wish there were people in this community who would step in and say, ‘Let me take this off your hands.’”

But there weren’t.

So, barring a miracle, Nelson says they’ll move out of the home that seemed to come to them like a gift from God.

That’ll mean walking away from the horse barn that Manor Homes of Vancouver built for them last year, free of charge. From the $16,000 they sunk into county permits last year. From the $25,000 of pro bono planning work by MacKay and Sposito of Vancouver.

Whatever happens, Eikenbary said, they won’t turn out the five young women, ages 18 to 21, and their children who live there today.

“We will never let our girls go that are here,” Eikenbary said. “We will do what it takes to get a new place.”

Michael Andersen can be reached at 360-759-8052 or michael.andersen@columbian.com.

Vancouver-based Manor Homes is offering free gift-wrapping at Westfield Vancouver mall on the upper level in front of Nordstrom. The Clark County home builder opened the mall station to showcase its homes, but also to support a charity, said Michael Shanaberger, company spokesman. Donations accepted at the mall site will go to support Little Lambs International, an organization focused on caring for and educating abandoned and abused children throughout the world. Manor Homes will staff the station from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily through Dec. 31. From The Columbian Business Today E-Newsletter, Dec. 21, 2007.

Monday, December 10, 2007 by Cami Joner, Columbian staff writer

A One on One with Jason Stenersen, partner and custom home division manager for Manor Homes LLC, Vancouver.

Please tell us about your company and what it does.

“Manor Homes is a home builder that built 160 homes last year, most of them in Clark County. Out of those, I’ve built around 25 custom homes, ranging from $280,000 to $750,000 and designed from scratch.

So, you oversee the company’s custom-home building?

Yes, Manor Homes is a fairly new company, headed by people who are more familiar with the production side of home building. When I came to them, they needed someone who could walk clients through the custom-building process.

What’s a typical work day like for you?

I do everything from selling the houses to walking people through the design process and building the house. Sometimes I’m the job foreman, working hands-on with the project during the whole process.

How did you get started in this line of work?

My father was a home builder and I used his company to build my own (custom) house, 11 years ago. From there, a friend of mine asked me to build a house for him and I really enjoyed it. I found it satisfying to see the project through, starting with an idea on paper, and then putting it into construction all the way to the end product.

So, you were only about 21 years old when you built your own house?

Yes, I was pretty young, about 16, when I started out in the construction field. I started my own siding business when I was 18.

How did you land this job?

My brother-in-law worked for one of the owners who saw a house that I’d built and approached me to come to work for him doing exactly the same thing. At the time (the company) was called Seppala Homes. A lot of the same people from that company are now with this company.

How many work hours are in your typical day?

Nine and a half.

How has this year’s downturn in home sales affected your work?

The custom homes division is actually doing­ really well. But I’m seeing more people with lots than people with acreage and we’re moving more toward building subdivisions with smaller lots.

Has that affected the size of the home? Are your clients building smaller houses?

Not necessarily, though sometimes, depending on the lot size. But they’re still putting the same amount of money and options in.

What business decision makes you especially proud?

The biggest thing I’ve been doing is to look at every house as if it’s something that I would want to live in. I’ve noticed the builders’ personal homes are the ones that sell because they focus on the minor details. I try to roll that over into everything that I do.

Most challenging aspect of your job?

The details of the permitting process. Having done this over the last 10 years, I’ve noticed that the regulations are getting stricter and you have to keep up with every change that is made.

Best business advice you’ve ever received?

To spend less than you make. That came from a good friend of mine.

Is the American Dream alive? Why or why not?

I think the American Dream might be a lie if it’s all about how much more people have, the happier they will be. Having things doesn’t give you happiness. You have to learn to be content with what you have.

What’s getting the most play in your CD player or iPod?

Leland.

Favorite restaurant?

The Chart House in Portland.

Most money you’ve ever spent on a tie?

I’ve only bought one, and I think I spent around $35 or $40, which was way too much for something I only wore once.

What was your first job and what did you learn from it?

I grew up on a berry farm and my first job was picking berries. I learned that earning a dollar can take a long time at 30 cents a flat.

What has been your biggest career mistake?

We built a house too close to a property line one time, and we’re still paying for that. For builders, a mistake can cost a lot of money.

What advice would you give to someone starting out in your business?

Pay attention to details, or get advice from somebody who knows. I think that’s the big one. Don’t be afraid to ask your subcontractors for advice, because they’re the ones who really understand their jobs.”

Vital Statistics AGE: 32. EDUCATION: High-school education and on-the-job training. PERSONAL: Married, father of three children, ages 8, 6 and 2.

Manor Homes was recently one of the corporate sponsors for the Living Hope Community Church Taming the Tiger Leadership Weekend. The People in the picture are (from Left to right): Jim Groth, Land Development; Randy Questad, Owner; Kevin Seppala, Owner; Matt Seppala, Owner; Jason Stenersen, Custom Homes; Michael Shanaberger, Marketing and Sales Manager

by Courtney Freitag

Brick and mortar. Granite and tile. More goes into a Manor Home than raw materials. To them, it’s about building community.

“The process of creating a home runs much deeper than nails and boards,” says Manor Homes President Randy Questad.

Along with brother-in-law Kevin Seppela, the family-run business has built for three generations, keeping to high industry standards and thoughtful artistry. With offices in both Washington and Idaho, the group believes the houses they build are much more than just a place to live, but create a strong bond of community.

Quality construction is reflected in their beautiful custom and movein ready homes. The company’s 10 communities dot southwest Washington and Idaho and boast a family tradition of excellence adhering to one simple vision: “to build high quality homes at sensible prices.”

Ashley Smith of Vancouver experienced the group’s quality craftsmanship along with their superior customer service. Smith and her fiancé moved into their new home at Peachtree Meadows and said the experience was truly rewarding.

“The house ended up being exactly what we wanted. I love my large, open kitchen with tons of counter and cupboard space and I love the location,” Smith said. Manor Homes’ team was supportive and saw Smith through the entire process. “They went above and beyond for us numerous times.”

Comprised of a team of construction superintendents, sales consultants, an in-house architect and warranty representatives, Manor Homes share a passion for creating solid homes. The company regularly gives back to local schools and charitable organizations, following their guiding principle of creating homes accessible to all buyers, from the first home, to the custom dream home.

Vancouver Family Magazine editor Nikki Klock chose Manor Homes for their community involvement, along with a commitment to service.

“Our liaison, Jeff Volkman, has absolutely bent over backwards to get us what we need and want, and has become a family friend in the process,” she said. Nikki and her family of four look forward to moving into their completed Orchard Hill home with its proximity to schools, shopping and dining. The incredible craftsmanship will also make their house feel like home.

“My husband actually spoke with a city inspector who cited Manor Homes as at the top of the list in quality of workmanship.”

Communities are freeway accessible, close to retail shopping, dining, schools and nature – Jerome Estates sits near Idaho’s Snake River in the heart of the “Magic Valley.” Vancouver’s communities boast convenient freeway access, stunning views, large lots and central location to all urban amenities in a suburban setting.

Homebuyers choosing to build their custom dream home work hand-inhand with an on-site architect to perfect blueprints which cohesively match features of the home with the plot of land. The team’s dedication is evident throughout the entire process, from the first handshake to the exceptional customer service during a warranty visit.

With community names like Peachtree Meadows and Westfield Place, Manor Homes’ keen attention to detail and unique style is evident. Some high-end features include knotty Alder cabinets, stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, 9-foot ceilings on main level and fireplaces with craftsman details. Homebuyers can choose custom cabinetry and laminate flooring, carpet colors, countertops and personal accents.

The group makes itself available to clients through the entire process, offering financing assistance through their partner Manor Mortgage as well as a comprehensive purchase checklist. A sales consultant works with buyers to ensure each and every step of the process is understood. A convenient online form is available for warranty requests which get a prompt reply within 24 hours.

Several employees of Manor Homes, including Randy, Kevin and Marketing Director Michael Shanaberger, are involved with orphanages and Church on the Rock and Grace and Living Hope Church.

The company’s commitment to quality and service to the community are reasons Smith is elated to be living in quality, affordable housing.

“Now that we are living in our beautiful new home, I will recommend Manor Homes to anyone who is planning on buying in the near future.”

Download pdf of Vancouver Family Magazine article here.