DeTray’s Holiday Food Drive – Help Those in Need

Posted on November 25, 2022 by Dana DeTray

We have so much to Give Thanks for at this time of year! The terrible Covid virus has diminished. The contentious election noise has settled. Veterans Day reminds us of those who sacrificed for the freedoms of America.

As we give thanks for our blessings, DeTray’s Custom Homes invites you to bring non-perishable food items to help those in need. Food donations are significantly down right now and there are many more visits to food pantries at the same time – almost double the amount of visits compared with the same time last year at Emergency Food Network.

Please stop by and donate your items at our office, 10209 149^th St E, Puyallup. The most requested items at this time are:

– Canned proteins (like chicken, tuna and spam)

– Peanut butter & nut butters

– Canned fruits & vegetables (low sugar and sodium)

– Baby food and formula

– Canned chili or stew (with pop-top lids)

All donations are welcome and will go to the Emergency Food Network in Pierce County.

When those that have enough share with those in need, both are lifted and blessed. May we feel gratitude during this season, and give what we can: food, time, encouragement, love, and hope as we live with “Thanks Giving”!

Lora Whitemarsh, DeTray’s Housing Consultant

So Much to be Grateful For

Posted on November 5, 2021 by Dana DeTray

Even with the wild ride and chaos of 2021, there is so much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. One of the best gifts this challenging year has given us is a new perspective on the things that are most important. We express our thanks to those who have come to see the beautiful features and practical benefits of Skyline and Kit homes. We appreciate the patience and understanding our customers showed as we worked through the shortages and delays caused by COVID restrictions. This volatile housing market has made us more dedicated to providing beautiful, quality homes for our customers. Great houses, great service, and terrific customers have made us truly thankful this challenging year. We wish you a peaceful, grateful Thanksgiving, and a Joyous Holiday Season!

Lora Whitemarsh
DeTray’s Housing Consultant

Feeling Thankful

Posted on December 3, 2019 by Dana DeTray

GRATITUDE

Word origin for gratitude; from Latin gratus, pleasing, thankful.

Grat-i-tude

Noun – the quality of being thankful, readiness for and to return kindness.

When you feel gratitude you are pleased by what someone did for you as well as pleased by the results.

Did you know that positive feelings of appreciation or gratitude may lead people towards “meaning” and “better health”?

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed should include all things in your gratitude.”

Quote- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Gratitude is an emotion, a trait, a mood. A feeling of happiness that comes from appreciation.

Abraham Lincoln was 28 years old and a member of Illinois State Legislature. In one of his public addresses he said to his audience,

“This task of gratitude to our fathers, justice to ourselves, duty to posterity, and love for our species in general, all imperatively require us faithfully to perform.”

Quote-Abraham Lincoln

“Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.

Quote-Melody Beattie

“No one who achieves success does so without the help of others. The wise and confident acknowledge this help with gratitude.”

Quote-Alfred North Whitehead

“Gratitude will shift you to a higher frequency, and will attract much better things”.

Quote-Rhonda Byrne

My many, many years in the manufactured home industry have given me much satisfaction to providing housing to all my clients. The industry has proven to be progressive in its building, with new and innovative ideas and materials. I am grateful to have chosen this as my career. May you have a prosperous New Year!

Marlene LeMoine, Housing Consultant

Home for the Holidays

Posted on December 17, 2018 by Dana DeTray

During this busy holiday season of family, friends, and endless hours of house cleaning, I wanted to remind you that at DeTray’s Custom Housing, we put the “home” in “Home for the for the Holidays”. Welcoming family over for the holidays is one of the most important parts of the year and having a home to welcome them is one of the most important accomplishments of our lives.

The importance of having a home that you can be proud of can’t be overstated and at DeTray’s Custom Housing, we’ve spent the last half century of doing business, focused not only on the home, but also the homeowner. Whether it’s your dream home or a Christmas wish granted, no two homes are the same and certainly no two homeowners are the same. We treat each customer as an individual with their own unique vision and help guide them through the entire process. Imagine a home full of family and friends.

Usually, everyone’s favorite gathering place is the kitchen. Now imagine the kitchen of your dreams, in the home of your dreams, while having the holiday of your dreams. During this time of year, we see a lot of homes being built with special focus on the kitchen. There are kitchen packages available with Lazy Susans, Spice Racks, Cookie Sheet Storage, and Roll Out Trash Cans built-in to the solid wood cabinets. Also available is a stunning Frigidaire 21’ Frost Free Refrigerator with Icemaker and double ovens for all those Christmas cookies!

Another great feature is the wood/gas burning fireplace to hang your stockings on. We welcome you to come tour our model homes and turn your holiday wishes into reality.

Wishing you and yours a very happy holiday season!

Holiday Greetings 2017

Posted on December 20, 2017 by Dana DeTray

As the 2017 year comes to a close, our thoughts turn to gratefulness for another successful year and the people we were able to help with new homes. We truly enjoy working with people to enable them to customize their personal choices into a home they will enjoy for years to come.

We look toward 2018 with great optimism and will be attending the Puyallup RV Show in early May with a new cabin-style model. I personally really enjoy going to the shows as we get to speak to folks we otherwise may not get to see. It is always fun and interesting to hear comments about our homes like, “Wow, I had no idea these homes are this beautiful” or “What is this? A manufactured home? I think my grandma had one once”.

Our homes definitely aren’t your grandma’s mobile home anymore. We build the most energy efficient, cost effective, innovative custom homes in the Northwest. Please take a look at a few of our models at detrayscustomhousing.com or better yet, visit our Puyallup location and see several model homes, fully furnished and decorated so you can envision your next home.

Wishing you and yours Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Happy Kwanza, Happy Boxing Day, and if I forgot someone, Happy Day to you too.

Dana DeTray, General Manager

Inspirational Ideas and Goals for the Coming Year

Posted on January 6, 2016 by Dana DeTray

2016 is here! Whether 2015 was a good or challenging, now it’s time to look forward to see what this year will bring. The turn of the calendar year is a chance to start fresh – to shed bad habits and adopt new, better ones. DeTray’s Custom Housing is here to provide some inspiration for 2016.

Reconnect with Friends and Family Members

Sometimes during the busyness of our daily lives we forget to stay in touch with the people we care about most. Make it a top New Year’s Resolutions to reconnect with your family and friends in 2016.

Call your friends, parents, children, or siblings at least once a week (or month) to say hello and let them know you are thinking about them.
If cell phones have taken over your household, start a “no cell phone” at the table policy during mealtimes.
Host a friends and family game night at least once a month or bi-monthly. Do this each others homes or find a place to go out and play pool, dart’s or go bowling.
Do activities outside, such as walking the dog instead of letting the dog walk out by itself, go to a park, or visit a mall to window shop.
Visit the library and check out a book or read a magazine. Many libraries sell used magazines for ten cents or a quarter.

Get Healthy

Improving our health is almost always top on our list of New Year’s Resolutions, but “getting healthy” is such a vague resolution that most people find it difficult to keep. Most people find it easier to establish smaller, more attainable goals that will contribute to a healthier lifestyle overall. Here are suggestions.

Limit trips to fast food restaurants or chose healthy meals.
Substitute vegetables for chips or sweets a few times per week. (Steamed vegetables are great)!
Instead of drinking soda buy diet or flavored seltzer water.
If you have chocolate cravings, split a candy bar with someone, rather than eating it all.
Try cooking something new each week, rather than dining out.

Exercise

The holidays are the time most of us gain a few extra pounds, this is a great opportunity get a renewed sense of determination for shedding those extra pounds. Unfortunately, most of us find it difficult to maintain this drive as the year goes on. The following are a few simple exercises that will be easy to keep throughout the year.

Do warn up stretches before you begin
Jumping jacks are great to start the morning
Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
Do ten push-ups in the morning or night. (do them on your knees if needed)
Don’t look for parking space close to stores or businesses, so you’ll have a longer walk.
Start doing fifteen minutes of physical activity every day, such as walking, stretching, jogging, biking, or swimming. It will make you feel great and give you extra vigor if the grey skies are making you feel sad or gloomy.

We at DeTray’s wish you the best of luck with your 2016 New Year’s Resolutions! If you’re considering a new custom manufactured home at any point during the new year, please keep us in mind. We look forward to helping you find your new home at DeTray’s.

“May this be your Best Year Yet”

Merry Christmas

Posted on December 23, 2015 by Dana DeTray

Merry Christmas

How can you make someone a Merry Christmas?
Call to wish them a Merry Christmas, stop by their home to say hello, invite them to church or a school function, maybe your church is having a Christmas event you plan to attend. Offer to take someone out for a drive or invite them to Christmas dinner. And if you are trying to figure out what type of gift to get, a simple but thoughtful one is wine, exotic chocolates, spa products, fancy coffee beans or teas. But the best gift above all is by being cheerful, happy and wishing them well.

Merry Christmas

Manufactured Homes = “Fiscally Responsible Housing Option”

Posted on December 22, 2015 by Dana DeTray

The Future of Manufactured Homes: “Fiscally Responsible Housing Option”

During the recent National Congress and Expo for Manufactured and Modular Housing’ event, Tony Kovach had a chance to chat with Richard Jennison – someone who knows a little something about manufactured homes. As the President and CEO of the Manufactured Housing Institute and a recent inductee to the RV/MH Hall of Fame, Mr. Jennison expressed excitement regarding the upward trajectory of the manufactured housing market, stating “The industry is back!”
Joining The Manufactured Housing Institute back in early 2012, Richard Jennison acts as the intermediary between the federal government and the industries activism efforts. Fighting on behalf of all sectors within the manufactured housing industry. Mr. Jennison is a seasoned veteran at the negotiations game, having served in senior management positions with Amtrak, MCI, Citizens Bancorp, Omni Solutions Group, and the Brick Industry Association.
From his attendance at the National Congress and Expo, Jennison announce that there was an notable turnaround for the manufactured housing industry. When ask about the amount of new capital flowing into the prefabricated housing industry, Richard noted that there is more interest and capital than most even realize – approximately $1-$2 billion. “People are looking to invest, they see it as a value and we are going to see a lot more money coming in.” Highlighting the fact that billions of dollars of new capital are starting to focus on the manufactured housing communities, viewing them as a “fiscally responsible housing option”.
So when considering your options, listen to the experts and see the value you will get when choosing a manufactured home.

Have a Wonderful Holiday!

New Year 2016, New Goals, New Home.

Posted on December 15, 2015 by Dana DeTray

If purchasing a new manufactured home in 2016 is among your New Year’s resolutions, here are a few ideas that will get you on the right track:
• Make a “wish list” of the features you would like in a home and make a list of the things you are willing to compromise. If you’re purchasing a home as a couple, the list of priorities is extremely important. Have a joint “must have list” and a list of the features you are willing to compromise or at least delay. Ladies, those stainless steel appliances can be added later. Be open minded and have a vision of what you want your home to look like.
• Decide on the area you want to live. Are you willing to commute an hour every work day? Do you want to live by a park? Do you want to be living in a community/park or buy your own land? Ask yourself “How is the school system rated”? These are some of the questions and factors to consider during your search.
• Familiarize yourself with mortgage terms, especially if you are a first-time home buyer. Lenders comply with new stringent rules. Ask a lot of questions.
• Review your credit and make certain there are no mistakes and all information is current on your credit report. A few good sources for free credit reports include www.creditkarma.com; however, for a small fee go to www.myfico.com. They will give you the fico scores of all three bureaus.
• Pay down your debt. Lenders will consider your debt-to-income ratio when you apply for a mortgage. Pay off the credit cards from Christmas and prepare to save for the down payment.
• Save for a down payment. The more of a down payment you can make on a home, the more impressed the lenders will be.
• Find a reputable Realtor and a mortgage broker/lender. DeTray’s works with real estate agents and lenders who work together on behalf of their clients. You will also want an agent who is proactive and who will negotiate strongly on your behalf.
• Get your paperwork in order. Lenders will ask for documentation – employment, child support payments, etc. The faster you get your documents to the lender, the sooner you will be approved and know how much you can afford.

Land prices have increased slightly, but the market still offers good buys. As foreclosures dwindle, those good buys will vanish. So 2016 may be the perfect time to make a New Year’s resolution to purchase a new home. We at DeTray’s want to help you get the perfect home.

Visualize yourself in your home and start planning all the steps needed. Use these sayings over and over in order to get your mind going in the right direction to achieve your goal.

“I will keep my credit score in check.”

“I will practice good savings behavior.”

“I will not buy more house than I can afford.”

“I will buy a home in 2016”

So many New Year’s resolutions fall by the wayside, like eating healthier and exercising, but this is one that could really happen. Everyone needs a place to live and you’ve probably already been thinking of buying a home anyway. Put these resolutions into motion, stick with them, and sooner than you think, you could be getting the keys to your new home.

May you have a Prosperous and Happy New Year!

2016 Home Buying Goal

Ho, Ho, Ho, Santa is Coming! Tips for Helping Kids Sit & Smile with Santa. Also, Checkout DeTray’s Christmas Retreat Pictures 2015

Posted on December 8, 2015 by Dana DeTray

TIPS FOR GETTING CHILDREN TO SMILE FOR PICTURES WITH SANTA

Each year many parents are determined to have their children sit on Santa and smile. Some are successful, some are not. Many children will cling to parents with fear, so Santa encourages family members to sit in the picture too. One big happy family picture on Santa’s lap – poor Santa!
Some of the tricks I have heard or read about that has helped children smile while on Santa’s lap are as follows:
First trick, talk to them in advance about Santa and how “big boys and girls” sit on Santa’s lap and get their picture taken.
Second trick, Have a piece of candy when walking up to Santa and show it to your child when they sit on his lap. Sometimes a little sugar will get children to smile!
Third trick, use the line “But you have to tell Santa what you want for Christmas; otherwise he won’t know what to get you.
Forth trick, let them know that you will take them to get something to eat at one of their favorite places or bring them to someplace they enjoy, only if they behave and smile.
Hope this helps you get the perfect picture and smile.
Please enjoy the pictures from our DeTray’s retreat we had this past weekend in Leavenworth, WA. This weather was cold, but the scenery was spectacular. Also, check out our facebook page for additional things about DeTray’s.

https://www.facebook.com/DetraysPuyallup