Clayton Homes celebrated its grand re-opening on Saturday April 5th. We spoke to Ricardo Thompson, assistant manager at Clayton Homes. Clayton homes has been a fixture in Colleton County, originally Country Squire Mobile Homes under the management of Tony Smoke for 37 years, she managed the operation through the transition and retired after many years in the business.
The local staff is very experiences and includes tenured members like Tony Messarelli who also manages the Beaufort Store has 30 years’ experience. Thompson says, “I’ve been at the location for 14 years, we have our sales staff, Brian Depenbrock, nine years, Theresa Loughridge, four and a half years. And Bill Babson is the newest salesperson. Ashley Rhodan has been with the company 2 years and does our marketing on Facebook. Tiffany Baker is a four-and-a-half-year member and runs the service department. She does like the service department. She kind of runs that department. You have Dana Israel, which is the service manager. He’s 25 years and Jerry Anderson, who’s the project manager who has been with the business 26 years and Joseph Tester who has been her 2 years.
Homes are energy-efficient, featuring advanced insulation and solar readiness. The process from purchase to delivery takes 4-5 months. Thompson Explains, “From the time that you come in, we see what you’re looking for. You tell us about the land you are going to put the home on, We get the fiancé application prepared, simultaneously, we are going to the county with your land information and figuring out what the setbacks are to figuring out what can go there. We’re doing these things while you’re working with the lender to get your stipulations in to get approved for the loan. As we’re going through those things, we get the project manager out there to see your vision and what we can do to make that vision come true for you.”
Thompson Continues, “Our homes are super energy efficient. That’s what Clayton hangs his hat on. It’s all about the energy efficiency zero that we got going on. We guarantee saving money on your electric bill. They’re packed with insulation. You have our R-22 in the floors, our R-13 in the walls and R- 38 in the ceilings. You have low E windows with the argon gas in them. They also come ready for solar panels.”
The grand opening will featured a food truck, prizes, and a $2,000 incentive toward the purchase of a home or on a gift card or towards furniture. The company also actively engages in community service, such as volunteering at a church and sponsoring local projects.
