Pacific Lifestyle Homes, a Vancouver-based homebuilder, has won a national award from an industry publication.
Professional Builder magazine gave the Vancouver firm a gold certification in its annual national Quality Housing award, a distinction that had been a goal for the company for the past three years.
“I think what this did for us is brought our team together and allowed us to stop and pause and celebrate,” said owner and founder Kevin Wann. Wann said it was the first time gold had been given to a builder in the Vancouver-Portland metropolitan area.
It hasn’t been without challenges. Builders have been butting up against a shortage of skilled workers, which in turn has contributed to higher wages and higher home prices, he said.
Still, Pacific Lifestyle Homes has managed to grow between 20 and 30 percent every year for the past five years. It expects to add another dozen employees next year.
The award is given to builders who submit a 250-question application. Builders are judged on eight qualities, including relationships with trades companies and customer satisfaction. Three judges spend several days visiting the company, as well.
Pacific Lifestyle Homes started in 1996. Wann, 48, first broke into real estate when he started reselling fixer-uppers as a Clark College student.
Today, the company employs 72 people and builds in 16 jurisdictions — cities and counties — in Oregon and Washington. It has a second office in Tacoma and recently celebrated building its 3,000th home.
Troy Brynelson: 360-735-4547; troy.brynelson@columbian.com; twitter.com/TroyWB
