WHATELY — After 37 years and more than 1,300 homes built, The Home Store is under new ownership.

The longtime modular home builder was recently acquired by Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania-based River Valley Builders, whose president said The Home Store’s well-respected services will remain in place as its offerings extend beyond Massachusetts.

“There’s very good opportunities and it will all happen out of the Whately office,” said River Valley Builders owner and President Dan Stimely. “I want to grow the business. I think we will offer a better solution for customers both from the standpoint of pricing — pricing is important — but also from a customer-service standpoint.”

River Valley Builders has been in business since 2012, and Stimely said he has been involved in all stages of the modular construction industry for nearly 40 years.

Modular homes are pre-fabricated homes that are manufactured in sections called modules. Those modules are then transported to the foundation on the home’s site and assembled. In The Home Store and River Valley Builders’ case, modules are fabricated in Liverpool, Pennsylvania and delivered by truck.

Stimely’s purchase of The Home Store’s assets closes the door on former owner Andy Gianino’s 37 years of experience as he retires. Stimely said he built a relationship with Gianino through his time selling modular homes to The Home Store and the two worked out a succession plan “five or six years ago.”

After a phone call in the fall, Stimely said he and Gianino began working out the details of a sale, which created one of the largest custom modular home builders in the Northeast. All of The Home Store’s staff will remain with the company and Stimely said he expects more people to be added as the business grows.

“The reason I did this was I have a working relationship with the staff and I really like working with them,” Stimely said. “I think it’s a home run for me as a new owner. … I’m looking forward to this.”

One of those staff members in Vice President Patrick Falla, who has worked with The Home Store for 22 years. Since Stimely officially took over in March, Falla said things have pretty much remained the same.

“This has been so seamless,” Falla said while giving a tour of one of the business’ modular homes. “The only thing that’s changed is the signature on the paycheck.”

One thing he did highlight, though, is The Home Store’s new approach to advertising.

The business typically served customers within a “30- to 35-mile” radius. Stimely said he is aiming for a 150-mile radius, which he said has already been successful, with people inquiring from Rhode Island and New Hampshire.

Falla added they’re beginning to advertise in eastern Massachusetts, with their eyes set on customers moving away from cities like Boston.

“We’re really starting to focus more of our advertising inside the [Interstate] 495 area,” he said, noting the housing market remains strong.

For more information about modular homes and The Home Store at 73 State Road, visit the-homestore.com.

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.]]>