Handyman and Property Care on Lopez Island
Lopez is flat, rural, and has more empty houses in winter than San Juan or Orcas. I work it on scheduled island days.
- Licensed & bonded
- WA L&I #SANJUJI741OT
- Insured
- Locally owned in Friday Harbor
How island days on Lopez work
I batch Lopez jobs onto scheduled island days. Get on the Lopez list, and when the day fills up I set a date and let everyone know. A half day is $595 and a full day is $995. A dedicated day is available at the day rate plus $400 when something can't wait.
Lopez is mostly farmland, woods, and shoreline. Lopez Village sits about four miles from the ferry landing at the entrance to Fisherman Bay. Most of the houses are spread out on long roads and driveways from the north end down to Mackaye Harbor and Watmough on the south end, so I'll group jobs by area when I can.
What Lopez properties need
Lopez is farm country, and a lot of properties have more than one building: a house, a barn or shop, a guest cabin, a woodshed. Those outbuildings get the least attention and fail first. Shed and outbuilding repair, doors that won't close, and siding that's gone soft at the bottom are regular calls.
Deer are a constant here, so deer fencing and gate repair come up a lot. The south end is open and windy, which means storm prep matters, and the dry fields in late summer make brush clearing worth doing around the house.
Half the houses are empty
Lopez and Shaw together counted about half their housing as seasonal or occasional use, the highest share of the ferry islands, according to county housing figures compiled by Orcas Island Community Foundation research. That's a lot of houses with nobody walking past them in January.
That's what property care is for: a monthly walkthrough inside and out, small fixes on the spot, and a photo report every visit, from $300 a visit. Visits get scheduled on Lopez island days. Pair it with winter projects and the repair list gets done while you're away.
Questions I get about Lopez
How often do you come to Lopez?
Island days usually run every two to three weeks, more often when the list is full. Get on the list and you'll hear about the next date.
Can you work on barns and outbuildings?
Yes, for repairs: doors, siding, trim, hardware, and small framing. Roofing and big structural work go to a roofer or builder.
Do you do property care on Lopez?
Yes. Monthly visits are scheduled on Lopez island days, from $300 a visit.
Next step
Work waiting on Lopez?
Get on the Lopez list and I’ll fit you into the next island day. Call (360) 317-0203.
Related