Handyman and Property Care on Orcas Island
Orcas is the biggest and hilliest of the islands, with houses scattered from Eastsound to Doe Bay. I work it on scheduled island days.
- Licensed & bonded
- WA L&I #SANJUJI741OT
- Insured
- Locally owned in Friday Harbor
How island days on Orcas work
I batch Orcas jobs onto scheduled island days instead of charging one person for a whole day. You get on the Orcas list, and when there's enough work to fill a day I set a date and let everyone know. A half day is $595 and a full day is $995. If you can't wait for the next scheduled day, a dedicated day is available at the day rate plus $400.
Orcas is shaped like a pair of saddlebags around East Sound, with West Sound and Deer Harbor cutting into the west side. The county describes Eastsound as the commercial center, with smaller hamlets at Deer Harbor, West Sound, Orcas Village, and Olga. Doe Bay is out on the east end. A day on Orcas gets planned around that geography, so I'll group jobs on the same side of the island when I can.
Tell me which side you're on, how the driveway is, and whether there's a gate code, and I'll slot you into a day that makes sense.
What Orcas houses need
Orcas has more elevation than any other island, and that changes what breaks. Houses up in the trees on the slopes stay shaded and wet, so moss, gutter packing, and soft deck boards are the steady work. Long steep driveways mean more stairs, more retaining, and more drainage problems where runoff comes down the hill. Waterfront homes on Deer Harbor, West Sound, and the north shore take wind and salt.
The other big factor is how many houses on Orcas sit empty. Orcas and Waldron together counted about a third of their housing as seasonal or occasional use, according to county housing figures compiled by Orcas Island Community Foundation research. A closed house in the woods in January is exactly what rodents want, which is why crawlspace and rodent exclusion and winterizing are high on the list here.
Property care on Orcas
For owners who aren't on the island year-round, property care is the main thing I do on Orcas. A monthly walkthrough inside and out, small fixes on the spot, and a photo report every visit, from $300 a visit. Monthly visits get scheduled on Orcas island days so they stay on that rate.
If something's wrong between visits, like a storm or an alarm call, I'll tell you plainly when I can get there. And if the job needs an electrician or a plumber, I'll coordinate a licensed trade on the island and meet them at the house.
Questions I get about Orcas
How often do you come to Orcas?
Island days usually run every two to three weeks, more often when the list fills up. Get on the list and you'll hear about the next date.
Can I get you for just one small job?
Yes. Get on the list and your job goes onto the next island day with everyone else's. You pay for your time on that day, not the whole day.
Do you do property care on Orcas?
Yes. Monthly visits are scheduled on Orcas island days, from $300 a visit.
Next step
Work waiting on Orcas?
Get on the Orcas list and I’ll fit you into the next island day. Call (360) 317-0203.
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