Handyman and Property Care on Shaw Island
Shaw has a store at the ferry landing, a county park, and not much else. That's the point of living there, and the reason the houses need someone to check on them.
- Licensed & bonded
- WA L&I #SANJUJI741OT
- Insured
- Locally owned in Friday Harbor
How island days on Shaw work
Shaw is the smallest of the four ferry-served islands. The county lists it at 7.7 square miles with a population of 165, a small grocery store at the ferry landing, and one park. There's no hardware store, no lumber yard, and nobody on the island whose job is to fix things.
I work Shaw on scheduled island days, often paired with Orcas because they're so close. A half day is $595 and a full day is $995, and because Shaw jobs are often small, several owners usually share one day. I bring materials with me, so tell me what you need ahead of time.
What Shaw houses need
Shaw is mostly forest and shoreline, with houses set back in the trees on long driveways. That means shade, damp, needles, and moss: gutters that pack up, north-facing roofs and decks that grow green, and trim and siding that stay wet for months. Gutters and moss removal and rot repair are the core work.
With so few people around in winter, the slow failures go unnoticed longest: a rodent in the crawlspace, a door that blew open, a branch through a skylight. Rodent exclusion and winterizing in the fall prevent most of it.
Property care on Shaw
Lopez and Shaw together counted about half their housing as seasonal or occasional use, according to county housing figures compiled by Orcas Island Community Foundation research. On an island this quiet, a monthly check matters more than anywhere. Property care is a walkthrough inside and out every month, small fixes on the spot, and a photo report, from $300 a visit, scheduled on Shaw island days.
Questions I get about Shaw
Do you come to Shaw often enough to be useful?
Shaw gets worked on scheduled island days, often together with Orcas. Property care clients get a visit every month.
Can you bring materials over?
Yes, most of what a repair day needs. Tell me ahead of time so I can buy it before the ferry.
Can several Shaw owners share a day?
Yes, and that's the usual way it works. Everyone pays for their own time on the day.
Next step
Work waiting on Shaw?
Get on the Shaw list and I’ll fit you into the next island day. Call (360) 317-0203.
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