August 5th, 2009
Posted by Matt Thomson
One of the drawbacks of living around so many trees like we do in Gig Harbor is our roofs tend to get a bit messy. Moss and pine needles can actually take several years off of the life of your roof, and clogged gutters can cause rot problems in the eaves. At my previous house in Gig Harbor, it was simple for me to climb up on the roof and take a leaf blower and keep my roof clean myself.
Our new house is a bit higher off the ground and a far steeper pitch. I still needed to get our roof cleaned, though, as the moss was making our home look pretty shabby and I knew our gutters were full of the little pine buds. Dan from Rooftop Services in Gig Harbor came out, and within a few hours my roof looked brand new again! Best part about it for me? The cleanup that they did afterwards. My property was spotless! They blew and washed a huge amount of gunk from my roof, but the ground around my home, my siding, everything was spotless when they left.
If you have a roof that needs cleaning in the Gig Harbor area, give Dan at Rooftop Services a call at 253-851-1180.
August 5th, 2009
Posted by Matt Thomson
After my debacle with Alpha Ecological Pest Control, I was struggling to try and find a pest control company in Gig Harbor that would actually get rid of my ant and rodent problem. Long’s Pest Control in Gig Harbor was the only company I could find that could get the job done. We had a unique problem with the rodents…they weren’t really rodents. We had squirrels in our walls. Not in the attic, not in the crawl, but in the walls. Alpha came out and charged me lots of money and didn’t do anything, and 3 other companies I contacted wouldn’t even come out. They simply said they couldn’t help.
But Long’s Pest Control came out and in one visit (one visit that cost about 15% less than Alpha) had my house free of squirrels. Their technician understood the concept of the little buggers. He knew what they needed, where they would be likely to travel, etc. He went up into my attic on a ridiculously hot day and helped us out. Now, we’re squirrel free! If you’ve got a pest problem and you need a pest control company in Gig Harbor, give Long’s a call at 253-851-2345!
July 20th, 2009
Posted by Matt Thomson
So do I. One of the pitfalls of living around the gorgeous forests of Gig Harbor is that there are critters living in those woods. Sometimes, those critters decide that your nice warm home would make a more suitable home for them than the tree that they were living in.
I recently hired Alpha Ecological Pest Control to take care of a rodent and carpenter ant problem at our home. They didn’t take care of either. They charged me lots of money ($740) to address the issue, but the ants are still around (though fewer of them) and the rodents haven’t let up at all. Customer service at Alpha Ecological is horrible. When I called the first time, they told me I hadn’t given it enough time to kick in, and I needed to call back after a month. So I called back when the problem still wasn’t addressed, and was told that I’d only paid for a 1-time service, I hadn’t paid for follow up or for the warranty. So basically I paid for them to do nothing.
In my business, word of mouth is everything. If something doesn’t go right, it’s my responsibility to make things right. Partly because my business depends on it, partly because I believe that’s just the right thing to do. Apparently Alpha Ecological Pest Control doesn’t feel the same way. I guess with them it’s just a one and done. Get paid for the service (or lack thereof) and move on to the next customer. I guess repeat business doesn’t matter to them. If you know of a good pest control company in Gig Harbor, could you let me know?
June 16th, 2009
Posted by Matt Thomson
In a recent poll by the Peninsula Gateway, “Boating in the Harbor” was voted as the #1 family activity in Gig Harbor, WA. I’d agree. Gig Harbor is a gorgeous place, but seeing the Harbor and the Puget Sound from the water is a whole new world. If you live in the Gig Harbor area and have never been out on a boat (or it’s been a while), you really should consider one of these options. If you don’t live in the area but you’ve been pondering a vacation up to the Pacific Northwest, visiting Gig Harbor and getting out on the boat would be a very worth while trip. Here are three ways anybody can boat around Gig Harbor.
- Give me a call. A client and friend of mine docks his 30′ cabin cruiser in the Harbor, and he and I have partnered to give Gig Harbor real estate tours from the water. Join us on a comfortable cruise (choose to sit inside or out) around the Gig Harbor and Fox Island areas while I point out some of the various neighborhoods and waterfront and waterview homes that are for sale in Gig Harbor. You’ll be amazed at how much real estate has views or waterfront footage. Call me for pricing and tour details.
- Take an historic tour of Gig Harbor on an old restored Navy boat with Destiny Marine Tours. Gig Harbor resident Tom Drohan began his company a few years back and offers wonderful cruising tours in an open air classic Navy boat. See Gig Harbor from the water and get a great sense of the history of the area as well.
- Rent a boat yourself and go wherever you please. Gig Harbor Rent-a-Boat has everything from kayaks for paddling the Harbor, to speed boats for a more extensive look at all of our bays and inlets, to a 26′ cabin cruiser for overnight stays. Driving a boat underneath the Narrows Bridge is a great experience, as is paddling along side harbor seals and amazing yachts and sail boats. Mention that you heard about them on MeetGigHarbor.com and get a 10% discount!
June 6th, 2009
Posted by Matt Thomson
Really, that’s true. I can sleep now thanks to Advanced Heating and Cooling in Gig Harbor (well, Bremerton actually). Last summer, when the temps would get to the high 70’s outside, it was unbearable inside. We’d have fans going, windows open and shut strategically, blinds drawn, and we still had a tough time sleeping. Even our baby girl was uncomfortable.
So we just had Advanced Heating and Cooling install a 14-SEER Trane Heat Pump. WOW! I was most excited for the energy savings. We’ll save an estimated 40-50% off of our energy bills all winter with this new high efficiency system. I was also pretty excited about the $1500 Federal rebate and up to $300 rebate from PSE for installing a new heating and cooling system. I was happy to be getting air conditioning (yes, even in Gig Harbor, WA, we need it from time to time), but I wasn’t prepared for just how big of a difference it would make. We hit 90 on 3 days last week, but our house was a cool 70! No jet engine fans making us deaf, no black out shades pulled so we couldn’t see, just a quiet heat pump whirring in the background making our house remarkably comfortable.
If you live in the South Sound area, anywhere near Bremerton, Port Orchard, or Gig Harbor, and you’re looking for a new furnace, heat pump, or air conditioning (or just a way to make your home more energy efficient), I’d give Advanced Heating and Cooling a call. 360-415-9335. Let them know you heard about them at MeetGigHarbor.com!
May 11th, 2009
Posted by Matt Thomson
My little daughter found a new favorite store while we were at the Uptown Center in Gig Harbor last week. Teaching Toys, Too, a children’s toy store that has been operating in Tacoma’s Proctor district for the past several years, is now open in Gig Harbor’s Uptown Center on Point Fosdick Drive. Located next to Ann Taylor, Loft (my wife loves this), across from Cutter’s Point Coffee, and a parking lot away from Gig Harbor’s new Galaxy Movie Theater, Teaching Toys, Too is a little kids’ paradise.
Everything you could want in a toy store can be found here. Well, let me correct that and say everything you could want from a toy store that offers great mind building toys rather than mindless video games can be found here. Teaching Toys, Too is owned by two Tacoma residents, and all but one of their hired staff is a Gig Harbor resident. You know how much I love the independent, local shops!
If you’re in the Gig Harbor area and looking for a place to buy a puzzle, stuffed animal, mind game, or any other toy for your child or grandchildren, pull in to the Uptown Center and check our Gig Harbor’s newest toy store. Please, let me know what you enjoyed after you visit!
May 4th, 2009
Posted by Matt Thomson
I’ve been with Washington Mutual bank for 12 years. Iopened my account with them when I moved to Washington fresh out of college. This past week, I closed my WaMu accounts and now do my banking at Harborstone Credit Union in Gig Harbor. Part of it had to do with WaMu’s new transfer to Chase. Part of it had to do with my desire to support local businesses.
Nobody at WaMu ever knew my name. Not once in 12 years. I never got a thing from WaMu. Not a thank you, not a pen, nothing. I went to Harborstone’s Gig Harbor branch a few weeks ago when I sold my truck and needed to pay off a loan I had with them. Two weeks later I had switched another loan to them and opened up all of my accounts there.
Why? After one visit they knew my name and greeted my by that name when I walked in. They remembered my daughter’s name. They gave my daughter some mini-beach balls to play with. I got a pen. They have fresh-baked cookies when I walk in. Yes, their interest that they pay is higher, and there’s no fees, but I don’t care as much about that.
If you’re looking for a great bank in Gig Harbor, a place to get a loan, or just a friendly place with cookies, give Harborstone Credit Union a try. Let them know I sent you. It won’t get either of us anything, but I like saying that!
April 27th, 2009
Posted by Matt Thomson
If you live anywhere near Gig Harbor, and you’re looking for an outstanding, reliable, fair auto mechanic, give Joe Turco a call at Joe Turco’s Harbor Repair. Joe specializes in Honda repairs, but is well versed in all imports and domestic vehicles.
I recently purchased a new car (had to downsize from my Nissan Titan…it just was too expensive). Although my new (okay, 1998) Lexus had been looked over at the Lexus dealership in Fife, I still took it to Joe’s Harbor Repair to have someone I know and trust look it over. Although the guys at the dealership swore it was pristine, Joe quickly pointed out a leak in the power steering as well as a few other things for me to keep an eye on. Joe agreed that the car was in great shape, especially for an 11 year old car, but those few things that he discovered helped me save nearly $1000 on the purchase of the car.
If you’ve got a Honda, Lexus, Toyota…any car for that matter, and you need a good car mechanic for anything from an oil change to a major repair, give Joe Turco a call. Gig Harbor doesn’t have many places to get your car serviced, but when you’ve got one as good as Harbor Repair, you only need one.
April 27th, 2009
Posted by Matt Thomson
I spent the morning showing houses to some folks from Florida. We met at 10:30, and by 1:30 we were all a bit hungry. There are several options to grab a quick bite to eat in Gig Harbor, but if you want a unique, healthy lunch, Gig Harbor’s Harbor Greens market is your best choice. I ordered a grilled “Chad’s Fav” (one of the owners’ name is Chad) and loved it. Washed it down with a big bottle of chocolate milk (okay, so that killed the healthy part), and had some strawberries and grapes to go along with.
I could have spent the same amount and had a few tacos, some tater tots and a coke from across the street, but my sandwich was MUCH better! Fresh meats, fresh veggies, and great dressings make Harbor Greens the ideal place to find lunch in Gig Harbor.
April 27th, 2009
Posted by Matt Thomson
It’s no secret I love my dog. He’s more family than family pet. In the 9 years that we’ve been together, I’ve only fed him Canadae dog food. I probably spend more on the food than I need to, but I don’t want him to settle on the bland stuff, so I spend a bit more to get him the good stuff.
If you’re looking for a great dog food store in Gig Harbor (okay, I guess it’s a pet store ’cause they do have cat stuff there as well), try out Green Cottage Pets right downtown on the Gig Harbor waterfront. They have great accessories, food, and treats for your dog or cat. Seb gives them a big paw up!
