We Clean Windows and a Whole Lot More
by Melissa LaScaleia
Window Genie of Myrtle Beach specializes in window cleaning, window tinting, pressure washing, roof cleaning, gutter cleaning and more for their residential and commercial clients as well as condo associations.
“We’re not perfect, but we try to be,” says Tom Washer, the owner of the franchise. “Our priorities are to have respect for the customers, respect for each other, and to provide a quality service at a premium price.”
Tom is a veteran of the United States Air Force. He joined when he was seventeen years old and served for four-and-a-half years in Arizona, Texas, Panama, and Oklahoma City.
During his time in the military, he gained a lot of knowledge working in the maintenance analysis division. He then spent thirty-five years of his civilian life working in sales and management for consumer products, mainly in Massachusetts.
Being tired of the snow and cold weather, and interested in joining a franchise brand, he and his wife relocated to Myrtle Beach five years ago.
Now, instead of shoveling snow off his roof, he’s helping his customers in Myrtle Beach to clean algae off theirs, as Window Genie also specializes in roof cleaning.
“Algae occurs on a ten-year cycle, growing on a roof and eating the limestone,” Tom says. “If you don’t clean it off, it reduces the life of your roof by 10%. Coastal areas are more susceptible. If you’re selling your home, having algae on the roof can be a big deterrent because it looks dirty and people may think that it needs to be replaced.”
Window Genie offers a free onsite consultation to assess your home for what it needs before conducting any work.
“I’ll survey your home for anything that needs to be repaired or could cause a problem down the road, regardless of whether we offer that service or not,” Tom says. “That way, we can best serve the customer. If I don’t perform the service, I can refer you to someone who can take care of it. Window Genie is part of the Neighborly family of brands, with sister companies that offer everything from painting, to plumbing, electrical work, appliance repair and more.”
In addition to cleaning, Window Genie also installs window film.
“As a homeowner, you want to think about: how secure is my home, and how heat-regulated is it,” Tom says.
Window film comes in a variety of styles depending on your needs. They are made to reduce the heat gain from the sun; reduce glare; limit visibility for greater privacy; to enhance security, safeguarding windows and doors against a storm or a break in; and for decoration.
“If you have a room in your home that is too hot to sit in during midday, we can correct that,” Tom says. “Also, if there is a glare on your television or computer screens, film can help with that. If your neighbors are looking into your windows and can see into your bathroom, we can correct that. If you look outside your window and see the side of your neighbor’s house, we can correct that so you’re looking at something nice. If you have windows that may not hold up because of strong winds, then we can correct that too.”
Tom uses protective window films by SunTek, a leading brand of window films manufactured by Eastman Chemical, and decorative ones by Solyx.
Window Genie is part of Neighborly Brands which represents thirteen brands across the country; there are many franchises in Myrtle Beach which fall under their umbrella.
Tom runs the company himself, managing everything from advertising to marketing to human resources, and has between six to eight workers helping him. Recently, his niece, Bethanne, has evolved into the office manager.
“The best part of what we do is making a difference,” Tom says. “We work with a lot of realtors and have helped to sell many homes. Sometimes a home will sit for six months, and then I’ll get a call from a realtor to clean the home or the roof and it will sell in two weeks. It can really make a difference when a home is cleaned properly.”
Tom appreciates making a difference and enjoys giving back to the community as well. He has partnered with Creekfront Salkehatchie which is a national summer camp program for children with fifty locations across South Carolina, including Murrells Inlet. The children help in the building and repair of homes for local people in need, helping them to stay safe, warm, and dry.
Window Genie also manufactures its own brand of ammonia-free glass cleaner. Whenever you buy glass cleaner from Tom, he donates 100% of the proceeds to this local camp for the children and their mission. Now when you keep your windows clean you can know that you helped support children learning new skills, as well as recovering families.
