We Clean Windows and A Whole Lot More
by Melissa LaScaleia
Window Genie of Myrtle Beach offers a variety of services for their residential and commercial clients and condo associations. They specialize in installing window tints and film; and cleaning windows, roofs, gutters and more.
Window film is something that many people may not be that familiar with, but its benefits are many.
Films are made to reduce the heat gain from the sun; reduce glare; prevent fading of interior furnishings, like rugs walkways and flooring; limit visibility for greater privacy; to enhance security, safeguarding windows and doors against a storm or a break in; and for decoration.
“As a homeowner, you want to think about your home’s security and efficiency as well as its aesthetic resale value,” says Tom Washer, the owner of the franchise. “And we can address those concerns and much more. If you have a room in your home that is too hot to sit in during midday, we can correct that— reducing the temperature by up to 79%. If there is a glare on your television or computer screens, film can help with that and reduce glare by up to 85%.
“If because of the proximity of your houses, your neighbors 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 during hurricane or storm winds— we can correct that too.”
Privacy and opaque film will transform a window into something much like an etched glass window— limiting visibility both in and out. One of its most common uses is on front doors.
Tom uses protective safety and security window films by SunTek, a leading brand of window films manufactured by Eastman Chemical, and decorative films by Solyx. In our area, the film is often installed to protect against wind, storm and hurricane damage, and protects against glass breakage.
“You don’t have to install hurricane shutters if you have security film,” Tom says. “Because the film will protect your window and thus your home. If the window breaks, it’s still going to stay in place and prevent water from coming inside.”
All the SunTek brands have a limited lifetime warranty for residential installations that cover any peeling, chipping, cracking or fading. The company will replace the film at no additional cost. Commercial installations come with a three-year warranty.
“We’re not perfect, but we try to be,” Tom says. “Our first priorities are to have respect for the customers, respect for each other, and to provide a quality service at a fair 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.
When he was 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 throughout New England and Texas.
During that time, he and his wife lived in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, but eventually became tired of the snow and cold weather.
Interested in joining a franchise, they relocated to Myrtle Beach in 2014. 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 pressure-washed 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 understand that the life expectancy of the roof is reduced, costing them more money.”
Window Genie offers free, onsite consultations to assess your home’s 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 have extensive contacts through BNI and can refer you to someone who can take care of it.
“People who join BNI have a high level of personal accountability, because their success as small business owners as well as their ability to stay in the group depends on their skill, follow-through, and customer service, so I feel confident in the referrals I make.”
Tom’s contacts extend beyond his own personal network to include a highly renowned, country-wide brand.
Window Genie is part of Neighborly Brands, which represents thirteen brands across the country that offer everything from painting, to plumbing, electrical work, appliance repair and more. There are many franchises in Myrtle Beach that fall under their umbrella.
And at holiday time, Window Genie also conducts onsite evaluations and helps design, install, take down, and store holiday light displays.
“We offer a free consultation to determine your needs, and supply everything completely,” Tom says. “We’re very skilled in holiday light designs, and can take special orders through our national supplier, Village Lighting, to fulfill any custom design request.”
Tom runs Window Genie with his niece, Bethanne, who is the office manager, as well as a team of 6-8 others.
“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 enjoys giving back to the community in other ways. He has partnered with Creekfront Salkehatchie which is a national summer camp program for children. They have fifty locations across South Carolina, and one in Murrells Inlet.
The children help in the building and repair of homes for local people in need, helping everyone in the community to stay safe, warm, and dry.
To support Creekfront, Window Genie manufactures its own brand of ammonia-free glass cleaner, 100% of the proceeds of which go to this local camp. Now when you buy this cleaner from Tom, you can feel good knowing that you helped support children learning new skills, as well as families in need.
Window Genie is also a supporter of The Wingman Foundation, which provides aid to family members involved in Marine and Naval tragedies.
Window Genie of Myrtle Beach
