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In this episode of Palm Harbor Local, Donnie Hathaway sits down with Gary Hall, founder of Blue Collar Home Services, to talk about his 30-year journey in the electrical and HVAC trades. Gary shares how he turned early jobsite experience into a thriving, community-driven company that focuses on training and mentoring the next generation of skilled tradespeople.

He explains why he’s committed to staying locally owned despite multiple offers from investors, emphasizing the importance of people, integrity, and service over profit. Gary also provides practical hurricane prep tips for Florida homeowners—from installing proper surge protection to maintaining smoke detectors and backup power options.

This conversation highlights the heart behind Blue Collar Home Services and Gary’s passion for developing talent, serving customers with care, and keeping Palm Harbor powered and protected year-round.

Stroll through the laid-back streets of the Palm Harbor community with this informative podcast, proudly brought to you by Donnie Hathaway with The Hathaway Group, your trusted guide and local expert in navigating the diverse and ever-changing property landscape of Palm Harbor.

Work with me + FREE Resources

Would you like help buying a home in Palm Harbor? - Buyer Consultation
Would you like help selling your house in Palm Harbor? - Seller Marketing Consultation
Download our free buyer's guide today - Buyer's Guide

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Growing up in a family plumbing business, building homes in PA, moving to Florida, why typical water softeners fall short, chloramine vs chlorine, slab leaks and copper pinholes, whole-home filtration and no-salt conditioning, under-sink alkaline options, maintenance tips, costs and environmental impact, and why the trades matter.

Highlights

• Fred’s 60+ years in plumbing and homebuilding and how that shaped Water Science’s approach.
• The Florida water reality: chloramine, hardness, and why “softened” ≠ “purified.”
• How no-salt conditioning keeps healthy minerals while preventing scale (great for tankless heaters).
• Whole-home carbon + catalytic filtration to address chloramine, taste/odor, and system protection.
• Under-sink drinking systems that maintain alkaline pH and reduce micro-contaminants.
• Practical home tips: flushing your water heater, checking drains when you smell “sulfur,” choosing copper types, and avoiding bottled-water plastic.
• Lifetime warranty, 5-year media refresh, and why right-sized systems matter for larger homes.
• Career message to young people: the trades are a high-opportunity path.

Connect

• Water Science: waterscience.us
• Follow the show on Instagram: @palmharborlocal
• Join the newsletter: PalmHarborLocal.com

Stroll through the laid-back streets of the Palm Harbor community with this informative podcast, proudly brought to you by Donnie Hathaway with The Hathaway Group, your trusted guide and local expert in navigating the diverse and ever-changing property landscape of Palm Harbor.

Work with me + FREE Resources

Would you like help buying a home in Palm Harbor? - Buyer Consultation
Would you like help selling your house in Palm Harbor? - Seller Marketing Consultation
Download our free buyer's guide today - Buyer's Guide

Send us a text

In this episode of Palm Harbor Local, host Donnie Hathaway sits down with Kenny McLaurin, founder of McLaurin Inspections, to explore the evolving world of home inspections and real estate in Florida. Kenny shares his journey of building his business during the pandemic, how market shifts impact both inspectors and agents, and why managing client expectations is critical in such a high-stakes industry.

We dive into:

• How Florida’s insurance requirements make inspections unique (and complicated).
• Differences between inspecting homes in Michigan vs. Florida.
• The role of communication in building trust with buyers and agents.
• Kenny’s candid thoughts on solar panels, roofing, and inspection guidelines.
• The future of AI and technology in the home inspection industry.

Whether you’re buying, selling, or simply curious about the behind-the-scenes of home inspections, this episode is full of insights you won’t want to miss.

Stroll through the laid-back streets of the Palm Harbor community with this informative podcast, proudly brought to you by Donnie Hathaway with The Hathaway Group, your trusted guide and local expert in navigating the diverse and ever-changing property landscape of Palm Harbor.

Work with me + FREE Resources

Would you like help buying a home in Palm Harbor? - Buyer Consultation
Would you like help selling your house in Palm Harbor? - Seller Marketing Consultation
Download our free buyer's guide today - Buyer's Guide