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Party Planning And Execution With The Help Of Party Planner

Reasons To Hire Party Planner For Kids Party

That’s why you should consider hiring a party planner to plan your kid’s next bash. Many people think of party planners as something people do for weddings or large events, but here are 5 reasons why hiring a party planner for your kid’s party might just be the best thing you ever did for your sanity.

Reason #1: Hiring a party planner saves you time

One of the biggest headaches when it comes to throwing a party for your child is the time it takes to plan and execute the whole event.

From the planning to the shopping to the decorating…let’s face it — that’s all time you could better spend doing something else, like spending quality time with your family.

Reason #2: Hiring a party planner can save you money

Believe it or not, one of the biggest misconceptions about hiring a party planner for your kid’s party is that it will cost you more. People think that hiring a planner will cost a lot more than doing it themselves, but that’s just not true.

When you hire a party planner, you’ll be able to talk about your budget, and you don’t have to worry about going over budget. Their job is to give you the best possible party for the amount you want to spend, and with a party planner, you get more bang for your buck. Party planners often get industry discounts from vendors, retailers, and service providers, and they are able to pass some of those savings on to you.

Not to mention that many party planners own their own equipment such as popcorn machines, hot dog makers, and karaoke machines. You can have extras like that built into the cost of your party for a far better price than if you were to rent them yourself from a vendor.

Oftentimes, a party planner can save you up to 40% off what it might normally cost you for the same party!

Reason #3: You will have a better looking party

Party planners are experts. They’ll think of decor details that you might not even have known to think about, such as an awesome theme, a centerpiece that will wow your child’s friends (and their parents!), games, snacks, and the perfect goodie bag. They know how to arrange furniture in a way that invites more interaction and fun, the best place to put a snack bar or party favor table, and which to hang: streamers or a custom-made banner (or both).

This professionalism and attention to detail will make a party that looks amazing (which makes you look good!)

Reason #4: Hiring a party planner = less stress on you

Speaking of details, which scenario sounds better:

  • On the day of the party, you’re scrambling around, picking up a few last-minute things for party favors before you stop by the bakery to pick up the cake. Then you get home and have to move furniture, set up some extra chairs, decorate the centerpiece table, fill said goodie bag, bake cookies, set out snacks, cue up a music playlist, call your best friend to beg her to pick up the extra bag of ice that you forgot (oops!), get ready, get your kid ready, then put on a smile and play “happy hostess” when the doorbell rings, trying your best not to show the other parents what a frazzled mess you are inside OR…
  • Answer the phone when your party planner calls to let you know she’s on her way and asks if there’s anything you need her to pick up for you. Once she arrives, you open the door (already dressed and ready), relieved to see a professional who is cool, calm, and collected. She smiles and hands you a cake that looks like a million bucks as she encourages you to relax and pour yourself a cup of coffee (or wine…no judgment!) while she brings in the decorations and everything she needs to set up the party for you. She sets everything up (beautifully, by the way), giving you plenty of time to get your child ready. As your guests start to arrive, your party planner also acts as hostess (if you want), and greets the guests, explains where everything is, and encourages them to let her know if they need anything while you’re able to mingle with the parents and play with the children. In other words, you get to be a participant instead of a host or hostess. Once the party is over, like magic, the decorations come down and are whisked away, the place is cleaned up, and you’re left feeling like you should have hired a party planner years ago!

Reason #5: Your child will have more fun

Quite simply, a party planner knows through experience what will be a hit with party guests, young and old. When you hire a party planner to put together your child’s next party, they will go to great lengths to make sure that your child’s friends have a blast and that your child feels like a superstar.

How to plan a birthday pool party?

If you’re looking to plan a birthday party, be it for kids or for adults, there are some boxes you have to tick if you want it to be a smashing success:

  • Guest list – First things first, you need to plan who you’re going to invite.
  • Invitations – Next up, you should write, print, or make the invitations. Leave some more time for it if you plan on making creative invitations, like floatie invitations, and always make a couple of additional invitations, just in case.
  • Fun drinks – Try to make the drinks stations pop by making fun and unusual drinks for the kids to enjoy.
  • Snack spread – Where there are drinks, there should be food too, especially at a birthday party. Try to make bite-size snacks, so kids can eat them on the fly.
  • Floats – Never forget pool floats, be they regular, or giant ones. They’re all the rage!
  • Music – Make sure to place the speakers around the pool, so that kids can enjoy their favorite music. Just remember to take all the safety precautions.
  • Playlist – Speaking about favorite music, make sure to check with your kid what’s hot currently, so you can play the right tunes.
  • Protection section – Make sure to plan for every occasion. Setting up a place where kids can apply sunscreen is really important.
  • Coziness – Try to set up cozy places to sit all around the pool. All the better if they’re waterproof.
  • Phone cases – Waterproof, you say? Well, then, get some waterproof phone cases, so you can document even the underwater moments.
  • Games & activities – Make sure to plan lots of fun and interesting games and activities for the youngsters.
  • Pests – Coming back to precautions, make sure you take every measure against pesky pests coming to your birthday pool party.
  • Nighttime? – Finally, if you’re feeling really adventurous and if the kids are a bit older, why not make it a nighttime pool party?

What to bring to a birthday pool party?

If you’re either taking or chaperoning your kids to a birthday pool party, it’s normal and courteous of you to think about what you should bring to it. However, the answer to this question is rather easy, as you should only think about bringing

  • Food – Food is always welcome at birthday parties as there can never be enough snacks. If you’re feeling adventurous, make it water-themed food and you’re golden.
  • Drinks – Also, why not make some refreshing drinks to bring to the party as well? A pitcher of an unusual beverage will not go unnoticed.

On the other hand, if you’re worried about what your child should bring to a birthday pool party, think about the following:

  • Sunglasses – The first part of sun protection, sunglasses are a must for any pool party.
  • Sunscreen – The second part of sun protection, give your kid some sunscreen to bring, in case there’s no sunscreen station at the party.
  • Towel – Never let your kid go to a birthday pool party without a towel.
  • Floatie – Yes, there are probably floaties at the party, but one more can’t hurt.
  • Change of clothing – Finally, never forget to bring a change of clothing for your kids.

Planning Party Basics

Pick a theme with your child. Though it may seem unnecessary, having a theme will help you know what decorations to buy, what food to prepare, and what games to plan. Character parties are popular (think Sponge Bob or Scooby-Doo), but general themes work, too (pirates, fairies, princesses, cowboys, etc.). Unless they want something that just isn’t appropriate, allow them creative freedom. Sit down with your child at the table with a pen and paper and write down all the ideas you both like.

  • Some themes will obviously be more difficult than others. Go with your child to a couple of party stores and see what’s available or go online. It’ll be easiest to pick a theme based on what you have at your disposal. Most parents aren’t Martha Stewart; you certainly don’t have to be.

Nail down the specifics.

There are a few questions you’ll have to address: When is the party going to be? How long will it last? Where is it going to be? Is there anything going on communally or culturally that would prevent other children from coming? What time of day works into your schedule?

  • Take your child’s age into account. Generally, the younger the child, the earlier the party. You do not have to entertain all day–a few hours is more than sufficient. If you’re not having it at home, consult the desired venue to see what times are available.

Get invitations (that match the theme!).

Once you have them picked out, it’s time to finalize the details. Check your schedule to make sure there are no girl scouts or work meetings during the time you’re thinking. On the invitation, put the start and end times, address, what each child should bring (swimsuit, etc.) and if there will be a meal so parents can plan accordingly.

  • As for guests, a good rule of thumb is the child’s age plus 1.[3] And if parents can come along, great! It’s best to have a couple others to help with monitoring and clean up.
  • Have your invitations in the theme of your party. The other children will probably get excited, too. Your child can hand them out at school (if possible to do it discreetly) or you can give them to the parents if your child is too young (or forgetful!).
  • Your child shouldn’t hand them out in front of those not invited — it might make the others feel bad. Give them to the teacher to put in the take home folder or have your child put them in desks or lockers.

Buy decorations.

For everything from table cloths to pinatas, a party store is your best bet — or else you’ll end up bouncing around town for days looking to piece it all together. And if they don’t have a specific something, ask! They may be able to order it for you.

  • It’s always an option to make your own if you’re DIY handy. And your child can always help if you want someone to blame the poor penmanship on! As an alternative idea, a few children can come over a bit earlier to make decorations themselves, if they’d like.

Plan some games.

These are the building blocks of a good child’s party, so start thinking up craft projects, look into renting an entertainer, or utilize the facilities at an outside venue. Look in your phone book or online for party rentals or places near you. For younger kids, have a loose schedule to keep things running.

  • Don’t be afraid to go super theme-oriented. If you’re having a Wild West party, have them pan for gold in the sandbox. Conduct a scavenger hunt with theme-related clues and a final prize.
  • Don’t be afraid to go super simple. Nowadays, kids aren’t playing the old school games they could be. Instead of having them all plop down in front of the Wii, have them Capture the Flag, play Red Rover, Blind Man’s Bluff, or have relay races.
  • For older children, have more free time. The older the child, the less structured the party should be. Kids will likely want to do their own thing at one point or another. If they express this, don’t stress. More free time for you and the other parents!

Make party favors interactive.

Instead of giving them a bag of small toys that will get played with for three minutes and then shoved in a drawer, have them make the party favors themselves! The kids will feel more involved and like they were a part of the party.

  • They could make potato print t-shirts, simple masks, jewelry, fishing rods, badges — the list goes on and on and on. This requires a bit more forethought, but will pay off in the long run.
  • You could have this be the first activity — so children that come earlier have something to busy themselves with while the others slowly file in. Any late arriving child can take the necessary materials home with them if they’d like.
  • Let the kids take home the decorations. This is an easy and quick idea if you have something with a general theme, like princesses or baseball. And it allows for minimal clean up!

Plan the party food.

When it comes to parties, one thing is timeless: cake. Will you bake one or buy one? Or two?! Cupcakes are easy and super trendy as well. Whatever you choose, either get the order in early or go grocery shopping for the ingredients ahead of time. Make the food theme oriented, too!

  • Despite what logic dictates, cake isn’t enough. You’ll need food food too — make it easy on yourself and get some pizzas delivered or get a fast food restaurant or catering company to take care of everything. Finger sandwiches and lunch bags with sandwiches and fruit, jellos, or chocolate chip cookies are great choices, too.
  • If it’s a nice day outside and you have a grill, kids love hot dogs and hamburgers. Don’t forget the buns, mustard, and ketchup!
  • If there will be other parents or adults attending and watching over the kids, have food for them, too. They may not be so keen on chicken nuggets and Sprite.

Plan the party drinks.

Soda pop, lemonade, and juice are all pretty standard. And if you’ll be outside a lot, a cooler filled with bottles of water or cans of soda will surely be appreciated, especially if it’s hot outside. And, of course, milk goes great with cake. If it’s autumn or winter, have the kids play outside and come in for cider to warm them up.

  • Have glasses (and cutlery in general) that are safe for the kids to use. Things may get broken — so don’t break out your fine china. Be prepared for a mess.

Plan the goodbye.

Give the other parents your cell phone number on the off chance they’re running late, early, or sending someone else to pick up their child. Establish protocol for the safety of every child.

  • As the child leaves, take note. Have them say goodbye to everyone, gather their things, their party favor, and mentally check them off their list. Never let the child leave on their own or with an adult you don’t recognize.
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The Many Dimensions Of Packing Services

Packing Guide – What, Where & How

Once you’ve finalised your moving dates, it’s time to get packing! The first and most important thing you need to know about packing is that you don’t need to do it at all if you don’t want to. Many removal companies – Movers included – generally offer a full packing service, saving you the time and effort.

But if you decide to go ahead and pack yourself, here are some suggestions that are worth following to make the experience as hassle-free as possible: Declutter first. Try selling unwanted belongings at online auctions or boot sales, use “cash for old items” services or offer your unwanted items to charity shops in the lead up to the move. This will leave you with just the things that you plan on bringing with you, and is likely to bring the moving costs down.

Start small. Begin with the smaller items and work up to the furniture. When you’re doing this, you may need to combine items creatively. For example, fragile items such as glasses and crockery should be wrapped in packing paper to prevent breakages. But you can give them further protection by lining their boxes with bed linen, cushions, curtains or any other fabric items that are also to be packed.

Label as you go. Put labels on every box showing which room it should be put in at the new property. Put corresponding labels on each door at the new property. This means that every box will be put in the correct room – a good start for unpacking!

Disassemble and dismantle with care. If you have original manuals, it will help massively. If not, you may be able to find out how to dismantle furniture online. Always ask for help when dealing with large and heavy items. If you still aren’t confident to do it alone, our movers will be able to lend a helping hand. Perhaps the most crucial advice is to ensure all screws and bolts are packed in zip-lock plastic bags, labelled and attached to the protective packing of the furniture. This will help avoid the frustration of hunting for the crucial missing hardware when trying to re-assemble your furniture in your new property.

Packing Services

To successfully move your entire household—whether you’re relocating across the street or around the world first must pack it all up. Rather than spend all your free time wrapping and packing only to worry about possible damage along the way, turn to the professional packers

By trusting your fragile, priceless, and high-value items to our moving company, you won’t have to stress about whether your belongings are secure or not. Our expert packers utilize state-of-the-art packing techniques and provide several valuation coverage options to eliminate the hassle from your next relocation.

Fragile & Full-Service Packing Options for Your Family

which we’re proud to deliver through our customized relocation strategies. Whereas most local and long-distance movers offer a limited number of options, we instead work with our clients to build from-scratch moving plans that are both cost-effective and convenient.

we’ll begin by setting you up with a free, no-pressure cost estimate in the comfort of your home. During this appointment, our highly trained expert will help you choose and then customize your ideal moving plan:

Full Service Packing: One of our most popular options, full service packing lets you relax while we take care of your entire household, from appliances and other high-value items to furniture and décor.

Kitchen Packing: Our highly trained packers can carefully wrap and pad your delicate china and costly cooking appliances so that you don’t have to worry about anything.

Self-Packing: If you’d rather handle the wrapping and packing yourself, we can still help by providing high-quality packing supplies and as much or as little guidance as you need.

PACKING GUIDE

This guide is a basic induction to the packing up off your home, If you have opted for us to provide the packing service we will turn up with all the necessary materials, all we ask from you is to clearly separate any items you do not wish us to pack. Gather up all keys, important documents, and any other items you may need between properties.

Self pack instructions

1. Start packing early. We can’t emphasis enough how important it is to start packing early as possible, you can never anticipate how long it will take. Pack as much as you can ahead of moving day, leaving just the essentials for move day. Up on our arrival we do expect you to be fully packed ready for loading of your goods.

2. Pack room by room and label. When self packing, clearly label each box with content details and the room to which it belongs. This will make things easier when you’re unpacking in your new home, and help carriers in knowing which boxes to put in which rooms on delivery.

3. Building up your boxes. Correctly erecting and using the correct quality boxes will insure your goods travel in the safest form possible, on reading this guide you should have been provided with BAR approved boxes. These Boxes have been designed and tested for our industry

4. To build your boxes. Your boxes will arrive in flat pack form, choose from the three sizes you have been provided. (This is relevant to what goods you are packing, see packing notes) locate the bottom of the flat pack box from the arrows or the correct way up of the writing. Open the cardboard outwards creating a square. Pull the opposite flaps toward each other. Insuring any smaller flaps are folded first. Tape from one side to the other creating a crisscross effect from all four sides. This will ensure a solid base. For the top once filled, all you need is one strip across the middle to join. (Don’t forget to label)

5. What to pack in each of your box sizes. Below is a list of items on what to pack into your various size boxes .A general rule of thumb is to pack items that heavy into the smaller boxes. Do not fill the large or extra large boxes with books, CD’s, DVD’s Or your removal men won’t be able to lift them

Small box Books, DVDs, CDs, magazines ,tined food , bottles of alcohol

Medium box Glass, china ,toys ,clothes, linen, game consoles, DVD player

Extra large box Linen, clothes, bedding , curtains

Wardrobe box These will turn up on the day of the move to hang any hanging clothes

PACKING TIPS

When packing china and glass, to start any box off, pad the bottom out with an even layer of padding, wrap each item individually, ensuring items are stood on their ends, (all china / glass / ornaments should stand on their strongest point) always pack the glass at the top of the box, or be careful not to pack anything heavy on top.

When packing most other household items, insure the boxes are always full to the top, books are packed in tightly, and anything you’re not sure of give plenty of protection. Remember not to pack (the kettle) tea is essential to a removal man’s survival. Items in drawers, of furniture that are moving, i.e. chest of drawers, do not empty we will carry these pieces of furniture full and will save you on packing.

Everything You Need to Know About Hiring Professional Packing Services for Your Move

You never know how much stuff you have until you need to pack it up. Packing for a move, even if you have minimal stuff, is a time-consuming journey. It’s a task that may inspire you to do a deep declutter, or by going through your memorabilia, send you on a slow trip down memory lane. That makes packing for a move a huge undertaking, one that you may want to outsource.

Thankfully, there are professional packing companies for moving that can come pack up your house for you. Packing services will handle all the organizing, wrapping, and packing of boxes, from your grandmother’s china to your kid’s toys. You can even outsource buying moving supplies to them to make your move even more stress-free.

If you’re thinking of using a packing service for moving, there are some things you should consider: time, cost, and reliability, to start. So before you sign on the dotted line, read on to see what you need to know about professional packing services.

What You Get When You Use Packing Companies for Moving

So what’s included with packing services, anyway? Like any home service, you have plenty of options to customize packing services. Most packing companies for moving break their service offerings into these levels

The Basic Package

No matter how much stuff you want professionally packed, a pro packing service will offer trained packers who will come take care of the items (or rooms) you designate and pack everything effectively and safely. The inexpensive “basic package” just covers the difficult items to pack up: your TV, any antiques, china and glassware, etc. Think of it as entry-level packing services: it’s inexpensive and helpful, but it won’t take care of all your packing woes.

How To Pack For A Move? The Smart Guide to Packing

Packing doesn’t have to be a pain. There are so many ways to pack for a move, from packing room by room to packing based on the category of the item. Someone in a small one bedroom apartment may pack differently than someone packing an entire two-storey home.

Deciding on the smartest way to pack can be overwhelming, so here are a bunch of tips to help you pack your place like a pro and make sure your things (and your sanity) get to your new place in the same condition they left in.

Getting Started

To get started, go through your home or apartment room by room and make a checklist of every type of item you need to pack for each room. This will help you stay organized, better track your belongings from one house to the next, and ensure you don’t forget anything important!

To get even more organized we recommend the following smart packing tips:

Gather items you don’t plan to keep. You can then organize this based on items you plan to donate, sell, or throw away (if they can’t be donated).

Categorize items and pack similar items together — based on a room by room basis or just like items with like. Choose what works best for you!

Clean up and clear out garbage after you’re done organizing.

Label everything! Label on the side of each box rather than on the top so that boxes in stacks can be identified. If a box is packed in a manner that requires it to be always kept in an upright position, draw arrows on each side indicating which end must always be kept up.

Have a box for essential first night and day items. This includes an overnight bag (fresh clothes and toiletries) as well as cleaning supplies, tools, and first day kitchen supplies (paper plates, cutlery, etc).

Get the right packing supplies. This includes the right sized boxes, packing paper or bubble wrap, tape, scissors, etc.

Don’t overpack your boxes! Whether you’re moving yourself or hiring professional movers, it’s important to make sure someone can safely carry the box to avoid dropping fragile items — avoid loading more than 50 pounds into one box.

Start Packing!

We’ve put together a list of common household items that everyone should include in their packing checklist along with tips on the best way to pack them.

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Ceiling Fans Raise The Comfort

Ceiling Fan Buying Guide

Can I install a ceiling fan? – Ceiling Height

If your ceiling is 2.4m or higher then you can typically install a fan that will conform with Australian standards. The standard is to have the blades at a 2.1m height, this is in fact a requirement in many states. You can check the ceiling fan drop (from ceiling to blade) to ensure a fan is suitable for your ceiling height.

High Ceilings

For high ceilings it may be necessary for you to have a longer drop on the fan to ensure it sits at a more optimal height for air movement. Most fans can be purchased with an extension rod as an accessory. This extension rod will typically replace the standard downrod on the fan making the drop greater.

Extension rods are typically available in 90cm lengths. The majority can be cut to size to ensure that the ceiling fan sits at the height that you require. Some manufacturers also produce extension rods in 180cm lengths for exceptionally high ceilings. If a ceiling fan can be used with an extension rod it will be listed as an accessory below the fan listing. Please bear in mind that the above is a guide only – the actual height that the ceiling fan sits is down to you, however airflow will be optimal if the blades are somewhere between 2.1m and 2.5m from the floor.

Low Ceilings

For low ceilings (generally 2.4m or less) we have a category specifically for low profile ceiling fans. These fans are also commonly referred to as ‘hugger’ fans due to the fact that they hug closely to the ceiling. Fans within this category have a lower than standard (30cm) drop from ceiling to blade. For specific details take a look at each individual fan listing within this category, as the drop will vary from model to model.

Which Size Ceiling Fan?

How to select the correct size fan based on your room size

Firstly, all ceiling fans are measured in inches and this measurement relates to the diameter (blade span) of the fan. For example a 48″ fan will measure 48 inches from one blade tip to the opposite tip. A bigger blade diameter means the fan will cover a larger area, it does not necessarily equate to higher power. The most common sizes for bedrooms are 48″ and 52″fans. For a lounge r living area, 52″ and 56″ fans are common. Obviously this will vary depending on the actual size of the room. For very small rooms you may wish to take a look at our small fans category. For big living spaces we also have a category for large ceiling fans.

Ceiling Fan Installation / Selection Guide

INSTALLATION OF ONE UNIT CEILING FAN

The main features of a ceiling fan is to move the entire air in the room, not creating a local wind as in other fans.

To determine the model and mounting position, consider the condition below

H : distance from blade to floor (m)

R : radius of effective floor space of wind spread (m)

S : effective floor area (m2)

Calculation Formula :

R : coefficient x H

S : hR2 , where h = 3.14

L : Distance between Ceiling Fan to another (pitch in M)

A : Distance of overlapping air throw between fan

B : Distance between tip of fan to wall

BL : Blade length (M)

L : (RX2) – 0.4, where 0.4 is maximum allowable overlapping of air throw between fan

L : (RX2) – 0, if minimum A = 0

To calculate B = R – BL

How-To: Our Ceiling Fan Buying Guide

Downrod length? Ceiling pitch calculations? Airflow efficiency? Purchasing the right ceiling fan can be difficult if you don’t have information on your side. Luckily for you, we’re here to help. Read on to learn everything you need to know to equip your space with a beautiful new ceiling fan

Moisture Ratings: Wet Vs. Damp Vs. Dry

Moisture and electronics don’t usually get along, so if your ceiling fan is going to be exposed to the elements, you’ll want to make sure it’s designed to handle them. Our ceiling fans come rated for use in wet environments (areas with where the ceiling provides the only protection from the elements) damp environments (areas that are exposed to full changes in humidity and possibly condensation, such as covered porches) and dry environments (indoors). Wet-rated and damp-rated ceiling fans can be used in dry environments, but dry-rated ceiling fans can only be used in dry environments.

Q: Do your fans come with lights?

A: Most but not all of our fans come with LED light kits. Check the “Details” tab on the product page to see which fans do or do not.

The Golden Ratio: Room Size, Air Flow, and Fan Scale

When choosing the size of fan you need, your primary concern should be for how much air the fan can move. An undersized ceiling fan simply won’t do the job, especially if you rely on your ceiling fan on a regular basis. If you’re more technically inclined, you can check out the spec sheet for each fan model to view how much airflow output is required for a given size of room.

Once you’ve chosen a fan that can be effective in your space, you can start choosing fans for scale. Choosing the smallest necessary fan for your room will give a more traditional and discrete look to the fan installation while a large-format fan can function as a statement piece.

Installing a Ceiling Fan

A ceiling fan can add an interesting decorative touch to a room and will also make the room have a much more comfortable and even temperature. Ceiling fans well placed can increase the efficiency of air conditioners and furnaces because they very quietly mix the warmer air which rises near the ceiling with cooler air that settles near the floor.

Ceiling fan blades generally span a diameter of 36, 42, or 48 inches. You should choose the size that is best for the size of the room in which it is installed. A 48 inch fan spread may look best in a large room and one of that size may be needed to adequately circulate the air. Likewise, a smaller diameter fan spread will work nicely in a smaller sized room. Ceiling fans generally have either 4 or 5 fan blades.

The motor is equipped with a switch that will reverse the direction of rotation of the fan thus blowing air downward or pulling it upward. Pulling the air upward during the colder months pulls the warmer air up and across the ceiling and down the walls to more uniformly distribute the warm air. The downward flow of air is usually done during the warmer months to move the air over people in the room making them feel cooler.

Ceiling fans can also have a light kit added to them as part of the installation. There are several configurations of the light fixture to accommodate differing decorative tastes. The ceiling fan and lights can be operated from a wall switch, by pull chains on the fan housing, or with a remote control.

Ceiling fans can just as easily be installed by persons with limited or no vision as by persons who have good vision by having the right tools and following the five steps described below.

Tools you may need

Straight and philips screw drivers

Pliers that incorporate a wire cutter, sometimes referred to as linemen’s pliers

Needle nose pliers

Wire stripper or sharp knife for stripping insulation from the electrical wire

Allen wrenches for some models, (sometime provided by the manufacturer)

Sturdy ladder or strong tall step stool

Ceiling fan installation prices

Although basic ceiling fans can be relatively cheap to purchase, intallation must be carried out by a qualified electrician to proper standards. Eletricians charge an average rate of $77/hr for ceiling fan installation. The price, however, can go down to $69/hr if the job is pretty straightforward. Complicated installations, on the other hand, can go up to $80/hr. On average, ceiling fan installation jobs cost between $200 – $400. The cost per fan install can be redueced if multiple fans are being installed at one time.

Factors that can affect the cost of ceiling fan installation

Installing ceiling fans is typically a straightforward type of work. However, because the tasks and circumstances vary from job to job, the price of the service changes as well. Here are some things that can influence the cost of a ceiling fan installation service

Number of ceiling fans

It’s common for businesses to charge per fan, so you can expect to pay a higher rate if you have a couple or more ceiling fans to be installed. If you have old fans that need to be removed, this can incur additional fees too.

Controls

Remote-controlled ceiling fans are generally easier to use and install. However, if you prefer to have a wall switch for your fan, rewiring may be needed. This can make the installation a bit difficult to carry out, thus increasing the cost.

Other circumstances

New or additional wiring is sometimes needed for ceiling fans to be installed. Electricians can charge extra for these especially if complicated issues suddenly arise. The height of the ceiling is a factor too as it will determine the ease or difficulty of accessing the area.

Why you should hire a professional to install your ceiling fan

Safety should be enough reason for you to book the services of a licensed tradie. This is to ensure that your ceiling fan will be installed properly. If you’re converting a light switch to a wall switch, this can make the job more complicated. This will definitely require the expertise of a sparkie.

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Federal Criminal Defense Attorney

Should I Hire a Criminal Defense Attorney Before I am Charged?

Understandably, subjects of a criminal investigation are reluctant to hire a criminal defense attorney before they are charged. They think to themselves that they might be wasting money, if they are ultimately not going to be charged anyway. This flawed logic is akin to believing that you should not quit smoking until you have lung cancer. Just as a smoker can greatly improve his health by quitting smoking before he contracts a serious illness, so too can a suspect greatly ameliorate or even eliminate his damages by hiring an attorney before he has been charged.

The first thing that a defense lawyer does is build a wall of separation between the suspect and the detectives or other members of law enforcement. Very often, a suspect does irreparable harm to his case before ever consulting an attorney. Many defendants think that they are smooth enough to meet with a detective and talk their way out of charges. The problem with this approach is that police detectives are highly trained in the science of interrogation, while usually only spies, secret agents and special ops officers have any training in counter-interrogation techniques. Police detectives may catch a suspect unwittingly making inconsistent statements or showing non-verbal signs of deception, even while the suspect naively believes that everything is going his way.

Rightly or wrongly, police officers tend to consider an unrepresented suspect’s asserting his right to remain silent as evidence of guilt. Although such silence is not admissible in court, it may influence law enforcement’s decision as to whether to charge a suspect and what to charge him with. When an attorney advises his client to remain silent, law enforcement simply views this as standard operating procedure, rather than any indicator of guilt.

A defense attorney can negotiate with the district attorney’s office or police detective with respect to what charges will ultimately be filed. The initial charges will play a major role in plea negotiations after charges have been filed. The less serious the initial charges, the better a defendant’s ultimate outcome is likely to be. Likewise, a defendant is in far less jeopardy if he elects to go to trial, if his initial charges are less serious.

Sometimes, a defense attorney can successfully argue for no charges to be filed at all. Usually, this is through the work of the defense attorney’s own investigation with the assistance of a licensed private investigator and/ or polygraph operator, but not always. In one recent Centre County case I had, I pointed out to a drug detective and prosecutor that the police had conducted an illegal search through an innocent mistake. Had they filed charges, the evidence would have been suppressed, meaning that it would not be admissible in court. The detective was actually appreciative that I pointed this out, and opted not to file any charges. The client was even more relived, because it would have been very hard for him to get a job with an open criminal charge on his record for the next six months, until the case would have ultimately been resolved in his favor.

When To Hire A Criminal Defense Attorney

By hiring a criminal defense lawyer right away, you will have an advocate on your side defending your rights. The longer you wait to retain your attorney, the more you stand to risk by going through the process alone. What may appear to be a simple matter could become incredibly complex without competent and dedicated professional assisting you. Your future may be at stake and you only have one chance to defend yourself. Never go into a courtroom alone!

Are you Under Investigation?

If you are being investigated for a crime, your attorney should be present during any and all questioning. Police officers may tell you that your attorney is not required for the preliminary questioning and they may tell you that they are simply asking routine questions. However, the answers given by you to those questions will become evidence later. You don’t get a second chance. If you are being investigated and you have retained our attorneys, we will help you make crucial decisions so that you can rest assured all of your valuable constitutional rights are upheld. If you have not hired one of our attorneys, then you should ask for the time to do so before you answer any questions by a police officer. You have a constitutional right to have your attorney present during any questioning by law enforcement.

The investigators may ask you difficult questions as they try to get information from you and trick you into giving the answers they would like. Our defense attorneys can protect you from this type of questioning. The reality is that your attorney is trained to know the legal system and having him or her present during the investigative process can sometimes influence charges being reduced or even avoided all together. You can’t afford to do this alone!

Have you Been Arrested?

If you have been arrested, the authorities should have provided you with a statement of your Miranda rights. These rights are guaranteed by the United States and Wisconsin Constitution’s and include the right to have your attorney present during any questioning. You should make sure to maintain these rights. An attorney is necessary from this point forward to ensure that justice is upheld and you receive the best outcome possible.

At What Point Should You Hire a Criminal Defense Attorney?

If you are facing charges that may result in you spending time behind bars, you need to hire a criminal defense lawyer right away.

The cost is usually the main concern but hiring an attorney early in the process can actually save you money in the long run.

The more serious the crime, the more severe the consequences. So that you fully understand what charges you are facing, you need to speak to a lawyer before the arraignment.

Arraignment

This is when you will plead guilty, not guilty, or no contest. Your attorney will recommend how you should plead and represent you in the hearing.

Your lawyer will make a request for bail or ask that you be released on your own recognizance.

If you plead guilty, enter a plea bargain or no-contest, a sentencing date is scheduled. If you plead not guilty, then the pre-trial conference is next. 

Pre-Trial

If the pre-trial conference does not result in a solution or plea bargain, an appointed judge or a jury trial will hear your case.

Your lawyer will try to get your case thrown out due to lack of evidence or could get you a plea deal to get the charges reduced. You could get a reduction of jail time or get probation instead of jail.

At Trial

Your lawyer will work with you and develop the best strategy for your case.

When your case goes to court, your attorney will speak for you. He will call witnesses and cross-examine the prosecutor’s witnesses.

The state has the burden of proof and must convince the jury that you committed the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.

Your lawyer will show the jury that the burden of proof has not been met and there is not enough evidence to convict you of the crime.

Sentencing

If you are convicted of the crime or you accept a plea bargain, your lawyer will try to get you the minimum sentence.

If you have to serve jail time, he or she will try to convince the judge that probation or an alternative to incarceration would better serve justice.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Criminal Lawyer

If need to hire a criminal lawyer, you probably need to find one soon. But before you hire just any criminal defense attorney, you should get the answers to important questions. This article can help.

Time is of the essence if you are facing criminal charges. Still, you want the best lawyer you can find. And you want someone who has experience defending others charged with the same crime as you. After getting one or two names of criminal defense lawyers near you, try to set up appointments to meet the lawyers. Many good lawyers are busy, so you may end up meeting with their staff. Dont eliminate them as possible candidates just because they are busy.

It is important you come to the meetings prepared. Some criminal defense attorneys will ask you to fill out a questionnaire before you meeting. Also, forward or bring any documents the lawyer has requested.

You should also bring several items that will help the criminal lawyer assess your case, including:

Any documents you received from the court showing your charges and next court appearance date

Your bail papers

If your property was searched, any paperwork the police gave you

A copy of the police report if possible

Criminal defense attorneys will also find it helpful if you can provide a list of any witnesses, victims, and other defendants. They need to verify that neither they nor anyone else in their office has ever represented any of the other parties. If one has, then that lawyer may not be able to represent you because of a conflict of interest.

You should also bring a list of questions to ask in an effort to decide whether to hire the lawyer. This article includes many suggestions. Feel free to pick and choose among them, adding questions of your own when needed. Also bring along a pen and some paper to record the answers and any notes you want to remember.

The Criminal Lawyer’s Background & Experience

When you first meet with a criminal lawyer, its important to find out if he or she has prior experience defending against similar charges. If you are charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, for example, you dont need a lawyer who primarily defends felony murder suspects. Some questions to ask include:

  • Where did you attend law school? When did you graduate?
  • How long have you been practicing criminal law?
  • How often do you appear in the courthouse where my case will be handled?
  • Do you frequently negotiate plea agreements with the prosecutors office? How would you describe your relationship with the prosecutors office?
  • How often do your clients go to trial?
  • How familiar are you with the charges against me? What percentage of your practice is in representing clients with similar charges?
  • Do you belong to any bar associations or other professional organizations? If so, which ones?

Hiring a Criminal Lawyer

After meeting with a criminal lawyer or two, its time to choose one. You may have only met with one but are confident that you found your attorney. Or, maybe you met with several, but one was clearly more qualified. Your decision, then, is an easy one.

But if youre having a tough time deciding, consider calling a few former clients. You want to talk to people who can speak to the lawyers skills. Would they recommend the lawyer? What did they like and dislike about the lawyer?

If you still cant decide, its time to ask yourself a few questions:

  • Which attorney has the experience I need with the charges Im facing?
  • Which one offered advice I found most helpful?
  • In which one am I most confident?
  • Whose legal fees seemed reasonable?

The answers to these questions should lead you to the best criminal defense attorney to represent you.

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Mold Inspection Use A Professional Or DIY

Mold Remediation

Recent reports of mold remediation projects shutting down schools or office buildings have raised awareness regarding the potential hazards of interior mold contamination. While scientists still have much to learn regarding the danger molds may present, some basic knowledge about interior mold prevention and remediation has been established. Check out the list of resources and supplies below to help with mold remediation in your workplace

Mold can cause many health effects. For some people, mold can cause a stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing or wheezing, burning eyes, or skin rash. People with asthma or who are allergic to mold may have severe reactions. Immune-compromised people and people with chronic lung disease may get infections in their lungs from mold.

There is always some mold around. Molds have been on the Earth for millions of years. Mold can get in your home through open doors, windows, vents, and heating and air conditioning systems. Mold in the air outside can be brought indoors on clothing, shoes, bags, and even pets.

Mold will grow where there is moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been a flood. Mold grows on paper, cardboard, ceiling tiles, and wood. Mold can also grow in dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery.

About Mold & Mold Removal

It is a fact that molds produce allergens and irritants that can cause exposed individuals to experience symptoms of hay fever i.e. sneezing, runny nose, skin rashes, irritated eyes as well as nose, throat and lung ailments.

Many toxic molds, including black mold, produce poisonous substances called mycotoxins. These toxins interfere with cell structures and processes, and have the potential to cause serious health issues. Their effects to the body have been documented using controlled conditions in a laboratory. Mycotoxins have been proven to be present indoors with victims suffering from: pulmonary hemorrhage or pulmonary hemosiderosis (primarily in infants), headaches and other flu-like symptoms, nose bleeds, immune system suppression (resulting in increased numbers of infections), hair loss, chronic fatigue, psychological depression, diarrhea, sore throats and dermatitis.

Mold Inspection

If you have mold or believe you have mold, an inspection is a beginning point. For a nominal fee we can come on site and perform an inspection, taking into consideration the history of the property, current dampness, the moisture source, affected materials, and suspected affected areas. We have a variety of moisture detection meters and devices, and experience in looking for and detecting mold.

Mold Testing

Mold exposure is typically from spores that get airborne and we breath them in. Mold spores are so small they are not visible in the air. Mold testing can measure and document the quantity and varieties of mold in the air. This type of information can be helpful in determining the scope of work necessary; documenting the results of the mold removal and proof that the space is clean and safe. Black, Toxic and Alergenic Molds can cause serious health problems.

Mold and Mildew

Mold is most prolific between 65°F and 85°F. Building interiors can provide a “prime” environment for growth and reproduction of mold, mildew and bacteria. All are parasitic and rely on organic matter for food. Mold breaks down organic matter and its food sources such as wood, paper, drywall, paneling, and ceiling tiles. Decaying organic jute backing on carpets coupled with warm humid air, creates an ideal environment for reproduction.

A Basic Guide To Mold Remediation

understands that mold growth and the subsequent remediation processes is important for businesses and homeowners. Knowledge of these steps will help teams of professional mold remediation specialists

Be aware of sources of moisture in your home

Mold growth is highly dependent upon humidity, leaks, floods, or any other major method access to water in your home. Thus, it is important to be able to identify any possible sources of moisture into your home, like cracks or leaks in your roof, ceiling, walls, or foundation. Even before you can detect it, mold can be present in your home in places where you cannot see or smell. But if you are aware of all the sources of moisture in your home, mold removal specialists will be able to track the moisture source and locate the entirety of mold growth, not just the parts that are immediately visible.

Take pictures and video of any discernable mold

Prior to mold removal services, make sure you take pictures and/or video of any detectable mold within your home that you want to remediation team to eliminate. For your safety, make sure you wear protective equipment while you are in areas exposed to mold, like respirators, eye goggles without vents, and rubber gloves that extend at least to mid-forearm. This will help the remediation team have concrete targets for remediation and begin to predict the entirety of the presence of mold in your home. This documentation helps point to larger trends of mold growth and is important for your own records as a homeowner when dealing with insurance adjusters later on.

Create a plan for potential relocation

Mold can be a major inconvenience not only because of the potential for illness but also because more significant outbreaks may require you to spend some time in a location outside of your home while the remediation and cleanup takes place. Work together with your remediation team to determine the length and schedule of the work to be completed, the scope of the work, the duration of testing services if that testing is performed by a third party company, and plan accordingly to stay in an alternate location while the mold remediation services are being performed.

Receive an estimate for the scope of the work to be performed

Once you have sufficiently documented the mold and have prepared an alternate location to stay in case the mold is widespread enough that mold remediation specialists are not able to sufficiently contain the mold within the area, call a professional mold testing service

Indoor Air Quality

The Indoor Air Quality program has three main functions.

1)   Enforce 410 IAC 33 “Indoor Air Quality in Schools and State Agencies”.  When we receive a complaint about the air quality in a school or state agency we will inspect the facility and report our findings.

2)   Provide technical assistance to local health departments in support of their investigations.  We have instrumentation that we can use to measure various indoor air pollutants.  This information is then provided to the local health department to aid in their investigations.

3)   Educate and consult with the public regarding their concerns for Indoor Air Quality.  If you have questions on indoor air quality that are not answered on these web pages you can contact our office and we will be happy to answer your questions.

Molds are part of the natural environment, and can be found everywhere, indoors and outdoors. Mold is not usually a problem, unless it begins growing indoors. The best way to control mold growth is to control moisture. This website provides guidance about mold and moisture for homes, schools, multifamily and commercial buildings. Molds can have a big impact on indoor air quality.

Flood water can make the air in your home unhealthy. This is because when things remain wet for more than two days, they usually get moldy. Inhaling mold can cause adverse health effects, including allergic reactions. Mold also can damage materials in your home. In addition, flood water may contain microorganisms, such as bacteria, or chemicals which may affect your health.

This document was developed by EPA, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), the and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  It summarizes basic procedures for mold remediation after flooding and other disasters.

Key Messages:

Wear personal protective equipment. Wear an N-95 respirator at a minimum, goggles, and protective gloves.

Use portable generators carefully, outside and away from the home, to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning and fires.

Ensure the mold cleanup is complete before reoccupying your home.

Mold Inspection

Do you think mold might be growing somewhere in your home? If so then you should have a mold inspection performed.

Goals of a Mold Inspection

There are two goals of a mold inspection. The first is to find if and where mold is growing in your home. The second is to find the water problem which caused the mold to grow in the first place.

Why You Should Have A Mold Inspection

The obvious reason to have a mold inspection is if you think you have a mold problem in your home. Even if you already know where mold is growing in your home it is a good idea to perform a mold inspection since visible mold growth often means there is more mold growing somewhere out of view.

Signs of Mold

Some common reasons to suspect you could have a mold problem include:

You are suffering allergic symptoms

You notice a mold smell

You have had a water problem, for example: flooding, leaking pipes or a leaking roof

Hiring a Professional Mold Inspector

It’s always best to hire a professional mold inspector to do the mold inspection for you. Thanks to mold inspectors’ experience and their knowledge of spots where mold most often hides, you can be sure that if there’s any mold in your home that they will find it.

History of Water Problems

It’s important to think of recent water problems you’ve had in your home when it comes to preparing for a mold inspection. If you hire a professional mold inspector it’s a good idea to let them know about any leaks, floods or any other moisture problems you’ve had in your home. If you are performing the mold inspection yourself then knowing about places which had water problems in the past will give you clues about where the mold is most likely growing.

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Bookkeeping Outsourcing Comes To The Rescue

What are basic bookkeeping skills?

Being a good bookkeeper means being able to represent an exact picture of the financial aspects of your business on paper or electronic files. You need all sorts of skills to become a great bookkeeper; soft and hard skills, and above all an interest in having an overview of the financial functioning of the business.

The hard skills you need to be a brilliant bookkeeper are, among other things, to have an understanding of numbers and an eye for detail. You will need to have a certain level of maths. You will need to learn or hone your natural talents for accurate record keeping.

The soft skills you will need to be a first class bookkeeper are to have a strong commitment to the work and to be able to obtain an overview of the company; to see the bigger picture. As the bookkeeper you will find that you are able to see trends in the flow of finances and part of your role will be to work with your findings to enable the business to grow and prosper. As well as being key to communicating the overall financial health of the business you will need to attend to the nitty gritty, the details. Of course no-one is perfect and you may make mistakes sometimes. Your role will also involve double-checking all your accounts and correcting any errors you or anyone else may have made in doing the record-keeping.

Basic bookkeeping skills are learned and used by accountants, although a bookkeeper is not an accountant. The accountant will use information compiled by the bookkeeper to create the end of year accounts. Being an effective bookkeeper also means you have to be a great communicator. Your work should be clear and logical. The accounts you keep should follow basic bookkeeping principles that are understood throughout the industry.

You will need to learn bookkeeping and accounting language. You will need to learn the definitions for phrases such as debits and credits, accounts payable and receivable, accruals and auditing as well as the Balance Sheet. You will learn to closely track the activity in the bank and link it to what is happening in the business: e.g. bank deposits and reconciliation. A bookkeeper will also need to have a good grasp of how the value of equipment changes over time (‘depreciation’). You will also have to work your way through financial statements and learn about journal entries and in some cases VAT and the way that this is managed in the accounts.

You may need to train and obtain some qualifications. There are numerous courses available; some people train in-house as they work. Others prefer to apply for their first bookkeeping role having completed a course. You may be thinking of starting your own business and as a result need to become your own bookkeeper.

These days it is essential to be computer literate and to have a grasp of current technology as so many companies now use computer programmes to keep their accounts. So this is where your hard skills learning to touch type and using computing software will be useful. Your soft skills will also be relevant as you will need to have a good overall understanding of the company in order to oversee the maintenance of the figures and to present them in a coherent and comprehensible way to third parties.

A bookkeeper needs above all great data entry skills. Accurate recording of figures and the relaying of the numbers onto the ledgers or into the computer programme is key to the job of bookkeeper.

The information should be stored safely and securely. If the data is kept on physical copies these should be stored in lockable cupboards and another hard copy should be kept off-site. Therefore keeping brilliantly well-organised records is one of the key factors in being a great bookkeeper.

If you use technology to keep your company books then you need to secure your electronic data just as well if not more so than paper copies. An encrypting programme/software should be employed to reduce or minimise the chances of your company information falling into the wrong hands.

Top Skills for Bookkeepers

Bookkeepers must master a variety of hard skills, as well as possess some soft skills. Here are some of the most important skills to highlight in your application:

Debits and credits: At the heart of the bookkeeping role is recording what a business spends (debits) and what it takes in (credits). It can be helpful to mention your familiarity with accounting software, both generally and the names of specific companies (like Quicken) in your application.

Numeracy: A good bookkeeper is comfortable with numbers. Of course, you don’t need to do mental arithmetic (calculators, spreadsheet formulas, and software are here to help), but familiarity and comfort with numbers will help you catch errors.

Invoicing: In order for the company to make money, invoices must be sent out. As well as detailing the process, it can be helpful to think through and share examples of how you’ve dealt with late payments or customer pushback on invoices.

Attention to detail: Bookkeepers must make sure that the books are reconciled and that every last bill is paid, and every single invoice is sent out and followed up on in a timely manner. Being willing to track down every tiny detail and not forget any task is a core soft skill for bookkeepers.

Organization skills

This is the number one quality you will need to succeed as a bookkeeper. You will be receiving plenty of data that you will have to organize in the short-term or long-term. People will be coming to you with multiple questions per day, as they consider you to be some sort of a living encyclopedia of information. That’s why you must have a sense of organization of things, for whenever they start to get hectic.

Attention to details

Of course that this quality is inter-connected to your sense of organization. However, we want to highlight it specifically as your attentive approach makes a huge difference. As we stated above, a company may base critical decisions upon the data you provide for them. So it is essential to try not to miss any valuable details.

Integrity and Transparency

The fact that you are considered the main source of information for most people in your workplace means that they are putting their complete faith in your abilities. That is why it is very important that you reward them with the same input that involves honesty and commitment. The data you are given may be very confidential, specifically the ones involving financial transactions. So make sure to keep them that way, and at the same time, provide a transparent approach to your co-workers when needed.

Understand Double-Entry Bookkeeping

Don’t skip this step!

Double-entry bookkeeping may not seem like the most interesting topic, but it’s vital to understand how it works. Most businesses these days use accounting software instead of physical books, but the principles are still important to grasp. We’ll keep it simple, and use examples to make everything clear.

First, what’s the purpose of double-entry bookkeeping?

The point is to give you a rounded picture of where your money is going, and to help you avoid making mistakes. Every transaction is recorded in at least two places. It makes sense, because every business transaction is an exchange of one thing for another. The double-entry system shows exactly how that exchange took place, and what the results were.

Communication skills

We have to break it to you now – you will have social interaction. Some people think that bookkeepers deal with numbers only and analytical tasks and that communication is not needed. Which is wrong! You will have to communicate with people to gather the data. In fact, you need to have excellent communication skills so that you can ask them exactly the information you need. This communication may be face-to-face or electronic; nevertheless, it is very much important.

Problem-solving skills

This is another quality that people expect bookkeepers to own. In the world of finance, problems and issues will undoubtedly be knocking on your door every once in a while. Hence, you need to possess the calmness to first, spot those issues long before others, and then solve them.

Tech-savviness

The trend of data going electronic has arrived long ago. That is why to survive this ongoing trend, you must be updated with the newest software and working tools. Your analytical skills will be required to connect many dots, and since the technology is here to help you, then why not give it a shot. By searching for new ways to make your job more efficient, you will never become outdated for the company or business you work for.

Time Management Skills

Every one of your abilities would be useless if you can’t divide your tasks properly when the timing is right. That’s why you must always have a schedule and make a list of your priorities, deadlines, or related activities that must be completed in the foreseen timeline. You will surely have many projects or people to deal with, so having the right time management skills can boost your day-to-day productivity.

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Post Construction Cleaning Efficient Systems

What is After Builders Cleaning Prices?

If you are not from the construction industry, you will not know what after builders cleaning is. After builders cleaning is also known as post-construction cleaning. How do we quote for after builders cleaning? The simplest way to go about determining your price is either through production rates or time that is going to take you to do the post-construction cleaning.

How Much Does After Builders Cleaning Cost?

There is no definite way for you to name the price for this cleaning requirement. The after builders cleaning cost varies depending on a few factors. An after builders cleaning is priced at least double of what a commercial cleaner will charge for regular cleaning. Usually, cleaners will consider how bad the situation is like getting the stickers inside and outside of the newly installed windows. There are no bad jobs, but there are jobs that are badly priced. As long as it is a reasonable price, then, that makes it worth doing.

Skills and Care of Merchants

If the merchant knows how to protect their work and clean-up after themselves, it will only take a little of your time to do post-construction cleaning. Can you imagine how much time and effort you need if the tradesman does not care about the paint spill on the carpet or any other surfaces?

Construction Materials that were used in Building the Property

Sophisticated surfaces like mirrors and glasses take much time in cleaning because of their delicate nature. Since time is money in the cleaning business, you need to name your price depending on the time that you need to spend in cleaning around these materials.

Two Stages of After Builders Cleaning

Rough Cleaning

It is often called as initial cleaning. Rough cleaning involves the removal of rubbish, dust, dirt, and debris from all of the surfaces. Usually, initial cleaning is done during construction. Mostly, this is required before the flooring is installed. Trade defects typically become visible after the initial cleaning.

Final Detail Cleaning

This is the final stage of cleaning, wherein all of the trade defects are fixed. Final detail clean will show that showroom quality finish. Final clean gives highlight to all the details there is a property. Few of the scopes of the final detail cleaning includes straightening of grout lines, detailing of tiles, removal of paint marks from floorboards and more.

A Quick Guide to Cleaning up After Construction

You’ve completed your renovations and there’s just one thing left to do before enjoying your new space, cleaning. After all that work, tidying up is probably the last thing you want to do, but the mess left behind after a big construction project can’t be ignored.

Tools for the Post Construction Cleaning Job

Let’s start by taking a look at some of the tools you’ll need for cleaning up after a big construction job:

Vacuum

Broom

Dust mop

Floor cleaner

Face mask

Paper towel or cloth

Used dryer sheets

With all that dust still lingering in the air, a face mask is crucial for keeping harmful particles out of your system. A broom and vacuum will help remove debris from the ground, and a dust mop with the proper cleaner will have your room’s floor looking nice and shiny. Used dryer sheets are great for polishing out scuffs on any surface, just add a couple drops of water and scrub away!

Where to Start you Post Reno Cleaning

Get started with the vacuum and remove as much visible debris as possible. Start from the ceiling and work your way down to the floor until you don’t see any more dust. You’ll probably want to wipe down the walls after this process, as even the best vacuums can leave streaks.

Finish the cleaning Job

Once you’ve removed the dust and checked your air filters, it’s time to focus on the floor. How you approach this step will depend on the surface of your floor. If you have a carpeted floor, then you’re going to want to spend extra time vacuuming as dust can be easily trapped in the fibres. A steam vacuum is a great option for cleaning carpets after construction.

How Much to Charge for House Cleaning?

The average cost of house cleaning is $90 to $150 and the average national hourly rate is $25 to $90 per cleaner. A single family home should cost $120 to $150 to clean, according to Home Advisor.

Estimating a house cleaning job isn’t as simple as quoting whatever your competitors are charging. Each business has unique costs they should factor into their prices. So, while there is no “one size fits all” answer for how to estimate house cleaning jobs, if you follow the seven easy steps below you should be able to come up with a profitable and reasonable hourly rate.

It might take a new cleaning business a few rounds to get comfortable with the estimating process. That said, it’s important to learn how to do it properly so you can earn a decent living wage.

Visit the House

First tip: don’t give estimates over the phone. You must see the house in question when estimating all private house cleaning jobs, according to Cleaning Profit. Why? You need to estimate how long it will take your company to clean the house, not how long the customer thinks it’ll take you. The customer may try to mislead you to try to get a lower bid. Or they simply don’t know how long a professional cleaning job takes.

Estimate Time

Now that you’ve seen the house, it’s time to estimate how long you think the job will take. As a general rule, 1,000 square feet of house should take 1.5 hours to clean So a 3,000 square foot home should take three hours to clean, and so on.Different types of jobs, like deep cleaning or vacant house cleaning, will obviously take more or less time. You might want to double or triple your rate for first-time cleanings, especially if the space has been neglected and needs some serious TLC.

Doing a Big Remodel? Here’s a Guide to Post Construction Cleaning

Imagine the day that comes when your remodel is finally done. Take pride in all the work that left your home looking gorgeous….at least somewhere underneath all that dust. Before you get the chance to start enjoying all the wonderful renovations you did, you still have a bit of work to accomplish. Cleaning up after construction is tedious, but it’s also a crucial final step before you can truly relax.

Use these post-construction cleaning ideas to relax sooner in your renovated home. Keep in mind though, that if you have any respiratory ailments or sensitive lungs, then you should wear a good mask while you go through the cleaning process. Even if you’re currently healthy, that can spare you the discomfort of breathing in chemicals and dust.

Open Up Your Windows:

Even if you finish the remodel in the dead of winter, open up all the windows you can. You need this airflow if you want to draw dust out, cut down on the weird scents of sawn wood and plaster dust, and minimize the unpleasant aromas of so many different cleaning products.

Sweep Next:

You might think you should dust off surfaces before doing any other cleaning, but you actually shouldn’t. Rather, start with sweeping your floors. Sweeping typically makes dust settle on other surfaces. If you don’t sweep first, you might trap yourself in an eternal cycle of dusting, sweeping, and repeating everything, just trying in vain to keep the new dust clouds at bay.

Now You Can Dust Everything:

When we say dust everything, we actually mean every single thing. Bust out your fiber microfiber cloths and then wipe down everything that you can see or touch. Old rags aren’t going to get the job done, so you need to use dusting clothes appropriately designed to physically attract dust particles. Remember that you need to also clean in between window ledges, shelving units, cupboards, the tops of your door frames, blinds, and all other surfaces. Start with one single corner of a room, preferably closest to the exit, and then you can work your way around back to that very same doorway.

Post-Construction Cleanup Course

Course modules include:

Intro to Post Construction Clean Up…Should your company take on PCC…the pros and cons of doing PCC …how can it benefit your bottom line.

Marketing to Prospects who will buy… methods of marketing to prospects…messaging to attract your target…where to find customers.

The Site Walkthrough ..what’s so important about the walkthrough…what to look for and what questions to ask..how does all of this affect pricing.

Learn how to make more money with Post Construction Clean Up work.

Course modules include:

Pricing Strategies…square ft or by the hour.. Which is best…what’s included when pricing a job…how will I know if my price will make money.

Proposal Presentation, Selling the Job and Invoicing…What should the proposal include, and what does an effective proposal look like…is a contract needed and what’s included….when is the invoice sent and how do I speed up payment.

Getting the job started…Planning for an efficient, profitable clean from day one…crew training…organizational cleaning plan and how to create…supervision and cost control.

Stop the profit drain…. Red flags and profit drainers….how to spot and stop both….what causes the greatest loss on a PCC.

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The Chiropractor Said I Had A Submarine In My Spine

Middle back pain

Middle back pain is a condition that many people suffer from.  And while lower back pain seems to be the number one complaint, middle back pain (mid thoracic or mid scapular pain) is a very real concern for some people.

What is middle back pain?

If you experience pain anywhere between the bottom of your neck and the top of your rib cage, this page is referred to as middle back pain.

Before we take a look at what causes middle back pain, let’s do a quick recap on what the middle back is comprised of:

  • There are 12 vertebrae in the middle back, which are attached to the rib cage
  • Muscles and ligaments which hold everything together
  • Discs that act as shock absorbers between each of the vertebrae

WHAT CAUSES MIDDLE BACK PAIN?

There are many causes of middle back pain.  The most common causes include the following:

  • Posture problems – slouching is very detrimental to the health of your entire body
  • Repetitive use – any time you do something repetitively, it can cause you to suffer middle back pain
  • Over use – if you’ve strained the muscles in your back or rib cage, middle back pain is often the result. Or is you have been sick with a cough and using a lot of your chest and back muscles, this can also be an overuse injury.
  • Injury – any time you experience an injury to any of the bones, muscles or ligaments within the middle back, pain can be the result
  • Osteoarthritis – this condition occurs when there is a breakdown of the cartilage that helps cushion the joints. Without this cushioning, you may experience middle back pain.
  • Ankylosing spondylitis – a form of spinal arthritis
  • Spinal stenosis – a narrowing of the open spaces within the spine
  • Nerve-related problems – other nerve problems such as sciatica can cause middle back pain
  • Fibromyalgia – widespread musculoskeletal pain and tenderness
  • Osteoporosis – bone loss

How chiropractic helps those that suffer from middle back pain

Middle back pain can come on suddenly after an injury, or occur because of poor posture and chronic spinal misalignment. Chiropractic care can help reduce middle back pain, strengthen surrounding muscles and improve your posture. You aren’t prescribed medication by a chiropractor, and it is a form of therapy that can be used in conjunction with other forms of treatment. When you are experiencing middle back pain, a consultation with a chiropractor may lead to a significant improvement of your symptoms.

Spinal Adjustments and Back Pain

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health describes chiropractic as one of the most common complementary treatment options for better health used by both adults and children in the United States. The goal of adjustments is to get the spine into alignment, making it easier for the body to function. When the spine is aligned, the muscles, ligaments and tendons supporting the spine are less strained. As adjustments are done over time, the spine becomes better aligned overall and is able to maintain the alignment for longer periods of time.

Stretching and Middle Back Pain

Chiropractic is more than just spinal adjustments. You will talk with your chiropractor about stretching techniques to help improve flexibility and reduce pain. When your muscles are tight, the blood flow to the muscles is limited. By stretching your muscles, blood flow to the area resumes. Your muscle tissue is able to heal once you stretch the muscles well, allowing you to improve your overall posture and pain level.

Chiropractic Over Time

In the beginning stages of your treatment, you will visit a chiropractor several times a week. This is to get your spine used to being in alignment and to assess your condition on a consistent basis. As you heal, you will be taught ways to strengthen your back muscles to keep your spine in good alignment. Many patients visit a chiropractor for several months in order to deal with an acute situation, gradually decreasing to monthly visits for maintenance appointments.

Chiropractic as a Natural Approach

Back pain isn’t always an easy situation to remedy. Consequently, seeking professional help from a chiropractor is a natural approach and a wonderful first step to obtaining a solution. Furthermore, chiropractic isn’t going to interfere with other treatments. You can still be prescribed pain medication, go to acupuncture, or get a massage and still receive care from a chiropractor. If you are looking for ways to deal with middle back pain that don’t involve medication, chiropractic is an excellent option.

Through a series of chiropractic adjustments, your chiropractor will help restore the alignment of your spine. Hot or cold therapy may be used to reduce inflammation or improve circulation. Stretching is done to improve muscle flexibility and circulation. If an area of your spine is compressed and is causing you pain, decompression techniques may be used to reduce compression in the area. Chiropractic is a natural approach that will address pain and give your body the tools it needs to heal. When you are tired of middle back pain and want relief, it’s time to see how chiropractic can help

How do you reduce your risk of developing middle back pain?

While you may suffer from other pre-existing conditions that can cause middle back pain, that are out of your control, there are most definitely things you can do to reduce your risk of suffering from middle back pain.

If you slouch at work, focus on sitting up straight with your shoulders back and engage your core.  Ensure that you have an ergonomic workstation that will be conducive to proper posture.

Go easy on activities that involve repetitive motion.  It’s ok to do these activities once in a while, but if you do things repetitively day after day, you are very likely to develop middle back pain.

A “too soft” bed can also contribute to mid thoracic back pain!

At home treatment

Along with your ‘homework’ of performing the stretching exercises listed above, you should allow your body to get lots of rest.  During sleep, the body does all sorts of things to recuperate, regenerate and restore.

Using a combination of heat and ice will help to reduce the inflammation causes by muscles strains, and will also loosen tight muscles, to allow for better overall functioning of the middle back.

Lifestyle changes

If you do things like sports or other activities that involve repetitive motion, it may be time to give it a rest until your back is fully healed.  If you’re not able to give up the activity entirely, for example, if you

are addicted to golf, try reducing the amount of time you spend doing the activity.  Even a slight change can be helpful.

If you work at a desk job, be sure that you practice good posture.  As well, it might benefit you to have an ergonomics specialist visit your office to give you advice and information about how to make your work station more ‘user friendly’ and less conducive to causing posture issues that lead to middle back pain. You may also speak with your Chiropractor regarding recommending a stand-up desk as that puts much less stress on your mid thoracic and low back!

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Pest Exterminator

How do professional pest control exterminators kill bedbugs?

You’ll find far too many articles on the internet regarding DIY methods for getting rid of insects. For bed bugs too, you can find hundreds of home remedies, but none work as well as professional pest control exterminators. Bed bugs are such parasites that are as tiny as a millimetre and they grow up to the maximum size of an apple seed.

This size makes it difficult for us to know whether we’ve got rid of them or not. At the same time, they can go for as long as 5 months without a blood meal. So, there you are thinking you aren’t being attacked, so there aren’t bed bugs. Once you’ve suspected them, please, please, please call professional pest control exterminators.

How professional pest control exterminators kills bedbugs?

You’re probably wondering why we’re saying to get help when it comes to bed bugs. Firstly, professional know the best chemicals to be used that will kill bed bugs. Secondly, the best pest control brands won’t leave a single bed bug behind. Doing that is almost impossible when it comes to home remedies.

Thorough Inspection

Professional pest control exterminators should always survey and inspect before acting. Similarly, the technicians check for suspected infestations before acting on them

Injection of chemicals

This is the main part of the pest control service. Here, we spray a mild odour pesticide in your bedroom/hall or any other room that has the infestation. Again, the chemicals we use are all government-approved and possess no health threats to family members. However, it’s best if family members stay away for a while after the pesticides are applied.

PEST CONTROL

YOUR FAMILY

From ants that carry salmonella and bed bugs to wasps and venomous spiders, pests can threaten the health and safety of your family. Our proven, award-winning service delivers peace of mind.

YOUR HOME

Each year termites and other wood-destroying pests do billions of dollars of damage to American homes. protects your largest investment with the most effective and thorough service available.

YOUR WORLD

Protecting you and your home from pests doesn’t have to harm the Earth. We use products that are environmentally friendly, soft on beneficial insects and safe for children and pets.

There’s nothing more frustrating than paying for a service that gives you little to no value. Yet, we talk to hundreds of people every day that are doing just that. They have a pest control service yet still have bugs

Exterminator Bug Guide

Our Pest Guide contains information on common household insects and pests in our area. Specializing in termite treatment and rodent removal.

Hate Bugs?

Do you hate seeing bugs, spiders, rodents, bees or mosquitoes flying around your home? Then you’ll love Pest Control. We know insects and rodents have their place, but they don’t belong in your home or business

Four Season’s Protection Plan is an innovative solution to household pest problems. Our Truly-Trained professionals combine advanced, proactive treatments with pests’ seasonal behavior to keep your home Truly Protected year round

Known for making their nests in wood structures, carpenter ants can cause extensive damage to your home. Considered one of the most serious structural pests, carpenter ants are active year-round. We start with a thorough inspection of your home’s interior and exterior to identify active infestations and assess damage

provides reliable, consistent service through timely routine treatments sensitive to our customers’ work schedules and clientele. Our treatments utilize environmentally conscious materials with long residual life. Specific treatment approaches to each commercial zone are used and programs are designed to address the specific needs of our clients and industry.

Complete Rodent Control “CRC” program focuses on trapping and removing the exising rodents and preventing new rodents and mice from re-entering your home. We can sanitize, remove the soiled insulation and re-insulate your home.

Become an Exterminator

To become a certified Exterminator, you must:

Complete the application form and return it with payment of $165.00 to: Pesticide Training and Certification, University of Guelph Ridgetown Campus.

Review the study materials that will be sent to you.  You will receive a which contains information relevant to all exterminators and a Licence Category Specific Module which contains information relevant to each new licence class.

Write the certification examination at a convenient date and location in your area.  The certification exam is multiple choice and is made up of two parts.  Each part consists of 50 questions.  The Core Manual exam is one-hour, closed book; the Licence Category Specific Module exam is one and a half hours, open book.

Successfully complete the exam with a pass mark of 75% or greater on both parts of the exam.  You will then receive a letter of certification; you must send a copy of this letter to the MInistry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) when you apply for a Pesticide Exterminator Licence.

If you fail on your first attempt, you have one year to rewrite the exam.  You are allowed a maximum of two more attempts during the 12 months, with no more than two attempts in any six month period.  The exam rewrite fee for failures is $40.00.

You must apply to the MInistry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks for your Pesticide Exterminator Licence within one year of obtaining certification.  The licence fee is $90 for five years.

PEST CONTROL

Household pests are more than just a nuisance—they can be a serious problem. Roaches, ants, rodents, and other pests can lead to health problems, allergies, food contamination, and damage to your home and furnishings.

TERMITE CONTROL

Termites cause more than a billion dollars of damage each year in the United States, which is more than fire, flood, and other natural disasters combined.

BED BUG MANAGEMENT

Bed bug infestations are on the rise with many pest control companies reporting 50% more bed bug calls than usual in the last few years.

MOISTURE CONTROL

Foundation moisture, wood-decay fungi, and termites and other wood destroying insects can all cause extensive damage to your home within just a few years.

RODENT MANAGEMENT

Rodents live mainly outdoors in spring and summer, but once fall and winter arrive, they move inside to find warmth and food.

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How Car Dealer Reviews Can Help You

Why do car dealers rip you off?

Believe it or not, 8 out of 10 consumers don’t know how to buy a car without being ripped-off.

Getting a good deal is not rocket science, but it does take research to figure out how to do it right. Most people are either lazy or unimformed and aren’t willing to invest their time, even though they can save upwards of $5,000 on a typical deal.

Dealers sell vehicles every single day. They know every type of customer, all their objections, and tactics to pressure and profit from them.

A typical car buyer only buys a car once every 5 to 6 years. There’s no way they’re going to outsmart a dealer without being fully prepared.

But the statistics show that 80% of car shoppers try to negotiate at the dealership instead of doing everything via phone or email. They also finance their cars through the dealership and trade-in their old car without thoroughly shopping it to other dealers.

Of course, dealers love it because those are the 3 main ways they make money off of clueless shoppers.

  • The Price of the Vehicle
  • The Financing
  • The Trade-In

Most car shoppers focus only on negotiating the price of the car. That’s fine with dealers, because they can easily give you a good price while completely ripping you off on the financing and trade-in. If you focus instead on your trade-in, that’s fine too. The dealer will simply raise the price of the car and screw you on the financing.

The main point is that dealers will juggle these 3 profit sources so that you get a good deal on whatever you’re focusing on, while being ripped off on the other two. Always make sure you seperate each transaction into its own negotiation. Don’t let the dealer package everything into one monthly payment.

Get your financing through the credit union before you even step on the lot.

Once a car salesman knows you don’t need financing, they’re more willing to be forward with you and knows they don’t have to work on the payments with you, because it won’t help. We’ll still try to beat whatever APR you’re getting at the bank and offer you payment deals, but forget them. You’ve got it worked out, and only need to know the price – bringing us to the next point.

DON’T HAGGLE OVER ANYTHING BUT THE PRICE.

This seems obvious to most of the readers of The Consumerist, but most people miss this – especially if they’re getting dealer financing.

Spot Delivery Scam

Dealers can also cash in on delivery costs. Some allow potential buyers to leave with a new car before the financing has been finalized. The dealer calls a few days later, telling them the loan has fallen through and the car needs to be returned or it will be repossessed. When returned, the dealership’s finance officer has a different loan at a higher interest rate or larger down payment. This scam is most commonly used against people with bad credit scores because they may not have other options for paying for the car. To avoid this, don’t take delivery of a vehicle until you’ve been fully approved for a loan by the dealer or your bank.

Extended Warranties

Like many things you buy new, an extended warranty isn’t worth the cost. New cars come with manufacturer warranties for the first one to three years, when problems are most likely to arise. Extended warranties only take effect after the basic warranty, also called the factory warranty, expires. They’re backed by a third-party underwriter for coverage you may never need. And even if you do, the money you save on the repairs probably won’t cover the cost of the warranty, according to Consumer Reports. It found the median savings on repairs covered by extended warranties was $837, which can cost $1,200 to $1,500. Car dealers can earn commissions of 50 percent or more on them. Instead, put the money you’d spend on an extended warranty in an emergency fund for car

Higher Financing Costs

If you negotiate a fair price for the car and leave the dealership with little profit on the sales price, the dealer may try to make money through financing and other revenue streams. With in-house financing the dealer will typically shop your loan application to several lenders to see what interest rates you qualify for. If the best interest rate they can find for you is 4 percent, they may come back with a rate 2-4 points higher and keep the extra interest as profit.

The extra interest may be split with the finance company.

You won’t be told of the difference, which won’t affect your monthly payment by much anyway but adds up over the length of the loan.

Here’s an Example: You finance a $25,000 Toyota Tacoma on a 60-month loan that you qualify for at 4 percent interest. The payments would be $460 per month. Increase the rate to 6.5 percent and the monthly payment only goes up from $29 to $489. But over the life of the loan, it adds up to $1,724 more, which is pure profit for the car dealer.

Signs The Car Dealership Is Ripping You Off

DON’T GET TAKEN FOR A RIDE

Plenty of car dealers are honest salespeople who operate with integrity. Others see a big fat bullseye on your back the second you walk through the dealership doors. Dealers negotiate vehicle deals every single day, but you’ve done it once or twice — or maybe never. Face it, they’re probably better at negotiating than you (though there’s good reason to do it all the time). But if you know what to watch out for, you can avoid the most common pitfalls when buying a car.

RUSHING YOU INTO A DEAL

When dealers sense hesitation, they’ll sometimes try to force buyers off the fence by telling them that the deal they offered is only good for that day, or that another buyer is interested in the same car. This is their attempt to force you into an emotion-based decision. If you’re not absolutely sure, be prepared to walk away and sleep on it. There are always more cars and other dealers.

MAKING YOU PAY FOR DEALER PREP

“Dealer prep” is a fee commonly tagged onto itemized bills that unsuspecting buyers are prone to glancing over. Often $500 or $600, the fee supposedly compensates dealers for extra labor they put into securing your vehicle. In reality, it’s a hidden add-on. Beat this scam by examining the purchase receipt and inquiring about every single charge before signing. Negotiate to have the fee reduced or removed entirely.

PROMISING TO PAY OFF YOUR TRADE-IN LOAN — AND FAILING TO

If you can, pay off your existing loan before you trade in your car. But if you must trade in a car that you owe money on, the balance of the first loan will be added to the loan on the car you’re buying because the dealer is supposed to pay off whatever is owed on the trade-in. Sometimes, however, they simply keep the extra money. In the end, the bank loaned you the money for the vehicle and it’s you — not the shady dealer — who is responsible for paying it.