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The Photo Booth Of Tomorrow

Things To Know Before You Book A Wedding Photo Booth

In today’s world, the options are endless when you’re planning a wedding. From food trucks and interactive entertainment to donut walls and floral chandeliers, deciding on what you want at your wedding—and, more importantly, what your budget can support—can be difficult to say the least. One more question to add to that never-ending list (sorry!): Should you have a photobooth at your wedding? While there are plenty of reasons to add a photobooth to your reception design—there are also some reasons a photobooth might not be the best fit for you, your event vision, and your budget. But not to fear, brides- and grooms-to-be, today, we’re breaking down the pros and cons of photobooths at weddings. Read on to find out which category you fall into.

Reasons you should have a photobooth at your wedding:

If any of the below sound like you, you can answer with a confident yes! when pondering the all-important question of should you have a photobooth at your wedding.

  • You want something interactive for your guests to do. Let’s be real—there is nothing worse than a boring wedding reception (with bland wedding food coming in a close second). If you’re all about entertainment and want your wedding reception to feel like a true party, then a phootbooth is definitely a must. An interactive booth will help keep your guests entertained—plus, it provides an option other than the dance floor for attendees to enjoy.

Pro Tip: Want to really rev up the action? Options like a GIF photobooth, a Bommerang photobooth, or slo-motion photobooth all make for a major draw that will keep your guests coming back for their close-up time and time again. Check out our post on unique photobooth ideas if you’re seeking a booth that provides endless entertainment. 

  • You know your friends would love it. If your friends are “those people” (read: they’re never scared of a good time and a great prop), a photobooth is likely right up your alley (or, should we say, aisle?). If your reception is going to be chock-full of the party-loving, never-shy-away-from-a-camera type, a photobooth will provide endless bang for its buck. Plus, after your wedding is over, you and your spouse will have an incredible time—and endless laughs—sorting through the shots of your friends in their element.
  • You want another set of photos to remember the night with. One of the best things about a photobooth is that it provides another set of photos to remember your wedding by. While your professional wedding photographs will be stunning, no doubt, it can be really nice to have another set of shots that capture the energy and atmosphere of the night in a laid-back, less formal way. It’s also a great way to ensure you have photos of any guests your professional photographer might not have captured on her camera. Plus, opting for a high-quality photobooth will ensure that, while your shots are fun-filled and fuss-free, they’re also high-end and frame-worthy (better start clearing space on your fridge already).

Pro Tip: From a modern gallery wall in your home or an unforgettable photo album to your annual holiday card or custom thank-you cards, there are plenty of things you can do with your photobooth images. Don’t think they have to be relegated to your social media profile. 

Entertainment Value

During The Entire Course Of A Wedding, There Will Be Some Down Time And This Is A Great Way To Let Your Guests Have Fun. While The Alcohol Is Flowing And The Dj Is Playing Great Jams, Not Every Guest Will Be Comfortable Going On The Dance Floor To Dance. However, Everyone Loves To Take Photos And People Of All Ages Can Participate In This!

Great Party Favors

You Ever Go To A Wedding Where The Thank You Gift Is A Shot Glass Or A Bag Of Candy? How About Having Your Guests Leave With A Personalized Photograph Of Themselves With Their Family And Friends? They Get To Keep Something That Will Remind Them Of How Much Fun They Had At Your Wedding And They Will Probably Post It On Their Fridge/Desk For Months Or Years To Come! The Beauty Of These Photographs Are That They Can Be Fully Customized To Your Liking!

Ice Breaker

You Are Creating The Seating Chart And Sometimes You Have To Seat People With People They Don’t Know And It Can Be Awkward. This Can Give People A Reason To Socialize With Each Other And Who Knows, They Might Become Really Good Friends!

Memories

Your Professional Photographer Will Capture All The Special Moments. Everything From Your First Kiss, First Dance, First Cake Cut Will All Be Documented. What They Won’t Capture Is Your Aunt Grabbing Some Large Sunglasses With A Feather Boa Making Cheesy Faces And A Peace Sign. A Photo Booth At Your Wedding Will Capture And Instantly Print A Keepsake For All Your Guests.

Do Ask

  • How long have you been in business?
  • What happens if something goes wrong?
  • What equipment do you use in the booth & Why?
  • Other trusted vendors if they’ve heard of your photo booth rental company

Do Set Up

  • In a highly visible area
  • Against a wall & near a power outlet
  • An external monitor so guests are entertained in line
  • In an adjacent room that can be closed off for set-up or break-down

Do Get Full Value By

  • Having your MC or DJ announce the booth (and the guestbook/scrapbook)
  • See photos of the booth before you reserve, to make sure it fits your event
  • Placing photo strip frames at guests seats encouraging photo booth use
  • Including props to help guests break out of their shell

Don’t Get Ripped-Off

  • Do search engine research, and read all reviews
  • Avoid scams by asking for a contract with full details
  • Check for liability and equipment insurance
  • Be very careful with Daily Deals
  • Ask for a definition of ‘Unlimited Use’

Don’t Set Up Poorly by…

  • Placing the booth in a low traffic area
  • Putting a green screen booth across from a window
  • Harsh light or shadows are bad for green screen photography
  • Allowing the arrival or departure time to disrupt your event
  • Assuming the booth will accommodate children, tall guests or the disabled
  • Advise the company about the needs of your guests in advance and ask if the booth will accommodate them

Watch Out For

  • Low quality photos:
  • Ask for additional examples not on the company’s web site. Owning a DSLR camera doesn’t always mean you know how to operate it
  • Bulky or ugly booths, ask for photos of the company’s current booth
  • Fading or Smudging prints: Confirm the Printer option being used

Reasons a photobooth might not be for you.

If any of the below points ring true, you might want to skip the photobooth and spend your wedding budget elsewhere.

  • You’re having a super formal wedding and your guests might not “get it.” While we’re firm believers that a photobooth adds energy and excitement to any kind of affair—we also understand a booth can feel out of place or unwelcome in certain formal settings. That’s not to say we can’t make one of our high-quality photobooths work for a black-tie affair (we’ve done it on plenty of occasions!)—but we also want to ensure your resources are well spent. If your guests aren’t the type of attendees who are likely to participate in a photobooth, it might not be as big of a draw as it would at a more laid-back wedding reception—and you certainly don’t want an unused booth simply sitting there.
  • There’s not enough space at your venue. If you’re limited when it comes to space and there’s no way to fit a photobooth in without disrupting the overall flow and layout, you might want to skip it. After all, there’s nothing worse than a crowded reception space that doesn’t offer enough room for guests to move around (and dance!). That being said, we offer a battery-operated social booth which we can use with a virtual backdrop. This takes you from needing a space that’s about 10 feet by 10 feet to one that’s only 5 feet by 5 feet.
  • Your budget can’t support it. If every penny counts when planning your wedding, a photobooth might be the first thing to go. And, listen—we get it: if it comes down to having music or a photobooth, we agree you have to let ‘em dance. The good news? A photobooth doesn’t have to break the bank. We offer an all-new DIY booth for one-third of the price of our custom photobooth experiences, making it a perfect option for couples on a budget!

Tips For Wedding Photo Booths

Pick A Open Photo Booth Setup

Closed Off Photo Booths Are Good If You Want Pictures Of You And One Friend, Maybe Two. An Open Photo Booth Setup Allows You To Have A Bunch Of People In The Photo (As Many As 13!), Positioning The Booth At The Venue Is Easier, And Lighting Tends To Be A Lot More Flattering.

Good Lighting

Good Lighting Is So Important If You Want Good Looking Photos. You Want A Nice Umbrella Where Light Bounces Off Of, Giving A Ton Of Flattering Light Onto The Guests Producing High Quality Photos.

Make Sure There’s An Attendant

An Attendant Will Help Get The Party Started. An Attendant Will Help Encourage Guests To Take Photos And Also Troubleshoot Any Issues That Arises.

Choose Your Location Wisely

Sometimes Space Can Be Limited At Your Venue. However, You Want People To Enjoy The Photo Booth So Don’t Place It Far Away From Where All The Action Is. From Our Experience, Somewhere Near The Dance Floor Is The Perfect Place.

Get A Guestbook

Having A Guestbook Made Is A Great Way To Look Back At Your Event And See How Much Fun All Your Guests Are Having. Guests Will Take A Photo, Have It Printed, Stick It In The Guestbook, And Write Something Nice In It.

Be Creative With A Backdrop

Sometimes People Want To Be Different And Have A Custom Backdrop. Have Fun With It And Be Creative. Paper Flowers Seem To Be The New Trend.

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The Definitive Guide To Loading Services

How much does junk removal cost?

The national average cost to remove junk is $150, but prices typically range from $75 to $375. Junk removal pricing depends on a variety of factors, including the type of junk, the number of items and the size of your load.

Junk removal prices

How much you’ll pay for pros to haul away your junk, trash and unwanted belongings depends on several factors, including the type of junk and its size. Many companies typically charge by volume or by how much of a truck you fill. In most cases, a full truck will cost more than a half-full truck.

How junk removal pricing works

In addition to the size and type, the cost to get rid of unwanted items may depend on several other factors. These are the main factors that will impact the final cost:

The type of junk. You may pay different prices to have furniture, mattresses, electronics and yard waste such as clippings, construction debris or mixed trash removed. Many companies charge based on the truckload, but because some debris is heavier than others, the price might shift to reflect the weight instead.

The materials. away toxic or hazardous materials will likely cost you extra. Some companies also charge extra for recycling services.

Your own home. waste and debris down one or several flights of stairs may impact the cost of removal.

List of items junk removal services can away

Junk removal businesses can away many items from your home. Here’s a look at the most common services they tend to offer:

Appliance removal: refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers, air conditioning units, water heaters, dishwashers, microwaves, toasters, ovens and more.

Furniture removal: couches, chairs, tables, bookcases, bed frames, wardrobes, hutches, futons and more.

Construction waste disposal: debris, tiling, floorboards, windows, shingles, sheetrock, drywall and more.

Electronic (or E-waste) disposal: Televisions, computers, printers, monitors, copy machines, cell phones, CD players, fax machines and more.

Yard waste removal: branches, grass, bush clippings or trimmings, leaves, lawn clippings and more.

Exercise equipment removal: treadmills, weight benches, ellipticals, exercise bikes, pilates machines and more.

Scrap metal removal: iron, aluminum, tin, stainless steel and more.

Carpet removal

Mattress disposal

Tire removal

Hot tub removal

Recycling services

In addition to away items, some junk removal companies offer recycling services for many items. Even large appliances — like refrigerators, washers, dryers, air conditioning units, water heaters, dishwashers and more — may be recycled.

The definitive guide to junk removal

When you’re decluttering your home, moving to a new neighborhood, or relocating to a new office space, you might benefit from junk removal services. Often, the biggest obstacle when preparing for a move is trying to clear out stuff you neither want nor need. Whether you’re cleaning your office or clearing out your garage, junk removal services can make it easier by taking unneeded items off your hands so you can focus on what you want to keep. To help you navigate this guide, refer to the table of contents below.

What is junk removal?

Junk removal is an essential part of the decluttering process, focusing on the task of disposing of junk properly. A standard trash can or regular trash pickup service will simply dump your junk into nearby landfills and walk away. Junk haulers help reduce the amount of recyclable items that end up in landfills by ensuring materials get disposed of in an environmentally safe way.

Junk removal can take other forms too — contractors who help renovate homes will likely need the support of junk removal companies for their building sites. Junk removal companies identify strategic locations for renovators to dispose of construction debris without slowing down the build process.

Who benefits from junk removal?

When you break it down, junk removal benefits everyone that would rather focus on their new or refreshed space. Whether that’s a home or office, a decluttered area will do wonders for quality of life and productivity. Having junk removal services also allows people to focus on their busy lives and the things that are meaningful to them.

Types of Junk

When it comes to junk, we can take almost everything off of your hands. From large pieces of furniture like mattresses to tiny scrap metals or appliances, our team will do the job, so you don’t have to. The only junk items that we are unable to haul away are your hazardous materials. There are two categories of junk removal, residential and commercial.

Customer Service Functions include

Ticketing. Although most passengers will arrive at the airport with tickets in hand, there are provisions at most terminals for on-the-spot purchase

Check-in. Electronic check-in kiosks have become prevalent in most major airports. However, there will still be customer service agents to assist passengers with the check-in process, to verify documentation, to tag and process their checked baggage and to ensure that cabin baggage conforms to regulated size, weight and content

Over-size Baggage. Provisions will be available, usually at a secondary location, for the acceptance of over-sized or very heavy baggage items

Baggage Sorting. Bags will be electronically or manually sorted by flight and either loaded into Unit Load Devices (ULD) or placed on baggage trolleys in preparation for aircraft loading

Lobby Management. Passenger service agents will ensure that the appropriate number of check-in desks are available, staffed and have the appropriate identification signage as well as directing and controlling the flow of passengers in an orderly and efficient manor

Irregular Operations. Customer Service Agents will be available to accommodate Irregular Operations requirements such as rebooking passengers who have missed connections or providing meal and accommodation vouchers, or alternate transportation arrangements, in the event of delay or cancellation of flights

Special Needs Handling. Customer service agents will make arrangements for wheelchairs or other transport to the departure gate for mobility impaired passengers and will process, safeguard and supervise any unaccompanied minors (UMs) from check-in to aircraft boarding and from aircraft deplaning to release to a parent or other authorised person

Gate Assignment. In coordination with the airport authority, aircraft gates will be assigned and the gate information relayed to the passengers

Lounge Management. Where available, business and first class lounges, available to qualified passengers, will be staffed and provisioned

Aircraft Boarding. Ground agents will make appropriate boarding announcements, conduct final passenger screening and document verification and provide a final passenger manifest and customs documentation to the aircraft crew. If passengers must be bussed to the aircraft or otherwise be compelled to walk on the ramp, ground agents will ensure passenger safety whilst on the ramp

Aircraft Disembarkation. Ground staff will receive any inbound customs paperwork and accept arriving passengers at the aircraft and facilitate their transfer to the terminal building, dealing as necessary with issues arising from inbound delay or cancellation of connecting flights

Baggage Services. Ground agents will assist with lost, misdirected or damaged baggage

Chocking and Connection/Disconnection of Ground Services. Once the aircraft is on-stand, wheel chocks will be inserted and external services such as passenger bridge(s) or boarding stairs, ground electrical service and ground air conditioning units will be positioned or connected as required. As the departure time approaches, these items will be disconnected and removed as directed by the flight crew

Baggage and Freight Handling. Baggage and freight on the inbound aircraft will be off-loaded using whatever specialised equipment necessary (such as baggage belts, split loaders and forktrucks) and the outbound bags and freight will be loaded on the aircraft.

Aircraft Towing. Movement of an aircraft to or from a maintenance facility, a remote parking stand or from one gate to another will be accomplished on an “as required” basis

Refuelling. Aircraft will be refueled to the requirements of the outbound flight as specified by the Pilot in Command or, in his absence, by the dispatcher. Specific protocols are in place in the event that refueling is to be accomplished with passengers remaining on board

Toilet and Water Servicing. Toilet waste holding tanks will be emptied and serviced as required. Potable water tanks will be refilled

Aircraft Cleaning. The cabin, lavatories and galley counter surfaces will be cleaned. Garbage containers will be emptied and the contents removed from the aircraft. Toilets will be restocked. Passenger comfort items such as pillows and blankets will be replaced as required and, where applicable, newspapers will be brought on board

Catering. The catering trolleys and oven inserts from the inbound flight will be removed and the catering for the outbound flight boarded. Galley and bar stock will be replenished

Provision of Documents. Prior to departure, the flight crew will be provided with the appropriate documentation inclusive of a fuel uplift receipt, the completed Aircraft Load and Trim form or, if the crew completes their own Load and Trim, the certified Loading Instruction Form (LIF), freight manifests and the appropriate notifications for any dangerous goods.

Basic tips for driving a U-Haul truck:

Follow at a safe distance. Never tailgate, as you will not be able to stop as quickly as you would in a smaller vehicle. We recommend keeping a larger following distance between you and the car in front of you.

Check your mirrors. Your vehicle may come with mirrors folded in to help with parking. Be sure they are extended and in your sight line before you get on the road. Team Members will gladly help adjust the mirrors to your needs.

Remember your clearance level. If you are traveling on the highway, parking under an awning or near a carport, be mindful of your truck’s clearance level (placard located outside of the cab doors on the “box” corner of your truck). ATMs, fast-food drive-throughs and gas pumps are areas that may have limited clearance and require caution.

Use extra caution at stop lights and when changing lanes. Larger moving trucks have a slower time maneuvering and stopping quickly, so ensure there is enough room for the vehicle before you move over. Always signal well in advance.

Follow local speed limits. The vehicle you are driving may be larger than the vehicle you are used to driving; remember to build speed gradually and drive at an appropriate speed.

How to Prevent Common Issues & Reminders

Stay in control

We recommend driving in a steady, controlled manner with safety in mind so that you put as little stress on your equipment as possible. Take turns slowly. Refrain from accelerating rapidly and actively anticipate braking to give yourself time to brake.

Shifting correctly

Repeatedly shifting between drive, reverse and park when the truck isn’t fully stopped can damage the transmission over time. Remember to come to a complete stop before moving the gear selector lever

Don’t allow yourself to run out of fuel

If you are traveling a long distance, make sure that you will have enough fuel to get to where you are going, or that there is a gas station on the way. Plan your route and stops ahead of time

Loading and unloading

What is loading?

Loading and unloading is permitted on single and double yellow lines for a maximum of 40 minutes if loading is observed. You must not cause an obstruction and ensure that there is no loading ban Where there is a loading ban, in addition to parking restrictions, you will see yellow stripes (chevrons) on the kerb. Double stripes are indicate that loading and unloading is not permitted AT ANY TIME and will have an accompanying timeplate. Single stripes mean no loading and unloading during certain times and will also have an accompanying time plate (see example below).

All commercial deliveries and collections (including multi-drop and couriers) are included in the exemption. Reasonable time is allowed for the checking of paperwork too – however, as soon as the delivery has finished the vehicle must be moved.

Builders dropping off or picking up tools from a site are exempt, but the vehicle must be removed immediately the loading and unloading has been completed. If it is essential for a vehicle to be parked nearby while working (e.g. a glazier’s or scaffolder’s vehicle) then you should contact the council to make special arrangements.

Always remember

Many, but not all, parking restrictions allow an exemption for loading. But, wherever you are you should:

never stop where your vehicle will cause an obstruction to traffic or pedestrians

never stop on white zig-zags at pedestrian crossings

never stop on restricted areas outside schools when prohibited

only park on the pavement if there is no other way the delivery or collection could be made and if someone is left with the vehicle at all times.

Red lines

you cannot stop to load and unload on a red line during its operational times. Double red lines apply all day, most single red lines apply between 7am and 7pm but are signed

red routes have red loading ‘boxes’ marked on the road where loading is permitted at certain times.

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Electrical Installation Regulations

ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION COURSES

Does working in electrical technology spark your interest? There’s a lot to be excited about. Renewable energy and smart heating are among the big topics of the moment,

Whether it’s powering people’s homes or working on large-scale energy projects, there are lots of jobs in the sector that will be in demand – in or out of a recession. Our hands-on electrician courses will help you develop the skills to become a qualified electrician. With lessons taking place in an electrical workshop that’s been built to industry standards, you’ll learn about all of the required electrical principals and installation techniques.

HOW TO REPRESENT THE ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION OF A HOUSE

The electrical installation of a house or building is one of the key points of its structure. It must comply with a series of regulations and technical specifications that guarantee its installation and operation. You will agree that an electrical installation must be configured according to safety and comfort criteria that ensure the optimum operation of the installation. To represent an electrical installation there are different alternatives. In this case, we will focus on one of the most common and currently used: the single-line diagram

WHAT IS A SINGLE-LINE DIAGRAM

The single-line diagram is a graphical representation of an electrical installation. It differs from other diagrams because, in the case of the Single Line diagram, each circuit is represented by a single line, in which all the conductors of the corresponding section are represented.

BASIC ELEMENTS OF A SINGLE-LINE DIAGRAM

Following the standard electrical symbolism, the basic elements of the installation will be represented in the single-line diagram. In some of them we could even find more sophisticated elements, more typical of more complex schemes.

DISTRIBUTION PANEL

The distribution panel contains the elements for the protection and control of the electricity supply of the house. The electrical system is organized from this panel and the power of the installation is distributed. In the single-line diagram the electrical panel is usually represented by a rectangle drawn with a dotted line.

CIRCUITS

A regular house usually has at least 5 circuits. In the single-line diagram we will see them represented as a line in which all the conductors are included. The top end usually corresponds to the start of the scheme. The lower end is usually connected to another circuit or to a receiver.

First circuit: controls lighting and illumination (intensity 10A)

Second circuit: shows most of the plugs (16A current)

Third circuit: represents the kitchen and bathroom sockets (intensity 16A)

Fourth circuit: for the oven (intensity 25A)

Fifth circuit: it brings together the washing machine and washing appliances (intensity 20A)

ELECTRICAL RECEIVERS

Electrical receivers represent all devices that are plugged in, whether they are thermal, such as stoves, irons, ovens, etc.; or luminous, such as lamps

POWER CIRCUIT BREAKER

The function of the Power Circuit Breaker is cutting off the flow of electricity to the installation in the event of a short circuit or an overvoltage. This switch monitors that the maximum bearable by the installation is not exceeded

Electrical installations in residential buildings

Infrastructure of electrical installations

Electrical conduits are the infrastructure of electrical installations. Building technology is one of the construction stages of a house which is used longest – mostly for the entire life of the building. Those who want to install only the minimum equipment in the new building for cost reasons should plan ahead and include several conduits

A professional retrofit installation of cables in the wall causes dirt and is disproportionately expensive. In addition, this is hardly possible in concrete walls. Frequently, conduits show their true value years later when owners and tenants consider buying new technical gadgets

This is why a well-planned, comprehensive installation of conduits assures the builders already at the construction stage that they can always use new technologies in their home – and this with very little installation effort. Renovation and modernisation should also be used in existing buildings to install conduits to make the house ready for the future. Electrical conduits are the right investment to make residential property future-proof and are sure to pay off in the long run.

first provider to launch eco-balanced electrical conduits, and pledges itself to ecological sustainability in construction. The eco-balanced co2ntrol conduits reduce the consumption of fossil resources by up to 60 percent and save approx. 47 percent CO2. In order to render the co2ntrol products CO2-neutral, plants trees in its home region that bind and continuously store the remaining CO2 of the product group.

Electrical Installations

Electricians design and install electrical systems in all types of commercial, residential, and industrial projects, while carrying out maintenance and repairs safely and quickly. Electrical equipment and systems may include switchboards, cables, fuses, thermal relays, fault current protection switches, heating, lighting, air conditioning and metering equipment as well as crime and fire alarm systems.

Work organization and self-management, communication and interpersonal skills, concentration and attention to details, problem solving, flexibility, and a deep body of knowledge are the important attributes of outstanding electricians. Given the risks associated with electricity, offering a safe and reliable service to customers is paramount. Electricians need to have an intimate knowledge of the latest safety standards and work to a strict code of safety conduct.

Electrical installation is closely associated with other parts of the construction industry, and electricians find themselves working in all manner of commercial, residential, agricultural, and manufacturing environments. Increases in the construction sector and growing demand for alternative energy sources will drive demand for electricians.

Electrical equipment accessories for professionals

Professional and skilful electrical installation requires not only well-trained specialists, but also well thought-out electrical equipment products. To help electricians and engineers make their work more safe and efficient, constantly developing practical solutions for all types of electric installation.

only high-quality materials with a long service life are used to ensure that the respective electrical installation fulfils even the highest safety requirements and is durable. As an example, particularly the safety aspect electrical equipment installations is taken into account at a very early design stage of individual products.

The transparent push-in wire connectors from the series allow visual inspection of the connection – an important safety feature for the inspection and approval of electrical installations. Likewise, the expert for electrical installation includes various structural demands in its planning. Therefore, our portfolio also includes push-in wire connectors that can be used on-wall or flush-mounted and in all kinds of junction boxes

Within electrical installation the main applications of are the insulation, fixing, bundling, sealing and marking of wiring. Various sizes, colours and materials support the professional use in electrical installation: as a fast, reliable help for repairing cables, as a tool for sealing connection points, as a warning for temporarily laid wiring or as a clearly visible cable marker. Thus, the PVC Flex insulating tapes are coated with adhesives that are specially adapted to the respective application areas, emphasising their mechanical properties for electrical work

multi-functional tool that simplifies any kind of cable routing. These cable rods are available in various sets, each consisting of a robust case and a large number of useful accessories. Extensions, adapters, hooks, guide eyelets, lights, magnets and cable grips make the cable installation system a universal tool. With the help of fiberglass-reinforced rods, cable routing is much easier even in installation areas that are difficult to access, so that their use ensures considerable time savings.

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Benefits Of Hiring A Good Immigration Lawyer

What questions should I ask an immigration lawyer?

Tips to Choosing an Excellent Immigration Lawyer

The US immigration process can be very complicated, confusing and time consuming. Having a good immigration attorney fighting for you can make all the difference to your case. On the flipside, a bad immigration lawyer can fail to deliver the promised services, overcharge you and/or harm your case in a way you might never recover from.

The best way to start the immigration process for you and your family is to research immigration attorneys and law firms. But what benchmarks should you keep in mind as you go through the process of interviewing immigration attorneys/firms?

Take note of these tips as you evaluate which attorney is the best one to help you reach your immigration goals:

1. Get a Referral

Often word-of-mouth is the best way to choose an immigration attorney. Your network of family, friends or colleagues may know other individuals who have dealt with immigration attorneys in order to acquire a green card residency visa or other benefit. You can learn firsthand about the kind of experience the individual had when working with the immigration attorney.

2. Asking for References

After you’ve been referred to a good lawyer, schedule a consultation where the lawyer strategizes his/her plan of action for your individual situation. Be sure to ask for references. A good immigration lawyer should have great online reviews (Google, Yelp, Avvo) and an abundant list of happy former clients willing to recommend the firm’s services. Other possible resources are researching them via the local bar association, the local chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), and a member in good standing of the Better Business Bureau.

3. Consider More than Just Price

Don’t blindly choose an immigration lawyer based on pricing. Like many things in life, you get what you pay for. There are plenty of sub-par immigration attorneys out there offering reduced pricing versus the competition. Some may be handling too many cases at once and don’t have a proper team to dedicate quality time and personalized service to your case. Others may not have the proper experience in complicated areas of immigration law.

Invest your time in researching the reputations of all the lawyers you evaluate. Don’t be afraid to invest a few thousand dollars on a quality lawyer. It’s not worth the risk of wasted time and having a delayed or rejected process because you want to save money.

4. Hiring a Lawyer Who Speaks Your Language

Choose a lawyer (and a firm) which speaks your language fluently. This improves communication throughout the process and ensures that you and your lawyer are understanding complicated legal nuances.

5. Build a Relationship with your Attorney

A visa is your first step in being able to legally reside in the United States. It may be the first, but likely not the last, time you’re communicating with the USCIS.

It is critical that you build a good relationship with your attorney (and their firm), so that they can serve you in the future when you are ready to take the next step in your process.

Filing for legal papers to live in the United States can be a complex process, but having the right people fighting for you can simplify the ordeal. Utilize these five tips when evaluating the right attorney to expertly handle your unique situation.

What to Ask in a Consult with an Immigration Attorney

  • What is your experience with immigration cases like mine? – Immigration law covers a number of different types of cases, from those involving requests for visas and naturalization to others related to deportation or removal from the U.S. Each of these cases can require extensive work, unique processes and potentially even courtroom representation. And having an attorney on your side who understand the process you will be going through – and who knows how to troubleshoot the possible challenges that can arise – will be essential to obtaining the best possible outcomes.
  • How much of your practice is dedicated to immigration cases? – Just because an attorney practices immigration law does not mean that it is his or her exclusive or primary focus. So be sure to ask about other practice areas a lawyer has so that you can better understand whether that lawyer will prioritize your case (or not).
  • Will you be overseeing my case through to its resolution? – Or will your case be passed off to another lawyer you don’t know – or worse yet, a non-lawyer associate at the firm? Knowing this upfront can help you figure out whether you should place your case (and trust) in a particular lawyer’s hands.
  • What specifically will you do to help me? – Will the lawyer complete and submit all paperwork on your behalf? Will (s)he oversee the other administrative work essential to your case? And will (s)he be available to attend interviews or court hearings with you? Asking about the level of service you can expect with a lawyer is another important step to determining whether that professional is a good choice for you.
  • Do you have references or former clients I can talk to? – Whether or not you plan on contacting these references, ask this question anyways, as it can reveal how confident a lawyer is about the services (s)he provides, as well as how happy (s)he has made former clients.

Before setting up an appointment ask:

Do you speak the same language as me?

It’s important to ask if the attorney speaks your native language. If they don’t, ask for an interpreter to help you during your appointment. You want to make sure that you understand everything they say and that you can clearly explain your situation. If you give them the wrong information, it may take longer for the lawyer to start your case, and it could affect the outcome.

What documents and papers do I need to bring?

Attorneys need complete information about your case in order to represent you well. When making your appointment, ask what papers, documents, and identification you’ll need to bring with you. This will make the first meeting less stressful for everyone, and it will help the attorney get started on your case right away.

During the appointment ask: 

How long have you been practicing immigration law?

When you interview for a job, they’ll ask if you have any experience doing that type of work. Since you’re interviewing the attorney, you can ask them the same questions. Ask how long they’ve been practicing immigration law. Attorneys should be happy to share their certificates, diplomas, and license information with you. In fact, many lawyers have them hanging up in their offices. You can also ask them if they’ve ever dealt with a case like yours. Asking questions like these will help you determine how qualified they are to represent you.

What are your fees?

Law firms usually charge by the hour for their services, while some may charge a flat rate for certain cases. Make sure to ask your attorney for an estimate of the cost to represent you. If you have limited funds, check to see if the attorney will allow you to pay in installments.

How will you start working on my case?

Ask your attorney what the next steps are in the legal process. They won’t know exactly how long your case will take, but you can ask them when they think the process will start and end. Your attorney should be confident enough to give you an estimate, but realistic enough to account for delays. Be sure to ask if there’s something you can do to speed up the process and increase your chances of success.

If you plan to be out of the country while your case is being worked on, ask your attorney how they will send updates about your case. While traveling, make sure you’re close to a place that has cell phone or internet service so that you can get calls and emails from your lawyer.

Who will be working on my case?

Attorneys have assistants and paralegals to help them with their cases. Ask your attorney if anyone else will be working the case. If possible, meet with them in person and ask about their experience in cases like yours. Get everyone’s contact information and find out if they want you to communicate with them by email, phone calls, or text message. This will help you get in touch with them quickly and get answers when you have an important question.

Top Questions to Ask An Immigration Attorney

Having questions about payment, timeline, the process of immigration, both for temporary or permanent residence, and so on is perfectly normal!  Immigration can be stressful and confusing.  If you don’t understand something ask! And don’t feel like your questions are a bother to your attorney! You are helping both of you by asking as many questions as possible.

Your attorney should listen to you and your concerns–that is part of their job. Here are a few suggestions for what questions to ask:

  • “What sort of experience do you have?”

You can follow up on this question by asking things like, “How long have you been practicing immigration law?” “Have you worked on cases like mine before”?” What sort of experience dealing with government officials and courts do you have?” If you are dealing with US immigration law, you should also ask your attorney if he or she is a member of AILA (American Immigration Lawyers Association)

  • “What will you do to help me?”

Immigration law is about more than just filling out forms and writing letters.  Find out how your attorney plans work for you, and how you can help them. Ask them what they will do after  your application is filed to ensure that it is processed in a timely manner and to improve your chances of success.

  • “What do you need from me?” 

Take an active role in working with your attorney!  Figure out what they need from you and get it to them on time, or even better, well ahead of schedule.  Ask your attorney what sorts of forms or paperwork you might need to bring in and what you can do to make the process go more smoothly, and both of you will be happier for it.

  • “What sort of timeline should I expect?”

Immigration can be a complicated and difficult process.  You might not know what to expect or how long things will take.  Your immigration attorney can help you by (a) helping you think about the timeline of the process as a whole and (b) thinking about how long particular steps along the way will take.  This will help you as you make plans and move forward with your immigration.

How Will We Communicate?

It’s very important that you communicate with your lawyer throughout the immigration process. This will help ensure that you don’t miss any important deadlines or appointments.

Ideally, you want to find an immigration lawyer who will be staying in touch with you directly, either through email or phone. If they mention that you’ll be primarily in touch with their legal secretary or paralegal, this is a sign that they may not be able to give your case the full attention it needs.

Do You Have References?

Because there are such high stakes with your immigration case, it’s very important that you hire a lawyer with a good reputation.

The best way to learn about a lawyer’s reputation is to talk to others who have used their services. So, make sure to ask lawyers for references before hiring.

But, keep in mind that lawyers are only going to give you their best references. Therefore, it’s important to also read reviews online. You should also check to see if the lawyer has any complaints filed against them through the Better Business Bureau.

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Indoor Air Quality And Mold Remediation

Best Mold Removers

Keeping your home and yard mold-free is crucial. Not only is mold unsightly, but it can cause health issues for your family, ranging from upper respiratory tract issues and to the development of asthma. Investing in a good mold cleaner will not only keep your home pristine and mold-free, but it will also prevent your household from exposure to harsh bacterias.

Whether you’re searching for a powerful remover for stubborn bathroom mold stains, or wish to banish mold off of fabric, we’ve researched the top mold removers to get the job done.

Customers sing the praises of this mold and mildew stain remover from RMR-86. It works on nearly any surface, including wood, fiberglass, concrete, and tile, and it promises to remove unsightly stains in 15 seconds, without the need for any scrubbing except in the case of the toughest stains. It’s a bleach-based cleaner, and it promises to be five times stronger than other brands.

If you don’t have proper ventilation in your bathroom, excess moisture can lead to mold growth in your shower. To remove (and prevent) the buildup of mold and mildew, the Kaboom Mold & Mildew Stain Remover will get deep into the cracks and crevices for a deep clean that will last. It’s a foam, so it doesn’t run down the walls like some liquid versions, and the thick formula is easy to apply thanks to the precise applicator tip.

To use, apply it to a dry area, let it cling to the surface, and then wipe it off after stains appear to have faded. For tough stains, you may need to repeat this process and wait a bit longer before wiping it off. Keep in mind that the formula is strong, so you’ll need to wear rubber gloves and work in a well-ventilated area. Customers say they can see results almost immediately after wiping the product off.

Not all mold removers are safe for wood, but this one from Concrobium is made for the wood jobs inside and outside your home. Beyond wood, it can be used on concrete, drywall, shingles, siding, and grout. It doesn’t contain any bleach or other toxic chemicals but instead uses a different method. The bottle claims that it “crushes and suffocates mold as the product dries out.”

How to Clean Mold Off Wood

Mold and mildew spores are all around us. Add some heat and humidity, and a colony of fungus will begin to grow on fabrics, shoes, walls, bathroom grout, and bare or painted wood.

The most common type of mold found in homes is mildew. Mildew is a surface mold that grows in warm, damp places like basements, laundry rooms, and shady porches. Mildew begins as a gray or white powdery colony and eventually turns black or brown. To test if the wood is covered with mildew or just dirt, dab the stain with a cotton swab dipped in household chlorine bleach. If the stain lightens or disappears after two or three minutes, it’s mildew. If not, it’s probably just dirt.

Mildew can discolor and slowly harm wood surfaces but there are much more dangerous molds that can damage the structure of your home. If a fuzzy or slimy black or green mold is visible and the drywall or wood underneath is soft or crumbles, there is irreversible rot and the damaged surfaces must be removed immediately

How do you determine if you need to hire a professional? If the infestation on wooden surfaces is not black mold and is caught early, you should be able to remove it with household cleaners. For extensive mold problems in poorly ventilated areas like crawlspaces or for anyone with mold allergies or compromised respiratory systems, consider hiring a professional.

How Often to Clean Mold Off Wood

At the first sign of mildew or mold, wooden surfaces should be cleaned immediately. For outdoor wood furniture, decks, and siding in humid climates, at least yearly cleanings with a mildewcide is recommended

How to Clean Mold Off Wood

Before you begin this project, be sure to wear a mask, long-sleeved shirt, and long pants to protect yourself. If possible take the mold-infested wood outside when cleaning to prevent spreading spores to other areas. For interior walls and floors, close doors or use plastic sheeting to shield other areas.

How We Do Proper Mold Remediation

Mold is an important issue and there are two important things to remember about: it needs to be prevented by doing things right the first time, and when mold is showing – it needs to be taken care of immediately

Steps to Mold Remediation

1: We know moisture

Assessing mold growth involves more than just looking at what is visibly growing on the walls or in a corner. Mold can be an invisible intruder, growing behind and around what you first see. Such devious behavior requires inquisitive thinking.

2. We document the mold problem and create a remediation plan

Before we begin remediation, a team member documents the mold situation with writing, photos and video. The team supervisor will use this documentation to develop a remediation plan. This will answer questions like when work is slated to begin, when that work is scheduled to be completed, who will be performing the remediation, any testing that should be done, and if homeowners will be temporarily relocated.

We calculate the extent of the contamination

Mold may not always grow in one area and we access how much contamination there is. By calculating the extent of the contamination we determine how to approach mold removal and cleanup. The goal of mold remediation is to clean up mold growing within the home, and to avoid exposing homeowners to large amounts of mold.

We remediate mold contamination

Remediation always involves cleaning up existing mold while avoiding exposure to oneself as well as homeowners. We also prevent new growth by addressing the moisture source. Based on calculations of the contamination area, we determine the area we will be working in. Some examples of steps we take to take care of the mold:

Repair the water problem. This will help prevent new mold spores from growing.

Isolate the contaminated area. Close all doors and windows between the contaminated area and other rooms of the home

Suppress dust caused by mold spores in the home.

Remove all wet and mold-damaged porous materials.

Place materials in plastic bags.

All non-porous materials and wood surfaces that are moldy are cleaned.

Perform visibility test – all areas should be visibly free of contamination and debris — no dust and dirt means no mold.

Cleaned materials should be dried to allow leftover moisture to evaporate. To speed up the drying process, we use fans, dehumidifiers or raise the indoor air temperature.

All materials that were moved are replaced or repaired.

DEFINITION OF MOLD CLEANING VS. MOLD REMOVAL AND MOLD REMEDIATION

It seems strange (and amazing) that mold can be found in so many houses; creating the need for remediation and cleaning. Many types of mold are generally harmless and don’t seem to cause many troubles. But mold removal, officially called mold remediation,  can become your obsession when allergies or continuous sinus problems plague you.

In most cases, a person notices some discoloration on a wall or baseboard. It may look like a random, old mold stain. If there is no connection between respiratory complications, illness, headaches, most just ignore it. A better idea might be to consider calling a mold cleaning company for another opinion. After all, there may be nothing more than discoloration visible on the surface but what lurks below could be something far worse than a stain. Cleaning the visible side of a wall surface may not deliver true mold removal.

Even after mold remediation, in some cases, a visible difference in color remains between mold-affected areas and those unaffected by mold. Sometimes dark or even black stains may still be noticeable. The area can be free of mold (due to mold remediation) yet remain visibly stained. This is where mold cleaning comes in.

Not to complicate the matter, but to add some clarity to the issue of mold, mold spores are dangerous. They are dangerous whether alive or dead. So mold removal is different than mold cleaning. Oftentimes, mold spores can be removed quite easily from surfaces. But a stain can remain. An all-inclusive mold remediation and stain removal should be performed to insure a safe, indoor air environment.

STOP franchises across the country are often called in for mold cleaning after mold has been removed. There are products and methods to help remove these stains. In some instances however, sealing and painting (or other finish application) may be necessary to achieve uniform appearance.

MOLD REMEDIATION

Removing mold from a property is more than just an unpleasant chore; it can be dangerous. So, it’s important to have a professional in your corner who can do the dirty work.

While some mold is easy to see, there are times—when mold is hidden in basement crawl spaces or inside walls, for example—when homeowners may have a difficult time identifying the problem. Here are a few signs that might indicate the presence of mold:

Visible mold growth, whether white, black, brown, or green

Musty or moldy smell

Wallpaper that is peeling, bubbling, or becoming discolored

Allergic reactions such as sneezing, coughing, nasal congestion, or sore eyes

There are several potential causes of mold, including

Humidity

Poor ventilation

Undetected leaks

Flooding

In the right environment, mold can spread quickly. That makes speed absolutely crucial when it comes to eliminating the source of the issue and restoring your property to its former state.

Professional mold remediation services ensure that your damaged house or property gets the best possible treatment. With expert teams using hi-tech equipment to identify the problematic areas, extract and remove the mold, and restore the damage done to your home, you don’t have to worry – it is all done for you.

The Mold Remediation Process

There are a number of steps in the restoration process that will vary depending on the damage done to your property.

Inspection

The mold cleanup and restoration process begins when you call Services. We’ll ask you a series of questions to help determine the necessary equipment, resources, and personnel needed to safely and efficiently handle the issue. Next, we’ll carefully inspect your property for visible signs of mold and provide you with a free estimate.

Mold Containment and Removal

Services uses various technologies to remove mold and hidden water sources. First, all fans and heating and cooling systems will be turned off to prevent the spread of mold. Next, our trained technicians will use various containment procedures and technology, such as negative air chambers, negative air pressure, powerful air scrubbers, and HEPA vacuums to isolate the contaminated area with physical barriers and keep the mold spores from spreading during the cleanup process.

Cleaning and Repairs

We don’t do things halfway here—Pur Services can even clean your furniture, decorative items, curtains, clothing, and other restorable possessions affected by mold! Our technicians are trained to remove odors and deodorize, allowing you to enjoy a home that once again smells as it should. Your restoration may also involve minor repairs such as replacing drywall, painting, and installing new carpet. The most severe cases may require major repairs or reconstruction of certain areas

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Payroll Service Firms Can Bring Tremendous Benefits To Businesses

What is the benefits of payroll outsourcing services?

Outsourcing your payroll to a third party provides a number of benefits to all kinds of businesses. Outsourcing puts your payroll in the hands of the experts, allowing you to focus better on your business, while taking advantage of technology and expertise you may not be able to afford in-house.

Payroll is one of those processes that is essential, but not critical to sales and business growth. This is why payroll can feel like a drain on work hours and resources – resources that could better spent in making money. Payroll is complex and payruns need to be made on a regular basis, so this function doesn’t just go away once it’s done. By outsourcing your payroll, you can alleviate those burdens and channel more of your time, energy and resources into your core business functions.

The cost savings of payroll outsourcing are proving highly beneficial. In the current economic climate, businesses are looking for more ways to keep costs down, improve their efficiency, and gain a competitive advantage.

Outsourcing your payroll also gives you access to payroll knowledge and processes that you don’t have internally. This means that you can rest assured that your payroll is securely and accurately taken care of every month. So as well as saving money on setting up payroll internally, you avoid costly payroll errors too.

Putting time back into your business operations

Performing payroll in-house is an administrative task that scales as your business grows and is not a business function that is directly tied to any profit centre. Processing payroll, ensuring compliance against Modern Awards, Timesheets and Pay Conditions along with handling employee queries and preparing reports are all functions of payroll that take time away from other business operations.

By outsourcing your payroll you not only free up administrative time for your staff but gain the additional benefit of having payroll services experts efficiently handling employee queries ensuring your staff are focused on business operations and not payroll.

Realising the cost benefits of engaging a payroll services company

Processing payroll in-house has a direct business cost attributed to the financing of a payroll team for payroll processing, maintaining payroll software and managing employee queries and pay conditions which can, in most cases, be greatly reduced by outsourcing to a payroll service provider.

Typically measured in a ‘per payslip’ cost, this can be simply calculated by adding up how many headcount hours are dedicated to payroll activities (processing payslips, maintaining software, managing queries), multiplying that by the salary cost and dividing by the number of payslips processed in any period.

Save Money 

Outsourcing payroll is often an attractive alternative to performing this job in-house because it can help you save money. Taking care of payroll internally is not always the most cost-effective approach. First, you must invest in additional resources to get started, such as:

  • Computer equipment
  • Manual or electronic accounting programs 
  • Training to use the program correctly across your HR and finance departments

Additionally, employers must stay up to date on changes in tax rules, personnel, and accounting deadlines. Missing these important changes can be very costly and expose the business to additional liability. 

Good times to outsource payroll are when your employees work varying amounts of hours, you have to pay payroll taxes for multiple regions, you are losing money by manual timekeeping, or you have a high turnover rate. In these situations, outsourcing payroll can save both time and money.

Enhance Security & Reduce Risks

Payroll processing is a complex and potentially risky business operation. Even with trusted employees, there is always a risk of identity theft or embezzlement of funds for personal gain. There’s also an ever-present risk when using in-house payroll software: How safe and secure is payroll data on the company’s server or network? This nagging question can consume a business owner’s energy and attention as well.

By contrast, payroll outsourcing providers offer a “safe haven” for your confidential payroll data. In addition to redundant backup and multiple server locations, a quality payroll provider invests in state-of-the-art systems for storing and protecting data, simply because it is part of the service provided to clients. Being able to ensure the privacy of your data therefore requires constant monitoring to ensure operational continuity and data protection.

Compliance with Government Regulations

With laws that govern provident fund to calculation of taxes, employee benefit programs and incentives provided to staffers, it becomes challenging for organizations to process the exact reimbursements and salary for each employee.

Better efficiency

Payroll outsourcing means sending your payroll off to be done by professionals. Typically speaking, this means that your payroll will be processed more efficiently and with fewer mistakes. Even at first glance, this ought to make sense – while your company’s payroll department is a larger part of a rather different business, the company to which you have outsourced your payroll concentrates only on payroll matters. This is a situation where outsourcing to experts really does help.

More hiring flexibility

Outsourcing payroll allows you a greater degree of flexibility in hiring new employees. Instead of having to continually staff your payroll department as your business gets larger, you can shift that part of your workforce over to the parts of your business that will actually make you money. This can be a perfect choice for those businesses that are in a growth cycle but who still can’t spare employees for those aspects of the business that are not considered part of their core competency. If you need to do the most with a limited number of employees, you need the flexibility that comes with outsourcing your payroll department.

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Why To Choosing Best Commercial Cleaning Company In Your Area

Office Cleaning Guide

One pivotal but often overlooked aspect of a company’s success is its cleanliness and tidiness. Maintaining a clean and tidy office environment is one of the best ways to promote success both internally and externally. But why is this?

Primarily, cluttered and unorganised workspaces negatively affect your personal professional image and your company’s image. No matter what they say, first impressions count; having a disorganised mess in your office, therefore, can give the impression that you can’t organise your work, either. Tidiness creates a professional, respectable image that’ll encourage your clients to do business with you. It’ll also improve productivity among your employees!

But it isn’t just productivity that is affected by having a clean office. Workplace illness is one of the leading causes of inefficiency in the office, but it often stems from having an office that isn’t cleaned and maintained properly.

Dirty fridges and office equipment can see the violent spread of colds in your office, putting employees out of work for days at a time or reducing their efficiency, at least. However, with a professional cleaning service, skilled and experienced in maintaining hygienic environments, you can curb this as an issue.

Clearly, cleaning your office regularly is important. If you’re looking to ensure that your company continues to be a successful one, you’ll need a rigorous cleaning schedule in place.

How to Hire Commercial Cleaning Services

Managing an office comes with its challenges and its rewards, doesn’t it? You’re constantly handling new obstacles and pressures in an effort to make everyone’s workday comfortable, safe, and productive. However, it’s a gift to be able to provide that to others and it’s something you probably take a lot of pride in. You deserve to.

As an Office Manager, one of the key ways that you impact your team is by enhancing and preserving the environment in which they work. Your employees deserve to work in an environment that’s hygienic, decluttered, and free of distractions. Employees are often at the mercy of workplace conditions they can’t control

Although most companies require employees to help keep shared spaces clean, your employees weren’t hired to clean your office and neither were you. Hiring a commercial cleaning company can alleviate the burden on employees to keep things clean while ensuring that your office environment doesn’t suffer.

Benefits of Hiring a Commercial Cleaning Company

Before we can explore how to hire your commercial cleaner, you’ll need to decide whether outsourcing your office cleaning is worth the expense and the effort to manage another vendor. Later, we’ll offer recommendations for keeping this relationship easy to manage but first

A Better Working Environment

By keeping your office not just clean but professionally spotless, you can ensure greater employee satisfaction and productivity. Rather than navigating around piles of papers or starting wars over break room leftovers, your people will be busy doing the work they were hired to do in a way that’s comfortable for them.

Commercial Cleaning

office cleaning tasks

Our office cleaning checklist is designed to help business owners gain a better understanding of the type of tasks that you may need to complete on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Keep in mind, these tasks will vary depending on your unique workplace environment!

Common Daily Cleaning Tasks

It may seem like a lot of work, but it is important to complete daily (or almost-daily) cleaning in your office or workplace. If you don’t, dirt, debris, and dust can easily start to pile up and become a bigger, more challenging problem. In order to keep your work environment clean and healthier for you, your staff, and your customers or clients, the following daily tasks are recommended.

Reception Areas, Lobbies, and Work Spaces

Mopping of all hard floor and tiled areas

Vacuuming all floors

Empty waste bins, wash as needed and add new liners

Use standard glass cleaner to wipe down all glass areas

Damp-wipe hard surfaces with mild disinfectant

Polish brass and bright work

Clean walls and painted surfaces as needed

Wipe down door handles, light switches and baseboards

Keyboard cleaning

Break Rooms (Including Kitchen Break Rooms) and Washrooms

Empty waste bins, wash as needed and add new liners

Disinfectant mopping and wipe down of all hard surfaces

Sanitize and clean all basins, toilets, doors and fixtures in washroom

Refill soap dispensers

If there is a dishwasher, load all dishes and run

Wipe down all reflective surfaces including mirrors, brass, and glass

Use spray disinfectant on the sides of all surfaces including toilets, doors, sinks, and appliances

Along with your daily list, there are some cleaning tasks that should be done regularly but don’t necessarily have to be done on a daily basis. These tasks are as follows:

Office-Wide

Squeegee glass windows inside and out (as needed)

Polish and buff all hardwood surfaces including floors and conference tables

Empty refrigerator of all employee-brought food, clean, and disinfect

Empty and disinfect all trash receptacles, add new liners

A guide to hiring a commercial cleaning company

Hiring a commercial cleaning service can be an overwhelming task considering the different tasks that need to be performed, such as screening the company. To ensure your facility’s cleaning schedule is in competent hands, it is important that you treat the hiring of a cleaning company like hiring a new staff member.

Maintenance of a clean business environment is vital to company productivity, and therefore you should ask certain questions when screening candidates. This article will provide information on the questions that can help separate top cleaning companies from those that just don’t meet quality standards.

Do They Have Experience?

When hiring an experienced cleaning service, you can be assured that the job will be performed to the highest standard possible. While there is no harm in hiring a new cleaning service, this does come with certain risks regardless of the potential they may show. Established businesses have better reputations, treat their cleaners with respect, and have a long-standing list of clienteles who trust their services.

Do They Understand The Business?

An important point to consider is the type of facility you are running. Believe it or not, the industry in which you work makes a difference when it comes to cleaning an office. For instance, if you are working in a doctor’s surgery, the cleaning service will need to adopt a different approach to if they are cleaning a call center office.

What Should The Cleaning Schedule Look Like?

When hiring a cleaning company, you need to consider how often your working space needs to be cleaned. You also need to consider the workers and what times are convenient for cleaning staff to enter the property. For example, schools are typically cleaned each afternoon preparing them for the following day. However, sports facilities are cleaned early in the morning or at night after closing. If your business operates on a 24/7 rota, it may be best to hire the service to clean during a quiet period.

Commercial cleaning

Prepping the Office Area –

You’ll want to gather all of the necessary cleaning chemicals, equipment and accessories for the job. Load up your janitorial cart with supplies and chemicals and head towards the cleaning area. If any mopping or extensive cleaning is to be done, you’ll need to put up “closed for cleaning” signs and cordon off the area with the correct caution/wet floor signs

Daily Cleaning Procedures –

Visually check the area for any types of debris or paper. Pick these items up and dispose of them properly.

Vacuum up any dirt or debris that can’t be removed by hand. Using a backpack vacuum is a great way to quickly and efficiently vacuum up around office cubicles.

If there are any spots or stains on the carpets, floors, walls, furniture or baseboards immediately wipe those up. For carpet or upholstery stains, start by identifying the type of stain by using our stain removal instructions guide.

Weekly Cleaning Procedures –

Dust all surfaces, including desks, filing cabinets, cubicle walls and shelves.

Empty trash cans and replace garbage bags, a very popular size is the high density 10-15 gallon trash bags for individual offices. Clean trash can and surrounding area if necessary.

Wipe down desks, telephones, calculators, and computer keyboards thoroughly using a disinfectant spray that has been sprayed on a micro fiber cloth or a disinfecting wipe, like our germicidal disinfecting wipes.

Dust heating vents, ledges, door jambs and window sills at any easily reachable level.

Dust mop all tiled or hard surface floors, then sweep up that debris into dust pan following our dust mop procedures.

Wet mop all hard floor surfaces following our step by step floor mopping instructions.

Vacuum all carpeted floors, starting with the mats and runners, following our carpet vacuuming procedures.

Monthly Cleaning Procedures –

Clean wall-mounted units such as paper towel dispensers and hand dryers with a disinfectant spray or wipe. Paying special attention to all fixtures and items in the restroom, all the while following our restroom cleaning procedures.

Wipe down all vertical surfaces in the office with an all-purpose cleaner.

Spray buff hard surface floors following our spray buffing a floor or our burnishing a floor procedures. The spray procedures will be used with a low speed floor buffer, like our 20″ low speed floor buffing polisher. The burnishing procedures will be best utilized with a high speed burnisher like our ultra high speed burnisher. If the hard floor surfaces are particularly dirty start with scrubbing the floors with a low speed buffer.

Polish desks, tables, chairs, and any other wood objects by using a furniture polish to help maintain a professional shine.

Dust or vacuum all vents, overhead circular fans, and behind hard to reach areas like tables and desks.

Clean all windows with a glass cleaner to remove all marks and fingerprints.

Semi-Annual Cleaning Procedures –

Strip and recoat any tiled floors to remove scuff marks and any imperfections in the finish. Following our stripping a floor and our applying floor finish procedures will guarantee a high shine on your floor This will also make it extremely durable for long periods of time, extending the time between additional stripping and re-coatings.

Spray buff or burnish the floor immediately to make the finish “pop” as much as possible.

Institute a burnishing program to prolong the life of your floor, as well as maintaining its appearance at all times of the year.

Extract all carpeting, runners, mats and upholstery following our carpet extracting instructions. For any heavily soiled areas, or traffic pattern areas, follow our carpet bonneting instructions for proper carpet scrubbing instructions.

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When To Visit A Dermatologist

Questions to Ask During Your Dermatology Appointment

Preparing a few key questions for your next dermatology appointment can maximize your time and provide you with some useful education and skin care tips.  Here are the top 5 questions to ask your dermatology provider:

What do you think of this changing mole?

Your dermatologist wants to know if you have noticed changes in a mole or if you have developed a new spot that has never been there before.  A change in size, shape, or color could signify that the mole is potentially concerning for cancer.  Also, if a spot becomes tender, itchy, scabs or bleeds, your dermatologist may recommend a biopsy.  After age 40, you should not be developing new moles.  If you notice a new spot that was never there before, show your dermatologist.

What changes should I look for in my moles?

It is easiest to follow the acronym “ABCDE” when considering what changes to look for in your moles.

  • Asymmetry = one half of the mole is unlike the other.
  • Borders = the edges of the mole are cloud-shaped or uneven.
  • Color= if there are more than one color within the same mole.
  • Diameter = the mole is larger than the size of a pencil eraser.
  • Evolving = when a mole begins to change in size, shape or color, or begins to itch or bleed.

Not all of these changes have to occur for the mole to be suspicious.  Even just one change in a mole may be concerning for skin cancer.  We suggest that you perform a monthly skin check on yourself and see a dermatology provider yearly for a full body skin exam.  Remember, regular skin exams can help find skin cancers early, when they are easier to treat.

What should I expect from my medication?

Have you ever been disappointed after using a medication, only to find that it did not solve your problem?  Depending on the diagnosis, some skin conditions may be cured with medications, while others are just controlled with regular medication use.  Also, some medications may improve symptoms within a few days, whereas others may take several months to improve the condition.  Ask your dermatologist what your expectations should be concerning your medication.  You may consider asking questions such as: How long will my medicine take to start working?  Should I stop it if it clears up my skin condition?  What side effects should I look out for?

What sunscreen should I use?

Living at high elevation can take a toll on our skin.  Ultraviolet(UV) light exposure increases about 5% per 1,000 feet of elevation, which means that we have 30% greater UV exposure in Colorado Springs than at sea level.  Even daily activities like driving to work or walking your dog can expose your skin to damaging UV rays.  Your dermatologist can recommend excellent sunscreens for daily use and sunscreens that work best at the pool or during your favorite sport.  If you have sensitive skin and have had reactions to sunscreens in the past, there are several great allergen-free options available.

What is the best moisturizer for dry skin?

Not all moisturizers are made the same.  Lotions are water-based and best for those who do not have dry skin.  Creams and ointments, especially those containing ceramides, are oil-based and work better to trap moisture in the skin and replenish natural skin oils. Your dermatologist can make specific cleanser and moisturizer recommendations based on location and your skin type.

Questions You Should Ask When Choosing a Dermatologist

Whether considering virtual dermatology care or services in a brick-and-mortar clinic, we encourage patients and providers to investigate their options so they can make an informed decision.

Here are 10 questions we suggest as a starting point.

  • Will my care be provided by a board-certified dermatologist? Where did your dermatologists receive their training? Are they licensed to practice in my state?
  • If I give my permission, will the dermatologist work with my primary care physician or other healthcare providers and share my medical information with him or her? Do you comply with HIPAA standards for sharing and confidentiality?
  • Besides photos of my skin problem, do you also require my medical history and a description of my condition and symptoms?
  • After the initial assessment, will I have access to the dermatologist so I can ask follow-up questions?
  • What happens if I have something serious – like skin cancer? Or what if I need surgery or other intensive in-person follow-up? Can you refer me to a qualified expert in my area?
  • How soon will I receive a diagnosis and treatment plan after I have submitted my information?
  • Are your services covered by my insurance?
  • What if my skin problem needs to be evaluated by a subspecialty expert, such as someone who specializes in skin cancer or pediatric skin problems?
  • What if I need a prescription? How can I be sure it won’t interact with something I’m already taking?
  • Where can I go to find an independent, objective overview of your physicians? For example, are your doctors profiled on HealthGrades?
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Practical Extermination Wasps Strategies

HOW TO GET RID OF WASPS

The wasp family is very large and no matter the species, all types of wasps can possess a painful sting in addition to forming nests in inconvenient places that can lead to wasp stings. Getting rid of wasps is fairly simple, yet the process can potentially be dangerous without the proper products and equipment.

To get rid of wasps, make sure you select the proper kinds of products based where the wasp or nest is located. Wasp dusts can be safer to administer than spray insecticides as they can be applied from a safe distance. Always apply any product several feet away from a nest.

Wasp control can be achieved as a DIY project but it is usually better to contact us for professional wasp nest removal and control. If you do decide to tackle wasps on your own then it is important to know what steps to take to prevent potentially life-threatening injuries with these insects. Read on to discover more about wasps and where to find their nests as well as a range of products and procedures to effectively remove wasps from your living space.

Are Wasps Considered Pests?

Even though wasps will not typically invade your home or cause damage to your property, wasps are considered to be a pest based on the potential of causing injury due to the stings they inflict when disturbed. Wasps nests can also pop up under the eaves of porches and garage perimeters, which can be unsightly and cause concern for any guests you may have over during the warmer months.

Wasp Behaviours

Wasps are programmed to do three primary things: reproduce, build wasp nests, and seek out sugary food sources. It is important to understand those three aspects to gain a grasp of where you can expect to encounter wasps.

Wasps & Bees Control: How to Get Rid of Wasps and Bees

This page is a general wasps and bees control guide. Using the products and methods suggested you can get control of all wasp and bee species. The wasps and bees category pages give additional information on the different species. Follow these guides and use the recommended products and we guarantee 100% control of all bees or wasps species.

Wasps and bees can be an alarming presence around homes and businesses, but they can really become a problem when they have established a nest or hive upon a property. Many people are afraid of wasps and bees because they fear getting stung if they get too close.

There are many species of Bees and Wasps, and their characteristics can vary. The common characteristics between them are the fact that both are flying stinging insects, prone to aggression if provoked, and they are both pollinators.

Wasps and bees build their nests close to food and building resources. Paper wasps, for example, built their nest using wood fiber and need to be close to wooden structures. In many cases, these happen to be homes and businesses.

It’s important to know exactly which Wasp or Bee you are specifically dealing with before proceeding with a control program. There are many species of both wasps and bees, and their appearance can vary. It is easier to identify them by their nesting sites and their bodies.

The Best Wasp and Hornet Sprays

Taking out a wasp or hornet nest requires courage, precision, and speed—and a product that can do its job while keeping you as safe as possible. For that, you’ll need a can (or two, just to be sure) of a pyrethroid insecticide.

A key criterion for this product to be effective is a pyrethroid active ingredient, which is not unique to one brand. has two such agents, delivered in an extremely thick and robust foaming spray that quickly encapsulates a nest, trapping insects inside and reducing the chances of your getting stung. The foam is so thick that it hangs on vertical surfaces, nearly eliminating drips that can leave residue down the side of a house.

Terro sprays about 15 feet (when shot horizontally), which is right in line with the spraying distance of most competitors. This puts some decent space between you and the nest—and you’ll need it. The spray comes clean out of the can and is thick enough to withstand a slight breeze. It has a low odor, compared with that of some other cans.

One detail where Terro stood out was safety: This spray has a large cap that fits securely enough to deter a small child (for a moment), and it protects the nozzle if the can falls off a shelf.

If you’re in a pinch and you can’t locate Terro’s spray, we found two others that appear to be identical and should be just as effective. Among these three, it’s likely you’ll be able to find one on the shelves of a local store if you need one in an emergency.

Removing Wasp Nests

As the flowers and other natural food sources start to disappear, the move from the natural sugars and nectars from these food sources dry up and the need for proteins and carbohydrates increase. This is where the yellow jackets and the black and white wasps become more aggressive in finding alternative food sources

These alternatives include your soft drinks, meats, vegetables and any type of food that you may have been cooking in your backyard. Wasps do not have a barb on their stinger so when they come in to get a piece of your steak, if they are scared they will start stinging you many times and release a pheromone to make other wasps in the area come and sting you as well

We have many the counter products that can be used to treat wasp nests. Only use products that are registered for the control of wasps because using a pesticide to kill a pest that is not on label is against the law and you may be putting yourself and bystanders at risk of an improper application of insecticide. Using a liquid or foam spray will provide a direct and instant kill on contact.

The first thing you will need to do is find the nest. Wasp nests range in colour from light to dark grey and can range in size from a teacup, to a small baseball or even larger than a basketball. Some nests can be found in walls, cracks in walls, and even in the ground. Watch the nest during the day and find where the wasps are entering and exiting, the entrance hole will be near the bottom of the nest.

The best time to treat a wasp nest is either early in the morning or late evening when most wasps are inside and resting. If the nest is hidden, the entrances must be dusted with an appropriately label insecticide dust. This method takes several hours in order for the nest to be killed. The wasps will clean each other off, as they are social insects, and the dust kills the entire nest.

BEE? WASP? HORNET? A GUIDE TO STINGING INSECTS

Having a yard gives you an opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy the sunshine, fresh air and plants. That combination is also ideal for attracting a variety of insects and wildlife to your yard. When it comes to insects, the spring, summer and early autumn is an especially busy time.

Some of these insects can be benign or even helpful. Certain bugs – the dragonfly is a good example – help to control other insect populations. Butterflies are also beneficial insects – they serve as pollinators.

Other insects aren’t as completely harmless, though. Wasps, hornets and bees present an all-together different challenge for homeowners. While many of these insects offer similar benefits, they also pose a threat to people – they aggressively defend themselves by stinging other creatures they view as a threats.

STINGING INSECTS

“Bees!”  — That’s the typical screeching reaction people have at the sight of a yellow-and-black flying insect. For the most part, however, bees aren’t what they should be worried about. Instead, it’s the wasps and hornets who give people the most trouble. Let’s take a look at the most common bee, wasp and hornet types present

AFRICANIZED BEE FACTS: These insects were created in 1957 after some imported African honey bees crossbred with those in South America. The result was a highly aggressive species that began expanding its range. As recently as 2011, these bees were found in the Northwestern U.S. A bit smaller than a typical honey bee, these bees tend to be easily provoked into defending their hive. As a result, they can attack in tremendous numbers and pursue their perceived threats farther than nearly every other insect on this list. Like their honey bee “parents,” Africanized bees die shortly after deploying their stinger. These bees are most common in the extreme southern U.S. It’s best to allow a professional to handle these insects.

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Whether To Pay For Auto Repair Before Selling A Car

Tips in Choosing an Auto Repair Shop

There is no denying that automobiles are a necessity in today’s world. With so many different kinds of vehicles around and in so many numbers, you may think that finding an auto repair shop can’t be that difficult. But here’s a reality check – it is not always easy to find a reliable auto repair shop. Sure, you may find one on every corner on every street, but you can’t vouch for all of them. The question that arises here is – what constitutes the best auto repair shop?

Well, it depends on several factors, including customer service, experience, price rates, etc. In this blog post, we present some tips that will help you select the best auto repair shop in your area.

Ask Around for Recommendations

The oldest and safest way to know more about a particular vehicle repair shop is by asking other people. Just as your choice for the best doctor, lawyer, or hairstylist may result from the suggestions of your friends and family, you can apply the same approach to help you select the best auto repair shop. It is always best to consult friends or relatives that often go to auto shops to have their cars repaired. They will probably have more ideas about how the auto repairing business works and will guide you better to help you choose an auto repair shop that will get your work done efficiently and at a decent cost.

Always ask people you trust the most and are those who are willing to offer genuine help. The best people to ask for recommendations are your workmates, neighbors, friends, or family.

Check the Website and Go Through Public Reviews

In this information age, it has become a lot easier to post your personal views and suggestions online – on Facebook, Twitter, etc. For instance, if you are not satisfied with a company’s service, you can share your views on their Facebook page and let the world know about it. In other words, word of mouth has become increasingly important and powerful. You can easily judge an auto repair’s reputation by simply going through their customer reviews. The more positive feedback, the better the repair shop is.

One thing you should be aware of is that the company is usually in control of what is being said about them on their website or social media page. For a more genuine insight, check out the shop’s Google reviews, as those can’t be doctored by the company.

Compare the Price Range of Vehicle Repairs

Before you take your car to an auto body repair shop, make sure that you have an estimate about the price range of auto repairs in your state/locality. Keeping this in mind, you can shortlist all those auto repair shops that follow the average rate.

That being said, the prices may vary depending on the popularity and the level of services offered by a shop. Some auto repair shops may charge higher than others. If that’s the case, then find out why that is so. The most likely reason is they offer top-notch services to their customers. Avoid auto-repair shops that may offer services at a too-good-to-be-true price range. Many of these involve unethical mechanics that may trap you in a car repair scam. For example, these mechanics may provide you with a reasonable verbal quote. But when you come back to pick your car, they may drastically raise the final bill to more than the estimated amount. This may leave you with no option but to pay additional sums of money.

Location of the Shop

Keep in mind that the price of the services offered by a repair shop may change depending on its location. For instance, repair shops in posh neighborhoods will charge more compared to others. That’s because residents of these upscale localities own affluent cars and have the financial strength to settle expensive repair bills.

Take into account the locality before choosing an auto repair shop. This will save you from being caught off guard by the bill at the time of payment. Also, it is better to follow the approach of “best-yet-affordable” when looking for an ideal auto body shop.

Ask for License and Certification

To be on the safe side, always ask for important documents from the mechanic or the manager of the auto shop. These documents should validate their expertise in the field. This will put you at ease, knowing that your car is in capable hands. Having a well-qualified and certified mechanic will also lower the risk of bad car repair jobs.

Generally, auto mechanics require ASE certification. To receive authorized certification, interested individuals need to take a computer-based exam and hands-on automotive repair.

Know Your Warranty

If your car is still under warranty, you may need to have the repair performed by the dealer. auto warranties vary, but there is a lack of clarity surrounding who can service your car and what parts can be used to repair it. This means that in some cases, you may not be able to choose a repair shop that isn’t affiliated with the dealership. Violating your warranty can mean that your car is no longer covered under the agreement. If you’re in doubt, call the dealer for more information.

Find a Shop That Specializes in Your Car

Whether you own a Toyota or a Tesla, it makes sense to find a repair shop that knows your vehicle. Shops that specialize in specific manufacturers have the most up-to-date training and equipment for working on those vehicles. This can be especially important for major repairs.

Check the qualifications of the technicians

Apart from the shop’s reputation, you would also want to check on the qualifications of the mechanics it employs. A shop whose workers who have been there for years usually indicates good working conditions and assures you that these technicians know what they are doing.

Also, observe if the staff are professional and courteous. Beware of shops that don’t show concern toward their customer’s issues and don’t take the time to explain the nature of the problem; they will insist on making unnecessary repairs and replacements just to pad your repair bill.

Shops with awards displayed prominently on their shelves are a nice confidence-building measure, but those accolades are not always a guarantee of stellar service. At the very least, see to it that the business is legitimate, with the necessary permits displayed. This means that the business is duly registered, which protects your rights as a customer in case disputes arise over the services they rendered.

Trust your gut feeling

Above all else, always follow your instincts. If you feel that something is off with the shop you’re eyeing, despite your research and the glowing testimonials, walk away. Your gut feeling can often be triggered by something you may have noticed at the shop, such as hearing an unsatisfied client complain of a delay in their service.

Take note of the number of customers you see in the shop at any given time: this might give you an idea about how many people trust the business for their services. A trusted auto repair shop will likely be buzzing with activity on account of good business. Although you shouldn’t automatically dismiss body shops that have the cheapest rates, a healthy dose of skepticism won’t hurt.