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How Office Movers Help With Free Relocations

PRACTICAL STEPS FOR A WORRY-FREE OFFICE MOVE

We’ve completed thousands of projects in the public and private sectors. As a result, Real Pro Movers have in-depth commercial moving knowledge and the right systems in place to make your move a success. Planning is key to a successful, worry-free office move.

Hire Professional Office Movers

While moving might seem like moving, don’t make the mistake of assuming that a residential moving company can smoothly execute your office move. Office moving requires that movers have the expertise, experience and specialized equipment necessary to handle your office move seamlessly. You can’t compare a residential move to moving a business or company. Complex logistics are involved in managing an efficient, organized office move. Most moving companies don’t have all the expensive equipment and the experienced moving crews that are required: if they do offer commercial moving services, it’s not on a regular basis.

In order to guarantee a seamless moving experience, hire only a seasoned office moving company. Professional office movers have the experience necessary to ensure that your move is executed efficiently and that your furniture, equipment, and files arrive safely. They also know how to protect your office walls, floors, entryways and stairwells from being damaged in the process of moving your business to its new location.

Select Your Office Moving Company ASAP

The most highly recommended professional office movers with experience relocating businesses are popular for a reason. Real Pro Movers do our best to accommodate your moving dates, including last minute and weekend moves. However, your best chance of moving on your preferred dates with the trusted mover of your choice is to schedule your moving date as soon as possible. After finding and selecting a moving company, act quickly to ensure they are available when you need them to move your office on your schedule. The moving company you choose should guide you through the process from beginning to end, providing valuable suggestions and strategies to ensure your moving day goes smoothly.

Invest in Packing and Unpacking Services

When it comes to office moving and relocation, many business owners say packing and unpacking are their least favorite tasks. They find the amount of furniture, equipment and other items and the logistics of organizing it all in an organized way very daunting. Without a proper labeling and an organization system, when you arrive in your new office space, it will be disorganized and chaotic. An experienced, professional office moving company will have the proper equipment and experience to efficiently and safely move all of your belongings, without risk to confidential files, expensive technology, and the CEO’s asymmetrical glass and steel desk.

The easiest way to minimize the stress of office moving is to hire a professional moving company for both packing and unpacking. It might appear more economical to inspire everyone to pitch in, but in the long run, it will be more affordable than still searching for the L to N files two months after your office move. Factor in how long the disruption will last and the amount of time workers spend away from their desks, and the expensive of packing and unpacking services don’t seem so extravagant. Professional office movers know how to safely pad, pack and protect office furniture and equipment so they are not damaged during transport and they arrive in the same condition they were in when they left your previous location. Ask for an estimate – we’re confident you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how affordable it is. If you do plan on doing your own packing and unpacking, take advantage of Real Pro Moving Tips.

Take Advantage of Storage Services

When downsizing, equipment, furniture, and cabinets that won’t fit into your new office space, you might require long-term storage until they can be sold or repurposed. If moving out and moving in aren’t occurring on the same day, you may need short-term storage to store your company’s belongings. Real Pro Movers have our own storage facility, where items are stored in large containers so they are fully protected from being scraped, crushed or dented.

Reasons To Hire Professional Office Movers

So, you’ve made the decision to relocate your Orlando business to a new space — congratulations! Now comes the fun part: physically moving all of your company’s possessions to the new location. Moving an entire office is a lot of work, even more so than moving a home. Along with moving your office supplies, furniture, and equipment, you’ll likely need to move your computer system, security system, and other technological aspects of your business. What’s more, depending on the size of your business and how many employees you have, you will also need to move their desks and belongings. Along with packing and moving everything in your office, you will also need to make sure your business is running at full strength during each phase of the move. In many instances, people try to tackle a move on their own.

Training and Experience

Moving an office is time-consuming and takes a lot of effort and physical endurance to get the job done quickly. Hiring a moving company allows you to work directly with highly trained and experienced packing and moving professionals. Our expert movers know how to pack your belongings safely and securely, and will move your entire office, no matter its size, in the most efficient way possible. Hiring a dedicated, knowledgeable moving crew for your office relocation will allow you to focus on other facets of your move, while also giving you more time to run your business during the moving process. This can make it easier to get right back to business after the move, which benefits you, your employees, and your customers.

Secure Storage Facility

During the initial phases of your move, it can be hard to determine what will and what won’t fit into your new office space. The last thing you want is to have to store your office furniture, equipment, or supplies outside of your office, and you don’t want to pack them into different rooms in your building until you can decide where to put them. Moving companies also offer secure storage facilities where you can store your belongings for a short or long period of time. Having the option to store the possessions you want to keep, but can’t make immediate room for, can save you time and money in the long run. Using a storage facility like ours allows you to store items in a state-of-the-art facility that is always accessible to you. We’ll even load and unload your storage unit for you! Having access to a secure storage unit is just one more benefit of hiring a moving company.

Cost-Effective

As we mentioned in our last blog post, many people pass on hiring a moving company and, instead, take on the move themselves in order to save money. In some cases, a DIY move might be the best option. However, it’s important to consider all aspects of moving your business when you’re trying to decide whether or not to hire movers. For one, moving takes time, especially when you move on your own. This could mean that, as a business owner, you’re spending more time planning and coordinating your move, and less time focusing on your business, which could lead to a loss in business and profits. Along with the lost time, you’ll want to take into account the additional costs and potential for accidents to occur during your DIY move. When you move on your own, you can pretty much always bet on something going wrong. But when you hire experienced moving professionals, the risk of accidents is reduced significantly. You can count on a much more efficient, easy move, which makes hiring office movers an affordable, cost-effective solution to relocating your business.

Peace of Mind

Moving is complex and multifaceted, which is why it is one of the most stressful activities to undertake on your own. One of the top reasons to hire a moving company is that it gives you peace of mind in knowing your belongings will be safe, the move will be completed by experts, and it will be accomplished in a timely manner. Working with a reputable moving company like J & J Metro actually gives you more time to focus on running your business throughout the entire moving process. We work with you to manage and coordinate your entire move, so you can focus on other aspects of relocating your business, while also ensuring your company continues to function throughout the move. Our goal is to make your move as stress-free as possible, allowing you as much or as little involvement in the process as you prefer. You can count on your friendly office movers in Orlando to get the job done right, so your business can continue thriving throughout the move.  

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Payroll Service And Administration

PAYCHEX PAYROLL SOFTWARE REVIEW

Payroll specialists like Paychex not only help you pay your employees but also take care of ongoing payroll taxes and year-end tax forms.

Paychex is a highly scalable payroll service designed for growing businesses. Because of its level of sophistication, the software tends to be more expensive than other payroll services. That said, with a custom pricing model, Paychex is able to accommodate businesses of all sizes.

PROS

As far as customer service goes, Paychex offers 24/7 phone, email. and chat support — which is pretty much as good as it gets. Plus, if you purchase the Paychex Flex package, you’ll be assigned an implementation specialist to help guide you through the setup process.

As mentioned, their payroll infrastructure is designed to be highly scalable to accommodate growing businesses.

Paychex includes helpful personal portals for both employers and employees, allowing them to access their own records and make requests within the platform itself.

Their small-business funding program actually provides loans for growing businesses, a service no other payroll provider offers.

CONS

The Paychex platform can be somewhat difficult to navigate.

They charge per pay period, which makes them significantly more expensive if you pay employees more than once a month.

They don’t bundle all of their services. For instance, if you want check printing or tax form processing, you’ll have to pay an additional fee for each.

Paychex is more difficult to set up than other payroll programs.

Pricing

Paychex makes pricing available upon request. Once you request a quote, they will determine a package based on your business’ size and requested features. They charge per pay period, so while they might be a good deal for businesses paying employees monthly, costs will rack up if you have multiple paydays a month.

Worst Payroll Mistakes

As a business’s success grows and more and more money starts to come in, business owners may start to feel good about how things are going. The customers and clients are happy, and the employees are showing up for work with smiles on their faces, so it may seem as if nothing can go wrong. Even though it is possible for a business to run smoothly and face very few setbacks, something going wrong can happen fairly easily.

Some businesses may experience bumps due to difficult clients or a lack of business, but there are others that have suffered due to issues regarding their payroll systems. With this being an important aspect of the business, this is why business owners want to ensure that the person who is in charge of this does not do anything to put the business at risk. It is not everyday, but there have been many who have made some of the worst payroll mistakes that can be made, and as a result had to pay fines or have even lost employees.

Improper setup and maintenance

Failure to setup and maintain payroll properly can lead to a company having to pay fines and face penalties. Not setting up state, federal and local taxes, registering the business and checking wage calculations are often what leads to these fines. They can easily be avoided, but people have to pay close to what they are doing and what the laws are pertaining to paying employees.

Missing or failing to meet deadlines, submit deposits and run payroll

All businesses have to report and deposit their payroll taxes. There is going to be certain times that this will need to be done, so figuring out when this information should be submitted and submitting it on time is crucial. Not only can this lead to businesses being charged interest, but they can lose employees as well because they may not want to work for an employer who doesn’t pay them in a timely manner.

Improper record keeping

Employers should always have record of paychecks, bonuses, timesheets, W-4 forms and cancelled checks. Failing to keep record can lead to books being unbalanced and cause other things to be in disarray, which means businesses will have to spend time sorting through things and regaining order.

Things You Need to Start a Payroll Company

Payroll processing is a massive industry, predicted to reach $45 billion by 2020. Payroll is a service for employers—and that makes it a natural complement to other employer services businesses: merchant services (credit card processing), group health insurance, banking and such.

Processing software

Processing software automates the task of running payroll. There are many choices of payroll processing engines, each with its own advantages and quirks. A trusted consultant in the payroll space can help you choose one. The Ephor Group has also published quality reports on processing platforms.

Processing team

It’s not hard to find reliable, detail-oriented people to operate your payroll processing software, as long as you’re willing to train them. Plan on supporting approximately $250,000 revenue per employee (maybe more, maybe less).

Sales engine

Your sales engine should include basic contact management (CRM), pricing, proposals, and customer onboarding. You can connect standalone systems and customize them to your needs, but that can get expensive.

Referral Sources

Done right, this will give you a free sales team of CPAs, benefits brokers, bankers and other centers of influence. They’ll help you scale fast exchange for referral commissions. Commissions can range from 25% to 50% or more, depending on how much sales effort the referral source provides.

In-House Payroll vs. Outsourcing Payroll Services

Payroll is arguably one of the most important HR responsibilities for an employer, especially if you were to ask the employees. But, for companies that may not have a designated payroll professional on staff, the task of payroll processing can be frustrating and time-consuming for the employer to manage. That’s one of the reasons many employers seek to utilize payroll outsourcing and processing services.

Payroll outsourcing and processing services offer several benefits to small businesses and employers. Not only can it save time and energy, but employers can rest assured that payroll outsourcing providers will keep all processes and procedures in compliance with the latest payroll laws and regulations, avoiding any potential penalties for even the smallest mistake.

If you’ve been on the fence about utilizing payroll outsourcing and processing services, here are a few things to consider.

Company Resources—Something every employer must consider when deciding between in-house payroll processing or choosing a payroll service provider is company resources. If an employer doesn’t have the proper technology, professionally-trained staff, or ability to maintain payroll records, it is probably a good sign that outsourcing payroll duties is the best way to go.

Data Security—Employers must take every step to ensure employee data is kept safe and secure at all times. One of the biggest concerns for small businesses when it comes to outsourcing payroll and processing is data security. Knowing that a high level of sensitive data is within its care, payroll providers go the extra mile to keep client information safe and secure from cyber-attacks. Every payroll outsourcing company should be equipped with the proper tools and tactics to protect sensitive employee data.

Tax Compliance—Knowing how to properly manage tax deductions and meet the federally-mandated taxes for Social Security and Medicare is one of the biggest factors in productive payroll management. A payroll outsourcing company can properly ensure the filing of federal, state, and local tax returns, while also processing payment for all payroll tax liabilities. Employers can also benefit from a payroll outsourcing agency’s on-time responses to tax agency inquiries.

Employee Self-Service—Establishing a process that makes it easy for employees to manage their payroll needs is a valuable way to make payroll processing more efficient. Most payroll outsourcing companies offer employees online self-service capabilities. This technology provides convenience for employees who need quick and easy access to their personal pay information. Many of these companies also offer employers time-clock interface tools and apps to make for a more user-friendly experience for employees.

While payroll outsourcing has become a growing practice, there are also a few common misconceptions about the advantages involved with enlisting a payroll provider. Here are four misconceptions that warrant some clarity.

Outsourcing payroll is a complicated process. False. Most payroll providers have simple, user-friendly onboarding systems in place to get you easily set up and in motion. A trusted payroll provider like LBMC EP will help you prepare, collecting all information they need in advance, leading to a smooth transition to your new payroll system.

Outsourcing payroll is costly. Wrong. For many companies, handling payroll in-house can be more expensive than outsourcing. With the amount of time and people it can take to handle payroll tasks, many companies have found that outsourcing payroll has been a better way to steward company resources. Professional payroll providers can also save companies from costly penalties related to tax and compliance.

Outsourcing payroll is not secure. Not the case. A professional payroll provider will have taken extra precautions to defend against potential data breaches. Knowing that a high level of sensitive data is within its care, payroll providers go the extra mile to keep client information safe and secure from cyberattacks.

Outsourcing payroll relinquishes control. On the contrary. While a payroll provider will take the lead with payroll processes and record-keeping, employers can benefit from viewing a payroll provider relationship as more of a partnership rather than a service. Maintaining regular communications with your payroll provider will not only provide you with peace of mind, but also will allow you access to any information or reports you need.

Why Payroll is One of the First Things You Should Outsource

The quality of your staff is the foundation of a successful business. If you have skilled employees and contractors, then you can rest assured to know that things will get done and the business will keep moving forward. On the other hand, unmotivated employees can quickly bring down a company because of the poor customer service that is reflected.

As an employer, you need to be sure that you are proactively working to improve company culture. Happy employees will treat your customers right, helping you to increase sales and productivity. Payroll is an important aspect of employee satisfaction because your team needs to know that they will receive a correct paycheck in a timely manner. When payroll problems happen, it starts a domino effect that negatively impacts attitude and culture in your business.

Mistakes of Do-It-Yourself Payroll

If you are just getting started with your small business, then it makes sense that you are carrying many responsibilities. It is common for small business owners to carry the bulk of the responsibility, instead of handing some of these things off to employees and contractors. Not only are you looking for ways to cut overhead costs, but you also want to maintain control over the business.

Even though it might seem like a simple solution to handle the payroll by yourself, be aware that you could be causing potential problems for your company. Too often, small business owners don’t have the experience or knowledge to manage the business financial details. As a result, things slip through the cracks and mistakes are made.

Is Payroll Software a Good Idea?

Using a reputable software program is a great place to start, but the software won’t overcome the human mistakes. The computer is only as good as the information that is entered into the software. So, you need to be sure that you are using accurate information when setting up the payroll details for your employees.

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Mosquitoes Traps Allow You To Enjoy The Outdoors

What Do Mosquitoes Hate

There is no question, DEET is the most recommended and most effective mosquito repellent. But there are some other things mosquitoes hate, too. Keeping some of these on hand can help keep mosquitoes away.

Keep Away Mosquitoes With Things Mosquitoes Hate

How do you keep mosquitoes away? The same way you can keep a person or another animal away. Just surround yourself with the things they hate and any mosquito (or person, or stray cat, or pigeon) will think twice before coming around.

The king of mosquito repellents is DEET. It has a long history of use and is recommended by all major health institutions around the world. This includes the CDC in the U.S. If you are concerned about mosquito borne illness, keep the DEET within easy reach. We are by no means suggesting you ditch it.

Picaridin

DEET is the long time reigning champ of mosquito repellents. It was developed by the U.S. military in 1946 and has been used billions of times since then with very little adverse effect. But there is a newcomer that seems poised to take the lead.

Loosely Fitting Clothes

One way to avoid mosquitoes is to cover up. It may seem unappealing on a hot summer day, but long pants and long sleeves provide some protection from mosquitoes.

What Keeps Mosquitoes Away? Mosquito Controls That Actually Work

Tackling bug-bites in the middle of the night may be one drawback of summer, but mosquitos are more than an annoyance in many parts of the world. Carrying diseases like malaria, dengue fever, and West Nile and Zika viruses, they account for more than one million deaths each year according to the World Health Organization. As climate change warms the planet and increases mosquito-friendly habitat worldwide, this number is expected to rise.

The seriousness of mosquito-borne diseases is the reason so much research has gone into keeping people safe from their bites. It’s also the reason so many products on the market claim to prevent you from becoming a mosquito’s next meal. But are these products effective?

Whether you’re trying to avoid a disrupted sleep or a risky disease, it’s worth spending your money on measures that work. Here’s what scientists are saying about the efficacy of mosquito control products. Here also are the most effective remedies that will keep mosquitoes at bay this summer.

The Latest Advances (Don’t Work)

There really is an app for everything. In the past few years, many developers have come out with smartphone applications that purport to repel mosquitoes. LG also unveiled a smartphone with built-in, mosquito-repelling technology. The only problem? They don’t work.

Many studies disprove the idea that ultrasonic technology repels mosquitoes. In one blinded, controlled study, scientists found no significant difference between a test area subject to an ultrasound device designed to repel mosquitoes and an area without the device. Another study demonstrated that electronic devices purporting to control mosquitoes with sound actually increased biting rates.

Do Lemongrass Really Works in Repel Mosquitoes?

Lemongrass is a common natural ingredient used either in dining or as an ambient scent used in recreational spa and lifestyle activities, are also often to perceived as a pest control solution alternative and natural mosquito repellent.

Lemongrass, also known as Cymbopogon citratus which contains Citronella oil, musk scents that attracts mosquitoes such as carbon dioxide and lactic acid found in human.  In other words, by applying repellant with Citronella oil ingredients, it actually blocks the scents being sensed by mosquitoes. This makes it harder for mosquitoes to locate you. Some research shows Citronella actually helps to reduce mosquito landing around 40%.

It is important to highlight that these natural repellents will provide some form of repellent against mosquitoes, however the active ingredient dosage level and components are not adequate to serve as a mosquito control solution. Besides providing limited protection against adult mosquitoes, in fact, undiluted essential oil can be hazardous to the family’s safety. It may burn your skin when comes into contact with, due to its high citral content. Some individuals might be also sensitive and result in allergies, skin irritation or rashes.

As our standard of living enhances, our needs and concern on safe and natural alternatives are also increasing. Rentokil designs a complete mosquito protection that enhances safety, such as utilizing water-based mosquito fogging to eliminate adult mosquitoes, or water-based mosquito misting system, a form of fumigation solution to eliminate air-borne pests within inaccessible areas such as cracks and crevices. Due to its small particle size nature (around 25 microns), it has a thorough penetration and contains low toxicity level, and not posing any harmful health effects to the public.

There is also an environmentally-friendly mosquito larval control, with the application of BTI (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) to manage mosquito breeding sources such as stagnant water surfaces, slow flowing water surfaces or stagnant water collections including concrete-lined drains, tunnel, swamps, ground puddles and depressions.

Things That Make You a Mosquito Magnet

Hot and humid summers mean mosquitoes. And the annoying insects spread more than just itchy welts – they can transmit painful and sometimes deadly diseases.

For most of us, mosquito bites are just a nuisance. And some people have it worse than others.

What makes a person a mosquito magnet? Read on to learn how some seemingly harmless habits like a daily run or a backyard beer could make you a more appetizing target.

What Makes You a Mosquito Magnet title: Carbon Dioxide url: text: It turns out mosquitoes don’t bite randomly. Instead, they hone in on a victim by following a steady output of carbon dioxide

“If you were to exercise vigorously, you would produce more carbon dioxide for a brief period,” Pollack told ABC News. “You might [then] perhaps be a little more attractive to mosquitoes.”

How can you get rid of mosquitoes in the yard? Try these tips

Eliminate standing water around your home. Keep gutters clear of debris; check at least once a week for any discarded cans, buckets, pots, overturned children’s toys and anything that can hold water. Cover trash containers; change water in outdoor pet dishes daily; and change water in bird baths several times a week

Move potted plants indoors. Potted plants also tend to fill up with excess water, which is the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. Keep them indoors during the muggy summer months.

Place herbs and scented oils around your backyard.Certain plant herbs and essential oils can naturally repel mosquitoes. For instance, the scents of citronella, lemongrass and chrysanthemum, are nontoxic and keep mosquitoes at bay. Scented oils and candles placed on your outdoor tables will keep any bugs away from food.

Scatter coffee grounds. Sprinkle coffee grounds wherever you discover standing water in your yard. Any mosquito eggs present will be forced to rise to the surface and be deprived of oxygen. This will kill any mosquitoes before they hatch and will prevent them from breeding further.

Grow insect-repellent plants. Discourage flies with plants like lemon balm, mint, chrysanthemums, marigolds, basil, garlic, eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary and more. Luckily, these herbs and plants are loathed by mosquitoes, but quite pleasant to look at and smell.

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Outdoor Electrical Lighting Ideas To Choose From

Best Low Voltage Landscape Lighting

When it comes to setting up your own lighting, you may be confused about which steps to take to do the job safely. Let’s start with the basics. One of the simplest types of lighting is low voltage.

This type of lighting is perfect for landscaping projects, as well as many others. The lower voltage and softer light tone make it more suitable for outdoor use, though.

How to Choose Landscape Lighting?

If you’re set on using low voltage landscape lights, there are a few tips you can follow to get the best type for you. First, understand the purpose of your lights

Landscaping lights usually come as floodlights, spotlights, or path lights. Depending on what you want to illuminate, you’re going to buy different models. Take a look at the floodlights first.

The type of light you choose also depends on the aesthetic you’re trying to achieve. If you want to make a bold statement or focus on a certain part of your backyard, high beam or floodlights work best. If you want something subtle and aren’t going for a particular look, you can just use path lights.

Landscape Lighting Tips to Help You Enjoy Your Outdoor Spaces After Dark

When it comes to lighting your landscape, a little goes a long way. That’s because your eyes need less light outdoors than they do indoors in order to see light, shadow, and pattern. To plan your outdoor landscape lighting, start with a walk around your yard at night. Envision how and when you want to use your outdoor spaces, and tailor your landscape lighting to suit those needs. When you’re ready to choose the fixtures and layout, use these landscape lighting ideas, including tips for the best placement and how to avoid common issues, for a well-lit outdoor space you can enjoy long after dark.

Landscape Lighting Basics

How light is seen during the day is different from how it is seen at night, a particularly important distinction when it comes to lighting pathways and other outdoor spaces. However, certain principles about lighting remain true indoors and out.

For starters, light has intensity, or quantity emitted, and color. The color of a particular lightbulb can be found on the packaging; it is a number that ranges from 1800 kelvins (K), which is very red in tone, to 7500 K, which is a bluish-white.

Whether indoors or outdoors, lighting is generally divided into three layers based on function:

Overall lighting: Overall light provides illumination for a whole room or space.

Task lighting: Task lighting is used for a specific purpose, such as to light a path.

Accent lighting: Accent lighting draws attention to an object or area. This is usually accomplished with spotlights or floodlights.

A variety of lightbulbs are suitable for outdoor light fixtures.

Incandescent bulbs emit pleasing light but have a short life and consume more electricity.

Halogen bulbs are more efficient versions of incandescents, typically with a longer life and less energy consumption.

Fluorescent bulbs are now available in a more pleasing color range, last much longer, and consume less energy.

While LED landscape lighting can be more expensive, the lightbulb costs (which continue to decline) are balanced by their extraordinarily long life and extremely low energy consumption.

Planning Electrical Items Outside (External Power & Lighting)

We’ve put together this short blog post to help with planning electrical items outside your home when using our online rewire calculator.

We hope you have found this series of blog post useful, this is the 8th and final blog post of this series to help assist you when planning electrical items in you your property.

Socket Outlets

Additional external socket outlets can be added to most external walls of your property, these socket outlets are designed to to protect the sockets from external weather conditions and typically come with an IP56 rating, meaning the socket is protected against dust and splashing of water. These sockets will also be protected by an RCD at the consumer unit meaning that they are safe to use for items such as electric lawn mowers and hedge trimmers to give additional protection to the user. These are also a great addition for a patio or outdoor entertaining are so you wont need to run extensions into the house. External sockets can also be fitted to the front of properties or near to drive ways for use with electrical items such as Jet washes and vacuum cleaners.

External Lighting

External lighting is a must for improving the security and practical use around the property. External lighting can also give your property the WOW factor. External lighting comes in all shapes and sizes and choosing the right types of light fitting for the application can often get confusing.

Flood lights or security lights

Flood lights or security lights typically are activated when the motion detector (PIR) picks up movement, these are great for the rear of the property where maximum light is required, these are also a great deterrent for unwanted opportunist.

Decorative lighting

Decorative lighting is often used on both the front and the rear of the property and is typically used for feature or practical lighting, these lights have a number of options when it comes to switching, a manual switch to turn them on as and when you need them, Motion detectors so the lights come on when people approach, dusk till dawn sensors so the lights come on when it goes dark and they also can be controlled via a time clock so that you can choose when the lights come on and go off.

OUTDOOR LIGHTING FIXTURES

Adding Style and Security

Nothing refreshes the look of your home like new outdoor lighting fixtures. At Lamps Plus, we carry a complete line of exterior lighting for porch, patio and landscape areas that can help make your home both safer and more attractive. Brighten an entryway with a hanging design, add style to outside walls or ceilings, or use post lights to improve your driveway and garage areas

For an easy DIY project, outdoor solar lights are a great way to add light to your yard. Because they are powered by the sun, they require no wiring expertise, making them a simple solution for first-timers. With solar path lights for instance, you can line the walkway to your front door in less than an hour. Simply plant them into the ground lining the path and enjoy.

To make your shopping experience easier, we offer a full-size printable version of many of our outdoor light fixtures. Simply print it out and place where you intend to install for a quick and easy way to judge the size of the fixture in relation to its surroundings; see our individual product pages for more information. If you still have questions or would like help selecting the right designs for your home, just give us a call, toll-free.

Quick Tips for Hanging Outdoor String Lights

Spring is here and beautiful summer nights are just around the corner! Today, I wanted to share some really easy quick tips and layout ideas for hanging outdoor string lights.  I’m also sharing my favorite sources for lights and things you’ll need to consider when purchasing outdoor string lights, bistro lights or cafe lights.

Over the years, I have designed outdoor lighting layouts for outdoor events, client spaces and in my own outdoor space and it can be very challenging. I have learned so much over the years what works and what doesn’t work and you’ll find all of my tips below

CHOOSE A STAPLE BRAND OF LIGHTS THAT ARE IN STOCK ALL YEAR

I have tried pretty much all big brand lights out there but I now only buy my outdoor lights from Home Depot  because they keep them in stock all year (year after year). If you buy off brand string lighting, you will run the risk of the lights not being available for replacement bulbs or if you want to add more strings over time. I also buy two extra boxes for replacement bulbs because at $12.00 a box, it’s cheaper for me to just buy more string lights than buy replacement bulbs.

GLASS OR PLASTIC?

As you choose string lights, be sure and double check to see if the lights are glass or plastic. I personally prefer glass bulbs because there is such a big difference in the way the lights look. While it’s hard to tell when they are in the box, I do think that plastic bulbs can look like plastic when they are hung and turned on. It’s just a personal preference for me but glass just illuminates beautifully

CHOOSING SIZE AND STYLE OF LIGHTS

If you’re going to buy staple string lights from Home Depot, Target and Walmart that are available all year, they are most likely going to be round blubs that are called bistro lights or cafe lights.

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Benefits And Problems In Using Hydro Jetting Service

HYDRO-JETTING: WHAT IT IS AND WHEN YOU NEED THIS DRAIN CLEANING OPTION

A drainage clog is surely a problem, but most are relatively simple to fix. You need a home plunger and a little elbow grease. Occasionally, however, these clogs, which may be deep in the line, pose a bigger problem than you think. The line could be completely blocked, which prevents water and waste from escaping down the drain. Before long, all of it will rise back up and seep into the sink, bathtub, or toilet. It will be a complete mess.

The answer? Hydro-Jetting. Hydro-Jetting is an innovative new method that guarantees a clean drain anywhere in the home. It is a safe, effective alternative to the typical drain cleaning methods using high-pressure blasts of water to clean the interior of the pipe.

What is Hydro-Jetting?

First, let’s explore Hydro-Jetting as a whole. It’s still a relatively new, innovative drain cleaning method that most homeowners are unaware of today. You won’t find a Hydro-Jetting tool at your local home improvement store, though. As such, your only option is to hire a professional plumber.

Essentially, Hydro-Jetting utilizes a high-pressure hose that blasts water directly into the drainpipe from every angle. The water is so powerful that it cleans every surface within the pipe. The result is less debris and waste residue left behind, which is a common problem with plumbing snakes or drain cleaner products.

Choosing Hydro-Jetting for Clean Drains

Typically, Hydro-Jetting is not the first choice when it comes to drain cleaning. Most plumbing technicians will opt for a drain snake, which is a tried-and-tested method, but one designed for relatively minor clogs in the grand scheme of things.

However, that’s not to say Hydro-Jetting is an afterthought. It’s a technique designed for tough clogs. The benefits of this method include:

  • Fast Relief – The high-pressure water used to clean the drain is incredibly fast, ensuring quick relief from any size drainage clog.
  • Removes Extreme Blockages – The power of Hydro-Jetting is strong enough to clear away tree roots and serious drainage blockages when needed.
  • Versatility – Hydro-Jetting was built to work with all manner of plumbing pipes in or around your home.
  • Eliminates Problems – This method helps eliminate all of your drainage problems, not just provide temporary relief. Hydro-Jetting will clean the pipe wall of any soap scum, grease, or gross buildups, including minerals from hard water.

WHY YOU SHOULD USE WATER JET SEWER CLEANING

A blockage in your sewer line could mean that the drains inside the structure begin to backup and overflow. Sewer pipes within your property are your responsibility to maintain, and water jet sewer cleaning is an extremely effective way to clear out the most serious clogs. The water jet is often described as working like a laser beam. It’s incredible pressure can direct streams of water to cut through virtually anything, even trees roots, dried concrete and even wood. The water jet pulverizes most any material into tiny bits and washes them away. Water jetting is also the best solution for eliminating any grease or grime buildup that may be clinging to the pipe walls. This ensures that your sewer line will be thoroughly cleaned right down to the pipe walls to prevent future clogs.

Water jet sewer cleaning can also be more economical and more environmentally safe than other commercial sewer cleaning options. Water jetting is environmentally safe because it doesn’t use any chemicals to get the job done, just plain water blasted at incredibly high pressure levels.

What If Only One Drain Is Clogged?

If only one drain is clogged up, hydro jetting may not necessarily be the right solution. While hydro jetting is offered for kitchen drains—and will benefit you more in the long term—you need to try a few things first if this is a service you want to avoid.

  • Plunger – First and foremost, always go for the plunger. Use a sink plunger, one without a flange attachment. (Those are designed for toilets.)
  • Baking soda and vinegar – This combination can clean out some organic material at the opening of the drain. Be sure to put a few scoops of baking soda into the drain before following it up with a cup of vinegar.
  • Drain snake – While there are drain snakes you can buy or rent in stores, you may want to leave this up to a professional with the right tools for the job.

What About Clogs in Multiple Drains

This indicates a serious problem. What’s important is to have a thorough inspection of the drainpipes, which means calling a plumber with the right equipment first and foremost. Video camera inspection equipment allows a tech to zero in on the problem and decide exactly which tools need to be used. Drain cleaning techniques will vary greatly based on what the problem is.

  • A major blockage.
  • Corroding pipes.
  • Tree roots infiltrating the sewer line.

In any case, your plumber should consult with you to find the right solution. For most major sewer line clogs, hydro jetting solves the problem and keeps it from coming back any time in the near future. Just be sure you call a skilled plumber to do the work!

HOW DOES HYDROJET CLEANING WORK?

Perhaps one of the scariest situations you can find yourself in is when your toilet bowl or sink stops working. Water is sloshing around and refuses to go down the drain. If the situation is dire enough, you may start to feel an increase of panic as the water levels rise within your sink or toilet and begin overflowing onto the floor. As any wise homeowner would do, you call a service provider for drain cleaning riverside ca to fix the problem. Interestingly enough, they may offer up two solutions–using a snake or a hydrojet. You may not know the difference. This article will discuss the two key main types of solutions for unclogging a drain and why a HydroJet is the better of two options.

The Snake

A plumbing snake, sometimes called an auger, is that familiar piece of plumbing equipment that is dipped into the pipe. It’s a metal tube that encases a cable. On the one end is a corkscrew type of blade and on the other is a crank. There are two different kinds of snakes. One is the typical straight-line snake that is used for sinks. For toilets, a J-shaped snake is used, so it can work its way through the odd shape of a toilet pipe. The snake carefully makes its way to the clogged portion of the pipe and the plumber can even grab it with the snake and pull it out, or they can poke a hole through it which allows the water to leave the pipe.

HydroJet

A HydroJet, on the other hand, offers a more sophisticated means of unclogging a drain. This wire is also placed through the pipe, but one end has a special nozzle and it is connected to a water pressure machine. Essentially, HydroJet cleaning uses the force of pressurized water to break down the clog. It can destroy clogs. In cases where tree roots have grown into the pipes, the HydroJet has even been shown to be able to break through that root and keep the pipe clear. Since a HydroJet is so powerful, a plumber usually inspects the pipe first to make sure it isn’t worn down or broken. Otherwise, a HydroJet might damage the pipe further simply due to the force that it can utilize in destroying clogs.

HYDRO JETS

Pros

A hydro jet on the other hand makes a thorough job of clearing drains and sewer lines of all types of clogs, including invasive tree roots. It is applicable for both residential and commercial use. The plumber only uses the power of water to clean the drains. Therefore it is an environmentally-safe cleaning device as no chemicals are necessary to rid the drains and sewer pipes of blocking debris. For more detail on the hydrojet drain cleaning process click here.

Cons

Hydro jetting is not a safe option for homeowners who want to do the clearing of drains themselves. It can be too much for fragile and older pipes to handle. A professional plumber can carefully inspect your plumbing line by using a camera to view the inside of pipes to determine their structural integrity. If the pipes are damaged or weak, hydro jetting is not an option because it can do more harm than good.

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Choosing A Wedding Videographer

The World of Wedding Videography

What Does a Wedding Videographer Do?

It is 2 p.m. You have been at work since eight o’clock this morning, and you have eight hours to go. Your feet hurt from standing in dress shoes, your shoulder hurts from carrying a tripod, and your head hurts because the bride is crying to her mother about last-minute changes to the seating arrangement. You aren’t sure if you should record these stressful moments or retreat to another room. You secretly wish the bride was wearing a microphone, but you’re pretty sure it would be inappropriate to ask her to put one on at this moment. Complicating things for you is the fact that the bride specified that she wanted lots of footage of the groom getting ready, but that appears to consist of him watching TV in his hotel room. Should you tell him to get dressed? Also, the ceremony starts in an hour, and you have yet to be allowed into the chapel to assess lighting; you only have one chance to get the vows, and you have to make sure you’ll be standing in the right place when they happen. And of course, the florist forgot the boutonnieres, and is driving 60 miles round trip to her shop to pick them up—hopefully by show time. Stress levels are higher than anything you’ve ever experienced…since last Saturday’s wedding, that is. You are, in short, having a typical day on the job as a wedding videographer.

The fact is, wedding videography is exhausting—with long hours, heavy gear, high stress— but it is also incredibly rewarding. As a wedding videographer, you will be regularly surrounded by people joyfully celebrating. Besides, wedding videographers thrive in a somewhat stressful environment and know that at least a small portion of the job is to advise, calm, and help the couple through the day’s events. After all, the videographer has probably been “backstage” at more weddings than the bride and groom. Wedding videographers get the satisfaction of knowing that their tools, gear, and creative vision will create a tribute to the couple and their important event. A wedding videographer’s artistry will shape how the bride and groom perceive and remember the day itself

There is an immense amount of colorful material to work with in building a wedding video: leading characters in love, a supporting cast of friends and family, and a few settings almost guaranteed to be beautiful (albeit often poorly lit and with bad audio). There are also some dramatic moments already built into the script: the vows, the first kiss, the first dance, the cake cutting. Even the most jaded wedding vendor can get teary during these moments.

While shooting video of weddings is common practice today, it’s a relatively new phenomenon—with today’s final product differing greatly from its ancestors:

In 1979, the extremely rare wedding video is a few minutes of super 8 film recorded by a determined family member or guest toting his or her hobbyist camera. The exposed film strip has to be sent out to a processor—at no small cost—and, once processed, must be viewed with a super 8 projector, most likely at the home of the same hobbyist shooter. The film itself has a grainy, jagged feel to it, with lots of dirt and vivid colors. It is possible, but very unlikely, that the film has any sound or editing.

In 1989, a wedding video is almost two hours long. It’s shot on a Sony camera attached to a bulky recorder with a cable. An assistant helped carry a huge light throughout the ceremony and reception, but it didn’t do much to improve the poor color saturation and fuzzy shots. Nor did it ingratiate itself to the wedding guests, who danced around the production team or were scared back to the dessert table. Post-production consists of titles being added to the beginning and end and clumsily chopping the part where Aunt Gloria said the wrong name during the toast. Because of generation loss, the audio on the VHS tape that Grandma gets has degraded from the already-poor mono recording from a bad microphone to practically unintelligible noise.

In 1999, a wedding video is about 45 minutes long. It’s shot on a digital video camera with small, attached lights and lavaliere microphones, and is controlled by one videographer, who mingles seamlessly among guests, lowering the camera when it is inappropriate to be shooting. Though nearly five hours of mini DV footage is shot, the final product has only the best bits, cut to music chosen by the couple and delivered on a DVD that can be duplicated inexpensively and without generational loss.

In 2009, a wedding video is an authored DVD with an hour plus full-length version as well as a stylistically cut highlights version. Depending on the couple’s taste and budget, the video can include a time-lapse sequence showing the reception being set up, a series of interviews woven throughout the piece, and effects such as a retro super 8 look on the romantic shots and campy transitions between the groomsmen’s toasts. The wedding guests are so busy shooting their own video clips on their phone cameras, they barely notice the videographer and her streamlined equipment. The final product is posted online, delivered as a DVD, and separately compressed for YouTube and the iPhone.

Recent advances in both camera technology and editing software have likewise advanced bridal couples’ expectations to include an unobtrusive videographer, multiple camera coverage, heavy editing and special effects to create a far more finished and interesting final piece, all at a much lower price. This, in turn, has allowed—even demanded—the growth of the wedding-video industry. Dramatic price drops in semi-professional and consumer video equipment and post-production hardware and software have made wedding videography a line item that can now fit relatively easily into the average American wedding budget.

What makes a great Wedding Video?

First of all, let’s explain, in the most simple way possible, what a video is! A video is a set of images – 25, 30, 60, etc. images per second. When shown together, these images give off the impression of movement. So essentially, the very simple definition of video is “moving images”.

So what does the idea of moving images have to do with a great wedding video? Here it’s important to understand, that a wedding video is more than just a recording… it’s a recording of thousands and thousands of images or ‘photos’ and as such, the photography or ‘cinematography’ of the images is one of the most important elements of a great wedding video.

The word ‘cinematography’ comes from Greek language, meaning ‘writing with motion’. It is the process of taking ideas, actions, words, emotions and other non-verbal communication, and rendering them in visual terms. Cinematography refers to how shots are framed, the colour, the texture, the camera angle, the lenses and focus, the composition.

One of the best ways that you can appreciate the cinematography of a wedding video, is by watching it while muting the volume. In this way, you can really notice how the video is filmed and made. You will be able to appreciate how the shots are framed, the composition, the light and colour, different camera angles and focus, and if they are charged with emotions, happiness, smiles, nostalgia. In this way, you will realise if you like the work of the wedding videographer.

Another thing that make a great wedding video is of course the footage itself.

Did the videographer capture all those key moments on the day – walking down the aisle, the first kiss, the celebrations of the family and guests before and after the ceremony?

Are the shots high quality?

Does the video showcase the couple, the family, the guests and the venue in the best way possible?

Wedding Videography Packages, Ideas, Tips

Looking around for some great wedding videography but don’t know where to begin? We’ve got you covered. Here are some tips to find and choose the perfect wedding videography package, or use a DIY wedding videography solution for your big day.

How much does it cost to hire a videographer for a wedding?

According to popular outsourcing site Thumbtack, the average wedding videographer can cost anywhere from $1,200 to $1,500. That price varies greatly depending on how extensive your wedding videography package is, where the videographer is traveling from (if they’re not local), and their level of experience.

How long is the average wedding video?

If you want to include everything from the bridal party getting dressed to the final farewells after the reception, you can expect your wedding video to run as long as 25 minutes. Or, if you just want the highlight reel, it will most likely be the length of one unedited song (think: 3 minutes-ish).

ost common wedding videography packages & the pros/cons of each

Different wedding videographers will all have their own names for these

Just the basics – A short highlight reel of your ceremony. You may also opt to receive the raw footage and edit it yourself.

Important Questions To Ask Your Wedding Videographer

The key to finding a wedding videographer that you will love is to interview and ask some key questions before signing any contract.  Why is this so important? This is a person or the people that will spending the entire day with you, on your wedding day.  You can love their style but you will be so much better off when your wedding videographer is someone you enjoy being around and trust.

It can be daunting to make the right decision, and usually you will have a few wedding videographer options to choose from.   Here are some questions to spark discussion and help you get a good feel for each option.

Add these “ice breaker”  questions to your list of what ask your wedding videographer.  I made this with the intention of helping you really get to know who the person is behind the camera, and how to make sure they are real pros!  Download the questions sheet below, and read how these are the best questions.

This is a great way to make sure you know some very important things about your wedding videographer.  Firstly, you’ll get to know them, how long they’ve been in the industry and maybe a fun story or two about how they’ve came to be wedding videographers.

You should get a good sense of them as a people/a person because this is a person who will be there ON YOUR FREAKING WEDDING DAY! You want (and deserve) to feel the warm fuzzies when you talk with them.  Knowing their history and story is going to help you decide if they are going to be the right people for you.

Reasons to Book a Wedding Videographer

Hey everyone and welcome back to another blog post! You’ve probably guessed from the title that today’s post is all about weddings which we’re certainly missing here at McLeish Film & Media. With the current cap on patrons able to attend weddings, we are unfortunately not able to shoot our beautiful couple’s big days until these restrictions are lifted.

I understand wedding planning has likely slowed down due to the uncertainty we currently face, however this post can get you thinking about your big day and whether wedding videography is something you and your partner might consider!

Photos capture moments in time, but video allows you to relive your wedding day

After attending a number of weddings we can safely tell you that your wedding day will go by in the blink of an eye. There is a huge lead up to a wedding, so many hours spent planning and dreaming of your special day. Don’t miss the opportunity to have this important day captured, you’ll only experience it once but you can relive it time and time again in your wedding videos.

Audio

As wedding videographers, we have a unique opportunity to capture your love story and bring it to life through elements of video, sound and style. Relive your wedding vows again, share them with future children and grandchildren or family who couldn’t be present on your wedding day. A videographer will also film your reception to record the kind words said about you as a couple, words that you’ll listen to and cherish.

Video captures raw moments

A picture paints a thousand words but a video says even more. The opportunity we have as videographers is not only to document the formalities, but to capture the raw, emotional moments between guests, family, friends and you as a couple. So often the feedback we get from our couple’s is how surprised they were to see certain moments filmed that they didn’t realise we had been there to capture. Also there is a lot happening on a wedding day that it’d be easy to miss something, especially when you’re the centre of attention you can easily get caught up in the day. Your videographers will be there to film not only you but your guests as well and all the antics they get up to!