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Choosing the Best Long Distance Moving Company

You wouldn’t hire just anyone off the street to move your household across the country, you’re clear on that much — but how exactly does one find the best long distance moving companies amidst all the options listed online? They all claim they’re the best, so it’s best to have a solid checklist of criteria that can help you weed out the riff-raff and find a team of long distance movers who will make your move an enjoyable process. Here is what you should be looking fo

Are your movers an established, experienced company?

The best long distance movers didn’t get that way overnight – they have spent years fine-tuning their process, training their staff, and getting those early “learning mistakes” out of the way. When it comes to interstate moves, there are quite a few more details that a company needs to consider that aren’t involved in a local move. Crossing state borders, for one, requires additional licenses and paperwork. Your belongings also have further to travel, so the company must be certain that everything is well secured and stable for the haul. Don’t leave your move up to newbies!

Are your movers licensed and insured?

This should be a no-brainer, but the best national moving companies should be able to quickly and easily provide proof of their licensure and insurance with zero runarounds. You can check a mover’s license on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s website, but you shouldn’t need to do that research yourself. Ideally, the company has its FMCSA license number displayed in plain sight and offers you a full explanation of their insurance and options for additional insurance when you request your quote.

Does your mover offer a detailed quote, estimate, or guaranteed price?

A verbal estimate holds no weight in the world of moving services, so when comparing the costs associated with each long distance moving company, make sure you know that you’re comparing apples to apples. The best-rated cross country moving companies are clear and transparent about the cost of moving long distance and provide a line by line breakdown of what they are quoting. Movers want to just give you a number without telling you what it includes? Time to look elsewhere.

Is your mover well-reviewed?

Good service inspires good reviews, so look for an interstate moving company that has a good track record according to their customers. The FMCSA website will offer safety reviews, and the Better Business Bureau, Yelp, and these days even Google will provide customer experience information. Keep in mind that no company can escape a bad review or two, but they shouldn’t be the majority!

How to Choose the Best Long-Distance Movers

As if moving long distances wasn’t enough of a hassle (to say nothing of the stress factor) – finding a trustworthy company to ship your valuable goods over many miles, can seem like a gargantuan task. There are plenty of horror stories circulating about cross-country moves gone bad. They typically involve dishonest outfits who either aren’t moving companies at all, but merely an Internet front to steal your money and/or goods, or moving companies who hold your possessions hostage until you pay more than agreed. Either way, that’s not a path you want to go down. To help you stay as far away as possible from any shady transport companies, here are some suggestions for choosing the best long-distance movers

Confirm They’re Licensed and Insured

You wouldn’t dream of taking your car out on a long distance trip without having the proper insurance, would you? Imagine the horror if you got into an accident (even just a fender-bender), 1,000 miles from home. Now imagine that same scenario, except it’s a large moving truck with all of your belongings inside. They might be damaged at best – and at worst, destroyed. You would want to be compensated if this type of scenario occurred

USDOT Number

Hiring a properly insured moving company is important regardless, but it’s especially imperative if you’re having your goods hauled over long distances – where anything can happen along the way. The best way to discover the insurance status of a prospective moving company is by tracking their USDOT number. They receive this from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a subset of the United States Department of Transportation

The FMCSA Website

You should be able to easily obtain the USDOT number and use it on the FMCSA website, to look up pertinent information about the moving company in question. This will include if they have any complaints filed against them or if they’ve incurred any safety violations while operating. The best place to check is the FMCSA’s Search Movers and Complaint History page. This site enables you to search interstate movers not only by USDOT but also by company name (even partial name) or MC number. This MC number is attributed to them when they register with the FMCSA and receive “authority to operate” as licensed movers.

Released Value Coverage

The other kind of valuation coverage, which is typically applied only if you specifically request it, is called Released Value. You might choose this option because it knocks a significant amount of money off your moving bill – but you should be aware of how it works. In fact, it provides quite minimal coverage. If something is damaged, the moving company only owes you 60 cents per pound for any broken item.

Tips to Help You Find the Best Movers Every Time

Shopping for moving companies is a huge undertaking, we know! From national long-distance movers to the local guys moving with a rental truck, there are a lot of companies to consider.

Check How Long the Company Has Been in Business

If the moving company you’re talking with was just born yesterday, it’s hard to tell whether they have the credentials for your move. For complex national or international moves, a good rule of thumb is to hire a moving company with at least a decade of experience planning and executing these moves

Licensed & Insured Moving Companies

If the company is not properly licensed or insured, this could mean a big risk for your belongings. If you aren’t sure how to check this out, then look at their company website. Either on the homepage or in an About Us section, companies will normally list their Department of Transportation (DOT) licensing and insurance information. If you are still suspicious, ask the company for proof of their insurance or whether they are a member of the Better Business Bureau.

Moving Services Offered

It is important to know the span of work that the moving company can perform. Most moving companies should be able to perform house-to-house moves within their territory. If there are any specialty items, however, your moving company may not have the manpower or equipment to perform the job

Check Their Reviews Online

Reading reviews from former customers of a moving company is a great way to research your options. Depending on the company, you can usually go to the BBB.org, Google, Facebook or Yelp to find reviews from customers. The star rating is normally out of 5, with 1 being the worst and 5 being the best. Companies with 4 stars and above are usually great to work with. You also can check to see if they’re a certified professional mover by the American Moving & Storage Association.

How to Choose a Long Distance Mover

When moving across the country, the first thing you must know is that hiring a moving truck and driving that big moving vehicle across multiple state lines is not a good idea. Actually, it often turns out to be a bad idea because of the high DIY moving costs and increased risks when moving long distance without professional assistance.

As you can imagine, there’s a huge difference between moving 200 miles and moving 2,000 miles until you reach the new home. Be mindful that the move distance will not only determine the final moving price to a great extent, but it will also influence the way you assess the relocation risks before you move out.

Why hire a long distance mover?

Before you start preparing for your house move, it’s important that you take the time to think about how exactly you are going to handle the house moving project. To make an informed decision, you’ll need to take a closer look at several key points, the major one being the DISTANCE between Point A (the current home you’re moving out of) and Point B (the destination home you’re about to move into soon).

Self-move expenses. The cost of renting a moving vehicle of the right size and purchasing the required insurance is the first step. Then add the cost of fuel, road tolls, parking fees, meals and lodgings along the trip as well. Factor in the cost of all the packing supplies and the price of renting or purchasing the necessary moving equipment (a moving dolly). Finally, set up a contingency fund because you never know what may happen on the road to your new home.

Risks and dangers. Driving a big rental moving truck across multiple state lines is a risky business, especially if you’ve never done it before. Each driven mile increases the risk of something bad happening on the road. Sustaining personal injuries or inflicting property damage are two other highly undesirable scenarios that will further complicate the risk assessment task when moving without using the services of a long distance mover.

Best Long Distance Moving Tips, Ever

Whether you’re moving to a new country or just a few hundred miles, you’re going to need some fantastic long distance moving tips to make it happen. From the moment you find out you’re moving, to the day your belongings are finally delivered to your new home, you won’t have to worry about missing a beat.

Tips to Help You Prepare for a Long Distance Move

For some moves, you just need to throw everything you own in the back of a van and hit the road. A long-distance move, on the other hand, requires a lot more planning. The long distance moving tips below will help you remember everything you need to do ahead of time in order to have a successful move.

Make a plan as soon as you know you’re moving

You’re about to move everything you own hundreds or thousands of miles away. That kind of enormous task requires a plan! Whether you like to go with the flow or you want every moving-related to-do recorded in a spreadsheet, you should write down every moving-related task you need to accomplish. We know that’s a lot to juggle, so to help you out, we’ve already created the ultimate moving checklist to help you through every phase of your move

Stay on schedule

Now that you’ve got a plan, you need to stay on schedule. Tasks like utility installation and school enrollment are time sensitive, so you don’t want to be scrambling to complete everything at the last minute. To keep yourself from forgetting what you need to do and when, try scheduling chunks of time on your calendar for moving-related tasks or setting up reminders on your phone. Follow this long distance moving tip, and you’ll be on schedule and ready for a stress-free move in no time!

Get multiple in-home moving estimates

Since you’re moving such a long distance, you need to do everything you can to find the right moving company. Part of this process is getting in-home estimates from at least three different moving companies. We recommend scheduling your estimates four weeks before your move, but the earlier the better. Don’t forget to make sure the price estimate is as accurate as possible by preparing your home properly for the in-home estimate.

Factors In Mold Remediation Costs

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HOW DO I CHOOSE A MOLD REMOVAL COMPANY?

Many companies market themselves as mold contractors. How can you really know if they are in fact professional mold removal contractors?

When hiring a company for mold removal, consider the following:

Does the company have liability insurance for mold removal? Their policy must clearly state that they are covered for working with mold otherwise they are not carrying the right coverage.

Is the company an IICRC Certified Firm? If the company is an IICRC certified firm they should have a certificate issued by IICRC, The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification, with the company name clearly stated. This certificate confirms that the company has technicians who are properly trained and tested on mold removal protocols.

Does the company encourage you to use a 3rd party for job clearance? When a customer requests a clearance following the completion of mold removal it should be done by a third company, a company other than the one who performed the removal. There is a conflict of interest when a company checks its own work and you, the customer, should be provided with the option to have a third party check the work and be protected.

Does the company provide you with a copy of the mold cleanup protocol and scope of work detailing what will be done in your home to remove the mold?

Is the company offering to remove the mold or just cover it up? Ensure that the company is not going to “seal” or “encapsulate” the mold, this just means that they will cover it. To rid your home or building of mold it has to be physically removed under mold removal protocols.

Will the company provide you with a written work guarantee on the mold removal?

All professional and certified mold removal companies should be able to provide you with all the criteria above.

How to Find the Best Mold Removal Company

Have you been agonizing over that unsightly mold in your home? It is time to get rid of it, but what is the answer? Should you clean it up yourself or hire a company to help you?

With so many mold removal companies to choose from, how do you decide?

Hiring the right company is necessary, yet a difficult decision… especially when it comes to the health and safety of your family.  You can’t afford to cut any corners.

Mold remediation companies are specialized in safely removing contaminated mold in until the home is once again safe to occupy.

Mold remediation companies do not rebuild your home after the mold has been removed, but they may recommend or arrange for a company to help you with that.

Restoration companies rebuild the home back to its original condition after the home after the mold has been removed. Many of these companies will remove the mold as well

How to Choose the Best Mold Remediation Company for Your Home

Once you discover mold in your home, there will only be one thought on your mind – getting it out of the house as quickly as possible. The presence of mold is a serious problem, and it threatens just about everything you have come to love about your home. It may not be safe to live in your home as long as the mold is present, and the value of your house could decrease if there is serious damage. Any way you look at it, getting the mold out right away should be a top priority.

Licensed and Insured

There is simply no excuse for a mold removal company not to have the appropriate licenses and insurance for your area. Ask for this documentation right up front, and if it is not provided, move on to another option. You shouldn’t accept any kind of excuse for the lack of these items, as any reputable company will have them in place. There are too many good companies available to take your chances on one that is not licensed and insured.

Collect at Least Three Quotes

While you do want to have this work completed quickly, you don’t want to rush into the job so fast that you hire the first company to come along. Make it a goal to ask for quotes from at least three different remediation companies. Most contractors will be happy to provide you with a free written estimate for their services. You don’t necessarily want to go with the lowest quote every time, but price is obviously a factor which will be taken into consideration, as well as the timeline which is offered.

Ask for References

As a last step before you make your choice, ask all contractors you are considering for references from past customers. Any good contracting company will have at least a few references which you can check on to make sure they live up to their promises. Don’t just ask for the references and then let them sit on your desk – actually make a few phone calls to gather opinions. Also, you can check reviews which have been left on the web to get an idea about the reputation of each remediation company in the running.

No one wants to have to hire a mold remediation contractor, as doing so means there is already a serious problem in your home. However, this is a problem which will not go away on its own, so taking action right away is your best bet. Use the points above to pick the right contractor for your needs and look forward to putting this problem behind you as quickly as possible.

How to choose the right mold remediation company

Finding mold in your home is scary. We like to think our home is safe – and it should be. What if I told you that mold doesn’t have to hurt the value of your home, or cost thousands in repairs …and that getting rid of mold isn’t hard when you have a blueprint?

My parent’s home burned down in 1950 before I was born, so my dad and grandfather built a new one.  Our new home set on a river lot in rural West Virginia with all the amenities – natural gas furnace, cistern water and one indoor bathroom for a family of five.

Our home was built with cinderblock and had a pink stucco finish. The windows were single pane and the only insulation was in the attic. In the hot, humid summers we would open the windows and doors. During thunderstorms, we’d rush to close them…. hopefully before the house flooded.

The freezing winters were the worst. Our home was so drafty, our gas floor furnace could not keep up with the bitter cold that blew down the valley. One of my favorite pastimes was writing my  name  on  the  frost  of  my  bedroom  window  and  playing  tic-tac-toe  with  my  brothers. Whenever we ran out of frost, we would blow on the glass to make more and continue our games.

they became very, very tight: designed to have thick insulation in the walls, floors and ceilings, double and triple paned windows, energy efficient HVAC systems, caulking, weatherstripping and on and on to a point where our homes and buildings don’t “breathe” like they used to, causing dangerous mold concentrations to build up in the air

MOLD REMEDIATION COMPANIES

Mold remediation companies provide a number of services necessary to deal with the problematic growth of mold in the home – mold inspection, mold removal, repair of household damage due to mold. Some mold removal companies are certified in mold remediation, though certification is not required of mold remediation contractors so that’s something you want to inquire about when selecting a company to take care of your mold problem.

Why Hire Someone?

Some people decide to just handle their mold problems on their own, and in some cases that might work out fine. However, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends not attempting to clean up a mold problem on your own if the mold covers more than ten square feet. The thing is, even though you may only notice a few square feet of bathroom tile affected by mold, mold spores spread easily through the air and mold can hide in many places, including your heating vents and air ducts. You probably won’t see it there yourself, but certified mold remediation contractors know how to track it down and take care of it

Something else to consider is that there are different types of mold, and different techniques are used to thoroughly remove different types. If mold is not thoroughly removed, it will continue to grow and spread, putting you and your family at risk for all sorts of health problems.

The picture below shows a bad case of black mold in an attic. Attic mold removal is usually a difficult job because it is hard to remove mold from porous surfaces like wood, and sheetrock and insulation usually need to be replaced.

Choosing Among All the Different Mold Remediation Companies

Unless you live in a very small town, you probably have several mold remediation companies from which to choose. Don’t just settle for the one with the biggest ad in your local yellow pages. You can call your local Department of Health for suggestions, or check with the Better Business Bureau. The important thing is to make sure you choose a company that will do the job right.

Winter’s Biggest Pest Problem Is Rodent Infestation

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How To Get Rid of Rats

Professional rat removal is the quickest and most effective way to get rid of rats. Expert services offer a reliable form of rat control and a long term solution to a rat infestation.

Finding rats in your home and hearing suspicious noises coming from your roof or behind your walls can be very frightening. Rats discovered in business premises too can pose a real threat to stored products and damage to property.

On top of the health hazard, rats have also been known to cause fires by chewing through wiring. They can even gnaw through wood, plastics and mild steel.

Identify Your Pest

Unknown fire causes, suspicious noises coming through the roof and walls, damaged packagings and unsightly urine stains. These are all the possible nightmares of what a small furry rodent could bring to you, your family and business.

DIY or Professional?

When it comes to getting rid of rats, you have two basic options: DIY or hire a professional. The DIY option requires the purchase of rat bait and rat poison from your local home store. The most commonly used DIY rat control item is the glue boards. The correct usage of such DIY equipments along with some home improvement actions can help to catch a rat or two

How do I find professionals for rodent pest control?

The seriousness of pests like mice and rats called rodents is really heavy. They not only steal food stuff and contaminate food items but also gnaw with their teeth anything hard like electric wires, furniture and structures etc. Deadly diseases are transmitted by rats.

Selecting the best professionals for rodent pest control is easy if you go online. There are number of rodent pest control services. But before engaging one, it is better to consult your friends and relatives about their recommendations.

Their experience will help you in choosing the experts in rodent pest eradiation completely at affordable cost. Just by making a phone call you can avail the services of these experts and you can be in touch with them for other pest controls as well. Keeping an expert service handy is always good.

The best way to prevent a rodent infestation and contact with rodents is to remove the sources of food, water, and items that provide shelter for rodents. Seal up holes inside and outside the home to keep rodents out. Trap rodents around the home to help reduce their population. Avoid illness: Take precautions before and while cleaning rodent-infested areas. Finding trained rodent pest control is not a difficult task, in today’s era every information is present on the internet. But the challenging task is to find the professional rodent control abu dhabi. So I would suggest you, to try Eco care in the UAE. They are UAE based consulting and Protection Service Company specialized in Cleaning and Integrated Pest Management services.

Rodent Control Treatment

Insect, rodent, and wildlife pests are more than an annoyance; they can damage structures, harm our environments, transmit disease, and cause other health hazards. Rodents are one of the main causes for serious damage to your health by contaminating food and spreading various diseases.

Rodents – pest control

Rats and mice are just two of the mammals that belong to the order Rodentia. More than 2,200 species of rodents – such as mice and rats – exist, and more than 40 per cent of all mammal species belonging to the Rodentia order.

Rodents have been successful in populating every continent except Antarctica. This is because of their small size, short breeding cycle and ability to eat a variety of foods. They are the second most successful mammal on the planet, coming second only to humans

Rodents consume and destroy their food source during feeding. This can cause devastating damage to a wide range of different settings, such as domestic households, commercial businesses, farms, manufactures and livestock.

Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus)

The Norway rat, also known as the common rat, sewer rat or brown rat, is the larger of the two pest rats. Their life span is usually between 9 and 12 months. Females can have 5-6 litters per year, and average 8-10 pups per litter. The gestation period is 21 days and the young reach sexual maturity at 3-4 months.

Roof rat (Rattus rattus)

The roof rat, also known as the ship rat or black rat, is smaller than the common Norway rat. Their life span is usually 9-12 months. Females can have 4-5 litters per year, and average 6-8 pups per litter. Sexual maturity is reached at 3-4 months and females have a gestation period of 21 days.

CHARLOTTE-AREA RATS & MICE

Do you hear scampering noises coming from inside your walls? Have you stumbled upon mouse droppings inside your home or commercial business? If you answered yes, you could have a rodent infestation problem on your hands. The best way to eradicate rodent populations in your home or business—and prevent them from coming back—is through professional pest removal services. The Pest Control Authority understands how rodent populations grow and develop, and we have the skills and experience to safely, effectively remove mice, rats, and other rodents from your space. Let us help you get rid of the rodents for good!

Rat Facts

Stubborn survivalists, rats and mice can—and will—eat almost anything to meet their nutritional needs and stay active inside your home or business. Not only guilty of stealing food and leaving droppings, rodents are also to blame for spreading a wide variety of life-threatening diseases. These include the plague, typhoid, dysentery, salmonellosis, and campylobacteriosis (food poisoning).

Because rats and rodents can chew through heavy-duty materials—such as lead, cinderblock, brick, mortar, and uncured concrete—population prevention can be extremely difficult. It takes help from a team of skilled pest control technicians to effectively eliminate a rodent infestation in your Charlotte home or business.

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING YOUR RAT CONTROL APPOINTMENT IN THE CHARLOTTE AREA

When you choose The Pest Control Authority for your rodent prevention and eradication service, our team will conduct a thorough, all-inclusive inspection to identify the exact type of rodent invading your personal space. We’ll locate nesting areas and identify feeding patterns to fully understand the degree and severity of your rodent infestation problem.

EFFECTIVE RAT CONTROL IN THE GREATER CHARLOTTE AREA

The Pest Control Authority is ready to help you with effective rat control and mouse removal services that do not create greater problems for your home or business. By eliminating points of entry and trapping and removing the rodents, we can not only get rid of your existing infestation but also prevent a new one from forming. We have been serving the area for over 40 years, and are ready to put that experience to work for your home or business

Rodent Control

Professional Rodent Control Solutions For Homes & Businesses

Providing effective rodent control in Beaumont and throughout Southeast Texas since 1957, Bill Clark has been protecting homes and businesses against the threat of mice and rats. Our team of highly trained pest control technicians employ the most effective methods of rodent control available to get rid of these public menaces.

What rodents cause the most problems in Southeast Texas?

In our region, there are three rodents that pose a serious threat to dwellings as well as commercial and industrial facilities, they are the house mouse, Norway rat, and roof rat. Visit our rodent identification guide to learn more about these critters.

When are rats most active?

Rats are most active shortly after sunset and before dawn. In fact, both mice and rats are primarily nocturnal creatures with very poor vision. They also have hairs on their body that are attached to sensory nerves which helps them to sense their environment.

Are rodents dangerous?

Yes, rats and mice are a public health threat. They are known to carry diseases, most notably hantavirus. Rodents also introduce other pests such as fleas and ticks into homes and businesses

Online Dermatologist Concerns Addressed

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HOW TO CHOOSE A DERMATOLOGIST?

Look at their credentials – check to see if they’re board certified. Do you prefer a medical doctor or a doctor of osteopathy? Some patients prefer one over the other. This is your personal choice and preference.

Attitude. How does the doctor answer and address your needs? A good doctor will listen to your questions and do his or her best to answer. Providing you with information you understand and not just medical terms.

Convenience. If you really enjoy a doctor’s office but find that it is too far out of your way. See if they’re willing to work around your schedule. That way you can drive after work or on a weekend.

Get faster results from treatment. Acne treatment takes time regardless of whether you’re treating mild or severe acne. That said, it does take less time and effort to clear a few pimples than a breakout that could include blackheads, whiteheads, and deep-seated acne cysts

Reduce scars. Treating acne early may prevent acne scars. In general, the more severe the acne, the more likely it is to scar

How Do I Find the Best Dermatologist?

THE HUMAN BODY HAS several built-in defense mechanisms that protect us from foreign organisms that may cause disease. Internally, the immune system takes the lead protecting us from infection. Externally, the skin – the body’s largest organ – plays an enormous role in preventing those invaders from gaining entry to the body in the first place.

To care for this critically important organ, you may need the help of a dermatologist, “a specialist doctor who cares for the skin, hair, nails, and mucus membranes,” says Dr. Christen M. Mowad, a dermatologist with Geisinger in Danville, Pennsylvania. “That encompasses a lot of diseases and conditions – by some reports it’s over 3,000 conditions and diseases,” she says.

“Skin cancer is also a huge component of what we do,” Mowad says. The American Cancer Society reports that cancers of the skin are “by far the most common of all types of cancer.” There are several different types of skin cancer to watch out for, with melanoma being the deadliest. Although melanoma accounts for only about 1 percent of skin cancers, it causes most skin cancer deaths. The ACS estimates that more than 91,000 new melanomas will be diagnosed in 2018 and more than 9,000 people will die of the disease this year. Seeing a dermatologist for an annual skin check can point out skin cancers sooner, which may help reduce your risk of dying of the disease.

That said, she notes that even if you came in to have a bump on your nose checked out, most dermatologists will probably also want to check the rest of your skin. “Most dermatologists at one point or another will want to do a complete skin exam, and that’s something that I find that patients don’t think in advance might happen.” If you come in for a rash on your hand, be prepared for the doctor to ask you to put on a gown so she can check all of your skin for other potential problems. “Certainly, the dermatologist will look at what you find troubling, but most dermatologists almost always want to look at the rest of your skin, too, to find lesions you maybe can’t see. If that spot on your nose is skin cancer, we want to look at your back to make sure that you don’t have a skin cancer there, too,” she says

When looking for the right dermatologist for your needs, Olbricht recommends starting by determining whether the doctor you’re considering is a board-certified dermatologist. “Board-certified dermatologists went to college and then went to medical or osteopathy school followed by an internship and then three years of dermatology residency. So, this is training that’s only in dermatology.” To achieve board-certification status, these doctors must also pass a rigorous exam, and to remain certified, they must continue their education and take additional examinations every 10 years

How Do You Find the Perfect Dermatologist For You?

Experience

Make sure you’re going to someone who knows what they’re doing. This does not mean you should discount a younger doctor, but I recommend doing your research. Look at their resumé, see if they’re clinical professors affiliated with medical schools, check if they have any research published, etc. If you’re looking for injections or lasers, I do recommend going to someone who’s been at it for a while.

Recommendations

Ask a friend with good skin for their derm! If they don’t want to divulge their secret, find a new friend to ask. Usually, an in-person recommendation counts more than a Yelp review, as anyone can post anything, and it’s not always an accurate reflection of what a doctor is actually like. You can also ask your primary care physician (if you like and trust them) for a referral

Social Media

I’m very torn about this, as I know many excellent doctors who either don’t bother with social media or have a subpar social media presence despite excelling in both medical and aesthetic work. There are a few reasons for this. Younger doctors (#millennials) tend to be more social media-savvy, so they are more inclined to advertise their practice on these platforms. Some of the more experienced hands in the field, however, are either too busy with patients or are otherwise disinterested in social media, which may exclude them from your search. If you’re finding your derm through social, do your due diligence, and make sure you’re not choosing this person just because their IG is really popping.

Certifications

Board certification is another somewhat controversial topic because the organizations that provide these certifications can have their own interests. Nevertheless, every good dermatologist I know is board-certified. Board certification ensures that your derm stays up to date with developments in the field and practices continuing education. This is crucial in medicine and science in general, where the knowledge base constantly evolves. You don’t want someone treating you the way they would have treated patients 50 years ago, or even 10 years ago.

Don’t be afraid to date!

Skin health is an ongoing journey, so you want to make sure your derm is the right long-term partner. Don’t be afraid to schedule initial consultations with different doctors or even switch doctors. Naturally, this requires some financial commitment, which isn’t an option for everyone, but if it is, take your time to find the right person. I’ve heard many stories of people not taking their dermatologist’s advice and diagnoses seriously because the personalities didn’t mesh well, the derm didn’t take the time to explain the diagnoses, and so on. In dermatology, bedside manner and patient education are especially important because skin is one of the few organs you can see. You’re going to be trusting and working with this person for a while, so make sure you get along, respect them, and feel listened to and valued as a patient.

How to Find a Good Dermatologist

Your skin is your largest organ and its health is important to your overall well-being. With so many things that can go awry with your skin, a good dermatologist is invaluable and can make a huge difference in the way you look and feel. So how do you go about choosing the right dermatologist and how do you know what to look for in a dermatologist? Here are some tips for how to find a good dermatologist that is right for you.

Check Their Biography

If you’ve found a handful of dermatologists that you’re considering, take a moment to check out their bios (usually posted on their website). Look for board certification specifically from the American Academy of Dermatology.

Schedule a Consultation

By scheduling a consultation with our Skin and Vein Centers, you can meet your potential dermatologist and get a feel for his or her mannerisms and abilities while also asking lots of questions about a procedure or issue you’re looking into. You may also be able to meet other patients in the waiting room and ask them about their experience with the dermatologist in question.

Listen to Learn

During your consultation with a prospective dermatologist, focus on listening. The best method is to give a vague reason for your visit and then let them do the talking. Perhaps mention the lines on your face or veins that you wish you didn’t have, but don’t go into detail about the methods you’ve researched on your own. Instead, listen to how the dermatologist would address the issues and their opinion will give you an idea for how aggressive their treatment methods are and what kind of approach they take to treating those issues.

Look for Recommendations

Online reviews and recommendations can be a little misleading for some who are looking for unbiased opinions and not just the most positive reviews that a dermatologist has chosen to present on their site. Ask friends, family members, and neighbors for a recommendation for a good dermatologist in your area, or ask your general practitioner for a recommendation for a dermatologist that they like and trust themselves.

How to Choose a Dermatologist? – Tips to Consider While Looking For a Dermatologist

Whether you are curious about knowing the latest anti-aging technology or getting rid of acne, choosing the right dermatologist could be daunting. It is essential to choose the right dermatologist as not all the dermatologists are equally skilled and experienced. Finding the right dermatologist requires time as well as efforts.

From normal hormonal acne treatment to regular skin cancer screenings, your dermatologist can help you with a wide range of skin issues. The right dermatologist will help you in balancing your skin health in an appropriate manner, which is why it is crucial to choose the right dermatologist.

Choosing the right dermatologist is a crucial decision, especially if you have a serious skin condition. So, find the dermatologist who will work appropriately to treat your skin condition. Now you must be thinking about how to choose the right dermatologist? If you have never visited a dermatologist, but if you are willing to and are ready to take this step, here are some simple tips to consider to choose the right dermatologist for you.

Take Reference from Your Primary Care Doctor

Make a referral list of dermatologists by taking advice from your primary care doctor. You can also take advice from your friends, family members, and other healthcare providers for better recommendations. A few names on the list increase the choices and help you in choosing the right one. Seek the dermatologist expert in dermatologic care and can carry out the cosmetic procedures appropriately.

Appropriately Research the Credentials of the Dermatologist

Certification from the board is one of the most important factors to consider while choosing the right dermatologist. Board certification defines that the doctor has essential skills and experience to render healthcare facilities in dermatology. In addition to this, make sure that the dermatologist does not have any history of disciplinary actions or malpractices.

Get Car Dealer License & Take Part In Auctions Nationwide

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Things You Need To Know Before Buying A Car

Many car salespeople may pressure you to leave the lot with a purchased vehicle, so it’s crucial you’re armed with information about the cars you are interested in, the budget you can afford, and the value of your trade-in — if you have one. With these details, you have all the tools you need to negotiate properly.

Here are top tips and strategies for making sure you get the best-quality vehicle at the lowest price.

Think about financing

Prior to visiting any dealership, have a sense of what kind of deposit you can put down and what monthly payment you can afford. It also helps to do some research on available auto loans to get a sense of what you qualify for. Or try a service like AutoGravity, which allows you to select rates and terms that fit your budget and then obtain offers from lenders.

Check your credit score

Knowing your credit score can be helpful as well. Justin Lavelle, chief communications officer for BeenVerified, says, “Having a good idea of your credit report and credit score and the interest rates available can help you negotiate a good deal and save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.”

Shop around

Research the cars you might be interested in before you head to a dealership, rather than going in unprepared. To determine what kind of car you want, use resources like US News Best Cars, where you can search anything from “best cars for families” to “best used cars under 10k.” Another resource is Autotrader, which can be used to search new and used cars in your area by make, model, price, body style, and more.

Compare prices

Lavelle also stresses getting detailed pricing info in advance: “Price the car at different dealerships and use online services to get invoice and deal pricing.” A reliable tool is Kelley Blue Book. Use the site’s car value tool to find out the MSRP and the dealer invoice of a car as well as a range of prices you can expect to see at dealerships. TrueCar is also helpful to use. You can search for and request pricing on any make, model, or year of car. You may get a slew of phone calls, emails, and texts from dealers immediately after, but having information from different dealerships can help you negotiate prices. You should also visit dealer sites to look for rebate offers.

Know your trade-in value.

It’s important to know the value of your trade-in before going to the dealership. Car dealers are notorious for low balling customers when buying their trade-ins. They will use tactics such as increasing the price of the car to the same amount of your trade-in. Your best bet may be to sell your trade-in via a private sale to get the maximum value.

Research the dealership.

This is a step that is overlooked by many car buyers. Look up ratings and reviews for the dealership that you are visiting. Visit online forums and sites with dealer rankings. Pay close attention to what past customers have to say about a particular dealership. This way you can stay away from high pressure dealers. There is no worse feeling when buying a car than feeling like you were ripped off when you bought your car.

Review the Vehicle History Report.

The used car has a back story to it that cannot be ignored. There may be evidence of serious internal damage of the vehicle included in the report. Carfax is one of the best sources for a vehicle history report. Do not hesitate to use it

Request a Pre-purchase Inspection. 

Let the trained Mechanic take a look at the car before the purchase is made. This does not mean that the seller is trying to deliberately pass a lemon on to you; the seller may not know about some of the problems. The pre-purchase inspection can uncover some difficulties underneath the hood

Take a Look at Some of the Reviews. 

There are number of auto related websites that have reviews of various models, including used cars. It’s a little bit more consumer education to check these reviews but will be well worthwhile

Do Not Hesitate To Negotiate.

The sticker price doesn’t have to be the final cost. The used car dealer is willing to negotiate a little bit. Be certain that you understand there is just so good of a deal. You can’t get but do not hesitate to try to achieve it

Tips for Haggling at a Dealership, According to Insiders

Whether you’re looking for a new or used car, when you visit a dealership, you better be prepared to haggle. Most of us know the basics—do your research, don’t be afraid to walk away—but negotiating can be a tricky business. We asked industry insiders to tell us what works best when haggling over the price of a car.

ALWAYS SELL OUTRIGHT.

If you’re trading in your old vehicle for a new one, you’ll typically get a better deal if you just sell it outright. While most dealerships will low-ball the value of your trade-in, new dealerships are especially sneaky about it. New dealerships are notorious for this. Let’s say you come to my lot and want to get $1500 from your trade in. I will tell you it’s worth $300, for example. You go to a new dealership and tell them you want $1500. They give you $1500, but add $1200 somewhere on the back side. New dealerships have a lot more play in their numbers, and therefore can give you more perceived value.

GET QUOTES BASED ON PROFIT MARGIN.

When you negotiate a better price, don’t just get a number for that specific vehicle,. Instead, ask for the discount related to the suggested retail price or invoice price (the amount the dealer actually paid for the vehicle).

USE MILEAGE AS LEVERAGE.

Let’s say you’re buying a used car, and you score competing offers for the same model at different dealerships. In this case, you can use the car with the higher mileage to your advantage. I’ll give you an easy example. The customer was down to my vehicle and a vehicle on another lot. We were the exact same on price, but mine had 100,000 [miles] and theirs had 160,000. The car they were trading in had 200,000. By the time the customer paid off the loan at the other guy’s lot, they would be back in the same place [in terms of mileage]. On the other hand, they could drive the car at my lot for another 7 or 8 years, and then trade in. In the end, I got the sale because my car had less miles. My tip here is that if they were going to go with the other guy, they could have negotiated to pay less because they were getting more miles.”

EMAIL DEALERSHIPS FOR NEW CAR PRICES.

Many buyers will skip the negotiation process altogether and simply email local dealerships and ask for the best price. It sounds simple, but it works. Chris Abouraad, a former dealership owner and current Sales Team Manager at CarGurus.com, says, “For new car shoppers, sending emails to local dealerships that have the exact desired model and asking for the best price can result in getting the best price.”

Top 5 Factors When Buying A New Car

When buying a new car, there are many factors to consider. The car needs to fulfill your wants, needs, and lifestyle demands. Also, you’ll want to consider the resale value, costs of ownership, desired features, incentive and trade-in options, and pricing and financing. Make sure you get the best value for your money by considering the following five factors.

Residual Value

The residual, or resale value of a car is the value of the vehicle as it depreciates with time. Some buyers may purchase a vehicle on sale or with special dealer rebates. However, these incentives could cause a vehicle’s value to depreciate faster.

On the other hand, some of the best-selling cars can also depreciate quickly in value if there are too many of them on the market. It pays to do some research beforehand and determine which cars have strong resale values. This step could potentially save you thousands in the long run.

Cost of Ownership

When buying a new car, it’s vital to consider additional ownership costs. The price of insurance, fuel, and maintenance can add up over the years. Car expenses shouldn’t total more than 15% to 20% of your total monthly budget.

Before purchasing a new car, check with your insurance company to find out how much your rates will change. Premiums may increase, depending on the make and model of the vehicle. Typically, the more expensive a car is, the more it will cost to insure. If you’re exploring options for insurance, check out this article about the different types of car insurance and which one best fits your needs.

Remember that fuel-efficient cars can save significant money in the long-term. Comparing fuel economy and picking an efficient vehicle can reduce your costs of ownership. Similarly, maintenance costs also come into play. Consider the price and availability of replacement parts, as well as consumer reports.

Features and Technology

One of the most notable factors in buying a new car may be the safety devices, features, and technology. Buyers should choose vehicles with features that meet their needs but avoid extra features are unnecessary. New cars often come with advanced safety features such as adaptive headlights, automatic parking, and backup cameras. This type of technology can be very beneficial. However, make sure not to pay for technology and features that you will not use.

Prospective buyers should take more than one test drive to make sure the car is a right fit. Check for driving comfort, blind spot view, and the seating configuration. Legroom, storage space, and other amenities are also important factors that can have a significant impact on your decision.

Incentives and Trade-ins

The best time to buy a new car is when dealers clear out inventory at the end of the year to make room for new models. Usually, the beginning of October is the perfect time to purchase a car before the new model comes out. Additionally, prospective buyers should keep their eyes open for low-interest loans and other rebates near the end of the model year.

Car owners may make a better deal when selling their old car on their own. However, a trade-in at the dealership could save you valuable time and energy. Collect offers from different dealerships to get the best price for your old vehicle. Check out the following article for more tips about the best time to buy a car.

Price and Financing

To get the best price for a new car, potential buyers will have to do their research. Car dealerships want to establish lasting relationships with their customers. By showing up with price comparisons, strict budget guidelines, and a precise idea of what you’re looking for, you can effectively negotiate a reasonable price.

If you’re able to pay in cash, great! However, most prospective buyers will need a loan or financing. Check your credit history and score beforehand to get a better idea of your financing options.

Many car dealerships make the most profit from their financing department. As a potential buyer, it can be to your best advantage to get your own financing. Your local bank might be able to beat the rates the car dealership is offering. However, manufacturers often have the best promotions with interest starting at 0%.

Traits Of The Best Auto Repair Shops

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Repair Information

How to Choose a Repair Shop

What should I look for when choosing a repair shop?

  • Ask for recommendations from friends, family, and other people you trust. Look for a repair shop before you need one to avoid being rushed into a last-minute decision.
  • Shop around by phone and online for the best deal, and compare warranty policies on repairs.
  • Ask to see current licenses if state or local law requires repair shops to be licensed or registered. Also, your state Attorney General’s office or local consumer protection agency may know whether there’s a record of complaints about a particular repair shop.
  • Make sure the shop will honor your vehicle’s warranty.

How to Choose a Technician

Is one technician better than another?

  • Look for shops that display various certifications — like an Automotive Service Excellence seal. Certification indicates that some or all of the technicians meet basic standards of knowledge and competence in specific technical areas. Make sure the certifications are current, but remember that certification alone is no guarantee of good or honest work.
  • Ask if the technician or shop has experience working on the same make or model vehicle as yours.

How to be get personal Auto Repairs recommendations

So you drive around in a model of car that not many own or drive. So how do go about getting personal recommendations? Well it is now that much easier. Just email or text friends, relatives and work colleagues to ask them if they know of anyone who drives a similar model and make of car as yours locally. Give them your details as well as saying you are looking for a reliable garage to service or to do some auto repairs on your car in the local area. If they don’t know of anyone,get them to ask their friends. They in turn may know someone. As the saying goes, you are no more than 6 people away from the person you want to contact or speak to. Try it out. It works. You’ll be amazed at the results.

Types of Car Repair Shops

Car repair shops can be categorized as one of three main types. Each has its strengths and weaknesses:

  • Car Dealerships: Mechanics at the dealership will be very familiar with the make and model of your car. These mechanics often receive specialized training. Repairs at dealerships tend to be quite expensive. Many car owners limit the use of dealership mechanics to just warranty-related repairs.
  • General Repair Shops: While parts often cost more at service stations, as compared to dealerships, labor often is less expensive. However, finding a skilled, honest, and affordable mechanic can sometimes be tricky.
  • Auto Repair Chains: These types of repair shops tend to focus on one thing, whether it is routine oil changes, mufflers, or brakes. Some chains offer a complete list of services. Chains can usually offer a relatively low price because they work on such a high volume of cars. These types of chains are best for specific types of routine maintenance.

How to Talk to Your Mechanic

Getting the right repairs at a fair price depends partly on communicating with your mechanic. Here’s what to say and to expect:

  • Describe the problem fully. Provide as much information as possible. Write down the symptoms and when they occur. If possible, talk directly to the mechanic who will be working on your car.
  • Don’t offer a diagnosis. Avoid saying what you think is causing the problem. You may be on the hook for any repairs the shop makes at your suggestion, even if they don’t solve the problem.
  • Request a test drive. If the problem occurs only when the car is moving, ask the mechanic to accompany you on a test drive.
  • Ask for evidence. If you’re not comfortable with the diagnosis, ask the shop to show you. Worn brake pads or rusted exhaust pipes are easy to see. Don’t let the mechanic refuse your request by saying that his insurance company doesn’t allow customers into the work area. Insist on evidence anyway.

What not to say to your mechanic!

Let’s start with what you shouldn’t say to a mechanic. It’s not that we want you to sound ignorant but it’s important you don’t inadvertently say things that could end up costing you more money. Here’s a few tips on what not to say:

  • Leave the technical talk to the mechanic, don’t try to diagnose the solution yourself, instead just explain what the situation is and let the mechanic come up with possible deductions.
  • If you need something in particular checked out make sure you let the mechanic know. Just because your car is going in for a service, that doesn’t mean every single component on your vehicle will be checked and tested.
  • If you have a particular problem you would like investigated, actually show the mechanic where it is on the car, or take them for a drive to hear the suspect noise. Telling the receptionist at the counter could lead to misinterpretation.
  • Never tell the mechanic to ‘just do what is needed’.

Maximise Your Return By Choosing The Right Accountant

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How to Build a Culture of Accountability

A culture of accountability is an organization of accountable employees. Results are communicated and understood by everybody. Accountability is determined proactively, before the fact, not reactively, after the fact. When a mistake is made, the response is not finger pointing and excuses – it is about solving the problem and learning from mistakes. Every employee feels a sense of ownership for organizational results and will do what it takes to achieve those results.

So, what can leaders do to encourage a culture of accountability?

Walk the Talk

Nowadays, organizations are so afraid of lawsuits that they won’t admit mistakes. That kind of excuse making and blaming others will cascade down and permeate throughout the organizations. When a leader can stand before their employees and say “I made a mistake – and this is what we’re going to do to fix it” it sets a positive example of accountable behavior that employees won’t be afraid to emulate.

Define Results and Expectations

Don’t wait for a mistake to happen and then waste energy finding who is to blame. Instead, set clear standards and expectations before the work even starts. Then, make sure all employees are aware of and understand what results the organization is trying to achieve and what the expectations are for all employees. Every employee should have a “line of sight” to the organization’s desired results.

Gain Commitment

Without commitment, we get compliance or even resistance. “I’ll try” is not commitment. Ask: “Do I have your commitment?”, and listen to any concerns. Work with the employee to overcome barriers and figure out what needs to do to obtain their commitment.

Be Open to Feedback and Problem Solving

In other words, never “shoot the messenger”. Have an open-door environment where any employee is empowered to bring any problem to anyone in the organization without fear of repercussion.

Coach Employees on How to Be Accountable

Many individuals come from backgrounds where they never had to be accountable. They are used to awards for 5th place. They may have to learn new skills and behaviors, like critical thinking and problem before they can begin to thrive in a culture of accountability.

Hold Each Other Accountable ​

In a culture of accountability, leaders don’t just hold employees accountable for results. Everyone holds everyone accountable! Every employee takes ownership of organizational results, not just their own little part of the world. Again, leaders can role model, teach, and reinforce this kind of ownership mentality.

How to Create a Culture of Accountability in the Workplace?

Below are some of accountability in the workplace examples that constitute the most effective ways of getting employees to take ownership and promote your company’s definition of accountability in the workplace.

Below are 4 questions and exercises to do with teams and departments as you determine how to establish accountability for employees in your workplace:

  • How to be accountable and demonstrate it at work (or in a given role or task)?
  • How to take ownership of your work?
  • How to instill a culture of accountability?
  • How do responsibility and accountability impact role’s?

After getting together as a team to determine and define accountability and success at your organization, you work has only started

Set clear and measurable goals/expectations.

If you are going to hold employees accountable for delivering results, be explicit about exactly what results you expect. It can be helpful to involve the employee in the process. When employees feel they’ve helped in setting the goals, a sense of buy-in results.  While SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, results-focused and time- bound) have been around for more than 30 years, they are still an effective management tool. With this tool, goals or expectations should be:

  • Written — If you don’t write your expectations down, the chance for a misunderstanding of exactly what the goal is, increases exponentially.
  • Specific and measurable — Broad generalizations such as “Improve performance” are not helpful. “Achieve sales of $1.3 million” is a much better goal. It is a specific, measurable goal, not open to interpretation. There can be no disagreement regarding whether the employee achieved such a goal.
  • Achievable with effort — Goals that are too easy to attain aren’t useful. They will not drive performance. Goals that are unattainable will frustrate rather than motivate employees. Employees should see the goals as a real stretch, but achievable.
  • Relevant — Ensure that goals are aligned with one other. They should also be aligned with the company’s overall goals and with the goals of other employees.
  • Time- and resource-constrained — Be clear regarding when the goal must be achieved and the resources that the employee can use. Growing annual sales by 10 percent may be a wonderful goal, but if the employee achieves this by hiring six new salespeople or spending a million dollars on advertising, the cost may exceed the benefit.

Here’s How to Keep Yourself Accountable

The solution for finishing things: Create accountability through a buddy.

Accountability buddies can help us make meaningful progress. Surrounding ourselves with people invested in our success is the best way to make progress on our goals. Follow these steps to set up an accountability buddy.

1. Create a schedule and commit.

Decide how frequently you’ll meet. Once a week is a good starting point. You’ll have time to get things done in between your meetups (either in person or on the phone), but not so long that you start procrastinating or forgetting what you agreed to.

Then set a time and commit. Put it on your calendar and don’t let anything get in the way.

2. Help your buddy (and yourself) set better goals.

When we have a broad goal like “get healthy,” the failure comes in not knowing where to start. What do we do this month, this week, today, to make that happen?

If we can’t answer that simply, how are we supposed to act on it? Create SMART objectives that follow these guidelines:

  • Specific
  • Measurable
  • Attainable
  • Relevant
  • Time-oriented

3. Be honest with each other.

My friend recently told me about an event he attended. A group of women were brought in to give direct feedback about how they perceived a group of men’s clothing and demeanor.

Try to imagine what happened.

“The guys were crying,” my friend said. “Nobody had ever given us this kind of brutal feedback.” My friend realized he’d never before received brutally honest feedback on how he interacted with women.

We should subject ourselves to uncomfortable situations where we take on the “beginner’s mind” and force ourselves to grow. An accountability buddy gives us the rare opportunity for brutal honesty.

4. Ask great questions.

Smart people ask questions because they know it’s the best way to get to the true heart of a matter.

When you say you were too busy to work out this week, what are you really saying?

Chances are you had time to watch Netflix or go out for drinks, so what really held you back? Maybe you were nervous about walking into a new gym.

By asking great questions, you and your accountability buddy can break through invisible barriers.

5. Gamify accountability with your friends.

I love bets. There are myriad psychological studies about public commitment, which is highly persuasive. If you tell a group of people you’re going to stop smoking, you’re highly motivated to hit that goal.

You can do this with your accountability buddy, too. If you each set a goal, bet who will hit it first. Or you can keep score of who completes more of their weekly tasks. Make it fun!

Building Your Accountability Skillset:

Step 1: Set some goals to develop your skillset.

I’m going to prove to myself and others that I’m fully responsible for the quality of my current work, before asking for more responsibility.

I’m going to define areas where I’m weak, could use training, or need support, and then develop an action plan to fill those gaps.

I’m going to develop my own working process that others can rely on.

  • Define what needs to be done, why it needs to be done, when it needs to be done, who is involved and how the result will impact individuals, groups and the business.
  • Commit to the work, the timeline and the result.
  • Communicate that commitment to all involved. (via email, team meetings, phone calls, casual discussion)
  • Communicate progress and results on a consistent and frequent basis to all involved.

Step 2: Hold yourself accountable for your results.

Take ownership of understanding your role, your goals and responsibilities.

Take ownership of understanding the roles, goals and responsibilities of those around you so you can work effectively with others.

Take ownership of your progress so that you can identify risks and do what needs to be done to mitigate or overcome roadblocks before they impact your work.

Step 3: Be consistent in your approach.

Use this skillset as often as possible so that others learn to expect it from you and trust you to work in this manner no matter whom you are working with.

Step 4: Coach & mentor others.

If you manage others, coach & mentor them through the first three steps.

Things You Should Know Before You Purchase Hardwood Flooring

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How to Pick the Right Kind of Hardwood Flooring

Each week, Mansion Global tackles a topic with an elite group of designers from around the world who work on luxury properties. This week we look at how to choose the right wood flooring for you.

Wood is always a chic material for your floor. Something of a chameleon, it has the power to transform a space depending on the color and finish. “Wood floors add warmth, texture, and sophistication to a space, and can also set a tone or attitude,” said Nancy J. Ruddy, co-founder and executive director of interior design at architecture and design firm CetraRuddy

There’s a refinement to the look and feel that’s unparalleled. “They add an elegance and warmth in a way no other material can. It’s an understated richness like a fine cashmere sweater,” said New York-based interior designer Ryan Korban.

Consider the Space Itself

“First identify what type of mood you want to create in your environment. I tend to lean in one of two ways: either super light gray for a very soft feel or black for a sexy atmosphere. My favorite floors, which I recently did at 40 Bleecker, are cerused oak in a cashmere color by Listone. You can never go wrong with this, especially when done in a chevron pattern.

Less is More

“Wood floors spontaneously reconnect to nature. Keep the look as natural as possible and let the wood express itself. For a recent project at Greenwich West in New York City, I chose wide plank European white oak floors to complement the warm color palette of the finishes, such as Carrara marble countertops. Each are natural materials.

Hardwood Flooring Buying Guide

Hardwood Construction

Hardwood floors can be installed on any level of your home over different subfloors since they’re available in multiple constructions to mitigate moisture (see chart). It’s important to take moisture into consideration when you’re installing hardwood floors since changes in moisture can create issues, such as warping and gapping. To lessen the effects of moisture, keep moisture levels within manufacturer recommendations, and choose the right construction of hardwood flooring and installation materials. For an added layer of protection against moisture damage, install a moisture barrier.

3/4-Inch Solid

This is a 3/4-inch-thick solid piece of hardwood floor and what you might typically think of for hardwood floors. Because solid floors expand more when exposed to moisture than engineered floors, you can only install them over a plywood subfloor at or above ground level. If you have a crawl space, it’s a good idea to put a moisture barrier underneath it to help control moisture coming through the ground into your home.

5/16-Inch Solid

This is a thinner version of the 3/4-inch hardwood floor. Since it’s solid, you can’t install it in the basement or on concrete below ground level, but it’s thin enough to glue down to concrete at ground level or install over plywood at or above ground level. Urethane adhesives are required and moisture barriers are recommended for gluing down 5/16-inch solids. Most solid floors can be sanded and refinished. Check the manufacturer’s warranty.

Engineered Hardwood

Engineered floors are designed for installation over concrete and to help mitigate potential moisture issues. The cross-layer construction prevents the floor from expanding as much as a 3/4-inch or 5/16-inch solid floor when exposed to moisture. Therefore, you can install engineered anywhere in the home, including the basement. Engineered floors are also more environmentally friendly and less expensive than solid floors because the veneer is only a few millimeters thick instead of 3/4-inch thick. The real hardwood veneer of engineered floors differs from laminate, which has a printed paper veneer. Some engineered floors can be sanded and refinished. Check the manufacturer’s warranty.

Waterproof Hardwood

Waterproof hardwood flooring employs hardwood and bamboo veneers as well as a waterproof core and a proprietary protective coating. This flooring option resists moisture but still presents the same texture and grain patterns of traditional hardwood, making it a perfect choice for those who’re concerned about spills but still want genuine hardwood.

THIS IS HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST HARDWOOD FLOORING FOR ANY HOME

So, you’re thinking about retiring your old floors, or you’re moving into a new space, and you’re interested in a natural, easy-to-maintain flooring choice. Of course, hardwood is an excellent pick for many people — it’s easier to clean than carpets and is known to stand the test of time. But, there are so many available options that finding the best hardwood flooring can be overwhelming.

How to determine the best hardwood flooring for your home:

First, understand the pros and cons of hardwood floors.

Next, examine your lifestyle.

Then, set a realistic budget.

After that, explore various hardwood types and species.

Once you know the rest, research your finish options.

Finally, consult with an expert.

HARDWOOD IS DURABLE… AS LONG AS YOU DON’T OVEREXPOSE IT TO WATER.

While hardwood floors are durable and can withstand spills and stains with proper treatment, they are especially prone to water damage (kind of like the wicked witch of the west); this makes them a risky candidate for areas like your bathroom, kitchen, and entryways. Installing hardwood in rooms where they are exposed to liquid will lead to damage.

IT IS EASY TO REFINISH, BUT NOT SO EASY TO INSTALL.

Most people will tell you it is easy to refinish hardwood floors, as long as you can stay off of them for a few days. Even so, it is difficult to install them, even for experienced DIYers. So, in the beginning, be prepared to hire a professional for the installation. At the very least, consider

IT IS CONSIDERED A WISE INVESTMENT.

The homeowners’ paradigm is that hardwood flooring will increase the value of your property. Most homebuyer’s jump at the idea of purchasing a home with hardwood floors — in many cases, even when carpet covers the original wood flooring. So, in the long run, the initial investment is probably worthwhile.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST HARDWOOD FLOORING SPECIES FOR YOUR HOME

Gone are the days when selecting hardwoods for your home meant a slim offering of narrow planked solid oak hardwood flooring in a light tan color.  Today, there are countless types of hardwood floors to satisfy everyone’s needs for wood species, color, style, performance and budget. While having many choices is always a good thing, it can also seem overwhelming, especially if you are new to the hardwood flooring world. That’s why LIFECORE thought it would be helpful to provide a way to drill down into those options, so you can ultimately choose the BEST flooring and species for you

First a note of definition and what we mean by species.  Hardwood flooring is available in many types of wood. From Oak to Hickory and Maple to Acacia; each species has its’ own unique characteristics and performance attributes.  Prioritizing your visual preference, as well as lifestyle and budget requirements, will help you determine which of the different wood species is right for your home. Engineered wood flooring is manufactured in many different species and with the addition of today’s high-performance finishes, those species now have the ability to perform very well for people with children and pets.

Where will the hardwood floors be going?

If you plan to install the flooring in a high traffic area such as a family room or hallway, consider the hardwood flooring species that have a higher Janka hardness rating. While exotic hardwoods tend to have the highest Janka ratings, many people steer clear of them not only because of the lack of sustainability but also because of their higher price and tendency to change color or fade over time.  Fortunately, you can find the perfect alternative in several domestic and bountiful hardwood flooring species that will hold up well in high traffic areas. Oak is the standard at 1300, while Maple at 1450 and Hickory at 1820 are even harder.

Are you looking for the best flooring for dogs?

Let’s face it, most homes have pets, but many homeowners understandably forget to take them into consideration when choosing flooring.  To have a home with hardwood and a dog or cat, there are tips for success, however, you can take it a step further by choosing a more rustic hardwood style and species that will keep your floors looking newer, longer. Hardwood flooring species which have knots and character marks, like LIFECORE’S Abella Acacia Luxe, will help to hide dents and scratches, and if an accident does happen, the color variations will help mask the remnants of a stain.  It is also recommended that you refer back to the Janka scale to help select a hardwood flooring species like Maple or Hickory for longer wear

What is your décor style?

While most types of hardwood floor species will work in a variety of decors, selecting them in certain colors, plank widths or styles can truly define your personal style.  Below are some examples of the best hardwood floor species, color, and style to suit your décor

How to Choose the Right Hardwood Floor Color

Installing new hardwood flooring is a major investment, which makes choosing the right one even more daunting, especially for a wood-floor newbie. Is oak better than walnut? What’s the deal with warm tones? Is a light floor a recipe for disaster? I went straight to the experts to find out what homeowners should know.

Start With the Basics

There are two basic factors that go into what hardwood floors looks like, says Patrick Bewley, vice president of marketing at California-based flooring brand Duchateau. First is the grain, which is determined primarily by the species of wood. Then there’s the finish or stain, which creates the color. “Our advice is to start by selecting the color range that is most attractive to you—the one that speaks to you and the space,” he explains. “Then, you can look at various grain patterns and surface treatments within that range and find the one that you feel works best with the selected color and your other design elements.”

Undertones Matter

Just like with paint colors, it’s crucial to consider the undertone of your flooring. Most designers warn against anything wood finishes that skew very red or orange, which have a tendency to look dated. But that doesn’t mean that you should steer completely clear of warm undertones. In fact, says Bewley, one of the biggest trends in wood flooring right now is a warm take on of-the-moment gray. “These new tones mix the coolness of gray with warmer undertones, creating high livability along with an on-trend look,” he notes.

Think About Upkeep

You might love the look of a certain type of wood flooring now, but think about how it’ll hold up—and how much effort you’re willing to put into keeping it pristine. As a rule of thumb, says Bewley, “harder woods, such as European Oak, are a good choice for high-traffic and kid-centric spaces, whereas softer species, such as walnut, are better suited for lower-traffic areas.”

Swatch Before You Stain Your Floors

Thinking about staining your existing floors? Just like with paint colors, you’ll want to apply swatches before you commit to one. What appears to be a light neutral on the chip in your local hardware store might end up looking totally different in your space, depending on everything from light to the wall color—and, of course, the wood itself. “The species and tone can impact the final appearance,” says Behr senior product manager Rick Bautista. “For example, if you’re using a traditional transparent or semi-transparent stain, a clear pine board stained with a chocolate color will appear different than a darker, redwood board stained with the same color.”

Hot Water Heaters

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How to Choose the Right Water Heater for your Home?

A water heater is the necessity of every home and is required wherever the water is used. But, in many cases, we see major problems with the water heater within a year. And these problems occur because before buying the water heater we don’t research well or consider the kind of water heater required for our home. Thus, to help you all in this article, we will be giving you basic tips and the way to choose the right water heater for your home.

Conventional storage water heater

Conventional storage water heaters are the most popular water heaters. These water heaters maintain and reserve hot water and you can use it anytime you turn on the tap. These water heaters are very convenient to use, but they consume more electricity than other types of water heaters as it needs to heat the water constantly to make the water hot for a long time.

Instant water heaters

An instant water heater only heats the water when the tap is turned on. As soon as the tap turns on, the cold water travels to the heating element in the water heater and instantly turns hot. This is why these water heaters are called instant water heaters.

Air-water heaters

The air-water heater generates the heat from the air and is extremely efficient as it consumes less electricity. You can save up to 60% of electricity by using air-water heaters.

Solar water heaters

Solar water heaters are very energy-efficient as they rely on energy from the sun. But, the installation of solar water heaters is very expensive and may not be affordable for many people. Thus, using Solar water heaters is a better idea.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT WATER HEATER FOR YOUR HOME

A cold shower. If you’ve ever experienced one, it’s not something you’ll likely want to repeat. But without a reliable water heater in your home you may have the pleasure more often than you’d like. There are plenty of other good reasons to consider upgrading or replacing your current water heater beyond a shocking shower. If your current water heater is pushing 10 years old, the likelihood of failure will increase. In addition, older water heaters are much less efficient than newer styles and models. And consider the damage a leaking or broken hot water heater can do to your home. So before you get stuck with an emergency repair or replacement consider the different kinds of water heaters and evaluate which is best for you.

Let’s Talk Fuels

To enjoy hot water in your home, you’ll need a fuel source to heat the H2O. Not all of us will have the same options available, depending on where we live, so there will be sources that you can rule out right away. Let’s examine the options.

Electricity — Electricity has a lot going for it. It’s readily available and works with conventional tank-type designs, plus on-demand tankless heaters, heat pump systems and other options.

Natural gas and propane — These fuel sources also work with a variety of heater types. One advantage of this fuel source is availability during a prolonged power outage. Even if your home is dark, you can still enjoy a hot shower. Of course, if you use propane it’s necessary to ensure that you keep your tank filled.

Solar — You don’t have to live in southern state to utilize solar energy for water heating, but the efficiency of these systems is greater in areas like the southwest, where temperatures are generally warmer and the sun shines more frequently

Choosing a New Water Heater

We walk you through the pros and cons of high tech water heaters – tankless, heat pump, condensing gas and point-of-use models. They save energy and can save you money as well. When your old water heater dies, consider replacing it with one of these types, as well as efficient conventional models.

Compare water heaters before you buy

Water heater technology is changing—fast! And even though all the new models are more energy efficient water heater models, that doesn’t mean you’ll find them the most cost effective for your family. So before you plunk down big bucks for a high-tech heater, take a minute to understand how each style works, its pros and cons, and its projected payback to best the best gas water heater. Your goal is to find the right balance between performance and efficiency for your particular home. However, if you’re really into numbers crunching, use the worksheets at energysavers.gov

First, check the ratings

There are two ratings to check before you buy any heater: the energy factor (EF), which tells you how efficient it is, and the first-hour recovery (for storage tank heaters) or flow rate (for tankless).

Tankless water heaters

Instead of keeping 40 or 50 gallons of hot water on call 24 hours a day—which wastes energy—a tankless unit heats water only when you need it. A flow sensor detects when you open the faucet. Then the gas valve opens and the burners fire up. The heater measures the incoming water temperature and calculates how quickly the water should flow past the burners. So, if the incoming water is 65 degrees F (typical summer temperature), the heater will provide its maximum flow rate. But if the water is only 35 degrees, the heater will throttle back the flow rate by almost 50 percent. Check with your local utility to find out the water temperature. The average home center price for a tankless heater is $1,000, plus about $200 for a stainless vent.

Tankless Water Heater Pros:

Nothing beats a tankless heater for putting out lots of hot water—it never runs out.

A tankless heater saves about 30 to 50 percent in energy costs over a conventional gas heater (minimum EF of .82 vs. .54 for conventional).

A tankless heater is small and hangs on the wall, freeing up floor space.

How to choose your water heater: our advice

ASSESS YOUR NEEDS

The quantity needed of DHW depends on how many people live in your household and on their habits. If you have reasonable hot water consumption, on average, 40 to 50 liters of DHW per day and per person is to be expected. An accurate assessment of your needs is necessary. Indeed, if underestimated, you will get cold showers! At the contrary, if overestimated, your electricity bill will increase since too much hot water is produced for nothing. Smartly, some water heaters memorize your daily consumptions and adjust hot water production depending on your actual needs

WATER QUALITY

The water quality of the distribution system can directly affect the lifetime of your appliance. If you have a balanced water, then there is no problem. However, if it is too hard, it can cause scaling, in particular to the heating element. If aggressive, it can cause a faster tank corrosion. Rather, select a water heater fitted with Steatite heating element protected by enamelled steel sleeve. Beware of water softeners, incorrectly tuned, they produce a far too aggressive water, therefore, too corrosive

WHICH MODEL TO CHOOSE?

You can select either a conventional electric, a heat-pump or a solar water heater. Another important point: Pick the right spot depending on how much space is available. According to models, water tanks can be installed in many ways (wall mounted horizontally or vertically, floor standing…), in the most confined spaces or can require more space, even a technical room (for solar or heat pump water heaters).

ELECTRIC WATER HEATER

Cost-effective to purchase and easy to install, it is the simplest solution: the tank water is heated by an electric heating element. Simple and effective: a modern electric water heater combines electronic thermostat and digital display unit. The most modern ones include self-learning functions

SOLAR WATER HEATER

You can expect 50 to 70 % savings on your DHW bill by selecting a solar water heater! The water is preheated naturally by the solar collectors located on the roof. Indeed, they contain a heat conducting fluid able to transfer the solar energy to the hot water tank, through a heat exchanger. This option requires some more space and a roof adapted to solar collectors or a terrace.

BUYING GUIDE FOR WATER HEATERS

India is famous for its extreme weather conditions; as we are well versed with the changing temperatures, it’s always better to be fully equipped to sustain these climate changes. Although we love the winter season, we should definitely hand it down to the man who invented water heaters to help us shower in the cold, chilling winters of India. The rattling of teeth and the shivering body can only be stopped by a warm, relaxing bath. That’s where our hero, “water heater” comes in.

Want to know how a water heater works?

A typical Electrical water heater works on a simple mechanism, a electric heating unit is connected to a 220- volt circuit. To warm up the water, the current is allowed to pass through certain electrical-resistant heating element which is fixed in the middle of the tank. Power is delivered through a thermostat, which controls the water temperature.

We have the new way for getting hot water without worrying about the increasing electricity charges i.e. Solar water heater. The solar water heating system works on the principle of thermosyphone process and forced circulation. It uses Solar energy and can give up to 50-70C * hot water. The core of an ETC Solar water heater is a solar collector basically in the form of tubes and a storage tank. Evacuated tube acts as an absorber in the solar water heater and evacuated tube consists of two glass tubes having vacuum in between which is an excellent insulator. The incident solar radiation falling on the tube passes through the outer transparent tube and strikes the outer surface of inner tube. It absorbs heat energy and then passes to the cold water flowing in the tube. Thus a solar collector is one which turns the sun’s radiation into heat. A storage tank is exactly what it sounds like; It holds the water. An evacuated tube technology based solar water heating system is most energy efficient and cost effective.

What are the types of water heaters available in the market?

Who doesn’t love options? Even in the niche sector of water heaters, there are a lot of options available in the market for you to choose from. Depending on your needs and convenience, you can shop for a suitable water heater.

Storage water heaters (6 Litres and above):

The most basic and classic form of water heaters are Storage Water heaters. They are widely used for domestic purposes. The reason behind it being called storage water heaters is because of the storage tank installed inside the appliance. It can store hot water for a significant period of time even without electricity and thus allowing for usage as and when required

Outsource Or Domesticate Electrical Installation

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WHAT MAKES A GOOD ELECTRICAL INSTALLATION?

An electrical installation comprises all the fixed electrical equipment that is supplied through the electricity meter. It includes the cables that are usually hidden in the walls and ceilings, accessories (such as sockets, switches and light fittings), and the consumer unit (fusebox) that contains all the fuses, circuit-breakers and, preferably residual current devices (RCDs)

There are many factors that contribute to a good electrical installation such as:

Ensuring there are enough sockets for electrical appliances, to minimise the use of multiway socket adapters and trailing leads

Covers are in place to prevent fingers coming into contact with live parts (broken or damaged switches should be replaced without delay)

A Residual Current Device (RCD) protection is installed to provide additional protection against electric shock

Satisfactory earthing arrangements are in place to ensure that a fuse or circuit breaker can quickly clear an electrical fault before it causes an electric shock or fire

Satisfactory protective bonding arrangements are in place where required (so any electric shock risk is minimised until a fault is cleared)

Sufficient circuits are provided to avoid danger and minimise inconvenience in the event of a fault

Cables are correctly selected and installed in relation to the fuse or circuit breaker protecting the circuit

An RCD (residual current device) is a life-saving device which is designed to prevent you from getting a fatal electric shock if you touch something live, such as a bare wire. It provides a level of protection that ordinary fuses or circuit breakers cannot provide.

Tips for electrical wiring

Electrical wiring is a potentially dangerous task if done improperly. One should never attempt working on electrical wiring without knowing the below tips & tricks followed by even the most experienced electrician

Power Tests

Always check & test wires and devices for power inside the box you are working in to prevent electric shock before working on them. Sometimes, even if you shut off power, some wiring may be connected to another circuit & hence may still pose a threat of electric shock.

Uncoil Cable

The best way to easily instal cables is to straighten them out first. Pull the cable from the centre of the coil & lift a handful of coils. Next step is to toss them across the floor as if you’re throwing a coiled rope. Once untangled, it helps in easier handling & neater storage.

Amperage Rating

Amperage Rating or Amp needs to be checked for all electrical wiring & devices. Before installing or changing wiring, one must have the appropriate amp rating for all circuits. For example, a 30-amp circuit must have a right-gauge wiring to prevent fire hazard.

Grounding Wires

Grounding provides a safe path for extra electric current to pass in case of a fault or any other issue. Follow the manufacturer’s wiring diagrams & understand grounding systems.

Key Factors To Look For When Choosing An Electrical Contractor

With so many cowboys masquerading as qualified, experienced electricians from a safety perspective, it has never been more important to choose the right electrical contractor for your residential or commercial project. Many people are tempted to opt for the cheapest quote, which more often than not could turn out to be a costly mistake. That said, knowing who to trust for your electrical installation and maintenance is not always easy, as there are many factors to take into consideration when making your decision. Read on to learn some important points to consider when making your decision

Risk of choosing the wrong contractor

Picture the scene; a rusty Robin Reliant three-wheeler pulls up outside your property. After screeching to a stop, several men in string vests jump out and promptly light their cigarettes as they loudly argue about whose responsibility it was to pack the tools that were forgotten. A couple of the men decide to go back to get them, screeching off in the rust bucket. Meanwhile, the remaining man asks you to show him what needs fixing whilst he curses about how unhappy he is to be expected to do a day’s work and complains about his incompetent colleagues.

The chances are that you would shy away from letting this group of unprofessional people into your property, let alone touch your electrical systems. You’d be able to quickly tell that they are not ‘trustworthy’ contractors in any sense of the word.

NICEIC – CERTIFIED

The most critical factor to look for in an electrical contractor is whether they are accredited and approved by the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting (NICEIC). It is advisable to hire an electrician with NICEIC certification as the organisation assesses the competence of both domestic and commercial electricians to ensure safe systems of work that conform to standards set out by the IEE (Institute of Electrical Engineers), who set the standards for electrical installation work.

QUALITY WORKMANSHIP

While some of us believe we can recognise high-quality electrical work when we see it, the reality is that not many of us fully understand the fundamentals of electrical systems. This lack of knowledge makes establishing what constitutes a quality electrical installation open to interpretation. The National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) developed the National Electrical Installation Standards (NEIS) in the 1990s to take away subjective judgements of this essential quality.

What you Should Know About Electrical Installations

Electrical installations can look mysterious. There are some basic requirements for electrical installation, and some things people need to know about them. Quality of workmanship, standards of performance, and possible hazards are some of the more important issues in electrical installation, and it’s worth familiarizing yourself with the basic requirements.

Electrical installations basics

New technology requires a very wide range of new electrical installations. These are very different from the old systems, particularly in communications, media systems and IT areas.

All electrical installations are regulated. Installation of electrical fittings must:

Comply with Australian Standards

Comply with safety best practice requirements

Have certified safety compliant components under state certification regulations or Australian Standard compliance marks, including “Regulatory compliant”, or Electrical Safety Type Test marks

Be conducted by appropriately licensed contractors

Issues, problems, and hazards

Everybody’s seen old or doubtful-looking electrical installations. The rule of thumb is that the worse it looks, the less likely an electrical installation has been professionally done or serviced. These tacky-looking messes are real hazards. Electrical wiring and connections need to be done properly.

Things to look out for:

Smells of ozone or burnt plastic: Wiring issues.

Scorch marks: The electrical board may have taken damage and be unsafe, even if there wasn’t a fire.

Any overheating appliance: Either the appliance is unsafe or there’s a power issue.

Odd noises or behavior in machinery: Electrical installations can be damaged by operating machinery which can create hazards by damaging wiring. The system should be taken offline instantly and checked ASAP.

Water around electrical fittings: Very serious problem, requiring immediate service. Water can do tremendous damage very quickly near live power sources. Water damaged areas around electrical fittings should be repaired, because they’re no longer water resistant.

Anything flickering: It’s normally the appliance, but if not it’s the power. Again, be suspicious

WIRING MATERIALS AND INSTALLATION METHODS IN ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION WORKS

Electrical wiring needs expertise attention to every building projects. It directly related to the safety of human beings and utilities / equipment people handle. The scope of electrical wiring shall cover supply, installation, testing and commissioning of all conduits and accessories, wiring, switches, socket outlets, spur outlets, junction boxes / pull boxes, GI pull wires, ceiling roses making connections etc. Unless otherwise indicated wiring shall consist of PVC insulated, copper conductor wires installed in heavy gauge steel galvanized conduits.

GALVANIZED STEEL CONDUITS AND FITTING

Conduit Type: In general interior and exterior wires ways shall be Electrical Metallic Tubing (EMT).  Conduits shall conform to all provision of Underwriters laboratories UL 797, American National Standard Institute c80-3, Federal Specification WWC-563A and National Electrical Code Article 384.  The conduit shall be straight, have a circular cross section sufficiently accurate to accept approved couplings and fittings.  Wall thickness shall be uniform through and welding of seams shall be continuous and thoroughly done.  The interior surface shall be free from injurious defects

Number of conductors in tubing: The numbers of conductors in a single tubing shall not exceed the percentage fill specified in the NEC.

Coupling Connector, Bends: Coupling and connector used with tubing shall be made up tight.  Bends in the tubing shall be so made that the tubing will not be injured and that the internal diameter of the tubing will not be effectively reduced.