The Grammys Report

Diseases Spread By Mosquitoes

Posted on by

Essential Oils & Mosquitoes

Humans have long used plants and plant derivatives to repel insects or treat the bites they leave behind. Ancient Greek and Roman scholars wrote about using plants on skin and clothing, so it’s no surprise that the new resurgence of essential oils in popular culture is entering the fight against the bite! Many natural scents that are appealing to humans actually repel mosquitoes, including lavender, peppermint, basil, and eucalyptus. Many of these scents can be worn as an essential oil on your skin to help keep these pesky pests from biting you.

HOW TO USE ESSENTIAL OILS AS A MOSQUITO REPELLENT

Essential oils can have numerous benefits. From stress relief to restful sleep, users of essential oils have found lots of applications for these naturally derived oils. Like any product, not all essential oils are created equal in quality, and consumers should do significant research before purchasing any oils.

For those folks new to essential oils, it’s important to note you can use them topically on your skin (but not sensitive skin near your eyes, etc.), diffuse them with a diffuser, or create a spray by diluting the oil with water and either witch hazel toner (found in the beauty aisle) or vodka. Essential oils, while natural and plant-based, can be very potent. Please research their effectiveness and application before using any product. For example, the oils degrade plastic over time, so if you decide to make a spray, use dark blue or amber glass bottles.

There are great recipes for DIY essential oil mosquito repellent with citronella, lavender, peppermint, sweet basil, catnip, tea tree oil, and clary sage essential oils. Since everyone has different scent preferences, feel free to experiment until you find one that works for you. Also, it’s important to note that mosquito repellents use other scents to camouflage your body’s scent. Since everyone smells slightly different, what works for you might not work for your friends or family.

WHAT SMELLS DO MOSQUITOES HATE?

There are some smells that mosquitoes love, so having those smells in your yard is an invitation for these annoying pests. However, just as there are smells which mosquitoes love, there are others that they hate and will make sure to avoid.

 

outdoor mozzie solutions to keep mosquitoes at bay

Ah, mozzies. Scourge of the (otherwise magnificent) Australian summer. They buzz about in your ear and their bites are infuriatingly itchy. But mosquitoes aren’t just pesky and annoying little critters. They also happen to pose a very serious health risk and are known to transmit harmful human diseases.

While there is a movement towards natural remedies and environmentally-friendly ways to reduce the instance of mozzie bites, it is important to mention that these remedies have typically been found significantly less effective than their traditional counterparts.

DEAL WITH THE SOURCE

Mosquitoes breed in stagnant (still) water. Empty and clear out all pools and puddles that could house mosquito larvae. Place used coffee grounds around areas in your backyard which could be harbouring larvae

CREATE A BARRIER

Combatting pesky mosquitoes can often result in resorting to chemical sprays containing chemicals that may be harmful to beneficial insects, including bees. One of the best ways to reduce reliance on these products is to create a physical barrier between your outdoor entertaining zones and the mozzies.

PUT ON MOSQUITO REPELLENT

Traditional mosquito repellent sprays usually contain an ingredient called DEET or picaridin. While highly effective at preventing mosquito bites, these ingredients may cause skin irritation in those with skin sensitivity. When using these sprays, always follow the directions and be sure to thoroughly wash the spray off the skin when protection from mosquitoes is no longer required.

 

How to Avoid Mosquitoes

The easiest, laziest way to protect yourself

Absolutely the best trick in the book – put mosquito protection ‘up your sleeve’! All of the mosquito-repelling bracelets and wristbands pictured are totally natural, and DEET-free.

Your choice here is only aesthetic – the plastic spiral bracelets are the most popular and come individually wrapped to ensure efficacy. The neoprene wristbands are really soft, and a good idea for kids, babies and sensitive-skin wussies. Their protective magic lasts between 10-15 days. Both varieties are totally waterproof.

Go ‘Incognito’ against Thai mosquitoes

Do you need mosquito repellent? As a piece of fresh meat, yes. YES. Left to cavort as they like, even one mosquito can inflict a dotty red mess on your legs. The few seconds it takes to apply some bug spray will ensure your trip is so much more enjoyable.

How to prevent mosquito bites? As when escaping a crocodile on foot… you don’t need to out-run him, you just need to out-run someone else. As such against mosquitoes.

Another option that’s also natural (and has similarly rave reviews), is Beat IT! All Natural DEET-Free Insect Repellent. Incognito insists it offers clinically proven malaria protection, while Beat IT! promises to work against even mosquitoes. If you can’t be swayed to the Whole Foods netherworld, Sawyer Products Premium Insect Repellent has stronger chemicals (20% Picaridin), but no DEET. Of any ‘middle ground’ (not-totally-natural, but DEET-free) mosquito repellent – this one is most popular with my readers, though I haven’t used it myself

 

Mosquito Myths

Bats eat up to 600 mosquitoes an hour.

This one may have gotten started with a study in which mosquitoes were released into a room full of bats while researchers counted how many they ate. The bats consumed about 10 per minute, or 600 per hour. But mosquitoes were the only insects in the room for the hungry bats to eat. Since then, studies have found that mosquitoes make up less than 1 percent of bat diets.

Purple martins are voracious mosquito predators.

This is another scientific observation taken out of context. A researcher initially estimated that a purple martin would need to eat its body weight in mosquitoes, about 14,000 insects, every day in order to survive. However, like bats, purple martins actually prefer other prey, including dragonflies, which are mosquito predators. Mosquitoes make up less than 3 percent of the birds’ diets.

Dryer sheets make good mosquito repellents.

Several other household items are also supposed to be repellents, including banana peels and Vicks VapoRub. But repeated studies have shown that DEET is the only one that is consistently effective in blocking mosquito bites over extended periods of time. While picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus also been shown to repel mosquitoes, neither provides the same level of protection as DEET.

Lemon Joy and Listerine will kill mosquitoes.

This is an e-mail hoax debunked by Snopes.com. The idea is that leaving pools of water with lemon dish soap, or mouthwash, around the yard will attract and kill mosquitoes. Although that is true, the mosquito would have to land and become coated in the liquid in order to die. Dish soap and mouth wash are not like insecticides in that they do not hang in the air and kill mosquitoes as they fly through.

Bug zappers are a good way to reduce mosquitoes.

While zappers do kill a large number of insects, studies have found that most of them are moths and beetles, and less than 7 percents are mosquitoes. In fact, yards with zappers typically have no fewer mosquitoes than yards without zappers.

 

Best Natural Mosquito Repellents for Your Home

Luckily, I’ve developed some unique solutions to fighting off the mosquitoes. I don’t use conventional strategies, since I hate the thought of using chemicals to rid the yard of mosquitoes, and I don’t want to expose my family and friends to the toxins in bug bombs.

The CDC studied indoor pest bombs and found that exposure to the chemicals can lead to health problems. These chemical bug repellents can cause nausea, shortness of breath, headaches, and many other severe symptoms requiring hospitalization. In light of this, I wanted to highlight some natural mosquito and bug repellents you can use in your home or in your yard in place of traditional bug sprays and chemicals.

Plant Herbs

Many herbs naturally repel mosquitoes. You’ve likely heard of citronella, but did you know that garlic, lemongrass, cedarwood, basil, eucalyptus, lavender, peppermint, rosemary, thyme, onions, and marigolds also deter the little buggers? You can cut down on the mosquitoes in your yard by planting these herbs around your porch and deck.

Use Essential Oils

Many people turn to products like OFF! or repellents that contain DEET to ward off mosquitoes. These products, especially those that contain DEET, can cause health problems. BeyondPesticides states that DEET kills large numbers of brain cells in the cerebral cortex; this is the area of the brain that controls muscles and movement

Get Rid of Water

Mosquitoes love water. You can reduce the number of mosquitoes in your yard by removing standing water. If you have a rain barrel, make sure it has a screen. Clean out your gutters, fix dripping faucets, and if you have a pond, make sure to stock the pond with mosquito-larvae eating fish, called “mosquito fish.”

Tax Preparation Outsourcing May Be The Right Alternative

Posted on by

Surprising Truths About Tax Preparers

The choice to choose the correct tax preparer for your company is better not left until April. A retired tax preparer and strategist for small business provides insights into the secret world of tax preparers. Do you want to learn more?

Not every tax preparer is created equal.

It stands to reason, Worst Tax Preparer is somewhere in the world. The bad news is you may already have scheduled your rendezvous with him. Tax-preparation is a dynamic operation. So nuanced that many of us just throw in the towel, packing up our receipts and leaving for the closest tax office. You fully expect our tax preparer to be highly competent and completely committed to getting you the best deal in town as you arrive at the office.

Back in my tax preparation days, I worked as a preparer and writer of tax returns for one of the big name tax preparation franchises. I also operated with seasoned professionals and neophytes at large. The first day I walked onto the line as a novice preparer I recall well. I felt astounded. The client would be surprised to learn that I was novice. I’d be making a huge blunder, scared and the client will pick it up. Terrified my errors would be chuckled at by more seasoned preparers.

I realized quickly that as rusty as I was, I still understood far more than my clients did. And because the company had great systems, others would review and re-check my work in order to catch my errors and oversights before I did any damage to the business.

As a writer of tax returns, I have seen and fixed more mistakes than you would feel comfortable reading of. That takes me to a very important point, there is no cut and dry tax preparation, read the manual, do the calculations, follow the instructions and poof! This kind of thing you’ve achieved. In this world the tax codes are complicated and open to interpretation.

Tax preparers have broad experience varying from none to grizzled veterans. We cover the spectrum from legal to totally unethical, too. The more complicated the return will become, the more you will need a seasoned preparer. And if the preparer advises you that you can take this wonderful deduction and it sounds suspicious to you, adhere to your instincts. It is the difference between paying a little now or paying a lot later on.

Tax preparers aren’t specialists on companies.

The world’s biggest industry leaders are the ones running successful businesses. Tax preparers are trained to know the income. They are trained to know the ways and deductions that are necessary. They’re trained to help you prepare your income. We don’t have the training to understand how business works.

Then, you might have a tax preparer who’s a successful business owner too. Several CPA professionals, accountants, bookkeepers, and tax preparers are starting their own company. We are in a much better position to help you with your income, as we understand the challenges of running a business day to day.

Understand that having the taxes handled by a big name company, even if it means that your report is correct, does not guarantee that your return is done in a way that is better for you. Only a preparer who knows company will make a return for your business that works.

 

Hiring a tax preparer doesn’t mean you’re excused from understanding taxes.

I’ve seen it so many times. I sit down with a client to talk about finances or taxes. As I talk, the head is nodding, the mouth is saying, “uh huh, uh huh”, but what they’re really focused on is the pen in their hand. They don’t want to understand, they just want to sign off on the paperwork and be done with it. “That’s what I hire you for”, they say.

Big mistake. I could be sentencing them to time in a federal prison. Trusting someone else to the point where you abdicate all responsibility and have no knowledge of what you’re signing or what is being done in your name is a recipe for a big fat slice of disaster. That’s how embezzlement happens-I trust Mary completely. Bob always takes care of that. And it’s also how business owners end up in trouble-What do you mean he took a deduction for my Chihuahua as a guard dog? Hey, why didn’t I get a deduction for my new computer?

You have to know enough about taxes to be able to read your return intelligently so you know what you’re signing. You also need to know enough about taxes so you know what your tax preparer needs to know to prepare your return accurately and to your best advantage.

And don’t get your education from your buddies. I heard a lot about these “special deductions” you can take. Usually the information is not based on facts or tax codes. It’s a conglomeration of bad information that can get you into tax trouble.

Your tax preparer shouldn’t be the one telling you how your business is doing.

It hits them hard. They couldn’t be more shocked if you’d hit them upside the head with a dead fish. “I owe how much!”, they gasp. “How can that be? I don’t have any money!” Then the desperation sets in. The tax preparer is accused of not doing a good enough job. “You must have missed something.” Or, they dig deep trying to think of anything, anything at all, that can lower their tax liability. “Did I mention that vacation, I mean, business trip I took to the Caribbean? That’s deductible right?”

If the only time you know how your business is doing is on April 15th, you’re doing yourself a huge disservice. If you’re not tracking your tax liability and making plans to satisfy that liability, you’re in for a very long, painful, tortuous lesson delivered at the hands of the Internal Revenue Service. You will pay. You will pay way more than if you’d planned ahead. And it will take you forever to get caught up.

Why getting your tax return prepared shouldn’t be an errand you run on your lunch break.

I was in a client’s office one day getting her books closed out for the year so she could have her tax return prepared. I overheard a woman in the next office telling someone, “I’m just going to run out and get my taxes done.” I was horrified. Having your taxes prepared is not something you just “run out” and get done like an oil change. Good tax preparers are like good hair stylists. They have followings. People pre-book them.

If you just “run out” and have your taxes done, who do you think you’ll get as a tax preparer? The best and the brightest? Hardly. You’ll get the first year preparers who haven’t built up a following. The ones who are fresh out of tax class and generally have no experience preparing tax returns or running a business. The ones who don’t have the expertise to know the ins and outs of interpreting tax codes to your best advantage while still keeping you within the law. Sure everyone deserves a chance to gain experience but do you really want to be the first patient a surgeon operates on?

 

IRS Tax Refunds: The Truth About When You’ll get Your Tax Refund

If there is one good thing about tax season, it is definitely the idea of getting a big tax refund. In 2018, the IRS issued more than 111.9 million refunds that totaled over $324.4 billion dollars. So taxpayers could see themselves getting some extra cash after they file. Unfortunately for taxpayers, the IRS is noticing a lot of myths circulating around social media about the process of receiving your refund and are wanting to make sure taxpayers are aware of the facts when it comes to an IRS tax refund.

First off, there is no secret way of finding out when you will receive your refund. The IRS issues about 9 out of 10 refunds in less than 21 days. The easiest way to check on your refund is through the IRS.gov website tool “where is my refund”. The information on the tool is updated each day, so you can check each morning to see where your refund is. You should only call the IRS tax help hotline when it has been more than 21 days since you e-filed your tax return, it has been more than six weeks since you have mailed in your tax return, or when you check “where is my refund” and it says to contact the IRS.

Along with misinformation about when you’ll get your refund, there are also myths out there about what will help you get a bigger tax refund or other ways you can find out about where your refund is at. Here are just a few.

  • Ordering a tax transcript is the golden ticket on knowing when you will receive your refund. Ordering a tax transcript will not give you a date of when you will receive your tax refund. Though, taxpayers will order a tax transcript to validate past income and tax filing status for a mortgage, student loans, and small businesses.
  • “Where’s my refund” must be wrong because there’s no deposit date yet. The IRS tool “where is my refund” is only updated once a day and is usually updated at night. The IRS issues most of the refunds within 21 days. If you have not received your refund within the 21 days, there could be several reasons why it is taking longer, like if the return wasn’t complete or needs to be further reviewed. The IRS will contact you directly if they are needing further information to process your return.
  • “Where is my refund” must be wrong because my expected refund amount is less than expected. If you check the IRS tool “where is my refund” and the refund amount has changed, there could be several reasons why the amount was lowered. You might have had a math error, delinquent federal taxes, state taxes, child support, and student loans. The IRS will also hold a portion of your refund while it reviews items claimed on the return. If your amount is lowered the IRS will send you a letter of explanation of why the adjustments were made.
  • Receiving a tax refund this year means there is no need to adjust withholdings for 2019. Everyone needs to do annual tax planning to help avoid unexpected tax outcome for next year. Taxpayers should start planning now for next year, this could mean adjusting your withholdings with your employer or increasing your estimated tax payments. Taxpayers should especially do this if they go an unexpected result from filing their tax return this year.

 

Tax Preparer Myths You Should Not Believe

There are a lot of myths out there about tax professionals. We’re boring, it takes a long time to become  we love math… These are lies! We’re recruiting students interested in learning tax preparation and joining our team for our online class in October. We realize there are a lot of myths out there about tax preparation so we’ve compiled this list to tell the truth about tax preparers, and what it takes to become one.

Myth #1: You need to be a CPA or have an accounting degree to be a Tax Professional.

Many people shy away from taxes because they think it will be too difficult and you must be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or have an accounting degree, or the equivalent. The truth is you really don’t have to be an accountant to be a tax professional. Yes, you do need to have an aptitude for dealing with figures, but high level knowledge of math and finance are not necessary because tax preparation is not accounting, it’s law.

What you do need is at least one tax preparation course to give you a solid foundation in individual tax. In addition, a new voluntary IRS Annual Filing Season Program (AFSP) recommends that you also take a 6-hour Annual Federal Tax Refresher Course (AFTR) with a 100 question competency test to confirm your tax knowledge, along with some continuing education, which is always a good thing!

Myth #2: Tax Preparation is for ‘numbers’ people.

It’s amazing how many people think that tax preparation is all about the numbers. It’s not all about numbers, it’s actually a people business, which is why we names our business Peoples Income Tax. While it is extremely important that you have the knowledge to prepare taxes accurately, the experience that your clients have during the tax preparation process and after is just as important. When you are dealing with a client’s financial information it becomes very personal. Your client trusts you to take good care of him/her and hopes you have their best interests in mind. Your client is looking for guidance and has come to you because they see you as an expert in the tax industry. You could prepare a client’s tax return perfectly but if you don’t provide personal service, they may not be back. Relationships are paramount!

So, if you enjoy working with people, you could do very well in the tax business. It’s all about building relationships and trust.

Myth #3:  You need to be a college graduate to become a tax professional

We already told you that you don’t need to be a CPA to prepare taxes, but did you also know you don’t need to have a college degree either? The level of education required is just a high school diploma or the equivalent life experience. While you don’t need a college education, you will need education in tax law and preparation. Good news: it doesn’t take four years to get that, it only takes several weeks.

Myth #4:  Learning tax preparation could take years.

Our Comprehensive Course can be completed in as little as 10 weeks. As we mentioned before, you can begin preparing taxes for the general public as soon as you learn the basics. From there you can increase your knowledge while working as a tax preparer.

 

Get your share of more than $1 trillion in tax deductions

The most recent numbers show that more than 45 million of us itemized deductions on our 1040s—claiming $1.2 trillion dollars’ worth of tax deductions. That’s right: $1,200,000,000,000!  That same year, taxpayers who claimed the standard deduction accounted for $747 billion. Some of those who took the easy way out probably shortchanged themselves. (If you turned age 65 in 2018, remember that you deserve a bigger standard deduction than younger folks.)

Here are our 10 most overlooked tax deductions. Claim them if you deserve them, and keep more money in your pocket.

  1. State sales taxes

This write-off makes sense primarily for those who live in states that do not impose an income tax. We’re lookin’ at you, Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Here’s why this is a factor. You must choose between deducting state and local income taxes or state and local sales taxes. For most citizens of income-taxing-states, the state and local income tax deduction is usually the better deal.

For those of you in an income-tax free state, there are two ways to claim the sales tax deduction on your tax return. One, you can use the IRS tables provided for your state to determine what you can deduct. In addition, if you purchased a vehicle, boat, airplane, home or did major home renovations, you may be able to add the state sales tax you paid on these items to the amount shown in the IRS tables up to the limit for your state. Or two, you can you can keep track of all of the sales tax you paid throughout the year and use that.

The best way to see what you can deduct is to use the IRS’s Sales Tax Calculator for this. Keep in mind, the total of your itemized deductions for all of your state and local taxes is limited to $10,000 per year.

  1. Reinvested dividends

This isn’t really a tax deduction, but it is a subtraction that can save you a lot of money. And it’s one that many taxpayers miss. If, like most investors, you have mutual fund dividends automatically invested in extra shares, remember that each reinvestment increases your “tax basis” in the stock or mutual fund. That, in turn, reduces the amount of taxable capital gain (or increases the tax-saving loss) when you sell your shares.

Forgetting to include the reinvested dividends in your cost basis—which you subtract from the proceeds of sale to determine your gain—means overpaying your taxes. TurboTax Premier and Home & Business tax preparation solutions include a very cool tool—Cost Basis Lookup—that will figure your basis for you and make sure you get credit for every dime of reinvested dividends.

  1. Out-of-pocket charitable contributions

It’s hard to overlook the big charitable gifts you made during the year by check or payroll deduction. But the little things add up, too, and you can write off out-of-pocket costs you incur while doing good deeds. Ingredients for casseroles you regularly prepare for a qualified nonprofit organization’s soup kitchen, for example, or the cost of stamps you buy for your school’s fundraiser count as a charitable contribution. If you drove your car for charity in 2019, remember to deduct 14 cents per mile.

  1. Student loan interest paid by you or someone else

In the past, if parents or someone else paid back a student loan incurred by a student, no one got a tax break. To get a deduction, the law said that you had to be both liable for the debt and actually pay it yourself. But now there’s an exception. You may know that you might be eligible to take a deduction but even if someone else pays back the loan, the IRS treats it as though they gave you the  money, and you then paid the debt. So, a student who’s not claimed as a dependent can qualify to deduct up to $2,500 of student loan interest paid by you or by someone else.

Choosing Beautiful Colors For The Residential Painting To Use In Your Home

Posted on by

How to Start a Home Painting Business

he Academy for Professional Painting Contractors, an online resource for re-paint contractors, and the publisher behind Painter’s Weekly. He recently spoke with Small Business Trends via email to offer some tips and helpful insights for entrepreneurs looking to get into the home painting business. Here are some essential steps to take.

Register Your Company

The exact type of registration you might need for your business can vary by state. So it’s a good idea to check in with your government’s website or some local trade organizations to learn exactly what is required. From there, you might also purchase insurance, a domain and hosting for your business website

Invest in Equipment

Aside from that, the only real startup costs your business should have would be equipment. You’ll likely need ladders, drop cloths, brushes, rollers, sprayers, masks and potentially vehicles with your company’s logo to get you to different jobs.

Find Worthy Partners

When it comes to actually finding customers, Lewis recommends finding the other businesses in your area most influential with your target customers.

Create Your Talking Points

You’ll also need to think about what your marketing materials and sales pitches should feature in terms of content. Why should a new customer choose your business over the other options available?

 

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING A PAINTING RENOVATION

Know What You Want

Of course, the first thing to decide is what you are going to do with your painting renovation! Are you just repainting one room or one accent wall? You could probably tackle the project yourself. But if you are going to do multiple rooms including complex rooms such as bathrooms and the kitchen or the exterior of your home, you should hire the professionals at East Valley Painters to get the job done for you. We have the skills, experience, and the right tools to turn your painting vision into reality.

Then, Plan Accordingly

Once you figure out which walls you are going to paint, you need to figure out WHEN to paint them. Renovating your home’s paint may take a few days. So, if you are planning on having lots of company or a party at your home, either delay the project or hold the event after it is complete.

Prepping the Painting Area

Before you start the painting job, whether you are doing it yourself or not, you will need to remove all furniture in the room, electronics, window treatments, and wall hooks. You want the walls completely bare, even if a professional is coming to do the job.

Exterior Painting Renovations

When it comes to renovating the paint on the exterior of your home, you will want to make sure it is clean. Either you can wash it yourself or find a local company that can do the trick. Professional painters will get this job done for you if you decide to use a professional. They will then correctly do the job and even all the clean-up!

 

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT EXTERIOR PAINTING

When you have a home, you need to paint the exterior from time to time — it is a necessary part of your home ownership whether you are the one who does it or you get a professional painting contractor to assist you.

THE BEST WAY TO START IS TO PLAN

Before you lift the paintbrush for the first time, you need to make a plan for the exterior painting project. A plan like this entails figuring out when you are going to paint your home’s exterior as well as what materials you are going to need, including how much paint you are going to need.

PAINTING HELPS FIND EXTERIOR FLAWS

When you paint the exterior of your home, you are bound to find any exterior flaws that may exist, be they areas of the siding that have holes in them that need to be repaired or issues with mold that certainly need to be treated sooner than not.

NOT ALL PAINT IS CREATED EQUALLY

When it comes to painting the exterior of your home, you need to make sure that you are using the right kind of paint. For one, this means that you need to make sure that you are using exterior paint when you are painting the exterior of your home just as you should use interior paint when you are painting the interior of your home.

QUALITY OVER LOW PRICE

Though some will have you believe that you can get just any paint that’s available for sale as well as the equipment that is involved in painting, this is not at all the case.

 

HOW TO ESTIMATE AND QUOTE A PAINTING JOB: TIPS FROM AN INDUSTRY PRO

Pricing, estimating, and quoting can make or break a painting business. The way you quote projects dictates your ability to win jobs, set clear expectations, and drive profit. Quoting a job properly isn’t just about your cash flow, though. You also have to meet customer expectations, which are subject to what they read online and learn from others through word of mouth and referrals.

We are going to walk you through how to quote a painting job with tips and tricks provided by a painting industry expert, Graham Audenart. Graham has been in the painting industry for nearly 20 years and has had countless residential and commercial clients.

Estimating a painting job is no easy task. You may think that you can charge your client for the amount of paint you bought, and how much money you want to make at the end of the day, but it’s not that simple

Visit the client’s space

Some professionals do all their quotes over the phone––and you can too. But, you have an advantage if you visit your client in their space.

Meeting the client

For one thing, if you skip this step, you don’t get the chance to meet the client and develop a relationship with them. Meeting your client is very important for client referrals, business growth, and customer service.

 

Interior Painting Tips for the DIY Painter

Many homeowners possess basic painting preparation. They know that it’s important to use drop cloths, painters tape and stir paint thoroughly. But did you know that a golf ball can help maintain paint quality, or that microwaving paint tape can make it more manageable?

With most DIY painting projects, knowing a few additional painting techniques can lead to the most satisfying results. Storing paint properly and using the right tools can ensure that you prevent blemishes and cover surfaces evenly.

Don’t let your paint dry out

A half-empty can of paint will dry out. Drop golf balls into the paint can to fill the air space, or place plastic wrap under the lid, seal it tightly and store the paint upside down.

Use the right primer

If you’re painting new drywall, use a water-based primer to hide imperfections and provide an even base before applying color. If you’re painting paneling, water-damaged or smoke-saturated walls, opt for an oil-based primer.

Avoid lap marks

To avoid stripes caused by rolling over paint that’s already starting to dry, keep a wet edge by painting the full height of the wall and then moving over slightly so you can overlap the last stroke with the next.

Find The Right Expert To Repair Your Broken Pipes

Posted on by

Avoid Broken Pipes During Rainy Season

Beware of Broken Pipes

With the start of spring, people will see heavy rainfall in preparation for fall months. This is the time when the earth replenishes its supply of moisture to grow flowers, trees, and crops. As much as everyone needs the received rain, if left unchecked, the excessive moisture under most houses can cause a significant problem.

Pipes are not made to handle too much pressure or buildup and if clogged, you could experience backups and broken pipes. This article will discuss a few things to look out for when it comes to your plumbing this spring.

Excess Rain Can Increase Water Pressure

When rainwater falls, the ground soaks up most of the moisture. Excess water runs off into storm drains and piping that leads to water treatment plants. When the soil gets overly saturated, however, it can back up into pipes and put pressure on the pipes under your house.

Rain can also force dirt, rocks, sticks, leaves, and other debris into cracks in your pipe and cause a backup. When pipes encounter more significant water pressure than they were meant to handle, they are more prone to cracking or bursting, causing floods and damage to your home and foundation.

The biggest issue is with pipes that are old or worn down. If you have had issues with a pipe leaking previously and it’s nearing the time to replace it, doing so sooner than later can prevent serious issues such as leaks and breaks from pressure caused by rainfall.

 

UNEXPECTED PLUMBING REPAIRS: CUTTING CAST IRON PIPE AND REPAIRING THE SEWER LINE

Nothing like a Thanksgiving dinner to clog the sink, right? That’s exactly what happened to me on Thursday evening! My sister and I were working on doing some dishes, she had a full sink of water and started to let it go down the drain. My sink is connected to my dishwasher which has an open pipe in the corner of the kitchen that the dishwasher then drains into. When Bronwyn let the water start going down the sink drain, the pipe for the dishwasher started gushing out water all over the floor! We quickly plugged the sink back up to prevent any more water from going down and called quits on dishes for the night.

The next morning I saw that both the sink and the pipe had drained overnight. I tired flushing things out with baking soda and vinegar followed by boiling water to see if that would fix the clog. It did nothing and I could only get a few cups of water down the dishwasher pipe before the water rose to the top. Not a good sign. A little while later, I headed into the crawl space to see if I could figure out what was going on (a lofty idea for someone as naive as I am about plumbing!). I am not particularly fond of my crawl space. It’s damp and filled with spiders and there’s lingering molten tar that dripped down between the floor boards when I accidentally liquified the tar mastic in the kitchen . I should probably replace the plastic tarps that are affected by the latter… but that would just add more to my to-do list! So instead I leave it be and crawl through the grime. The crawl space is accessed through this half-door in the corner of the basement. You can see it here at the edge of this photo from when I first toured the house.

So, I climbed into the crawl space and opened up the flexible coupling (this type) with a screw driver to see if I could identify the problem. It’s one of those rubber-like couplings with metal clamps on either end, so it’s easy enough to loosen the clamps and open the pipe. Of course, idiotically, I didn’t think my plan through. When I opened the clamp and pulled it up the pipe, the whole thing started gushing dirty dishwater in all directions! It started off by splashing right up into my face of course! Yuck!

After I drained an unexpectedly large amount of water all over myself, I removed myself from the dark cavity that is my crawl space and texted my neighbor Erik. This was clearly over my head. He popped over shortly after with a snake and we stuck that into the pipe where I’d opened the coupling. After getting the snake in nothing seemed to be happening, but when Erik went to remove the snake, the whole pipe moved with it. Uh oh. I reached out to steady the pipe and realized it didn’t even matter! The whole pipe section had just snapped off. And snapped off not close to where we were snaking, but farther down the pipe. See the dirt in the picture above? That’s where it broke, buried down in that! So I slathered a smile on my face and pretended I loved the crawl space and got to work.

I took out a shovel and started digging in the dirt to figure out where the pipe had broken and found the house’s 4″ cast iron sewer line. The old galvanized pipe that connected the sink and dishwasher drains to the sewer had corroded away and the slight motion from snaking it, broke it off right where it connected to the sewer. Not good! Because it was broken, I couldn’t even get it out of the sewer line and simply sub in a new section of pipe. Nope, I had to get way more involved and replace a section of the sewer line itself! Erik headed out with the promise to help me tomorrow. After I finished digging out around the pipe I called it quits for the night and stuffed a rag in the broken off pipe to prevent the sewer gases from filling the basement. The only good thing about this clog is that it caused me to find this corroded (now broken) pipe. This pipe had been leaking into the soil hidden below where I’d be able to see it if I had not been digging!

 

Protecting Your Valuable Plumbing Pipes

Have you experienced significant plumbing issues lately? Or perhaps your plumbing continually springs small leaks that require pipe repair? In either case, the team at General Plumbing and Air Conditioning can help. For years, we have been assisting residential and commercial clients with an array of pipe repair services from sewer pipe lining to whole-home repiping. Allow us to give you peace of mind with our excellent customer service and workmanship.

There are several things we can do to get your plumbing system back on track. At times, your repair may only mean a small pipe replacement. However, depending on what kind of material you have, repiping may be the better option. Certain systems are prone to leaks and damage, so we can overhaul the old plumbing with better and sturdier materials.

Broken Water Pipe Repair

Have you ever walked into your home and been greeted with an inch or two of water? It is every homeowner’s nightmare – and for a good reason. A broken water pipe can cause thousands of dollars’ worth of damage, especially if it isn’t repaired properly. When you discover your broken water pipe

Signs You Need Pipe Repair

If your water bills have been higher than usual, it isn’t always because someone in the house has been taking longer showers. Sometimes it’s because you are in need of pipe repair service.

 

Water Damage

A water disaster can strike anytime anywhere. Generally, the occurrences are sudden and unexpected and the damages are often very difficult to detect depending on the specific nature of the loss.  It has been widely reported in the insurance industry that the most frequent type of loss is from water.  Events such as frozen pipe leaks, broken pipes, leaks from appliances, sewage backup, water entering from an opening in roofs and other elevations of a building due to heavy or driven rain are typical water losses that are covered under most risk property policies.  To receive fair compensation for a loss, it is advantageous to have an experienced claims advocate advising you as the method for adjusting such losses can be highly technical and impact the way the settlement is determined.

Leaking Pipe or Pipe Burst

Often referred to a plumbing system or supply line leaks, these types of leaks can cause massive property damage is left unchecked.  They sometimes originate from just a small damp spot in a floor or baseboard, a slightly higher water bill than normal to a flooded property from a broken supply line gushing for hours or days while you are away.  Most likely the damaged pipe is not covered itself, but the access to the affected area and the ensuing water damage will be covered unless your policy specifically excludes it.  The most important thing in these losses to stop the source as quickly as possible, extract the water as quickly as possible to limit the potential for other damages and mold growth, and quickly report the claim to the insurance company.

Broken Drain Line or Sewer Line

Drain lines, or sanitary plumbing pipes, carry waste from your drains and away from your home.  In recent years, more and more policies are excluding sewer drain line issues from coverage without adding specific endorsements for additional coverage.  If the damages are covered, usually the repair to the pipes are not which can lead to thousands of dollars in costs.  These types of issues come with their own special set of remediation needs as a special category or “dirty” water will damage and contaminate your property and require specific steps to properly resolve the issues.

Foundation Leaks

Often referred to as “slab leaks”, these leaks occur when a pipe break or bursts inside or under the foundation of the property.  Slab Leaks are typically found in copper pipes and many times they are very small holes, however these are pressurized lines which means even a small hole can release a lot of water.  These slab leaks can and usually are difficult to locate as you will only see the water coming up in certain areas which are sometimes not even close to where the actual plumbing leak is located.  These types of leaks often times require the use of a Leak Detection Company to pinpoint the exact location of the leak as it is hard work to break through a slab and you don’t want to do it more times than needed.

Mold Damage

In the past, mold damage claims were covered under most property insurance when it resulted from a covered peril, such as a sudden plumbing leak, fire control, storm or other cause covered by your property insurance policy.

 

Professional Broken Pipe Repair

Is your house suffering from a leaking or rusted pipe? Leaks are simple to spot from the sounds they make, As well as the odors! Unfortunately, it is hard to protect your pipes from a burst pipe, simply because there are plenty of different things that can result in damage to a pipe. However, when these problems occur, it is important to act quickly and look out for any further damages.

Repairing Busted Pipes

Bellows Plumbing, Heating & Air is here to serve clients with integrity as well as professionalism, from home to commercial plumbing projects. We’re experienced in an extensive variety of both complex and basic plumbing problems, and we love a good challenge. We have been contacted to fix pipes that were harmed after a long time of extreme water pressure, as well as pipes that have entirely fallen apart from rust damages. Unsurprisingly, we’re a preferred contractor for pipe replacement and pipe repairs in Santa Cruz, Marin, Santa Clara, and Sonoma. You have multiple options in regards to leaking or pipe bursts in your home. When you give us a ring, we’ll send out one of our expert plumbers to look at the situation and provide you with an estimate. Repairs are often simple, but sometimes we’ll come across pipes that would actually be cheaper to just replace entirely.

Professional Pipe Repairmen

How much your repair or replacement will cost, and how long it’ll take both rely on the type of pipes involved. Iron piping is among the longest-lasting pipes, for example, though they will cost more than options such as PVC piping. We have an extensive variety of services to choose from, and we do whatever we can to accommodate your needs. Among our extensive variety of services, you’ll find rusted pipe replacement, as well as more plumbing specialties.

Commercial Electrical Remodel Info

Posted on by

TIPS FOR USING COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTOR’S SERVICE

Commercial construction contractor’s service is not just required when you are building a shiny new structure. A commercial construction contractors firm can accomplish remodeling work for you. At whatever point you need something done to your structure it is best on the off chance that you converse with a commercial construction contractors firm before you settle on any official conclusions.

Commercial new construction contractor’s service will have the option to come and look at your property to resolve any issues you may have with your structure being out of code with the city. You can be severely fined if a city inspector comes to your business and finds that the electrical wiring, the pipes, or the ventilation in your business, is not up to code. So as to keep this from happening you need to employ someone to come and see if the entirety of the aspects of your structure would pass the current code inspections.

Employing a commercial construction contractor’s service to revamp your structure and bring all elements up to code will leave you alone assured that a licensed professional is doing each piece of the activity. On the off chance that you attempt to do this on your own you should employ a circuit tester, a handyman, a warming and cooling master, and numerous different professionals. On the off chance that the city permits you to accomplish the work yourself they will probably have you get a license to start work. At that point you will require an inspector to check your work after each stage is finished. At the point when a commercial construction service is recruited to accomplish the work they know about the inspectors and they realize when to request an inspection so that they are not left just sticking around.

 

How to Tell Commercial Contractors Apart

There are plenty of commercial contractors around who just are out to get the best of your time and money. It’s essential to be vigilant and assertive when checking out potential prospects. Here are a few things to remember when hiring a commercial contractor:

  • Ask friends, co-workers and other reliable sources for referrals. Word of mouth is still as powerful as ever, and with good reason. Get first hand recommendations on what commercial contractor did less than satisfactory work, or which one really made the effort to complete the job well and on time, too.
  • Google the names of the businesses. More often than not, a commercial contractor will make use of the Internet to advertise their business, introduce their staff and highlight their services. Check whether or not the company that you are eying has great reviews from their previous clients. Watch for potential red flags when customers who have had bad experiences with these contractors air their grievances on the web.
  • Check with the Better Business Bureau. Before Commercial Contractor, 5 Tips to Get the Best Commercial Contractor, Nelson Construction & Renovations, Inc., Nelson Construction & Renovations, Inc.hiring a commercial contractor, make sure to check out their certification with the BBB or your local Chamber of Commerce. This can turn up surprises in finding out whether the company is legit or fraudulent.
  • Request a free quotation. Nowadays, every dollar counts. Call at least three contractors that you have already checked with the BBB, and have them provide you with a free quotation. Be practical and choose the one that can provide you with good quality for a reasonable price.

 

Tips On Finding A Commercial Construction Company You Can Trust

Whether you plan to build new retail space in the mall or need an entire office building constructed, your project is important to get right. You’ll need to find an experienced local commercial construction company you can trust.

Sadly, there are many companies and contractors out there who claim to offer great commercial construction services. Who do you trust? It can be difficult to choose the right contractor to handle your project. In order to get good results from a commercial construction contractor in your area, there are certain factors to consider.

Licensing

Hiring a licensed commercial contractor is very crucial to the success of your project. Many states demand that commercial contractors be licensed after meeting certain minimum requirements.

In addition to a license, your commercial construction company should have an insurance policy and bond. When hiring a contractor, it is important you check their license online or at your state’s construction licensing department.

You can also ask the contractor to show proof of their license and a copy of his insurance certificate to verify the information. Make sure the insurance coverage is enough to cover any property damage or injuries that might occur at the site of the project.

Communication

Good communication between the client and the contractor is key to the success of a project. Whether you want the communication to be on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, you should hire a contractor who is willing to adapt to your style of communication. This can be through phone calls, emails or in-person.

Contractor Bids

After a commercial contractor has reviewed the project, he will come up with a plan and estimate the likely cost of the project. This process is known as a bid. In a bid, you should ensure that the proposal covers all information concerning the project, including those that might have been left out by the contractor.

Rapport

Remember, you will be spending a considerable amount of time with the contractor. Therefore, it is important you find someone who is friendly, responsive, hardworking and ambitious. He should be someone whom you feel comfortable working with.

When interviewing the contractor, ask him questions to ensure that you are on the same page. See how he responds to your questions and whether he depicts any kind of rudeness and negative attitude. A good contractor should make you feel confident and comfortable when interacting with him.

Experience

For a contractor to effectively manage a large project like a commercial building, he needs a lot of experience. Before you hire a contractor, it is important you review his qualifications to determine his level of experience. Ask the contractor how many years he has been in business in your region and how many projects he handled so far.

Go for someone who has been in business for at least three years and has a good track record. Also, be wary of commercial construction companies who offer lower bids. Some use low bids as a smokescreen to hide their lack of experience.

Skills

It is essential you don’t rush to choose a contractor without observing the due diligence. Take your time and compare at least three contractors you think are qualified for the job. Make sure you settle on someone who not only has experience but also has the skills needed for the job. To gauge the contractor’s skills, you will need to view his past projects.

 

Tips when Hiring a Building Contractor for your Commercial Construction Project

Whether you’re building a new facility or renovating an existing space for your business, hiring a building contractor can make or break the project.  It’s important to find a qualified commercial general contractor to ensure that your project is completed successfully. Although it can take time to find the right GC for your project, spending a little extra time before hiring a building contractor can save you headaches down the road. When searching for construction contractors, research and open communication can help you find the best contractor for your job.

  1. Solicit Recommendations

Selecting the first commercial general contractor that you find with a simple Internet search may not be the best option. Instead, ask your friends and business associates if they’ve worked with any commercial general contractors that they would recommend. You can also use online reviews to help create a list of candidates.

  1. Research Your Options Carefully

When hiring a building contractor, check each contractor’s website to get a feel for the type of work that they do. Contractor websites often include other useful information, including credentials and awards that the company has earned. Some websites include a list of references, giving you a handy list of individuals you can call to help you figure out if a particular contractor will fit your project.

  1. See the Projects for Yourself

Research can help you establish some facts about a contractor, but seeing their work for yourself can help you gain a better understanding of the contractor. Many contractors include a gallery of completed projects on their website. Pictures are useful, but seeing the work in person may make your decision easier. Ask the contractor if you can meet up to see a project currently underway. This will also give the contractor a good chance to show you how he manages his workers and maintains daily operations.

 

BUSINESS OWNERS’ FEEDBACK ON THE COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION PROCESS

  1. ASK QUESTIONS – Your contractor is experienced and they do not expect you to know everything. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Asking questions and clarifications early-on can reduce the amount of changes that might be required or desired during the construction process.  It will also help you understand the process and why each step is required.  Below are a few suggested questions to ask:
  • What is the approval process in my jurisdiction?
  • When can I anticipate city officials approving my project?
  • What additional fees can I expect?
  1. COMMUNICATION – Having a good relationship with your project team and having an open dialogue is key. Having a point of contact between you and the construction team makes the communication process easier. Use technology to communicate.  Using a program such as, a cloud-base construction management software program is ideal.  This can allow you, your project manager, field team and architect to communicate effectively and all in one place.
  2. MEETINGS – In the approval stage, attend all public hearings that have your project on the agenda, such as the zoning and planning commissions and city council meetings. During construction have a weekly or bi-weekly team meeting at the job site. If this isn’t feasible have a routine scheduled conference call.  Include key people, such as the owner, construction manager, architect and subcontractors.  This will ensure everyone is on the same page and will keep the project moving forward.  This is a good time to ask questions too.
  3. SCHEDULING – Set a target date for completion prior to starting construction. This will give your project team a completion goal to work towards. Have your contractor create a tentative schedule for the duration of the project.  This way you will have an idea of the process it takes to build or renovate your space.  Building materials can sometimes take longer than expected to be delivered, especially if your project includes custom made items.  Be prepared that scheduling might not go as planned.  Have your contractor update the schedule monthly, as needed.
  4. PREPARE FOR THE UNKNOWN – In most cases construction goes as planned, however, there can be unexpected delays. If you’re renovating a building, you might find that the existing building plans or underground utilities aren’t as specified or a record of it can’t be found. Most likely you will see this in an older building.  Mother Nature doesn’t always cooperate as we hoped, rain, snow and extreme hot and cold temperatures can impact construction as well.
  5. PLAN AHEAD – If you need your project completed by a certain date allow plenty of time for the approval process. Approvals can sometimes take up to 6-9 months before construction can begin. Getting approvals from city officials might take longer than expected and they might require you to make improvements to your site that you weren’t planning.  Obtaining approvals through government municipalities can be timely and costly.  Depending on your type of project, you might want to consider choosing a construction contractor prior to the approval process and one that can help navigate you through the system.  Additionally, plan accordingly if you’re renovating or adding to your current building and planning on operating your business as normal.  Have a team meeting to discuss the moving details or the possibility of increased traffic, dust and noise, and large equipment on site.  Problem solve the best solution to reduce interruptions to your day-to-day operations during construction.  Have your construction team meet with your employees to answer questions if needed.

The Functions Of A Pediatric Dentist

Posted on by

Children’s health

Raising a child on your own can be stressful. If you’re a single parent, understand how to cope with the pressure, find support and nurture your child.

If you’re raising a child on your own, you’re in good company. Single-parent families are more common than ever. Know how to manage some of the special challenges single parents experience and what you can do to raise a happy, healthy child.

Common single-parent challenges

Child rearing can be difficult under any circumstances. Without a partner, the stakes are higher. As a single parent, you might have sole responsibility for all aspects of day-to-day child care.

Being a single parent can result in added pressure, stress and fatigue. If you’re too tired or distracted to be emotionally supportive or consistently discipline your child, behavioral problems might arise.

Single-parent families also generally have lower incomes and less access to health care. Juggling work and child care can be financially difficult and socially isolating. You might worry about the lack of a male or female parental role model for your child, too.

 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) parenting tips

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has upended family life around the world. School closures, working remote, physical distancing — it’s a lot to navigate for anyone, but especially for parents. We teamed up with the Parenting for Lifelong Health initiative to bring parents and caregivers a set of handy tips to help manage this new (temporary) normal.

Talking about COVID-19

Be willing to talk. They will already have heard something. Silence and secrets do not protect our children. Honesty and openness do. Think about how much they will understand. You know them best.

Be open and listen

Allow your child to talk freely. Ask them open questions and find out how much they already know.

Be honest

Always answer their questions truthfully. Think about how old your child is and how much they can understand

Be supportive

Your child may be scared or confused. Give them space to share how they are feeling and let them know you are there for them.

 

Tips for Comforting a Fearful or Nervous Child

No parent wants to see their child upset, but sometimes it’s hard to know how to react when your child is nervous or afraid. Do you hug them? Do you let them cry it out? There’s so much conflicting advice out there! Next time you’re faced with reacting to your nervous or fearful child, try these tried and true tips.

Do Be There

For many children, your presence will help calm them. Hug them or hold them on your lap. Even holding their hand can help give them a sense of security and comfort.

Don’t Be Too Involved

By telling your child exactly what to do or even what to say in stressful and challenging situations, they are not able to solve problems on their own or learn ways to cope by themselves. This doesn’t mean they’ll never need help, but you should let them try to problem solve first before offering a helpful hand.

Do Get Moving

Physical activity can be calming during times of high stress. Running, doing cartwheels, or playing a game involving gross motor movements can help distract them from their worry or fear.

Don’t Avoid Activities

When children constantly avoid situations that make them afraid or uncomfortable, their fears never go away. Try easing them into activities that make them nervous. You don’t want to expect too much at once because it can take them a while to conquer a fear. For example, if your child has a difficult time playing with other children at school, set up a playdate at home so they can focus on feeling comfortable around one child before being surrounded by all of their peers on the playground. By slowly helping them adapt, you can ease their fear and prepare them to cope on their own when they’re older.

 

Reading with your child

Sharing a book with a child is fun! It’s a time for closeness, laughing and talking together – and it can also give children a flying start in life and help them become lifelong readers

It’s never too early to start

It’s never too early to start sharing books with them – they might not understand the words, but they will love cuddling up, hearing your voice, and looking at the pictures.

Talk to your bump. Your baby can hear sounds as early as 18 weeks and talking regularly to your bump will help them recognise your voice and be comforted listening to you even before they’re born.

Give black and white books a go when they’re little. You might receive the Bookstart Newborn pack, which includes black and white images for you to share. These are perfect in the early days when their eyes are still developing.

In England and Wales, ask your health visitor or library about where you can pick up your free Bookstart Baby pack. It includes books, tips and advice to help you get started.

Join your local library. Libraries are full of great advice and recommendations, and you’ll have a new supply of books to enjoy. Your library may also host Rhymetimes and other sessions for little ones – you’ll be able to have fun and meet other families, too.

Get other family members involved. Storytime is something that everyone can enjoy, and it’s a great way to bond. For example, there are lots of books about the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren – maybe your little one would enjoy sharing one of those stories with their own nanny and granddad?

As your child gets a bit older

Sharing picture books can be a lot of fun – but don’t worry if your child gets distracted, chews the book or wanders off… that’s perfectly normal! Don’t worry if you don’t have a lot of time in your busy day, either – just a few minutes can make a huge difference

Here are some more tips to help you enjoy storytime together:

Ask your child to choose what they’d like to read. They’ll feel more interested in the story if they’ve picked it out themselves. (And don’t worry if they keep returning to the same story, either!)

If you can, turn off the TV, radio and computer. It’s easier for both of you to enjoy the story without any other distractions.

Sit close together. You could encourage your child to hold the book themselves and turn the pages, too.

Take a look at the pictures. You don’t just have to read the words on the page. Maybe there’s something funny in the pictures that you can giggle about together, or perhaps your child enjoys guessing what will happen next.

Ask questions and talk about the book. Picture books can be a great way to talk through your child’s fears and worries, or to help them deal with their emotions. Give them space to talk, and ask how they feel about the situations in the story.

Have fun! There’s no right or wrong way to share a story – as long as you and your child are having fun. Don’t be afraid to act out situations or use funny voices… your little ones will love it!

 

HELPFUL TIPS FOR NEW PARENTS

You’ve just arrived home from the hospital. You had trouble strapping Junior into the brand-new, state-of-the-art car seat your mother insisted was the best, and you feel like you’ve just been hit by a semi. Your insides hurt in places you didn’t know existed, and your head might explode if your partner asks if you feel okay one more time. Where are the moments of serenity when Junior is supposed to be sleeping? When do you get some shut-eye yourself?

Don’t be too hard on yourself. If you can’t immediately drop back to your pre-baby weight, it’s because your body needs time to adjust. The key is to allow yourself time to get back on your feet. Your number one priority is taking care of baby, and the only way to do this is to take care of yourself. In those few-and-far-between moments of peace, you often have to decide between eating and sleeping. Eat nutritious foods that will give you energy, or take time to meditate in silence. Taking care of yourself will provide you with a healthy mindset to take on tomorrow

Sleep in shifts. Sleep deprivation will lead you to borderline insanity. You’ve heard every new parent complain of never being able to sleep, and now it’s your turn to live through it. You can tackle the issue of lack of sleep by tag-teaming with your partner, and splitting the responsibility of waking up with the baby. If you’re a single parent, try to sleep wherever the baby is to maximize personal sleep.

Don’t refuse help. It’s in a lot of parents’ natures to feel incompetent if they have to ask others for help. They fear this makes them bad parents, or unprepared to cope with a baby. The phrase “it takes a village” didn’t come out of thin air – allow yourself to accept help when it’s offered. The people who love you truly want to make your life easier, not rub it in your face that you can’t do it alone. Allow your sister to come do the dishes. Accept hot meals cooked by your coworkers. Let mom rock the baby while you snatch a quick nap. These are the things that can keep you bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in moments when help isn’t available.

Carpet Cleaning Methods

Posted on by

Care Tips

Regular Vacuuming

It is important to vacuum your carpet thoroughly and frequently, particularly in high traffic areas to prolong the life of and enhance the appearance of your carpet.

After your carpet is laid, vacuum lightly and frequently in the first week and then at least weekly and more frequently in high traffic areas after that.

Give three vacuum passes for light soiled areas and five to seven passes for heavily soiled areas.

Vacuum first against the pile direction to help unsettle and remove dirt and grit to reduce matting.

When finishing, vacuum in the direction of the pile to achieve a uniform finish.

Steam Cleaning

Depending on usage carpet should be professionally steam cleaned every 12-18 months.

Steam Cleaning should only be undertaken by a professional carpet cleaner who is a member of a professional association.

Shampooing, do it yourself steam cleaning or dry cleaning are not recommended.

Vacuum Type

Use only a quality vacuum.

Vacuums fitted with micro filter systems ensure fine particles (such as dustmite allergens ) are removed and stay in the collection bag (particularly if you are dust sensitive).

To prevent excess fuzzing turn the brush off, or change the head when vacuuming loop pile, cut pile or berber carpet.

Check and adjust the height of beaters if fitted regularly to ensure the carpet is not damaged by excessive beating.

For thicker carpets with a higher pile, the height of beaters may be raised and/or suction level reduced to make vacuuming easier.

Suction efficiency is reduced considerably when bags are half full.

Change or empty dust collection bags frequently and replace filters as recommended by the manufacturer.

Spot Cleaning

Prompt attention to spillages or stains is paramount to avoid the penetration of a stain into the carpet fiber.

Liquids (particularly hot liquids) must be attended to immediately. If allowed to cool or dry, the stain will be more difficult to remove.

Care must be taken as haphazard attempts at spot removal can cause permanent stain setting, pile distortion and loss of color.

Follow the stain removal steps as recommended.

Exercise extreme care with all bleaches and chemical products as the can permanently discolor or dissolve carpets.

Ways to Protect Your Carpet

Place door mats at exterior doorways.

Use furniture coasters and chair pads under chairs with castors and occasionally rearrange furniture to alleviate pressure marks.

Use rugs to protect carpet in high traffic areas.

Protect carpet from prolonged periods of direct sunlight with curtains or blinds.

 

CARPET CLEANING TIPS & TRICKS

We have been in the industry for over 30 years now, offering professional carpet cleaning services Auckland wide. With this comes a great deal of knowledge around common unexpected spills and stains to your carpets or rugs.

Draw up with paper towels. Apply pressure with your hand. Keep going with fresh paper towels until the paper towels are dry. Flush out with clean water once you’ve soaked up the majority of the spill. Flush the water on the spill and soak it up with paper towels

Coffee and tea are natural dyes, although these types of spills are not so urgent as discoloration will take a longer period of time. Again the ‘draw up flush out’ technique is best Draw up with paper towels. Apply pressure with your hand. Keep going with fresh paper towels until the paper towels are dry.

For artificial dyes spilt on your carpet, like soft drinks, cordial drinks & syrups, ice blocks etc.. It’s best to try the draw up flush out technique again, so you: Draw up with paper towels. Apply pressure with your hand. Keep going with fresh paper towels until the paper towels are dry.

Oily marks from things like grease, tar, make-up, baby oil, suntan lotion, crayons etc are usually quite stable, so they’re not especially urgent to deal with – apart from the visual annoyance obviously. As long as you call us in with few days, they can usually be successfully removed.

 

How to Clean Your Carpets

A clean carpet is important both for the appearance of your home and the health of the people who live in it. Stains and dingy carpet can detract from a peaceful atmosphere, while allergens and dirt can contribute to respiratory problems. There are a number of ways to clean carpet, depending on the nature of the mess.

Prepare the room to be vacuumed. Pick up any toys, papers or other objects that will obstruct the passage of the vacuum cleaner.

Use a nozzle attachment to clean hard to reach areas. The edges of the carpets and the baseboards often collect dust which should first be removed.

Vacuum both horizontally and vertically. First vacuum the entire room forward and back, then repeat the process going left to right. Carpet fibers are typically twisted, and by going both directions you can ensure that every part of the fiber has been reached.

Vacuum regularly. How “regularly” will depend on a few factors. In general, it’s recommended to vacuum at least once a week per person in your household or roughly 20 pounds of pet.

 

Helpful Clean Carpets Tips!

While everyone loves to have their home carpeted, not many fully understand the importance of having their carpet cleaned regularly. Why it is important is not readily understood, but the reasons and importance are varied.

Carpeting is very expensive; and some persons would even go on to say it is an investment that adds value to a home or office. The expense and the underlying investments are simply reasons enough for you wanting to maintain your carpet with regular vacuuming and yearly deep cleaning. By so doing, you’ll be ensuring that your carpet lives on for a long time and continue to add beauty and value to your home or office by providing the perceived luxury of a cushy and nice covering for one’s floors.

Vacuum carpets daily. If this task is too bothersome, purchase a robotic vacuum cleaner to do the job for you. Vacuuming prevents soil from bonding to fibers, and keeps them from sinking down to the base of your carpet. There are lots of good vacuums out there.

Make sure all hard surfaces (tile, wood, slate and marble) are cleaned daily or weekly. Pay close attention to the hard flooring in home entrances and kitchen and garage areas. You will not have clean carpets if your hard surfaces are filthy. To test these surfaces for soil, place a small amount of cleaner on a towel and wipe. This will show you what is being tracked onto your carpet.

Make sure no one uses outside shoes or bare feet on your carpet. Post a “No Shoes” tradition observed sign and offer guests slippers. Shoes track in a lot of soil -especially if they see asphalt regularly. Going barefoot means you are injecting body oil into carpets. Soil clings to oil and oil clings to carpet fibers. Body oil can permanently stain carpets if given enough time. Slippers or socks worn need to be worn at all times.

 

Carpet Cleaning Tips for Pet Owners

Be Prepared

Have the right products, tools, and equipment on hand when an accident happens. Enzyme treatments designed specifically for neutralizing urine stains and odors, and a hand-held carpet extractor are two items you’ll need. An enzymatic cleaner that contains bacteria and an oxygen-booster will help you prepare for cleaning up solid pet messes. Don’t skimp on cost, as the lower-priced versions mask odors instead of neutralizing them. The result? They often return later. A scraper or putty knife and dustpan will also be helpful for cleaning up solid pet messes.

Act Quickly

Develop the mindset that all pet messes must be cleaned up immediately. The longer they are allowed to stand, the harder they will be to remove and the more you will compromise the life of your carpet.

Clean Correctly

Urine Stains: Use the extractor to thoroughly remove the urine from the carpet. This works much better than paper towels. Apply the enzyme treatment according to package directions.

Solid Messes: Use the scraper and dustpan to scrape up and remove solids from the carpet. Generously apply the oxygenated enzymatic cleaner and wait at least 45 minutes. Scrape up any remaining solids, let the area dry, and vacuum.

Prevent Pet Interference

To keep pets away during cleaning, lightly cover the treated area with aluminum foil or a plastic bag. These items will make noise when disturbed, keeping curious pets away.

Discourage Reoffending

Keep your carpet clean and fresh to make it less attractive to your pets. Vacuum two or three times a week, treat affected areas promptly, and schedule regular professional carpet cleanings.

Pet stain and odor removal isn’t a mystery. With the right tools and techniques, you can keep your carpet looking good and smelling fresh while extending its life. Isn’t that worth the effort?

How Can You Get The Best Home Builder

Posted on by

How to Pick the Right Builder

The most important decision you make when building a new home – besides picking the ideal house plan – is selecting your builder. Nothing can make or break the experience like the builder you choose. Some people spend years cursing a builder who cut corners or cost them a fortune. But many people feel like they’ve made an important friend for life. Here’s some advice that will increase your odds of a happy ending.

Get Your House in Order

Eventually, you will ask three or four builders to give you construction bids. But before you can do that, you need to understand the scope of the project. Many plans come with material lists and structural framing plans that builders will use to make estimates. If you don’t have them, you could have a building material dealer or engineer create a material list from the blueprints; that way you’ll be comparing apples to apples in bids. Even so, most plans do not include an HVAC or electrical plan. Separate subcontractors must be hired to do that work, either by you or the builder.

Find a Custom Builder

For a house plan project, you probably don’t want to hire a production builder who primarily builds homes of the same design over and over again. Instead, you want a builder who can build from architectural plans, which is a different skill set. A good custom builder hews closely to the designer’s intent, fill in missing details with a similar aesthetic. A bad builder will go off book whenever possible, looking for opportunities to substitute less-expensive material and design details with which he’s most familiar. A builder’s design sensitivity is especially important because house plans don’t specify finish materials such as paint and carpeting.

Consider Hiring a Builder Early in the Process

Building a house from a plan requires a lot of time and expertise. Some people hire a builder before they even buy a house plan. That way they can use the builder’s expertise to review potential plans for the cost of construction. They may even have the builder run interference with the building department and the bank. They ask the builder to work with an engineer to get the plans stamped for approval. This kind of assistance is rarely free. And if you begin working with a builder before you select a house plan, it may be difficult to get the sharpest construction bid.

Do Some Internet Research

Most builders these days have a web site to showcase their work. They are worth checking out. Make sure they build in a style that’s right for the design of your home. The builder of traditional homes may not have the expertise or sensibility to build a contemporary home that highlights rather than hides construction details. While you are on your computer, check to see whether customers have registered complaints against builders in chat boards. The most common complaints, of course, will be that the builder went over-budget, didn’t build the house as designed, failed to fix his mistakes, and didn’t come back in a timely basis to finish

 

Before Meeting a Custom Builder, Do These Things

After weeks of research, you’ve finally narrowed your list of potential home builders. The next step? Meet with the candidates you’ve chosen. The builder you choose will become your partner for the next year, so it is important to pick someone you trust who has the right qualifications.

Research local builders.

Refine your builder list. Before you meet with a builder, be sure to view their online portfolio and drive by some of their houses. See what you like and what you don’t like about their work. Have they built homes that are similar in size and style to what you want? How do their homes look after 10+ years? Ask the builder details about a specific project (e.g., time, costs, challenges, things they do differently) and be prepared to point out features you want incorporated in your home.

Ask questions.

Meeting with a builder for the first time can be an overwhelming experience

Show and tell.

If you’ve been surfing Houzz for inspiration, this is a great time to show the builder what you’ve found. Bringing actual visuals of what you want in your home will help your builder and designer get a sense of what details you want early in the process. The process of sharing visuals will also help determine if the builder is capable of sharing your vision

Ask for references.

Every established builder will be able to provide references from past clients. Several weeks before the meeting, ask for at least three references — aim for one old and two new — and be sure to check them. Ask these customers about the home’s durability as well as the builder’s communication methods, response times, and ability to provide realistic estimates and stay within budget.

 

Tips for Choosing and Working With a Builder

You may have heard horror stories about problems with builders, budgets spiraling out of control and sites left half-finished. But the reality is that the vast majority of builders are both professional and capable, and you can do a great deal to avoid bad experiences simply through the way you choose, manage and communicate with them. Here’s why it’s worth laying the foundations for a good relationship with your builder – and how to do it well.

Don’t approach a builder too soon

It may seem logical if you’re thinking of having construction work done to start by approaching a builder, but don’t be too hasty. Builders are generally good at pricing once they know exactly what’s wanted, but asking for a price before you have any drawings or detailed information about the project is as good as inviting them to tell you simply what they think you want to hear.

Consider the scope of the project

Find the right kind of building company for your project. The kind of contractor suitable for a luxury retail project has to be highly organised, usually with multiple managers, a well-organised back office, and teams that can operate around the clock and produce exceptionally high-quality work at speed. Such contractors tend to be expensive and for most people would be too much for a kitchen addition or an attic conversion

Establish whether you need a specialist or just a general builder

A really good general builder is suitable unless the work in question is unusual. For example, a good general builder is perfectly capable of converting an attic or building out of a basement. You can, of course, go to a loft or basement company, and they too may do a great job. The most important thing is to find someone who will do good work for the right price.

Aim for one point of responsibility

Rather than using one general contractor, it may seem wise to try to save money by directly engaging separate tradespeople, such as plasterers, electricians and carpenters. While it’s true that a general contractor will take a small slice of cost from the subcontractors, I would argue that this money is well-earned. Managing and coordinating the separate trades on-site takes a great deal of mettle and experience.

 

Selecting a Quality Custom Home Builder: What You Need to Know

The success of your new home project depends largely on choosing a quality custom builder. Selecting the right builder is just as important as choosing the location and design of your new home. Above anything else, you should focus on quality and value over affordability.

High Quality Lumber

Many builders rely on dimensional lumber for framing due to the inexpensive costs associated with the material. Dimensional lumber is milled from soft woods such as spruce and pine and has varying degrees of stability. The majority of dimensional lumber used for custom home projects come from young trees undermining the stability of the wood. Environmental factors can also impact the stability of dimensional lumber. High moisture areas, like coastal homes, can experience issues when a home is framed with dimensional lumber. The fluctuating moisture content could cause the lumber to twist, bow, shrink, and expand.

Strong and Durable Subflooring

A quality custom homebuilder will also make distinct choices about what type of subflooring to include in your new home. Plywood and engineered subflooring have clear compositional differences. Plywood is constructed from glued strips of wood veneer while engineered subfloors use polyurethane bonding for extra protection and durability.

Beneficial Sheathing

When you have a home built, you want to develop a partnership with a builder who aims to build the most energy efficient home possible while keeping your residence protected from the elements. Zip Board Sheathing was developed through Huber Engineered Woods as an alternative to plywood and OSB systems. Zip Board has proven to have an enhanced level of durability when compared to other systems. The moisture barrier associated with Zip Board protects the structure from early construction phase and on. Joints are tightly sealed to prevent moisture exposure over the homes’ lifetime. Air transfer is also blocked, air exchange is the greatest cause of home energy loss, as a way to improve total home efficiency and indoor air quality.

Better Home Siding Choices

During the 1960s, vinyl siding was developed as an alternative to inexpensive and dent-prone aluminum siding. However, vinyl siding is vulnerable to certain issues like cracks and breaks especially in poor weather conditions such as extreme cold and high wind. Builders who use James Hardie siding choose a more beautiful type of siding constructed from fiber cement, which will protect your new home for years to come. James Hardie siding is five times thicker than traditional vinyl siding, making it highly resistant to wind, snow, hail, and extreme temperatures. Vinyl siding is flammable and this could become problematic if you have grills or outdoor fireplaces near the exterior of the home. James Hardie siding has high heat resistance and also will not sag or wrinkle from sun exposure. Compared to vinyl siding, James Hardie sidings color will fade 20 percent less.

 

How to Choose Your Home Builder

If you are in the market for a new home, you should shop for your builder as carefully as you shop for your home. Whether you are buying a condo, a townhouse, a house in a subdivision, or a custom-built house, you want to know that you are buying a good quality home from a reputable builder.

Do Your Homework

Once you have a list of builders who are building the type and price range home you are interested in, research their reputation and the quality of their work. You should begin by contacting your local Better Business Bureau. They can provide you with specific information on any unsettled complaints. Also, you should ask the builders on your list for the addresses of their recently completed houses so you can talk with the homeowners. Drive by on a Saturday morning when home owners may be outside doing chores or errands. Introduce yourself and say you are considering buying a home from the builder who built their home. Talk to several owners, and try to get a random sample of opinions.

Why Should You Choose a Builder Association Member?

Members of the Builders Association, are part of a nationwide partnership with more than 800 state and local associations whose mission is to enhance the climate for housing and the building industry and to promote policies that will keep housing a national priority.

Choosing a Contractor Do’s and Don’ts

For those of you worried about choosing a general contractor to build your new home, feel confident in knowing that most custom home contractors are reliable, honest individuals. The very few who are not, have created an image well beyond their real numbers. To help you find the right GC for your new home

How To Be A Pro Event Videographer

Posted on by

Reasons You Should Capture Your Next Event on Video

Putting on an event takes an incredible amount of work. Whether you’re hosting a small expert Q&A forum at your office or going all out and sponsoring a major conference in an entirely different city, events can offer you a deceptively high ROI – but only if you know how to make the  most out of every event you put on

One of the best ways is by filming it! Capturing your event on video is a crazy easy way to make your event last and a highly cost-effective way to spread brand awareness, brand engagement, and brand authority.

Filming your event extends its length and reach.

Events are great, but they have a major downside: they don’t typically last long enough to make a noticeable impact on your marketing efforts. You might expose your brand to hundreds of people who attend the event, or you might hand out flyers that people will keep for a long time – but outside of that, your event’s reach is minimal

Extends its length. With a video, your event will exist in perpetuity – people can see you held an event and even see what happened, for years and years to come without having been there.

Extends its reach. If only locals can attend your event because of limited promotion or resources, video helps share your event with tons of people across the country and across the world! All they need is a video link

 

Conference Video Recording Services

We specialize in nationwide conference video recording services for events of all sizes. Whether your organization is holding a weeklong event with multiple tracks or a smaller one-day event, our event recording videography teams produce the highest quality conference presentation videos customized for your event. We encourage you to review some of our publicly available recordings to see and hear the Bash Films quality difference.

BEFORE YOUR CONFERENCE

Prior to your event, our graphics team will build custom backdrops, picture-in-picture frames, and graphics to match your branding. Your organization can choose to include the presenters name, talk title, twitter handle, or any other relevant information on each of your videos.  We always build multiple custom frames to accommodate both 4:3 and 16:9 presenter slides.  Additional elements such as intro title cards, motion graphics and sponsor recognition slides can be added as well

DURING YOUR CONFERENCE

Our event video production teams film each presentation in true high definition with either single or multiple camera setups. Unlike other vendors, we do not use 3rd party “recording/streaming” software to capture slides. Our custom-built production workflow allows live-coding, presenter slides, and other media shared during the presentation to be recorded at 60 frames per second in 1080p high definition to ensure that each slide, and each line of code, is crystal clear.

To provide same day delivery, our on-site DIT’s (Digital Imaging Technicians) process each presentation as they finish. All videos receive a color correction pass, audio leveling, audio cleaning, title adjustments, and formatting for multiple devices and platforms.

BEST PRICE

Even with the custom builds and high quality, because of our custom-built workflow, we are able to provide our conference video services at costs significantly lower than other vendors

 

Things You Need to Know Before Choosing a Videographer

It’s not every day that you are tasked with planning the biggest party of your life, and thank goodness for that. All of a sudden you’re now supposed to be a flower expert, a music guru, and a professional decorator—all while still going about your regular responsibilities. There always seems to be one of the wedding must-haves that seems to slip through the cracks ’til the last minute, and often that thing is videography

It Is Worth It

As your wedding day gets closer and closer it seems that the budget gets tighter, and many couples start to ask themselves “is videography really something we want?”. In short—it’s definitely a must.” It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words, and a video is literally thousands of pictures a minute! Trust us, when it comes to the video of you walking down the isle, you don’t want to rely on your great uncle’s shaky cell phone video to capture that moment.

Professionalism Over Price

You can always find someone who will do it for cheaper, but be wary of a price too low—because it just may be too good to be true. I groomsman at my friend’s wedding who had hired a videographer on Craigslist for $300. The morning of the wedding, the shooter text us saying he wasn’t feeling well and wasn’t going to make it. No offer to provide another shooter, no ‘plan b’, he just wasn’t going to show up. I ended up having to be both best man and emergency videographer (not recommended!)

Personality is Important

Once your big day finally arrives, the only person spending as much time with you as your photographer, will be your videographer. If you have a wedding planner (which we highly recommend) will be dealing with the BIG stuff, the DJ will be occupied with the party, and the flower and cake vendors generally drop off their beautiful creations and then dip out. From hair & make up until the sparkler send-off, the videographer will be by your side capturing every moment and memory. So if you like their work and their personality, book them!

Know the Terms

If your videographer is a professional, they will have a contract that you both sign so that everything is laid out about what you’re expecting, and what they’re delivering. When looking over the contract there will probably be some terms you don’t understand. Don’t be afraid to ask—after all, this is a legally binding contract and it dictates what you want out of your videographer

 

Reasons to Choose Volk Video

WORK WITH OUR TEAM FOR YOUR CORPORATE VIDEOGRAPHY

Does your company need videography?Are you looking for someone to record your next event? Look no further than Volk Video. Our Michigan company is known throughout Detroit and beyond for our high-quality videos.

Planning

Volk Video will put together a game plan involving scripts, storyboards and more. Our team will handle all the administrative details, and we’ll help you stick to your projected timeline and budget. We’ll put words and imagery to your vision!

Execution

Volk Video’s high-definition or 4K video productions are filmed on location or in our green screen studio. We use top-of-the-line cameras, lighting and audio equipment. You’ll be stunned by the results.

Editing

Volk Video will take care of your video editing

Video Production and Editing Services

Searching for a video production and editing company? Well, we provide best video production tailored for a targeted audience. We believe in transforming complex ideas into high-impact video stories that generate instant results. Moreover, our editing services include, script writing, aerial videography, music, script writing and voice-over

 

Event Video – An Event Manager’s Guide

Event Video: Top tips for the Event Manager

Event Video filming is now standard for most conferences and clients commonly opt for a highlights film or a recording of the presentations for on-demand viewing. In this blog post you will learn some top tips for organising an event video and working with an event video production company.

Think how you want to use the film

Will the film be an on-demand recording of the event? Will the client use the film to showcase their conference? Will it be used to recruit exhibitors, delegates, presenters for next year? Is it a bit of everything?

Provide your event video company with an agenda

Having the fina l agenda as early as possible allows your video producer to plan the days activities and to highlight any points which might be tricky to capture. They will use the running order as a shoot list on the day.

Inform presenters and delegates that they will be filmed

Delegates may not want to appear in a film, however briefly and sometimes presenters might have copyrighted or confidential information which they will not want recorded and distributed. Let your video production company know and they will make sure that these are not included in any recordings

Schedule time for interviews and vox-pops

Interviews and vox-pops often form the backbone of any event video and because of this, must not be an after-thought. For more formal interviews, give the interview subjects a time slot with a buffer for change-over and possible over-runs. Make sure your film crew have time to get to where the filming is to take place and if lighting and mics have to be rigged, consider allowing for more crew to do this as your camera man might be busy filming sessions. If most interviews run over lunch time, make sure your film crew get fed as it’s often a long day, particularly if presentations are also recorded

Finding A Perfect Wedding Videographer

Posted on by

The Wedding Moments Your Videographer Can’t Miss

The first kiss, the first dance, the vows and beyond, here, top videographers give their best advice on the wedding moments not to miss.

The one of you both getting ready – apart.

It’s common for many couples to have the pre-wedding jitters the evening before their wedding. Even if they are more than 100 percent cemented in their decision to walk down the aisle, the pressure and excitement is a lot to process. That’s why the morning-of wedding moments are that much more genuine—featuring your nervousness and your bright smiles with your friends and family, as you both get ready separately.

The one of the first look.

While some traditional standards dictate the descent down the middle of the pews to be the very first time the happy couple spot one another, more twosomes are opting for the seclusion of a first look. By definition, this gives the spouses-to-be privacy to truly react to witnessing one another for the first time on their wedding day.

The altar reaction, too.

while most eyes are glued to the person walking down the aisle during the grand ceremony entrance, the reaction of the person waiting at the altar is often the tearjerker. “With so much attention being paid to the person walking down the aisle (everyone in attendance has turned that direction!), “I personally love the moment when the person at the altar first sees their beloved walking down the aisle. Ultimately, the day is about both partners joining their lives together so it’s important as a videographer to capture both perspectives

 

The Ceremony

Generally, the ceremony is the hardest part of the wedding to film. If possible, bring along an assistant who can record from a second angle. Views of both the groom’s face and the bride walking down the aisle, for example, make for interesting, poignant footage.

Other parts of the ceremony to shoot include:

  • Guests being escorted down the aisle.
  • Guests sitting, reading programs, and talking.
  • Family members entering the venue or church.
  • Father kissing the bride and handing her off to the groom.
  • The ceremony. Record it all if you have the space, and edit later.
  • The must-have shots mentioned previously of the groom at the altar, the processional and bride’s entrance, the first kiss and the recessional.

 

Don’t Include: A Photomontage

Don’t get us wrong, it’s always fun to look at baby pictures and honeymoon snapshots. But you don’t need a reel of both to start off and end your wedding video. Save the childhood photomontage for your rehearsal dinner. If you want to share it, burn copies of the DVD, or download the file onto your computer and send around the link. Your friends will lose attention after 20 minutes—tops—and you don’t want to waste five of those watching still photos of you two morphing from infants to awkward adolescents to newlyweds. Get straight to the action. If you’re investing in a videographer to cover your entire wedding, you’ll have plenty of footage to condense into a 20- to 30-minute film, so devote your videographer’s time (and your money) toward a skillfully edited video your friends and family won’t mind watching (and you’ll have time to watch again and again).

Do Include: A Digital File

While DVDs are still a popular method for delivering wedding videos, most videographers are now offering digital movie files in HD on thumb drives as well. (In this age of Netflix and On Demand, some couples may not own a DVD player.) A thumb drive not only allows you to stream your wedding video to your TV via Apple TV or a similar device (several TVs now come with built-in USB ports), you can also easily share the file digitally with friends and family, both near and far.

Do Include: The Ceremony

You’ll definitely want footage of the entire ceremony, from the start of the processional to your final exit, and especially the important words (and tears and laughs) you share in between. If you’re getting married in a house of worship, make sure they allow filming inside (most do). So don’t skimp on ceremony coverage in order to get more reception coverage out of your four-hour video package. In fact, the ceremony is a good reason to splurge on a second shooter. Also, build in time for your videographer to capture the guests arriving before the ceremony—it’s one of those moments you’ll miss on your wedding day that will be fun to watch afterward.

 

 

Here’s your ultimate wedding videography checklist.

Before the wedding ceremony

Assume your wedding videographer’s job starts when the wedding ceremony begins? Think again! You’ll want them to get footage of you and your squad prepping for the day ahead and a few amazing shots of your wedding ceremony venue before your guests arrive.

  • Bride getting ready
  • Groom getting ready
  • Wedding party getting ready
  • Exterior of the wedding ceremony venue
  • Landscape around the wedding ceremony venue
  • Interior of the wedding ceremony
  • Guests arriving to the wedding ceremony
  • Wedding party arriving to the wedding ceremony

 

RECEPTION SHOT LIST

The time for the party has finally arrived! Your videographer will mostly be filming the reception events as they happen, along with a little dancing. Again, if you have a second videographer they will be able to get more close-ups and details of the event.

Make sure to utilize your videographer to the fullest. Instead of having them stand there filming dancing from a tri-pod after the main events, make sure they get the camera off the tri-pod and travel around the room a little bit. Have them get right in the middle of the dancing, talking to guests, and getting an update from you and your new spouse on how the night is going.

Expect the footage to be loud in the background, but the point is to capture the fun and festive atmosphere, not to get perfect audio.

Shots to get:

  • Arriving at the reception hall
  • Entering the reception hall
  • Bridal party eating dinner/ enjoying cake

Decorations & Atmosphere

  • Any pictures you have around
  • People signing the guest book
  • A pan shot (sweep) of the room
  • Centerpiece close-ups
  • Cake Close-ups

Any other cool snacks you have set up

  • Popcorn bar
  • S’mores bar
  • Candy bar
  • Milk and cookie bar

Events

  • Cake cutting
  • Cake smashing (or hopefully nice feeding)
  • First dance
  • Father/Daughter dance
  • Mother/ Son Dance
  • Dollar Dance
  • Anniversary Dance
  • Shoe Game
  • Garter Toss
  • Bouquet Toss
  • Speeches/ Toasts

Interviews

  • Wedding guests
  • The newlyweds giving an update

Dancing

  • Shots from different angles of the dance floor
  • Taking the camera off tri-pod and moving around the dance floor

Hopefully this wedding video shot list has given you some great ideas to ask of your wedding videographer. Like I said in the intro, some shots are pretty straight-forward while others you may not have thought of.