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How To Find Music No Other DJs Can Get

What Does A DJ Actually Do? 4 Things You Need To Know

Most people would agree that being a DJ is an inherently cool job. You spend your nights in nightclubs playing music and controlling the dancefloor while you’re worshipped by your adoring fans.

But have you ever wondered what a DJ really does? It’s got to be about more than just putting on one song after another, right? What are all those knobs and buttons they keep touching? Or is being a DJ just about screaming profanities into a microphone all night?

For anyone who’s ever wondered about any of these things and more, here I reveal the secrets of the arcane craft of DJing as I answer the question, what does a DJ do?

BEATMATCHING ON STAGE

At its most basic, DJing involves transitioning from one record to another smoothly and seamless so the sounds of the two tracks don’t clash and disrupt the vibe on the dancefloor.

To do this, the first skill a DJ has to master is blending one song into the next, and this usually involves beatmatching.

Every track has a different tempo, which we measure in beats per minute (BPM), and to mix one song into another, the first thing you need to do is get them playing at the same speed.

BEATMATCHING DIGITALLY

Nowadays, with modern technology and digital music, you have a readout on your equipment telling you the speed of a track accurate to 0.01BPM, so you can do it visually instead of by ear. And on most equipment, you can also just hit the “sync” button, so you don’t even need to beat match yourself.

THE TRANSITION

When you’ve got your tracks playing at the same speed, you can then fade one track in and fade the other one out.

The simplest way of doing this is by playing the intro of the track you’re bringing in over the outro of the one that’s already playing.

This is because those parts of the song are the least busy and have fewer elements that can clash.

If you try to bring in a vocal from one track over the vocal from another, you’re just going to end up causing an inharmonious racket – especially if the songs aren’t even in the same key – and you’ll probably get booed out of the DJ booth.

Rather than doing this, the DJ needs to choose sections from the tracks that will sound natural when played at the same time. Then they can bring the new track in before taking the previous one out.

READING THE CROWD AND CHOOSING THE TRACKS

So far so good, but to this point, I’ve only been talking about the technical aspects of what the DJ does – but it doesn’t end there.

You can’t judge a DJ on their technical skills alone, and arguably what’s more important is the music they play. (In fact, not “arguably” at all since most people would agree that playing good music is far more important than having dazzling skills while playing awful tunes.)

A good DJ should be totally in tune with the crowd. They can feel the energy they are creating on the dancefloor and they know exactly which tune to put on next.

This means they know when to build it up but also when to take things down a notch. They know when to drop a banger, but they also know when to calm things down and give you a breather.

This is not about how well they can use the equipment, which buttons they press and which knobs they twiddle, but it is an extremely important part of what the DJ does. Not everybody can do it, and this is a big part of why people pay good money to see the best.

Tips for Becoming A Good DJ

If you wish to become a great DJ, you must know music; more importantly, you should be passionate about it. You must be able to understand the intricacies and technical aspects of rhythms. Additionally, you need to have a wide range of skills to make sure your clients are happy and satisfied.

  • You should keep in mind that not everyone will love the record you are creating. This is why it is crucial for you to meet the clients to figure out what type of music they love.
  • It is advised to have a library and backup music if the current list of songs is not suitable for the party.
  • For being a successful DJ, you need to learn various kinds of music. It is recommended to become an all-rounder.
  • You must know how to handle an MP3, CD, vinyl, and a laptop.
  • You should have comprehensive knowledge about the Mixing desk and how to use it. You must know about gain PFL button, balance, crossfader, equalizer, and much more.
  • It is advised to have complete knowledge about the nudging, sound effects, syncing and crossfading.
  • For producing an excellent track, you need to have knowledge about grind effects, reverbs, vocoders, flangers, loop effects, delay effects, and bouncer effects.
  • A great DJ must know how to use midi controllers.

Having Others On The Air

Whether the people with you are fellow DJs or guests, the most important thing to keep in mind is that the person running the audio board is the person in control. If someone walks into the studio and sits down during your air break and wants to talk, it is up to you to turn his or her microphone on. You also have the ability to turn it off.

A real conversation between two or three people can be interesting, but a lot of DJs will overdo it. Here are some guidelines for these kinds of situations:

  • Think before you talk, and talk with a purpose. You don’t want your break to sound rehearsed, but you should always let your guest know what you will be talking about so you both can be prepared.
  • Keep it brief. Just because more people are talking doesn’t mean you have more time to talk! In fact, you must be that much more conscious of the clock. It becomes easy to get distracted with the other person speaking. Don’t ramble.
  • Limit the number of people in the conversation. Having more than three voices can be confusing for the listener. Two people should never share one microphone; it sounds horrible.
  • Everyone in the conversation needs a microphone and needs to use it properly. While you may be able to hear someone standing in the studio doorway, your audience cannot. Therefore If someone is not on mic, they do not exist to the listener and shouldn’t exist in your conversation. If your guest is behind a microphone but is too far away from it, non-verbally cue him or her to get closer. Multiple times, if necessary.
  • No inside jokes! They alienate anyone not in on the joke, in this case your entire audience.

Here’s What Djs Need To Know About Music Copyright

DJs around the world are becoming increasingly aware of copyright rules due to takedowns and mutings online – but the complex nature of music means that things aren’t always as clear as they could be.

Today, I hope to shed some light on this space that has been something of a gray area for many artists. We’ll discuss how things work, the copyrights that exist in a song, how licensing works in different countries, and why you need to know about all this as a DJ.

First: how copyright works

Let’s start with the two underlying pieces of intellectual property that are copyrighted in every song:

The underlying musical composition (also known as a musical work): This refers to the notes, lyrics and composition that form the core of the song. These could all be written by one person, or by multiple songwriters – as is the case for many pop songs.

The sound recording (also known as a ‘master’): This is created when you fix the musical composition in a tangible medium. Take, for example, when you go into the studio and record a track with a vocalist.

…and how to use it:

Anyone who wishes to use either of these copyrights from a song needs to license them from the person or entity that owns or controls the rights.

A Grant of Rights

Depending on how you would like to use them, you’ll need a different grant of rights in a license. Some examples of these grants include:

  • A grant to publicly perform a sound recording
  • A grant to record a cover version of a composition
  • A grant to synchronize a composition to a video and make it available on-demand

Finding the right rights

This is only the first level of complexity. The next level arises because of the fragmented international nature of copyrights, and the fact that in each country or jurisdiction, you need to seek different rights from different entities.

To give some examples:

  • In the United States, you need to clear the public performance right in musical composition through the ‘Performance Rights Organizations’ (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, GMR). To make a copy of a composition (also called a ‘mechanicals right’) you can use a statutory license, but need to comply with certain regulations and rules written by congress. In the UK and most of Europe, these rights are usually bundled together and can be licensed through one entity such as the PRS in the UK.
  • Sound recordings can either be licensed through a local collective management organisation like SoundExchange in the US. If the use case involves interactivity (meaning the ability for a listener to choose an individual song on-demand), you’ll need a direct license with record labels.

But not all platforms are behind this.

When streamers and DJs are hit by music copyright takedowns on other platforms like Facebook or Twitch, it’s because those platforms have not – for whatever reason – secured the right music licenses. They are not paying the artists that are getting played.

With that, keep in mind that it would be next to impossible for an individual DJ to clear the rights needed globally to stream a mix. This is not the fault of artists or labels. It’s down to the platforms.

Oftentimes, these platforms encourage DJs and artists to use their platforms despite not having the correct music licenses – all the while hiding in the small print of their terms and conditions that you “should not use copyrighted music.”

Many of these platforms are owned by some of the biggest businesses in the world, and yet are still dealing with copyright battles. For example, Twitch, which is owned by Amazon, has recently seen many DMCA takedowns for unlicensed copyrighted music.

These huge companies are very willing to use music to grow their businesses, but do they genuinely support music culture if they are not paying royalties to all artists?

How to Get a DJ Business License

Working as a DJ can be a solid career choice if you love parties, music, and performing. But like all career choices, becoming a DJ doesn’t just happen. You need more than an excellent sound system, headphones, microphone, and collection of tunes. You’ll have to deal with a learning curve, building publicity and for some venues, getting a DJ license. So how do you make your business boom and go from playing friends’ living rooms to qualifying for mega-events?

DJ Training Options

If you’re already working as a DJ, or even considering a career as a DJ, you’re likely already into both music and technology. Even so, it’s a bit of a jump from hobby to profession, and that can happen in a number of ways. While many DJs are self-taught, and simply practice at home and with friends, there are actual DJ training options out there.

These days, most DJ courses are conveniently available online. They can help you learn important skills like creating remixes, building a set list, and more. In addition, you can learn the basics of DJ software, how to expand your DJ business, and even how to improve your onstage appearance.

The truth is, it’s fairly unlikely that anyone will ever ask you about your DJ training credentials. Your proven track-record and skills are far more important when it comes to landing a job. Still, training courses can be helpful, building your confidence and improving your skills.

Do DJs Need a License to Play Music?

Once you decide to make your music passion a business, you’ll want to get booked for gigs. Most DJs start off at small venues like house parties and local bars. After that, you’ll likely move on, to anything from office parties to high school dances, private clubs, and wedding receptions. For these types of jobs, you don’t have to worry too much about a DJ music license. The venue generally will take care of things like ASCAP licensing, SESAC licensing, and BMI licensing which cover the necessary copyright and performance fees.

However, if you want to play at public events, then you’ll probably need to cover your own DJ license to play music. This public performance license, of course, is in addition to the general small business licensing you’ll need in order to operate including a local business permit and state registration. Also remember in terms of licensing, as a business, you need to legally purchase your music. That means no free downloads.

Get a License to Play Music in Public

The bottom line is that in order to play music in public, you need a public performance license. So if you book a gig, make sure to check with the venue. In most cases, as detailed above, they’ll have you covered. If, however, they’re not covering you, then you’ll need to deal with the performance license yourself.

How to get a DJ license is fairly simple – though a bit bureaucratic.

  • You will need to be in touch with all three music licensing bodies (ASCAP, SESAC and BMI).
  • You will then be expected to pay a portion of your revenues in royalties to the copyright-holders. This will be based on your playlist at each performance.

If you are a busy DJ, you may want your office manager or personal assistant to handle getting a DJ license for you. You could also consult with a qualified lawyer or accountant to make sure you’re handling this properly.

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How To Prepare For Your Big Loading Services Move

GUIDE TO LOADING YOUR MOVING TRUCK

Whether you are a homeowner making a move across town or a business owner using commercial movers to change locations, you need to know how to load a moving truck properly so that your move goes smoothly. If you don’t load your truck up the right way, you could end up breaking items during your move or making life very difficult on your commercial movers serving

Buy the supplies you will need for your move.

Before you put a single item into a moving box to prepare for your move, you need to make sure you have all of the right supplies. From sturdy packing boxes and bubble wrap to labels and tape, you will need quite a few things in order to begin a home or office relocation. The key to a successful move is using quality packing supplies that will protect all of your belongings.

Prepare your belongings to be moved.

Once you have all of the packing supplies you need, you can begin to prepare your items for your move. Start placing items that you are moving into boxes, but don’t overfill any of them. Your commercial movers will have a difficult time moving items safely if you provide them with very heavy boxes. As you fill boxes, label them clearly so that your movers will know where to put things once they arrive at your new home or business. It will make the move go much quicker once you have arrived at your destination.

Load your items into your moving truck systematically.

When you are loading your truck, you want to begin placing items near the front of the truck and stack them to the ceiling. If there is anything that is particularly fragile, you should tie it down or keep it lower to the ground, just in case it happens to move around during your move. Get everything into the truck as tight as possible and you will significantly reduce the risk of damage.

PACKING FRAGILE ITEMS WHEN YOU MOVE

Corporate moving companies will do everything in their power to keep your belongings safe when they move them, but there are also steps you can take to ensure that your fragile items won’t get broken. Watch this video to see how you should pack items that are going to be moved by a commercial moving company

Commercial Moving Guide: How to Prepare for Your Big Move

As we discussed in our first post in this Commercial Moving Guide series about planning, moving an office requires a great deal of organization. Failing to plan properly adds unnecessary stress to an already complex process, while strong attention to detail increases a move’s efficiency and creates an easier transition for everyone involved: employees, management and the vendors that will be assisting with the move. Now that you’ve laid out detailed plans for how you’ll communicate with your staff, track your spending, and manage the process, what’s next? In a word: prepping.

The tips listed below offer several suggestions to ensure that your commercial move goes off without a hitch.

Hire vendors – or consider the benefits of hiring just one: While there are a variety of vendors available for each component of your move (boxes, packing, clean up, moving, and delivery/installation) hiring one vendor that can manage everything in one, end-to-end service minimizes stress and maximizes efficiency. Whether you choose one vendor or several, suppliers should be chosen based on their reputation, availability and true capability, as not all have the same reach, expertise or commitment to quality.

recommend obtaining information from any vendor you choose regarding:

Flexibility: Will the vendor work outside of business hours, if needed?

Fee structure: Will you be charged by the job or per hour? Will time worked outside of office hours incur extra fees?

Range of Services: Are clean-up and packing services available?

References: Does the vendor’s reputation match their promises regarding performance?

Conduct several “assessment” rounds: Rather than taking a mental inventory, we recommend that your moving committee take several walks around your current building to assess whether any repairs will need to be made to the structure before you vacate the building, to note whether there are any large pieces of signage or furniture that will require greater labor to remove, and to assess just how many items (large and small) will need to be taken care of before and during the move. Involving several people in these rounds will ensure that nothing gets missed or forgotten.

Downsize: After taking a few walks around the office, you’ll now have a representative list of your company’s inventory – and likely find some items you can dispose of. This would be a great time to take a final lap around your building, tagging these items with stickers. Once that’s done, we recommend purging methodically – one area at a time. This step should never be left until the last minute, when your teams will be tired and efforts to pack will be ramped up considerably. Last minute purging often results in mistakenly discarding items that you should have kept. Taking your time ensures a smoother move.

Compare Removal Quotes

Furniture Removal

Although it seems like furniture removals can be completed by yourself, it is a deceptively difficult task. Moving larger furniture like a corner sofa or a set of dining chairs is time-consuming and tiring, so it is a good idea to hire the services of a professional furniture mover

The price of furniture removal

Before choosing a furniture removal company, it is important to get a general idea of the prices for their services. Factors such as distance, the type and amount of furniture, and additional delivery options affect the price of furniture movers. For example, on average, transporting furniture for a journey less than 50 miles costs $1.78 per mile while for longer hauls, the average cost drops to $0.40 per mile. The table below shows the prices of moving different kinds of furniture varies by distance.

Finding the right company for you

The cost of moving furniture can vary greatly depending on distance, extra delivery requests, and the furniture itself. With many options, you have the opportunity to save on your furniture removal by comparing prices of local companies. To avoid incurring unexpected costs, it is in your best interest to request a quote.

How furniture removal companies handle your needs

Furniture movers specialize in packing, loading and unloading, and assembly of furniture articles. The company handles the packing of furniture, which involves disassembly, protective wrapping, and boxing up of articles. The movers oversee the loading and transporting of your furniture, using blankets, furniture pads, straps, and other moving equipment to ensure your furniture survive the journey in perfect condition. Additionally, removal companies offer storage services, which is useful If you are unable to move into your new home immediately.

Furniture removal options

Furniture removal companies offer different kinds of service that vary according to the level of assistance provided.

Room to room removals – This is transport that comes with full-service assistance. The movers pack up your belongings, carry them through your hallways to load into the van, and place the furniture in their designated room. This option takes all the hassle away from your move.

Courier or door-to-door – In this service, the movers load your furniture onto the van once the items have been made available at your front door then move it to your new property.

Rental services – This involves renting a truck and hiring movers to help with loading and transport, which incurs additional costs since you must purchase packing supplies and complete the packing yourself. To be successful, read our removal van page to learn about the different type of vehicles and their respective advantages.

Part Load – Movers will combine multiple customers’ loads on one shipment. This allows alleviates time and cost savings; savings that are passed onto you, so it is perfect for when you want to move a few furniture pieces and are not pressed for time.

Moving Guide

PREPARATION

The first member you will meet from your professional moving team is your Personal Relocation Consultant. This person is responsible for:

Advising you and your family on every aspect of your move.

Explaining the many services and service options available.

Performing a survey of everything in your home that will be moved.

Pointing out items that can’t be moved or will require special attention.

Providing an estimate of costs.

Determining the best moving date for your schedule.

Coordinating your professional packing team (if requested).

Answering any questions or concerns you may have.

PACKING AND LOADING

Pack-and-Load Technicians are key members of your moving team, responsible for:

Taking special precautions to protect your home and its contents on moving day

Preparing a detailed inventory of items to be moved

Tagging each carton/item with numbered and color-coded labels

Loading your goods onto the truck

Providing a Bill of Lading (a shipping contract) authorizing transport of your possessions

Delivering your belongings to your new home safe and sound

If your move is to another state, a local Destination Agent will handle the following:

Completion of all final paperwork

Arrangements for unpacking and removal of the empty cartons and packing materials (if ordered)

INVENTORY/PAPERWORK

Your driver will prepare a detailed Inventory & Condition Report of the items to be moved. In addition to tagging every individual carton or piece of furniture with numbered and color-coded labels, they will record each item- and a description of any existing damage-on the inventory form. You should accompany the driver as they prepare the inventory, pointing out any special concerns or handling considerations along the way.

Read answers to some of our most frequently asked questions.

has helped families and individuals through relocations. It can be daunting and stressful, but over the years we’ve noticed a few of the same questions seem to keep coming up. To make things a little easier, we’ve compiled some of the most frequently asked questions that we receive to provide our customers with a resource they can refer to any time they need. You can also refer to our glossary to clear up confusing terminology

What is an interstate agent?

are individually owned and operated businesses located throughout the country. When a customer moves from one state to another, agents are authorized to act on behalf of the van line

When is the best time to move?

The best time to move is when it’s right for you. However, there are some times of the year that are busier for the moving industry than others. The summer months (May – September) and the end of each month are periods of heavier demand.

When should I begin to contact companies about estimates for my upcoming move?

It is a good idea to contact the moving companies you are considering for your move with as much notice as possible. It is ideal to have companies provide an estimate five to six weeks prior to your desired move date. Try to select the moving company four weeks before your moving date. Be sure to sign the Estimate/Order for Service and confirm your packing, pick-up, and delivery dates.

What types of estimates are available?

There are three types of estimates: non-binding, firm binding, and option binding.

A non-binding estimate is the carrier’s approximation of the cost, based on the estimated weight of the shipment and the accessorial services requested. The final cost will be based upon the actual weight of your shipment, the services provided, and the tariff provisions in effect.

A firm binding estimate is an agreement between the agent and the customer that the cost of the move will be a specific dollar amount based on the estimated weight of the shipment and the specific services requested. If the actual weight of the shipment is different than the agent anticipated, the price of the move would not change.

An option binding estimate (also known as a not-to-exceed estimate) is an agreement between the agent and the customer that the cost of the move will be no more than a specific dollar amount based on the estimated weight of the shipment and the specific services requested. If the anticipated weight of the shipment is less than estimated, then the customer’s bill is reduced by the amount of the cost associated with the weight difference between the estimated and actual weight.

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Some Best Practices For Switches Installation

Must-Know Tips for Wiring Switches and Outlets Yourself

Buying a Dimmer Switch

Dimmer switches are available in many styles and configurations, including slides, knobs and touch-sensitive dimming mechanisms. However, check these key things:

Capacity (how many lights it can control). The capacity will be measured in watts. Add up the wattage of the bulbs in all the fixtures the switch controls to make sure it falls within the switch rating listed on the package or instructions.

Single-pole or three-way. Buy a ‘single-pole’ switch if one switch controls the lights or a ‘three-way’ if you have two switches controlling the same lights.

Light type. Standard and halogen bulbs require standard incandescent dimmers. A few fluorescent lights can be dimmed with special dimmer switches, but most can’t. Low-voltage lights may also require special dimmers.

Don’t Reverse Hot and Neutral Wires

Connecting the black hot wire to the neutral terminal of an outlet creates the potential for a lethal shock. The trouble is that you may not realize the mistake until someone gets shocked, because lights and most other plug-in devices will still work; they just won’t work safely.

Always connect the white wire to the neutral terminal of outlets and light fixtures. The neutral terminal is always marked. It’s usually identified by a silver or light-colored screw. Connect the hot wire to the other terminal. If there’s a green or bare copper wire, that’s the ground. Connect the ground to the green grounding screw or to a ground wire or grounded box

How to Wire a 3 Way Light Switch

We’ll show you how to wire three-way switches. The wiring is more complicated than a traditional single-pole switch, but we’ll explain how to make the connections. Once you’re done, you’ll be able to control a light from two switches.

Cutting Wires Too Short

Wires that are cut too short make wire connections difficult and—since you’re more likely to make poor connections—dangerous. Leave the wires long enough to protrude at least 3 in. from the box. If you run into short wires, there’s an easy fix. Simply add 6-in. extensions onto the existing wires. The photo shows a type of wire connector that’s easier to install in tight spots. You’ll find these in hardware stores and home centers.

How to install a manual transfer switch for a backup system

Manual transfer switch installation

A manual transfer switch is installed next to the main service panel to override the normal electrical service with power from a backup generator during a power outage.

Manual transfer switches require an operator to change the power source, while automatic switches detect the loss of power, start the back-up generator, and switch over to the backup power feed. Because the amount of electricity created by a backup generator is not adequate to power all of the electrical circuits in your house, you’ll need to designate a few selected circuits to get backup current.

But, select backup circuits first 🙂

Before you purchase a backup generator, determine which loads you will want to power from your generator in the event of a power loss. Generally you will want to power your refrigerator, freezer, and maybe a few lights. Add up the running wattage ratings of the appliances you will power up to determine how large your backup generator needs to be.

Here are some approximate running wattage guidelines (use this MS Excel Spreadsheet for calculating electrical loads):

Refrigerator: 750 watts

Forced air furnace: 1,100 to 1,500 watts

Incandescent lights: 60 watts per bulb (CFA and LED lights use less wattage)

Sump pump: 800 to 1,000 watts

Garage door opener: 550 to 1,100 watts

Television: 300 watts

Turn off the main power breaker in your electrical service panel. CAUTION: The terminals where power enters the main breakers will still be energized.

Determine which household circuits are critical for emergency usage during a power outage. Typically this will include the refrigerator, freezer, furnace, and at least one light or small appliance circuit.

A Guide to Using Safety Switches

We’re so accustomed to using our electrical home appliances in our daily life that we rarely stop to think for a second that they could cause us harm. Accidents do happen, but more important to remember is the fact that faulty wiring or faulty appliances can cause serious catastrophes, leading to electrical fires, property damage, and injury or even death.

When you get an electric shock, electricity flows through your body to earth. If exposed, it can travel through your heart, interfering with the natural electric impulses that keep it beating, which causes the heart to stop. Safety switches can prevent these types of accidents from happening and are an easy way to keep you family and children safe, so don’t think twice about installing them.

WHAT ARE SAFETY SWITCHES?

Safety switches are your insurance against electric accidents. They interrupt excessive current, and are designed to immediately switch the power off when dangerous levels of electricity leak through faulty switches, wiring or appliances to the earth. This provides a high level of personal protection from a possible electrical shock.

INSTALLING SAFETY SWITCHES

If, however, you’re renting an older home, you may want to consider installing them at your own cost. If you’re renovating or building a new home, you should make sure to install proper safety switches on both the power and lighting circuits no later than 3 months after the property transfer. And if you’re selling a property, you also need to establish if safety switches are installed or not, declaring it on the standard sales contract.

TYPES OF SAFETY SWITCHES

There are three types of safety switches you should be familiar with:

Switchboard of meter box units

Installed on the main switchboard, they can provide either complete protection or selected circuit protection.

Powerpoint units

These safety switches are inbuilt in a single power point, providing single circuit protection.

Portable units

These switches are suitable for use with extension cords and portable power tools.

Proper Heights for Electrical Wall Switches

Many aspects of electrical wiring installation have very specific guidelines set forth by the National Electrical Code (NEC) and local building codes. However, the NEC says nothing about the precise height that electrical wall switches must be. Positioning the wall boxes for switches is left up to the homeowner and the builder. Still, builders and electricians follow some routine building standards to ensure that switches will be located at good working heights for most people. The standard switch positions may vary, however, for unique circumstances, such as in a home occupied by people in wheelchairs or with physical limitations.

Wall Switches in Standard Construction

Typically, light fixture wall switches in standard residential construction are set so that wall switch boxes are somewhere between 48 and 52 inches above the floor. There are a couple of advantages to this. First, it puts the switch at a comfortable height for most people in a standing position. Second, it makes for easy installation of wallboard during home construction. Standard sheets of 4-foot wide wallboard are installed horizontally in most new home construction, and if switch boxes are set at about 48 inches from the floor, it allows for easy measuring, marking, and cutting of the wallboard panels to fit.

The switch box can installed so either its top or bottom is at the 48-inch mark, or it may be centered on the mark. Carpenters installing wallboard can easily cut openings in the panels to fit around the switch box. Placing the bottom of the switch box at 48 inches from the floor means that the top of the box will fall at 52 inches above the floor. This allows the drywall installer to cut the switch box opening out of the top sheet of wallboard, with the bottom sheet lying flush with the bottom of the switch box.

Special Situations

The standard 48- to 52-inch height can be varied for people who find other heights more comfortable, and different standards apply for specialty applications.

Residents With Physical Limitations

If one member of your family is considerably shorter than average or uses a wheelchair, you may want the switches set lower to make them more convenient. Although ADA (Americans With Disabilities) standards do not recommend a specific wall switch height, many builders familiar with these situations recommend that wall switches be set at 36 inches above the floor to put them in easy reach of residents in wheelchairs.

Switches Above Countertops

Switches located above countertops will vary in location, depending on the age of the home and the type of kitchen cabinets. Generally speaking, wall switches should be about 4 inches above the countertop. Since the standard height of most base cabinets with countertop is about 36 inches, this means that the bottom of the switch box should fall at least 40 inches above the floor. This allows the switch to clear a standard countertop.

An Essential Guide to Electrical Switches, Outlets, And Fixtures

Electrical Switches

The light switch is the most familiar electrical switch. Hardware dealers and electricians refer to it as a single-pole switch. On the other hand, a switch that runs lights from two places like the ends of a hallway is called a three-way switch. Some electrical switches are operated with keys, timers, or photoelectric eyes that sense daylight. Some switches are paired up with outlets (a combination switch) and others have their very own indicator light to tell you that the switch is on. There are outside electrical switches that are placed in a special box and operated with a lever. Special dimmers are needed for fluorescent as well as neon lights and loads greater than 1,000 watts.

Electric outlets

For electric devices that are not “hard-wired” or completely wired to the electrical system such as televisions, microwaves, lamps, etc., we use electrical outlets, which are also called receptacles. In the United States, the majority of basic home electric circuits are on a 120-volt line. Conventional outlets have two places to plug in devices and so are called duplex outlets. Contemporary outlets include a half-round hole that receives the grounding plug on an electrical cord. This consists of a wire leading from this hole to the system’s ground to offer protection against shock when a device is plugged into it.

In older homes, electrical outlets aren’t always fitted with grounding plugs; they only have the duplex outlets. If your home’s outlets are like these, you should consider upgrading them to contemporary outlets. This way, you don’t need to use grounding adapters (little plugs that convert the end of a three-pronged plug to two-pronged) anymore.

Electrical Fixtures

Older homes still have single light fixtures placed squarely in the center of each room’s ceiling. Meanwhile, many of today’s houses use a much more sophisticated lighting scheme.

There are three categories of lighting:

General lighting

Also known as ambient lighting, general lighting provides overall illumination by way of a ceiling or wall-mounted fixtures, chandeliers, recessed lights, or track lights.

Task lighting

This type of lighting is more specific. This supplies direct light for tasks like reading, sewing, and cooking.

Accent lighting

This is used to spotlight objects or highlight interesting aspects of a house, therefore creating dimension and drama. If it’s time to redecorate your home, looking into lighting is a great place to start.

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Why Experience Matters With Family Law Attorney Issues

What Does a Family Law Lawyer Do?

Most people will need a lawyer at least once in their lives, if not more. There are lawyers that specialize in many different types of situations that we might find ourselves in throughout our lives. Everything from criminal law to tax law and many in between. Out of all the different types of lawyers, the family law lawyer is probably one who people rely upon the most. This article explains exactly what a family law lawyer does and why you might have a need for one.

Family law lawyers must also be ready to work in a wide variety of situations. They work with clients who are often facing some emotional and difficult life moments. Here are some of the main functions of a family law lawyer:

Divorce

Divorce, at its bare bones, is the dissolution of a contract—the marriage contract. Many people might not think of it as such, as the marriage often seems more like a party than a legal ceremony, but of course it is just that. If you’re going through the unfortunate circumstances of a divorce, a family law attorney will represent you with knowledge and expertise. They’ll assist you in navigating the complex court system. They also help to make sure you receive everything you’re entitled to regarding:

  • assets
  • property
  • alimony
  • child support
  • etc.

Divorce is an emotional roller coaster as it is. A good family law lawyer can help ease the stress a little by ensuring appropriate representation for you during this difficult time.

Pre and Post-Nuptial Agreements

Pre and post-nuptial agreements are documents detailing which party gets what during and after a divorce. A couple creates a pre-nuptial agreement prior to a marriage. They’ll outline the property and assets of everyone and what happens to them in the event of a divorce. Some things are not allowable in a pre-nuptial agreement, such as child custody and support. It’s also possible to create such a document after the couple is already married. When this happens, it is called a post-nuptial agreement.

Alimony/Spousal Support

Another issue that family law lawyers often must contend with is that of alimony and spousal support. Some states have laws in place regulating the amount of spousal support depending on varying factors. In others, the judge makes the final decision. A family law lawyer works to provide the court with the necessary information to achieve the best possible outcome for their clients. Even in states where with stricter guidelines for the awarding of spousal support, the judge still needs accurate information regarding things such as:

  • income
  • ability to work
  • level of accumulated joint debt
  • and perhaps even conduct of each spouse.

It is the job of the family law lawyer to accumulate and provide necessary information and help clients navigate this complex process.

Child Custody

The matter of child custody, whether during a divorce or between couples who never wed, can be heated and traumatic for all parties involved. The court considers many factors when deciding on custody such as:

  • which parent appears to have the greatest bond with the child or children in question
  • if there has been any criminal or drug activity on the part of one or both of the parents
  • stability of the home
  • and more

Sometimes, parents and their lawyers can come up with an agreement before going into court. Often the judge supports this arrangement, but if no agreement can be reached, then it is up to the family law lawyer to gather evidence to present to the court in order for the judge to make the most responsible decision regarding custody.

Child Support

Most states have their own formulas for computing child support. It is the job of the family law lawyer to make sure that the court has all the information it needs to calculate the appropriate amount. The idea of child support is to ensure that the child or children in question receive the amount of financial resources they likely would have enjoyed had both parents been living together under the same roof. The information the family law lawyer collects might include such things as:

  • accurate reporting of income
  • health care expenses of the children
  • and allowable deductions

The lawyer may also gather evidence and report if the other parent is potentially hiding resources or is intentionally unemployed or underemployed.

Adoption

Family law lawyers don’t only serve families in times of crisis. They also help in moments of great joy, as is the case of adoptions. Family lawyers can help to make sure you have all the right paperwork. They also help guide you through the system to make your adoption legal as quickly as possible. And, in the event something unexpected goes wrong, the family law lawyer is an invaluable asset in your corner to do everything possible to make things right again. Often times, with adoption, there can be a lot of legal red tape. Navigating through the system can be challenging without someone who has experience with adoption.

Abuse and Neglect

If a parent abuses or neglects a child, it’s likely a family law lawyer comes into the picture. They may represent the child, or a parent facing an accusation of  abuse or neglect. They may also be on the other side, defending the parent against the accusation. Or, it might involve advocating for a parent who has complied with the court’s requirements to get their child back. In either case, it’s essential to have a family law lawyer with experience in such sensitive areas to make sure that such matters are handled appropriately.

Mistakes You Must Avoid When Choosing a Family Lawyer

Once you decide you need a family lawyer, it’s important to choose wisely. Hiring the wrong lawyer can do more damage to your divorce case than if you were to go at it alone. In this post, learn more about the common mistakes people make when choosing a lawyer and how you can avoid making the same missteps.

Mistake #1: Not Spending Enough Time Finding the Best Fit

Many people feel pressed for time to find a lawyer. However, not taking enough time to research your options could end up putting in you in an awkward and expensive position. Consult with a few lawyers and ask them how they would handle your divorce should you choose them to represent you. Compare these answers and find a lawyer who you feel like you can work with for the long haul. Divorce proceeding can take months or years to finalize. This is a person you’ll be working with for a long time and you want to feel comfortable with them as well as with their staff.

Mistake #2: Making Rash Decisions

Family law is complex. It’s one of the most stressful legal practices because so many emotions come into play at once. There are property matters that put a strain on finances and child custody matters can make you feel you’re unraveling at all ends. Divorcing your spouse is like being on a roller coaster. You’ll have moments of feeling like everything is going smoothly and then the bottom might feel like it’ll drop out. When the latter happens, people often blame their lawyers and make rash decisions such as reactionary firings. If you’re in waist-deep with your divorce proceedings, hiring a new lawyer at this stage can comprise your case.

Mistake #3: Expecting the Same Results as Others

It’s easy to compare your situation with others who’ve recently divorced, but comparison doesn’t help your case. Even if your situation seems similar to someone else’s, it’s not. All family law cases are different. Expecting the same results as others will only cause you unnecessary stress and take the focus away from doing what’s best for your family.

Signs You Need to Hire a Child Custody Lawyer

Are you struggling to decide whether you really need to hire a child custody lawyer? While representing yourself pro se is always an option, there are definitely times when grit and determination just aren’t enough. Here are 7 such scenarios, when you really should think twice about heading into the courtroom without hiring an experienced child custody lawyer.

Your Ex Has a Lawyer

If you already know your ex is working with a private child custody attorney, then it’s time for you to consider hiring a child custody lawyer, as well. If money is an issue, look for free legal aid in your area.

Your Case Has Become More Complicated

Sometimes you start out with a pretty simple case that becomes increasingly complicated as you go along. For example, say you learn that your ex has changed her mind about sharing custody, or you suspect that he’s going to try to convince the court that you’re unfit to have the kids overnight. These complications would indicate that it’s time to hire a child custody lawyer.

Your Case Crosses Jurisdictions

If you and your ex live in different states or even different countries, then you should consider getting a lawyer to represent you. You should still do all you can to learn about the child custody laws impacting your case, especially if it’s international.

You Believe Your Children Are in Danger

The costs of losing your child custody case are just too high when you believe your kids’ safety is on the line. In addition, any time you believe your children are in immediate danger, you should call 9-1-1. In this type of situation, you should also consider getting a restraining order, as well. If you are worried about potential repercussions, share your concerns with your lawyer.

When Consulting with A Family Lawyer Ask These Questions

What Is the Family Lawyer’s Level of Experience?

A good family lawyer has to have both breadth and depth of experience. For example, a divorce may require (a) analyzing recent case law about time-sharing of child custody, (b) drafting a memorandum of law about the proper date of the valuation of a marital asset and (c) making compelling arguments about how much income a college graduate with a particular degree can earn. Each of these issues, by themselves, have generated dozens, if not hundreds, of appellate opinions that delineate the applicable rule of law.

Would you trust a “jack of all trades” lawyer to appreciate all of the nuances and complexity of family law? Would you rely on your family doctor to perform brain surgery on you? Of course not.

For these reasons, if you have a family law issue, you should ask these questions of the family lawyers you are considering regarding their experience:

(a) How much of their practice is devoted to family law?

(b) How many family court trials have they litigated?

(c) What percent of their divorces or paternity cases settled at the mediation stage?

(d) How many of the local family law judges have they appeared in front of?

What Will the Plan of Legal Action Be?

Few certainties exist in family law.  However, a skilled family law attorney should inform you at the conclusion of the initial consultation what the plan of legal actions will be. This should include (a) an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of your case, (b) an achievable goal, and (c) the steps that will be taken to obtain this goal.

You should walk out of the consultation with the peace of mind of knowing the path that lies ahead. This may seem like common sense. But too many family lawyer leave their clients guessing about the directions of their cases. Therefore, it is up to you to ask for this plan, if the family lawyer that you are considering does not provide it.

What Is A Realistic Range of Outcomes Of Your Case?

The family lawyer that you consult with should give you a realistic range of outcomes of your case. Beware of the lawyer that guarantees a certain final results. Even the most experienced attorneys cannot predict with certainty how a family law judge will rule at a trial.

A former boss of mine once instructed me to just tell potential clients “what they want to hear.” His cynical approach alienated me, and ultimately, many of his clients. You should expect honest advice from your family law attorney, not false words of encouragement. Many of my clients were misled by their former attorneys who made unrealistic promises about the outcome of the case to them. These broken promises resulted in clients wasting thousands of dollars in attorney retainer fees.

Therefore, if the family lawyer does not provide you with a realistic range of outcomes for your case, ask for one.

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Fitting Mold Remediation Into A Budget

Quick guide to mold remediation

There are a lot of disgusting pieces of dirt that can have a negative impact on our houses. We want to avoid this at all costs; our homes are precious to us and we therefore don’t want them to get dirty. Noone wants to sit around in a house with filth littered throughout it, but unfortunately that’s what can happen if you have mold growing in your home. Mold is among the worst looking and smelling fungus’, and it’s also one of the toughest to get rid of. There is probably a lot more to it than you realise, because it’s not as simple as washing it off with soap and water. Try not to worry too much, though, and I’m here to help you today. Here’s a quick guide to mold remediation.

HIRE A COMPANY TO DO IT FOR YOU

Now, as I’ve already mentioned, mold removal can be a lot trickier than you might imagine. If you are experienced with this kind of cleaning, or a least have a very good idea as to how you should deal with it, then feel free to have a crack yourself. However, if you’re less experienced, it might be worth letting a company deal with your mold for you. These companies will know exactly what they’re doing; they’ll have dealt with this kind of thing a hundred times before and will know exactly how to deal with your specific problems. They may even come to your house before you pay them so they can have a talk with you about how they’re going to proceed with getting rid of your mold infestation

There are a few things you should look for in companies who deal with this kind of thing. Above all else, however, they should be good at removing mold- that’s the most important thing. You can find the cheapest price available, but if they don’t actually get rid of your mold properly then what’s the point? That’s why it’s important that you do some good research. Look around to try and find the best company before you actually make a decision- look into their past jobs and some customer reviews to figure out who the best people are to hire.

MAKE SURE YOU DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM QUICKLY

With mold, the key is acting quickly to get rid of it. It can be very tricky to deal with and if you aren’t careful, it’ll spread throughout your home and latch on to a variety of different surfaces- and it might even spread through walls.

That’s why as soon as you get any indication that there is mold growing in your house, you should act. Whether this is by cleaning it yourself or by hiring a company to do it for you, speed is the answer. Don’t let it takeover your home and make sure you get rid of it all.

Remediation

Remediation includes structural repairs to prevent additional water intrusion, removal of mold-contaminated materials that cannot be adequately cleaned and decontaminated, and cleaning and decontamination of mold-contaminated materials that can withstand such treatment.

Remediation of mold refers to the process of removing contamination coupled with steps to modify the indoor environment to prevent the recurrence of growth. In many cases it is necessary for the remediation process to include engineering controls and other protective measures to prevent or minimize potentially harmful exposures to workers and occupants

The objectives of any mold remediation project are:

•Correct the underlying moisture problem

•Effectively and safely remove fungal contaminated material, including the mold contaminants in settled dust

•Control contaminants during remediation

•Repair property damage and prevent future loss to building materials and contents

Remediation plan

Remediation includes both the identification and correction of the conditions that permit mold growth, as well as the steps to safely and effectively remove mold-damaged materials

Determine Extent of Mold Growth

Sometimes it is simple to determine the scope of a mold problem, but often it is not easy or obvious. Leaky roofs or walls, widespread and repeated condensation, or wicking of water through a concrete slab, for example, may lead to extensive hidden mold growth. Once the scope has been determined, a strategy for cleaning and repair may be developed by the homeowner, building manager, or contractor, as appropriate in the specific case.

Mould Remediation Guidelines

The mould remediation guidelines prepared by the Construction Association offers practical advice on mould-related issues (legal, insurance, and health considerations). It also offers helpful information on how to minimize mould growth, identify and measure it, and step-by-step instructions on remediation.

Mould Abatement Guidelines

Environmental Abatement Council prepared this mould remediation guidelines to assist building owners, constructors, contractors, subcontractors and workers who have duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its Regulations to safely perform work activities involving Mould (Microbial) Abatement and remediation.

Mould Control Practice Guide

The issued the Mould Control Practice Guide to assist and educate its members with respect to certain matters related to mould and mould in buildings.

The Indoor Mold Is An Early Warning Device

The mold has been the victim of a bad press. Mention the word and it conjures up an image of something rotting or in the process of decomposition. And yet, were it not for the mold that inspired the discovery of penicillin millions of lives would have been lost.

Mold Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

I found mold growing in my home, should I have it tested? 

Generally, it is not necessary to identify the species of mold growing in a residence, and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) does not recommend routine sampling for mold.  Current evidence indicates that allergies are the type of diseases most often associate with molds.  Since the susceptibility of individuals can vary greatly either because the amount or type of mold, sampling and culturing are not reliable in determining your health risk.  If you are susceptible to mold and mold is seen or smelled, there is a potential health risk; therefore no matter what type of mold is present, you should arrange for its removal.   Furthermore, reliable sampling for mold can be expensive, and standards for judging what is and what is not an acceptable or tolerable quantity of mold have not been established.

I found mold in my home.  Can I clean it up myself or should I hire someone?

Who should do the cleanup depends on a number of factors.  One consideration is the size of the mold problem.  I the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet (approximately 3’ by 3’ square), in most cases, you can handle the job yourself following the guidelines below.

If there has been a lot of water damage, and/or the mold covers more than 10 sq. ft. consult EPA guide Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings.

If you choose to hire a contractor or other professional service provider make sure they are licensed Mold Assessor/Abatement contractor (see below for more information).

If you suspect that the heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC) system may be contaminated with mold consult the EPA’s guide Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?.

If the water and/or mold damage was caused by sewage or other contaminated water, then call a licensed professional.

If you have health concerns, consult a health professional before starting cleanup.

What can I do to prevent mold growth in my home?

The key to mold control is moisture control.  Practice the following tips to reduce moisture and humidity in your home

Address all water leaks of excessive moisture right away – dry water damaged items within 24 to 48 hours.  Mold can begin to grow on damp surfaces within that timeframe.

Eliminate water problems or potential problems – repair leaks, remove standing water, insulate cold surfaces to prevent condensation, slope the ground away from the house foundation, ensure air-conditioner drip pans and drain lines are dried, cleaned and drained properly.

Allow adequate air flow – open windows, use exhaust/vent fans when high humidity is present.

Keep humidity levels as low as you can – no higher than 50 to 55% all day long.  An air conditioner or dehumidifier will help you to keep the level low.

Use an air conditioner or dehumidifier during humid months.

Add mold inhibitors to paints before application or use paint that contains inhibitors in high moisture areas in the home.

Clean bathrooms with mold killing products.

Do not carpet bathrooms and basements.

Remove or replace previously soaked carpets and upholstery.

I heard about “toxic mold” or “black mold” that grows in homes and other buildings can affect my health.  Should I be concerned about exposure to me and my family? 

The term “toxic mold” is not accurate. While certain molds are toxigenic, meaning they can produce toxins (specifically mycotoxins), the molds themselves are not toxic, or poisonous. Hazards presented by molds that may produce mycotoxins should be considered the same as other common molds which can grow in your house. There is always a little mold everywhere – in the air and on many surfaces. There are very few reports that toxigenic molds found inside homes can cause unique or rare health conditions such as pulmonary hemorrhage or memory loss. These case reports are rare, and a causal link between the presence of the toxigenic mold and these conditions has not been proven.

Mold Remediation

When it comes to remediating mold it’s always best to hire a professional mold removal and remediation service. However, if the mold in your home is not toxic and the area of mold growth is small (less than 10 square feet, or the equivalent of roughly a 3 by 3 foot patch) then you can perform the mold remediation yourself if you wish.

Mold Remediation Overview

The main steps in mold remediation and abatement are:

Wear protective equipment

Contain mold spores

Set up negative pressure

Remove the mold

Prevent mold returning

Clean belongings

HEPA vacuum

Dispose of the mold

Protective Equipment for Mold Remediation

The mold remediation process is one of the times when mold spores are most likely to be disturbed into the air. This is why you should wear protective clothing and equipment while performing mold remediation.

Protective equipment for mold remediation includes:

Dust filter mask or respirator

Goggles

Gloves

Protective clothing that covers your whole body and can be easily cleaned or disposed of

You should decide how much protective equipment you need to use depending on how severe the mold problem is.

Contain Mold Spores During Remediation

If you need to remove a large amount of mold then you may decide to seal off the room to prevent any mold spores from spreading to the rest of the house. To seal off the room you are about to clean use plastic sheets with duct tape to cover doorways, vents and any other openings.

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Easy Payout With Payroll Service

Is it difficult to do payroll?

Learning to manage a payroll is never the favorite thing to do for any business owner. But it is a necessary evil if they want their company to survive.

When a business starts up, with only a few employees, it may make sense to handle payroll internally. But as the business grows and the business owner has more and more on their plate, managing payroll could take their attention away from other important tasks. Then it may make sense to hire out payroll management to a third-party accounting firm with proven expertise in the area, such as Shockley Bookkeeping and Tax Services

Without this help, here are some risks businesses run:

Misclassifying Employees

When you set a payroll budget, you not only need to set pay grades for each position but you must ensure you properly classify your employees. There are three main classifications: salaried workers, hourly employees and independent contractors.

An hourly employee misclassified as an independent contractor can result in missed overtime or pay that is less than minimum wage – mistakes that could wind up being expensive for you. You could find yourself owing the IRA back taxes, including unemployment taxes.

Withholding the Wrong Amount of Taxes

Taxes are one of the most complicated things about handling payroll. Often businesses are responsible for withholding taxes on behalf of employees. Some taxes are mandatory, some are voluntary, and there are lots of chances to make costly mistakes.

You need to keep straight both how much you must pay in taxes and what amount you must withhold from employee paychecks. While misclassifying employees (see above) is one common way for small businesses to miscalculate their withholding amounts, there are other common mistakes. These include failing to withhold federal and state taxes, making incorrect deductions from salaries, incorrectly calculating pre-tax and post-tax deductions, failing to exclude taxable fringe benefits such as gifts and bonuses, and the list goes on.

Data-Entry Mistakes

From recording employee hours from time cards to inputting information such as Social Security numbers, there are plenty of opportunities to input wrong information that will cause payroll chaos. A professional firm handling payroll has the experience in inputting and double-checking information to ensure mistakes are kept to a minimum.

Problems Calculating Overtime

Many businesses calculate overtime every two weeks but this needs to be done weekly. Any worker who labors more than 40 hours a week must receive a rate not less than 1.5 times their regular pay.

The Depart of Labor recently made changes to the overtime rule, which could affect your employee overtime, making some previously exempt workers non-exempt. Keeping on top of these kinds of changing rules is difficult if payroll and accounting are not your full focus.

Doing your own payroll can take a lot of your valuable time in a workday. Hiring out your bookkeeping to Shockley Books, can be cheaper than you think and will give you peace of mind, knowing that your payroll will be taken care of accurately, with no miscalculations as far as taxes, insurance and other deductions.

Here’s a look at the top 4 difficulties experienced when processing payroll:

1. Setting up Employees Correctly

Setting up your workforce correctly, with attention to staff duties and functions are very important to your payroll. As a business, you have options for how to hire employees. You can hire contractors, freelancers and even temporary workers depending on your needs.Classifying employee incorrectly can cause serious problems when it comes to paying employees’ taxes.

2. Calculating the Proper Deductions

Taking the time to calculate and process deductions from employee compensation can be challenging. This is an issue for nearly all businesses because taxes can differ among regions and employees.

3.Utilizing Direct Deposit

After taxes have been deducted from earnings, your decision about how to deposit funds is important. There are several complex rules and policies guiding each form of deposit and they all depend on your business’ tax obligations. Although using direct deposit has its own requirements, payroll automation is considered to be cost-effective and efficient. This is especially true when it comes to unraveling errors or solving payroll related difficulties.

4. Calculating Time ticket entries

The process of entering employee time tickets requires serious attention to detail. Any incorrect entry of time data through manual payroll systems could taint the overall record. Trying to locate the mistake would not only amount to a waste of time and resources but would also add unnecessary stress.

Common Payroll Problems to Avoid

Payroll is much more than just paying your employees their salary or hours worked.

When it comes to payroll, it encompasses not only wages but deductions such as taxes and social security as well as health insurance and more.

Payroll can be difficult for some startups, so today we look at five common payroll problems to avoid.

#1: Setting it Up Incorrectly

Payroll is complicated, especially where taxes are concerned. Not only are taxes a vital part of payroll, but they are difficult to understand, and are subject to change. If you’re handling payroll on your own, you want to make sure you’re up to speed on all of your employee withholding so you withhold the right amount of taxes from your employees’ paychecks. You can check online for federal, state and local information, or you can outsource your payroll to a company to handle for you.

#2: Being Late with Payroll

Small business owners are busy, and they wear many hats. That’s why it’s very common for business owners to forget payday. This isn’t good for your reputation or your team. It’s a good idea to consider hiring someone or outsourcing your payroll so you don’t forget. When you do this, you can concentrate on the day-to-day activities with running your business and let someone else handle the payroll.

#3: Missing Tax Payments

This is another common problem, and one you want to avoid. Your tax deposits are due at different times during the year – usually monthly. If you miss these deadlines, the fine can be stiff. Not only do late payments incur penalties, but they can incur interest as well.

#4: Poor Record-keeping

Payroll needs to be integrated with your overall accounting system if you’re managing it yourself. Why? Payroll directly affects your cash flow. It’s imperative you know how much money you have on hand so you can cover your payroll checks.

#5: Paying the Wrong Amount

You really don’t want to be caught paying the wrong amount – either too much or too little. This usually happens due to a clerical error, and sometimes it happens if your employees make a mistake. You want to have a payroll system in place that has checks and balances. Double check payroll amounts as well as tax withholding amounts. Do it each payroll period so you don’t end up with a mess later on.

Learn how to do payroll

Learning how to do your own payroll can be very daunting. There’s so much that can go wrong and if you make a mistake, it not only affects you, but the well-being of your employees and you can risk getting penalized by the IRS. You have a huge responsibility, and it’s making sure the money is getting allocated accordingly.

Once you take the time to learn payroll, everything will fall into place. Start with the following basics:

  • Collect all tax account numbers, including federal EIN (FEIN) and state identification number, if it is different.
  • Research the rates for all applicable taxes prior to paying employees. Get familiar with federal income tax, federal unemployment tax, Social Security tax, and Medicare tax. Some employers also need to know about state income tax, state unemployment tax, and local income tax.
  • Learn the frequency of depositing each payroll tax including which forms to use and where to send them.
  • Understand the minimum wage and overtime laws for your state, as there could be different requirements, some more rigid than others.
  • Learn the IRS recordkeeping requirements for payroll taxes and other employment documents.
  • Verify payroll deductions for fringe benefits and wage garnishments and know how to apply them.
  • Establish a free Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) account so you can make electronic federal tax payments. Your state might also have a similar electronic tax payment system.

The Importance of Payroll to Small Business in 2020

Small business owners where multiple hats while running their company and 2020 is no different. Those hats include payroll, human resources, management, and sales just to name a few. Completing payroll is easily one of the most critical duties a small owner must do to run a successful business. Employees must be able to count on getting their wages on pay day with zero interruptions. Payroll impacts all components of a small business from the confidence about the company employees to the solvency of the company.

Employee Confidence

Employee confidence is tied directly to timely payroll. Large businesses are not as transparent about their financial stability as small businesses. Employees in small businesses are closer to most working aspects of the business they work for including sales, billing, collections, human resources, and payroll. In a small business if payroll is not paid on time or if payroll checks start bouncing at the bank, employees will naturally become concerned about the financial stability of the company. Employees will begin to back away from performing their job duties on time or effectively if they see they are not getting paid for work performed. For employee confidence in a business to stay positive, payroll must be paid on time.

Employee Compensation

A critical component of payroll is that gives each employee direct satisfaction about their value to a small business. Payroll demonstrates and documents each employee’s complete compensation. Employee compensation in payroll includes company paid benefits, commissions, insurances, and salary. At most companies, each employee monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually, complete a performance review with the owner, their manage or their department supervisor. If an employee is doing well and meeting or exceeding their agreed job goals, they may be given an increase in salary or an annual bonus, and some instances, both are rewarded. Employee benefits also demonstrate employee’s value to the business. Small businesses that pay employee benefits like health insurance, life insurance and stocks, show to employees directly how much they mean to the company.

Payroll is a Time-Consuming Task

Small business owners spend a considerable amount of time doing payroll. Payroll has to be completed on time weekly, every two weeks or two times a month. Payroll must be 100% accurate. By law, employees are required to be paid the exact amount due to them for the time they provide their labor. Tax withholdings, insurances, and other payroll deductions all must be the correct amount and must be paid on time. To make sure payroll is paid on time and done 100% accurately and to free up a considerable amount of time, small business owners should consider outsourcing payroll.

Timely State and Federal Tax Payments

Payroll must be done correctly for business to keep in compliance with state and federal tax obligations. Penalties for not paying payroll taxes on time are significant. Employees must complete their W-4 withhold forms and it is the responsibility of small business owner to make certain of it. Employee personal taxes withholding is determined by how W-4 withholding forms are completed. Additionally, small business owner must be sure they are withholding and sending the correct amount of FICA taxes monthly and annually from payroll. Legislation can and does get enacted annually that impacts FICA amounts for withholding. It is the employers; responsibility to make sure they are complying when it comes to withholding payroll taxes. Again, this is a perfect example of why it makes sense to outsource payroll processing. Hiring a payroll processing company, like the Payroll Company, is the perfect solution to handle your small business’ payroll in 2020,

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Why Window Cleaning Should Be A Central Part Of Your Home Maintenance Routine

Here’s How To Clean Windows Like A True Professional

Cleaning glass can be time consuming, frustrating and the results can sometimes be hit and miss. Those who can clean glass quickly without spots or streaks left behind enjoy better productivity rates and profits. In this guide you’ll learn the essential tips to cleaning glass perfectly the first time and fast.

Cleaning windows like a professional with fast streak free results can easier than you think. You can clean windows successfully with just a basic window cleaning equipment kit.

What you need to clean windows like a pro.

1 x 35cm window washer and swivel handle

1 x 35cm window squeegee and swivel handle

1 x 1.2m 2-section extension pole

1 x Window cleaning bucket

1 x Bottle of window washing detergent

1 x Window scraper

1 x Microfiber cloth

You can start to clean windows successfully with a basic window cleaning equipment kit like the one above. As you become more experienced and your work becomes more varied and frequent, you will need to think about adding more equipment to your kit.

Expanding the basic window cleaning kit

More equipment can be added to this basic kit when you take on projects that involve cleaning different kinds of windows. The additional items could include:

• Longer extension poles

• Larger squeegees for commercial work

• Smaller squeegees for smaller windows and detailing

• Different size tools for larger or smaller jobs

Window Cleaning Buying Guide

Your restaurant needs to look good inside out and there is nothing more off-putting than grubby, rain marked window panes so make sure every area of your premises is kept meticulously clean.  If you don’t employ a window cleaner on a regular basis it’s important to have the right equipment to hand to do it yourself.  Cleaning windows is an easy job; the tricky part is reaching windows which are high up so you need a ladder to support your weight and your equipment safely.

Cleaning windows requires various products from sponges to buckets and good quality cleaning products.  A good tip is to clean your windows on a cloudy day to avoid direct sunlight which dries moisture out very quickly often leaving streaky glass.

You will need the following products:

Squeegee handle to wipe off excess water, wipe the squeegee blade clean with a cloth every now and then to avoid moving dirt around the window area.

Sponge to apply soapy water to the window.

Scourer for heavy dirt.

Lint free cloths or lambs-wool polar pack for a smooth, clear finish.

Window Cleaning Prices

Can I just do Window Cleaning myself?

This is a question many individuals ask. The answer depends on your specific circumstances. After seeing a professional window cleaner blitzing through a shop frontʼs window, a passerby may think, “surely it is not that hard?”

When it comes to commercial windows, they should always be cleaned by a professional. It will make a big difference in your presentation. The image you project may attract or repel customers. Regular cleaners often do not have the expertise to do a thorough job.

How To Get An Accurate Quote

When it comes to window cleaning prices, there is a lot of variation. Of course, you want the cheapest prices and may wish to shop around. However, this can take some time, so before calling it is good to know what to ask so that you can find the best and cheapest solution. Most services offer free quotes. Take note though, many companies will charge extra for things that you may not have considered.

Factors that we consider when pricing a window clean

The number of panes? – These are counted individually. We consider each pane a separate window.

Size of each pane? – Smaller panes can sometimes be just as time-consuming.

Type of glass? –  Some are difficult to clean types such as Viridian Comfort Plus Glass.

One or both sides? – Or just the inside or outside?

Dirtiness? – How dirty are your windows? Filthy, moderate, fingerprints, offensive?

Type of Dirtiness? – Is it just dust, dirt, grease, bird poo. Or harder stains?

Frequency? – Do you want a one-off clean? Or a regularly scheduled cleaning service? How often? Once a week, month, year?

Timescale? – When are the windows available to be cleaned? Does it have to be after hours? Night work, weekend work or emergency call outs? Do they need to be done today?

Last Clean? – Time elapsed since last window clean. The windows will be much dirtier

Height? – How high are the windows? More height requires more skill. Do we need to use a water fed pole system?

Window Coverings? – Do you have fly-screens, safety screens, grills, curtains, blinds- anything that may interfere with the cleaning process? Do these objects need to move to access the windows? Will you do this, or do you want them to do this?

Flyscreens? – Extra work but highly recommended, as dirt from the fly screens often is transferred to the windows.

Window Surrounds? – The inclusion of flyscreens, tracks, sills, frames or other surfaces.

Direct sunlight? – This makes it harder as it shows up every blemish and surface defects.

Other Services? – Gutter cleaning, carpet cleaning, general cleaning and pressure cleaning. Discounts are usually offered for combining services.

Post-Construction? – These are a whole different animal. Exotic building residues require special techniques and chemicals in order to be removed.

Other? –  Factors related to the difficulty of the job.

How to Spring Clean Your Windows

Spring is just around the corner, which means that it will soon be time for spring cleaning. Removing the accumulated pollution, dirt, grime, bird droppings and salty snow stains from the windows may seem like a tedious and time-consuming task. But spring cleaning doesn’t have to be stressful, so here are a few helpful tricks the experts shared with us that will give your windows that professional and streakless finish.

When is the Best Time to Clean Your Windows?

Spring remains the best time to clean dirty windows. Keep a watch on the weather forecast for a cloudy day. If you choose to wash your windows on a sunny day, you risk your window washing solution to evaporate quickly because your windows have gathered too much sunlight. The sunshine also hides dirty spots and causes additional streaking, so you may have to waste your time and repeat the cleaning process.

This is another frequently encountered problem. If you have no other option and you must clean your windows on a sunny day, you can start from the windows that are facing the shadows. Alternatively, you can wash your windows early in the morning, before the sun has reached its peak.

EXTRA TIP: When cleaning windows from both sides, you can use vertical motions for the interior of your windows and horizontal motions for the exterior, or vice versa. This way if you see any imperfections or smudges, you will know which side needs a second wash.

What is the Best Window Cleaning Mixture?

There are different cleaning liquid formulas. However, the best ones use natural and eco-friendly materials, such as vinegar and lemon juice. Natural materials can help you spot streaks while cleaning your windows. If you have never used vinegar and water to clean windows and frames but you want to make your own homemade window cleaning solution

How to Clean Windows

We’re diving into the details of window cleaning. From the best homemade window cleaning solution to the proper way to clean your window screens and frames, we’ll help you get those windows looking beautiful.

How to Clean Every Part of Your Window

While it’s not a glamorous job, window cleaning is an important part of home maintenance. If you’ve been wondering how to clean windows quickly and efficiently, we’ve got you covered with our favorite tips and tricks to help you keep your windows looking great for years.

Best Window Cleaning Solution

You can clean your windows with an ammonia-free glass cleaner, like a premixed vinegar-based cleaning solution, or you could make your own. Avoid using window glass cleaners that are ammonia- or alcohol-based as they may leave streaks or produce a film that attracts moisture or dust. If you choose to make your own cleaner

here’s an easy homemade window cleaning solution you’ll want to keep bookmarked:

Mix one cup white vinegar with 10 cups of water. Fill a spray bottle with the mixture, and store leftover cleaner in a jug for future use.

Apply your cleaning solution to a soft, clean, lint-free microfiber cloth or paper towel. Feel free to be generous with the amount of cleaner you apply to the cloth or paper towel, but avoid getting any cleaning solution on the wood, fiberglass or vinyl frames, as it may discolor the finish.

Essential Window Cleaning Supplies

We recommend cleaning windows at least twice a year for optimal quality, but you can clean them as often as once a month if you like. Before you get started, you’ll want to make sure you have all the necessary materials. A soft, lint-free towel, such as an old kitchen towel, linen napkins or a made-for-glass microfiber cloth, is the best thing to clean windows. You’ll also need a vinegar-based cleaning solution (like the recipe listed above), non-abrasive cleaner, soap, water and a vacuum with a soft brush and drapery attachments for interior and exterior window cleaning.

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Safety Tips In Cosmetic Plastic Surgery

The 6 Most Common Plastic Surgery Procedures

Plastic surgery is growing in popularity each year, with almost 18 million surgical procedures taking place in the United States annually. Women are no longer the only people having cosmetic surgery. Men are contributing to the boom in procedures. The following are the 6 most common plastic surgery procedures.

Liposuction

Liposuction is a surgical procedure that suctions fat from specific areas of the body to provide a slimmer and shapelier silhouette. There are two types of liposuction.

In tumescent liposuction, the most popular type, a solution of saline, a drug to constrict blood vessels and a numbing agent are infused into the area to be treated.

This liquid, along with fat, is suctioned out of the body using small hollow metal instruments called cannulas. The infusion of liquid can cause short-term fluid retention that diminishes over the next few days.

In ultrasonic-assisted liposuction (UAL), the cannula releases ultrasonic energy to melt fat so that it can be suctioned out of the body. UAL has more risks than tumescent liposuction, including the risk of internal and external burns and a lengthier surgery.

The average patient is able to return to work within a few days, depending on the area(s) selected for the treatment.

Breast Augmentation

The surgical enlargement of women’s breasts has become enormously popular with over 300,000 procedures done every year in America.

Surgery is done for many reasons, to enlarge both breasts, to replace a breast that is absent, or to make asymmetrical breasts equal in size. Other women opt for surgery when their breasts do not develop during puberty, a condition called congenital micromastia.

Silicone implants, once banned as a health risk, are increasing in popularity. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 12% of women opted for silicone implants in 2018.

Most patients have one or two weeks of recovery before they can return to normal activities. High impact activity, such as running, may require additional healing time.

Blepharoplasty

Eyelid reshaping surgery is can be done for cosmetic reasons or to improve vision in patients where the eyelids obstruct vision. Too much skin or sagging skin can cause vision to be impaired and contributes to the appearance of aging.

Lower eyelids with chronic puffiness or wrinkling are often reduced during the procedure for a more youthful appearance. Fat pads under the eyes causing the appearance of “bags” are removed as necessary in the lower lid procedure.

Most people can go out in public in 10 to 14 days, with swelling becoming less noticeable for weeks or months.

Abdominoplasty

Commonly known as a tummy tuck or a lower body lift, abdominoplasty removes excess skin from the abdominal area and tightens the skin that remains. This surgery is often performed on people who have excess skin after being pregnant or after losing significant weight after bariatric surgery.

The ideal candidate does not have excess fat deposits in the abdomen to remove but too much skin hanging from the abdomen. Most patients are able to resume normal activities in two to three weeks but may have limits on physical activity for a longer period of time.

Breast Reduction

A woman’s breast reduction surgery is one of the few plastic surgeries that insurance does pay for routinely, as the benefits go far beyond an improved appearance. Women with very heavy or overly large breasts often have difficulty finding clothing that fits, experience chronic back pain and poor posture.

Ideally, the surgery to reduce both the size and weight of the breasts will relieve back pain and improve posture. The surgery is a permanent solution to having disproportionate breasts and most patients return to work within two weeks.

Rhinoplasty

A nose job, or rhinoplasty, reshape the nose, bringing it into balance with the rest of the face. The surgeon may reduce the overall size of the nose or refine areas of the nose for a more pleasing appearance.

In some cases where breathing is can be improved through surgery, as in the case of a deviated septum, insurance will pay for some or all of the surgery. Bruising can be obvious after surgery but should fade over the next ten days, when most patients return to work.

Reasons Plastic Surgery Isn’t So Scary After All.

Coffee or tea? To be or not to be? Life’s decisions have always been a complicated lot. Thankfully, today’s decisions—at least when it comes to improving your physical appearance through plastic surgery—have become less complicated due to the many advances in technique, accessibility and safety of surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures. Of course, “advances” don’t always allay fears. So today—in a single dose of “fear be gone”—we’re going to quash 4 big fears that might be stopping you from making an informed decision when it comes to having aesthetic plastic surgery. Let’s go.

Hitting where it hurts.

Another sore spot in choosing to have plastic surgery is preferably kept neatly tucked into your purse or back pocket — yes, it’s money. Legitimate plastic surgery ain’t cheap. And if the price is too good to be true, trust us, it’s exactly that—too good to be true. Cosmetic surgery has, however, become increasingly more affordable for most budgets, and most reputable plastic surgeons offer financing options to help make the decision more palatable. So whether you’ve been pining for nonsurgical body contouring or a tummy tuck, if you’re holding off on consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon due to cost—it might be worth making that appointment to discuss your options anyway.

Looking ‘done’.

Today’s best surgeons are touted for their sense of aesthetics and their ability to provide natural and realistic results. And ongoing advances in technique and product give them the ability to do just that. So, while an unnatural result is a viable fear in making the decision to have a cosmetic procedure (and is one that you should discuss with your doctor), your board-certified plastic surgeon is aiming to make you look your best through open dialogue and mutually agreed-upon expectations. Aesthetic plastic surgery is meant to enhance your natural beauty – not to reshape you into someone you don’t recognize.

Pressed for time?

Most Americans already feel the pressure of work and family versus the ticking time bomb that is your daily schedule, so the idea of taking a day or a week or two off for recovery from a surgical procedure can strike terror into the hearts of even the most organized adult. Your initial conversation with your plastic surgeon should include limits to your available recovery time and he or she will steer you towards procedures that work for you. Since many of today’s most popular procedures don’t require an overnight hospital stay or even an overly-long healing process, you may be surprised to find out just how time-effective certain procedures actually are.

Who’s the boss?

The opinions of your family and friends are certainly reasons why you might avoid getting a cosmetic procedure that you want. We get it. Who wants to be judged? The question you should be asking yourself is: Should you let that stop you? Support from your significant other or BFF is a doozy when it comes to making big decisions, so why not include them in the process? Bringing your partner or a friend with you during your consultation gives them the opportunity to not only meet your doctor, but also ask questions, visualize the results and learn more about the procedure, which will ultimately help allay their fears as well as your own.

Surgery won’t be exempt you from ageing

Gravity doesn’t cease to exist after a procedure. It will continue to push down onto your skin and over time soft tissues will be vulnerable to that pressure. A facelift will never look as ‘fresh’ as it did the first month or so after surgery.

I think around 20 per cent of facelift patients return to me about seven years after a procedure, requesting revisions or further tightening.

The eyes are also one of the first areas of the face to show the effects of ageing and even after an eye lift, they too will continue to age. Therefore, upper eyelid surgery needs to be repeated after five to seven years.

You can help the results of facial rejuvenation surgery last longer by staying hydrated and using a high SPF sunscreen daily. You should also avoid alcohol and cigarettes which cause premature ageing too.

When can I get a breast revision after breast augmentation?

Breast implant complications, like capsular contracture or implant rupture can occur relatively soon after a breast augmentation, sometimes within a few months. In these cases, a breast revision may be performed earlier than usual, though it will be up to your surgeon to determine if, and when, the procedure can be safely performed. In cases where women are simply dissatisfied with the cosmetic outcome of their breast augmentation, it may be necessary to wait longer before undergoing a breast implant revision.

Arguably the most common aesthetic complaint which leads to breast revision is patients wishing they had chosen a larger implant size to begin with. Once the swelling subsides and patients get used to their new breasts, which usually happens after a few months, many women desire a larger size.

For patients who do end up less than satisfied with the size, position, shape, or another feature of their implants after surgery, it is generally recommended that they wait a minimum of six months before undergoing a breast augmentation revision. Not only does this allow the body a chance to heal from the original procedure, including letting swelling and other symptoms fully resolve, but it also gives patients an adequate amount of time to consider – and reconsider – a second surgery.

What are the risks of a breast implant revision?

As with any surgical procedure, there are some risks associated with breast revision. In addition to the risks associated with anesthesia and surgery in general, patients undergoing a breast revision are also more susceptible to psychological uncertainties stemming from the perception that their original surgery “failed.” Another possible complication of breast revision surgery is the surgeon’s inability to achieve the desired result due to scar tissue that is present from the original procedure. Taking all of these things into consideration, it is imperative that patients pursuing breast revision surgery have realistic expectations about their potential results.

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Killer Ways To Eliminate The Hassle Caused By Bed Bugs

Bedbugs

How to spot bedbugs

Bedbugs are small blood sucking insects that can live in dark cracks in and around your bed. Attracted by your body heat, they crawl out at night to bite your skin and feed on your blood, just as mosquitoes do.

Signs of bedbugs include:

itchy bites or bumps that appear after being in bed

black spots on your mattress, bed frame, skirting boards and other furniture – this could be their dried faeces

small blood spots on your sheets where you may have rolled over and squashed a bug

Treat bedbugs yourself

It can be very difficult to get rid of bedbugs yourself, so it’s wise to get professional help.

If you want to try treating the bedbugs you can:

wash bed sheets at 60 degrees or put them in a dryer on a hot setting for 30 minutes to kill the bugs

use a vacuum cleaner to suck up any bugs you can see

use an insecticide spray made for bedbugs – always read instructions on the label

Prevention tips

It can be difficult to prevent bedbugs as they can be brought into a property easily.

To try and prevent bedbugs you can:

inspect your mattress regularly for signs and take action if needed

avoid buying second-hand mattresses

replace old beds you might be using in rented accommodation

keep your bedroom tidy, especially under your bed, to reduce the amount of hiding places for bedbugs

Ultimate Bed Bugs Guide | Signs, Bites, Causes & Remedies To Kill

Before we get too far into this guide, please realize that we are not experts on bed bugs or insects. But we are experts on mattresses, so we know how personal they are to each individual and how expensive they are to replace. Sleeping is very important to every day function and your mattress is arguably the most important tool for sleep, so you want to protect it. Hopefully this guide will help you ditch those bed bugs, or maybe even prevent them in the first place.

What Causes Or Attracts Bed Bugs?

Bed beds are attracted to warmth, blood, and carbon dioxide. Basically, our living bodies. While many people think that a filthy or dirty environment attracts them, the truth is that bed bugs can live anywhere, as long as there are people around to provide food for them.

Where Do Bed Bugs Come From?

Bed bugs can be found in all 50 states in America, and all over the world. Bed bugs can come from transportation such as buses, trains, planes, cruise liners, and taxi cabs. They can also be found in nursing homes, daycares, schools, hospitals, hotels… I think you get the picture. Since bed bugs are “hitchhiking” insects, they can be found anywhere, at any time

How To Prevent Bed Bugs

1. Store clothing in airtight bags or containers. If it’s airtight, they can’t get in. This is very important when traveling, so that the bed bugs can’t come home with you.

2. Cover your power outlets. Bed bugs can hide in power outlets, and in really bad infestations, travel through your walls to travel to other areas of your home or office.

3. Always check used items. This obviously applies to clothes and furniture, but check your electronics, as well. Things like video game consoles, DVD players, laptops, etc. have vents in them that are perfect for bed bugs to hide in.

4. Vacuum often. Bed bugs can hide in your carpet, so make sure to vacuum your floor (especially where the floor meets the wall), your mattress, and even your box spring if you can. If you suspect you may have bed bugs, be sure to dispose of your vacuum bag properly.

5. Pets! Your pets are susceptible to bed bugs, too. Wash your pet’s bed in hot water every couple of months to help prevent bugs.

6. Cover your mattress. Mattress protectors are cheap and also keep your mattress clean. Note that a mattress protector will help prevent against an infestation, not help to get rid of a current one. You may also want to cover your box spring, as well, as bed bugs like to live in there, too.

Are There Bed Bug Mattress Protectors And Covers?

Yes there are, but be careful with which type of protector you use. Studies have shown that bed bugs can move through closed zippers if they’re not tight enough, and the material used for the cover must be strong enough, as well, or else you could possibly be protecting and fostering the bed bugs instead of starving them out. We recommend the Protect-A-Bed brand mattress protector

Bed Bug

Found throughout the world, bed bugs (cimex lectularius) are blood-sucking insects that feed mostly on people, but are also known to attack birds, bats and other animals. Bites occur mostly at night and are generally painless when inflicted. However, fluids that are injected during feeding often produce painful welts on the skin that itch and may become severely irritated. As pest numbers increase, more bites occur, and the problem can become progressively worse, often very quickly.

Identification

Adults (1/4 – 3/8 inch long) are oval-shaped, reddish brown insects that are wingless and flat. After a meal, they become swollen and elongated when engorged with blood. Eggs are white and are about 1/32 inch long. Newly hatched nymphs are the same shape as adults, but are yellowish-white in color.

Life Cycle

Active at night, female bed bugs lay white eggs in batches of 10 to 50 on bedding and in cracks and crevices. Under favorable conditions one adult female can lay as many as 200-250 eggs over her lifetime. Young nymphs hatch in about 10 days and use their beak-like mouthparts to feed on hosts. It takes 1-2 months for nymphs to become mature adults. Adult bugs can live a year or longer (most live about 10-11 months) and there may be three or more overlapping generations per year.

How to Control

Determine if bed bugs are present with the First Response Trap. This monitoring device uses heat, pheromones and carbon dioxide to work quickly. It is safe and effective!

If present, wash linens, vacuum cracks and crevices to provide long-lasting protection against many insect pests.

Apply temporary barriers to keep crawling insects from migrating into the bed at night. Often this can be achieved by placing bed legs in containers full of soapy water or by spreading a 2-3 inch layer of petroleum jelly around them.

Caulk cracks and other daytime hiding places found around frames, floors and moldings.

Remove or eliminate animal nests, such as bird nests or bat roosts, from your house. These animal habitats may be the source of the infestation.

Spray Orange Guard, made from citrus peel extract, to kill on contact. Approved for organic use, Orange Guard is a broad spectrum insect killer that’s safe to use indoors and out. Repeat applications may be necessary.

Diatomaceous earth contains no toxic poisons and works quickly on contact. Apply lightly around baseboards and in cracks and crevices where many pests are found.

Least-toxic botanical insecticides should be used as a last resort. Derived from plants which have insecticidal properties, these natural pesticides have fewer harmful side effects than synthetic chemicals and break down more quickly in the environment.

We caught bedbugs from traveling — and then the nightmare began

Before going to sleep at night, I would tear my bed apart — removing one layer of bedding at a time to examine every fold and indentation. I’d lift the mattress, rip off the pillowcases, inspect around the box springs and in the bug traps set around the house. I’d repeat the process again in the morning and expand my hunt to other locations around the house.

Disgusting, biting, bloodsucking bedbugs crawled into our luggage, came home with us and moved in without us noticing. And no, these evil creatures were not from a seedy motel or hostel.

Our battle against the bedbugs stretched for several months, and while I’d do my best to make light of the situation, it was truly awful. It was a mental, physical, emotional and financial drain to have an enemy in your home you rarely see, despite your best efforts. But, not seeing them didn’t stop them from easily finding and biting us (and our kids) while we slept.

How we caught bedbugs

I’ll cut to the chase: I’m not going to name the hotel where we got bedbugs, though I know with 100% confirmed certainty when and where it happened. I made the decision early on in this journey not to call out the location, as it largely defeats the purpose of the story since it can happen at any hotel. I don’t want you to feel false security by avoiding that one specific property, because the reality is that bedbugs are on the rise and it’s smart to take bedbug precautions no matter where you stay.

With that out of the way, our stay started like any other. After sleeping in the several-hundred-dollar-per-night hotel the first night, I woke up with a bite or two on my legs, but other than being mildly annoying and itchy, I didn’t think anything of it. The number of bites increased each morning over the course of our stay. For me, almost all of the bites were on the back of my thighs

Bed Bugs

What is a bed bug?

Bed bugs likely get their name from their habit of taking refuge in beds and feeding on humans while they sleep. Bed bugs feed only on blood and must have regular blood meals to survive and develop. Humans are not bed bugs’ only targets, they also will attack many warm-blooded animals, including poultry and other birds. Bed bugs have been associated with humans for more than 3,300 years and are found in virtually every place people tend to gather, including residences, hotels, schools, offices, retail stores and even public transportation.

Bed bugs are great “hitch hikers,” allowing them to travel long distances. They latch onto suitcases, clothes, and linens and can end up wherever these items are taken. This is why the spread of bed bugs occurs so easily. Furthermore, it’s often hard to identify bed bug bites, and they can easily be confused with bites from a different pest, making infestations difficult to detect and allowing populations to grow unnoticed. 

How to Identify Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are an oval shape and only grow to about 3/16th of an inch in length. Prior to feeding, they are brown and flat. After feeding, bed bugs become more red in color, swollen, and elongated. Bed bugs have 6 legs and 2 antennae. Despite having reduced “wing pads,” bed bugs do not have wings and cannot fly.

Signs of a Bed Bug Infestation

Bed bugs are most easily identified by small reddish-brown fecal spots on mattresses, upholstery or walls. If these spots are found, it can indicate an infestation. Bites on the arms and legs are also a tell-tale sign of bed bugs. While these bites can be small, if they swell and become itchy, they are noticeable. It can take two to three days for these bites to appear, allowing the infestation to grow. However, bites alone do not indicate an infestation without other bed bug evidence. 

How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs

Bed bugs are extremely elusive creatures so professional help should be sought out when dealing with an infestation. Bed bugs are a very difficult pest to treat. In fact, 76 percent of pest professionals say they are the hardest bug to eradicate according to a recent NPMA survey. If you suspect or discover an infestation, contact a licensed professional to address the issue. 

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How Much Integrity Does Your Auto Repair Shop Have

How to Avoid Dishonest Auto Repair Shops

Some people buy cars for prestige but for most people a car is not a luxury, it is a necessity. You need it to run errands, take kids to school and commute to work. For this reason, your car can affect your productivity and it is not farfetched to say it could hamper your ability to meet your life goals. You therefore need a good auto repair professional to maintain it and keep it functional at all times. Here are some tips on how to avoid being swindled by dishonest mechanics.

SCARE TACTICS

There are two reasons why mechanics may choose to use scare tactics. The first is to get you to pay for nonexistent repairs. For example, he could tell you that the car is a death trap and needs immediate repair. Most people are too scared to question and often go for with what they are told. The other reason is to prevent you from going to another repair shop. For example, he may tell you that you are lucky to have gotten there safely. He will make you feel like driving another mile down the road is very dangerous. Just like in the first instance you may be too scared to scrutinize him further.

ASK QUESTIONS

It is always important to ask questions. Some unscrupulous repair men may use technicalities to get you to pay more than you should. Note that a qualified professional mechanic will always be willing to answer all your questions. You therefore need to arm yourself with a set of questions. Find out if this is their area of specialization. Some auto repair shops are only certified to repair certain makes and models. Find out how much you can expect to be charged for diagnosis. How do they charge? Per hour, or is it a flat rate fee?

SHOW THEM YOU KNOW

Dishonest auto repair shops tend to prey on people who they perceive as clueless. Showing them you have a clue can throw them off. There are ways you can do this. Describe the problem in very specific terms. If you are hearing noises when you brake, where are the noises and where is the sound coming from? The more specific you are the harder it is for them to lie and invent other mechanical issues. You can also research the problem online to find out what the problem could be before visiting your local repair shop.

Read Online Reviews About the Repair Shop

Along with traditional word of mouth recommendations, online reviews are an excellent way to gather information about your mechanic.  Start with a general Google search to read online reviews of the mechanic’s shop.  Searching the mechanic by shop name along with the city and state will yield some important information including internet posts by satisfied and unsatisfied customers.  Read all posts carefully.  A single unhappy customer does not necessarily mean the mechanic is dishonest, but a pattern of unhappy customers means you should steer clear of this particular shop.  Google+, Yelp, and the Better Business Bureau’s online search tool are excellent ways to gather information about your potential mechanic.

Get a Detailed Auto Repair Estimate in Writing

A detailed written estimate is critical to have in hand prior to authorizing the performance of any service work.  Have the repair shop give you an estimate of exactly what they will be doing, what they are replacing, the tests they will be doing (if any), the parts they plan to replace and the amount of time they think it will take.  A written estimate amounts to a basic contract in most states and protects the consumer from unauthorized work and expenses.  With an agreed upon written estimate, the mechanic cannot perform any repairs that are not on the estimate without your approval.  Just as you would never sign a blank check and hand it over to your mechanic, NEVER sign a blank authorization form.

Check for Mechanic Certificationsase

Just as you would expect from any professional, the mechanics who work on your vehicles should have industry certifications.  Look for ASE certifications.  Possession of such certification means that your mechanic has passed rigorous testing to prove their expertise in auto repair.  A mechanic who has not passed these tests should not be allowed to work on your vehicle.

Here are some typical auto repair scams and how to avoid them.

Scams are sometimes hard to detect so be very alert to any signs or key words you see or hear as you’re talking with a repair shop.

Repair Scams on the Road

As you’re travelling cross country on the open road, you periodically need gas, air in your tires, or to get your oil checked. Some crooked service station owners will take this opportunity to scam you by dripping oil under your car, cutting fan belts or hoses, and even puncturing a tire. Then they’ll charge you a premium to do these repairs.

How can you avoid these “Highway Robbers”? The best way is to get gas, water, and air only at large, well-known service stations. Don’t pull into one of those small dingy gas stations with rusty cars strewn around the property. These are oftentimes far away from larger cities, way out in desolate areas. Plan your fuel and potty stops so you wind up in larger cities.

Repair Frauds when traveling

As you’re taking a trip cross nation on the open roadway, you occasionally need gas, air in your tires, or to get your oil examined. Some jagged gas station owners will certainly take this opportunity to scam you by trickling oil under your cars and truck, cutting fan belts or hoses, and also penetrating a tire. Then they’ll charge you a costs to do these repair services.

Exactly how can you avoid these “Freeway Burglars”? The very best means is to obtain gas, water, and air just at big, well-known service stations. Don’t pull into one of those small dingy filling station with corroded autos scattered around the residential or commercial property. These are oftentimes away from larger cities, escape in barren areas. Plan your fuel and also potty quits so you wind up in bigger cities.

Fix Estimate Scams

A few buyers commit the error of not getting a fix gauge recorded as a hard copy before the work is finished. This trick happens when the mechanics shop gives the purchaser a truly sensible gauge when the vehicle is dropped off, however when he comes to get it, the cost is significantly higher than the verbal gauge. The repairman will guarantee that some unexpected issues came up and expanded the bill.

In what capacity would this be able to kind of trick be stayed away from? For one, generally get your fix gauge recorded as a hard copy. Furthermore, make it understood to the retailer that if any surprising fixes are found during the primary fix, you are to be advised about it and the expense to fix it before the work is finished.