Posted on

How To Organize An Office Party Systematically With Party Planner

Here’s What Makes a Great Party Planner

Some things are best left to the professionals — oftentimes, that includes planning events. While it’s certainly possible to DIY a great soiree, hiring a professional party planner ensures you can put on a successful event and actually enjoy it, too.

So, how do you know what qualities to look for in your perfect event planner? Look no further: We’ve done the research and talked to experts. Read on to see what we found out.

They’re organized

Let’s face it: Party planners are often so crucial because there’s just so much planning to do! Even if you’re naturally organized and a master of systems and checklists, a great planner should have processes in place that top even your best DIY ideas.

Ask them a bit about what they do to stay on top of all their work. While they don’t have to show you their personal templates, reports, or spreadsheets, they should be able to give you some background on their method of organization.

Do they have a unique way of wrangling vendors? Do they vow to check in with caterers regularly? Ask questions about their workflow so you know they’re intentional about how they handle all the moving parts. The last thing you need is a planner that prefers to wing it.

They track stats and data

Did you know that event planning software and analytics tools are a big market for event planning professionals? Many of today’s top planners use some form of data products to keep them on budget and on time.

They also often use these tools to provide them with precious performance stats so they can tell you how everything went. While you don’t necessarily need to know the nitty gritty of how this is done (or what tools they use), it’s a great dose of transparency.

They take their work seriously

Even if you find out about a party planner from a referral or mutual friend, it’s wise to take the time to research their business and ensure they do things like a professional. Start with their website or social media platforms to see how they communicate. Look to see that they have more than one way to reach them. Can you call? What about text or email?

You may also want to check any online reviews for the planner if they’re big enough to have them. Not all of the best planners will have reviews, and that’s OK. Remember that a bad review or two isn’t necessarily accurate or representative of their work as a whole. Seek out a broad range of reviews or comments, and take them as a collective account of how they’ve done business in the past.

They can provide references

More than just online reviews, a seasoned event planner will likely have references who can speak to their work. To take things a step further, it might also be helpful to ask if they have references that aren’t just former clients.

Venues or caterers, for example, could add some depth to their history that shows how easy they are to work with or their communication style. Whether the planner offers references as part of their proposal or you ask for them directly, they shouldn’t balk at the idea of third-party testimonies that you can confirm with the sources personally.

How to plan the perfect party in 5 easy steps

Whether your’e coordinating an office event, setting up a kid’s birthday party or celebrating something special with family and friends, check out these simple tips to help you get the party planning started.

Step One: The big one – budget

Whether you budget is set by your boss or hammered out between you and your spouse, setting a dollar amount and making every decisionwork with that number is critical to your planning success.

Once you decide on the maximum spending amount, make a list of projected expenses – food , party venue, entertainment, party furniture, lighting, catering equipment, marquee etc record all the costs keeping in mind your maximum allowance. It is a good idea to have a provision in your budget say 10% for unexpected expenses this will provide a cushion for items that may have been missed in the planning stage.

Step Two: The party team

Enlist the help of a team of people, they will help to come up with idea’s for your theme, make a list of who will help with what task. Time management on the day of you party / function is critical to the success of your party, everything needs to run on time.

Step Three: Planning, create a checklist

Creating a to do list in order of time can assist the team in ensuring that all the tasks for the party are organised and ready to go on the day, the checklist can also include a run sheet for the day.

Arrange regular catch up meetings with your team to ensure everyone is on track. A team member who is ahead of schedule can reach out to another who might need a little extra help.

Step Four: Invitations

Ensure invitations are sent out with enough time prior so that guests have plenty of time to plan ie babysitters, transport etc. As you are working to your budget it is important to maintain the number of guests that you have budgeted.

If you are using social media to invite your guests ensure you use a closed event and that invitations are controlled.

Step Five: On the day

Its important that the checklist is used to ensure nothing is missed and everything runs to the plan. If their are any minor issues on the day these often aren’t noticed by the attendees, it is important that any issues are handled with discretion.

Ulimately the success of your party will be based around the guests having a positive fun experience on the day.

Special event planning timeline

Ideally, you want to start planning a major event a year or more ahead. Once you have a date and venue, here’s what else you’ll need to do:

12 months before

  • Choose a theme and work on a budget. Decide the general type of event, such as sit-down dinner or buffet meal, and other major aspects, such as entertainment.
  • Get cost estimates for food, drinks, entertainment, decorations and gifts. Food alone can cost from $10 to $35 a person, so feeding a party of 100 people could cost at least $3,000. A professional DJ for the entertainment could cost between $100 and $300 an hour.

Six months before

  • Finalize details with all vendors.
  • Buy decorations and choose invitations.

Two months before

  • Mail invitations six to eight weeks before the event.
  • Finalize details for transportation and guest lodging.

One month before

  • Contact guests who have not responded to the invitations, so you can provide a final head count for vendors, especially the caterer and event hall.

One week before

  • Plan to be busy with last-minute details, including decorating, seating arrangements and preparing gifts or favors for guests.

What are the benefits of hiring someone to plan my party?

Planning a party can be downright stressful, but most people don’t even consider hiring a professional event planner for anything other than their wedding. However, hiring an event planner is more affordable than you might think and they can help coordinate any type of party, such as:

  • Children’s birthday parties
  • Teen parties
  • Bar and bat mitzvahs
  • Corporate events
  • Company holiday parties
  • Fundraisers
  • Bachelor and bachelorette parties
  • Weddings
  • High-school and college graduation parties
  • Memorials
  • Holiday events

Benefit Hire a Party Planner?

A party is always an exciting event. It’s something that people look forward to escape stress and just have a good time, so parties shouldn’t be complicated events – especially for the guests! Of course, it can be a different story if you’re the one planning the event. It might be a little nerve wracking and stressful, and you’ll need a solution for that.

Hiring a party planner may be the best option. You might think that hiring professionals can become costly and unnecessary, even for big events, but at Scarlet we , our luxury wedding planners and party planners often provide even more help than our clients ever imagined. Many people don’t consider the many benefits of hiring professionals until they’re presented clearly:

1. It Saves You Time

This is one of the primary reasons for hiring party planners. Time is such a valuable commodity that you wouldn’t want to waste it at any stage in the planning process. An initial strategy meeting that plans out the whole event is what’s going to happen. After that you could let your planner do all the meetings and whatever else is needed. He’ll basically organise the whole occasion for you.

2. It is Cost Effective

Yes, you read that one right! Our event planners ask about the budget early on and help establish the best way to use it with you. From there, they can easily go to suppliers and vendors who can fit into that budget of and make everything work.

3. Your Party’s Going to Look Great

You’ll probably get by on your own, but it’s not going to look as great as if you had when you have professionals planning your event for you.

4. Help with event planning details

An event planner will help figure out location, seating, food and drinks, and entertainment to make your event unique and a smooth and seamless production, no matter how large or small. They’re experts in coordination, and know what details to consider — even when you don’t.

Posted on

Practical Advice On Packing Services

Packing Services

While most of our clients start off thinking they’ll pack everything themselves, packing can be a much bigger job than most people realise. It’s easy to underestimate how long you need to set aside to get ready for your move. For example, if you’ve got a three bedroom property, you’re likely to need around 40 packing boxes. If it takes you on average 20 minutes to pack a box, you could spend at least 14 hours packing.

Owner Pack

If you’d prefer to pack everything yourselves, we’ll provide  you specially designed removal cartons once you have accepted our quotation. Then, on your moving day, our crew will bring wardrobe cartons and covers for mattresses and sofas to protect them during your move.

Full Professional Packing Service

Pressed for time? Leave it to our packing experts. With most full packing services we start the day before the removal is scheduled to commence. The crew will work through the day packing items from your home, but they will, of course, leave items for you to use overnight.

In the days before the crew advise to pack your belongings, we suggest you move the items you plan to move together in one location. We always recommend, where possible, customers take important documents and valuables in the car with them on the day of the move.

Fragile Pack

Our specially trained staff will carefully wrap all your fragile items in white paper and pack them securely in strong cartons using. For silverware, we use acid-free tissue to prevent tarnishing.

Safe Packing Guidelines

If it can be shipped, we can pack it.  What if you pack items yourself?  How do you know that your items are packaged safely?  Well, shipping insurance and declared value requirements can at times be complex and if you don’t follow them, you may not be covered if you need to file a claim.

Here’s some items that may help you out:

Your shipment should be able to withstand a 4 foot drop.  The sorting belts in the carriers facilities are typically 4 feet high.  If your package falls off the belt, it needs to be safe.

The package should not crush.  Press on the top of your box after it is packed.  Does the box bend inward?  Does it not feel tight?  If so, you do not have adequate cushoning inside.  Your shipment must be able to handle having other (and heavier) packages stacked on top of it.

Contents should rattle when you shake the box.  When you shake your box, do the contents inside shift or make noise.  If they do, they may not be secure enough inside.

Don’t put breakable items in bubble mailers or padded envelopes.  The purpose of your shipping container (box, envelope, tube, ect) is to make your shipment able to stack.  Therefore, other packages/shipments will be stored on top of yours.  When you put an item in an envelope, you should feel comfortable with heavier items stacked on top of it.

It is important to understand that when a package is in transit, it will be moving and will be stacked with other shipments.  It is your job to make sure that your shipment is packed in a way that will allow it to travel safely in this environment.  These are just general rule-of-thumb guidelines to help you keep your shipment safe.  We recommend that you always check the insurance or declared value guidelines associated with the items you are shipping.  These requirements can change based on the type and value of the item(s) you are sending.

Professional Packing Services

We can wrap, pack and ship just about any size item.  Furniture, artwork, and large items are everyday items for us.  If you are moving, we can pack items for your move.  If you are shipping, we can obviously pack for that also.  We guarantee the items we pack are always packed to meet carrier and insurance guidelines.  To learn more about this, see our pack and ship guarantee.

Pack & Ship Guarantee

With our professional packing services, you are always in good hands. If an item that is packed by one of our associates and shipped with insured/declared value coverage, you’ll be reimbursed for the value of the item (subject to the lesser of actual value, replacement or repair cost), and the full cost of packing materials (excluding insurance/declared value charges).  Restrictions apply.

Tips For Hiring Packing Companies For Moving

What if you could take all of the stress out of moving? For a truly stress-free experience, you need to hire a professional packing company. Unfortunately, it can be challenging to find the right packing companies for moving. And, if you make the wrong choice, you’re right back at square one!

Packing Power

What should you be on the lookout for when it comes to packing companies? Let’s start with the basics: make sure they actually handle packing! A surprising number of companies only focus on moving. While this is an excellent solution for moving your things from “Point A” to “Point B,” it means that you need to handle all of the packing on your own.

And, let’s be honest: much of the stress of moving comes from trying to pack everything on your own. It’s easy to mix different rooms in the same boxes or pack fragile items in a way that practically guarantees your things will break. When you get a company that handles the packing, everything gets a lot easier. You’ll enjoy the peace of mind that comes from real pros handling every step of the operation.

Local-Friendly

Ever hear the phrase, “they can’t see the forest for the trees?” That’s a pretty good description of most moving companies. That’s because most of these companies focus only on long-distance moving. And that’s great if you need to make a significant move from one place to another. But it can be a bad thing if you just need to move your stuff into a new home in the same town.

Long Distance? No Problem

Sometimes, an entire philosophy can be boiled down to a simple meme. For example, look at that meme with the little girl asking, “Why not both?” The meaning of that meme is clear: you shouldn’t settle for one thing when you can have both of the things you want. That same philosophy applies to the packing companies in your area as well. For the moment, you only need a short-distance or long-distance move. But why not hire a company that can handle both?

How to pack basics & guides

Six things to consider for safe and secure package delivery:

Dropping. Packages must have cushion for their contents that passes shock-test impact.

Vibration. Conveyor belts, trucks, and aircraft vibrate packages — often with surprising results. Jars can open, screws loosen, components unplug, edges come apart, and soft material can rub to dust.

Compression. Packages must be able to stand pressure from the top and sides as loads shift.

Temperature changes. Season, geography, mode of transport, and destination can mean dramatic temperature fluctuations. This can change the chemistry, bonds, contents, and more.

Humidity. Humidity can weaken boxes as they absorb moisture and may cause condensation during environmental changes.

Air pressure. Packages that move through elevation changes (by air shipment or through ground transit from low to high elevation) undergo pressure changes with unusual results. For example, a sealed bag of potato chips may inflate and pop at high elevations.

Consult early to save money

The most important rule of thumb: Get your shipping provider involved early. Reach out to your account executive or request a packaging design consultation from a packaging engineer before investing in packaging materials, settling shipping rates, determining price points, and making other decisions that affect your profit margin.

Money-saving packaging tips:

Plan ahead — far ahead. Weight, dimensional weight, oversize charges, and special handling affect the cost of shipping your product. Dimensional weight and oversize charges relate to the size of the package itself. If you are developing a product now, it’s not too early to consult with a shipping engineer to consider minor changes that could reduce your shipping charges. Some products can be redesigned for easy shipping and partial assembly by the consumer, for example.

Don’t assume the original package suffices. Many businesses buy products for redistribution. These may be mass-produced and shipped safely enough to the distributor on pallets, but once off the pallet, single boxes may not withstand the rigors of transport.

Cushioning is king. Understand and protect the most fragile part of your product. If you ship multiple goods in a single box, explore the use of compartments, box-in-a-box packaging, the organization of products in the box, and split shipments. These may reduce costs and damage.

Don’t “ship air.” Minimize the empty space in the container. For example, if you ship gift baskets, choose a basket without a handle; it will take up less space.

Use quality packing materials. The quality of the box, cushioning, and packing tape matter. It’s acceptable to reuse boxes, but inspect them and be sure to re-tape the box.

Pack like a pro. Cutting corners can result in damaged goods and unhappy customers.

Label clearly. Follow your carrier’s instructions. Usually, the label goes on the largest surface of the container. Avoid the edges of the box, since they can cause misreading during scanning. Put special instructions on the box (fragile, this end up, etc.) but never assume that these instructions will protect the contents. Most boxes receive mechanical transport at some point, and most boxes will rest on their largest surface regardless of written instructions.

Understand the regulatory environment for your product. A host of regulations shape shipping processes.

Monitor and adjust. Track shipping costs and damage rates, and then revisit all of your processes to find out how you can improve. If you build monitoring into your product cycle, you can improve your outcomes while keeping costs low.

How much do packing services cost?

The national average cost for packing services is $60 – $80. A packing professional can help with packing in both home and commercial spaces. Whether you need help packing or unpacking a few things, or have multiple floors filled with items to pack or unpack, a packing professional can be a huge help.

Professionals can provide boxes (for a fee) or use the boxes that you provide. Most of the time, these packing professionals can also help with furniture assembly, loading and unloading items, furniture moving and heavy lifting. If you’re looking for some help packing and unpacking, take a load off and let’s chat.

What Affects the Cost of Packing Services?

Hiring a packing service can make your move faster and smoother. These people are professionals and have experience in packing and moving many different types of items, from the most delicate glassware to the heaviest pianos. Various factors affect the cost of packing services, including whether the moving boxes are provided or not, hourly rates, size of home or office, and if there are specialty items that need to be treated differently.

How Much are Moving Boxes?

If the packing service provides the boxes, the overall cost of the job will increase. Many companies have tiered pricing for boxes based on their size. Some companies include the cost of packing labor in their box prices, while other companies charge separately for boxes and labor.

Average Cost of Boxes by Size

Cost for a small moving box, labor not included: $3

Cost for a medium moving box, labor not included: $4

Cost for a large moving box, labor not included: $5

Cost for a dish-pack moving box, labor not included: $8

Packing Services Costs (Materials Included)

Cost per book box, including labor: $5

Cost per linen box, including labor: $10

Cost per fine china/glassware box, including labor: $18

Posted on

Know What To Look For When Searching DUI Lawyer

Dui Law – Important Information About Duis Everyone Should Know

If you’ve been charged with driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI), it is absolutely essential that you do everything within your power to defend yourself against the charges. The Pennsylvania legislature has taken a tough stance on drunk driving, so whether your conviction was based on having alcohol in your system or for being impaired due to drugs, the penalties that you face can be quite severe. The experienced DUI law attorneys at Erik B. Jensen Attorneys at Law will provide you with aggressive legal representation designed to get the charges against you dismissed or reduced.

You can be charged with driving under the influence if the police believe that you are impaired. Though most people think that strictly refers to alcohol, it can also refer to drugs. It can also refer to alcohol at a lower level than what is considered legally drunk, though in most cases there is a specific standard that of the percentage of alcohol in your blood that is used as a benchmark. This is referred to as you Blood Alcohol Content (BAC), and in Philadelphia the BAC that marks you as legally drunk as 0.08. In order to determine your BAC, the police will ask you to take a breathalyzer test, and that test is supposed to be administered within two hours of your arrest. Though you can refuse to take this test, doing so will result in your driver’s license being suspended immediately.

There is a sliding scale of penalties for DUI charges in Philadelphia, and it is largely based upon your BAC levels. A first time offer with a blood alcohol content of .08 to .99 will face the possibility of a $300 fine, enrollment in an alcohol education program, and up to six months of probation, with repeat offenders facing stiffer charges that may include a one year suspension of their license, higher fines, jail time and the installation of an ignition interlock device on their vehicle.  Those who are found to have blood alcohol contents that are higher than .99 also face stiffer fines, and may face license suspension of up to a year.  Depending upon the severity of the offense, the driver’s license can be taken for as long as 18 months, jail time can extend to five years, and fines may go as high as $10,000. In all cases the penalty may also include attending a court-ordered treatment program.

Do I Need a Lawyer for a DWI Case?

When you face criminal charges, you always have the right to an attorney. In fact, this is one of the rights that police will inform you of when they read your Miranda warning after your arrest. The reason you have the right to a lawyer is because the U.S. court system has many complicated legal requirements. To get a fair trial, you need someone who understands how the criminal justice system works and who understands the steps that you need to take to protect your constitutional rights and to defend yourself.

For example, if your Fourth Amendment rights are violated and you were searched illegally, you will need to file a pre-trial motion with the court arguing that evidence should be suppressed. Understanding exactly how to write a motion, support your argument with legal precedent and convince the judge to keep the evidence out of court requires an understanding of past case law and of civil procedure rules within the court system. If you don’t have this knowledge, illegally obtained evidence could be used to take your freedom and leave you with a criminal conviction.

Can You Represent Yourself in a Drunk Driving Trial?

Although you have the right to an attorney, you don’t have to exercise this right and you can defend yourself. This is called pro se representation. You will need to study the laws applicable to drunk driving cases and will need to make informed choices at every step of the way. Some of the different things you need to be prepared to do if you plan to represent yourself include:

  • Entering an appropriate plea at arraignment: Should you plead guilty or not guilty? The answer depends upon the strength of the evidence against you. Even if you ARE guilty, you won’t necessarily be found guilty if the prosecutor cannot prove the case against you. If you do decide to plead guilty, it is advantageous to negotiate a plea bargain with the prosecutor to perhaps minimize the penalties or reduce the charges you face.
  • The pretrial process: It is during this time that you must submit motions to the court on issues that need to be decided before your case goes to a jury. Do you believe evidence was illegally obtained? Do you think the prosecutor has insufficient evidence and that the charges should be dropped? You will need to convince the court of this by making sound legal arguments.
  • Preparing for trial: If you plead not guilty, you need to investigate the evidence against you and try to build a case. You may need to depose witnesses, and to review the breathalyzer or blood test evidence. Both breathalyzers and even blood tests can be called into question in some cases to undermine the strength of a prosecutor’s evidence.
  • Presenting your case: You can raise affirmative defenses or you can simply try to call into question the prosecutor’s evidence. You will need to think carefully about what witnesses to call. Are there experts who can testify about problems with the evidence? Are you prepared to cross examine the police officer to try to weaken his testimony? Remember, the prosecutor has to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Can you introduce questions about your guilt into the mind of the jury?

What Are The Biggest Misconceptions People Have When They First Come To See A Lawyer About Their Dui Case?

The first thing people say is usually, “Well, they never gave me my rights.” That is mostly from watching television. People have the idea that if they do not give you your rights, then they cannot charge you or bring you to trial. However, in a DUI case, unfortunately, that is not the situation. They may never give you your rights in a DUI case. The Supreme Court has held all the questions that the officers ask like “How much you had to drink?”, “Where you’re coming from?”, “What were you drinking?” etc.

For some reason, the Supreme Court has held that those are non-incriminating questions and therefore, you are not given your rights or that you are technically not in custody at that point. So you do not have to be given your rights and the cops never do. However, there is a disagreement to that interpretation of the Miranda rule but that is the way it is. That is the first misconception that, “Well, because I wasn’t given my rights, there has got to be something we can do about the case and get it dismissed,” but that is not the case.

The other misconception is that the chemical test result, or blood and breath tests, is the end-all of the case. However, that is not correct at all. In fact, there are so many problems with the blood test with the way it is administered in California and the way the blood is analyzed in California. It is recommended with these DUIs, that if you are ever stopped, not to take a breath test. Only take the blood test for a couple of reasons. Those are the two basic misconceptions.

Avoid Making Incriminating Statements

If a police officer stopped you for a DUI, then you were probably exhibiting the type of behaviour that led them to believe that you might be intoxicated. You should not make their job— and the job of the prosecutor— any easier by admitting as such. An admission of guilt is a powerful statement that can make your case far more difficult to resolve in your favor. Even if there is evidence against you, an incriminating statement can hurt you just as much. So avoid saying how much alcohol or narcotic substances you consumed or admit that you are intoxicated, otherwise your case could become a whole lot more difficult.

Refuse To Do The Tests

One of the standard procedures during a DUI stop is that the suspected driver takes a series of tests to determine whether they are intoxicated. Those tests include the breathalyzer test that measures the driver’s BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) and the field sobriety tests that check the driver’s coordination. However, you can choose to refuse both of these tests as they are entirely voluntary even though the officer may imply that they are mandatory.

The worst case scenario of refusing the field sobriety tests is that you could get arrested if the officer believes that they have enough evidence to prove your guilt. This is bad but it is better than a DUI charge, and refusing the tests means that the officer won’t have any real evidence against you, which could help your case. The refusal of a breathalyzer test is a riskier affair because of implied consent laws that require you to submit to a breathalyzer test as a condition of obtaining your driver’s licence. That means refusing the breath test could lead to revocation of your driver’s licence and an increase in your insurance.

Your best bet when asked to submit to the tests is to take the breathalyzer test but refuse the field sobriety tests. Even if the breath test comes back positive, your attorney can argue that it was faulty or incorrect.

Be On Your Best Behaviour

This goes for the DUI stop itself and everything leading up to the court date. Be respectful to the officer during the DUI stop and it goes without saying that you should not drive under the influence again, especially before your court date. If your licence has been suspended as  a result of the DUI charge, then do not drive as that could have serious consequences like jail time and fines.

Do not discuss your case on social media as that could lead to the court believing that you are not taking the case seriously. And make sure that you show up to court well-groomed and on time. It is important that you take your DUI case seriously and it is good if the court can see that you are taking it seriously.

Hire an Experienced DUI Lawyer

This is the best thing that you can do because an attorney can help you to fight the DUI charge in ways that you may not have thought of, or even know about. A DUI charge is one of the more serious charges a driver can face and the courts are always ready to make an example of a driver facing that charge to show that they take DUIs seriously.

That is why you need someone with experience defending against those charges on your side. A lawyer will provide the defense you need and will do their best to make sure that the charge does not result in consequences that could leave a permanent stain on your driving record.

Posted on

Tips For Choosing The Best Criminal Defense Attorney

Important Factors To Consider In Selecting A Criminal Defense Lawyer

Being accused of a criminal offense results in severe emotional, financial and mental stress. The accusation alone is capable of destroying lives. While our society is supposed to withhold judgment until a case is adjudicated, a person accused of a crime is usually assumed to be guilty. In fact, even when people are found not guilty, the criminal accusation often follows them and continues to create hardship in obtaining employment and prejudice in society. The first and most important action a person accused of a crime can take is in retaining a criminal defense lawyer to defend against the accusation. But the process of selecting a criminal defense lawyer is fraught with challenges. There are many lawyers with attractive websites and many more lawyers who advertise on various media outlets. So how does a person chose the best criminal defense lawyer for the job? Here are some key factors to look for in choosing the right criminal defense lawyer:

Trial Experience

Trial Experience is a very important factor in selecting the right criminal defense lawyer. There are numerous lawyers with experience in walking into courtrooms and negotiating plea agreements. In fact there are many lawyers who have so much experience in particular courtrooms that they have become friends with the prosecutor. A lawyer who is friends with the prosecutor will fear upsetting the relationship with the prosecutor and will be unlikely to aggressively fight. Fighting aggressively means he might damage the relationship with the prosecutor which means he won’t be able to get as good deals in the future for other clients. That means that this case must be forfeited to ensure a deal can be had in the next case. A criminal defense lawyer with trial experience will not be afraid to go toe-to-toe with the prosecutor. More importantly, the prosecutor will know that the lawyer is an aggressive fighter. Hiring a criminal defense lawyer with trial experience does not mean that the case must go t trial. But it does mean that the lawyer will not be afraid to go to trial and win, when necessary.

Legal Competence

A criminal defense lawyer must be legally skilled in the most up-to-date legal developments, techniques and science in the law of criminal defense to properly represent a client. Just because a lawyer is licensed does not mean that the lawyer has remained abreast of the latest legal developments in the criminal defense field. While many states require lawyers to get some annual professional education, the annual education requirement is not linked to a specific area of practice. Legal competence in criminal defense means that there is a connection between the education and the representation. In our firm for example, no less than 4 weeks out of each year are set aside for training to develop and teach trial skills; scientific skills such as psychological influences on criminal behavior, forensics and investigative techniques; and the newest developments in the criminal law. By investing such a large period time in remaining up to date on developments in the field of criminal defense and in enhancing trial skills, we achieve a level of competence rarely matched by other law firms. That works allows us to provide exceptional criminal defense representation.

Look for someone you trust.

Your life is in your defense lawyer’s hands. It is crucial that you have someone in whom you have complete confidence and whom you can trust with your future. Bring a family member or close friend to help you evaluate the defense attorney and make sure you get your questions answered, especially if you need help paying the fee.

Make sure your lawyer makes you a priority. Don’t hire a lawyer who doesn’t devote his full attention to you when you meet to discuss hiring him. Find out how you’ll be involved in the development of the defense of your case.

Finding someone who will openly and honestly answer your questions is critical—even if those answers hurt. Too much is at stake to hire someone who’d rather please you than give you an honest assessment of the good and bad of your case. You will be working closely with your criminal defense lawyer throughout your case.

Face-To-Face Meeting

In today’s Internet world, face-to-face meetings are often overlooked. Some people will choose to save time by calling different offices and talking to multiple lawyers without ever meeting in person with them. While this tactic is good for shopping around, phone conversations do very little to tell you about the character and reliability of your lawyer. Most criminal attorneys offer free personal consultations and will be glad to sit down and discuss your case at no charge. Hiring an attorney can be an uncomfortable and nerve-racking experience, but the right attorney should make you feel comfortable in their office – giving you confidence to move forward with your case.

Does The Lawyer Limit His Or Her Practice To Criminal Defense?

This is one of the most important questions to consider when choosing a criminal defense attorney. Just as the medical profession has become increasingly specialized, the increasing complexity of the legal system has led to more and more attorneys limiting their practices to certain areas of law. By limiting his or her practice, it is much easier for an attorney to keep up with new developments in the law and to master the skills needed to succeed in a given area of law. The jack of all trades is master of none. Therefore, you are usually better off with a criminal defense lawyer than a general practitioner who dabbles in criminal defense or an attorney who focuses on an area of law other than criminal defense.

Does the lawyer have a proven track record of success?

If a lawyer loses the vast majority of his trials, he is either not a good trial lawyer, is not good at discerning which cases would be best suited for a plea agreement instead of a trial or he may simply have the misfortune of always having clients with bad facts who insist on going to trial against the attorney’s advice.

If, on the other hand, a lawyer has won most of his trials, the odds are that he is a good trial lawyer. This is particularly true of criminal defense lawyers who consistently win, because the deck is usually stacked against the defendant.*

It is much easier to build a winning record as prosecutor than as a defense lawyer. A prosecutor with a losing record is probably a bad trial lawyer, while a defense attorney with a winning record is probably an excellent trial lawyer.

Price Is Not An Important Factor

While price is often the first question asked, it is not and should not be the most important factor. Price is of course always a factor because if someone does not have the money then a criminal defense lawyer cannot be retained. The question that ought to be asked is how valuable is your liberty and freedom. Imagine what a day in jail would be like. How about 10 days? How about a year or five years? Choosing a criminal defense lawyer based only on price ignores the value of experience, legal competence and accessibility. A criminal defense lawyer with a hundred or even fifty clients can charge less because he has many clients but such a lawyer will not have time to prepare a proper defense, will lack competence and will not be accessible. The personal nature of proper criminal defense representation means that a criminal defense lawyer must have time for the client which necessarily eliminates price as a factor.

Posted on

Mold Inspection And Mold Removal Made Easy

Mold

Molds are simple, microscopic organisms that can grow virtually anywhere, both in homes and outdoors. Along with mushrooms, yeasts, and mildew, molds are classified as fungi. Molds typically consist of a network of threadlike filaments that infiltrate the surface on which the mold is growing. Molds reproduce by releasing spores, which are lightweight and small enough to travel through the air. Spores can resist dry, adverse environmental conditions, allowing them to outlive the mold that produced them.

Mold growth often appears as a green, gray, black, brown, or other discoloration on a surface. Eventually, mold growth results in the breakdown of the substrate. More than 1,000 types of molds have been found in U.S. homes.

Sources of Mold

Molds play an important ecological role in breaking down dead organic matter and returning nutrients to the environment. They require moisture and food to grow, and they typically thrive in warm, moist environments. Moisture is the key factor determining mold growth in the home, influencing both the types of mold present and the extent of mold colonization. A variety of materials found in the home, including insulation, wallpaper, glues used to affix carpet, backing paper on drywall, dust, and dirt, can serve as a food source for mold. Mold colonies can go dormant under adverse conditions and revive when favorable conditions return.

Health Impacts

Mold is a serious health hazard in the home environment, as it produces allergens, irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances. Mold can also trigger respiratory problems such as asthma in vulnerable and allergic populations. Therefore, preventing and eliminating mold problems is a crucial part of ensuing quality housing conditions.

People are exposed to mold on a daily basis. Most exposures in the home occur when occupants inhale spores or mold fragments, which are components of household dust. They also may be exposed when their skin comes into contact with mold-contaminated materials.

Mold Removal Specialists

Mold is a natural living organism in the Northeast. It exists in the air in the form of microscopic spores that move in and out of buildings through doors, windows, vents, HVAC systems and anywhere else where air enters the residence. If you suspect you may have a mold problem, it is always best to have a certified mold inspector assess the overall condition of your home. Mold removal measures being outlining is a vital and pertinent way ensure proper remediation techniques are implemented at every jobsite.

Mold Testing & Inspection Process

  • Send 2 certified technicians to the property to do a full five point inspection, visual and manual assessment
  • Take air samples to check if there is mold in the air, and swab samples to check if there is mold on surfaces. We then check for possible water intrusion points that may lead to mold, and take non-invasive moisture level measurements
  • Take photographs of mold specimen sources and attach them to a “Chain of Custody” document; a procedure compliant with legal standards for evidence. Additionally, we use particle counters in and outside your home to determine the amount of negative particles that are in elevated indoor levels as compared to the outside
  • Use infrared camera technology to clearly show mold that may be growing behind walls, and moisture readers to detect moisture damage to drywall, insulation and other materials in your property
  • Within 2-3 business days, provide you with a detailed report of the lab results. This report will advise on (1) whether there is mold; (2) severity of the mold growth rate; (3) the recommended remediation steps to remove the mold; and (4) instructions to prevent mold from reoccurring along with infrared photos of your property. Mold Removal guidelines are outlined in detail on all reports compiled.

Services Include

  • Mold Testing of Surfaces and Air
  • Leak Detection and Moisture Testing
  • Arsenic and Bacteria Testing
  • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) Analysis and documentation
  • Recommendations for Removal / Remediation ( If Necessary )
  • Infrared Thermography (Thermal imaging)
  • Expert Witness Testimony
  • Energy Audits
  • Post-Remediation Testing and Inspections
  • Advanced Mold Inspections

Guide to Handling a Mold Claim

It is important to document the conditions causing the mold and any water damage in the property.  Often times, landlords and associations will attempt to cover up the evidence and this is why it is important to have photographic evidence of the mold and water damage.  Make sure you have copies of the photos and keep them in a safe place.  These photographs may be important later on to document the condition of the premises when the mold was first discovered and prior to any remediation work being done.

It is important to have the property tested for mold. all mold inspectors are required to have a speciality mold assessors license.  It is very important to hire a licensed mold assessor or inspector who is an expert in mold testing.  We recommend having the licensed mold assessor perform an air sample in each room where the presence of mold is suspected.  In addition, the mold assessor should take a swab sample of any visible mold to verify the type of mold and the spore concentration

If the landlord or association isn’t aware of the mold problem, then they can’t be held responsible for your damages.  It is important to notify the landlord or association in writing (by certified mail) as early on as possible.  Since it is important that your notice comply with the law in order to succeed in your claim

Just because there is mold where you live doesn’t mean you are automatically entitled to damages.  You have to prove to the court that you suffered financial expenses such as: moving expenses, mold testing expenses, damage to your personal property, hotel bills and more.  It is important to keep your receipts and keep track of any lost days of work.  It is also important to make a list of all of your property that was damaged and locate any receipts showing how much each piece of property cost you to purchase.

If you believe that you are suffering from mold exposure, it is important to go see your doctor.  Any medical claim must be supported by expert testimony from a licensed physician.  Ideally, it is best to see a physician who has experience with injuries caused by mold exposure.  However, it is always a good start to see your regular physician.  The category of physicians that often are involved in the assessment of injuries from mold exposure include: allergists, pulmonologists, toxicologists and environmental specialists.

How to interpret your mold air sampling results.

Many have asked me about how to interpret indoor air quality results. Since there is very little to be found regarding mold test results and air sampling interpretation on the web, I have decided to share this information with the world. The following information is unofficial and opinionated in nature and is to be used as a guide to help understand mold concentrations. I have developed this guide through many hundreds of successful mold remediation projects. This guide shall not be considered a final conclusion of mold remediation requirements.

DISCLOSURE: The information contained in this document is unofficial and opinionated in nature and is to be used as a guide to help understand mold concentrations. This guide shall not be considered a final conclusion of mold remediation requirements and does not guarantee end results. Furthermore, this guide shall not be used to anticipate end medical result, always consult with your physician if you are experiencing a medical condition.

The Most Relevant Mold Species:

Penicillium/Aspergillus – The most common mold species to show up in Indoor and outdoor air samples. Most of the hundreds of sub-species are allergenic with only a few that are toxic. This group of species will grow with only the humidity in the air as its water source (even in relatively clean, mold-growth-free, indoor environments). Levels vary based upon activity levels, dustiness, weather conditions, outside air exchange rates, and other factors.

Basidiospores – Basidiospores are extremely common outdoors and originate from fungi in gardens, forests, and woodlands. It is rare for the source of Basidiospores to be indoors. However, Basidiospores may be an indicator of wood decay.

Cladosporium – One of the most commonly found molds outdoors and frequently found growing indoors. Spores from Cladosporium are generally present in outdoor and indoor air, even in relatively clean, mold-growth-free, indoor environments. Levels vary based upon activity levels, weather conditions, dustiness, outside air exchange rates, and other factors.

Curvularia – A common allergenic mold. Curvularia can grow on a wide variety of substrates.

Chaetomium – A common water marker that usually indicates wet paper and/or drywall. Chaetomium growth can be widespread, cellulolytic and very commonly found on damp sheetrock paper.

Stachybotrys – A common water marker and the most common toxic mold species. Stachybotrys is rarely found indoors, but when found, is an indication of a problem. Stachybotrys can be considered elevated at a very low concentration. Stachybotrys is commonly found indoors on wet materials containing cellulose, such as wallboard, jute, wicker, straw baskets, and other paper materials. Stachybotrys are widely considered the most hazardous form of indoor mold and are mycotoxin producing and must be removed. Whenever Stachybotrys are present, air sampling is highly recommended for clearance confirmation

Mold Spore Level Guide:

Identification of an active fungal growth or indoor reservoir can be extremely difficult without scientific testing, also known as scientific confirmation. Swabs, tapes and bulk samples are considered the lowest form of scientific confirmation as it only addresses a small localized area of confirmed mold growth. Swabs, tapes and bulk samples are capable of identifying mold types, but do not indicate the size of a mold contamination due to their localized testing.

Air sampling is considered the highest level of scientific confirmation as it not only confirms the presence of mold spores and types, it also indicates the quantified amount of mold spores in the air. This information can then be interpreted to understand the potential impact to health as mold spores caught in the air can be inhaled into the lungs. Mold spores found in the air are typically viable, meaning if conditions are favorable, they are able to grow.

YOUR SPRING GUIDE TO MOLD AND MILDEW

With spring comes an annual spring cleaning, warm temperatures, and humidity, that is the perfect environment for mold and mildew growth. Here are a few things you should know about mold and mildew during the spring season

Keep an Eye out for Mold Growth

Most mold growth is visible. In most cases, you can see mold developing in your home. Keep this in mind and keep an eye out for dangerous mold growth. If you see a mysterious growth growing on the inside of your walls or ceilings, its most likely mold.

The Difference Between Mold and Mildew

The main visual difference between mold and mildew is the texture. Mildew tends to be more of a powder texture, whereas mold tends to be thick and possibly have a fur-like texture to it. Mold can also come in a variety of colors and can grow in any moist environment. In contrast, Mildew is generally white or gray and grows on most plants or in shower grout.

Mold and Mildew Are Dangerous

If you have mildew or mold growing in your home, it could be a sign of a humidity or moisture level issue. Even something as small as slight mildew in your bathroom could be a sign of an issue that needs further investigation.

Mold Remediation

If you think you might have mold in your home, it is recommended that you have a mold inspection performed. If you are looking to have a mold inspection performed

Posted on

The Generation Next Of Bookkeeping

How Hiring a Bookkeeper Can Strengthen Your Business

Hiring a bookkeeper depends on what stage of growth your business has reached and how comfortable you are doing your own bookkeeping. So, when should you hire a bookkeeper?

If your business is new and your bookkeeping is minimal, you may be able to do your own bookkeeping with a simple spreadsheet. But as your business expands and becomes more complex—and profitable—it’s time to consider professional assistance.

When you begin weighing the pros and cons of hiring a bookkeeper, consider the following questions:

How much time do you spend on bookkeeping each month? And how much time do you have to spare?

Does the thought alone of bookkeeping add extra stress to your day?

Are you behind on your bookkeeping, or unsure of your accuracy?

Do you ever feel unsure whether your financial records or tax filings are correct?

Your answers will give you an indication of how urgently you need to bring on a bookkeeper. Follow your intuition.

The benefits of working with a bookkeeper.

If you’re unsure whether you’re ready to hire a bookkeeper, consider these major benefits and how they can positively affect your work days and business success.

1. You get “mission critical” info.

Every month, your bookkeeper prepares a balance sheet and an income statement, and—depending on what style of accounting you use—a cash flow statement. These financial statements give you the essential info you need to run your business and file taxes.

When a qualified bookkeeper is on the job, financial statements are prepared properly and according to accounting standards—so your accountant can quickly and easily file your taxes.

2. You gain the potential to pay less in taxes.

When a bookkeeper is experienced with businesses in your industry, they understand common expenses—and can let you know which business expenses are tax deductible.

For instance, a bookkeeper who works with other yoga studios can tell you whether the cost of additional training for one of your instructors can be deducted on your taxes.

Plus, the cost of hiring and working with a bookkeeper is also tax-deductible.

3. You could pay less in accounting fees.

Suppose you went all year without preparing monthly financial statements and then handed off your business records to an accountant to file your taxes. They’d have to go back and prepare financial statements retroactively—effectively, doing a bookkeeper’s work.

Since accountants generally charge more for their time than bookkeepers do, it means you’ll end up paying more. If you have a bookkeeper do the job properly in the first place, you’ll save money in the long run.

Even if you prepare your own monthly financial statements and deliver them to your accountant come tax time, you risk being charged extra if they need to correct any errors. A qualified, professional bookkeeper should be able to deliver flawless books on your behalf.

4. You’ll save time.

When you spend less time on administrative tasks like bookkeeping, you’ll enjoy more time to focus on your clients and business success.

If you’re self-employed, it can be hard to put a price on your time. Use an online calculator to determine how much your time is worth. This can help you better determine whether bookkeeping is worth the hours it takes you to complete on your own.

5. You might even increase your profits.

One survey shows that, on average, companies’ profits increase 16% after they hire bookkeepers. One reason for this is that bookkeepers have the experience to efficiently manage your bookwork, giving you more time to focus on other areas of your business (like increasing profit).

The Pros of Bookkeeping Services

Question… Are bookkeeping services better than hiring in-house?

Not always. There’s pros and cons to both. If you’re sitting on the fence about outsourced bookkeeping services, there’s a lot to think about.

I want this post to act as a guide to help you discover what’s best for your company.

Unfortunately, bookkeeping services are advertised online as the one-stop-shop for all your accounting headaches. In some cases that’s definitely possible. In my experience though, there are still some things that you and your staff are going to be better off doing.

I’ll cover those in the blog post below so that you can be as prepared as possible before you make such an important decision.

The Pros to Bookkeeping Services

When most people start shopping for bookkeeping services, they usually do so out of a desire to save money on their accounting systems. It’s a valiant reason to shop around, but there are a few other benefits.

#1 – Experience Is Worth It’s Weight in Gold

The biggest benefit to bookkeeping services has to be the experience of the accountant you work with. This is all they do. Unlike hiring someone in-house who may spend half their day answering phones, gossiping by the water cooler and playing on Facebook, bookkeeping services spend all day every day providing bookkeeping. How much better do you think they’ll be at it?

Exactly.

Henry Ford popularized the idea of assembly line automation for a reason. Hiring a specialist to perform a specific function creates a lot of efficiency.

#2 – Tools, Tools and More Tools

The second biggest benefit to bookkeeping services has got to be the tools. These companies are chomping at the bit to earn your business. They’re constantly trying to come up with ways to create a better financial mouse trap. An in-house employee can get stuck in a rut due to the lack of competition.

Bookkeeping Services offer support#3 – How May I Help You Today?

The third benefit has got to be customer service. Bookkeeping services are vendors which means that customer service is assumed in the relationship. With an employee, entitlement often creeps in which can get ugly. As a vendor, the bookkeeping service knows it needs to earn your business or it will lose the account.

#4 – Look at How Flexible You Are!

The fourth benefit is that you have a lighter and more flexible business. When you hire an employee, they take up space, require training and a host of other things to keep them efficient. Bookkeeping services absorb all of that plus the cost of payroll taxes, HR and more.

#5 – Getting Hit by a Truck

The fifth benefit is consistency. If you have an in-house bookkeeper that gets hit by a truck, you’re up a creek. Good bookkeeping services will have a system in place to deal with emergencies. For example, at Ignite Spot, we create training manuals for each client so that if the accountant is sick, another member of our staff can fill in to keep your business running. Good stuff!

The Pros and Cons Of Hiring An Accountant For Your Business

Many business owners, especially smaller businesses, often choose to do their own bookkeeping. With new technology available, including accounting software, it has become easier for even a business owner with little bookkeeping knowledge to handle their own accounting. However, while there are benefits doing your own bookkeeping, there are also pitfalls to watch out for. Depending on the size and complexity of your business, you may need to consider whether hiring an accountant may be a better option than doing your books yourself.

The Pros and Cons of doing your own Accounting

The obvious pro of doing your own accounting is saving the money that it would cost to hire an accountant. In addition, you know exactly what is happening with your business and are involved in every aspect of your revenue and expenses. For those with a small business with few or no employees, this may be a viable option. However, consider a few cons of doing your own books.

  • Time. Not everyone is efficient at bookkeeping. The time it takes you to do your books may be taking you away from what you do best; running and growing your business.
  • Lost opportunities. You may not be aware of all the tax laws and codes that could benefit or hurt your business.

Pros And Cons Of Hiring An Accountant

Once again, the obvious con of hiring an accountant is the cost. It is an extra expense and you will need to trust someone else to have access to your confidential business information. However there are benefits or pros as well.

  • Increased deductions. An accountant can advise you of deductions or tax credits that you can take advantage of to increase your profits.
  • Liability. Your accountant can decrease the liability of mistakes in your tax filing. Ignorance is not an excuse that the IRS accepts, so having an expert on your side can save you money in penalties and interest.

It is each business owner’s personal choice whether they do their own accounting or hire an accountant. However, many will find that having a professional on their side may actually save them money in the long run and free up time for them to focus on their business.

The Pros of Starting a Bookkeeping Business

If you have those characteristics under your belt, here are some of the benefits of starting a bookkeeping business:

  • Startup costs for a bookkeeping business are minimal.
  • You can become a specialist in one accounting application for increased marketability.
  • It’s consistent work that typically takes place on a regular schedule.
  • You can work virtually and broaden your target market.
  • There aren’t formal certifications or training necessary (although, it’s never a bad idea to become certified).

The Cons of Starting a Bookkeeping Business

Some of the potential challenges you may face if you start a bookkeeping business include:

  • There could be significant liability issues.
  • You need to take measures to ensure all client data is kept secure.
  • It could be expensive to purchase and update various accounting software.
  • You need to be comfortable with technology so you can access a client’s computer, if necessary.
Posted on

Vacation Rentals Cleaning Checklist

Rental Home Cleaning Services

Staff of home cleaning professionals are intimately familiar with each of our rental properties. Turning a home over between an 11 AM departure and a 4 PM arrival same-day means not only knowing what you’re doing but being exceptionally good at it. Whether it’s replacing bulbs, restocking cupboards, cleaning up the “uh-oh’s” that some guests leave behind, or deep cleaning services – we have the resources to make your home sparkle for every guest

Services

Custom home cleaning plans and checklists for each home

Pre-arrival inspections between stays and for homes needing additional focus

After hours on-call for owner and guest needs

Cleaning teams for large homes

Scheduled deep cleaning services

Cleaning services for owner-stays in the home

Mid-stay cleaning for guests and owners upon request

And More!

Training

We are proud to say that our Housekeeping Department experiences a very low rate of turnover – many team members have been with us for 3+ years! Additionally, all of our staff are employed directly

VACATION RENTAL

Post Stay At Home Orders

As a hospitality provider we have been placed in a position throughout the pandemic to somewhat sit on the sidelines due to forced business closures. In late March we, as well as all other Short Term Rental Businesses were regarded as a non-essential business and shortly thereafter ordered not to provide lodging to visitors.

While we were not providing services and lodging to guests we had plenty of opportunity to listen to Health Experts, Governmental Authorities and see what was working to mitigate the effects and the spread of the COVID-19 Virus. We witnessed in many instances, and we know what it will take to promote a safe atmosphere for individuals to want to stay at our property. Being in a low density atmosphere, we have an advantage over Hotels and other large complexes.

Enhanced Cleaning Guidelines

We have though enhanced our cleaning processes and the preparation of our property to meet suggested CDC Guidelines. A thorough process of Cleaning and Sanitizing. Our cleaning staff use masks throughout the time they are cleaning and sanitizing the home we are using only disposable / single use cleaning tools, canister vacuums to avoid cross-contamination. Special attention given to high-touch items such as door handles, light switches, telephones, remote controls, drapery pulls, furniture knobs, appliances, faucet handles, remote controls Utensils, cutlery and crockery, chairs, tables, bed frames, and toilet and shower handles. We will continue prioritizing, waste bins & receptacles, cleaning equipment left for guests, guest information, brochures and menus.

Spare blankets, sheets and pillows are in sealed containers once cleaned so if a guest does not use them they are not contaminated. Linens will continue to be washed at the highest temperatures and completely dried prior to redressing the bed,

No other individuals are allowed to enter the home after it has been sanitized for a Guest’s use, and we ask that guests refrain from inviting others into their vacation home environment,

The length of time allotted for the cleaning and sanitizing process is anticipated to take more time to accomplish, therefore this will unfortunately not allow us to provide early arrivals and late departures so it does not disrupt the enhanced cleaning process,

It is customary in Hawaii that we do and we will continue to ask guests to remove their shoes prior to entering the home and leaving them outside the door,

Leaving sanitizing / cleaning products available so our Guests may wash hands and forearms as soon as they enter the home from any other location,

Guest Welcome Kit is left for your arrival containing a starter supply of individually packaged single-use amenities and bath supplies,

It is highly suggested that guests continue social distancing practices during their stay whenever they depart the Rental Home. During stays we encourage our guests to self-monitor themselves for symptoms, follow the advice of local authorities and to seek medical assistance if needed.

Our previous process of contactless check-in and check-out and the use of our electronic door hardware will continue providing additional safety measures for our guests.

We will follow up with each of the guests to our vacation home up to 14 days after their departure and inquire about the current health, having symptoms of the COVID-19 Virus in order to assist with contact tracing efforts.

will of course be a bit more inquisitive of our incoming guests, asking things like: “In the last two weeks, have you or anyone you live with traveled to any areas impacted by COVID-19?” and “Do you currently have any travel restrictions in your area due to COVID-19?” And for those able, we would prefer longer stays vs a shorter one to lessen the foot traffic and the extra time involved in the cleaning process for the next guest.

make any representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability of these cleaning guidelines. The reliance on these guidelines is not a guarantee against contracting COVID-19 virus. These guidelines are subject to change based on new information arising. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and your local health authority.

COVID-19 Response

Air Purifiers protect against COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a new strain of virus that as yet, remains untested. However, the HEPA technology used in our filters is clinically proven to remove 95% of all pollutants as small as 0.1 microns. The COVID-19 virus is larger than this, at 0.12 microns in size. So we are confident our air purifiers are effectively removing the vast majority of the virus when it is airborne.

However, it is important to mention, that as well as airborne transmission, the virus can also be spread via surfaces and human contact. Therefore, it is vital that we regularly wash our hands and practice social distancing.

Both models use HEPA technology and are effective at removing 95% of all airborne viruses, as well as everyday pollutants such as dust, dander and allergens. The HealthMate Plus model is also highly effective at removing chemicals and VOC’s.

Roger Little HEPA Air Purifier

Fine dust, pollen, bacteria and unwanted odors can worsen our air quality. Roger Little, with his air quality sensors and auto-mode, continuously measures the quality of the air and adjusts the fan speed to ensure a healthy environment. The visual air quality indicator changes color to show the current air condition in your space. made Dual Filter with carbon weave technology integrates activated carbon with the fibers of the HEPA filter increasing the amount of activated carbon exposed to the air to provide superior removal of odors and harmful gases. A flat control panel illuminates when adjusting Roger Little’s settings and disappears when not in use, keeping him looking sleek.

UV Sterilizing Wand for Properties

According to the approved laboratory research, the UV-C wand can clean 99.99% of dirty things. It can be used on mobile phones, iPads, keyboards, laptops, toys, toothbrushes, remote controls, door handles, toilet covers, mugs, steering wheels, hotel and family closets, toilets and pet areas to achieve all-around cleaning!

【UV-C LED LAMP】 9 LED lamp beads can be quickly cleaned in 20 seconds. 260-285nm UV-C light wave can eliminate 99.99% of invisible dirty things in life

A cleaning guide for vacation rental owners

To help minimize the cost of your vacation rental cleaning, consider giving your guests exit instructions. Exit instructions should be simple things that can be done in minutes by your guests but can save hours for your cleaners. Recommended exit instructions include simply starting a load of laundry before leaving, placing all used towels on the floor to separate them from the clean ones and removing linens from the beds that were used to avoid cleaning linens from the beds that weren’t.

Rethink white

White pieces in the home like bathroom mats, area rugs, towels and pillow cases can brighten the home and present an appearance of clean. But white pieces do not hide stains even after they are cleaned and will most often be replaced frequently. Simply using darker colors for things that inherently attract dirt like area rugs can not only save you money in maintenance but mitigate the risk of receiving complaints from picky guests.

Modesty for efficiency

When people are on vacation, they generally let loose, especially with laundry. If your home is stocked with eight towels, usually all eight will be used. If your home is stocked with twelve towels, usually all twelve will be used. But if your home is stocked with only six towels, not only will there be only six towels to clean but nobody has ever complained that a vacation home only had six towels to use.

Extended stays

If your guests are staying for longer than two weeks, consider offering them complimentary home cleaning during their visit. These cleanings don’t need to include laundry and can be scheduled when they are sightseeing.

Properly price your cleaning fee

It is customary that your guests pay for your home’s cleaning after their stay. Research what other homes of your size in your area charge their guests for exit cleaning on sites like VRBO. Many vacation rental owners are afraid to “overcharge” their guests for exit cleanings but chances are your competitors are already charging a premium because it appropriately helps limit their liability. If you’ve never owned a vacation rental before, be prepared to take on some very dirty guests, especially if you target families with children and pets.

Cleaning And Safety In Your Vacation Rentals

Cleaning and safety in your vacation rental is a top priority for to ensure that all of our guests, homeowners and our staff remain safe. The new policies and procedures we have adopted are in accordance with industry standards outlined by VRMA, WHO and CDC as well as our own in-house enhancements to provide a comfortable stay for your

Rental Unit Protocols:

Since April 1st, we have gone to each of our rental units and completed a deep clean that included the professional laundering of all bedding, towels, rugs, decorative pillows and throws.  Professional carpet and upholstery cleaning.

We have removed all bed skirting, decorative blankets and throws, decorative pillows and pillow shams.

We have ordered extra pillow casings and mattress covers that will be replaced before the arrival of each new guest.

Implementing double sheeting with an additional clean white top sheet over the blankets for all beds.

There will be extra blankets in the unit in a safety shrink-wrapped container.

We will allow a 24 hour (1 day) window between rentals for a rest period and for our staff to re-enter the unit safely.

All products in the unit for guest use will be individually wrapped.

Many of our rental units provide a keyless entry for guests to ensure minimal contact with others.

For any of our rental units that require a physical key for entry, we will email the instructions for secure pick up at our lock box.

Any of our rental units that have a private hot tub will be serviced and properly sanitized prior to guest arrival.

Housekeeping products:

All hard surfaces will be sanitized with a hydrogen-peroxide spray that will eliminate viruses within 45 seconds.

All drapes, window coverings and soft surfaces will receive a sprayed disinfected cleaner.

An additional cleaning produces will be used to help eliminate virus and bacteria.

All of our staff have under gone training to use these new cleaning products and enhanced safety protocols.

All units will be inspected by our room quality staff members to ensure the cleanliness, organization and the room is ready for our guest to enter.

Our professional grade washers and dryers are set for the correct temperatures to eliminate bacteria and spores.

We launder all of our linens and towels in house with professional grade washers and dryers.

Our detergents and bleaches meet all CDC guidelines for laundering.

Staff Safety and Operations:

All of our housekeeping and maintenance team members will be wearing masks, protective gloves and shoe coverings when they enter a rental unit. All of these items are one-use and the staff will be provided with new PPE.

If there is a time that our maintenance or housekeeping members are required to enter the property while it is occupied by a guest or owner, we will reach out prior to entering the unit. The occupant of the unit may be asked to vacate or isolate within the unit for our staff to address the problem.

All staff members have been trained and practice the proper CDC guidelines for hand washing, sanitizing and disinfecting all common area within our office.

Social distancing within the office space has been adapted for safety and comfort of our staff.

has partnered with companies to provide up-to-date technologies and allow our staff to work remotely when possible to help provide no contact guest services.

Staff members are to stay home if they feel ill and report to us if this is the case so we may assist them if needed

Posted on

Key Facts About Chiropractor

What is the most effective chiropractic technique?

You’ve heard that chiropractors can help relieve back pain, but did you know that a chiropractic adjustment can also support your immune system, increase your energy, and speed up your recovery?

The benefits of visiting a chiropractor are well documented, from the physical to the mental and emotional. But how do you know what chiropractic services are right for you?

Read below for a few of the most common chiropractic techniques and how they work.

What Does a Chiropractor Do?

Let’s start with the basics. A chiropractor is a type of health care provider that focuses on diagnosing and treating neuromuscular disorders. They work by manually adjusting or manipulating the spine and other extremities.

Most people seek out chiropractors if they are having neck pain, back pain, or experience challenges with mobility. In addition to physical adjustments, chiropractors may also advise patients to do specific rehabilitation exercises or make lifestyle changes to ensure a healthy spine, which in turn means a healthier self.

Chiropractors most often use their hands when performing adjustments, but they may also use equipment to assist in the process. Each patient’s treatment may be slightly different, but there are a few techniques that all chiropractors are familiar with.

Why is it important to understand adjustment techniques?

Patients should discuss their symptoms and preferences of chiropractic manipulation with their chiropractor first before a treatment plan is assessed.Best Chiropractic Adjustment Techniques for Pain

Following your chiropractor’s specific manipulation styles and treatment methods is essential to restore normal movement patterns.

Being prepared and aware of what to expect not only builds rapport between you and your doctor, but it also gives you control along your path to a fast and healthy recovery.

There are well over 100 types of adjustment techniques used by chiropractors throughout the world, most practices focus on and utilize 8 to 10 different approaches.  

Chiropractic Adjustment Techniques To Help With Pain

Instrument-assisted Manipulation- Uses a hand-held instrument that allows your chiropractor to apply force without thrusting into the spine.

The small handheld instrument delivers a gentle impulse force into the spine with the goal of restoring motion to the targeted spinal vertebra or joint.

This method can be used to treat many types of back pain, neck pain, and headaches including both migraine and chronic. 

Two advantages of using the instrument-assisted method:

  • The first is based on the momentum of the mechanism. The instrument is so fast that the body’s muscles are less likely to resist the treatment and tense in response as the pressure is applied.
  • The second is the force is localized and doesn’t add additional twisting or bending movements to the joint.

Flexion Distraction

Chiropractors use the flexion distraction is a technique for several lumbar-spine conditions, including lower back pain, disc injuries, and sciatica.

The goal of this technique is to increase overall spinal motion and fix any disc bulges or herniations. To use flexion distraction, there is a special table that allows the chiropractor to manipulate the position of the patient’s spine. Along with the motion of the table, the chiropractor will use manual techniques to remove pressure from the disc.

The motion also allows for essential nutrients to get into the spinal discs keeping them healthy and functioning properly. This technique helps to reduce pressure on the spinal nerves, which often causes pain or discomfort.

Perhaps one of the most significant benefits of this technique is that it does not cause any pain.

Gonstead Technique

The Gonstead technique, named after its founder, is an adjustment method used to realign the spine. It is known as one of the most precise and effective methods to relieve pain and promote optimal alignment of the spine.

It is a manual (hands-on) technique in which a chiropractor adjusts the lower back or pelvis. It’s done while the patient is lying on his or her side. This position allows the chiropractor to realign joints that could be causing pain, stiffness, or limiting a person’s overall mobility.

This technique is very common among chiropractors, and it taught in nearly all chiropractor education courses.

Diversified Technique

The most popular adjustment among chiropractors is often referred to as the diversified chiropractic technique. When you visit a chiropractor and looking for instant relief from your neck and back pain, this is probably the technique they will use.

This technique is a way to adjust a lumbar disk herniation that causes a majority of back and neck pain. It’s considered the most widely used technique involving very precise hands-on thrusts aimed at restoring proper movement and alignment to the spine.

 Logan Technique

The Logan technique is a form of chiropractic adjustment which involves applying pressure on a leverage spot on the sacral bone. This gentle pressure will help to treat muscles of the back and pelvis and realign the bones in the spine, reduce headaches, migraines, release tension and stress in the body.

The chiropractor will then hold this pressure for a few minutes as they use the other hand to rub the back muscles to release tension. This causes the entire spine to move toward balance. The light pressure that is applied allows the muscles to relax. The Logan Basic technique is a very gentle, but extremely effective, chiropractic treatment.

Applied Kinesiology

This type of chiropractic technique mainly focuses on muscles and the bones held in them. In general, it can be categorized as a sports therapy as it is common with those people who engage in sports. There are a wide range of scenarios that will attract this kind of treatment including knee adjustments. The way to achieve this is through massaging and applying pressure on some points. Through this way, the normal functioning of the muscles is achieved. If an athlete is injured, this is the technique which can be used to determine the best possible way of treating them.

Self- Chiropractic

In as much as many doctors are against it, you can also give it a try at home. In this technique, you will only need to apply some ice or heat on the affected area. Also, stretching can help restore flexibility and reduce muscle tightness.

Posted on

Organic Gardening Sustainable Pest Control

A Beginner’s Guide to Pest Control Business Start Up

Market research: Is Pest Control business start-up worth the effort?

Before you dive into the Pest Control business start up process, you’d better make sure it’s worth the payoff is worth the buy-in!

Fortunately, the Pest Control industry is thriving. Recent findings by Specialty Consultants Research indicate that the U.S. structural pest control market generated $8.175-billion in service revenue in 2016. And now experts are predicted that this sum will surpass $10-billion next year!

In fact, all Pest Control services are seeing a spike in demand:

Bed bug service revenue increased by 6.6% compared to last year, bringing total service revenue up to $611.2 million;

Mosquito control services were among the fastest-growing segments in 2016, with residential barrier treatments up 12.6% since 2016;

Service revenue from controlling rats and mice in commercial and residential accounts increased to more than $800-million.

You can get the full industry report here. But suffice to say, the time is right to launch your Pest Control business!

Learning the trade

Once you’ve decided that Pest Control business start up is worth the effort, it’s time to start fleshing out your skills and expertise. This step can be a huge headache for self-starters, particularly those with no previous experience in the field. How do you proceed? Should you bite the bullet and fork over tuition for a 4-year Bachelor of Science? How can you be sure that the certification courses you’ve found teach you all you need to know?

Financing your Pest Control business start-up

You have to spend money to make money, right? As is the case with any other business, you’ll need to get your pest control business start-up funded ASAP. But unlike most businesses, pest control business start up won’t cost an arm and a leg.

How to control pests in health care facilities

Health facilities professionals managing hospitals, long-term care facilities, emergency medical care centers and physical or mental rehabilitation facilities, face many challenges to ensure that they meet the highest level of sanitation while caring for sensitive population

Because pests pose a number of health threats through the spread of bacteria and contamination of surfaces, medical supplies and equipment, ensuring that the facility remains pest-free is one of these challenges.

As the size of a facility increases, so do the risk factors for pest infestations — larger kitchens, more food being served, more bathrooms and more visitors, among others. Other factors include the condition of the populations housed within the facilities and the organizational complexity of decision-makers.

Risks of entry

Health facility pest problems can occur because of pests that enter from the immediate surroundings; those that are within the structure; and those that are brought into the facility by visitors or staff via clothing, food, flowers or other items. While it may be difficult to stem the entry of pests by visitors, educating all staff about prevention within the facility can reduce problems.

First and foremost, facilities professionals must implement exclusion steps to stop pests from entering via the immediate surroundings. For example, facility entry doors should be closed at all times and should be designed to reduce or prevent entry of flying pests. Likewise, windows should be properly screened and utility openings properly closed off to prevent entry points.

Cotton Pest Management Guide

The Cotton Pest Management Guide 2020-21 is the industry’s premium resource for insect, mite and weed control, disease prevention, biosecurity and spray application information. The Guide builds on the wealth of knowledge from research the cotton industry has undertaken since the publication first began in the 1980s and is an important tool for growers, agronomists and consultants alike

Importantly, when it comes to protecting the crop, growers are not alone – insects, weeds and diseases do not respect farm boundaries, so it’s important that the industry works together to manage pests.

The Cotton Pest Management Guide is published by and the industry’s joint CottonInfo team and is updated each year to incorporate the latest research and development findings and consistent improvements in industry best practice. This year, we continue our partnership with our fellow key industry organisation,

on the development of the Guide. This partnership involves a review of the Guide by a CCA Technical Review Panel, providing technical expertise to ensure it remains as useful as possible for both growers and consultants.

Pest Control

This guide brings together the varied and multiple skills and activities required of pest control practitioners, including biology, chemistry, architecture, engineering, sales, logistics, legal and accounting, presented with a primary emphasis on pest organisms at its core. This book provides information and tips on all of these aspects and: explores the business of controlling pests (including trends in the industry, pest control tools, and sustainable pest control)

covers biological information on each pest in addition to information on control and management, monitoring and follow-up; focusses particularly on globally significant pests with internationally-applicable use and guidance; and provides practical and hands-on experience, drawing on original case studies

This is a key resource for pest control practitioners, as well as in-house staff of companies or buildings involved in household or urban pest control. It is also a valuable reference for researchers, and sanitation and building managers.

The Landlord and Tenant Guide to Pest Management

Property Managers and Landlords

While routine pest management may be an integral part of maintaining rental property, landlords and property managers should be aware that their use of pesticide is regulated by the State Environmental Conservation Law (ECL Article 33 §33-0905). When landlords and property managers become aware of a pest infestation, the first thought may be to exterminate the pests. However, the Environmental Conservation Law says that a person may only apply pesticides to the individual dwelling unit (e.g., house or apartment) in which they reside, unless they are a certified commercial applicator.

A landlord can treat property that is occupied by a tenant, only if (s)he is a certified commercial pesticide applicator. Pesticide applications should not be done in an occupied dwelling unit by an unlicensed landlord, property manager, or building superintendent. To obtain information on becoming a certified applicator, refer to the section entitled

This requirement applies to the use of any pesticide, including general use products and restricted use pesticides.

Managers and landlords can take steps to minimize the use of pesticides and comply with environmental laws

Inspect the property often. This will help you identify what, where and why pests are active and determine how to fix the problem.

Treat the property. Pesticides should be used only as a last resort. If non-toxic methods fail or are impractical, use a pesticide that is effective for the intended pest and least likely to affect people and pets. Only trained and qualified specialists should handle or apply pesticides.

Monitor and Evaluate the property for pests to ensure that once actions are taken or an area is treated, the pests do not return.

Tenants

The Environmental Conservation Law says that tenants may treat their own living space with a general use pesticide, but may not apply a product in common living areas (e.g. hallways, doorways, or stairwells in multi-unit housing).

If a pesticide is used, always:

Read the label first.

Product labels contain important instructions on proper application and the amount to use. Applying more than the recommended amount is dangerous and illegal, and does not improve results.

Buy only pesticides that have an EPA Registration Number on the label and are in their original container.

Never purchase pesticides from street vendors. They may be dangerous and illegal. Some illegal pesticides appeal to children because they resemble candy or other familiar objects. A child may eat or touch the product and get sick.

Never transfer the contents of a pesticide product into another container.

This can lead to accidental ingestion.

Choose a pesticide that is specific for the pest you have.

If the label indicates that a product should be used outdoors, it should never be used indoors. If a product is designated for crawling insects, it should not be used on flying insects.

Posted on

Used Car Dealer Bargains

Buying a Car: Should You Pay With Cash if You Can?

Some financial advice websites are touting the virtues of paying cash for literally everything. From your home to travel, to college tuition, and cars, cash is supposedly the only way to go according to these wealth gurus. With your salary and financial plan, this may not be right for you. Some sage advice like “Save your pennies for a rainy day.” ring true through the ages, but some money advice just isn’t practical for the average consumer whose last name isn’t Buffett.

What some experts fail to mention is that there are many great reasons to take out an auto loan as opposed to paying cash on the barrelhead. We’re not talking about the old beater you buy from your neighbor with your pizza delivery money, this advice refers to your first real dependable car with involvement of a traditional lender, like a bank or reputable auto finance agency.

According to Budgets are Sexy, good reasons to avoid paying cash are building your credit history, protecting your nest egg and low interest rates. 

Here’s Why You Should Never Buy a Car With Cash Garrett Parker  4 Years Ago

2020 Buick Enclave Avenir 3

Some financial advice websites are touting the virtues of paying cash for literally everything. From your home to travel, to college tuition, and cars, cash is supposedly the only way to go according to these wealth gurus. With your salary and financial plan, this may not be right for you. Some sage advice like “Save your pennies for a rainy day.” ring true through the ages, but some money advice just isn’t practical for the average consumer whose last name isn’t Buffett.

What some experts fail to mention is that there are many great reasons to take out an auto loan as opposed to paying cash on the barrelhead. We’re not talking about the old beater you buy from your neighbor with your pizza delivery money, this advice refers to your first real dependable car with involvement of a traditional lender, like a bank or reputable auto finance agency.

According to Budgets are Sexy, good reasons to avoid paying cash are building your credit history, protecting your nest egg and low interest rates.  Let’s take a more in depth look at these.

Build Your Credit History

Having no credit history leaves you at a disadvantage when going for a big ticket item like a home mortgage for $250,000. A car loan for $15,000 to $20,000 is much easier to obtain for a newly minted graduate with their first job or a divorcee trying to establish credit in his or her name. For example, if a twenty something with their first real job buys an vehicle, even a small compact model that’s affordable, and pays on time religiously, they will be in a great position to get the best rate on a home mortgage loan when they settle down. For those new to budgeting, a car loan is a better first step into the debt world than credit cards, as it is much easier to manage a predictable payment each month, than opening a bill and wondering how much you actually ran up for take out and shopping on your Visa. Pay cash for the pizza, and the laptop, but finance the car. Your argument may be that you have student loan debt, but you need a car, and unless someone buys it for you as a graduation present, you will need to keep the savings you have for a cushion. Better to finance a dependable used or economy new car than pay cash for a lemon you found on Craigslist.

If a man or woman is newly divorced, finances can be tough to sort out. Once the papers are signed and the smoke clears, it will be time to rebuild a life. Hastily splashing an anticipated settlement funds on a sporty new car may leave you without a security deposit or down payment for a new home. Plus, a car paid in full is considered a nifty paid asset to haggle over, and if you purchase before the financial details are worked out, you may see your ex-spouse drive away in it. Your soon to be ex may not find your car so attractive if they also get a payment booklet.

It’s good to have options

I mentioned optionality before, and that’s a luxury of having cash on hand. Building up thousands of dollars in savings isn’t easy, so when the time comes to do something with it, it’s always worth weighing the options.

Investing is just one way they could use they could use the cash. If they have existing credit card or student loan debt with higher APRs than the auto loans they’d qualify for, it might make sense for them to finance the car and pay down those other accounts with the money they’ve saved.

There are a couple of caveats to all of this:

  • The numbers aren’t going to work this way for everyone weighing a car purchase. Unfortunately for people with average or poor credit, the higher the APR, the less likely it is that the investment returns will outweigh the cost of the loan.
  • Financing the car only makes sense if you’re confident you’ll be able to make the monthly payments throughout the loan term.
  • That 7% average stock market return I cited is based on decades of data. There are five-year periods that have crushed that average (such as 2012-2017) and five-year periods that have dramatically underperformed it (such as 2006-2011). This just reinforces why it’s best to look at investing with a long time horizon.
  • There’s one golden rule to remember with loans: Don’t let credit stretch your budget. In my friends’ case, they shouldn’t be willing to spend more than they’d originally planned just because they have access to more money.

Cash vs. Financing

Before we get into the question of cash versus financing, a little background is in order for shoppers who haven’t had much experience buying a new car.

If that sounds like you, here’s the deal: When it comes to buying a car, you generally have two ways to go about it. You can either finance the car, which means you pay it off over time, or you can pay cash, which means you buy the vehicle outright as if you’re picking up a new book at the bookstore and handing the clerk a $20 bill.

The advantage to financing is that you’ll usually end up with a better car than you can if you’re paying with cash. For example, if your car budget is $8,000, you’ll buy a used car if you pay in full, but if you use that $8,000 as a down payment on a new car, you can expand your automotive horizons greatly. If you have good credit, you can easily afford many new models.

The only drawback is that you’ll need to make monthly payments in order to pay off the loan that allowed you to buy the newer, more expensive vehicle. Included in those payments is interest, which is a fee you pay the bank for allowing you to borrow the money in the first place.

It can help prevent you from overspending

When you buy a car with cash, you must use the money you have on hand to pay for it, so you’ll be forced to stick to your budget. When you finance your purchase, it’s easy to spend more than you planned, especially if you focus on the monthly payment instead of the total price of the car.

For example, let’s say you plan to finance no more than $25,000. But then the dealer begins running through the list of add-ons, like all-weather floor mats, a heated steering wheel or splash guards — and some are hard to resist.

Let’s say those features add another $2,000 to the price of the car. If you got a 60-month loan term and 5% interest rate, this would mean that your monthly payment would increase from roughly $472 (with a $25,000 loan) to $510 (with a $27,000 loan).

That monthly increase may not seem like much, but you’d end up paying $264 more in interest over the life of the loan, on top of the extra $2,000 you didn’t plan to spend.

You won’t pay interest

If you don’t finance your car purchase, you’ll save money by avoiding interest payments. For example, if you buy a car that costs $30,000, make a $5,000 down payment and finance the rest, you’d need a $25,000 loan. If the loan came with an interest rate of 4.5% and a 48-month loan term, you’d pay $2,364 in interest over the life of the loan.

Why you should pay cash for a car?

The short answer is because owning a car is expensive! And owing money on it makes it even more expensive. In its 2014 survey, AAA determined that the average cost to own a car is $8,876 per year, based on 15,000 miles of driving. Now that’s an average, and it can be affected by the cost of the car you own, how much you drive, where you live, and of course, how much you borrow to buy it. It’s an ugly number, especially when you consider that many or even most households have two or more cars.

But let’s get a little bit more specific; why should you pay cash for car?

  • You’ll spend less by paying cash. Paying cash for a new car is tough. It hurts to pull money from a savings account to buy a car that you know will go down in value. That will serve as the built-in limit on how much you will pay for the car. On the other hand, it’s pretty easy to sign a note to cover most of the cost of buying a new car. You won’t be so concerned with the final cost of the vehicle, as long as it isn’t coming directly and immediately out of your bank account. Financing will encourage you to buy a more expensive car.
  • Paying cash can get you discounts. You may have to make a choice between a rebate (discount on the price) and zero interest financing. That means that zero interest isn’t free. Cash gets you the discount price, which is the cost you pay for taking advantage of zero percent financing. And when you pay cash, you may even be able to negotiate a better price, particularly on a used car.
  • You avoid paying interest. This is of course completely obvious, but it’s worth repeating. If you don’t finance your purchase, you won’t pay any interest. How important is that? If you borrow $32,000 for five years at 6%, you’ll have a payment of $618.65 per month. That means you’ll pay total interest of $5,118.98 over the life of the loan.
  • Paying cash requires financial discipline. It takes discipline to pay cash, because paying cash is not easy. But when you develop discipline in one area of life, the spills over to other areas, and this will serve you well.