Looking for cleaning services for your home? Read on to find the simple things that matter in choosing maid agencies and professional cleaners. 

People often don’t have the time to care for their homes. After slogging for five days at work, it makes no sense to spend the weekend cleaning cobwebs and carpets. Thankfully, professional cleaning services are around for help. These agencies offer maids and cleaners for a fixed price, and you can hire such services as frequently as required. With so many names floating around, how do you pick one? We have listed five essential tips for your assistance.

If you are looking for a maid service in Alabama, it is best to start with their policies. Look for agencies that are flexible with their pricing, services and other aspects. Since most homeowners are busy on weekdays, the concerned service should offer maid assistance for weekends. Cancellation and booking terms must be checked in advance. In generally, reputed services provide a window of 24 hours for cancellation, which is quite fair.

Usually, people ask their friends and family members for service referrals. However, if you have found a cleaning service online or from other sources, you need to check their background. Does the company have required licenses? Do they offer client references on request? What do other customers have to say about their services? Before you book a service, it is best to do a complete background check for assurance. Keep in mind that you would be hiring the service frequently, and therefore, paying a little more for a responsible cleaning agency is always better.

Most homeowners are concerned about one aspect – pricing! Companies offering professional cleaners and maids often offer cheap quotes and discounts to lure customers, which isn’t a bad idea. However, the transparency in price quotes is worth checking. In many cases, customers are charged with hidden costs in the name of additional things. If you are comparing services, make sure to pick one that offers the most transparent quote. There shouldn’t be any additional charges beyond what is mentioned. Also, ask for a written service contract/quote before hiring.

While cleaning services are handy, not all work in the same way. If you aren’t happy with the service, will the agency offer additional assistance? In case the company cannot send a cleaner on the assigned date and time, will they provide a replacement later? Are your personal details protected from third party dealers and websites? These are some of the aspects that need attention. As a customer, you have every right to ask questions about the smaller issues.

Many companies bring their cleaning supplies along for completing the job, which is quite beneficial. Some of the cleaning work may require additional equipment, and it is best to choose a service that can handle this aspect at their end. You also need to ask them about the kind of products they use for cleaning, especially if you have older parents, seniors and pets at home.

Check online now to find a few services in your area!                                   

Luckie Maid

http://www.luckiemaid.com/

Luckiemaid@gmail.com

Beginning interior design is a challenging, exciting adventure that one must be willing to endure sacrifices and even at times costly mistakes in order to complete this learning successfully.

If interior design is an activity that you are thinking about as a potential career, you owe it to yourself to invest the proper amount of time and energy into educating yourself in the field of creative design. If you are interested in learning about creative design for other reasons, such as designing your own space or home, it is better that you focus your attention on the particular area of design that is pleasing to you.

This being said, if you have the time and energy and would like to learn more about overall designing, then hey, go for it! You might become so good at it that it might be a potential career for you as well!

In any case, beginning interior design is not for the ‘curious’ entrepreneur who does not possess the patience to learn the essential elements and makeup of nicely formed design. It is instead, an employment that is mainly composed of educated, prestigious professionals who care greatly about their work and are passionate with their creativity.

A good starting point for beginning interior design is the object of much controversy in the industry. Many professionals moan and groan that there are too many ill-qualified persons out there representing themselves to the consumer as legitimate designers when they do not have a formal education in the subject.

I agree that many people represent themselves as having a grasp or an understanding of the field, while they are clearly incompetent. However, I do not agree that formal education shapes and molds the best designers. The best designers possess the ability to design before they are even able to understand the concept of interior design.

Beginning interior design for these candidates is basically giving them the tools to do what they naturally understand how to do already. These people are blessed with an internal sense of creative design. Beginning interior design to them is a natural process. These are the designers that seem to outperform and outshine all other designers.

If you feel as if you are not part of this group of gifted individuals and still have a yearning or driving force to learn about this growing industry, then beginning interior design is a very doable activity as long as you are open minded and dedicated to improving your knowledge and understanding of design.

Begin with the basics and propel yourself upwards on the journey to understanding the creative process.

A very bad reason for beginning interior design are money related motivations. I have heard countless people comment on their interest in interior design due to the income potential associated with the industry.

Remember, if you’re not good at something, the likelihood of getting paid well to do it is not very high. The higher salaries in this business are almost always associated with talented, well-established designers who have made interior design their life’s work. Talent and knowledge are keys to success in any industry and one should apply these rules when considering interior design as an income earning activity.

Interior designers come in many forms, backgrounds, and experience levels. Hard work, dedication, and creativity are values that you will find in any successful interior designer. Keep this in mind when beginning interior design work of any kind and it will aid in your ability. Work of any kind is exactly as described…work. Finding something that you enjoy and love to do is what makes work rewarding.

Starting your own business is an exciting adventure. Each of us has great expectations of how running our own business from home will release us from Corporate America, give us more freedom, and soon bring us to the ultimate dream of financial freedom.

There are numerous factors that come into play when we decide to start our own home based business, but the most overlooked is an iron clad Business Plan. I do not mean some ideas floating around in your head of unrealistic goals and no set way to reach them.

Your Business Plan should include but not be limited to the following ideas.

First and foremost, is the start-up of a business, which includes issue such as:

1.Choosing a Business  – you should choose an area that is of interest to you and you can be excited about promoting but also that is something that others are also interested in so the need is there.

2.Choose a Name for Your Business – think long and hard about this before registering a name that later you regret. Make it memorable and creative.

3.Business Location – Where are you going to “set up shop”? It must be in an area that is free from distractions and you can shut yourself off as you go to “work” each day ~ an area to call your own.

4.Legal Requirements – check out the requirements in your state to make sure you meet any licensing required

5.Financing – Know what you have to spend and keep detailed records. Over obligating oneself can often mean failure before you even start.

6.Sales & Marketing – How are you going to get word out there that you have a business? Who is your target audience?

7.Research – research the market, talk to people that are successful in this area, visit Forums

8.Knowledge – Learn about your industry and what is required to be successful and make sure you have and are capable of these items.

Once you have the start-up in place, you must now decide on your goals, do you need a website, and how are you going to promote your business? So often, people jot down a few ideas that are unrealistic compared to their time available to spend on the business, their financial means, and their work ethic.Here are some questions to ask yourself when you are developing your business plan:

1.Where am I now and where am I going?2.What do I want to have, to do, to be?3.What will it cost?4.What am I willing to sacrifice?5.What will be my method or tools to reach this goal?6.Who can I involve?7.How many hours a week do I have to work on this business?8.What areas of advertising and marketing can I use?9.What knowledge do I need?10.Do I have the right attitude, the desire and the commitment?

Now, sit down and start putting your ideas on paper. Remember to develop short and long term goals. Make sure your goals are realistic and obtainable. Make 90-Day plans, monthly plans, or even weekly plans. Your business plan is an ongoing process that must be changed as you move further and further into your business and gain the knowledge to know what you need and desire. Make no mistake, having it in writing will make you more focused and accountable.

Contractor Management Software is an extensive Electrical Contractor Software that allows you to manage all your contractors and staff under one centralised system.

Managing everything on your own, including projects, teams, and clients may be a nightmare. Contractor Management Software allows you to stay on track with your business so you don’t waste time and can focus on the important tasks at hand.

With Contractor Management Software, you can run your business without worrying about paperwork, scheduling, or administrative headaches.
 

Assign Jobs to your Workers Easily

Job Card Management Software makes it simple and efficient to schedule jobs. Using tools like route planning, route optimisation, time planner, and geo planner, you may use the system to allocate assignments to your staff.

Track and Monitor your Workers

Contractor Management Software helps you to keep track of your employees and check the status of your projects. You can monitor the real-time position of your employees with tools such as live mobile tracking and vehicle tracking. The live mobile tracking function allows you to follow your workers’ devices and find them while they’re out in the field. You may also learn how much time your employee devotes to each job, how long he remains on-site, and when he leaves the job site. By assisting you in assigning a new job to the worker closest to the job location, the system helps you to reduce fuel and travel costs. 

The vehicle tracking tool also provides you with information such as driving habits and trip data.

Create Quotes and Track Leads Easily

Job Management Software helps you to increase the productivity of your company by assisting you in better managing leads. You can simply save and manage the information of your potential clients and turn leads into quotations.

The software saves you time by allowing you to produce quotations from anywhere, whether in the office or on the road. To generate quotations, you can utilise templates or customise them as needed. You can also easily convert quotations to jobs without losing any data. 

No Signal, No Problem

Your mobile workers can simply perform their tasks with the aid of the mobile app, even in places where there is no signal. They can simply perform their job while offline because the system supports offline mode, and all of their tasks will be instantly sent back to the office once they get online.

Ensure the Safety of your Workers 

Electrical Contractor Software allows you to create surveys to collect feedback from clients and guarantee that your employees follow health and safety guidelines. A questionnaire is an excellent tool for gathering information about each job, employee, or client.

Digitise your Documents

Contractor Management Software enables you to digitise documents, allowing you to reduce paperwork in your workplace. If you rely on paper for your company operations, you run the risk of incurring errors, but if you use digital technologies to save your data, the risk of making mistakes is substantially decreased. Your employees can now use the mobile app to fill out certifications while on the job.

Generate Error-Free Invoices 

Using the mobile app, you can produce detailed invoices no matter where you are. When a project is completed, you can produce an invoice right away. After you’ve created the invoice, you can either print it or email it to the appropriate customer.

Contractor Management Software is a comprehensive management solution that includes all of the tools you’ll need to take your business to the next level. Switch to the software and see how it can help you improve your business.

Today, automotive air conditioning is standard equipment on cars and trucks. A vehicle without AC can be a sweaty and unpleasant ride. The most likely cause of an automotive air conditioner cooling problem is no refrigerant in the system.

If your vehicle’s air conditioning system has lost its cool factor, you need to do something. The following are easy step by step guide on how to troubleshoot and fix an automotive air conditioner.

When checking out an air conditioning issue, it’s easiest to begin at the compressor.

With the engine running turn the A/C on max cool, set fans high, and make sure that the clutch is engaging on the compressor.

If the clutch is not engaging, use a voltmeter to check for voltage getting to the compressor.

If there is voltage – the clutch may be bad.

If there is no voltage – a cycling switch may be bad, a fuse may be blown and the system may not have enough refrigerant pressure to trip the low pressure cutoff switch that cycles the compressor.

If the air conditioning is set to max cool and fans on high, but is only blowing moderately cool air.

Check to see that the cooling fans on the condenser or radiator are running when the air conditioning is on.

Look for any restrictions like leaves, bugs or dirt that would keep air from passing over the condenser.

Check the cabin air filter to ensure that it is not clogged.

Leaks are the most common problem associated with the air conditioning system. If pressure is low, then there may be a leak.

Using a UV A/C Leak Detection Kit is the easiest way to find a leak.

Check around all fittings to verify that they are all secure.

Check hose manifolds on the compressor.

Check the front seal and the o-rings sealing the pressure switches on the back of some compressors.

Check where the hoses are crimped onto the fittings.

Check the Schrader Valves.

Check for pin holes in the condenser.

Check where the evaporator drains condensation with UV light.

“Clean eating” is one of the latest buzz phrases in our quest to find the “right” diet. There has been an increase in consumer demand for clean food products. Consumers are asking for products lower in sodium, without high fructose corn syrup and trans-fats, products with short ingredient lists, recognizable and “natural” ingredients. And the food industry is responding. Ingredients are being removed which are not easily understood. You will find more options without artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. In 2013, 25% of new product launches globally were considered “label-friendly.”

Is this the answer? More food “products” with fewer ingredients? It can be a component of better eating, but I hope to continue to aim for more food and fewer food “products.”

Benefits of Clean Eating

With any choices in our eating patterns there are a variety of reasons individuals may make the choice for a cleaner diet.

• Food allergies and food sensitivities is a concern many men, women and children face each day. Making the diet simpler can make it easier to avoid foods that may be of concern.

• Clean eating may be a choice made for weight loss. The weight loss benefit of a cleaner approach to eating can be a result of focusing on nourishing your body well rather than the concentration on calories in versus calories out.

• Increased energy and focus is a benefit many experience from a cleaner approach to eating.

When you provide the nutrients your body needs for good health it will function optimally rather than creating restriction with a diet low in calories that also may be low in nutrient value.

How to Eat Clean

So what do you do? How can you make simple changes to shift to a cleaner diet. Follow these tips to get started to eating a more real food diet and one made less of food “products.”

1. Shop the outer ring of the grocery store. The outer ring of the grocery store contains foods including fruits, vegetables, and unprocessed meats. It will include dairy products that range from lightly processed to highly processed. When you go towards the center of the store you will find more foods that are heavily processed which may contain a long list of ingredients. There may be basic foods that will fit well into your cleaner diet in the inner portion of the store, but you need to then look at tip 2.

2. Read food labels. We talk about “processed” food as if it is the enemy. But we also need to define what that means. Processing can be as simple as turning a product that isn’t in an edible state to a form that we will consume in our diet. To the extreme, processing can be adding colors, fillers, additives and chemicals to alter the taste, color and texture of a food to be more appealing to the consumer. Reading the label will help you understand where the difference lies. Look at the ingredient list and ask yourself the following questions.

• Are there more than 5 ingredients?

• Do I understand what each ingredient is?

(Sometimes added vitamins or minerals may be words you don’t understand. Check out the products you buy and do some research to find out the definition of words you don’t know, then consider if you want to buy that product in the future).

• Does it have added sugars and where is that on the list of ingredients?

(The higher in the list, the greater the quantity of that ingredient)?

• Does it have added fats and what is the source of that fat – is it a source that I choose to include in my diet to nourish myself well?

• Does it contain additives, fillers or food dyes?

• Does it contain ingredients that you suspect you may be sensitive too?

3. Prepare your own food. In our culture with busy lives today buying prepared foods can be appealing to simplify your life. Unfortunately, with that your diet may not be as clean as you would like. Make a plan for three – five meals that you can prepare for dinner each week. Can you make one or two meals on the weekend to make life easier during a busy week? Can you make extra and use that as lunch for another meal?

1 – Make a plan.

2 – Make it a plan that will work in your schedule and will allow for simple food prep to make your eating cleaner.

You may look at clean eating as another trend in our food market. Yes, it will be that as well. But I prefer to think about it as a way of life that allows you to nourish yourself well, to feel your very best and to optimize your health.

People will always stress that having a well researched business plan is key before you start your business. Although creating a business plan is often an important step in the evolution of a business, particularly if you need financing or you are not experienced at running a business, it is not necessarily the essential first step. There are two key elements that should be completed prior to the business plan:
•The business model
•The strategy

What is a Business Model?

While the word model often stirs up images of mathematical formulas, a business model is in fact a story of how a business works. In general terms, a business model is the method of doing business by which a company can generate revenue. Both start-up ventures and established companies take new products and services to the market through a venture shaped by a specific business model. In their paper, The Role of the Business Model in Capturing Value from Innovation, Henry Chesbrough and Richard S. Rosenbloom outlined the six basic elements of a business model:

1)Articulate the value proposition – the value created to users by using the product
2)Identify the market segment – to whom and for what purpose is the product useful; specify how revenue is generated by the firm.
3)Define the value chain – the sequence of activities and information required to allow a company to design, produce, market, deliver and support its product or service.
4)Estimate the cost structure and profit potential – using the value chain and value proposition identified.
5)Describe the position of the firm with the value network – link suppliers, customers, complementors and competitors.
6)Formulate the competitive strategy – how will you gain and hold your competitive advantage over competitors or potential new entrants.

Joan Magretta in her article Why Business Models Matter took the concept of the business model a little further. Magretta suggests every business model needs to pass two critical tests, the narrative test and the numbers test. The narrative test must tell a good story and explain how the business works, who is the customer, what do they value and how a company can deliver value to the customer. The numbers test means your profit and loss assumptions must add up. At the most basic level, if your model doesn’t work, then your model has failed one of the two tests.

To begin the modeling process you need to articulate a value proposition on the product or service being provided. The model must then describe the target market. The customer will then value the product on its ability to reduce costs, solve a problem or create new solutions. A market focus is needed to identify what product attributes need to be targeted and how to resolve product trade-offs such as quality versus cost. You also need to identify how much to charge and how the customer will pay.

Think of business modeling as the managerial equivalent of the scientific method – you start with a hypothesis, which you then test in action and revise when necessary. The business model also plays a part of a planning tool by focusing managements on how all the elements and activities of the business work together as a whole. At the end of the day, the business model should be condensed onto one page consisting of: a diagram outlining how the business generates revenue, how cash flows through the business and how the product flows through the business and; a narrative describing the product/ service components, financial projections or other important elements not captured in the diagram.

Business Models and Strategy

It is important to note that completing a business model does not constitute strategic planning. Strategic planning factors in the one thing a business model doesn’t; competition.

What is strategy?

According to the Collins English Dictionary, strategy is “a particular long-term plan for success”. For our purposes, we will consider the essence of strategy as a formula for coping with the competition. Competitive strategy is about being different and the goal for a corporate strategy is to find a position in the industry where the company is unique and can defend itself against market forces. To do this the company must choose a set of activities that can deliver a unique mix of value.

Market Forces and Strategy

The determination of a strategy is rooted in determining how a company stacks up against basic market forces, how it can defend itself against these forces and how it can influence these forces. Fortunately, Michael E. Porter in his article How Competitive Forces Shape Strategy defined these market forces for us. Known as Porter’s 5 forces they consist of:

1) The industry – this is the jockeying for position among current competitors, this can consists of price competition, new product introduction or advertising slugfests.
2) The threat of new entrants – the seriousness of the threat of entry depends on the barriers to entry and reaction from existing companies. There are 6 major barriers to entry: 1) economies of scale 2) product differentiation 3) capital requirements 4) cost disadvantages independent of size 5) access to distribution channels 6) government policy. A new company will generally have second thoughts about entering an industry if the incumbent has substantial resources to fight back, the incumbent seems likely to cut prices or industry growth is slow.
3) The threat of substitute products/services – substitutes can place a ceiling on prices that are charged and limit the potential of an industry.
4) The bargaining power of suppliers – suppliers can squeeze profitability by increasing prices or lowering the quality of the goods.
5) The bargaining power of buyers (customers) – customers can force down prices, demand better quality, more service or play competitors off on each other.

Once you assess how the market forces are affecting competition in your industry and their underlying causes, you can identify the underlying strength and weaknesses of your company, determine where it stands against each force and then determine a plan of action. Plans of action may include:

• Positioning the company – match your strengths and weaknesses to the company’s industry, build defenses against competitive forces or find a position in the industry where forces are the weakest. You need to know your company’s capabilities and the causes of the competitive forces
• Influencing the balance – take the offensive, for example innovative marketing can raise brand identification or differentiate the product.
• Exploiting industry change – an evolution of an industry can bring changes in competition. For example, in an industry life-cycle growth rates change and/or product differentiation declines; anticipate shifts in the factors underlying these forces and respond to them.

The framework for analyzing the industry and developing a strategy provides the road map for answering the question “what is the potential of this business?”

Reconciling the Business Model and Strategy

I will use a short example to illustrate the difference between a business model and strategy. Although you may think that Wal-Mart pioneered a new business model on its road to success, the reality is that the model was really no different than the one Kmart was using at the time. But it was what Sam Walton chose to do differently than Kmart, such as focusing on small towns as opposed to large cities and everyday low prices, that was the real reason for his success. Although Sam Walton’s model was the same as Kmart’s, his unique strategy made him a success.