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At all of my public talks on Preparing Your House for Selling home sellers want to know ‘Which are the most important rooms for selling? My answer is always – the bathroom and the kitchen. Other rooms are important but since women make 85% of the buying decisions you need to pay attention to what we look at first! Many a restaurant has lost our business because of the condition of the bathroom – right ladies! A designer shares insider tips and tricks for your bathroom renovations Eastern Suburbs. Find the right people for glass cut to size Sydney that can do the job perfectly.

As a professional home stager I have worked with hundreds of clients getting their home ready for selling. Home Stagers are part of a growing service sector in the real estate industry. We know our business and we know how to give a home that ‘Open House Ready’ look.

One of the most important criteria that home stagers work with is determining who your target market is. We provide many services that allow us to assist the home seller to save them TIME, MONEY & ENERGY. Make no mistake – selling is a very, very big job.

My advice to you is not to spend too much money on major renovations in your bathroom or kitchen. These are very personal rooms and they are the ones that are most often updated once the new owner has moved in. Do what you need to do to make the rooms look good. There will be other places for you to spend your money.

I am going to share some simple tips that you can take to get your bathrooms looking great for selling no matter who your target market is. You can make these changes to your bathroom on a very small budget.

TIPS For Selling & Simple Bathroom Renovations:

• Remove all the clutter and all of your personal items. Buyers don’t want to see your hair brush, tooth brush or your cat’s litter. (Honestly this is what I walked into one day…) Now is the time to sort through what you really need to keep, give away, sell or throw out. Recycle where you can. Counter tops should be clear with the exception of a few accessories.
• Clean until every single thing sparkles in this bathroom. If you have a shower curtain buyers will pull it back to see the condition of the tub so clean all the grout until it is white.
• One of the biggest changes and best investments is painting your walls. Choose a paint colour that will go with the colour scheme of your home which will be in a neutral colour. Light blues and/or greens are easy on the eye colours in bathrooms – think ‘spa’ and calm – a warm beige is always a safe colour.
• If your lighting fixtures are old then replace them. You can buy very current brushed nickel light fixtures for very reasonable prices at Home Depot, Ikea, Canadian Tire or Rona. The old brass plates just don’t have the look home buyers want.
• Flooring does not have to be an expensive item for your bathroom update. There are many excellent products on the market. Peel and stick tiles work beautifully in small bathrooms and powder rooms. Linoleum works well in bathrooms.
• Choose a neutral tile not too dark and not too bright. Avoid using carpet in a bathroom.
• If you have an old sink and counter tops you can purchase some inexpensive replacements at ReStore Habitat for Humanity, Costco, Home Depot, Canadian Tire and/or Rona. There are many excellent low cost laminates that you can use for new counter tops. Double sinks are the rage right now but not worth the investment for selling.
• Toilets that are dated in colour such as green, pink, burgundy or blue are to be replaced with new white toilets and toilet seats. Try and keep all of the furnishings in the bathroom white or off white.
• Tubs and shower stalls can be more of a challenge if they are old and full of mildew. At the least clean as much as possible. Sometimes you can create a cleaner look simply by cleaning with a strong environmentally friendly cleanser and a toothbrush; then add a new grout. If you need to buy a new tub or stall while they may seem inexpensive it is the labour that will cost the most. Buy a new shower curtain in a fabric cloth rather than plastic as this will add warmth to the room. White is always the best colour but other colours will work if they match your towels. Think ‘spa’ and hotel ensuites. You may need to call in the experts if your bathroom really needs fixing up!
• Cupboards and shelving should be white or off white. If you have wood such as oak now might be the time to consider painting it. You can buy a primer and then a latex paint to update the look. Keep the contrast of colour to a minimum in the bathrooms.
• If your mirror is cracked or slightly damaged then replace it. The current trend is to individual mirrors if you have double sinks, or one large mirror with a brushed nickel-like border around it. Find a mirror that suits the style of your home. Home Sense, Ikea, Home Depot, Canadian Tire and/or Rona are good sources.
• Depending on the size of your bathroom hang some art that is restful to the eye and in soft colours. Abstract art is not a good choice in the bathroom but ocean scenes & florals are good. Home Sense is a favourite store for accessorizing for staging.
• Select contemporary accessories for the finishing touches in the bathroom:
  Towels – choose towels that are big and fluffy – white, beige or matching paint colour towels are a good choice. Make sure everyone in the family knows that these clean, new, fluffy towels are for show only at this time. Put them away when you are not having a showing.
• An orchid or small plant or vase can be a nice addition to any ensuite, bathroom or powder room.
• If you have space wrap some hand towels up in a basket and put them in a corner or center if you have double sinks.
• Avoid using bathmats when showing a bathroom. You can cozy up the room with your paint colours, towels and shower curtain. Keep the floor clear and clean.
• Avoid potpourri in the bathroom and the use of heavy deodorizers. Try putting some fresh lemons in the bathroom in a glass bowel.

By Dana J. Smithers

PRES® Staging Resource Centre founder, Dana J. Smithers, (founder and president of Sun On My Back Redesigns), has enjoyed a prestigious and successful career in Interior Decorating, Home Staging and Interior Redesign. Dana is passionate about this industry and has prepared over 700 students for successful Interior Decorating and Home Staging & Redesign careers of their own. Want to redesign your personal bathroom? Click here for more details.

A noted industry expert, Dana appears regularly on television and is published in many BC and Canadian design magazines. A “Staging Guru” of trends and data in the industry, Dana’s insight and knowledge is often tapped by other home staging related websites. Dana is a sought after keynote speaker and has presented 100s of Staging & Redesign seminars, talks and workshops at schools, libraries, private businesses, and trade shows to thousands of participants. Dana and her team have a flawless reputation in the Home Staging industry and the accolades are many.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1604773

With good planning and preparation, electrical contracting companies can submit their quotes for big projects they have always wanted – or must have to grow. All that is required is sufficient lead-time and a knowledge of industry partnering on the supply side of materials and manpower. Spend the next five minutes reading the article and you will see there are options, both achievable! You will also read about a growing industry many electrical contractors are discovering to help propel them to the top with minimal financial, overhead and legal risk. With many years of experience, service today provides all types of electrician Melbourne services to domestic, commercial and industrial sectors in Melbourne.

Risk and reward: You must “take it to get it”

The scenario is you have grown your business with the proper mix of office personnel and electricians, have decent cash flow, and enjoy an amicable working relationship with your materials supply house(s). You have your estimating fundamentals down and your business is cruising along at a good pace ready to advance to the next step. Your willingness to accept risk is going to place your business over the top or keep you in check. Which way do you go? Are you comfortable or are you ready to progress in the electrical contracting industry? If your answer is “no” – stop reading here. Otherwise, go on to the next step…

Opportunity

Steven Covey said it the best, “Effective people are not problem-minded; they’re opportunity minded.” Maintaining the status quo simply obstructs growth. In a 40-hour workweek, a couple of office support personnel and ten electricians in the field can easily handle a manpower availability factor of ten electricians. With overtime – in perfect conditions – you can squeeze overtime at fifteen man-days (ten at 60 hrs/week) out of your crew and still keep projects on schedule over a short-term period. Now the big knock at the door sounds and an opportunity to grab a big project presents itself. You find you have a requirement for an additional ten electricians to handle the job. Your current crew is stretched to the point of diminishing return. You have a few options; turn the work down and maintain the status quo or go with one or a mix of the remaining two below:

In-house: Focus on the people and the job

OK, start your clock and watch it good! Bid and allow lead time to advertise, drug screen, check references, test for knowledge, interview, notify your worker’s compensation insurance company, gather social security, federal, state tax withholding information, perform payroll functions and then hire to double the size of your staff before the project start date. This will, of course, take time away from getting your materials take-off list in order, ironing out job details with the GC, attend planning meetings, pull permit(s) along with other miscellaneous tasks. You decide to bring in an additional part time office employee to assist the other two already focused on their full-time functions. Also, consideration for the post-project issues must be factored in, like handling unemployment forms, adjusting your worker’s compensation insurance, letting workers go, etc. OK, stop your clock; count the days juggling schedules, whew! Next option is for those ready to throw away the pain and hassles or effectively managing human resources.

Outsource: Focus on the job – not the people

Have time to place one five-minute phone call and want to focus on job preparation, not human resource headaches? Call an electrical staffing company and have the right skill sets assembled for you with all administrative burdens delegated. The price, you ask? Slightly marked up but, it includes the price you would pay for all of the insurance, overhead, payroll, time tracking, advertising, and recruiting duties incurred. By taking on the big job, your return on investment will be surprisingly large by rolling in the known manpower cost. You will have the freedom to focus on the job and maintain your current employee base to supervise job site duties. Do you want more work without added administrative headaches? Want others to handle hiring, replacing, and termination of employees and avoid legal pitfalls with tax and insurance issues? If yes, then select a staffing agency that has licensed electricians in the office who understand what it’s like out there in the real world. Speaking of risk, multi-trade staffing firms let a “staffing technician” hire your electricians. Demand an Electrical Contractor and Master Electrician – backed by human resource experts – hire the specific electrician or electrical crew you require!

Mike Widner, Director Strategy Construction Company

Learn more about outsourcing electricians [http://www.strategy-construction.com] by contacting Strategy Construction Company at 719.574.1881.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Mike_Widner/29255

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/159487

Stains on concrete are not only unsightly, but can also weaken the surface of your driveway. For outdoor cleaning, a pressure washer is fast and efficient, and uses less water than a garden hose. A cement driveway cost Perth can be calculated with the number of area of your driveway.

Pressure washers are portable and can run on either electricity or gas. The engine powers a water pump, which is fed by a garden hose. The unit pressurizes the water so it comes out with greater force than a garden hose alone could muster.

The cleaning power of a pressure washer is determined by combining its water pressure (measured in pounds per square inch, or PSI) with the amount of water used to clean a surface (measured by gallons per minute, or GPM). To calculate its cleaning power, or CP, multiply a pressure washer’s maximum PSI rating by its GPM flow (CP = PSI x GPM).

That much pressure is designed to strip substances away from surfaces, so be careful when using a pressure washer. It can just as easily strip away a plant as a stain. Above all, never point the spray wand at a person as it could well cause injury.

Skill level

• Intermediate

Time required

• 2-3 hours for cleaning and sealing, plus several days for drying and settingMaterials
• Degreaser/cleaner
• Tarp (optional)
• Painter’s tape (optional)
• Driveway sealant

Tools

• Broom
• Pressure washer (also available to rent)
• Pressure washing-formulated detergent (check machine instructions)
• Garden hose
• Rubber boots, gloves and safety glasses (recommended)
• Paint roller and extension pole

Step 1: Prepare the area

Clear the surface of your driveway of any loose material, particularly stone and dirt. If your driveway abuts any walls or doors, you may want to cover them with a tarp and some painters tape. That will protect the finish from accidents or flying debris. Take a few moments to determine which end of your drive is the highest and what direction water flows when it runs across the surface.

Step 2: Degrease the surface

Applying a degreaser will loosen stains in the concrete, allowing you to pressure it away. Some pressure washers have an attachment tool for applying degreaser. Otherwise, scrub the degreaser into the concrete with a stiff-bristled brush or push broom.

Step 3: Ready the pressure washer

If your pressure washer came with instructions, be sure to follow those as they will be specific to the model you’re using. Generally speaking, though, you’ll need to connect the spray wand to the washer using a pressure hose, and the washer to a water supply using a garden hose. Different nozzles are available for different purposes. For applying the detergent, use the low-pressure nozzle; for rinsing, use the high-pressure nozzle, but do not use the high-pressure nozzle on brick surfaces.

Step 4: Clean the concrete

It’s finally time to fire up the washer. Start at the higher end of the drive and work your way in the direction of water flow. Pointing the spray wand at the surface of the drive, depress the trigger and sweep the nozzle steadily back and forth across the concrete, overlapping each stroke by several inches. Once you’ve applied detergent to the entire surface, let it stand for a quarter of an hour or so. You may need to rewet it occasionally to make sure that it doesn’t dry out.

Step 5: Rinse the concrete

After 15 minutes, switch to the high-pressure nozzle and set the pressure washer to its rinse mode. Repeat the sweeping pattern you used before, washing away the detergent and using the spray to lift any grime or stains you find. Make tighter sweeps to lift heavier stains. Be sure to rinse away all of the detergent.

Step 6: Seal the concrete

After the concrete has dried completely, apply a sealant to help ward off future stains. Using a roller with an extension poll, coat the surface of the driveway with a concrete sealant. Allow the surface to set a full day before using the driveway.