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Reduce And Reuse Eco Event Planner

Reasons Why Hiring a Corporate Event Planner is a Good Idea

Planning an event can be really cumbersome. You have to get the budgeting right, the up-to-date management in terms of arranging resources, scheduling and rescheduling your day plans and so on. In particular, if you are planning a corporate event, it is best to say that it has to be on-point. You cannot go wrong with the details because these meetings are very crucial for business growth.

Meetings and incentives are an important part of this planning process. When you rope in a corporate event planner for conducting a successful conference or convention, it ought to be thought through. Here are 5 good reasons for you to hire a corporate event planner:

1. Theme selection

When you skim through any event’s invitation, one of the things that must grab your attention is the theme of the conference. Now, when we say it is a medical conference, for instance, the foremost thing that you must talk about is the theme of the event and the need for it. Event planners will guide you in arranging meetings and incentives which would help you dive into this process right away!

2. Customization

Every meeting and incentive that you plan will require different sets of customization, mainly because each of these will be set in a different location, they will have a different set of target audience and so on. Therefore, the best-chosen expert for your event will customize it all for you.

3. Agenda for the meeting

There is a difference between the theme you choose and the agenda you set, and only an expert can tell you that. When you have called your associates for an event, they are looking for an agenda that suits their wants. Providing them with that advantage is in the hands of your planner.

Strategic planning

Strategic planning management is a legit requirement if you want the convention to be successful. Engaging your customers, handling the registration process, and managing your customer queries are things that event planners will take care of. In that sense, you can be carefree.

Budgeting

Money is a business. You want value for money and at the same time, you want your customers to be happy with the convention. That’s where your best-chosen expert for the event comes into the picture. They budget and account for your needs and make sure those are fulfilled.

The event planner can run things efficiently

The beauty of hiring a professional to handle any corporate event is that things are run efficiently. There are no unnecessary delays, the food is served on time, and the event flows fluidly from start to finish.

Develop & Execute Your Vision

Is this your first time planning a big corporate event, or throwing a fundraiser for a cause close to your heart? The first thing to do when you’re planning an event is to think about what you want it to look like and how you want it to feel. If you’re going for a fun, relaxed networking event, then your vision will likely be a little more casual than say, a super-official government conference. An event planner can help you decide on what you want your event to look like and help make it happen.

If you already know exactly what you want for your event, an event planner can connect you with the right vendors and help you bring your vision to life!

Navigate the Industry

The world of events is vast and expanding, which means there are a ton of vendors who would love to be hired for your event. From photographers to furniture rental companies, venues to caterers; it takes a team of professionals to put on an event. Want a caterer who can prepare a menu that connects to the mission of your non-profit organization? Event planners will know which vendors to recommend to you in order to build the best team possible.

You can save money

It may seem counter-intuitive but you can actually save big when you hire an events planner instead of doing all the works on your own. As it is, event planners have a wide-reaching network of suppliers who can provide the different requirements of a corporate event, which includes the food, audio-visual set-ups, invitations, physical arrangements, venue, and the like. A good event planner can strike the best deals and secure discounts that could become your savings.

You can save precious time

Planning an event, doing the necessary arrangements with suppliers, and overseeing the actual event can eat a chunk of your time. You may opt to create working committees from among your employees but you run the risk of affecting their daily productivity. If your company has particularly tight schedules on deliverables, it’s a wise move to just hire a professional event planner to take care of everything for you. Whatever time you can save from not doing all the legwork on your own, you can devote to corporate matters to improve productivity and profits. It’s a win-win situation.

You can avoid potentially embarrassing oversights

Nobody wants to hold a particularly big corporate event only to get shocked by some glaring oversights due to poor planning and execution. These might include some guests without seats, food that is not commensurate to the number of expected guests, and an audio setup that sucks, and the list goes on. With a professional event planner taking care of things, you can avoid such potentially embarrassing slip-ups since the service provider is well-versed with the intricacies of such delicate events. If you have a lot of VIPs coming in, this is more than enough reason to really hire an event planner.

What Does An Event Planner Do?

Event planning, as a profession, sometimes seems like it is shrouded in mystery. Some believe that the mystery aspect simply covers up the fact that it’s not a real profession at all – a pseudo-profession, perhaps. And at first glance, it can definitely seem that way. Event planners charge you to essentially throw a party, something you could do on your own, right? Hire a caterer, hire an AV company, secure a venue, all things that seem easy enough.

If you can do it all on your own, why hire someone to do it? Depending on your event planner, hiring them to take on the planning aspect of your event or party can be the best money you ever spent. Sure, you can do it all on your own, lone wolf style, but why take on all of the added stress? Plus, an event planner will likely be able to pull off something even more extraordinary than you could have imagined.

The biggest hurdle to hiring an event manager is the cost. But if you’re ready to release the reigns of your event to a professional, then it’s important to understand exactly what you are paying for. Any event planner worth their weight in confetti should be doing the following things for you.

Event Planner Tasks

  • Coordinate speakers and/or VIP guests. If your event will have speakers or other VIPs, the event planner will work with you to help secure their presence as well as arrange their travel schedules and accommodations. The event planner will ensure that the speakers or guests arrive at the venue at their scheduled time and will arrange for any special treatment while they are at the event. They will also plan their event schedule
  • Secure a venue. One of the most important tasks of an event planner is to scout various locations and then secure a venue for the event. The event planner will ensure that the venue can accommodate your guests or attendees as well as be logistically ideal for any activities or mini-events you have planned. They will work with the leasing agent to ensure that the space is ready to go on the day of the event and that everything falls within the scope of the contract.
  • Hire all third party service providers. Most large events depend on many different third party service providers to ensure that things run smoothly. Everything from the food to the sound and music are sourced through third parties (caterers and AV service providers, respectively). Researching, interviewing, and hiring all of these providers can be a long and exhausting process, so having an event planner on hand to handle all of the work can be a huge weight off of your shoulders.
  • Arrange all decor, swag, and informational materials. The event planner will ensure that all decor, swag, and informational materials are selected, ordered, and distributed to attendees and guests. This process includes hiring more third party service providers as well as making a lot of choices are far as what guests will want or need. The event planner must also be cognizant of the budget during this task.
  • Create and organize the event schedule. The event schedule is a big part of whether or not an event will run smoothly. The event planner is in charge of understanding and anticipating the needs of attendees and then creating a schedule that fits what those needs are. The event planner will then create and disseminate a schedule that best fits the needs of those attending and then put measures in place that ensure things stay on schedule when event day arrives.
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How To Keep A Long Distance Moving

LONG-DISTANCE MOVING TIPS FOR AN EASIER MOVE

Recently, I shared how we pulled off a 2,500 mile, long-distance move on a budget, and today I’m following up with some awesome long-distance moving tips!

I grew up as the daughter of a home builder, and we moved a lot. By the time I was 14-years-old, I’d already moved 11 times—all in the same area! I have early memories of helping my mom pack boxes, and later memories of packing every. single. box. for our move when I was 14.

DECLUTTER EARLY

Don’t wait until the last minute to declutter! If you’re in a hurry, you’ll be less objective. It’s harder to make decisions when you feel rushed or pressured. If you’re using shipping containers to move your belongings, you’ll be limited to the space you have reserved, so keep that in mind.

SELL WHAT YOU CAN

Making some extra money on what you no longer want or need goes hand in hand with decluttering! Selling on OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace are my two favorite ways to get rid of furniture, decor, baby gear, appliances, and pretty much anything else that’s worth taking the time to list.

RELOCUBES

If you’re moving long-distance, I highly recommend looking into a company. In our experience, they were very professional, well-organized, and had the best rates.

A Complete Guide to Hiring Moving Companies Long Distance

Moving from one place to another is one of the most challenging choices that one has to make. The complications arise because you are uprooting your life and leaving everything behind. Add to this the challenges of packing, finding movers, and adapting to new surroundings and moving could send you into a stress-induced tailspin. However, if you plan ahead and stay organized, it is possible to ease the pressure of moving. The first step of a successful cross country move is hiring movers you can trust. Below is our complete guide to help you hire long distance moving companies.

Organize your property before the move

Before you even start making calls to moving companies, you need to organize everything inside your home. If possible, you should start preparing for the move months before the actual date. Remove clutter from the home, and throw out everything that you are no longer using. Another great way to get rid of unwanted items before a move is holding a yard sale. This offers two great benefits: First, you will not have to pay for the transportation of the items to your new home, and second, you will have some extra money in your pocket. When organizing your things, do not throw everything into boxes in a random manner. It would be best to color code everything as you pack, as this will make the unpacking process easier.

Vetting moving companies

The dynamics of moving across the country are very different from those of moving across the same city. To be on the safe side, you need to hire movers who are certified, trusted and reliable in what they do. To get such a company:

Ask how long the company has been in business.

Inquire whether the company is licensed and insured.

Ask what will happen to your property in case they destroy it during the move.

Ask if they have any reviews from customers who have used their services before.

Ask about the particular services they offer, for instance, let them explain if they have experience with tall buildings, whether they will help with unpacking and such details.

Use resources that list pre-vetted companies. Sites like AMSA, and the US DOT can help you find licensed and insured movers without having to do all the digging on your own.

Getting a moving quote

When you have organized your things, you will be able to explain how much stuff you are moving to the moving company. The company will then have an easier time estimating the size of the truck or another moving vehicle which can sufficiently handle the load. Explain to them how far you are moving and how soon you want to make a move. They will weigh all these factors and give you an estimate of how much it will cost you to move. The time frame for the move also matters a lot, especially when the distance is long. Note that the shorter the notice you give the moving company, the higher the probability that they will charge you more.

Long Distance Moving Services

offer a wide variety of long distance moving options depending on where you are moving to. One of the top reasons why people book their long-distance moving services with us is because we work personally with you to develop a customized moving plan that accommodates all of your needs.

During each of our long-distance loading days, our driver and crew members will arrive to prepare your valuable goods for loading. Our floor runners will be laid down to protect your floors during the loading process. Any furniture being transported long distance will be wrapped in clean, quilted moving pads for extra protection while other upholstered items, such as chairs and sofas will be wrapped in plastic for extra protection.

owned company providing relocation, transportation, warehousing, distribution and web based move management for individuals, corporations and government agencies

How Moving Companies Are Handling the COVID-19 Pandemic

For those who are looking to move during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical to take numerous health and safety precautions. Even during the season of quarantine, stay-at-home orders, and social distancing, life goes on. For those who already had their move lined up or those that are planning now for the coming months, the good news is that relocations can still move forward.

Virtual Surveys

Under normal circumstances, when you hire a moving company, the best practice is to have the company for an in-home estimate. During this visit, companies will determine how much room your items will take into their moving trucks and how much labor is required. They will give you an estimate based on the information they gather.

However, during these pandemic times, social distancing and limiting contact is essential. That is why moving companies are turning to virtual surveys to determine your moving estimate. By using a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet, you are now able to obtain your moving estimate with no contact

Answering Questions from Afar

Many homeowners’ questions are answered during an in-home visit. Since those visits are no longer on the table, moving companies need another way to answer questions from prospective customers. This is why they are making themselves available through conventional methods such as email and phone calls, in addition to text and instant messaging.

What should you ask your moving company? Questions including:

Will it cost extra to pack fragile items?

Do you charge more for oversized items?

Will you set up and install large appliances at the destination?

How much insurance do you carry?

Do you guarantee delivery dates?

Do you provide packing services?

THE MINIMALIST GUIDE TO A LONG DISTANCE MOVE

Have I ever mentioned that I love to move? Crazy, I know—but ever since college I’ve barely been able to stay in one place for a year before I’m itching to pack up again. When I was tied to a certain location, I’d use architecture as an excuse—as in, let’s see what it’d be like to live in an old Victorian, or a high rise, or an industrial loft. Or I’d neighborhood-hop, so as to experience living in different parts of a city. But really, I just liked to move. 🙂

Spend at least a moment considering the extreme: selling or otherwise disbursing of all your stuff and starting over.

A long-distance move can be expensive; not just $$ expensive, but $$$$$ expensive. If you’re not particularly attached to your stuff, or it’s not all that nice or valuable to begin with, give some serious thought to leaving it all behind. For the price of transporting it, you may be able to replace it with stuff you like better. This strategy can also generate a tremendous amount of goodwill amongst your family, friends, and neighbors. We have a friend who still thanks us for the iPod speakers we gave him before our overseas move.

We really wanted to do this, and even went so far as to itemize replacement costs. And if we didn’t have a child, we would have made it happen. But the cost and hassle (and in some cases, impossibility) of replacing her favorite books, toys, and other possessions outweighed the benefits. And after uprooting the poor girl from the only life she’d ever known, we felt that maintaining some familiarity would help ease the transition. She seemed genuinely surprised and delighted when we unpacked the same stuff—“that’s OUR couch!!!”—into our new apartment.

DIY to whatever extent possible.

Maybe I’m just a glutton for punishment, but I feel that if I’ve accumulated stuff, it’s my responsibility to pack it up and schlep it around. (Call it my penance for possession, similar to why I use eBay.) I’m usually a proponent of rent-your-own-moving-truck—but outfitting one with a car seat for a 3000+ mile drive was not an option. Therefore, we opted for the next best alternative: a pack your own POD (portable on demand storage container), which we then had shipped across the country. Above all, avoid a full-service mover: not only is it pricey, but you won’t get the valuable, eye-opening, and yes, potentially uncomfortable experience of confronting and culling your own possessions.

Choose a transport vessel that is ridiculously small for your current amount of stuff.

This will vary according to your circumstances. If you’re single or a childfree couple, it might be your car or a small trailer. If you’re a family moving from a 3+ bedroom house, think a POD the size of a walk-in closet. If you don’t panic and break out into a cold sweat at the sight of it, it’s probably too big. 😉 Think of it as packing for a trip, and your pod/trailer/moving truck is a big suitcase. Your goal is to pack light, and take only the essentials.

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Why You Need A DUI Lawyer

DUI and Impaired Driving Charges – Facts That You Should Know

Some people think that impaired driving charges only apply to those who were involved in an accident or those who were visibly intoxicated when they were pulled over. The truth is that driving under the influence and impaired driving applies to more situations which can be better explained by a DUI lawyer. If you have been arrested for impaired driving or arrested for a DUI and you are not sure why, it is best to remain calm and be careful about what you say because small mistakes can easily lead to a conviction. Below are some of the most important things to remember if you’re facing DUI and impaired driving charges.

The Vehicle Does Not Have to Be Running or Moving

You can be arrested for a DUI even if you’re only waiting in your parked vehicle for someone to drive you home. The engine does not have to be running and the vehicle does not have to be moving for an arrest to be valid. If you’re intoxicated, it is best to stay outside of your vehicle while waiting for another driver or someone to pick you up.

It is Still A DUI Even Without A Car

Being in any type of vehicle can lead to a DUI arrest. If you’re inside any type of vehicle, it is still possible to charge you with impaired driving because the idea behind the arrest is that you are still a possible danger to yourself and others when you’re inside a vehicle while intoxicated.

Alcohol is Not the Sole Substance to Watch Out For

Having too much to drink is just one reason for a DUI arrest. Being intoxicated in any substance that can affect the senses and perception can result in a DUI charge. This means that if you’ve used medications that can cause drowsiness such as the common side effect for anti-allergy medications, there is a potential for this to lead to a DUI charge in Canada.

Rejecting A Breathalyzer Test Can Lead to An Impaired Driving Charge

If you have been approached by an officer to take a breathalyzer test, the smartest thing to do is to comply because this will work in your favour no matter whether you’re intoxicated or not. If your blood alcohol level has not reached the legal limit, you may only receive a warning. If your blood alcohol level is above the legal limit, your actions with how you complied and how you behaved during the arrest can help you avoid a conviction. On the other hand, if you refused a breathalyzer test, the officer will have to arrest you and the resulting consequences can be very challenging to defend even for a seasoned impaired driving lawyer.

What To Do When You Are Pulled Over And/Or Arrested

Your behavior at the moment of contact with police can greatly help or hurt your case. There is a lot of advice out there for how to act during an encounter with a police officer, but here are some additional tips:

  • Pull over safely and in a controlled manner. You do not want a patrol car following you with lights on too long, but pulling over somewhere safe as opposed to the middle of a busy highway always makes sense.
  • Place both hands on top of the steering wheel so that the officer can see them.
  • Be polite, and cooperative to the extent that it is reasonable, but remember that you don’t have to answer questions or provide information beyond your name and the information contained on your license, registration and insurance card.
  • Avoid answering self-incriminating questions without coming across as defensive. Never comment on questions like “Why did you run that stop sign?” Instead, say something like “I’m sorry, officer, but I’ve been advised not to answer any questions.”
  • Never lie to an officer. It will hurt your case later.
  • You have the right to refuse a field sobriety test and may want to take advantage of that right depending on the circumstances. You also have a right to refuse a breathalyzer at the scene, although you can be given a ticket for a non-moving traffic infraction. However, under Kansas implied consent laws refusal of a breath test at the police station or jail can result in harsher suspension and restriction of your driver’s license.
  • Avoid sudden movements and declare any weapons in the vehicle.

DUI vs DWI  – What Is the Difference Between DUI and DWI?

Depending on the state that you reside in, driving under the influence (DUI) and driving while intoxicated (DWI) can have vastly different meanings. Both terms indicate that an operator of a motor vehicle has been deemed too impaired to continue driving, but how that conclusion was reached is what can differ from case to case. In most instances, a state will use one acronym to specifically describe drunken driving, and the other to describe being under the impairment of drugs.

A common pattern in states distinguishing the difference between DUI vs DWI lies in the blood alcohol content (BAC) of the driver at the time of questioning. DWI often refers to someone who tested above the legal limit of .08%, while DUI indicates that they were under the influence enough to be impaired without reaching an illegal BAC. Even if your breathalyzer proves that you are under .08%, a law enforcement officer may still determine that your judgement is too impaired to continue operating a motor vehicle.

Other states may differentiate DUI vs DWI by establishing one acronym to indicate the influence of drugs, while the other is reserved to indicate drunken driving. Many states will use DWI to specifically refer to being under the influence of alcohol, while a DUI points to someone being impaired by drugs. It is critical to note that impairment brought on by prescription drugs is also qualified as driving under the influence, and can be tried as such. If the law enforcement officer at the scene cannot determine the level of impairment, they often call a drug recognition expert (DRE) onto the scene in order to follow their 12-step protocol for identifying impairment levels.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that over 1.5 million individuals are arrested annually for DUI and DWI offenses. These staggering statistics show how important it is to be well-versed in your state’s laws surrounding impaired driving. Becoming knowledgeable about the DUI and DWI definitions in your state will allow you to avoid potential prosecution while providing much safer roadways.

What to Do After Receiving a DUI Charge

If you’ve ever been pulled over and charged with a DUI, then you understand how frightening it can be, especially if it’s your first time. Because of this, it is important to know what to do while the situation is happening. You can’t take back your mistake, but you can avoid making more during the process. Therefore, the following list includes some detailed information on what to do after you’ve been dealt with a DUI charge.

The Initial Stop

If you are stopped by a police officer because they suspect you of driving while intoxicated, then Las Vegas injury lawyers would highly recommend doing whatever the officer says even if you’re very intoxicated. The last thing you want is to argue with the officer as they can add additional charges.

Being Handed a DUI Charge

After being charged, you will be taken to the police station. If this is your first time being taken to jail, it can be a long process. Once that is done, an investigator will ask you a series of questions regarding your actions. Note that if you feel like you are being blamed for additional crimes and thus feel the interview is unfair, then you should contact an attorney as soon as possible.

Your Court Case

More often than not, the evidence against you will be overwhelming, and therefore your court case will usually only include your sentencing. Once again, be respectful and don’t attempt to lie to receive a lesser sentence. Most DUI punishments include community service or a court referral program.

The Consequences of a DUI Charge

Even after you’ve completed your punishment, you are going to have the DUI charge on your record for several years or forever in some rare cases. This can be a little awkward with future employers, but you should never attempt to hide it. Instead, take the time to explain yourself.

What are DUI checkpoints or Sobriety checkpoints?

If you’ve been charged with DUI after being stopped at a checkpoint, your first question was probably whether DUI checkpoints are legal. The answer is that sobriety checkpoints are in legal, but you still have rights. If your rights were violated, you may be able to have your charges dropped.

Many people have argued that DUI checkpoints are an unconstitutional violation of the Fourth Amendment right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. This is because when police stop drivers at checkpoints, they don’t need any cause at all to make the stop. The courts have ruled that driving on a public road isn’t an absolute right and that the police can set up checkpoints as long as they meet strict conditions.

At the checkpoint itself, police can’t single out drivers or use any sort of discretion in deciding who to stop. They must stop either every car or follow a predetermined pattern such as every third car. Once they do stop a car, they can only ask for basic information. They must have probable cause to conduct further sobriety tests or to search the car.

Drivers must also be able to avoid checkpoints. This is because drivers who go through a checkpoint are considered to have consented to it. The police may need to give advanced notice in the media or post warning signs up the road. Contrary to popular belief, a driver avoiding a checkpoint does not give the police cause to stop that driver. The police would need another traffic violation such as an illegal u-turn or failing to signal.

If you are arrested for driving while under the influence at a checkpoint, all of your normal rights and defenses still apply. For example, you can challenge whether a sobriety test was done properly or whether the police searching your car and finding an open container of alcohol was a legal search.

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Non Profit Criminal Defense Attorney

How do I find a criminal defense attorney?

If you are charged with any crime, whether it is a traffic violation, misdemeanor, or felony, you should retain an experienced criminal defense attorney to fight to get the charges dismissed or reduced. This can be challenging if you do not know any criminal defense lawyers. In addition, you do not have a lot of time to hire an attorney. An attorney can begin investigating your case and attend any hearings with you regarding your criminal case. How do you find an experienced attorney that is right for you?

What to Look for When Retaining a Criminal Defense Attorney

You have a number of options for obtaining the names of possible attorneys to contact. If you have used an attorney you liked in the past who does not practice criminal law, he may know an experienced colleague to refer you to. You can also check with friends and family members to see if they have used a lawyer that they would recommend. Your state bar referral service or an Internet search are other options. When searching on the Internet, you want to review attorney websites carefully and look for helpful articles on criminal law, successful case results, and client referrals or testimonials.

While you may not have time to do extensive research, you do need to research a few possible lawyers and interview them. These are key areas to focus on when deciding if an attorney is right for you:

  • Experience. It is essential that the attorney has extensive criminal defense experience, including handling charges similar to yours. The laws and procedures in criminal cases are different than in civil cases, and you need an attorney who understands the laws.
  • Local attorney. It can often be an advantage to retain a local attorney who has a relationship with the judges and prosecutors that could be involved in your case and is familiar with local court rules and procedures.
  • Track record of success. You want an attorney who has a track record of success in both negotiating plea agreements and taking cases to trial. While many criminal cases are resolved through a plea bargain, some are not. Your attorney should understand the importance of a thorough investigation and should not be afraid to take your case to trial if this is in your best interests.
  • Communicative skills. Having a lawyer who is willing to explain things to you and who does so in a way that you understand is critical. It is important to work with an attorney who you have confidence in and trust. The best way to determine this is to interview a few attorneys. You also want to find out how often they will communicate with you during your case and the best way to contact them.

How to Find an Expert Criminal Defense Lawyer?

Finding a lawyer is easy but finding the one who is most suitable for your case is not that simple as it may sounds. In actual, it is really difficult to find lawyers in Dubai for your own particular case.

When you get to choose a good Criminal Defense Lawyer to take care of your criminal court case, a lot of your worries get disappeared because the criminal lawyers in Dubai, takes away all your worries on their own shoulders. For seeking a fair trial and every other thing related to your case to go smooth enough in your favour, it is not just enough to hire the services of a lawyer. Instead, hiring a very good criminal defence lawyer is much important. We can say so many other things about the lawyers but the main question that arises here is how can good Criminal Defense Lawyers in Dubai be found?

To hire the services of good lawyers, there are so many things that should be considered by the people. Hiring a lawyer is not as simple as conducting a google search, it is so much more than that. This is why here we have come up with some factors that people must consider for their lawyer to have when looking to easily find a good lawyer for their cases.

Check Lawyer’s Reputation

You can check the reputation of the lawyer you hire by asking the nearby people and the community the lawyer lives in. If the lawyer is not having a good reputation, you must not hire them because they will then bring so many other trials for you. Criminal Defense Lawyers in UAE with a good reputation can help you in handling your case effectively. Make sure that you ask the people around the office of the lawyer about their working and their personal dealings. This will help you in recognizing his reputation more easily.

Moreover, you can also find reviews about a lawyer available online on professional social media websites. The reviews are mostly left by the people who have acquired services of a certain lawyer as their clients. This is obvious that no one else but those who have already acquired the services of a lawyer can give you the best information. There may be a possible way to reach out to those people as some people are open to sharing their experiences with services.

Check the Experience

Experts know it better and they know how the matters should be dealt with. The law firms in Dubai UAE can help you in that case. You can find different lawyers working in different law firms. If you find more experienced lawyers, you must hire hem rather than hiring the noobs who are still new in the game. Practicing law gets better with a greater number of cases being handled by a lawyer in their career. A greater number here means experience with different types of cases. For a well experienced criminal defence lawyer, having experience with different cases help them acquire justice for their clients in lesser time.

Check the Research Skills

If a lawyer you hire for your case is not good at investigating, what even is the purpose of hiring them? This one thing of investigation should be there in the lawyer you hire because unnoticed details can play a huge part in making or breaking the whole case. So, beware of how your lawyer pays attention of nitty and gritty. This will certainly come with more experience in the practice. There may be a possibility of a lawyer with little practice but good experience and success rate with a certain type of criminal cases. In any case, a client must look for how good a lawyer is with the type of case similar to theirs and how skilled a lawyer is to handle such cases with effective investigating skills.

Check the Analytical Skills of a Lawyer

The information collected should be analyzed properly because that is where the case can completely change the shape. Your criminal lawyers in Abu Dhabi should be hardworking but their analytical skills should be sharp as well. Every little information in the case matters and there should be nothing avoided at all because there can be a huge bundle of information in a small thing.

A good criminal lawyer with their probing and analysis of available evidence will very quickly reflect how strong their analytical skills are.

All these factors if well considered can surely help people find a good and suitable lawyer for their criminal case. Yet the success of a case also depends a lot on the client itself as having a good lawyer is not enough to win a court case in favour. A client holds a greater responsibility to make sure they inform all and complete details of the matter in the case to their lawyers. Skipping or hiding smaller details related to a case can cause a set back in the court no matter how good a lawyer is.

The qualified criminal defense lawyer must be able to:

  • Explain your rights in all stages of the criminal process;
  • To spot certain arguments and factors that could reduce your criminal charge to a lesser offense;
  • If you are guilty and the evidence is against you, to help you reduce jail time;
  • Negotiate with the prosecutor regarding any particular plea bargain;
  • Overall, work on your behalf to achieve the best possible outcome for a case;

Questions To Ask Before Hiring a Defense Attorney

If you’ve been charged with a crime, having the support of criminal defense attorney can make all the difference in the process and outcome of your case. However, not every attorney may be the right one for you and your situation.

It is important to ask the right questions to determine if the attorney you are considering hiring is one who can help find you the best possible outcome. Below are the top some questions that you should ask when interviewing a criminal defense attorney to represent you:

How long have you practiced criminal law?

When it comes to defending a client in a criminal case, experience is key. There are numerous benefits to having an attorney who has practiced for many years and successfully represented a large number of clients. An experienced attorney can properly advise you on what to expect throughout all stages of the legal process. He or she will also have the ability to anticipate the strategies or actions of the prosecution and can use that to help build you a strong defense strategy.

It is important that a defense attorney not only have years of experience, but the right kinds of experience and specialization. For example, a lot of attorneys do other types of legal work in additional to representing clients in criminal cases. You want to ensure that your attorney is an expert who specializes in criminal law and who can give your case their full attention.

What are your educational and professional credentials?

Just as you would do when hiring anyone else to do a job, you want to ensure that your attorney has the proper educational and professional credentials. Questions such as, “from what law school did you graduate?” and “to which bar associations or professional organizations do you belong?” can help give you a better idea of the legitimacy of your legal council.

Additionally, you may want to ask if the attorney you are interviewing has ever been accused of or sanctioned for attorney misconduct. You want the attorney who is representing you to be in good standing within the legal system.

Have you handled cases like mine before?

It is not only important to find an attorney who has handled a good number of cases, but one who is knowledgeable about the charges you face as well. A lawyer who has had experience handling clients facing similar charges can save you a lot of time and money and most likely find you a better outcome overall. You may also want to ask if the cases similar to yours have gone to trial and what the results of those cases were.

What is your success rate?

Ensuring that your attorney has experience with clients in situations similar to yours is a good start, but you also want an attorney who is likely to find you a successful outcome. While every case and every client is unique, you want to find an attorney who has a good record for finding the best possible outcome for his or her clients.

How often do you appear in the courthouse where my case will be heard?

In addition to general experience appearing in a courtroom, it is also helpful to have an attorney who has rapport with the judges who would likely preside over your case. A criminal defense attorney who knows the local prosecutors will also have a better idea of what to expect from them and how to shape your defense around their potential actions. With prior knowledge of the courtroom in which your case will be heard, your attorney will be better able to evaluate the likely outcomes of your case.

Will you be the one working on my case?

Many lawyers belong to firms which employ junior associates and paralegals. Oftentimes attorneys will delegate certain tasks involved in your case to other members of the legal team. This can be of benefit to you, as a junior associate’s hourly rate may be lower, which will save you having to pay a higher rate for your attorney to do the same task.

However, you will want to ensure that your attorney is involved in making all of the most important decisions in your case and is actively presiding over the work being done by other members of the team. You should feel free to ask your attorney whether he or she will be able to give adequate time and attention to your case.

How strong is my case?

No lawyer should guarantee a specific result for your case and you should be wary of any attorney who makes promises about what the exact outcome will be. However, an experienced and knowledgeable attorney should be able to evaluate the preliminary information they are given about your case and make an assessment as to how it may likely play out. It is also important to find what your attorney thinks are the strengths and weaknesses of your case which will shape the defense strategy that he or she will devise.

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Hire A Mold Inspection Professional

MOLD REMEDIATION GUIDE: MOLD IS A REAL THREAT

As a mold remediation professional, you know mold is more prevalent than the average person might realize. Although exposure to certain types of mold is harmless in small doses, large mold colonies that develop in moist, low-airflow areas can cause serious harm to anyone who occupies a building with mold.

This fungal life form grows in multicellular structures called hyphae. Hyphae have a thread-like shape and can be used to differentiate mold from single-cell fungi, which are called yeasts. When mold spreads into groups of multiple hyphae, it is called a colony.

Mold emits small airborne elements called spores as a means of reproduction. Trace amounts of mold spores are nearly always in the air you breathe outdoors, but in an enclosed environment like a building, the presence of large mold colonies can create high concentrations of mold spores that will eventually make their way into the respiratory tract of nearby humans.

HEALTH EFFECTS OF TOXIC MOLD

Exposure to spores can have moderate to serious health effects on people. These effects are magnified for immune-compromised individuals and can include respiratory agitation, respiratory infection, allergic reactions, rash, cold-flu type symptoms and in extreme cases even death.

The spores that molds emit contain natural poisons called mycotoxins. These toxins disrupt human cellular structures and processes — for example, protein synthesis, DNA and RNA synthesis. In more severe cases, neural effects have been reported, which include degradation of eyesight and color differentiation, deterioration of the visual field and reduced cognitive function.

Of the more than 21 million Americans living with asthma, approximately 4.6 million — nearly a quarter of all those affected — are believed to suffer from the condition because of exposure to mold. While this study was focused on fungus exposure in homes, rather than commercial buildings, the estimated cost of medical expenses incurred due to these cases was $3.5 million.

Mold Removal Tips and Cleaning Guide

Mold Removal Tips

This project is meant to serve as a guide for anyone who has experienced water damage and mold inside their building.  The methods seen here are just recommendations, and your specific mold removal specialist may choose to do things different.  Use descretion when deciding what is best for you

Containment for mold removal

A containment should be established before removing moldly building materials over 10 sq. feet.  The containment serves as a barrier and isolates the work zone from the remaining indoor environment.

Cover the flooring

Mold removal techniques involve the demolition of building materials – drywall and plaster.  Cover the flooring to protect the finished flooring within your work zone.

Note:  Not all flooring has to be covered.  Some mold removal companies will wipe the surfaces of the floor with an approved anitmicrobial solution before laying plastic on the floor.

Mold Sealants

Some mold removal specialist will use foam or silicone sealants to fill gaps in between the building materials. Filling the gaps in these areas will help prevent air, from exterior sources, intruding into the enclosure.

Note: Try to use these materials sparingly. A little goes a long way

Mold Removal Machines

Mold removal experts use specialized machines that filter mold spores and particles out of the air.  Mold Removal Machines are proficient at removing particles (such as mold spores) by passing the air through a HEPA filter.  The efficiency of a HEPA filter is 99.9% of particles 2-200 microns.

Note:  Directionality – what way do you point your negative air machine and how often do you change the filters?  Mold removal machines need to be broken down, cleaned, and each filter changed prior to or after finishing your job.

A Guide For Toxic Black Mold Removal

When a mold inspector is performing mold testing, any amount of Stachybotrys or toxic black mold is considered an automatic failed test. The reason for this is that there should never be any amount of these toxic species of mold in an indoor environment. Its presence alone is almost always an indicator of current or past water intrusion and mold growth on drywall somewhere.

While this species of mold is different in the fact that its mold spores release mycotoxins into the air, the process for Toxic Black Mold Removal is no different than any other professional mold remediation. The key word here is “professional”. When black mold is present the removal should not be attempted by anyone, even a contractor unless the have training specific to mold remediation. If you are considering taking on this job yourself, please take a look at all of the following steps needed to complete the job correctly and safely first.

Create Temporary Containment

Wear Mold Respirator and Full Tyvek Body Suit

HEPA Vacuum

Remove Contaminated Building Materials

Apply Anti-Microbial Cleaning Chemicals

Run Air Scrubbers for 72 Hours

Thorough Cleaning of HVAC System

Clearance Test to Ensure Job Completed Properly

Risk vs. Reward

We understand that nobody likes to pay for expensive services and mold remediation definitely falls under that category. At the same time we hope that the above list gives you a better idea about what is involved in the process of black mold removal and you see why the price tag on the service is as high as it is. If you truly want to get rid of black mold, hiring a professional is the only option to avoid hazardous living conditions

Mold Inspection, Evaluation, Removal and Remediation

Mold is found everywhere: indoors (100,000 spores per gram in carpet dust), outdoors (75,000 spores per cubic meter in summer air), and especially on the Web. Black mold (Stachybotrys) gets all the press, but it is by no means the most dangerous of the frequently found molds.

Truly Useful Information on Mold Testing and Remediation (Removal)

Here, and in the pages listed in the left panel, is our version of “All You Really Need To Know About Inspection, Evaluation and Removal of Indoor Mold:”

A “mold-free” building is an unnatural state and an impossible goal. Every breeze, draft or visitor brings a variety of molds in. The objective should be a normal indoor environment, without conditions that are unusually hospitable to the growth of naturally occurring molds.

Today mold X, tomorrow Y. Or here X, there (somewhere) Y. One must not read too much into snapshots of an ecology, as would be shown by either bulk or air samples. The air is a soup of different mold spores, and whichever one happens to land on a favorable spot will colonize it. Others that land nearby may fight for the same territory; it’s always a contest as long as the conditions for growth are favorable.

The existence of any visible mold — no matter what kind — inside a home is an indication of something wrong, i.e. an existing or prior moisture problem that should be corrected along with any decontamination.

No variety of mold can be said to have zero adverse health effects in all people.

Stachybotrys (“Black Mold”) is not the most dangerous of the frequently found molds.

Stachy needs a constant source of moisture. It loves wet drywall, but is seldom found on wood. 

Its claim to fame is the toxins in its body, and if you ate enough of them (some say one square inch) you could be dead in a hurry.

However, nobody — NOBODY — has ever died from breathing Stachy spores.

It is incapable of growing in the human body, but is equally toxic whether dead or alive.

Infectious organisms (such as some varieties of Aspergillus) may have sheaths that are less toxic, but they are capable of colonizing the lungs and then migrating to (for example) the brain. People have died from these molds.

Mold

Mold Basics

Molds can be found most anywhere – indoors and out.  There are thousands of types of mold in Tennessee and all over the world, many of which produce spores.  Spores spread easily through the air and can form new mold growth on surfaces when conditions are right.  Above all else, molds need moisture to live and grow.  If there is mold growing in your home, there must be a source of moisture or a water problem.

What are the health effects of mold?

Mold is usually not a problem indoors unless it finds a damp environment and starts to multiply.  Molds can produce allergens, irritants, and in some cases, mycotoxins. Many people have no reaction to mold.  Allergic reactions and irritation are the most common health effects for people sensitive to mold.  Mold exposure can also trigger asthma attacks in people with asthma

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a link between mold and other health effects such as memory loss, lethargy and acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage among infants has not been proven. The term “Toxic Mold” is often used by the media, but it is not accurate.  While some molds do produce toxins, the molds themselves are not toxic or poisonous.  Hazards presented by molds that produce mycotoxins are the same as other common molds that may grow in your home.

Should I test my home for mold?

In general, it is not necessary to test for mold.  Both the CDC and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) do NOT recommend testing.  No matter what type of mold is present, you should clean it up and make efforts to prevent further mold growth.  Since the effect of mold on people can vary greatly, the presence of mold in the home does not imply a health risk.

Tips for mold prevention:

Fix leaky pipes, roofs and windows

Maintain low indoor humidity, ideally 30-50%.

Perform regular HVAC inspections and maintenance

Do not carpet bathrooms and basements

Ventilate shower, laundry and cooking areas

Promptly clean up and dry out your home after flooding

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How To Create The Lifestyle Accountant Practice

7 Things to Consider Before Choosing an Accountant for Your Small Business

One of the smartest things you can do as a small business owner is choosing an accountant for your business. It goes without saying that, if you don’t have a strong financial background or know much about accounting, you shouldn’t be doing your own accounting. There are just too many problems that can arise from that attempt—both financial and legal. You don’t want to get audited by your tax authority for making simple mistakes.

In fact, we’ve stated before that it is one of the top accounting mistakes that small business owners make. So when you finally decide to get an accountant, now you have another problem: how do you choose which one is the best? That’s why today we’ll show you the 5 most important things to consider before you choose an accountant for your small business.

#1 Time in business

Although it may seem at the same time unfair and practical, the number of years that an accountant has been in business can mean success or failure.

If an accountant has a lot of experience working with small businesses and understands the unique challenges, then that’s exactly who you want.

You may get along well with a younger accountant or one with little experience, but it may be a bigger risk than you need to take.

#2 References

Another important thing to consider before choosing an accountant is how many references the accountant has.

References are important because they will inform you how well this particular accountant could help businesses similar to yours. And that’s the type of references you want—businesses with similar sizes, structures, niches or other things in common.

By talking with those references, you can get a good idea if the accountant has the experience and skills necessary to help you.

If the accountant has no references whatsoever, then you probably shouldn’t even consider him or her.

#3 Account handling—by one accountant or many?

If you are just hiring your first accountant, then you need to trust that accountant. The only way to do that is to build up that trust through months and years of interaction.

For that reason, it’s important that your account be handled by a single person, and not passed on through the accounting firm from one accountant to another.

This type of accounting carousel can cause a lot of frustration and unnecessary headaches on your part.

#4 Fees

Of course, although optimally you may want to focus on processes and other similarly significant things, we can’t forget about money.

If you can’t afford the accountant, then there’s no reason to even begin any discussions.

You need to take into consideration how the accountant is charging. Is it:

  • by the hour?
  • based on a fixed fee?
  • based on a value-billing system?

Naturally, if your accountant charges by the hour, that means you have greater flexibility in some ways (a sort of pay-as-you-go). Whereas with a fixed fee or value-billing system, there is less room for changes.

#5 Up-to-date accounting

Having a knowledgeable accountant is very important. However, there are many ways for an accountant to be knowledgeable.

He or she can have knowledge in the standard practices and processes of the industry. Or the accountant can have knowledge of the newest idea, controversies and breakthroughs in the field.

The best type of accountant is one with both types of knowledge. The accountant that you choose to hire for your small business should be up-to-date on the current trends and developments in accounting in order to help you out the best.

Things to consider when choosing accounting software

When it comes to choosing accounting software, there are plenty of options available. However, not all accounting software packages are right for every business. It’s important to consider the needs of your business. It’s important to consider the needs of your business and factors such as budget, goals, scalability and users.

We might sell award-winning accounting software, but we’re not going to tell you that the software we sell is best for your business. In this blog, we’re simply going to cover seven things you should consider when choosing accounting software.

BUSINESS GOALS

Analysing your business and determining what you need from your new accounting software is the first and most important step when choosing a new system. Do you want a fully integrated accounting software solution that can be used across your entire business, or are you looking for a standalone accounts package? Integrated accounting software is the approach to take if you’re looking to grow your business. It can give you more control, improve efficiency and save time.

REQUIREMENTS

What do you need from your software, and what are nice to haves? Entry level software does the basics such as key financial reports, VAT, customer invoices and records. If you need features such as stock management, CRM, costing, credit management and powerful, real-time reporting tools, then you’ll need to be looking at a more advanced accounting system. Is payroll a consideration?

KNOW YOUR BUDGET

Have a clear budget in mind and be realistic about what you can afford. If budget is an issue, why not look at modular based software that you can add to as your business grows? Don’t try to buy all the applications straight away, buy the ones you need first and add to your solution gradually.

Would a cloud solution make a positive impact on the bottom line when choosing an accounting and business system over a traditional on premise offering?

You should also consider your cash flow and how you wish to pay. Would paying monthly improve your cash flow instead or would you prefer to buy upfront?

Secure Data

The market trend is to use web-based accounting software. You should also invest in such tool and not in the desktop-based ones. The heydays of desktop-based software tools are fading fast.

With the online accounting software, you can save business’ financial data on the external servers. It is safe there from any physical hazard at your end. You should know when the data is backed up and make sure the frequency is as per your needs.

Many business owners hesitate to store their financial data on external servers. However, it is actually safer there than on your own servers. The security experts look after it. They use latest technologies to secure it. It should be one of the factors to consider when selecting a software package.

Customer Support

Switching to new accounting software, however, user-friendly or advanced, is a bit uncomfortable to everyone involved. Be sure that from time to time you or the staff are going to need support from an expert. The product’s user manual is not going to have all the answers.

The level of customer support offered by the manufacturer of accounting software is one of the vital factors to consider when selecting a software package. If your staff is not happy with the software, it is going to delay the transition from the old system to new one.

3 Things to Consider When Choosing an Inventory Management System

Managing inventory requires a high level of accuracy and foresight. Any errors in inventory tracking, counting, forecasts, and data entry can cause serious issues such as depreciation, unnecessary purchases, inadequate stocks, and shipment delays which eventually lead to customer dissatisfaction. These mistakes would most likely occur if you’re still managing your inventory manually.

Inventory management software was built to help all types of companies of all sizes automate their inventory management and improve their business efficiency. Through  the automation, any human errors can be reduced and even eliminated. If you are one of the thousands of business owners who are looking for automated inventory solutions, then this is the right article for you. Here are three factors to be consider when choosing inventory management software for your business.

1. Your Own Requirements

Before deciding to buy an inventory management system, you need to understand your requirements first. Find out the challenges you’re facing in managing inventory and the solutions you’re looking for.

Ask yourself, for example, like; Do I want to be able to monitor the shipment status? Do I just need to keep track of the inventory levels? Explaining your requirements thoroughly to the vendor will help you get the fixed price faster.

2. The Cost of the Software

The price of the software will depend on how complex your requirements are. You should figure out the market price of the software, so you can decide whether the price offered by the vendor is worth it or too expensive.

Before investing in inventory management software, you should make certain that your business finances are stable enough for the momentous plan. Check your budget and ask yourself; is this the right time to invest in technology?

Thanks to the presence of Cloud-based software solutions, it’s more affordable than ever for businesses to implement inventory management systems. Cloud-based inventory management software is the most suitable option for startups, SMEs, or companies with low budgets.

3. The Customization

If you have very complex specifications, then you might need to customize your  inventory management system. Ask the vendor if the software can meet your specific needs and how long it will take to customize it. If you currently have an inventory management system and you need a new one with additional features, then make sure that the new system can be easily combined with the existing one.

5 Things You Should Always Mention on an Accounting Resume

The job outlook for accounting is strong and there’s a wide variety of accounting roles to fill. It’s still a competitive landscape and you want to do all you can to stand out and keep your resume out of “the pile.” There are certain skills and types of experience that will give you an edge over other applicants and improve your odds of getting the callback. Include as many of these as you can in your resume, and you’ll be on your way.

It may seem like all you need are your credentials but you’ll put yourself at a big advantage if your accounting resume includes these five things:

1. Credentials

I know, I know. But you do need to include your credentials on your accounting resume. For some positions, an accounting degree is a non-negotiable requirement. For others, a CPA or other qualification may be required.

Make sure to include any continuing education you’ve completed or even credentials outside of accounting. If you have a business credential or something else that will help you bridge the gap between spreadsheets and day-to-day operations, it will help employers see that you have diverse skills.

2. Software Expertise

The days of balancing the books by hand are long gone. Companies depend on accounting software and other digital tools to get the job done. If you’ve got experience or certification in relevant software, make sure you mention it on your resume. Knowing that you’re up to speed and won’t require training on the software is a big perk for employers, who are already spending a significant amount of time and money to bring in a new employee.

If you’ve narrowed down the employer or industry you want to work with, you may want to do some research and find out which software programs are most popular. Familiarizing yourself with these programs can set you apart from the competition.

3. Tech Comfort Level

In addition to software-specific experience and certification, your overall comfort level with technology is a good thing to highlight in your resume. Accountants are using technology more than ever. They use it to communicate within the company, work with clients, store documents, and manage their tasks.

Employers want to know that you’re comfortable with a range of tech tools as well as comfortable learning new ones as they come along. Include any relevant programs you know and use so employers can see that you have range and are capable of adapting to technology.

4. Excel

Given how much accountants rely on the tool, we can’t mention software and technology without talking about Excel. Excel is an accounting fundamental. Being skilled in Excel will not only earn you points with potential employers it will also earn the respect of others in the accounting department.

If you’re experienced or certified in specific areas of Excel, highlight this in your resume. If you haven’t got that experience, consider taking Excel training to prepare for the job, and boost your resume’s impact.

5. Business Knowledge

Did you work in a different industry before going into accounting? Do you have an undergrad degree or a minor in business? Make sure you emphasize your business skills, education, and experience in your resume. More and more, the accounting function is involved in operations and helping to make strategic decisions.

Accountants who understand business on multiple levels have a huge advantage. They can see not only the numbers side of things but the strategic, day-to-day decisions that need to be made using those numbers. Business knowledge increases your value to the company because you can more clearly communicate what the numbers really mean.

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Tips For Taking A Pet To A Vacation Rentals Cleaning

The Guide For A Successful Vacation Rental: Cleaning

Excellent hospitality also requires excellent cleanliness. If you want to maintain your vacation rental‘s success, it is not enough to create a fantastic listing and hand over the key to your guests. Ensure impeccable cleaning to impress them. Warmrental gives you some important tips so that you can have a successful vacation rental when it comes to cleaning.

Before you start, create a checklist with everything you need to do. Between check-outs and check-ins, it’s easy to forget some important detail that can have a big impact on your guests’ overall experience. By creating a list of all tasks, you can ensure that you have fulfilled what is necessary for a high standard of cleanliness.

In the kitchen:

make sure every utensil is clean

clean and organize the cupboards

clean the fridge and remove leftovers

clean the inside of appliances (such as oven, microwave, toaster, and coffee machine)

clean the floor and surfaces

organize utensils and spices in the cupboards

empty the trash can and put a fresh bag

In the bathroom:

clean the bathtub and the drain

clean the toilet

wipe the mirror

make sure there aren’t any hairs

empty the trash can

In the living room:

dust the surfaces, the insides of the furniture, and lamps

clean controls and electronic devices

vacuum the floor

remove stains from the couch

clean window glass

In the bedroom:

change sheets and pillowcases

dust the surfaces, wardrobes, and lamps

vacuum the floor

clean window glass

COVID-19 Cleaning Guidelines

Disinfecting And Cleaning

All Housekeepers follow a COVID-19 CDC cleaning guide checklist to ensure proper sanitation and disinfection procedures are met.

All Housekeepers and Inspectors are to wear a mask and gloves while in the properties.

All linens are removed from the property and put in linen bags. All linens are professionally laundered at a commercial facility ensuring all CDC guidelines for laundering are met, AND hotel standards are met as well (water temperatures must be at least 180 degrees).

All linens are replaced after every guest, INCLUDING duvet covers.

All bathroom surfaces, (including all faucets and toilet handles) and floors are disinfected. Fresh towels from our commercial laundry are placed in the bathrooms.

Kitchen counters, appliances, sink and faucets are cleaned with disinfectant.

Solid surface items in the living room, bedroom room, hallways and family rooms, including TV and all remotes, are wiped down with disinfectant.

All high touch items including door knobs, light switches and fan pulls are disinfected.

All soft surfaces including couches, chair cushions and throw pillows are sanitized.

Fresh kitchen towels, an individually wrapped sponge and other (individually wrapped) amenities are put in the property.

All floors are swept and mopped with disinfectant.

All keys, key pads, door locks, lockboxes (if applicable) will be wiped down with disinfectant

have consistently received raving reviews about how clean our properties are! Together, with our team of Housekeeping professionals, we have NEW cleaning protocols in place to ensure your health and safety. Prior to COVID-19, every vacation rental was inspected before our guests’ arrival, to ensure the cleaning met our standards…this will continue with our inspectors following a new cleaning checklist in order to meet the strict cleaning guidelines due to the virus.

VACATIONER’S GUIDE

recognize it is a time filled with uncertainty and we would like to offer our sincere gratitude for your patience and understanding as we work through this. Please review below for important updates and policy changes. As this situation develops, we will adjust accordingly.

Why Choose a Beach Cottage Vacation Rental?

The comfort of seclusion. When you rent a vacation home, you and your family come in contact with few people. You do not pass strangers in hallways. You do not share an elevator, lobby or common area with the public. For the duration of your stay, contact with others takes place solely at your discretion – a feature that most hotels simply cannot offer.

Beaches are open! There are a few guidelines for you to follow to ensure everyone’s health and safety. Below you will find the Beach Access Plan that outlines the guidelines:

Facial coverings are still required in all public indoor spaces and on public transportation.

50-person limit on gatherings in Phase 2 will expand to a 250-person limit.

Restaurants, Entertainment and Services

50-person limit on gatherings in Phase 2 will expand to a 250-person limit.

Restaurants’ capacity will be lifted, but physical distancing still required.

Non-essential retail establishments’ capacity limit will be lifted but with physical distancing still required.

Entertainment venues (including museums and zoos) will have their capacity limit raised to 50% with a max of 1,000 people in any space.

Gyms and fitness will have capacity limit raised from 30% to 75%.

Personal grooming servies will still need to follow all existing distancing requirements.

Childcare services can reopen across.

Public pools will be allowed to open up to 75% capacity, with distancing requirements in place.

Cleaning Standards

Realty has always provided the highest level of service and cleaning standards that you have come to know. Our cleaners continue to follow the CDC cleaning guidelines and recommendations that are set.  Here is a sampling of those CDC guidelines. To ensure the highest level of cleaning is achieved, our cleaners:

Use commercial grade disinfectants

Wear disposable gloves and booties to avoid carrying germs from place to place

Disinfect cleaning supplies and equipment before and after each cleaning

Sanitize light switches, faucet handles, tubs, sinks, showers, tile grout, interior and exterior of refrigerators, glass top tables and surfaces, coffee pots and filter baskets, handrails, door knobs, lamps, remotes, countertops, appliances and floors

Vrbo and HomeAway Cleaning Checklist Enhanced to face COVID-19 coronavirus (vacation rental cleanliness)

The vacation rental cleanliness topic is a hot one, as travel bans get lifted across the world. We have already reviewed Airbnb’s Enhanced Cleaning Initiative and 72-hour Booking Buffer, as well as VRMA’s SafeHome cleaning checklist and guidelines.

Vrbo has released its own Vrbo / HomeAway cleaning checklist called “guidelines for owners and property managers for enhanced cleaning and disinfection of vacation rentals.” Here are a few takeaways:

Expert advice: Just like Airbnb, Vrbo is relying on third-parties to come up with its standards. While Airbnb is following Ecolab‘s recommendations, Vrbo is using the “Cristal International Standards” from the international certification and training company Intertek Group.

Booking buffers: Airbnb’s Enhanced Cleaning Initiative contains a 24-hour time buffer between stays. Its “Booking Buffer” calendar availability feature even goes up to 72 hours between booking. Vrbo recommends “letting the property remain empty for a total of 24 hours after previous stay checkout“.

Outsourced cleaning: If using an external or professional cleaning company, communicate expectations and plans for cleaning and disinfection standards, and get periodic confirmation that they are being followed by the company contracted

Guest communication: Communicate to travelers on measures implemented, both pre-stay and during the stay, via listing content and property information booklet

General advice

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has created a need to take additional cleaning and disinfection measures to help prevent its spread and help ensure the safety of travelers and partners.

Vrbo and HomeAway partners are encouraged to:

Use accurate, reputable sources of information including the WHO, the CDC, and local authorities

Make sure to follow local regulations, where applicable

Have a proactive plan to manage and minimize the risks associated with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) and similar events, such as a prevention of spread of infection plan

Implement an enhanced cleaning and disinfecting of the property between stays

If using an external or professional cleaning company, communicate expectations and plans for cleaning and disinfection standards, and get periodic confirmation that they are being followed by the company contracted

Communicate to travelers on measures implemented, both pre-stay and during stay, via listing content and property information booklet

Support for guests:

Support good hand hygiene for guests and anyone involved with the property by providing sufficient hand sanitizer, antibacterial soap products at property entry points and key areas, and also encouraging handwashing regularly with water and soap for at least 20 seconds

Implement social distancing policies during check-in and check-out, and during any interactions with guests, staff, local community. When possible, encourage minimizing these interactions

Recommend removing shoes when entering the property and leaving them at the entrance (if possible, outside)

Inform guests on how they can contribute in prevention, and actions to take if they identify symptoms (refer to WHO, CDC or local government resources)

Consider providing cleaning and disinfecting products for guests to use, along with instructions; antibacterial handwash and additional personal hygiene products are also nice to have on hand for guests

If guests clean the property themselves, be sure to assess the results and the overall cleanliness of the property and to implement an additional cleaning if necessary; regardless, implement disinfection as described below

COVID-19 and Vacation Rentals: What you can do

As COVID-19 headlines continue announcing climbing infection rates and a global economic slowdown, it’s hard not to feel a bit panicky about the situation. In recent weeks, the hospitality industry was hit especially hard.  We’ve seen travel restrictions, border closures, “social distancing” and general anxiety by potential guests affect their willingness to travel.  If that wasn’t enough, our niche, the vacation rental industry saw a spike in cancelation requests – both on the major booking platforms and on the direct booking sites.

COVID-19 and what it means for the vacation rental industry

In the short-term we’re seeing a lot variance in how the downturn is affecting vacation rental owners and managers.  It all depends on the location of the vacation rental business.  On one end, there are many vacation rental owners, managers, and companies that are feeling the impact of cancelations and see no future bookings for coming weeks.  But on the other hand, we’re seeing properties like cabins, cottages, rural getaways, and eco-destinations get completely booked for extended periods of time.  It seems that domestic travelers from cities that aren’t under lockdown are trying to find a quiet place, away from other people, to hunker down.  For hosts and managers in those situations, business is on the up.

As for the recent financial downturn, it’s important to remember that the stock market isn’t a reflection of global economic health. In other words, we haven’t seen COVID-19 trigger a global recession yet. For the time being, many are able to continue working from home and earn their wages.  Additionally, stimulus packages and interest rate cuts announced by many governments should help weather the storm – hoping that it doesn’t last for too long.

What to do now: Take measured action

No one in the vacation rental industry saw COVID-19 coming. But at least none of your competitors have a head start over you. And so now it’s a question of adapting and responding efficiently, as well as bracing your business from the effects of a downturn (if it happens).  For the time being, many vacation rental owners and managers are responding in three ways: attempting to reduce vacancy rates at all costs, cutting expenses, and staying informed.

Reduce vacancy rate ASAP

Now’s the time to reduce your vacancy rate by any reasonable means. The wave of cancelations hurt, and the months of March and April likely won’t be your high watermark.  But if you can attract domestic travelers, now’s the time to go after them.  Here are a few tips to help you reduce your vacancy rate:

Continue to keep your property operational to make the most of any short-notice bookings. If people are waiting for last-minute news updates before making plans, you want to make sure you can cash in on these late bookings.

Consider lowering your rates, so you remain competitive. People are still keen for a bargain – even in moments of crisis. You’ll fill vacancies if your prices are attractive and competitive.

Along the same lines, consider offering promotions and other discounts for long-term stays.

Use marketing tools to communicate with customers and let them know that you’re doing everything in your power to keep things running as normal. Tell them that you understand their worries and reassure them about your commitments to hygiene and security.

Consider what actions you can take to attract national (or domestic) travelers to your rentals. Are there local marketplaces you’re not a part of yet? Perhaps focus on more traditional marketing tactics like local newspapers ads or national directories.

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Medical Chiropractor Vs Principled Chiropractor

Quick Tips To Help You Chose The Right Chiropractor

When it comes to your back, there’s nothing you want to leave to chance. Likewise, when it comes to the ongoing frustration of agonizing pain, in your back or elsewhere, there’s nothing you can afford to leave to chance. An injury that leaves long-lasting pain can really disrupt the rhythm of your life, making you ineffective at work and possibly taking you away from the normal activities of your life.

That’s way it’s extremely important to do your homework when you’re choosing a chiropractor. Many chiropractors are well-established, skilled practitioners who can really do a lot to help you, but just as many aren’t, and they can end up doing a lot more harm than good. Here’re a few quick tips to make sure you choose the right chiropractor.

Consider how they present themselves

Courteous, professional, informative, and well-facilitated. It doesn’t matter if they are part of a big team, but it does matter if they present themselves as knowledgeable, experienced, and interested in your health and not just in alleviating your symptoms.

Check references and customer testimonials

Most chiropractors, and physicians in general, that are worth their salt will have references and customer testimonials for you to peruse. If they don’t, it’s not necessarily a red-flag, but it’s not in your best interest to go on his or her word alone. Accreditations are standard, but customer testimonials can go the extra mile to help affirm your decision.

Ask for a recommendation from your chiropractor.

Before selecting your new pillow, talk to the person who understands the cause of your neck pain, your chiropractor. He or she will give you some valuable pointers on choosing the pillow that will be most beneficial.  In my office we use a company called Pillowise.  They have six different pillow sizes available and we measure to ensure a perfect fit for each patient.

Do your research.

Fire up the Internet and search for pillows by your sleeping position. Read the reviews from people who also have neck pain, and see which pillows helped them. Note the pillow name, price, and store that sells it.

What’s their educational background?

Becoming a chiropractic practitioner is as difficult endeavor requiring a doctorate level of education. Each chiropractic college teaches a standard curriculum, with variation of emphasis on each school. After chiropractic school, doctors are required to perform continuing education to stay current with new trends. Some may elect to go further and receive a diplomat specialty in fields such as nutrition, pediatrics, and orthopedics to name a few. This is typically a good sign that the doctor is active in their field, expanding their skill and knowledge base.

What is the patient’s treatment style/plan?

Chiropractic is unique in how varied each providers treatment style can be. The amount of time a provider spends to diagnose each patient can be significantly different, along with which modalities are utilized. Hopefully, the provider you choose to see has multiple methods to treat a patient. If every patient was given the same treatment plan and treated with the same modalities and adjustments, how individual can the treatment be? Ask your doctor the typical protocol they use, adjustment style, if x-rays are offered in office, and if rehab exercises are routinely given.

Also, and just as important, you should know what the treatment plan is before beginning care. The doctor should have a clear outlined plan to treat prior to starting a conservative care plan. Be wary if you go to an office every week, get the same treatment, and have no end of care in sight. Also question if no at-home recommendations have been given. Periodic re-evaluations should be part of a good treatment plan. If a well understood treatment objective is not gathered or stated, how can the patient/provider know when goals are met and treatment is ended? This piece of communication is often not clearly understood, and can lead to frustration.

Check the Facility Quality

Some chiropractors have affiliations with hospitals. This factor also comes to play as you should also check the quality of the hospital. Check for the hospital’s quality of care where the chiropractor is. A hospital with a great quality of care means better survival rates and fewer health complications. Another factor to consider is the location. You need a location that encourages timely care. Also, check if they also use private rooms in their clinic. Some chiropractors treat patients in rooms with multiple tables. If this doesn’t feel comfortable, ask about private rooms before agreeing. Is the hospital or clinic close by? Keep this in mind as well.

Evaluate Communication Style and Other Factors

As you look for a good chiropractor, choose one that you are comfortable talking with. You might want to check on how they respond to your question. Look for a practitioner who considers your treatment preferences and respects your decision-making process. This should aid you in getting a personalized form of treatment. Another consideration may also include gender. As there are differences in their treatment approach between men and women. When checking for their training and experience, consider looking into their experience with your condition and gender.

Take Note of Fees and Insurance Coverage

How much does a chiropractor charge? That’s one question that you might need to look into before agreeing to the treatment. Be sure to find out their service fees before proceeding with treatment. You don’t want to break the bank, after all. Always take time to see if their fee fits right into your budget. Among other things, also check if the treatment falls under your insurance coverage. Choose a chiropractor that participates in your insurance plan. If you are paying in cash, inquire about the cost per visit as well.

Do they offer free consultations?

While not a requirement, it’s considered good practice to offer free short consultations with would-be patients, particularly those who’ve never had chiropractic care before. This helps distinguish the better chiropractors, as well as gives you a chance to personally meet the doctor and draw your own conclusions.

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DIY Or Professional Pest Control

Pest Control Everything’s

like to think that we know a thing or two about pest control. And we think that we know a thing or two because we’ve seen a thing or two. Our pest control guides are based predominantly on our own real-world experiences using hundreds of pest control products, tools, and equipment in professional applications, data collected in conjunction with those applications, independent research, industry training, and continuing education. 

It is important to note, however, that we are not entomologists and we are not experts on every conceivable insect in every conceivable geography or environment. The views provided in our guides are intended for informational purposes only and often include generalizations about what might typically be optimal in typical situations. Because every pest infestation has its own set of unique challenges and variables, exceptions often exist. 

Pest Control Everything advises all aspiring do-it-yourself pest controllers to consult with licensed pest control operators in their area before starting an individual treatment program. 

Best All-Natural Pest Control Guide?

Perhaps no other facet of pest control has risen in recent popularity as feverishly as all-natural or organic applications. People across the United States have become increasingly aware of the potential concerns of pesticide exposure to people, pets, and the environment. This conscientiousness has heightened demand for less-toxic pest control options.  

When it comes to tackling an ant problem, we’ve got a lot of variables to consider and a lot of products to choose from. Ant gel baits, bait stations, dusts, foams, liquid concentrates, ready-to-use sprays, granular baits, granular insecticides, and on and on and on.

A guide of agricultural plant pest managers

Agricultural Plant Pest Control is a training manual for pesticide applicators working within the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is intended to support persons preparing for certification in Commercial Pesticide Applicator Category 1A, Agricultural Plant Pest Control. Certification in category lA is a base requirement for certification in category 1 C (Fumigation of Soil and Agricultural Products) and category 1 D (Chemigation). After certification, applicators will find this manual a good resource for agricultural crop pest identification and management decisions they make throughout

This manual replaces Agricultural Plant Pest Control: A Training Program for the Certification of Pesticide Applicators (reprinted September 1984). It discusses the identification and control of important pests in the production of agricultural crops, in pasture/forage lands, and on noncrop (fallow) agricultural land. These pests include arthropods (insects and mites), diseases, nematodes, and weeds. The sections on pest identification are specific for the Commonwealth

The same is true for the pest-control options described. Agricultural Plant Pest Control is not a field guide, nor is it a comprehensive guide to pest control. The pests described are only a sampling of the important pests

However, the pest identification and management sections of this manual will help you identify and solve many common agronomic crop pest problems. In addition, these sections emphasize the importance of finding the cause of a problem before taking action. They also model the decision-making process in pest management. For more information about specific pests and pesticide recommendations, contact your Extension office or consult the most recent Pest Management Guides (see “Acknowledgments,” below).

Certification in Agricultural Plant Pest Control is required of commercial applicators working for hire who treat agricultural crops for growers and producers. It is also required for government employees who manage agricultural crops as part of their job duties. Examples include people working for the Department of Correction& and some nonresearch employees

Hiring a Pest Control Company

If you do not have the time or ability to research your pest problem and safely apply the appropriate procedures and materials to control it, you may want to hire a pest control service to do the job for you. A licensed professional also has access to some products not available in retail stores. To be effectively managed, many pest problems, like termites or problems on large trees, require specialized equipment, pesticides, and technical training.

Although professional services may seem costly, the investment may be worth it to solve a serious problem. A pest control professional, who practices integrated pest management methods and keeps up-to-date about the latest technologies, can provide you with the safest and most effective management strategies. If toxic chemicals are part of the pest management method, it is often safer for your family to have them handled by a professional.

Identify the pest and do some research about how to control it following the steps below.

Check the online UC Pest Notes for information on managing the pest. Based on this information, determine if management is needed and if it is, whether or not you can safely and effectively address the problem yourself.

It may be possible for you to make changes in your landscaping or home design to permanently exclude or reduce pests, and this can eliminate the need for professionals, even for serious pests. Examples would be to take out problem tree species and replace them with pest resistant ones or treat your pets with spot-on treatments for fleas and eliminate the need for treating carpets or outdoor areas for fleas.

Pest management professionals often have access to more effective pesticides or other management tools not available to consumers. If this is the case for your pest, you may want to consider professional help.

If repeated applications of a pesticide or procedures such as setting traps for skunks are required, ask yourself whether you have the skills or time to follow through. If not, hire a professional.

If toxic chemicals or sophisticated application equipment are required, it is often best to hire a professional.

Obtain recommendations from neighbors, friends, or family about pest control services they have used. Call at least three companies and consider their methods as well as their customer service policy:

Find out what types of services the company offers. For example, do they provide monthly spray contracts or do they offer an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach that includes nonchemical methods?

Find out if least-toxic alternatives are available to control the pest. Ask the company if these least-toxic pesticides or baits are used when appropriate. For example, confirm that exclusion methods, baits, and traps are employed against cockroaches (rather than sprays) and that baits (rather than sprays) are used for ants. For other examples of least toxic approaches, look at the UC Pest Notes.

Make sure the company has the required licenses, registration, certificates, and insurance.

Ask the company to inspect the site.

The company may charge a fee to do this inspection, but for that fee they should provide you with a written diagnosis of the problem or an identification of the pest. They should show you where the pest is causing the problem and discuss how they plan to control it. The company should also provide you with details regarding the course of treatment(s), the pesticide to be used—if required, the frequency of inspections and treatment, and an estimate of the cost of implementing the treatment plan. They should also provide you with information about the safety of any products they may apply and any precautions you would need to take, such protecting pets and children.

A Property Manager’s Guide to Professional Pest Control

As a property manager, you face an endless number of challenges in your effort to provide tenants with a clean, safe, and healthy environment. One of the ten thousand responsibilities you face is keeping pests out of your buildings. To fulfill this responsibility, you need a go-to pest company.

There are a lot of pest control companies out there, however, and many of them have different specializations. How do you know which one is right for you? What are the right questions to ask them? How do you even know where to look to find the right questions? Well, maybe we can help. The next time you need quality commercial pest control

Find a service that knows in your specific pests

Your biggest weapon in the battle against pest infestations is knowledge. Learn which pest species are most common in your area. Research the best ways to prevent them from entering your buildings. The more you know about the pests plaguing you, the more you can ask a prospective pest control pro.

Once you know your enemy, research your ally. See what each prospective pest control company has to say about their approaches to your problem. Do they have a pest library entry on it? Do they describe how they’d go about treating for your particular pest? How they’d treat safely while inside your particular type of building? You should be totally assured your pro can handle your specific problem before you commit. Keep researching, calling, and asking questions until you are

Look for a company that offers integrated pest management

Integrated pest management (IPM) is a specialized pest removal process that does more than just remove pest infestations. Instead, IPM professionals use expert knowledge, exclusionary measures, and reactive monitoring to both treat current infestations and prevent future ones.

National Pest Control Agencies publications

National Pest Control Agencies produces a range of publications with up-to-date, practical information on the control of vertebrate pests. Our publications are written with the input of pest control specialists and are regularly updated to ensure they reflect current best practice.

There are four categories of NPCA publications:

‘A’ Series – Best practice guidelines for controlling and monitoring vertebrate pests

‘B’ Series – Information about regulations relevant to vertebrate pest control

‘C’ Series – Public awareness materials

‘D’ Series – Schools education material

These publications are used by:

vertebrate pest control contractors;

local government and DOC operations staff undertaking vertebrate pest control;

landowners wanting to control vertebrate pests on their land;

people in the general public with an interest in pest control;

teachers of primary and secondary school students;

institutions running training programmes in the monitoring and control of vertebrate pests.

A Technical Advisory Group reviewed a number of NPCA publications and updated the following:

A1 Possum Population Monitoring Using the Trapcatch, Waxtag and Chewcard Methods

A3 Private Landowners’ Guide to Possum Control, Control Tools and Techniques

B1 Legislation Guide: User Guide to Legislation Relating to Terrestrial Pest Control

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Should I Buy A Car From A Car Dealer Or A Private Individual

Why do dealers send cars to auctions?

There might be a few reasons that a dealership sends a vehicle to auction, but the main one tends to cost.

Audience: Dealerships will take vehicles in on trade to make a sale and for the convenience of the customer. They will usually do this a way below market value so they cover the costs of having to repair it and sell it themselves, or they have already anticipated selling it at auction. If the vehicle is older or in worse shape, and doesn’t “fit” the existing inventory, then sending it to auction is the easiest and quickest way of getting rid of it. Auction tend to be accessible across the entire country and are frequented by other dealerships as well. The audience is significantly higher.

Liability: Most jurisdictions have regulatory bodies as well that govern dealerships and the rules they must follow when selling vehicles to the general public. And they might stipulate that vehicles cannot be sold “As is” without disclosing any and all problems. It is honestly impossible to know every single little thing wrong with older vehicles, so if you sell it directly to the public, it opens you up to liability. Furthermore, even you manage to disclose everything, someone purchasing such a vehicle might still come back and file a complaint against you, which wastes time and money, forcing you to reverse the sale.

If you send a vehicle to auction, especially older models, the liability is now minimal to you. Although you still have to disclose major problems and the auctions houses do perform inspections, you can list older vehicles as “Red Flag”, meaning that the vehicle is being sold As Is and the buyer has zero course of action.

Cost: Most dealerships in North America purchase their inventory (new or used) with borrowed money. Instead of borrowing a lump sum, they actually take loans on individual and specific vehicles. And although terms vary significantly, usually the dealership will not have to pay interest on a vehicle for the first 30 days, for example. But if the vehicle sits on their lot too long or they have excess inventory, then the lender starts charging interest and penalties on a daily basis.

So those vehicles literally bleed money for the dealership and it is more cost effective to off-load inventory quickly and below market.

What Happens to Used Cars Not Sold By Dealerships?

So, what happens to these ‘unwanted’ vehicles? Is there a place where you can get your hands on them and save more in the process? Let’s explore.

Cutting the Cost and Sending Them Out

When a used car dealership is having trouble selling a particular used vehicle, the same thing always happens. The longer that the car sits on the lot, the lower the price will go. Necessarily, this will mean it’s wise to bide your time when you’re looking to buy a used car through a dealership.

Selling at Dealer Auctions

Used car dealerships use dealer auctions for two purposes. They use them to purchase vehicles to stock their lots, and they use them to get rid of vehicles that aren’t selling. Necessarily then, these dealer auctions are a good place to look if you’re searching for a used car at a steep discount.

Gaining Access to Dealer Auctions

However, there’s one big problem with these dealer auctions as far as ordinary consumers are concerned. For the most part, these auctions are closed to the public, as dealers do not want to open up these possible savings to consumers, thereby cutting into their bottom lines. However, it is still possible to participate. You can, for example, pay an auction broker to bid in these auctions on your behalf. But, there’s a much cheaper way to gain access to these used cars than that!

Use Online Car Auctions to Buy Used Cars

In recent years, some online car auction websites have cropped up that grant access to these dealer auctions online. Through them, it’s possible to locate and bid on used cars auctioned off by used car dealerships. This is great news for consumers. It allows them to bid on and win vehicles without having to pay a used car dealership’s markup.

Why Are Cars Auctioned? Are Auction Cars Worth the Risk?

There is a variety of reasons why cars end up at auction houses. Some of them are:

  • Some cars have stayed too long at the dealer’s lot, so they are auctioned off as an alternative option to recoup some of the money invested.
  • The original owners cannot meet up with their payments, so they’re repossessed and auctioned off by financial institutions to recover their money. 
  • Some cars get to the auction house because they are being traded for a new one. In this case, private car owners exchange their old cars to get another car in return.
  • Some cars have suffered damage from weather conditions or accidents. After paying off the owners, the insurance companies want to recoup some of what they paid out. Due to the damage history, these cars can only be sold at specialised auctions. The damages could include scratches, dents, or malfunctions as a result of thickened car fluids caused by winter.

What Dealers do With Your Trade-In

Knowing what happens to your car after you trade it in at a dealership can help you get top dollar for it.

There are certain types of cars dealers absolutely love to buy and some they hate. You have to remember dealerships make a good bulk of their profit through the sale of used cars. They actually make more profit on each used car sale than they do on a new car. So that means they’re usually eager to buy your trade-in and replenish their used car inventory.

Generally, there are 3 things that dealers can do with your trade-in.

1. Recondition and Sell It

Dealers are always looking for cars they can sell on their lot – but not every car will qualify.

If your vehicle is less than 6 years old and has less than 80,000 miles, it’s a good candidate to be resold on the lot. The dealer will recondition it to make sure all the visibilly worn parts are repaired or replaced and that it passes smog tests and any other state requirements.

The vehicle will usually be listed for 15 to 20% above its trade-in value.

If the car is only 3 or 4 years old and has less than 50,000 miles, it’s a good candidate to be resold as a certified used vehicle. It will go through a strict multi-point inspection and usually come with an extended warranty. The price premium will add another $1,000 to $1,500 to the retail price.

Dealers simply LOVE late model used cars, so if you have one, make sure you aggressively negotiate with multiple dealers to get the best price.

2. Wholesale It

If a dealer doesn’t think the car is a good fit for their used car lot, they will usually try to wholesale it to another dealer. This usually happens if the vehicle is older or has a lot of miles, or if the car is a different brand than what the dealer sells. For example, if you trade-in a Honda at a Mercedes dealership, they’re more likely to wholesale it to a Honda dealer down the road – or sell it to an independent used car lot.

Whenever you’re thinking about trading-in your vehicle, make sure you take it to the same brand of dealership. If it’s a much older vehicle, consider selling it to an independent used car lot so you cut out the middle man. A car dealer usually doesn’t make much profit when wholesaling a vehicle, so they will try to low-ball you as much as possible when you trade-in your car.

3. Auction It

For the really undesirable vehicles (usually ones that are very old, have high mileage, or are in poor condition), dealers will send them through auctions. This happens if the dealer can’t find anyone to wholesale it to in their local market. Auctions usually result in the smallest profit for dealers, so if you have a car that nobody wants, don’t expect to get much for it by trading it in. It’s much better to try to sell it yourself to a private party.

Dealers will almost always bid for your trade-in, even if they know they will have to auction it off. Making a couple of hundred dollars is better than nothing, but they will try to give you a very low-ball offer for your vehicle.

Types of Auctions

Closed or Private Auctions

These auctions are called private because they are usually accessible only by licensed car dealers and not by the public. This is the type of auto auction where some of your local car dealers come to buy the cars they sell.

Public Auction

These are popular and happen frequently. These auctions are usually organized by insurance companies and car auction houses. The idea behind the auction is to sell used cars that may have been repossessed, just used with little or no issues, rebuilt from damage or used by insurance companies to recoup the money.

Government Auctions

These auto auctions are organized by the US customs service or some other government body. These auctions are organized to sell off old or excess vehicles including cars, trucks, bikes and so on that may have been impounded or seized. In some cases, like police auctions and government agencies, they sell them off to dispose of their old cars when they replace or overhaul their fleet of vehicles.

Online Auctions

This kind of auto auction is now very popular as it is one of the most convenient ways to buy a car without the need to be present or even be in the country where the car is located. At online auctions, mostly used cars are put up for sale, and prospective buyers register on their sites to join the auction. They rely on the information granted by the site to choose a car to buy.