4 Christmas Party Hosting Tips

Christmas is only a week away. If you still don’t have a solid plan on how to host that holiday party everyone is looking forward to, then here are some great tips to help you lighten the load.

Create food beforehand

If you’ve decided to host a cocktail party, put together a list of the appetizers you’d like to serve. We suggest using recipes that can be made in advance, which will save you time and energy on the day of the party.  Source: MarthaStewart

Set the mood with good music

Very little has the impact on a scene like the music selection, and mellow is the epitome of elegance. You want to create a setting for guests so that they spend their evening relaxed and comfortable, and the tempo of the music you choose will play a large part in that. But mind you, you don’t want them to get so comfortable that they fall asleep. A tasteful playlist for an elegant Christmas party could include a mix of traditional Christmas songs and some classic jazz thrown in to keep the tempo up. Source: Lifestyle.HowStuffWorks

Keep the food warm in the oven

“A 200-degree oven works as a warming drawer,” says Kelsey Nixon, the host of Kelsey’s Essentials, on the Cooking Channel. This also frees up counter space and provides insurance that your food won’t burn if you forget to take it out. Source: RealSimple

Delegate tasks

Share out tasks between the family to ensure a hassle-free evening. One person could be in charge of laying the table, whilst another takes care of drinks – allowing you to focus on food preparation. Be appreciative of everyone’s effort – encouragement and praise can go a long way! Source: GoodHousekeeping

Did you know that one of the things people notice most upon entering a home is the floor? Don’t let your carpet become the talk of the town due to its dinginess. Have it cleaned or repaired before your party. Call us today!

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Signs of a Bad Carpet Installation

When installing carpet on your floor, it’s best to let the professionals handle it. However, you still must choose the right contractor for the job because poor installation can result in the following problems:

Buckling or Rippling

When a wall-to-wall carpet is installed, it must be stretched tightly and then is secured in place with tack strips along the edges of the carpet. If the installer has not stretched the carpet tightly enough, it may loosen slightly, which could cause it to ripple. Ideally, carpet should be stretched during the installation using a power stretcher, which will reduce the chances of buckling.

If the carpet is being installed in an area in which the conditions are significantly different than where it was previously stored (for example, from an unheated warehouse to a heated home), then the carpet should be allowed to acclimate before installation. This should reduce the possibility of buckling. Source: TheSpruce

Loosening of Seams

Inspect the seams where the carpet meets the walls, baseboards, doorways or other types of flooring. If you see frayed or loose edges that aren’t neatly tucked under the walls, floorboards or transitional carpet strips, the carpet isn’t installed well. Carpet installers often secure edges with additional tacks, carpet tape, transition strips or adhesives to reduce the likelihood of carpet separating from the wall or unraveling at the corners. Contact the installer to repair any unsightly seams. Source: HomeGuides.SFGate

Bubbling

It’s a common situation for homeowners to have their carpet cleaned only for it to dry and bubbles to emerge. While they might think the cleaning was to blame, this is far more often the result of carpet that was not properly stretched before it was installed. This problem can easily be averted by pulling and stretching the carpet over carpet tacks. Source: TheSpruce

We have been in the business for over 20 years so you can rest assured knowing that your carpeting is in safe hands. Contact us today!

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Preparing your strata for an exterior painting project

Decision making can be a challenge in any strata corporation; especially when investing significant funds into maintenance such as an exterior re-painting project. Here is some friendly advice to get started and provide your council with a solid foundation for your planning.

Establish a Scope of Work

A proper scope of work means determining what needs to be painted and what does not. Having clear consensus from council before calling contractors will save time and money. There are painting inspectors who can help you decide what to re-paint and which products to use (search online for Painting Inspectors in your area or call us for info on who we see in the market). If your strata decides to establish the scope of work on your own, the first step is to review your existing surfaces and note any areas of concern. Use the following checklist to help ensure you cover all the areas.

One way we’ve found helpful to assess a property is to print out an overhead from Google Maps. Then during a comprehensive 1- 2 hour walk around the property, make notes on the sheet about the affected areas.

Walk-through Checklist

Here is a list of common surface types to consider for re-painting and possible repair:

• wood siding
• composite siding
• vinyl siding
• stucco
• concrete
• brick
• soffits
• fascia & trim
• wood windows
• decks/patios
• railings
• metal surfaces
• light standards
• pillars
• shakes
• doors/frames
• garage doors
• metal Cladding
• privacy fencing
• perimeter fencing
• decorative features
• other

Other considerations are:

• existing leaks
• balcony membranes
• window perimeters
• sealant repairs
• wood trims
• metal flashings
• attachments
• roof membrane

 

Prepare a budget and plan to raise funds

It is always best practice to start planning early and give yourselves ample time to make your decisions. In some cases, this means 1-2 years before the project, in other cases 6 months can be enough time.

If you’ve taken the time to get council consensus on the scope of work, then getting a budget quote will be fairly simple.  It will also be more useful because it will be an accurate amount to use for planning and approval. Remdal often provides budget quotations for projects.If you need assistance with a budget quote, we have estimators available to help you.

And now that you have a better idea of the amount of money required, your focus can turn to raising funds though your Contingency Reserve fund (3/4 vote), Special Levy (3/4 vote) or from a Depreciation Report (majority vote). This is a choice that varies from one strata to another depending on many factors.

Next steps

Over the following months you will want to give your project the best opportunity for success, but taking some additional steps including:

• building a strong business case for owners;
• assessing and choosing your colours;
• inviting qualified painting contractors;
• evaluating and selecting the best proposal;
• identifying best practices to help the job go smoothly;
• the science of finishing well.

We’ll cover these items in upcoming blogs.

Looking for assistance with a project, a second opinion, or a budget quote? Contact us here:

 

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4 Tips to Prepare Your Home for Winter

Don’t let the cold winter air bother you. Protect your home from the chill by taking note of these simple tips:

Install carpet

No one wants to be stepping onto a cold floor and they jump out of bed in winter! If you’ve been thinking of carpeting your home, or even just the bedrooms, now is the time! Your toes will thank you for it. Source: HomesToLove

Have an energy audit

If you’ve never had one, a professional energy audit is a good investment. But fall is also a good time just to check your door seals. Make sure you’re not seeing daylight around your exterior doors, and take a can of spray foam insulation and fill in around those drafty outlets and light switches. Source: WashingtonPost

Change furnace filters

Dirty furnace filters reduce furnace efficiency and push up heating bills. They also shorten the life of a furnace.

Check and replace the furnace filter monthly in winter or every three months while the system is in operation. Your owner’s manual will tell you where it’s located. Hold the filter up to the light: If you can’t see light through it, you need a new one.

Pleated filters work best because they trap more dirt particles. Source: MoneyTalksNews

Inspect the chimney draft

Make sure the chimney will draw up the fire and smoke properly. Test this by taking several sheets of newspaper and rolling them up. Then with the fireplace damper in the open position, light the newspaper in the fireplace. The smoke should rise up the chimney. If it doesn’t, you have an obstruction and need to call a professional in to clean the chimney of creosote and ash and possible debris. Source: TheSpruce

No other type of flooring is as comfortable as carpet on a winter night. Call us today to book your appointment!

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