Archive for June, 2009

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The Basics: Exterior Painting

Tuesday, June 30th, 2009

QwikBids Investigates

 

Painting the outside of your home sure sounds easy enough, right? We thought so too, but then we looked into it further and discovered some small things easy to overlook. We also found that going cheap and taking shortcuts is a disaster waiting to happen. So today, we’re going to discuss what you should expect when you hire on a painter.

We begin by mentioning something not even on your mind right now. It’s the weather! Of course it’s impossible to paint in the rain, but the painter will also consider the temperature. Ideal painting temperature is between 60° and 85°F. As for the wind, there should be little to no breeze. Obviously we wouldn’t want dirt and debris blowing onto our freshly painted exterior. A quality painter will not typically proceed unless these conditions are just right.

Is the surface to be painted ready? Your painters will make certain it is clean and prepped properly. The best paints on the market will not adhere to a surface poorly prepared. And speaking of best paints, don’t try to save money in this area by going cheap. The whole idea is to get an exterior painting project done without having to prematurely do it again because of a few dollars. You’ll save money in the long run sticking to proven, quality paints. Your painter will carefully go over color schemes. The architecture of the home, as well as the homes surroundings is considered. Also account for the neighbors around you. You don’t want to neither look the same nor clash. Some style of homes call for up to 4 or 5 color schemes, so making this choice should be done with care.

The painter will then move on to begin the painting, and then do the clean-up (make certain this is specified in the contract before work begins). Your painter saved you tons of laborious work and of course, time. So when it’s time to hire the painter of your choice, you are looking for some vital information. References should never be overlooked.

They should not only be obtained, but contacted also! References will give you an idea of how good the painter is as well as factors such as value and timeliness. License as well as certifications should be verified carefully. Sounds like another job just looking for a painter, right? There’s help!

QwikBids takes all the worry out of finding a quality, licensed painter. The references, licensing, insurance status and other certifications are verified for consumers. Simply place a bid request for your painting needs on the QwikBids website, then kick back anonymously to watch the bidding process give you the best price. It’s that easy!

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A Smelly Dilemma!

Monday, June 29th, 2009

QwikBids Investigates

 

QwikBids sometimes gets calls for advice on many services. One of them recently was septic systems and maintenance, and since we didn’t really know much about it, we did what we usually do. We got in touch with professionals registered with QwikBids. Gosh we love our job!

Most folks living in rural areas typically have septic systems. The caller, Barbara, lived in such an area, and wanted to know what she could do to prevent expensive problems. She said her neighbor had to have the drain fields dug up, costing thousands of dollars. She wanted to avoid this problem by knowing if there were preventative measures. Well Barbara, there is!

There are a host of items to know, so lets start with the basics. The first is avoiding an over-load of your septic tank. This means using less water and can be achieved in a few ways. Make sure there are aerators on the faucets, the dishwasher is not used until full, reduce the amount of water used to flush the toilet, and adjust water levels for smaller loads of laundry. These tips will lower the amount of water flowing directly into the tank, and lessen the chance of having to get the tank pumped prematurely.

Another problem pointed out by our fine providers is that some believe it’s harmless to flush certain things down the toilet. To avoid clogging, don’t flush coffee grounds, feminine hygiene products, or cigarette butts. This is just a short list of items not to flush, so use common sense; dispose of these things properly.

An important element of septic systems is necessary bacteria. These bacteria break down solid waste into harmless water, which then flows to the drain fields. Harsh cleaners kill these bacteria and will slow the process needed to rid the tank of solids. It’s difficult to live without these cleaners, so unless necessary don’t use them, and if you do, use the smallest amount per project as possible. Many experts suggest a bacterial enzyme additive, such as Rid-X to maintain a level of bacteria needed to break down waste efficiently. It’s easy, and should be made part of septic preventative maintenance.

Finally, we asked about the maintenance schedule necessary when it comes time to have the tank pumped. Some of the answers varied, but most were standard. The majority of professionals in this field say a 1,000 gallon tank used by a family of four should be pumped every 3-5 years (with full time use).

Well Barbara, we hope we answered some of your questions. While it’s impossible to answer them all, keep in mind QwikBids has the best service providers there are to offer. If it’s a septic specialist you need, place a bid request. They’re able to give you the answers you need!

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When Your Arborist Comes Knocking

Friday, June 26th, 2009

QwikBids Investigates

    

When you don’t want to trust your trees with just anyone, you’ll want to call in an arborist. Unlike basic landscaping businesses (some do employ arborists) arborists are specifically trained in the care of trees, with a better understanding of diseases and insects that affect them. Arborists have extensive knowledge of pruning, planting, and removal of trees, not to mention a passion for the upkeep and care. Expertise in soil is also a big part of being a successful arborist. QwikBids took a peek into the world of the arborist, and found some interesting facts we’d like to pass on to you.

According to the National Arborist Association, there are primarily 8 reasons why trees die:

  • Accidents (auto, storms, and even lawn mowers and other machinery).
  • Too much herbicide (when used improperly).
  • Soil Compaction (soil not aerated; roots do not get enough oxygen).
  • Bad planting (planting too deep or too shallow or the roots dry out from lack of water).
  • Watering (both over- and under-watering can be harmful to trees).
  • Location, Location, Location (trees planted but cannot get proper sunlight; planted near power lines, too close to the house or other structure, and other plants).
  • Painting tree wounds and filling cavities with concrete
  • Improper pruning

We didn’t know there was so much on tree health. It was clear after we looked into this that most take trees for granted. As we all know, trees and other oxygen giving plants are vital to our very existence! Having said this, let’s look into what you should be looking for when hiring an arborist for your needs.

Most arborists with a passion for the industry usually take on additional memberships, training, and/or certifications. In this field, it may be the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), the National Arborist Association (NAA), or the American Society of Consulting Arborists (ASCA). This tells both the professional community and public there’s a sincere willingness to stay up with trends and education. Be sure to ask for these types of credentials. While none of these associations are governmentally sanctioned, it does build a little more confidence. As with many other industries, the lowest bidder isn’t always best. Be sure to check references, certifications, and licensing. Base your decision upon being as aware as possible.

Now wouldn’t it be nice if there were a service that did all that for you? Wouldn’t it be nice to place a request for bid on your tree project without your phone ringing and remaining anonymous until you choose the arborist you feel comfortable with?  Well finally, there is! Look no further than QwikBids. What’s more, when the job is completed and you leave feedback on your arborist, QwikBids will donate $10 to the charity of your choice. Everybody wins!

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Alarmed about Home Security?

Thursday, June 25th, 2009

QwikBids Investigates

 

We are not paranoid, but we do pay attention to what’s going on in our neighborhoods these days. Crime, especially against homeowners, is rising every year. Protecting your property, not to mention ourselves, is becoming more important than ever before. No, we don’t want to live in fear, nor do we want that for you. But it’s ideal to be smart when it comes to our security. It should come as no surprise that QwikBids is concerned about these trends, and the fine citizens of our community. Yep, it’s time to talk about alarm systems.

There are many things to consider when choosing an alarm system, and since there are a variety of these systems to choose from, seeking the advice of an alarm professional is paramount. As crafty as burglars are today, a consultation will increase your ability to stay one step ahead. There are so many considerations that it’s easy to overlook the one that will create a weakness for would-be thieves to take advantage of.

For instance, if you’re considering a system with motion detectors and have pets, that type probably wouldn’t be the wisest choice. Consideration made to the household’s lifestyle is important to determine the type of system and features needed to be effective.  Also, there are alarms with additional upgrades such as fire, radon, and carbon monoxide protection. Some even come with cameras, depending on the budget you have for the project. Installing an alarm may also save you on your homeowners insurance as well. There are projects such as this that pay for themselves!

Again, QwikBids suggests seeking a professional consultation, and you can start by placing a bid for it on our site. They are licensed, insured, references verified, and dedicated to quality customer care. No need to be alarmed any longer!

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Need Help with that Project?

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

Qwik Hits!

 

QwikBids is emerging as not only a valuable asset to service providers, but also to consumers and charities alike. Today we would like to talk about placing bids on the QwikBids website, what you should expect from your requests for bids, and what happens after the project has been completed. We had a lengthy conversation with a customer about these things, how things could be improved, and what service providers can expect as well.

Lee Olson, General Manager of Hilton Garden Inn/Scottsdale Perimeter Center in Scottsdale, Arizona says his recent project went well using QwikBids. Lee said, “I needed some tile removed from both of my elevators and carpet laid down in its place. I also wanted to save as many of the tiles as possible because those type are not manufactured any longer (Lee had this type of tile throughout his lobby, and needed backup pieces for repairs). I wanted to get a fair price from a few different businesses as I always do on projects.”

Lee explained that he sometimes dreaded many projects because of the hassle finding quality, affordable professionals. “I have to always find at least three different providers for comparison before making a choice. I check the references, licensing, and insurance status on each and this gets very time consuming. There must be an alternative; I have a hotel to run,” he said.

Lee isn’t alone. Most, from the homeowner to the building contractor, must endure the same pain locating a quality service provider for their projects. But as the word gets out about QwikBids, more and more customers and service providers are seeing the advantage. For customers, the unique bidding process assures not only a fair price, but also quality workmanship. Lee reacts, “The best part is I only have to place the bid, choose the service provider, and simply set up a time for the project to begin. I didn’t have to do the background or references on who I chose; that was handled for me. It was really convenient, I remained anonymous, and I could focus on running my hotel. Where have these people been?”

The service provider Lee chose was very eager to please, and made a good name for themselves among other service providers with QwikBids. “These guys didn’t waste time. We set up the date to begin, they did an outstanding job, and they even saved a few tile for me. I also got a great price that didn’t hurt my budget,” he added. Lee went on to say he gave great feedback to them on the QwikBids site. I explained to him that he had done a service to the community when he left feedback. QwikBids also gives $10.00 to charity for customer feedback received. Everybody wins! Way to go Lee!

Finally, we got down to my last question. We asked Lee if he had any advice for other customers out there. He gave it some thought for a moment, then offered, “I recommend this service highly and plan on using QwikBids again for a multi-million dollar renovation coming up. Whoever thought of this concept is a genius!”

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