Time is entirely too limited and valuable.

Using Email to communicate quickly while on the move or multi-tasking seems like a no-brainer.

Messages regarding booking new jobs, connecting with old clients or conversing with employees can be sent and received in a matter of minutes.

Utilizing Email for communication can help your business to run smoothly by saving you time and energy. However, if not approached and crafted properly, your Email correspondences could be sending out the wrong message about you or your business.

The following tips on etiquette in electronic communication will ensure that all of your business Emails are clear, competent and received successfully.

Include:

• An E-mail Subject
This first, vital step will set the tone for the rest of your Email. The subject of any message should be brief and directly indicative of what the rest of the Email will concern. An Email subject like “A Question for You” is much more vague and less informative than a subject such as “Question on Presentation Materials.”

• A Proper Salutation
You should never begin an Email without a clear, appropriate greeting, such as “Dear, Hello or To Whom It May Concern.” Starting a message with the first sentence of the Email body seems rushed and unprofessional. In a business-related Email, addressing your audience with “Mr. or Ms.” is typically recommended. You may move to a first name basis after repeated contact, but sticking to this rule initially will ensure that you are maintaining your sense of professionalism.

• Your Name and Title
Identification is important. If you do not explain who you are and on whose behalf you are writing, a reader may be quick to dismiss the message. When sending a business-related Email, it is advisable to communicate using an Email address that includes your name or your business name, as it gives more credibility to your purpose.

• The Purpose for Writing
After introducing yourself to the reader, the next step is to explain why you are writing. The message should be concise, uncomplicated, and to the point. The purpose for writing should be clearly spelled out immediately following your introduction. Any relevant details can be explained after stating your purpose for writing. Additionally, if a response or action is required on the part of the reader, this should be spelled out at the end of the Email body.

• A Detailed Signature
A signature will be the finishing touch on your Email and is often where readers will look if they want to reach out after reading the message. An effective signature for a business Email should contain an appropriate closing salutation, such as “Sincerely” or “Best Regards,” and include your full name, title, organization, and phone number. It might also be helpful to include a fax number or company website as well.

Exclude:

• An Information Overload
Keep your messages focused on one issue at a time. Addressing too many points in one e-mail might overwhelm the reader, making him or her more likely to abandon the message. Often times, if an Email includes multiple questions, your reader may respond to one point, but ignore another. Sending separate Emails about multiple issues is more effective than sending one message overloaded with information.

• Nicknames, Slang, Business Lingo or Abbreviations
When crafting an Email, your ultimate goal should be ensuring that your audience receives and understands the message as clearly as possible. Using nicknames, slang, business lingo or any other abbreviations with which your audience may not be familiar can lead to confusion on the part of the reader, especially if you are writing to a consumer who is not familiar with industry terminology.

• Angry Emails
Work can undoubtedly become frustrating at times, however, it is important to keep these frustrations out of your Email correspondences. Once you send an angry or negative Email, there is no way to get that message back. Another error commonly made when communicating electronically is writing in all capital letters, which is generally considered to be the equivalent of yelling. Be sure to take the time to review what you are sending and consider how your audience is going to react to the message.

Remember:

• To Edit Your Emails
No Email should be sent without proofreading the text you have written. Regardless of what type of business you are running, adhering to the general standards of grammar, spelling, and punctuation is absolutely vital to guarantee successful communication. An unedited Email filled with typographical and grammatical errors indicates that the author did not put any thought or effort into the creation of that message.

• To Keep Your Messages Neat and Tidy
What your message looks like on the reader’s screen has a significant impact on how your reader will respond. We recommend using a clear, simple, black font such as Time New Roman or Arial at 12-14 point. Often times, people skim Emails rather than reading them in detail, so breaking up the text using bullets and spacing will make the message more reader-friendly. Creating a bullet list is often more effective than writing a lengthy paragraph, as an important point can often be missed in a large block of text.

• To Manage Your Inbox
An unruly Inbox is one of the precursors to unsuccessful electronic communication. If your Inbox is overflowing with read and unread messages, the likelihood of missing an important message is increased. Use folders to save and organize your Emails once they are read, sort your Emails by priority to ensure the most urgent matters are handled first, and set reminders for yourself to complete important tasks. Keeping your Email organized will help you handle communications more efficiently.

The effort you put into writing business Emails can be indicative of the care you put into all of your business endeavors.

Be sure to make the right impression on your employees, customers, and colleagues by crafting understandable, thoughtful, effective electronic correspondences.

Basics of Effective Electronic Communication is a post from: Electricians

Fuses usually control the entire home but you are limited to how much power you can use at one time.

With a circuit breaker, you can run an entire home and not worry about tripping the breaker when you run more than one electrical item at the same time.

It is more convenient to have a breaker box than a fuse box.

Fuse boxes tend to blow when you create need for too much power at one time.

With the breaker box, it is rare to trip a breaker if everything is installed correctly.

Depending on the wiring you have in your home with a fuse box, you might need to upgrade the wiring as well.

If you need to upgrade to circuit breakers, calling a professional, licensed, insured electrician will insure that the work will be done correctly and to code, protecting the safety of your your home and family.

Circuit Breakers is a post from: Electricians

One way to obtain this reduction in utility costs is with the use of solar electric panels.

The solar panel absorbs the light during the day and works to power your home.

It is not advisable to eliminate your electric supply.

By adding the solar electric panel to your home, you can use the solar power until it is used up, at which time the home electrical supply will start up and keep your home running until the solar panel is recharged.

You need to choose the correct size, since if the size is not correct you might not see enough savings in your electrical bill. The solar electric panel must be installed in the right position on the home to work and function properly.

If you decide to do the installation yourself, you will need to find the sunniest part of the house. This is where you will want to install the solar panel. Keep in mind that you have to do the wiring and hook up to the power supply in the home.

If you hire a professional, licensed and insured electrician, you will ensure that the job gets done correctly.

Solar Electric Panels is a post from: Electricians

The NEC states the minimum guidelines for safety standards for any wiring and electrical work.

All professional electricians need to know all the guidelines of the NEC to receive a license.

The NEC is updated every three years.

Every community has additional code regulations. All electrical work must be done to meet the code of your particular community.

Inspectors, engineers, electrical contractors and electricians adhere to the guidelines of the National Electric Code (NEC).

What is the National Electric Code? is a post from: Electricians

Fuses usually control the entire home but you are limited to how much power you can use at one time.

With a circuit breaker, you can run an entire home and not worry about tripping the breaker when you run more than one electrical item at the same time.

It is more convenient to have a breaker box than a fuse box.

Fuse boxes tend to blow when you create need for too much power at one time.

With the breaker box, it is rare to trip a breaker if everything is installed correctly.

Depending on the wiring you have in your home with a fuse box, you might need to upgrade the wiring as well.

If you need to upgrade to circuit breakers, calling a professional, licensed, insured electrician will insure that the work will be done correctly and to code, protecting the safety of your your home and family.

Circuit Breakers is a post from: Electricians

If this would happen, you could damage the wiring in your home.

The generator has a switch with three settings:

(1) generator, (2) center off and (3) utility.

Generator:
This setting allows the generator to kick in there is a power outage and no power is detected.

Center Off:
When the switch is on this setting, the information to the generator and the house is shut down.

This setting protects an electrician working on outside lines or in your home. If power was shut down, the generator would kick in and supply the house with electricity.

Utility:
When the switch is in this position, the house is operating on the electric service.

This setting prevents the generator and electrical system from running at the same time.

If you have a generator, you must have a transfer switch to prevent any problems.

A professional, licensed and insured electrician can install the generator and transfer switch and instruct you on how everything works.

You should never attempt this installation yourself. One simple mistake could cause damage to your electrical wiring, serious injury to yourself, or even fire.

Rectifying a mistake can cost you more than the initial cost of having a professional electrician do the job.

Why Is A Transfer Switch Needed On A Generator? is a post from: Electricians

PowerwoRx will work in any home, as long as you have:

a circuit breaker panel with breaker switches and not the old screw-in type fuses,

and the unit will work on any single-phase electric application for your home.

If you say YES to only two or more of the following, then you could be saving a significant amount of money on your electric bill IMMEDIATELY, while protecting and enhancing the lifespan of your valuable electronics and appliances.

• Is your central air conditioner/heat pump unit 3 years or older?
• Is your forced air furnace 3 years or older?
• Do you have a pool, hot tub, or Jacuzzi?
• Do you have a well?
• Do you use and air conditioner?
• Is your refrigerator/freezer, washer/dryer, or dishwasher not EnergyStar rated?
• Do you have a number of appliances/electronics in your home?

For more information on this unit, please visit www.ecotrustenergy.com/asf
For independent testimonials from satisfied customers, please visit www.proofofsavings.com/asf

Whole Home Energy Management System is a post from: Electricians

But which choice best suits each homeowner’s specific needs and interests? During our 7th Blog-Off, we asked our panel of over 50 home improvement experts to weigh in…

The Expert Opinion: Things to Consider Before Deciding to Hire a Professional

The biggest step towards deciding how you want your home improvement project to proceed is understanding the factors that are involved.

Bill Riggs of Riggs Construction recommends you do the following: “Look at your own skill and experience level…Gauge your true ability, and think about what you will do if a problem comes up—which it will in many projects. Are you equipped to think quickly and solve the problem quickly?”

Along with taking your knowledge and experience into account, also consider the time commitment required, and any permits or certifications needed. Understand the consequences, should the renovation not go as planned, and of course, be conscious of cost.

It seems that, with all the resources we have at hand, you should be able to implement your ideas with only a little research. But, as Elizabeth Kinkel of Wnuk Spurlock Architecture explains: “Time and time again, homeowners do not understand the extent of what they would like to do, nor the costs associated with the changes. Once a rough idea of the cost is established…it is important to consult a realtor to see if the investment is worthwhile.”

Most experts recommend taking these concerns to a professional for a consultation.

“Sometimes we are just too focused on one aspect of the project to see the bigger picture and need a little perspective on the design. It’s much easier and cheaper to change it on the drawing board than it is in real life,” says Lori LaRochelle of La Rochelle Interior Design.




The Expert Opinion: Choosing to Hire or Not to Hire

Our experts strongly recommend that you choose to use a professional for more difficult, risky, or complicated projects, especially those that deal with structural, electrical, plumbing, or HVAC issues, or anything involving gas, propane, or electricity.

Barbara Tako of Clutter Clearing Choices sums up the general opinion when she recommends that “homeowners should always weigh the risks versus saving money by doing it themselves. It could end up costing them more in the end if they have to hire someone to correct or repair their own work.”

Professionals also have more resources, so they can often get materials at better rates, and they already have specialized equipment, which would need to be purchased for a DIY project.

Our experts do encourage DIY with lower-risk and less complex projects, including painting, landscaping, re-grouting, and cosmetic fixes in general. Just be aware that, as an amateur, you should plan on making mistakes and taking longer than a professional would to do the same tasks. Make sure you have any permits required, and are following safety guidelines.

But, as Terry Peterman from Electrical Online points out: “Doing part or all of a renovation project yourself, and doing it correctly, will give you a sense of pride, accomplishment, and satisfaction that you won’t get from simply writing the checks.”

The Expert Opinion: Choosing Who to Hire

If you do choose to hire someone for your project, it is important to ensure that you have chosen the right person for the job. Always select a reputable professional, with good recommendations from their customers and the proper licensing.

When choosing between a specialized trade contractor and a handyman, Neil Parsons of DesignBuildProfit.com explains, “typically the cutoff from handyman to trade begins with ‘permits’…or the need for project management or coordination of multiple tasks or trades.”

So, should you use a general contractor or designer over several more specialized services? Well, “hiring a number of contractors to complete a project can work, but it certainly is harder on the homeowner, and there is also a greater risk of some details being overlooked,” explains Jason Todd of GreenHomes America. The benefit of using an architect or designer lies in their ability to bring a degree of sophistication and cohesion to the project as a whole that would otherwise be hard to attain.

Want more information on hiring the right contractor? See our article on questions to ask contractors before hiring.

The Bottom Line

In general, the most important thing for you to do when making the choice of when or who to hire is to plan in advance and take into account what outcome is most important to you. If it is essential that you have the most unified and functional design for your project, consider using a professional to manage it as a whole. If it’s a smaller and more technical project, choose a licensed technician. If you have both the time and the interest, try out your own skills. In the end, whether by following safety procedures and doing proper research or hiring reputable experts, just make sure to protect yourself and ensure you get the desired results.

When and Why to Hire a Home Professional: The Ultimate Guide to the DIY or Not to DIY Conundrum is a post from: Electricians

Contracts are extremely important in all working relationships, whether you are working with a friend or a new professional. They protect both parties from potential conflict, and ensure that the project is completed successfully and everyone is happy. Still need convincing? Our partner Thumb and Hammer fills us in on its experience…

Several years ago, I discovered some structural damage to an exterior wall. I hired a contractor that was recommended to me by my real estate agent and I was satisfied with his work. It was not a complex job—we agreed on a price, went to the lumberyard to pick up materials and he completed the job the same day. In fact, I was so impressed with his work that when he gave me his card advertising complete renovations, additions and basements, I decided to talk to him about finishing our second floor, which was completely gutted at the time. The conversation went something like this:

I asked, “About how much would it cost me to have you completely finish the second floor?”

“I could do that for you for about $X,” he replied.

I said, “When can you start?”

And with that, he was hired. For some reason, we never bothered with a contract. He started the job on the day that he promised and everything progressed well. I paid him in installments whenever he requested, and paid extra when he did extra work. The lack of a contract did not seem to be a handicap.

As the project neared completion, however, our relationship broke down. It turned out that we had different definitions of “completely finished.” Painting, hanging doors and installing trim were not included in his original price, or so he claimed. The additional price he gave for those jobs was so steep that it was obvious he was either trying to make up for under-estimating the original job, or he just wanted to cut ties completely. Whatever the case, I ended up being left with a lengthy punch list—more work and expense for me.

A handshake agreement was risky enough for the simple same day repair but when it came to the larger project, not having a written contract was downright foolish. I certainly feel fortunate that I didn’t suffer more serious consequences as a result. A proper contract would have defined all the elements included in the job (as well as what wasn’t included), guaranteed the price, and set the payment schedule. We could have negotiated change work orders for any additional “while you’re at it” work as it came up. And we would have avoided the dispute over what constituted the “finished” job. Having a written agreement in place before work began would have avoided disagreements later.

Elements of a good contract

• Contractor’s contact information: address, phone, and license number
• Buyer’s contact information
• Description of the project, what is included, what is not included
• Description of materials and who supplies the materials
• List of any subcontractors
• Contract price
• Payment schedule (usually based on milestones)
• Start date
• Finish date
• Provisions for how change orders will be handled

These elements were culled from a sample contract that can be found at the NYC website.




The author is the Webmaster of Thumb and Hammer, a home improvement website geared towards do-it-yourselfers and weekend handymen.

The Consequences of Working Without a Contract: A Personal Account is a post from: Electricians

It is important that experienced electricians handle these projects, as the risks of becoming hurt or starting a fire are high.

Not having the skill or knowledge needed to make these repairs, can often lead to more harm than good.

When a light fixture is replaced, it is necessary to disconnect all of the wires that connect to the light. Without the proper knowledge and electrical experience it’s easy to often make the mistake of not knowing how to reconnect the wires. This is especially true if the fixture is an older model and uses different color codes for the wiring.

Since you will be working with live wires, it’s best to leave these repairs to electricians who are qualified for the job. A mistake could cause damage to your lights, your home, or injury to yourself.

If you want to have your light fixtures replaced, choose the new replacement fixtures, and have a professional, licensed, and insured electrician perform the installation.

When it comes to electrical work, it is better to be safe than sorry and to ensure that the work is done correctly, the first time around.

Light Fixtures is a post from: Electricians