Determine Your Qualification

There are strict requirements for businesses to become certified veteran-owned businesses. So the first thing you need to do is make sure you qualify. In order to get your business certified you must be a service-disabled veteran who owns at least 51 percent of the business applying for certification. Additionally, you must be involved in the day-to-day operation of the business — you don’t qualify if the business is simply listed in your name. Additionally, you need to submit your Department of Defense Form 214 (DD 214) to prove that you are a veteran and a letter from the United States Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) that states that you are, in fact, a service-disabled veteran.

Register Your Business

Once you have your paperwork together, registering your business is simple. The entire process is self certifying. All you need to do is take your paperwork to your nearest VA and register your business. You need to keep copies of your paperwork on hand because the individual contracting officer may ask to see your documentation to ensure you are eligible before actually awarding the contract to your company.

Remember These Things 

It’s important that you understand exactly what the service-disabled veteran-owned business program is if you want to get the most out of it. It’s a common misconception that once a business is registered, contracts will start to come in on their own. All federal government agencies are required to contract three percent of contract and subcontracting work to service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, but that work isn’t simply awarded at random. In order to land a government contract, you still need to bid on the contract just like you would if your business wasn’t certified as a veteran-owned business. The certification lets those awarding the contract know that your business is owned and operated by a service-disabled veteran, which may influence the decision of the person awarding the contract.

The fact is, if government contracts are vital to the success of your company, you should consider obtaining service-disabled veteran-owned business certification. While certification doesn’t cause contracts to walk in the door on their own, it could improve your chances of landing the government contracts that you bid on. For more information, talk to a company like Noreast Property Management Corporation.

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Why Do Doors Get Jammed And Cracks Appear When Foundation Problems Are Present?

Some of the first signs that your home is starting to encounter foundation problems will be having difficulty opening and closing the doors as well as deep cracks along the walls and ceiling. These issues arise because the problem with the foundation can cause the house to shift positions. This shift can put stress on the building materials of the structure. Unfortunately, this type of problem will gradually worsen until the entire house collapses if you fail to have the underlying problem repaired.

How Can Your Damaged Foundation Be Repaired?

While it may seem as though repairing the foundation will be an essentially impossible task to do, you should be aware that there are several repair techniques that the foundation contractor will be able to employ. In instances where the problem is due to the soil being unable to support the weight of the structure, it is possible to insert long metal support beams under the home. These will help to ensure that the weight of the structure is distributed as evenly as possible. If the damage is to the actual concrete of the foundation, it may be necessary to excavate around the house so that fresh concrete can be pour to reinforce the foundation.

Are There Any Ways To Avoid This Risk In The Future?

There can be many causes for problems with your foundation, but there are steps that you can take to help reduce some of the more common threats that can lead to this problem. For example, one of the more common causes of foundation problems will be due to moisture. As moisture seeps into the foundation, it can cause severe cracking to occur. To help prevent this particular type of damage, you will want to ensure that there is adequate drainage around the home. When the drainage around your house is poor, you will want to add gutters or French drains to address this problem. Another step that you can take to help prevent foundation problems is to have your basement waterproofed. This may involve applying waterproof sealants to the walls and floors as well as installing a sump pump. While these upgrades may sound expensive, they can be a wise investment for protecting your home.

For more information, contact companies like Tremor Ready. 

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Contact Your Insurance Provider

Start by getting in touch with your insurance agent regarding your homeowner’s insurance policy. They’ll be able to verify what kind of coverage you have, and walk you through the process of getting your claim started.

Once your home has been verified as being safe to walk through, a representative from your insurance company will do a walk through with you to verify the extent of the damage. This will help guide you towards your next steps to repair your home.

Assess The Damage

The big question your insurance agent will need to find the answer to is if the home can be repaired or if rebuilding is the best option. They’ll have the home professionally assessed for what the value of the home would have been before the fire. After taking a look at the type of construction and materials used, they will know what your home is worth.

A repair contractor will then take a look at your home to determine how much money it will cost to repair the damage. This could involve removing and replacing the existing structure of the home and replacing it with comparable materials, as well as smoke remediation costs to remove the smell that has permeated any part of the structure that will remain. So if you had plaster walls instead of drywall, your home will be repaired with the more expensive plaster because that is what you had before the fire.

If the assessed value of the home is less than the cost of repairs, then it will be more financially viable to tear down the home and build from scratch. If the estimate for repairs is cheaper than the assessed value of the home, then repairing the home will be the recommended option.

Select A Contractor

When deciding to repair a home, it’s important that you find a contractor that has expertise in fire damage restoration. It is the best way to ensure that the smell of smoke is not in the home after it is fixed. 

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Landscaping

One of the primary areas you need to focus on during the summer months is landscape maintenance. Summer is one of the most popular times of the year for families and individuals to move and relocate. If you are trying to fill up the properties that you manage with residents, you need to make your properties look attractive. One of the best ways to do that in the summertime is through smart landscaping.

Keep all the areas of your property free of weeds. Excessive weed growth can make it look like you don’t care about maintaining your property. Additionally, excessive weed growth can create tripping hazards if the weeds are growing up in the sidewalk, and it can cause equipment problems if weeds are covering up your air conditioning units.

Air Conditioning Units

The second area you need to focus on is keeping your air conditioning units working well. In many cities and states, it is considered a tenant’s right to have access to adequate heating and cooling. Before the summer really gets going, have a technician come out and inspect all of your air conditioning units and replace all the air filters in your units. If the units are located inside of tenants apartments, make sure that you give them adequate notice before you enter their units.

Taking this preventative step will prevent you from having to pay for an emergency HVAC technician to come out and fix a failed air conditioning unit in the heat of summer.

Pest Control

Summertime can be a very active time for pests. In order to prevent summer pest problems, there are a few maintenance steps you can take. To start with, inspect all the window screens in your units or ask tenants to report any screens that are damaged. Have all damaged screens replaced; this will help keep pests out.

Next, make sure that you provide adequate dumpster and trash service to your tenants. Make sure that the trash area is clean, and make sure you have a weekly cleaning plan in place for that area on your property.

Then, have a pest company come out and complete an inspection of your property. They can let you know about any areas that may need additional maintenance, and they can spray to keep common pests, such as ants, away from your units.

If you focus on the three areas above, you should be able to keep your properties looking great this summer and working well for residents. If you have any further questions about property management, contact another property management company like Cambridge Companies.

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Idea #1: Choose Durable Flooring

You may be tempted to put carpeting into a basement to help insulate against the cold concrete. The only issue is that art projects and science experiments can damage carpet quite quickly. In most cases, a hard flooring is a better option. You can simply paint or polish the concrete for a simple yet attractive floor. Another option is to install a thin insulated subfloor and then install tile or laminate over the top. This will add a bit of warmth and cushioning, but still allow for easy cleanup. You can then use strategically placed rugs for areas where you want more warmth or cushioning.

Idea #2: Add a Kitchenette

Take some inspiration from the basement bars of a bygone era and create a small wet bar/kitchenette area in one corner of the basement. A small sink and work top can be especially useful for homeschooling. This provides a cleanup area for art projects as well as a location near running water for a myriad of science projects. You may even want to add a small electric burner or microwave for any projects that require heat, along with storage space for some useful electric tools, such as a blender for a paper making project. This will save your home’s main kitchen (and appliances) for cooking food, not school work.

Idea #3: Include Plenty of Storage

School books, classroom supplies, educational games, and everything else that goes into a full curriculum and healthy learning environment requires storage space. Integrate storage into permanent fixtures. For example, create a reading nook out of low benches and a half-wall or curtains. The benches can also double as storage for the books used in the nook. For items you want to keep out of reach, add storage cubbies around the upper perimeter of the walls. This will free up floor space. You may even want to install a large walk-in closet in the basement to act as a simple supply closet.

Idea #4: Bring In Some Daylight

One issue with a basement learning area is the lack of natural light. One idea is to add in some full-size egress windows when you finish the space. Not only does this allow more light into the basement, it also provides an exit in the event of a fire. Just make sure there are ladders leading up from the bottom of the window well. You can even go a step further and have a walk-out window installed, which will lead up to ground level via outdoor stairs. This way, the kids can run outside and back in without tracking through the upstairs of the house throughout the day.

For more information, contact Hopley Builders Inc or a similar company.

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Location Choice

You probably don’t want your storage shed planted right in the middle of your yard, but you do want it to be somewhere that you can easily see it from your house–yet slightly hidden from the direct view of the road. You want to be able to see the shed, but you don’t want those passing by your home to easily be able to see the shed or what you are putting into it.

A great option is to place the shed near a property line in which a trusted neighbor can see it. This way, not only can you catch anyone trying to break into it, but so can your neighbor.

Shed Selection

Spending a little extra to get a quality shed is well worth the expense. If you opt for the cheapest option available, chances are the doors and even the walls can be easily removed after it is built.

Look for a shed that is made of durable materials – think quality wood, metal or plastic. As you choose the material that the shed is made of, you have to remember that the wood will need to be cleaned and treated each year, the metal may rust if not cared for properly and the plastic will lock in moisture and could cause mold issues.

Think about the amount of time that you have to put into caring for the shed and the things that you will store in it before you make any choices.

Enhance Security

The weakest elements of security in a shed are the hinges on the doors. Weak hinges and screws can make breaking into a shed easy for a potential thief. Replace the weak hinges with heavy-duty hinges, and remove the screws and replace them with nuts and bolts that are super-glued in place. This will make it virtually impossible for the thief to remove the hinges.

Talk with a local company such as Alaskan Barns about selecting a shed that will truly be secure for your valuables being stored in them throughout the year.

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Luckily, there are things that you can do to help prevent odors in your restaurant. Follow these tips, and you’re sure to see an improvement.

Keep Your Heating and Air Conditioning System in Good Condition

First of all, you should make sure that your heating and cooling system is in good condition. Hire a commercial heating and cooling professional to come out and take a look at your ducts; there is a chance that they need to be cleaned to eliminate odors. Ensure that your system is able to condition the air properly, and make sure that you change your filters regularly. Also, make sure that when you or your employees sweep and clean that food particles and other debris are not being swept into any floor or wall vents.

Have Your Carpet Cleaned Regularly

If you have carpet in the dining area of your restaurant, make sure that you have it cleaned regularly by a professional carpet cleaning company. Food spills that get into your carpet can cause odors, and cooking odors can “cling” to your carpet as well. Having it cleaned regularly will help get rid of food stains and food odors, and you’ll also be able to prolong the life of your carpet.

Install a Ventilation System

If you don’t have one in place now, now is the time to install a ventilation system to help pull smoke and cooking odors out of your kitchen. A commercial heating and air conditioning company (such as Associated Mechanical Contractors, Inc.) can help you install a system that fits your needs and the size of your restaurant.

Be Diligent About Cleaning

It is important to be diligent about cleaning in your restaurant if you want to prevent and get rid of odors. This means that you should come up with a cleaning schedule that includes wiping down walls, baseboards and all other surfaces in your restaurant.

As you can see, there are plenty of things that you can do to help get rid of and prevent odors in your restaurant. Follow these tips, and both you and your patrons are sure to see a difference.

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