Water Damage Wealth
In most homes, especially those with multiple residents, showers get a lot of use. Imagine how many times a day a shower is used in a typical home with four family members who shower daily! Talk about wear and tear!
A leak from a shower stall or bathtub usually goes for months, even years, before being noticed. By the time there is visual evidence of the damage (such as mold or excessive mildew), there is already vast water damage to the walls and floors and sometimes even the sub-floors and basic home structure below the bathroom or water pipes where the leak originates. As soon as the leaks and damaged areas are noticed, they need to be immediately fixed since this sort of damage spreads quickly and becomes more expensive to repair as time passes. Are you a general contractor looking to specialize in some area for more visibility? If so, than this is where you come in!
For most people, response time is the most important factor. You will specialize in leaky bathrooms and make yourself available for immediate response to their problems. To do this most effectively, you will likely want to get an 800 number and a visible website for people trying to initially diagnose their own problems. Explain the services you offer and let them know that this is your specialty! For immediate response, you can charge a bit more. Most people would rather pay a little more to get someone out to their home quickly than wait for weeks on someone else, while the problem grows more extensive and costly to repair.
There are many areas of a bathroom that may have been damaged and the first thing you will need to do is to assess the extent of the damage. Has mold penetrated the walls, ceiling, and sub-floor? Perhaps only a little re-tiling will fix the problem. When the rubber seal on a shower stall door is worn out, shower water can end up on the bathroom floor. Water can also seep outside a shower stall if the shower pan at the base of the stall needs repair or replacing. (Let the homeowner know that many homeowners’ insurance policies cover damage from shower-pan leaks.) When the seal at the base of a toilet fails, water will begin seeping onto the floor. These can sometimes be simple fixes or possibly more complicated ones depending on just how long the leaking has been going on. You will want to be sure to check crawl spaces for evidence of more extensive damage and for hints at where the leak is originating.
You may want to also offer to purchase and install some sort of leak detection system to prevent future leaks and water damage from occurring. These devices can detect water flow as little as eight ounces per hour and as high as several gallons per minute. The sensor probes are mounted directly into the main water supply and detect all water flow within the supply side of the structure. If water flows continuously for a preset time without stopping, it triggers an alarm. While initially costly, a system such as this will likely save the homeowner time and money in the long run.
Lastly, you will need to let your potential customers know about you and your services! You may also want to advertise your per-hour services by running a visible ad in local phone directories, list your business with an online business directory, and possibly also print up flyers and post them in places where people in your area who would be more likely to need your services, such as homeowners, would be more likely frequent. Be sure to include popular lunch places and coffee shops too! Most post offices and grocery stores also have bulletin boards that they will allow you to place an advertisement on them. Be sure to take advantage of any public bulletin boards in your immediate area to find the people who are looking for you and your services. In no time at all, you will have built up a large clientele base, many by word of mouth as they witness your professional services in action!
Resources:
www.mischel.com/diary/2005/12/14.htm
globaltowne.com/product_info.php/products_id/218
www.theplumber.com/handbook.html
www.simplehomerepairs.com/Home-Repair-Bathroom-Pipe.html
www.servicemagic.com/task.Faucets-Fixtures-and-Pipes-Repair-or-Replace.40113.html
www.associatedcontent.com/article/583839/repair_a_bathroom_ball_joint_faucet.html
www.askmehelpdesk.com/advice/t-6512.html
www.terrylove.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-449.html
www.homegain.com/info_center/buyer/homedefectguide/plumbing
www.ahahome.com/non/articles/01/012001.html
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Trash Trailer Cash Maker
Waste removal is one of the biggest concerns for Americans. We throw away so much. We have so much clutter. You will need a trailer for this business. When a customer calls you bring the trailer to them, they stack on their trash, and you take it to the appropriate dump. You could charge $80 or more depending on how much the dump charges you for dumping their trash. You will need a full fee list from the dump so you know ahead of time.
Everyone has some form of waste that has to be discarded everyday. Waste removal is one of the top priorities of all towns, cities, and countries. However, proper waste removal is the call of the hour. People like having people who will take their waste to the dump, for discarding. If you have trailers, and do not mind working with waste, then you could consider starting a business of renting out trailers for trash removal.
You will need at least one trailer for this business and a working phone connection! Whenever a customer has some waste to be disposed of, he or she will make a call to you, wherein you have to take the trailer to their house or business. They will stack the trash in the trailer and it is up to you to take the waste to the appropriate dump. Of course, this service is not free; you charge for it! Charging $80 is appropriate; but this amount depends on how much the dump where you dump the trash charges you. Therefore, to fix your charge, it will be essential for you to get a fee list from the dump. With the proper fee charges, you are prepared to charge your customers a reasonable amount!
You can choose the type of people you will be serving. Residential places have considerable amounts of waste for removal while the commercial units have less waste. However, if you can cater to industrial waste removal, it will prove to be a much better business for you because they have much more waste for removal. Some waste disposal services send over their trailer the day after the phone call is made. It would be better on your part if you provided same-day-service for delivery or pick-up.
When we talk about waste removal, it does not necessarily mean only debris and rubbish. It also refers to furniture that has to be gotten rid off, sod, old computers meant to be discarded and just about anything and everything that is old, worn out or spoilt beyond repairs, and has to be discarded. However, you can offer better-priced waste removal by donating or recycling more than half the waste you receive.
Make it a point to differentiate the waste, recycle all the recyclable stuff, and donate clothes, toys, computers, and other stuff that may be of use in orphanages or some charitable institutions. You are sure to get a feeling of satisfaction for having provided a child with clothes to wear or a toy to play with!
You may receive a sizeable amount of waste to be discarded everyday; however, you can expect to have more business and work in the spring and summer seasons when everyone turns to spring-cleaning. In fact, you may need some extra help in this peak time of waste disposal.
Remember that the main point to remember in waste removal is to maintain a professional image with the customers. Customers always crave exceptional service, a professional image, and of course fair pricing. Charging huge fees will only push customers away from you! Once you establish a professional image, you can expect to see your waste removal business flourish quite well!
Resources:
www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=551
realtytimes.com/rtpages/20080204_donatejunk.htm
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How To Put Your Green Thumb Into Business
Are you one of those gifted folks who can grow anything? Do you enjoy designing gardens and flowerbeds? Wouldn’t it be great to earn a living sketching out your ideas and spending days planting? Well, you can do it by starting a landscaping business.
Well, you can do it by starting a landscaping business. You can work your dream job and decide your hours. All you need is a basic knowledge of plants and a liking for the great outdoors. A good sense of visual design doesn’t hurt either.
Begin by taking photos of any landscaping projects you have worked on, even if it is in your own backyard. If you don’t have any examples, consider doing a small flower bed or two for your portfolio. Use the best photo to make flyers and ads to run in the local papers.
When looking for work and dropping off flyers, keep your mind open. Don’t just hit homes, anywhere that has a patch of dirt is a potential client. This includes hospitals, grocery stores, schools, etc. The possibilities are endless.
In order to suggest design ideas, you need to know what grows best in your area and what is available. Visit the local nurseries to find out and make notes on prices so you can quote your clients for projects without extensive research. You should also know how much space each plant needs when it is fully grown and what plants make good temporary fillers until shrubs and such are mature. The best way to keep this knowledge on hand (unless you happen to be a memorizing prodigy) is to buy a complete plant book for your area.
Another necessity is a vehicle that you can dirty up. A pickup is ideal, but any car that can carry small trees, shrubs and such is fine. Buy a tarp to lay down if you don’t want soil everywhere.
You will need some basic tools, which as a gardener, you probably already have. Spades, trowels, a wheelbarrow, rake, etc. You will be providing these items, not your client, so make sure you have the basics.
When quoting a project, remember to factor in all costs, such as soil, fertilizer, and transport as well as labor and plants. Discuss your plans thoroughly with the client ahead of time. Once you have the whole yard dug up, it isn’t nice to have someone start changing their minds on where the path should go.
If you feel capable, you could expand your landscaping to include paths, gazebos, and irrigation systems. If not, let your client know that these options will require hiring experts and add that price to your quote.
Landscaping is a great outside job and you will have a certain amount of freedom both in design and in hours. If you have teen children, it can be a great family business as well and it will bring in further long-term work as you return to replant and maintain the gardens you design.
Helpful Resources:
ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/1000/1255.html
www.thriftyfun.com/tf355254.tip.html
www.411homerepair.com/do-it-yourself/garden-landscaping/index.php
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An Ethical Way To “Strip” For Cash
Stripping just isn’t what it used to be-stripping wallpaper, that is! Today, it’s easier than ever, but it’s still a hassle. After all, who wants to spend their free time, a beautiful Saturday afternoon, stuck indoors stripping wallpaper?
A business that offers a stripping of wallpaper service is going to appeal to busy homeowners who, after a long week of work, don’t want to face the task themselves. Why not do it for them?
If you are scratching your head, thinking, “I’ve never stripped wallpaper before, so what do I do?” It’s simple. Let’s take a look at some great tips for stripping wallpaper:
Step One. The first thing you want to do is strip the wallpaper’s outermost layer. This is generally a thin layer of paper or vinyl coating.
Step Two. Once you have finished stripping the outer layer, you are going to create a solution to make stripping the next layer much easier. You will need a bucket of water, a sponge, and dishwashing detergent.
Simply add a small amount of dishwashing detergent into the bucket of water. Soak the sponge with water and run the sponge over the wallpaper. Allow the water to sit for 10 minutes. (If the wallpaper starts to dry, soak again.) **Hint** you will find the more you soak the wallpaper, the easier it is to strip the wallpaper.
Note-instead of a sponge, you may opt for using a spray bottle (this will probably be faster.) Either works well and it depends on your preference.
If you find the water and detergent isn’t effective, then you’ll want to spill it out. Instead, fill your bucket or spray bottle with ‘half water and half white vinegar’. If this still doesn’t work, it’s time for a visit to your local home improvement store. Ask a salesperson for a recommendation or try ‘Safe and Simple’ or ‘Dif’.
Step Three. Now that the wallpaper has had a chance to soak, it should be much easier to strip. Take the putty knife or another flat tool and start to strip the wallpaper. If the wall is going to be painted, make sure you remove all of the glue. You can test to make sure the glue is off by wetting the wall and running your hand over it. If an area feels slimy, you have some glue you still need to get off. This time, you want to put a gallon of water into your bucket then add two tablespoons of liquid fabric softener.
Step Four. After you have removed all the wallpaper and glue, you need to thoroughly wash the walls.
Step Five. The walls are ready to paint!
Simple, isn’t it? As you can see, you will have very little startup costs. All you really need is a bucket or spray bottle, dishwashing detergent, white vinegar (just in case), a tool for scraping, and you are set. Now all you need are some clients. Follow the normal marketing routes to find clients: classified ads, flyers and word-of-mouth.
On a final note, consider combining your wallpaper stripping service to include painting. After all, you will be stripping the walls, so why not make some extra cash painting them?
Helpful Resources:
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How To Be A Healthy Home Consultant
Everyone considers the home to be “home sweet home”. However, is the home actually sweet? Nowadays pollution has made houses the lurking place of many perils like dust, allergens, chemical vapors, and toxic molds. These pollutants can make the people in the house ill and prevent them from getting better. Therefore, to rid them of these pollutants, you could offer your services to look over their house for a price.
When offering your services, you should be able to look for and recognize all the potential hazards in a house. You should also show them a fire escape plan if they live in an apartment or multiple story building and include any needed steps for fire prevention. You should have sufficient knowledge to know where there is no or low airflow in the house and warn people of the hazards of drinking water directly from the faucet.
Asthma and many forms of allergies are triggered by, mold spores, pet fur, and dust mites. Therefore, it is better to advise people of these pollutants to build or retrofit the house with, low or non-toxic, materials so there is complete ventilation in the house. The less airflow there is in the house, the more the tendency of these triggers aggravating humans and animals. Where there is no ventilation, the house may get too damp to live in. This in turn encourages lead paint flaking and peeling, mold growth, and facilitates infestations by cockroaches and many other insects.
Mold grows on many building and decorating materials, like sheet rock paper backing, carpet, upholstery, ceiling tiles, wallpaper, insulation, and around standing water. Some forms of mold can even kill. So, it is better to advise the ultra sensitive to use non-toxic materials in the house like; ceramic tiles, stainless steel countertops, natural stones and woods and low shag rugs. Let them know that it is better to use non-toxic cleaners in the house as come cleaning agents and pesticides emit volatile organic compounds that may cause respiratory and neurological conditions, including cancer.
Make sure that the house has its alarms maintained regularly. Radon, smoke, and carbon monoxide detectors have to be functioning well. Check gas ranges, and any other appliances in the home using natural gas, to insure they are in good working condition. If not working properly, excessive carbon monoxide is in the home. Stress often, the most important safety issue is maintaining a clean home. Tell the client that pet dander and dust is dangerous for asthma sufferers and children.
There are so many homemakers unaware of all these precautions. You could offer your services and make their houses safer to live in. Advertise your services in the neighborhood through pamphlets, flyers, or ads in the newspaper. Once you get a few satisfied happy clients, they themselves will vouch for you and give your reference to friends. Offer them a gift or discount if they do.
You could charge perhaps $50 or more, depending on the size of the house, and the amount of work you have to do to make the house safe for the homeowners to live in. So if you know all about safer and healthier houses, why not spread your knowledge to make your neighborhood, and the world, a healthier place to live!
Some resources:
www.care2.com/greenliving/healthy-home/page/2
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Prisoner Profits
Unfortunately, it happens. Someone you care about receives a prison sentence. Start a business that sends gift packages to the ones they care about in prison. Customers would call you or order online. You get the items together and send them along to the prisoner.
Sometimes crimes are committed without any plans or expectations of doing them. With these crimes, people you love and care for may end up in jail, or worse, prison. However, just because they are in prison does not mean that they do not have feelings for others and that they do not deserve any gifts. Many people wish to send gifts to their near and dear ones in prison, so it is rather beneficial for you to start a business sending gift packages to prisoners you and others care for.
Prisoners are not always hard at heart. Many people end up in prison due to unfortunate circumstances. However, they should not be ignored and not given gifts occasionally just because they are prisoners. In fact, a prisoner feels quite happy when receiving gifts, as they feel remembered though they have ended up in jail.
You will need to be aware of what the requirements are for acceptable gifts in a prison. There are many simple items that will not be allowed, so you have to educate yourself and search for items that can be considered acceptable to the majority of prisons. Find out what most prisoners would like to receive as gifts too if you can.
So it proves to be beneficial financially for you, emotionally for the prisoner, and efficient for the person who intends to send a gift to loved ones, if you start a business sending gift packages to prisoners. You will need to have a website and connections with shops selling gifts and gift packages. Either you can order gift packages to send or create your own gift packages using your imagination. Get together gifts that are memorable or useful for some time by the recipients.
Keep an assortment of gifts that you can easily access so that you can collect them to send when you get orders for gifts. Set up a website and include descriptions of gifts that you have and of course, your rates. Then you have to provide your contact information so that people can easily contact you. Your telephone number, business address, and email address are important.
Make your website as attractive as possible. You want to attract many people to your website and ordering gifts from you. Once orders are placed with you, it is up to you to collect the relevant gifts from the respective stores and deliver them to the prisoner. You will of course have to have a vehicle for your transportation needs. The service that you render to the customer will of course have to be charged. Do not charge too high a rate for the services you render, as you may not get customers with too high a rate.
You will have to create some advertising media for people to get to know about your services. Pamphlets placed near the prison are the best ways of getting your message across. Of course, create a website that gets good search engine rankings as the higher the rankings, the better the chance of customers choosing you instead of other similar sites and services. Once you develop a good clientele, you will find that there will be a continuous trail of people calling on you to get their gifts sent over to their loved ones in prison.
Resources:
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