Modern Living

How to Find a Building Contractor in Essex

For most proprietors, the unavoidable necessity of having to improve, extend or refurbish their homes will come sooner or later in life, and is best to be aware ahead of time of how to best approach the entire process. Either adapting to new domestic needs (due to the arrival of children is most common); facing unanticipated flaws in electrical, heating or plumbing systems, or even wanting to give your home a fresh, modern twist, you can be sure the perfect handyman is out there. At a first glance one might think of it as a simple and straightforward matter, and … they’d be right. As long as we know how to search for and choose honest and reliable builders, while managing to weave out those that are likely to disappoint.

Growing up in Essex, I’ve come to appreciate the rural life and have actually taken pride in learning my way around a hammer and nails, just like any other chap. Back then, there weren’t too many professional builders in Essex and everybody could handle small projects on their own. But times have indeed changed and today, given the proximity to the City of London, people have shifted their approach on home building, improvements or maintenance towards hiring specialist tradesmen (builders, bricklayers, carpenters, plumbers, engineers, etc.). And why shouldn’t they have? In a competitive market, few would dare not deliver the expected results or charge anything else than a fair amount. However, one can never be too careful, especially on projects that require large investments on their behalf. Here are some tips on how to stay away from unprofessional, dishonest constructers or repairmen.

1. Ask around

Sometimes the best way is the simplest. Ask friends, colleagues or relatives for tradesmen recommendations while paying attention to the feedback they give you. Careful though, some otherwise excellent feedback on a particular professional or employer may not be as suited for your needs as they were for someone else’s. Also, whenever possible, take some time to call and request a quote from the builders that made it into your list. Next, compare the pros and cons of each until you reach your decision. You will find many reliable building contractors Essex area.

2. Consider getting recommendations online

Platforms such as mybuilder.com offer prospective employers the possibility of browsing through hundreds of tradesmen profiles in order to view their work history and what their former clients had to say about the experience. This can be quite time-consuming but, I promise you, it is well worth the extra effort. Try to opt for builders who are sought-after and are regarded as friendly and reliable but also, check the rates they charge before committing.

3. See their previous work

Found a bloke who has great rates and excellent recommendations but you want to be extra sure? It’s true what they say: a photo is worth a thousand words. Call and ask for photos of recent work. Any builder worth his while will have something to show for it.

Tah-daah! Taking (at least one of) the above steps will surely increase your odds of a successful partnership that will bring you closer to the desired project outcome. Good luck.

Why Quality Guitars Matter

I have noticed that very often it is better to buy something that is high quality rather than something that is cheap and not so good. For example, when you look at those telecaster guitars you will know exactly what I am talking about here and you will be able to relate. I am definitely a huge advocate of buying quality musical instruments that are guaranteed to last for years.

How to Guide Your Students to a Lucrative Career

High school and college-aged students are often expected to make major decisions about their lives even though they’re just getting to know themselves and the things that interest them both. As a teacher, guidance counselor or parent, you have a lot of influence over a young person seeking advice about her future career. Guide a student to a career path full of opportunities, and his future will prove a bright one.

Direct Them to Training

Find a field that offers job security, is always in need of new workers and capitalizes on talented workers, like construction, and look into information about training programs. Direct the student to training information like you’ll find here: http://www.letsbuildmontana.com/training/. You’ll find both one- to two-year and four-year programs available, as well as apprenticeships.

Ask Them to Think Outside of the Box

Going to a liberal arts college seems to be the default for most young adults, even though tuition is more expensive than ever and the job market is flooded with people with liberal arts degrees. Ask your student to look into hands-on jobs for which he might be suited, like construction, carpentry, technician work and more. States often have initiatives to hire more people for blue collar work, so your student is likely to spend less on schooling and training and earn more by the time she starts work than her peers attending liberal arts colleges.

Look Into Internships Instead of Summer Jobs

A lot of young adults want summer jobs to earn some money between semesters. Instead of flipping burgers in a job that doesn’t mean much to her future career path, she should look into paid apprenticeships for jobs that interest her. Apprenticeships look stellar on any resume, and unlike internships, they usually pay for the student’s time. Some career paths even require a year or two of apprenticeship before a worker can become a full-time specialist on his own. Apprenticeships are the perfect opportunity for the young adult who’s unsure about his career path to get a feel for a diverse selection of careers.

One of the best things about pursuing a job in a field like construction is that training involves hands-on experience so a student can get a feel for the job. If she discovers it’s not for her or there’s something else – like engineering or electrician work, for example – she prefers, she won’t have wasted four to eight years in a liberal arts college program.

Boots and Summer

The summer has finally come. I have been waiting for this time for many months. The reason I like summer so much is that it allows me to finally spend some time outdoors. I spend some time outdoors in winter or spring, but when it rains, I prefer to stay at home. For many of us, summer means a season of spending some time outdoors for any reason. Even in the summer, you should have strong and durable boots that will be able to protect your feet from water or even injuries. I remember walking on snow one summer after climbing a mountain peak. Were it not for my boots, I would probably be soaking wet.

If you do not know where to get your hands on quality boots, look for example at those Elis western boots for men. They have been around for a long time and they offer excellent customer service that can help you make the best choice when it comes to your boots or shoes.