Newseed Advisors

Solar Energy: Why It’s Good For You and Your Budget

Solar Energy is one of the underrated kinds of energy all around the world. A lot of people still prefer to get their energies from coal since it is more convenient considering all you have to do is to pay for the electric companies, and they will do the job for you. However, what a lot of people do not know is that solar energy is good for the body and the budget.

Sure, starting up your solar panels may be a bit expensive, but in the long run, you will see how big it can save you since you will have to pay a lesser amount to electricity as compared to when getting your energy from electric companies. It can even completely cut off your expenses in electricity especially if you have enough storage with you during the night and during times where the primary source of energy which is the sun, is not present.

This can happen during times of storm, typhoon or even extended periods of rain. But outside of these times, you are certain you will have enough storage of energy for your everyday use. This means that instead of spending your money on electric bills every month, you can instead use the money for other things such as food or pleasure like new clothes, shoes or ever to travel to other parts of your country or even the world. It may only look expensive at first, but you will surely have bigger savings on this kind of energy in the long run.

Also, solar energy is good for your health because you are contributing to the lesser usage of electricity take from coals. As you may know, coals are being dug underground and undergo a long process to be converted to energy which includes burning these coals that has a negative effect on the environment. Digging these coals alone is already bad for the environment, much more the burning of these materials. Energies taken from coals emits too much carbon dioxide which is one of environment’s enemy.

Carbon dioxide is essential for living, but the earth needs only enough of it. If we produce too much carbon dioxide, we are contributing to the destruction of nature. Whereas solar energies emit almost no carbon dioxide. If you have solar energy, you are not destroying the environment. Because you are using a renewable source of energy, you will not have to worry about thinking whether you will have enough source to sustain your entire life. As long as the sun shines, you will surely have a source to keep your appliances at home working.

There are much more benefits to having solar energy at home. These are only 2 of the major advantages you can get. So as early as now, you should start thinking about investing in a good source of energy which comes from the sun. It may be costly, but it is all worth it.

Identifying And Controlling Termites: How It’s Done

If termite damage worries you, you’re not alone. Every year, termites cause billions in structural damage, and property owners bear that brunt. This guide focuses on how homeowners can identify and protect their humble abodes from termites. The guide is courtesy of a locally based company, Precision Building and Pest Inspections who service multiple regions around Adelaide. Their Gawler page and Precision Facebook page contain more details.

How to Know If You Have Termites

Most people aren’t aware they have termites ‘til they see a swarm or find damage. Watch out for these signs:

1. Mud tubes: Small tunnels constructed from wood snake through ceilings, on the porch, on a tree trunk, or the base of stairs.
2. Holes: Termites drill many tiny holes in the wood.
3. Termite droppings: Something that looks like sawdust on the floor may be droppings from dry-wood termites.
4. Fissures on wood: Since termites eat into the wood, check to see if the wood is hollow by puncturing or tapping it.
5. Broken wings: These come from swarmers (flying termites), but don’t mean the nest’s inside your house.
6. Common termite types include the native subterranean, small dry-wood, and invasive Formosan.

Prevent Termite Infestation

Use a concrete foundation during construction and leave a space between the wood and soil. Cover exposed wood surfaces with a metal barrier or sealant. After construction, keep the earth around the foundation arid through proper drainage. Reduce openings that give termites access to your building (filling cracks in the wall and foundation with caulk, grout or cement). Fix leaks immediately and unclog vents. Don’t pile firewood or plant trees and shrubs near the house. Inspect periodically to protect against termite colonies.

Types of Termite Treatments

Non-chemical treatments include a physical barrier (incorporated during construction); sand and steel mesh; and biological control agents (fungi and nematodes). Pesticides, also known as termiticides, are used to treat or prevent termite infestation. Termiticide application is best left to a trained pest controller. Approved treatments include termite baits, wood treatments, liquid soil-applied termiticides, and building materials saturated with termiticides. Termite baits reduce the use of insecticides and their impact on nature and health.

Are Pesticides Safe

Many termiticides are toxic, making it essential to follow label instructions. Pest management experts are experienced and equipped, which maximises effectiveness and minimises risks.

Handling Termite Infestation

Here’s a short but handy guide for safe and effective termite control.

1. Choose a pest controller carefully

Any firm dealing with termites must be licensed. Ask to see their license and call your local pesticide regulatory agency if you have any concerns. For more tips on how to choose a company that’ll do an impressive job, read this guide.

2. Read the label of the pesticide product

The label provides information on potential risks and tells you how to use the product. Don’t apply the pesticide if the label lacks directions to protect the structure and control termites.

3. Know how soon you can reoccupy the treated residence

This varies by product and is indicated on the label. Make sure the applicator tells you when you’re allowed to re-enter the building.

Termites are incredibly frustrating and terrorising. Some are easy to detect, others are well hidden. Finding termites before they can wreak havoc on your property isn’t as stressful and expensive as eliminating them and repairing their damage.

Tips From Industry-leading Electrical Companies

Want to save on energy bills and stay safe around electricity? This guide is it!

Be Smart When It Comes To Storms

Make sure you equip yourself with surge protectors during a storm that can affect you. Surge protectors don’t protect everything but minimise damage to high-end electrical equipment.

Keep Your Eyes Peeled in Older Homes

If you dwell in an older home, be on the alert. During wet weather, water can seep into electrical components, tripping safety switches.

Be Switched on When It’s Maintenance Time

Let an electrician check your switchboards to make sure they’re up to current standards. That’s if your home is way old.

Heat Your Home Effectively

For effective home heating, consider a ducted split system. In cold areas, slab heating is fine. Ducted split systems are efficient for regions with unpredictable weather patterns and homes that need instant heat.

LED Lighting Is Massive

With LED, you get over 50,000 light hours. LED is cheap to run, easy to maintain, your electricity goes down and bugs don’t get in. In the last year, LED has dropped in price, so it’s really affordable.

Think Through Your Lighting Options

A light colour temperature is ideal for lighting your home. Some people prefer warm whites, others like cool tones. Cool gives ample light, while warm is homey and inviting. Either way, installing a dimmer lets you regulate the amount of light in your place.

Signs of Wacky Wiring

If your lights go dim or flicker a lot, if there’s a strange burning smell when running appliances, and if your fuse blows without any clear cause, you need new wiring. An electrician will spot such faults straight away. One tell-tale sign that copper is disintegrating is green slime on wires.

Never Do Electrical Work Yourself

DO NOT DIY. Working with electricity can kill you or void the warranty on your appliances if something unfortunate happens. Only change light bulbs. Everything else needs the expertise of an electrician. Locating electrical contractors who can manage the work is crucial to keep things safe in your home.

Turn Off Every Switch

An appliance that’s plugged into a socket – and not running – will not use electricity even if the socket’s switch is flicked to ‘ON’. The appliance will be an energy hog if there’s standby power or an internal clock.

Bargains Aren’t the Best

Cheap fixtures are cheap because they’re not made properly or up to standard. They normally melt or become brittle when heat is supplied. This causes a fault, which is really dangerous. Cheap isn’t safe, so invest your bucks in quality fittings.

High electricity bills? Here are 10 tips to keep them down.

1. Close curtains and shut doors or use shadings like canvas awnings or external blinds to block sunlight
2. Turn coolers and heaters off when you go to bed or leave the room
3. Wash clothes in cold water
4. Run your appliances efficiently
5. Insulate your attic
6. Use energy-efficient light bulbs
7. Compare energy retailers
8. Improve your home’s energy efficiency
9. Set your thermostat between 18 and 25^oC
10. Save energy in the kitchen: Use a microwave instead of an electric oven and make use of your dishwasher’s economy cycle

Tips to Drastically Step Up your Aerial Photography

Before you power up your drone and start looking for picture-perfect locations, here are drone photography tips and tricks.

Fly in ATTI Mode

On occasions, a drone automatically switches to ATTI mode when the GPS signal is lost. This can be quite alarming if the ground-station announces the error accompanied by warning beeps. In ATTI mode, you can fly the drone longer, faster and unaided by GPS.

Make Something Out of Nothing

When flying over a monotonous landscape, look for something that is striking but out of place. Make this the image subject and place it in the 3×3 grid. In post-processing, accentuate the colours to increase their presence in a final abstract image.

Just Fly Your Drone

A scene or object may look stunning from the air but not great at ground level. Most landscapes and structures are well-designed. They have pleasing aesthetic features or strong geometric patterns and shapes. The best shots are taken when you think there is nothing worth photographing.

Pan with the Drone

By current standards, many camera drones have a low megapixel count compared to their CSC and DSLR counterparts. This results in a loss of detail and limits the size of your images. One solution is flying over your subject in a pattern and taking a series of shots. Touch up your pics using a program like Adobe Lightroom.

Think Ahead

Despite detailed weather reports, when you get to a location, the conditions may not be what you expected. But that should not put you off. Use the dodge-and-burn tool to add shade and light to create a mood. Adding a vignette to the frame will create a sense of enclosure.

Pay Attention to Forecast

Make use of UAV Forecast to fly your drone safely and prepare yourself for a shoot. The online tool shows airports, restricted areas, weather forecasts, visible GPS satellites, and the Kp index. As for the Kp index, anything below or at 3 or 4 is safe for flying. Thanks for the expert tip from Airborne Photography who are professionals at capturing drone photography. You can see more of their spectacular work at their Facebook.

Use the Thirds Grid Overlay

With low megapixel sensors, get the composition right to avoid unnecessary cropping. You will lose precious pixels if you correct the composition by rotating and cropping the image in post-processing. If your ground-station app shows the thirds grid, use this in your composition. An overlay grid is another essential tool for composing your shots.

Scout for New Locations

Finding new locations to shoot can be tricky when using a UAV as there are restrictions that limit where you can hover. Using Google Maps can help you locate interesting scenery for stunning photography. Flying legally and safely makes droning a socially acceptable hobby.

Keep the ISO at 100

At high ISO speeds, small sensors do not perform well. An ISO above 100 does introduce unwanted noise. Take shots in auto mode, but go manual when the ISO starts to increase. In GPS mode, drones can be remarkably stable. For a sharp motion-free image in light wind conditions, use an ISO of 100 and a shutter speed of 1/6 sec.

Wedding Videography Habits You Shouldn’t Entertain

Ah, wedding videographers! We appreciate their art and skill – and love the style and vibe of their videos. But it makes us sad to see pathetic wedding videos on YouTube and social media. That’s why we’ve composed this blog. Avoid wedding fails and shitty videographers in 7 ways.

Missing In Action

While booking a videographer, ask questions about their workflow and business practices. Will you have meetings before the wedding? How long do they take to deliver the wedding video? When and how will they be contacting you? Honest and open communication is mandatory. If the videographer skips meetings or drops calls, hire someone else.

Guest Rather Than Vendor

Professionalism is a virtue. A videographer who’s more of a party crasher than an expert filmmaker should be thrown out of the venue. While shooting a wedding video, no videographer should drink too much wine or hop on the dance floor. This profession requires attention to detail and awareness of events. Instead of partying, videographers should bust their butt doing what they’ve been paid to do. Come mealtime, don’t serve alcohol to the wedding professional. “Drunken masters” don’t exist.

No Understanding

Your wedding is on a downward spiral if you’re not on the same page. Before the big day, tell your videographer what you expect. The videographer should follow your lead – do what you want to the best standard. There’s no need to pay someone who’s ignorant and inconsiderate. You’re looking for an expert who’s eager to make your wedding remarkable. Find out if you share a similar outlook. And make sure you’re comfortable with the video they’ll take.

Holier Than Thou

There’s a degree of discretion and humility that’s essential in a good videographer. You and your videographer should team up. If one of you is hard-headed, the project won’t be successful. To find a winning, professional wedding videographer in Adelaide, check online reviews and contact other couples. Recommendations from other vendors make your search easy. Interview the candidates to see if there’s chemistry between you two.

Mean Spirited

Don’t hire a bastard. Certain videographers are so rude and cruel. On the wedding day, they’ll disrespect your parents and abuse your guests. You want someone who’s jovial and friendly – not sad and despicable. Work with someone who has your best interests in mind. Only then may you get an awesome video in time and on budget.

Poor Skills

Wedding videography isn’t cheap. So aim to get value for your money. Raw footage or shoddy editing is unacceptable. Go for quality because it’s your big day and you paid handsomely. Don’t settle for less.

Bad Deals

Many couples fall for “wedding videography deals”. They’re quick to book and work with a videographer who offers specials or discounts. What they don’t know is – some vendors are too desperate and they’d do anything (slashing prices or over discounting) to stay in business. Never hire a videographer based on deals. Instead, look for someone who provides the level of service you deserve. Commitment to customer satisfaction is a plus.

Find a Good Mobile Car Detailer

Whether you need a full car detail or a mobile car wash, you have to hire a professional like Duco Magic Car Detailing. Pros can service your coupé without damaging it. However, finding a good detailer is not easy. As you really want to protect your car and make it look new, we’ve got you covered.

First of all, let’s unveil why it’s difficult to find a good auto detailer: Your car and needs are unique, every detailer has different techniques and supplies, and there are many non-insured and non-legit detailers. Worst of all, in some states, insurance and licence numbers aren’t necessary.

Now that mobile car detailers are all over the place, who’s the pick of the bunch? Our blog can be useful.

Do Some Homework

Think you know all there is to know about car detailing – what it is, how it’s done, its benefits, etc.? It’s worth 40 minutes of research before paying $400 for your car. Read Yelp and Google reviews to assess the quality and competence of a detailer. Pay attention to the compliments and criticisms. And differentiate fake comments from legit ones.

Get Recommendations

Word-of-mouth and referrals make finding a reliable detailer easy as pie. As a car owner, you already know the chemicals, techniques and equipment needed to wash a vehicle. But don’t attempt anything. To minimize risk, call someone who’s satisfied your peers.

Process and Products

Waterless supplies and eco-friendly cleaners are ideal. It’s an added advantage if the detailing company uses “fresh” and “green” materials. These come at a higher price, but your sedan benefits.

Pros vs. Cons

Auto detailers are experts when it comes to washing cars and applying wax. This protects your car from sun damage and minor scratches. However, not every detailer is a maven. Most of them can clean your car, but not everyone can give your ride a premium finish. You want someone who knows how to use polish and do a clay bar treatment.

Learn the Practice

Ask what the process entails. A good detailer is one who guides you and advises you. Special areas to cover include grime removal, wax application, paint protection and engine cleaning. Besides explaining and demonstrating the process, a detailer should answer all your questions. Tell you the benefits of auto detailing. And show you how to take care of your car.

Best Service

Your car needs expert care. A newbie can’t match the work a veteran does. Beginners in this industry have the necessary equipment and knowledge, but their expertise is low since they’re just starting out. A skilful detailer, who has detailed multiple cars, including ones like yours, is the real deal. If you have an expensive car, choose a premium service.

Call References

Past customers can tell you whether the detailer is adept or inept. Once you get the contacts of at least three customers, call them and talk about their car detailing experiences. Stay away from a detailer whose previous clients are disgruntled.

That’s what it takes to find a good mobile detailer. Now give your ride the love it needs!

Looking For a Good Plumber? We’ve Made Things Easier for You

Locating a good plumber can be difficult. The good ones, who treasure their customers and value their work, are in high demand. Sadly, some service providers want to trick you out of your hard-earned money. Don’t panic, though. This guide will help you avoid that.

Licensure

Make sure they possess a plumbing license. If they have one, check whether it’s valid and current. A license allows plumbers to work in a certain area. Full insurance is also mandatory. It protects you and your neighbours’ property in the event of damage.

References

Get at least three references. Call them and ask if the plumbing work was impressive. Talking to previous customers can be challenging for some. But there are other ways to gauge a plumber’s work. Check previous projects, read online reviews and visit their website.

Experience

Ask how long they have been in business. The longer they have been plumbing, the more experienced they are. Reputable companies last and they won’t disappear on you. This is not the case with disreputable firms. They vanish before the work ends or keep relocating in order to escape the wrath of past clients.

Quotes

Acquire several bids for the job and make sure you’re comparing apples to apples. Companies that offer the lowest price don’t care about quality. Their work is not long-lasting and it costs a lot to repair. Probe the company that’s more expensive. Know why they charge at that level and determine whether they offer more value for your money.

Warranty

Inquire about their guarantee. Is it limited or money back? Is it written in the quote? Plumbers, who are confident of their work, put their money where their mouth is.

Pricing

Beware of contractors who give an estimate over the phone. To get it precise and 100% right, a plumber should first inspect your drains or pipes. Once they identify the problem and how to fix it, they should prepare an accurate quote and hand it over to you. Obtain a comprehensive quote that shows what you will pay and what will be done.

Referrals

Ask close friends and neighbours for plumbing recommendations. These are people who you trust. Their referrals will lead you to a good plumber. Approach friends, relatives or colleagues who have recently installed or repaired plumbing fixtures. If their plumber did an excellent job, you too will benefit from their services. One plumber that is getting a good wrap around town, is DCI Plumbing.

Experts

If you’ve worked with another professional – a roofer, an electrician or an AC technician –and had a good experience, ask them for a referral. If they are veterans in the industry, chances are, they have several contacts. When you contact the plumber, let them know who referred you. They may give you a discount.

Size

Small business plumbers are more affordable. However, they are inexperienced, because they are one man operations that are just starting out. Large companies are expensive but they have more employees and greater resources. Their workers have good training and solid equipment. Go big if you want quality. Go small if you are cash-strapped.

Tips to double your gift box deals

For gift stores awaiting the holidays, gift boxes are a significant bonus. Each year, consumers spend millions of dollars on gift boxes. To command the lion’s share of this revenue, your marketing game has to be on fleek. Besides that, what you offer has to stand out. Want to snatch a sizable chunk of the gift market this season? Our tips are handy.

Clean Up Your Website

Not everyone buys a gift box online. But most people browse the web for gift packages and ideas. That’s a chance for your business to shine. Refresh your website and optimise it for local search. Remember, simple websites are the best. If there are many ads on your site, get rid of them immediately. These website extras are deterrents and often increase your bounce rate (see Bundle & Twine in Adelaide).

Create a Campaign

People have to know that you sell gift boxes. You’re out of business if no one is aware of your trade. Using signage is the easiest way to create awareness. To grab attention, put up as many signs as you can. Numerous signs are informational and noticeable, not intrusive or offensive. Apart from signs, use stands and boards to direct people to your store. If you’re in a neighbourhood or location with lots of foot traffic, erect signs outside your house or shop. This gives passers-by a reason to visit your stall.

Digital Marketing

A big part of your campaign involves the internet. These days, no campaign can succeed without a website, email marketing and social media. When someone visits your website, if your offer isn’t the first thing they see, you’ve lost a potential customer. Around the holidays, your homepage has to feature your gift box specials. Do the same for your email list and social media pages.

Provide Promotions

Give customers a reason to buy your gift boxes. Through various promotions, you can draw clients and increase sales. Everybody wants a deal, whether it’s specials or discounts. Run “buy-one-get-one-free” specials during the holidays. Another option is offering a voucher for every purchase. What you should avoid is over-discounting. And when you offer promotions, make sure your cash flow can handle redemption rates. If you’re new to promotions, start small as you test the waters.

Build Your Lists

Aim for high, sparkly sales. Do so with an email list. Your customers are your best salespeople. They bring in referrals and talk about your products. Add regular and loyal clients to your email list. Not everyone likes to share their email address. Offer incentives to change their mind. Don’t send too many emails about sales or promotions. Such emails bombard your clients and turn them off. If your customer base is small, 15 emails a year are enough. Email marketing is about giving people value. This means sharing useful information, fun facts and gift ideas. Spammy emails always end up in the trash folder.

Doing what we’ve pointed out, puts your customers in the mindset to buy gift baskets. Anticipate a sales burst and business boom!

How to find the best builder for your new house

A house is not just a place to live. It’s also an investment. Therefore, when building a new house, consider putting up a structure that you’re happy living in, and that fetches you good money if you decide to rent or sell. With the help of an expert builders Adelaide, you can build a “liveable” and “profitable” home. But how and where do you find the best builder? Walking from one building company to another as you compare prices is an option – but a tedious one. To make things easier for you, we’ve compiled this comprehensive guide.

Identify your needs

What’s your dream home? Is it a mansion, townhouse or a condo? Whichever type of house you’re aspiring to build, make sure it matches your budget.

Make a list

Once you’ve thought about the kind of house you want, you can generate a list of possible builders.

Contact the local Master Builders Association or visit their website. Obtain a list of participant builders – preferably those who build houses in your area.

Look for projects and builders in the real estate segment of your local newspaper. Reading the articles and looking through the adverts can help you identify local builders, the types of homes they build and the prices they charge. Create a list of builders who construct the kind of home you want within your budget.

Real estate agents can also help you in your hunt.

Ask relatives and friends for recommendations. Ask them for contacts of colleagues who have just had a great experience with a builder. And ask about builders they’ve worked with directly.

Do your homework

Now that you have a list of prospective builders, the next step is asking lots of questions. Interview both the builders and homeowners.

Ask the builders about references, experience, floor plans, warranties, costs and timelines. Make sure you get answers to all your questions.

Then, visit the builder’s recently built homes. Weekends are ideal, as most owners are outside doing errands or chores. Introduce yourself and initiate a conversation. Talk to several people to get different opinions. The more folks you speak with, the more details you get about a certain builder.

Some questions to ask homeowners include: Are you content with your house? If you had issues, were they fixed properly and promptly? Would you construct another house using this builder?

If the owners are hostile, look at their houses from a distance to see if they’re visually appealing. Alternatively, visit the builder’s construction site. Inspect the unfinished homes. Focus on designs, features and finishes.

Record the information you get from homeowners and builders and your personal impressions concerning specific homes and builders.

Shop for value and quality

Look at new houses whenever you can. Open houses and home shows hosted by builders offer an opportunity to check out homes. See both unfurnished and furnished model homes to get design ideas.

When inspecting a house, check the quality of paint, cabinetry, trim work and carpeting. Ask the builder a lot of questions and get as many details as possible.

How to find the best naturopath for weight loss

How has your weight loss journey been like? Probably you’ve used weight loss supplements, enrolled in a gym, or even tried to starve yourself. Yet, after stuffing your gut with pills, breaking a sweat in the gym and going on “hunger strike”, you’re still big and heavy – no offence though.

The vast majority of personal trainers and fitness experts want to help you lose weight. But given the demanding nature and complexity of obesity, a conventional trainer alone may not have the necessary knowledge, experience, and time to help piece things together. As all other professionals and treatments have attained no significant results, it’s best to try naturopathic treatment.

Naturopaths are all-around experts. They specialise in alternative treatments. So instead of prescribing weight loss drugs, they’ll suggest diets, exercises and herbs that are effective in slimming. Finding a naturopath who has expertise in the area you require is an important health decision. You have to do some research, seek advice, and do some screening to find the right physician.

Interview potential doctors

Schedule a meeting with the naturopath. Some practitioners offer a free consultation, like Alex Fisher Health, a naturopath in Adelaide. Use this opportunity to know them. However, many of the best naturopaths are very busy. They are too held up to turn up for informal meetings. So you’ll have to “interview” them during regular appointments. In the consultation with your prospective doctor, look for different characteristics. For starters, the naturopath should be patient, accommodating, open to discussion, and a good listener. Go with someone who you’re comfortable with and confident of.

Ask for advice

Sometimes relying on the experience of others helps. Ask friends, relatives and colleagues if they can recommend a naturopath. Look for recommendations from people with the same condition as yours. Seek out both positive and negative experiences. Ask for several names too, because not every good medic is necessarily right for you. Also, consider visiting a pharmacy that formulates alternative or natural medicines. Ask the pharmacist to recommend a doctor who treats your condition.

Dollars and sense

Healthcare can be expensive, especially if you’re not insured. As your health is your life, it’s worth investing in a good doctor, effective treatments, and appropriate testing. That way, you’ll feel better and live a healthier life. If you don’t have a health insurance, you’ll have to make cash payments. Most naturopaths offer a discount for cash-paying or uninsured patients. It’s a plus if your medic offers a similar arrangement.

License and certification

Licensed and certified naturopaths adhere to strict guidelines and regulations. They are also conversant with the latest developments in naturopathy. Since they’re up-to-date, educated and trained, they ensure safety and best practices. Seek out professionals who have a license and certification.

Search the internet

Look for naturopaths who treat the condition you have. Many good practitioners write about their areas of expertise and present their ideas in blogs or books. Find a naturopath who has a clinic near you.

Remember, your health is your responsibility. Even if you find a great naturopath, you should be willing to put in work on your weight loss journey.