When ‘reminding your spouse repeatedly about the list that needs to be done around the house’ is now a pointless exercise or when some home repair, maintenance or improvement requires technical expertise, it’s time to call a handyman professional.
Here are 5 tips on making the hiring of a handyman a positive experience for you:
1. Do your Honey-Do List. Do a walk-through of your house, inside and out and make a list of repairs that need to be done. Group the tasks together ie minor and major tasks, one-time work and those that require ‘come-backs’ to complete and a list of materials needed. This way, your handyman will be able to organize the order of tasks, saving time and reducing the cost of repairs.
2. Do a Reality Check. Choosing a handyman from the yellow pages or online is not enough. Talk to friends and neighbors and gather recommendations. Find out the kind of repair or maintenance work that was done for them. Depending on the type and amount of work or home projects that needs to be done in your home, weigh the pros and cons of using a reputable local independent handyman and an established home repair company in terms of affordability, convenience and quality.
3. Ask Questions. Start asking questions. Know what’s included in the price – any hidden fees, trip charges to your home and the hardware store? Will you supply the materials? Is the handyman licensed, insured, bonded? How many years have they been in business? Is the work priced per hour or per job? Free estimates? Ask for references and follow-through with phone calls to check on previous or current customers’ experience with the handyman or home repair service company.
4. Get a Contract in Writing. Protect yourself and your home. Ask for a contract. A trustworthy handyman or service company will provide a written proposal for work to be done. This ensures they will deliver what they have promised to do. You will have peace of mind knowing you are protected against any liability while the handyman is working in your premises. Just remember: Do not pay the full amount until all work has been completed.
5. Keep a Relationship. Great home repair service is hard to find these days so once you have found the dream one, stick with it. You never know when you will be needing a handyman again.
Join the hundreds of home and commercial property owners who have discovered House Doctors of Northern Virginia. They don’t just patch things up. They fix it, change it, repair it or build it! They’re not called House Doctors for nothing! Quick response, excellent craftsmanship, affordable rates and great customer service!
Loudoun Rewards members get 10% discount on any work over $200 and $25 off maintenance contracts.
House Doctors of Northern Virginia
Handyman Professionals/Home Improvement
20771 Ashburn Rd. Ashburn, VA 20147
(703) 286-5388
www.housedoctors.com/santucci/home
hd485@housedoctors.com
Friday, March 7, 2008
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
8 Tips on Stretching Your Dining Dollars
Frugal eat-outs does not always mean looking for cheap eats. One can still enjoy dining in a decent restaurant that will not necessarily put a hole in your pocket.
If you follow these simple tips, you’ll save a lot of money but the dining experience will still be the same:
1. Check restaurants online.
Find good restaurants through your local online community sites and read through food reviews. Most restaurants post their menus in their websites. Check their hours and prices for lunch and dinner and the days and times when they have a special offering.
2. Share your meal.
If you’re familiar with the restaurant’s food portions, share large entrees. China Way in Sterling, specializing in seafood dishes aside from the usual Chinese fare, offers dinner entrees good for 2 persons. La Chocita Grill along Loudoun St. in Leesburg has huge entrée portions which can also be shared. Be sure to ask the restaurant about their policy in terms of sharing meals.
3. Small Portions, Small Prices
Order small portions, just enough to fill you up, not out. The difference in price can cover your drinks. Some restaurants offer 2 size meals. Xuan Saigon in Leesburg offers. Pho Soup in 2 size bowls and Asia Café in Ashburn offers small, combo or large servings all day.
4. Order Starters
Order appetizers instead of an entrée meal if you’re into eating small meals throughout the day. A Taste of Burma in Sterling has 10 meat and vegetable appetizers to choose from. Café Opera in Broadlands has 16 choices of Shanghai, Beijing, Thai, Vietnamese, Hongkong and Indonesian appetizers.
5. Go to a same price lunch & dinner menu restaurant
We already know it’s cheaper to eat out for lunch than dinner but sometimes, after a hard day’s work is when we want to relax and enjoy a good meal with friends and loved ones. There are still some good restaurants offering same price meals for lunch and dinner. Check out Xuan Saigon and La Chocita Grill in Leesburg and A Taste of Burma in Sterling.
6. Get your money’s worth at a lunch buffet
Help yourself to as much food in an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet if you want to get the best value from a meal. (Just eat light at dinnertime. It’s good to avoid large meals at night, anyway.) Banjara Indian Cuisine in Ashburn has a large selection of meat and vegetarian dishes daily from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm; up to 3pm on weekends.
7. Brown-bag it
Don’t be embarrassed about brown-bagging your leftover food even from a fine, classy restaurant. It’s yours. You paid for the whole thing. Enjoy your whole meal and savor each course. You will not only experience good dining but will be able to stretch one meal into two.
8. Get your Loudoun Rewards Savings Card Now and SAVE.
With your Loudoun Rewards Savings Card, you can get the following discounts from these local restaurants:
2 for 1 on 1st visit:
Xuan Saigon, JW Bistro (Oriental Kitchen), Vocelli Pizza, Caribou Coffee, Milwaukee Frozen Custard
50% off 2nd entrée on 1st visit:
Banjara Indian Cuisine, China Way, Countryside Café & Pizzeria, Desi Grocery & Kabob, GG Café, JP’s Deli, Rangoli Indian Restaurant, Spicetown, Spicy Pickle
15% off, on every visit:
La Chocita Grill
10% off, on every visit:
Asia Café, Asia Palace, Courthouse Deli & Grill, Oriental Express, Red, Hot & Blue,
1. Check restaurants online.
Find good restaurants through your local online community sites and read through food reviews. Most restaurants post their menus in their websites. Check their hours and prices for lunch and dinner and the days and times when they have a special offering.
2. Share your meal.
If you’re familiar with the restaurant’s food portions, share large entrees. China Way in Sterling, specializing in seafood dishes aside from the usual Chinese fare, offers dinner entrees good for 2 persons. La Chocita Grill along Loudoun St. in Leesburg has huge entrée portions which can also be shared. Be sure to ask the restaurant about their policy in terms of sharing meals.
3. Small Portions, Small Prices
Order small portions, just enough to fill you up, not out. The difference in price can cover your drinks. Some restaurants offer 2 size meals. Xuan Saigon in Leesburg offers. Pho Soup in 2 size bowls and Asia Café in Ashburn offers small, combo or large servings all day.
4. Order Starters
Order appetizers instead of an entrée meal if you’re into eating small meals throughout the day. A Taste of Burma in Sterling has 10 meat and vegetable appetizers to choose from. Café Opera in Broadlands has 16 choices of Shanghai, Beijing, Thai, Vietnamese, Hongkong and Indonesian appetizers.
5. Go to a same price lunch & dinner menu restaurant
We already know it’s cheaper to eat out for lunch than dinner but sometimes, after a hard day’s work is when we want to relax and enjoy a good meal with friends and loved ones. There are still some good restaurants offering same price meals for lunch and dinner. Check out Xuan Saigon and La Chocita Grill in Leesburg and A Taste of Burma in Sterling.
6. Get your money’s worth at a lunch buffet
Help yourself to as much food in an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet if you want to get the best value from a meal. (Just eat light at dinnertime. It’s good to avoid large meals at night, anyway.) Banjara Indian Cuisine in Ashburn has a large selection of meat and vegetarian dishes daily from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm; up to 3pm on weekends.
7. Brown-bag it
Don’t be embarrassed about brown-bagging your leftover food even from a fine, classy restaurant. It’s yours. You paid for the whole thing. Enjoy your whole meal and savor each course. You will not only experience good dining but will be able to stretch one meal into two.
8. Get your Loudoun Rewards Savings Card Now and SAVE.
With your Loudoun Rewards Savings Card, you can get the following discounts from these local restaurants:
2 for 1 on 1st visit:
Xuan Saigon, JW Bistro (Oriental Kitchen), Vocelli Pizza, Caribou Coffee, Milwaukee Frozen Custard
50% off 2nd entrée on 1st visit:
Banjara Indian Cuisine, China Way, Countryside Café & Pizzeria, Desi Grocery & Kabob, GG Café, JP’s Deli, Rangoli Indian Restaurant, Spicetown, Spicy Pickle
15% off, on every visit:
La Chocita Grill
10% off, on every visit:
Asia Café, Asia Palace, Courthouse Deli & Grill, Oriental Express, Red, Hot & Blue,
Robek’s Fruit Smoothies & Healthy Eats, Xuan Saigon, JW Bistro (Oriental Kitchen), Vocelli Pizza, Caribou Coffee, Milwaukee Frozen Custard, Panda West, Banjara Indian Cuisine, China Way, Countryside Café & Pizzeria, Desi Grocery & Kabob, GG Café, Rangoli Indian Restaurant, Spicetown, Spicy Pickle
FREE food items or drinks, on every visit:
A Taste of Burma, Baskin-Robbins, Café Opera, Panda West, RJ’s Deli & Store, JP’s Deli
FREE food items or drinks, on every visit:
A Taste of Burma, Baskin-Robbins, Café Opera, Panda West, RJ’s Deli & Store, JP’s Deli
Sunday, January 6, 2008
10 Fundraising Tips
Brought to you by Loudoun Rewards Savings Club
1. Create your mission statement. Describe exactly who or what will benefit from your event. Include a brief description of the organization's needs, and explain how a fundraising event will help meet them.
1. Create your mission statement. Describe exactly who or what will benefit from your event. Include a brief description of the organization's needs, and explain how a fundraising event will help meet them.
2. Set definite goals. Decide how much money is needed and how long it will take to raise the needed funds. Create a schedule and stick to it. Setting clear dates and a deadline to close will create a sense of urgency and motivate your group to sell more in a shorter period of time.
3. Get the right people to do it. The best people to do a fundraising drive are charming, friendly, outgoing and sincere & passionate about the cause. They never get tired of making new friends and inspiring potential donors to give to their cause.
4. Select your target well. Find the right place to fundraise that will be appropriate for the activity you are planning. Choose a date and time that will have a big traffic flow targeting the right kind of crowd who will believe in your need.
5. Get help from family and friends. If you use sponsorship forms, get your loved ones to sign on first. Have them donate more to set the bar for others to follow. If prospects see the previous donors gave so much, they’re more likely to give the same, if not more.
6. Cash only. As much as possible, get people to give you money instantly. And bring change with you in case they don’t have any.
7. Use Media and Technology. Write a short piece about your activity. Utilize your website, blog and free community postings in other sites and invite your patrons to your activity or event. Contact the community calendar editors of local papers to get your event listed for free and gain more exposure.
8. Keep track of the paperwork. Wherever forms and orders are involved, keep an eye on it to make sure it’s all organized and well-coordinated.
9. Get your pet to help. If you’ve ever taken your pet out on activities, you’ll know how positively people respond to animals. Get your pet dog involved in your fundraising activity. You’d be surprised at how quickly people will come up to you and be friendly, thanks to your companion!
10. Launch a savings card fundraiser. If you live in Loudoun County, Virginia, sell the Loudoun Rewards Savings Cards and make up to $15 per savings card sold! Packed with discounts from over 100 local merchants, cardholders may obtain 10% to 50% off on everything from restaurants to auto repair, beauty shops, home & business services and more! It’s a win-win situation for you and your supporters. They save money while supporting your cause!
The Loudoun Rewards Savings Card & Guidebook is the ideal fundraising product. It can be sold by support groups for the underprivileged, animal rescue & rehabilitation centers, faith-based missions, health awareness campaign and natural calamity assistance groups. You can also sell the savings cards & guidebooks to raise funds for sports groups like baseball, basketball, soccer and hockey, or to gather funds for PTAs, environmental groups, moms’ clubs, veterans groups and others.
The Loudoun Rewards Savings Card & Guidebook is the ideal fundraising product. It can be sold by support groups for the underprivileged, animal rescue & rehabilitation centers, faith-based missions, health awareness campaign and natural calamity assistance groups. You can also sell the savings cards & guidebooks to raise funds for sports groups like baseball, basketball, soccer and hockey, or to gather funds for PTAs, environmental groups, moms’ clubs, veterans groups and others.
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