Best Quality Services Singapore

Hiring an electrician is more than just looking for a contractor who can do the job for an affordable price—it’s about doing the job efficiently and safely, too. Since electricity is a risky home improvement project, hiring someone who can do electrical tweaks isn’t enough. Good credentials, licensure, insurance and experience are all necessary to guarantee the safety of your property’s electrical works.

So, before letting someone in to your home and tackle your electrical needs, give yourself a chance to know the contractor better and see if he’s a good suit to the home works you need to get done. Here are the essential questions to ask an electrician services before hiring them.

1. Are you licensed?
First and foremost, before diving into more electoral-related questions, ask your prospect contractor whether they are licensed or not. If the electrician works for a company, ask about the company’s background and permit. This is also the best time to inquire about experiences, the kind of electrical works they have tackled and how long the company has been in the business.

2. Do you have insurance?
An insured electrician is a safe electrician. In case of an accident during a repair, renovation or an installation, the company he’s working for is responsible for the monetary benefits of the a good electrician who gets hurt on the process of doing the job. Also, as a consumer, you are protected in case of damage to property or thefts that may occur while the project in ongoing.

3. Do you offer an hourly rate?
All professional electricians in Singapore work at a different pace. Oftentimes, one professional works a lot faster than the other. Therefore, when you charge by the hour, you’re paying a different price depending on how much time it will take for a contractor to finish the job. On the contrary, sometimes the quickest job isn’t necessarily the best. When you do not charge hourly, you’ll be able to take time to ensure the quality of the job. Regardless of how long the work takes, you’ll be paying the same price to your contractor.

4. What is your area of specialization?
Knowing your prospect electrician’s expertise can help avoid problems and pitfalls with specific electrical works. For example, if an electrician is a master of maintenance and repair, they may not perform efficiently for renovation and installation works. Hiring the right expert for your particular project is of utmost importance when it comes to ensuring of getting the job right.

5. Do I need a permit? Who will obtain it?
A licensed electrician may not directly disclose the information whether or not they need to secure a permit from the local authorities. But although it is standard for electricians to secure permits, it’s still important for you to ask your prospect contractor this question and do a bit of research to know exactly what permits are necessary before agreeing on any contract.

6. What guarantees and warranties you offer?
A good electrician always provides some sort of guarantee and/or warranty on the work he performs. Most contractors in Singapore offer a warranty period that will allow you to contact them anytime in case of problems encountered in the completed job. Also, along with warranties of work, warranties of materials should be addressed as well. So if a problem occurs, repairs are fast and hassle-free because you know what’s covered and what’s not in your agreement.

7. Do I need to schedule an appointment every time?
A good electrician should be able to accommodate you as soon as possible and with a specific date whenever you call them. If someone responds with “we’ll be there sometime next week,” this should serve as a red flag. You don’t want to work with someone who cannot provide you with definite schedule. The last thing you would want to hear is “we’ll send you someone next week” in the middle of power outage at your home.

8. What are your additional fees?
Some contractors charge a certain amount to do an estimate. Whether they get any work done or not, showing up at your place will cost you some money. Before hiring an electrician services, ask if they charge for travel costs, trip charges, and service fees when visiting the site to get the project checked and estimated. This way, you’ll be able to avoid additional charges before hiring an electrical expert.

9. Can I see a work in progress?
Depending on the type of your electrical works, it would be helpful to visit your prospect electrician’s current project. Generally, you are looking for evidence of orderliness and methodical installation: neat cabling, clear labelling of circuit breakers, properly installed switch boxes, etc. This will give you an idea of how the contractor does his job and help you predict the possible outcome of your electrical project with him.

Just like a plumber, auto mechanic, and technician, an electrician is an essential member of your household’s maintenance team. As you go through each question, listen how the professional responds to your queries. You want someone who can explain to you clearly the job that needs to be done and who will help you understand the essentials of your electrical system. The electrician you will hire should be the person you can call in case of emergencies and other possible projects you will have in the future.

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The audio-visual equipment can really make or break the atmosphere of an event. There is nothing more annoying and embarrassing as bad audio and system glitches when you have a large number of people in your gathering. Shopping around and getting a good idea on what to expect with a sound system will help you formulate a good plan for your upcoming event. Here are the top things you need to know when considering a PA system rental.

1. Equipment Set-Up Location

Generally, sound systems consist of two parts: the speakers and the sound console. The latter is where you will find the sound mixer, which is the core of the sound system. From the console, you can control the microphone and other equipment you want to play over the speakers.

Depending on your event’s floor layout, you can place the console in one location and the speakers on another. If the two are placed nearby, there’s no problem. However, if the speakers are placed remotely from the console—for instance, the speakers at the front door and the console at the back room—check if the sound system rental company has sufficient length of cables to accommodate the distance.
Plan for the floor layout of your event early, so you’ll know what special AV equipment is necessary. When meeting with a rental company in Singapore, show them your layout and mention the special requirements you need for your AV system.

2. Quality of Equipment

Loud and clear—that’s what your sound system needs to be. Being just loud is insufficient—the sound that comes out from the speakers should be clear as well.

Even if your AV equipment rental from Singapore has enough loudness, the speakers can be so abused that all it produces is muffled noise. This defeats the purpose of sound system rental in the first place. Make sure your rental company maintains their units well and the equipment are not abused from years of use.

3. Set-Up Time

Setting up PA systems is not like setting up tables and chairs for a party. It needs ample amount of time to place every piece of equipment in the right place, set cables and test the system to make sure it’s working properly.

For bigger events, like concerts and music festivals, allocate at least an entire day for equipment set up. For smaller gatherings, like birthdays and company parties, have at least two hours for a basic AV set-up. Also, spare enough time for your rental company to travel to your event location, wherever it may be in Singapore, particularly during peak traffic hours. Pick a PA system rental company that’s notable for arriving on time and experience in setting up sound systems efficiently.

4. Type of Microphone

While all microphones serve the same purpose—to make your voice louder and clearer—not all have the same appearance. Some types are more appropriate for certain situations.

Microphones have two categories: handheld and hands-free. The latter, from the name itself, is held in hand or comes with a microphone stand and can either be wireless or wired. Handheld microphones are generally the easiest and the most flexible to use.

Wired handheld microphones come in a cable that leads to the mixer, while wireless handheld transmits its signal to the mixer via the ‘air,’ such as a radio station. On the other hand, hands-free microphones are wireless and comes in two types: lapel and headset microphones.

Wireless lapel gets clipped-on to the speaker’s clothes, usually on the neckline of the shirt. Increasing in popularity are the wireless headset microphones. Many prefer this type of wireless microphone because they are much easier to use and are less prone to annoying feedback than lapels.

Depending on the nature of your event, specify the type of microphone you need for your AV equipment rental to avoid surprises on the day of your event.

5. PA System For Outdoors

Perhaps, you’re organizing a concert or a music festival. While it is mostly sunny in Singapore, do not underestimate the possible shift of weather that can happen on the day of your event. Without a covered area in the location, a sudden rain will leave hundreds of thousands of dollars of AV equipment soaking wet. You can rent a tent or look for a location with covered area where you can set-up the sound system. A site survey will determine whether your location has a viable covered area for your AV equipment and help you plan on the placement of every piece of equipment.

6. Dry or Wet Rental

Dry sound system rental is when you rent for the equipment alone—no other services operating services. Once the equipment is delivered and installed, it is up to you to operate the system on the event. Usually, for company events, the responsibility is on the IT guy.

Wet rentals, on the other hand, are when the services of the system operator are included. The sound operator will be working with you to operate the system, eliminating the need for you to fiddle with the mixer. Of course, you need to orient the operator how the event runs—while they have the skills, they can’t read minds.

7. Early Reservation

Right after planning for the set-up and equipment to use, look for AV equipment rental right away. While working under pressure sets your drive and makes you more productive, this may not work well for your team and for your event. Not everything is always available in an instant, like PA system rental.

When planning an event, especially during peak seasons, give your AV company at least four to five days of advance notice. They may accommodate your event, but for fancier and special audio-visual requirements and customization, more time is needed. Do not underestimate the number of event organizers who are also looking for good PA system rental, so book early before it’s too late.

These seven important points will make searching for the right AV equipment and AV rental company easier. Working with the right company and securing the right equipment lets you create the best feel and vibe for your event.

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There’s no denying that we love our canine companions—they are playful and adds a little more protection to our home. But along their unflagging loyalty and delightful companionship, dogs often add a little something to your home: odor. While it’s totally tolerable for you, it can be unpleasant to visitors at times. But this doesn’t mean you have to stop having a dog around.

It’s actually not too tough to manage that dog smell, though it takes a bit of extra effort from you. Here are some ways to remove dog odour from your home.

1. Cover-Ups

The easiest method to cover up dog smell is to use air freshening products, which you can easily find in local supermarkets. Although these products cannot serve as a permanent solution, it can temporarily mask the odour.

2. Replace Air Filters

You will need bigger solution to combat broader odour that you can’t target with simple spray. For example, dog orders can cling to air filters, so you might have to replace your old air filters with new ones to get rid most of the smell.

3. Regular Cleaning

Most odor can be eliminated with simple prevention. For this reason, make sure to regularly wash everything that your dog uses. This does not only limit to your pup’s toys, bowls and beddings. If your pet is sleeping in the same bed with you, your blankets, pillows and comforter should be washed and cleaned regularly as well.

4. Regular Vacuum

Dog hair and smell easily build up in carpets. So, the best solution is to make sure that you keep your carpets and rags clean at all times by regularly vacuuming them. In addition to vacuuming, we recommend deep cleaning your rags and carpets at least once every year.

5. Grooming

Other than cleaning your dog’s belongings, your dog should also be given regular baths as well. If you can afford, professional grooming is the best way to keep your dog smelling good. If otherwise, you can use dog shampoo to wash your dog yourself.

6. Artificial Scents

Most of the time, a mild dog odour is just inevitable. If after doing everything mentioned there’s still a hint of dog smell in your home, you might have to go shopping for some new scents in the form of plug-ins, sprays or candles.

It’s quite challenging to keep your home from smelling like a dog. In fact, as long as you have your little Fido with you, you are never going to completely eradicate every trace of his scent. However, this doesn’t mean you have to have foul-smelling home. With a little more work and effort, you will have your home smelling pleasant in no time.

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As much as we try to avoid getting sunburnt by applying sunscreen and using floppy hats and umbrellas, a day of frolic under the sun can result to a crisp end. To get rid of the hideous peelings and soothe sunburnt skin, here are some of our favourite inexpensive and simple remedies.

1. Let It Cool

When you notice that your skin starts to peel, take a cold shower. The cold water helps cool your skin and slows down the peeling process. After showering, dry your skin by gently and carefully patting—not rubbing—it with a soft towel. Rubbing your skin will only spread the peeling and make it more obvious, which you don’t want to happen.

2. Moisturize Your Skin

Once you get out of the shower, apply moisturizing lotion right away. Use on that’s specifically formulated to treat sunburnt skin. Generally, these lotions should contain aloe vera, which helps cool the skin and slow down the peeling and reduce inflammation. You can even use pure aloe vera if you have, and apply it directly to the peeling area of your skin.

3. Drink More Water

After cooling your skin from the outside, it’s time to work from the inside. As what beauty gurus said, healthy skin is well-hydrated skin. When the skin is damaged, moisture and hydration becomes more important. Drink plenty of water to give your skin enough fuel to repair itself. When your skin starts to peel, make sure to drink 10 to 12 glasses of water a day.

4. Avoid Scratching Your Skin

At all costs avoid scratching your skin at this state. You can potentially do permanent damage in the form of scars. If you feel itchy, the best you can do is to apply ice on the itchy area to dull the sensation. Wrap a cube of ice in a piece of soft cloth, and then let it sit in the itchy area. The itch should slowly subside once the skin cools down.

5. Prevent Long-Term Skin Damage

Reduce the itchy feeling due to peeling by taking a bath with colloidal oatmeal, which you can easily find in most pharmacies. To promote healing, prevent scarring and reduce long-term damage, take vitamin C and E supplement. Additionally, apply topical vitamin E cream to enhance the skin healing effects.

Prevention is still the best cure for anything damaging. Before heading out into the sun, plan ahead on how to prevent getting sunburnt. If sunburn and peeling still happens, the key is to frequently moisturize to replenish the skin’s natural moisture.

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To be a healthy and optimally functional, you need to have at least seven hours of sleep every night. It’s important to have enough slumber time as sleep deprivation can lead to a range of problems, from weight gain, to feeling sluggish, to higher risk of accidents. To know whether or not you need more time to snooze, here are a few less-obvious signs you need to watch out for.

1. You are Not as Sharp as Usual

Sleep is important for your brain to fire up all cylinders. Poor quality of sleep can lead to cognitive fogginess. In fact, in a study made in adults across six countries, it was found that those people who had better sleep performed much better on cognitive tests compared to those with poorer Zs. Signs to look for: you’re not as sharp, have difficulty with your motor skills and impaired short-term memory.

2. Sex Doesn’t Sound Exciting to You

Sure, when you’re tired and need to catch up some sleep, you are well aware that the having fun under the sheet is going to come at the cost of precious snooze time. Although in theory, it going to be worth it; in practice, a guy’s libido and testosterone level is much lower without enough rest. The same goes for the ladies: more sleep means better sex drive, less sleep does the opposite.

3. You Keep Getting Sick

Poor immunity can be due to lack of rest. A study suggests that those who sleep less than seven hours a night are three times more prone to catching a cold than those who sleep longer hours. When you are deprived of enough rest, your body’s white blood cells, which fights foreign bodies and infections, are greatly reduced and those remaining are less powerful.

4. Any Food Looks Appetizing

If you find yourself frequently reaching to the vending machine for some chips, cookies or a bar of candy, not enough sleep may be the culprit. When we’re feeling sluggish, we tend to reach for sugary treats for that instant burst of energy. Plus, there’s the tendency that when feeling tired, we don’t make the best judgments—the reason for the frequent drive-thrus on the way home.

It can be tricky as most of these things can be signs of a bunch of different things. However, if you notice any of these after a late-night movie marathon, you should already know why.

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Menstruation is a sensitive subject, because many still see it as taboo. Even today’s modern culture, when commercials of tampons and menstrual pads are freely shown on mainstream TV, there’s still a whole lot of embarrassment surrounding women’s menstrual cycle. Because of this, many women have grown up with grave misconceptions about their menstrual cycle and the things it does—and does not do to the body.

Here are some period myths we often hear on a regular basis that does not form any part of the truth about your menstrual cycle.

1. You can’t get pregnant on your period

Although uncommon, pregnancy can happen even when on your period. Your menstrual cycle can be unpredictable, and ovulation may happen, before, during or after the bleeding, especially if you have irregular cycle—not to mention that a sperm can live up to five days in a woman’s reproductive organ. The best way to avoid unplanned pregnancy is to use a form of contraceptive even during your period.

2. PMS is just all mental symptoms

Those cravings and mood swings you feel before your period arrives are totally normal. 50 to 70 percent of women experience physical and emotional symptoms of PMS five days before their period begins. But apart from mood swings and cravings, symptoms can also range from bloating, feeling of anxiety, changes in appetite, dizziness, tenderness of breasts, and/or pain in the lower abdomen. All these physical and mental symptoms are due to hormonal changes that occur days before your period starts.

3. The period stops when you get into the water

Do not fall into this myth, and get yourself in an embarrassing situation. Your period does not stop or slow down when you’re in the water. It just may not flow outside your body because of the water’s counter pressure. When you’re in the bathtub, your period does not stop—the same thing happens when you’re in a pool. The best you can do is to use a menstrual cup or a tampon when you know you’ll be going swimming.

4. Women should not take a bath while on their period

Perhaps, this was true during the time when showers did not exist yet and families share a tub of water. However, bathing and showering is totally safe during a period, just make sure to clean the tub after draining the water if you opt for a relaxing bath. Showering, washing your hair and bathing do not affect your flow; they just help you to stay clean and feel fresh during your uncomfortable days.

Just because you have your period, it doesn’t mean that you need to stop your life. You can still continue doing your routine, including exercising, taking a bath and having sex, as long as you stay safe and clean all the time.

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Advancing one’s career isn’t all about getting a salary increase or a job promotion. Career advancement entails some investment on your personal growth as well. You should be proactive about taking on a new career path or moving up in your current organization. With that in mind, we listed down some ways on how you can possibly jumpstart your career and get that next promotion.

1. Join Seminars and Training Courses

Showing proficiency in your present job is crucial step for career advancement, but don’t forget that you should also enrol in training courses or seminars that will prepare you for the career advancement that you’ve always wanted. Signing up on the training courses that you need will surely set you apart from your colleagues and ensure that you get your target position.

2. Establish a Reputable Online Image

Since there’s no such thing as privacy in the age of internet, you need to make sure that you delete any social media profile that could make you look an undesirable candidate for a new job or a promotion. Don’t become unsearchable, however, as this will seem suspicious for the people who are looking you up. Remember that a good number of companies in Singapore fired an employee because of a social media post. So be sure to present a social media image that best suits your career path.

3. Learn From a Mentor

Seeking out someone who hasalready achieved the career success you’re aiming for is another way of jumpstarting your career. The information that you get from this person will be invaluable, so make sure that you listen to every piece of advice that they’ll give you. Learning from a mentor increases your chances of succeeding in your chosen career path, and you’ll also get an access to a network of potential employers and colleagues.

4. Ask for an Honest Feedback

Having a supervisor or a colleague point out your weaknesses may not be easy for you, but this is actually one of the best ways to improve and make great use of your weaknesses and strengths. Plus, taking the time to improve yourself might impress your employers enough to help you get the next job promotion available.

5. Read About Your Chosen Career Path

Reading books is the best way to absorb new information that can be put to good use during an interview or your daily tasks. Other than that, reading has also been proven to make people better thinkers – a quality that most employers are looking for. So be sure to read and stay updated about your desired field and job position to easily jumpstart your career.

Jumpstarting your career doesn’t have to be that difficult. Simply putting these tips into action is already enough to create a huge impact on the course of your career path.  Also, if heading over to a new company or work field becomes an option, take advantage of using a reliable smartphone app.

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Of course, it’s a given that you love your parents. But as you get older and start having your own family, it can be quite easy to forget and neglect them. Fortunately, there are some simple but effective ways on how you can show your love for them even as you start moving out of your home. Here’s how you can maintain a healthy and loving relationship with your pops and mom.

1. Spend Quality Time With Them

Instead of simply giving them money and gifts, you should also make sure that you spend some quality time with your parents. There’s something priceless about setting everything aside and enjoying meals and chitchats together – and spending time together allows them to connect with you. So as much as possible, spend a day or two with your parents and make sure that you set that time aside just for them.

2. Show Some Gratitude

Telling your parents that you love them – or even saying a simple ‘thank you’ – can have a positive effect both on your parents and your relationship with them. The best way to do this is to figure out their love language, and express your gratitude by doing something that’s aligned with that language. You’ll be surprised at how thankful they will be for it.

3. Avoid Unnecessary Arguments

Having arguments are unavoidable sometimes, but do your best to avoid having any unnecessary squabbles with your parents. This means biting your tongue when they say something controversial. Also, figure out whether or not you really need to respond. If you do, speak out your opinion in a clear and modest way to avoid starting an emotional argument with them.

4. Honour Them Through Actions and Words

Honouring your parents means speaking well of them, regardless if they’re around or not. It also means treating them with respect by listening to their wisdom and advice, and praising their strengths rather than focusing on their weaknesses. This might not be easy for some, but loving your parents means respecting and honouring them for who they are even if they have different beliefs and opinions from you.

5. Share Details About Your Life With Them

The same with your friends, your parents would also love to be kept in the loop with what’s going on with your life. Even if you don’t think a particular happening is not a big, share it with them. Doing this will help you connect with them, especially if you have different interests. Your parents will want to mourn and celebrate with you, but they won’t be able to do that unless you let them know what’s going on.

Our parents dedicated most of their lives taking care of us so that we can become great and successful people. This is why being an adult shouldn’t change how we love and see our parents. Instead, we should continue loving and embracing them for who they are.

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