This N That – Tips to Save Time/Money
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Greetings!
A couple times each year I like to offer you a bunch of tips and tricks to protect your home, save money, save time or all three.
In this issue, we are going to share some time/money saving/maintenance options for you to consider as we move into summer.
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--Mail
– when we do absentee home checks, invariably there is mail. Our current process is to take photos of the mail, send it to the client and ask what, if anything they want forwarded and then we forward mail on our next visit.
In order to streamline this process you may want to sign up for Informed Delivery by USPS. This free service sends you an email to alert you what will be delivered into your mailbox for that day. Since you will know what is coming, you can proactively alert us that you want something forwarded and then we may be able to do it quicker, in the same week, rather than waiting a week.
Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery
here!
If you are back in Canada and you’ve already signed up for USPS Informed Delivery, but want to know when forwarded packages will arrive, Canada Post allows you to track packages quickly. And, since we always send the tracking information, you may easily check the status of incoming packages or forwarded mail by logging in
here
and entering your tracking number.
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--Landscape
– it is summer no matter what month the calendar says. This week we are averaging 109 degrees! It’s been quite lovely! However, summer is always the time when landscape suffers the most here in the desert.
As you know, we scalp and overseed in Oct/Nov each year so the grass that comes up is that gorgeous emerald green that everyone loves and makes winter in the desert so enjoyable.
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But eventually, Summer temperatures soar and that winter rye grass dies out, leaving the old grass. There will be bald spots, areas that are sunburnt (and thus look like it isn’t being watered properly), dead or scorched plants and droopy leaves.
All but the very hardiest drought resistant plants will fade and even those will too if they are up against a block wall or surrounded by gravel; both of which amplify the heat.
The very worst months here for landscape are August/September so if you visit then please don’t threaten to boot the landscaper. You would look withered, burnt and droopy too if you sat out in 120 degree sun and heat day after day!
Instead, have some patience and comfort knowing that come Winter, everything will return to normal. If, however, you feel your yard and plants are being mistreated, have Executive Errands® take a look. We provide landscape services including remodeling, irrigation support and maintenance.
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--Junk Mail
— do you get tired of the wasted paper in the junk mail that comes every week? We do too! In fact, the floors of our cars are full with these fliers each week after completing our home checks.
It is really easy to stop unwanted mail. Here are several options:
Take control of your mailbox! Limit what arrives to (mostly) important mail!
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--HVAC
– It’s summer! And that means maintaining heating and cooling systems (HVAC) here in the desert is a bit more challenging than in other climates. We have heat extremes (from 120 degrees F all the way down to 32 degrees F) and systems need to work differently under each of those conditions.
In addition, we get a lot of wind which blows sand and dust. We get fires, which spews smoke and ash into the air. And we get extreme heat bearing down on compressors, most of which sit outside.
All of these conditions lead to dirty filters, clogged condensate lines, Freon leaks and capacitors that fail. Clogged condensate lines are one of the leading causes of home flooding too.
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Therefore we recommend servicing your units twice per year.
Servicing your units twice per year allows them to operate at peak efficiency and in optimum condition and will save on electricity costs or (heaven forbid) flood remediation costs.
We always check for AC function during home checks (if the thermostat is set at 85 and it reads more than that, it is not working at all! Or, if we turn it down and it doesn’t cool right away, again, it is not working properly)
Already this spring, we’ve proactively identified several capacitors on the verge of failure so we were able to remove and replace them before the home suffered from a failed AC system and the replacement became an emergency (which always seems to happen on the weekend when technician rates are highest!).
Cost to service HVAC is very affordable ($89/unit) for the benefits a service provides. For most of our clients (those for whom we do the HVAC service) we track service dates and keep their systems maintained on a twice/year schedule.
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By the way, you may want to consider adding a whole house air purifier system. These whole home air purification systems remove allergens and other pollutants from the air as it passes through your HVAC system.
If you haven’t yet had your system(s) serviced in 2020, now is the time to do so. We can do it or we can schedule and provide access for your own maintenance company. Or, if you’d like a quote for a whole home air purifier system, we can do that for you too. Just let us know how we can help.
--Managing your Rewards programs
– So many of us have multiple rewards programs – miles, hotels, car rentals, store discounts and on and on and on. Have you ever thought – wow it would be great to be able to see everything in one place?
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Yeah, me too. Here is a great
article
about doing just that. Note there are two free apps listed that let you track and review your loyalty programs
--Optimizing technology
– If you’re anything like me, you have multiple applications and at least a dozen browser windows open on your computer at any given time. While this is how my multi-tasking mind works, it is not always good for the computer (tablet, laptop, phone).
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For your tablet or phones, be sure to close all applications at least once per day and don’t forget your browser windows! These all consume your battery so closing them requires fewer charging sessions. It also helps protect your devices from hackers.
Likewise, your computer should be hard restarted (shutdown/restart, not just ‘restart’) at least once per week if you have Windows 10 or equivalent or daily if you have a pre-Windows 10 operating system.
Hackers get smarter every day and your computer needs to have a chance to regularly empty caches, remove temporary files and optimize the registry in order to run as efficiently (and quickly) as possible.
And don’t forget your router! Your Internet Service Provider (ISP) regularly updates Internet Protocol (IP) addresses and if your router doesn’t catch it, your connectively can slow way down or even stop.
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This happened to me just last month when my internet started ‘dropping’ several times per day. After finally reaching tech support, it turned out the router was out of sync with a new IP addresses.
They had to do a remote hard reboot to get it corrected but if you are diligent about rebooting the router, you may be able to keep it properly updated without having to call tech support. Besides a faster connection, rebooting your router at a minimum every week or two helps keep them up to date and to helps prevent hackers from installing malware on your system.
Not sure which is the modem (connects to the internet) and which is the router (distributes the internet through your home or office)? Reboot them both.
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If you aren’t running a virus checking program at least once per week, please set a schedule to do so. I like
SpyHunter
*
but anything similar should be fine. You will be amazed at how much malware gets attached to your systems. Most of the time they are browser hijackers – have you ever noticed you search for something and all of a sudden ads for that thing show up constantly?
This is likely a browser hijacker malware – they attach the malware so they can track your shopping habits and then show ad after ad until you either get so sick of them you finally buy or you delete the ad. It’s easier (and more cost effective) to run a virus check.
Please note, most computers now have built in virus protection (I have Windows security) but you can still get malware. Every time I run a scan, I end up with 2-5 malware that get removed. My fiancé rarely runs a cleanup on his computer and the last time we did, he had over 500 malware applications.
The larger number of malware the more difficult it is to remove so please do a regular virus check – and FYI, these too can be automated but set them up for the middle of the night lest you be interrupted in the middle of work or better, pinterest!
Finally be sure to update all software and apps on a regular basis – better, turn on ‘automatic updates’ so that all your programs and operating system stay current. Running old programs is a fast way to hacker interruptions because old software may include vulnerabilities. Even though the software was good when you first downloaded it, hackers figure out ways around it so vulnerabilities develop over time.
Update, reboot, and keep your systems running well and your data safe!
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--Roof inspections
– now is the time to have your roof inspected. Roofs typically last at least 20 years but they are prone to splitting and cracking in heat. Tile roofs hold up better, but even they regularly get cracked or missing tiles.
I know, it hardly ever rains here but the heat is especially hard on roofs – cracks develop around vents and flashing or between shingles/tiles. Flat roofs suffer most in the heat due to how they are constructed and the fact water and debris just ‘sits’ there. Cracks lead to rodents and water intrusion – both of which end up being very costly.
Rodents can wiggle through even the tiniest of openings looking for cool dark attic spaces to have babies and escape the heat. Even if they don’t have babies, I promise you they will leave evidence of their presence – evidence which is unsanitary and unhealthy.
A roof inspection is also affordable. The cost varies based on the size and type of roof but typically runs somewhere around $300-$500. This is way more cost effective then dealing with water or rodents!
••••••••
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Executive Errands® performs every type of home preventative maintenance services as well as technology and audio/visual support. See? Our ability to help you is limitless!
Don’t forget, Executive Errands® is shopping and running errands every day during this pandemic. If you need a mask, let us know and we will make you one. If you would rather not leave your home; please give us a call and we’ll take care of your ‘to do’ list.
Or if you have a neighbor in need, you can always purchase a gift certificate – we’re offering 6 hours for the price of 4 and they can use the time as they need it.
For more information, to set up an account, for preventative maintenance or to purchase a gift certificate, please call us at
760.898.9604
or by
email
.
*Unless otherwise stated, Executive Errands® does not share affiliate links or have any affiliation with companies/websites/applications referenced in our newsletters. Please do your own due diligence before downloading anything or engaging someone to work with you based on information provided herein.
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Thank you for your loyalty and for your valuable time.
Leslie Spoor
Leslie Spoor
Executive Errands®
CL#944447
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Leslie is a consultant, mentor and author helping small business owners around the globe. She is founder and CEO of two successful companies, Concierge Business Solutions® and Executive Errands®. In addition to her wide selection of training videos and webinars, documentation and forms, Leslie also is the creator of a data collections software system, Essential Elements™ and a six lesson program, How to Start Your Own Business with Leslie Spoor©, available on her website. To work with Leslie or for more information, please visit her website or contact her at Lspoor@executive-errands.com
After traveling to Cuba (a beautiful country!), I wrote a travel guide! To download my American in Cuba e-book travel guide, please
click here
.
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