Tricks With Photography
With the advent of mobile cameras, photography has become one of the fastest growing hobbies. You are now just a click away from a moment that can be savored for the rest of your life. With Apps such as Instagram, you can make your pictures look like a professional’s work but what you can’t really achieve that a professional can is – Trick Photography. The spectacular imagery just seems beyond your grasp. Isn’t it..Well good news… Tricks with photography can look very imaginative and stimulating, but is not very technical and heavy on your pocket. It is basically the combination of your creativity and basic tools of a camera. Digital cameras are all automated to aim and shoot. However if you switch to its manual mode, it opens up the gate to innumerable possibilities that can be created from a simple DLSR camera. Simple manipulations with exposure and shutter speed create magical results. Forced perspectives give rise to many incredible pictures which doesn’t need big money to produce such results.• Perspective effects: Perspective photography means cheating with the foreground and background subjects to create some interesting compositions. The merging of both the subjects create some interesting funny pictures for e.g. A little baby playing with the real Eiffel Tower or a man blowing white clouds in the sky from his mouth. High millimeter lenses diminish the depth between the foreground and background forcing the perspective producing flat 2 D imagery. Bokehs are also very popular perspective tricks.• Exposure Techniques: It basically means the exposure to light to the camera sensor while shooting the subject. It is also related to the time the shutter is open. Here the nature of light is very important. Long and short exposures produce different results. Add to that the different shutter speeds, the permutations become endless. A very common and effective effect is the light trail. Light trail happens when you expose it for a longer period and move your light randomly in any direction. The results are fantastic like graphic designs. Here the imagination is the key as the possibilities are infinite.• Locking the Camera: Lock the camera and start clicking various pictures of the subject and different depths and angles. Then with the help of Photoshop, merge the masked layers of the subjects in each shot thus producing Multiplicity effect. Same technique goes with the Levitating Effect, Flying Effect. Again here the options are endless.• HDR and Infra Red Photography: High Dynamic Range photography is the in thing today. The HDR images carry a great range of brightness and contrast levels. One can mix the images of the same scene shot at various exposure levels. The images look rich and is actually impossible to shoot with a single shot keeping the exposure levels nearly same at all spots of the picture like the sky and the foreground. Infra red Photography is the another technique which produce surreal dreamlike images. Here a filter is used to block the visible light. DSLR’s come with infra red blockers. But with filters one can achieve magical results.• Special Effects with Photoshop: I personally don’t consider this segment as trick photography as it is a technique used after shooting the picture. This is more of a post production work. However today mostly all the photographs are manipulated, composited and enhanced using Photoshop. This makes trick photography very affordable as one can almost produce dynamic result sitting on his home desktop.Tricks with photography are no longer beyond ones reach. With just some imagination and practice one can attain magical results. So go ahead. Flash your best photobooks with your tricky mindboggling photos and some brownies.
What Can You Gain From Automotive Mechanic Courses?
Do you dream about working on cars? Love getting under the hood? A career as a mechanic may be the perfect fit for you.Automotive mechanic training programs will give you the skills you need to turn your passion for cars into a steady, rewarding auto repair career. Automotive mechanic graduates can go on to apprenticeships in some of the most successful automotive repair and service facilities in the province.Intensive diploma programs are designed to fully immerse the student into the role of an Automotive Service Technician. Instructors are often industry professionals with real world knowledge, who can execute an industry specific automotive mechanic training curriculum based on core industry components. Automotive Mechanic training programs rang from technical automotive theory, to diagnostics, to actually engaging in the repair and maintenance of automobiles (fixing cars), allowing student the chance to understand and retain the knowledge and skills needed to become competitive in the auto mechanic industry.Because of the varied nature of the profession, auto mechanic training programs are often very comprehensive in scope. Areas of study may include:
Brake Systems
ABS Systems
Starting Systems
Electrical Systems
Drivability Diagnostics
Fuel Systems
Fuel Injection Systems
Differentials
4×4 Systems
Computer Systems
EVAPS System
Exhaust System
Drive Clean (Inspector Certification – Emissions)
Heating & Air Conditioning
Ozone Depletion Certification (HRIA
Safety & Accessory Systems
Suspensions
Steering
General Maintenance Services
Engines (Gas & Diesel)
Transmissions (Automatic & Manual)
Driveline Systems
Cooling Systems
Ignition Systems
Tire & Wheel Service
Repair Facility Dynamics Structure
Safety
Professional Protocol
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
Performance Standards
Effective Communication SkillsAside from gaining experience and knowledge in these areas, you will have the opportunity to be certified as an emissions inspector, and licensed to handle air conditioning refrigerants under your regional prevention rules, regulations and programs. These certifications, a necessity for many automotive mechanic jobs, will give you a definite edge in today’s repair and service job market.Graduates from comprehensive auto mechanic courses have found careers as:
Emissions Inspectors
Lube Specialists
Automotive Service Technician Apprentices
Farm Equipment Apprentices
Truck and Coach Mechanic Apprentices
Parts Counter
Forklift Mechanic Apprentices
Muffler Specialists
Front End Technicians
Electrical Specialists
Engine Technicians
Fuel Specialists
Tune Up Technicians
Diagnosticians
Emissions Specialists
Instructors
Transmission Specialists
Hybrid and Fuel Cell Technicians
Performance Specialists
Automotive Service Technicians
Journeyman Mechanics
Service Managers
Assistant Managers
Shop Foremen
Shop Managers or OwnersTurn your passion for cars into a rewarding, long-lasting career. Get started today in the auto mechanic industry with an intensive automotive mechanic training program.
Tips for Buying Kitchen Furniture and Accessories
A perfect kitchen furniture is not bought because it just looks beautiful in the furniture shop just to find out that when you brought it in your house it looks ugly in your kitchen, and what’s worse is that your family members are not happy about it.What does it take to find a perfect kitchen furniture? All we need is just 5 easy steps.1. Ask what are your family’s preference.The kitchen, like all other parts of the home, has to be decided as a family, not an individual because all the members of the family use and benefit all that there is inside the home. Ask your family members what furniture should be bought. If two or more declines on your choice ask why, then change your preference if they are correct. This is to make sure that no changes will happen after you bought the kitchen furniture and also helps you with your budget.2. Measure the size of your kitchen.Measure the area of your kitchen then bring it with you when you are buying your kitchen furniture. For a hassle free buying, draw a layout of your kitchen to visualize the actual location of your chosen furniture.
If you are to replace your old kitchen furniture, measure the size of the furniture to match the replacement furniture that you will buy.3. Prioritize essential items first.Kitchen counter, kitchen rack, and dinnerware are just some of the kitchen essentials. In order to gain idea about the essential kitchen furniture and accessories, ask yourself these questions:Is it possible if the kitchen doesn’t have it?
Can it be used for cooking?
Can it be used for preparing the food? If it does what are the usual foods that your family want?4. Choose furniture with a fireproof finishingA fireproof kitchen furniture does not keep make our kitchen be immune in fire but it helps keep the fire from starting by preventing smaller flames to spread out. Fireproof kitchen furniture are expensive but it pays to be prepared.5. The furniture should match the kitchen theme.Creating a new kitchen or doing some kitchen improvements? It pays to keep the whole kitchen setup clean. Do not just buy a furniture or accessory because it looks beautiful when you see it in the store. Match the theme of your current kitchen so that the furniture or accessory will not look out-of-place. A furniture or accessory, no matter how beautiful it is, will look ugly if it is not a match to an organized theme.
Using Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) To Reduce Stress
As we all know, unless we’ve buried our heads like ostriches, we live in a world that is seemingly comprised of stress and more of same.In fact, many of us are so used to the stress, that when we find ourselves in nature, in a calming situation, we don’t know what to do, our ever-present companion – stress – has taken a sabbatical, and we feel as if something is amiss. But you can learn a way to take that sabbatical, take that vacation, right where you are. Here are a few facts about using the Emotional Freedom Techniques EFT to reduce stress.What Is EFT?
Before we get into the means to use EFT to reduce stress, let’s talk about what it is first. The emotional freedom technique is based upon ancient healing practices, including acupuncture and acupressure along key ley or meridian lines in the body, applied with thoroughly modern methods.But instead of applying pressure or sticking needles at key points along these ley lines, you tap on them instead, while using key phrases to help release negative emotions and then you do a positive round to instill positive and healing emotions into your body.Just like Chinese medicine operates on principles to remove energy blockages within the body, EFT operates on this same principle. The idea is that if you are experiencing stress, emotional problems, disease, or dis-ease with or with(in) your body or life in any fashion, it is because somehow, somewhere along the way, you developed a blockage. It’s as if your thought and emotions become crystallized within, settling in to cause you pain.If you were a trigger point massage therapist, you’d know where these trigger points most likely hide within your body, causing referred pain in other areas. Energy blockages operate the same way. For instance, negative parental interactions at early ages can lead to money and relationship problems.But these can be easily released by using EFT.Exactly How Does EFT Work?
Depending on the EFT practitioner you are working with, will determine what key points and ley lines you tap along, but the underlying premise is the same.There are several different variations, and variations of the variations, but the basic idea starts with tapping on the karate chop place on your hand (it doesn’t matter right or left – some EFT practitioners practice both!), moving to a place between your eyebrows (the third eye region), to the side of the eyebrow, underneath the eye, on the upper lip underneath the nose, below the mouth in the ridge between the lower lip and chin, between the collar bone area, underneath the arm, and then the crown of the head.Some prefer to tap under the breast after the collarbone and before the underarm tapping. There are those who also start with tapping the sore spot to the right or left of the collarbone. There are more convoluted versions, and it really doesn’t matter which one you use, as long as it works for you!Start with a Set-up PhraseThe tapping sequence would go something like this:
“The Setup: While continuously tapping the Karate Chop point (or the sore spot), repeat this affirmation three times: Even though I have this ____ (fear, pain, issue, etc.), I deeply and completely love and accept myself.
The Sequence: Tap between 5 and 10 times on each of the following energy points while repeating the Reminder Phrase at each point:
Crown: Even though I have (this issue), I deeply and completely love and accept myself.
Eyebrow: Even though I have (this issue), I deeply and completely love and accept myself.
Side of eye: Even though I have (this issue), I deeply and completely love and accept myself.
Under eye: Even though I have (this issue), I deeply and completely love and accept myself.
Under nose: Even though I have (this issue), I deeply and completely love and accept myself.
Chin: Even though I have (this issue), I deeply and completely love and accept myself.
Collarbone: Even though I have (this issue), I deeply and completely love and accept myself
Under arm: Even though I have (this issue), I deeply and completely love and accept myself.
Take a deep cleansing breath.”
The idea is to check in with your body, and see if there is any, if at all; remaining feelings of discomfort or dis-ease, then rate that on a scale of 0-10. You must repeat this process until you experience a sense of relief. The ideal is to bring the discomfort to a zero.In alternating rounds, you can replace the negative statements about the issue with positive ones or “affirmations” as it were. EFT tapping is done with two fingers, though I have known some to use the flat face of their palm. You can tap on either side of the body, with either hand. For the collar-bone area, find the place where your collar bones almost meet at the top of your chest, and just below that, tap that area lightly with a fist.The great thing about EFT tapping is that you don’t even have to know all the details of your problem, you can address the ill at ease feelings you have – and oftentimes just tapping through those will release the problem.It sounds silly doesn’t it? But I’ve known folks to work through some tremendous issues with these simple procedures and as for me; I use it all the time.
Making a Good Amount of Money Online
So if you have been looking for ways to make money online it might have happened that you have found the information you were looking for. There are many people who are looking for a way to make money online, it might be their way of making a change in their life or there might also be people who are just looking for a way to pay for their bills or whatever it may be. Either way it is their way of helping themselves or somebody else. There are many programs out there which are promising this or that program to give you ways to make money online.If you are new to this idea of making money online, you may ask who am I? This article will answer your questions on why you should trust me. My name is Mark Ling, I am 61 years old and a veteran to many things. My internet income has been a steady stream for over 12 years and counting.So if you are looking for ways to make a good amount of money online with ways to pay for it online, you can trust me for sure. I will guide you to my knowledge and my track record of success. This article is designed to guide you to the way to make a good amount of money online with ways to pay for it online.One question you might be asking and that is who am I? My name is Mark Ling and I am a successful internet marketer.I am the man who has sold hundreds of thousands of products and services via the internet. I have made a good amount of money and I have made even more. I have sold and shipped products for both big and small companies online.You may ask where the need of making a good amount of money, when I have been doing this for so long and making a good amount of money has not become a problem. Well, you know I have made so much money online that my wife and I have found ourselves some down times here and there, but I have always been able to handle it.Please keep in mind I am not claiming I am a miracle worker. In order to make a good amount of money online, you have to be patient and dedicated. The secret to making lots of money is by making use of the right information and track record.You also need to be careful, you have to be able to predict what is going to happen and be able to capitalise on it.When it comes to making a good amount of money online, you have to be resourceful and creative, I have come across many scams online and there are plenty of people who will scam you if you are not careful.The best advice I can give you is to learn online marketing, you have to be dedicated and knowledgeable before you go into any business. If you truly want to make a lot of money online, you will want to learn the best training programs available.
Refinancing and Car Finance – Is it worth it?
Refinancing and Car Finance – Is it Worth It?No doubt you have heard of refinancing your mortgage. It has become all the rage, but now you can also refinance your car loan.You stand to save several hundred dollars over the term of the loan.My take on it is go for it. Competition is healthy and it will keep the finance companies on their toes providing better service for all. There’s just one thing to be careful of online:Just make sure you go with a reputable company. There are car finance companies on line these days such as E-loan or Capital 1, which are proving themselves worthy adversaries to the standard brick-and-mortar loan companies.It’s not hard to see why? Simply apply from the convenience of your home rather than trudge all the way into some downtown office and line-up in a queue.It’s even better than on the phone, because you can send your application in and forget it. Before you blink you have an approval or not. If you don’t, then you can simply find another one.You can start off with a higher interest rate if you have bad credit and then refinance to a better rate later on.Be sure to read all the terms and conditions and check with your accountant or financial advisor before making financial decisions.
Best in Class Finance Functions For Police Forces
BackgroundPolice funding has risen by £4.8 billion and 77 per cent (39 per cent in real terms) since 1997. However the days where forces have enjoyed such levels of funding are over.Chief Constables and senior management recognize that the annual cycle of looking for efficiencies year-on-year is not sustainable, and will not address the cash shortfall in years to come.
Facing slower funding growth and real cash deficits in their budgets, the Police Service must adopt innovative strategies which generate the productivity and efficiency gains needed to deliver high quality policing to the public.The step-change in performance required to meet this challenge will only be achieved if the police service fully embraces effective resource management and makes efficient and productive use of its technology, partnerships and people.The finance function has an essential role to play in addressing these challenges and supporting Forces’ objectives economically and efficiently.ChallengePolice Forces tend to nurture a divisional and departmental culture rather than a corporate one, with individual procurement activities that do not exploit economies of scale. This is in part the result of over a decade of devolving functions from the center to the.divisions.In order to reduce costs, improve efficiency and mitigate against the threat of “top down” mandatory, centrally-driven initiatives, Police Forces need to set up a corporate back office and induce behavioral change. This change must involve compliance with a corporate culture rather than a series of silos running through the organization.Developing a Best in Class Finance FunctionTraditionally finance functions within Police Forces have focused on transactional processing with only limited support for management information and business decision support. With a renewed focus on efficiencies, there is now a pressing need for finance departments to transform in order to add greater value to the force but with minimal costs.1) Aligning to Force StrategyAs Police Forces need finance to function, it is imperative that finance and operations are closely aligned. This collaboration can be very powerful and help deliver significant improvements to a Force, but in order to achieve this model, there are many barriers to overcome. Finance Directors must look at whether their Force is ready for this collaboration, but more importantly, they must consider whether the Force itself can survive without it.Finance requires a clear vision that centers around its role as a balanced business partner. However to achieve this vision a huge effort is required from the bottom up to understand the significant complexity in underlying systems and processes and to devise a way forward that can work for that particular organization.The success of any change management program is dependent on its execution. Change is difficult and costly to execute correctly, and often, Police Forces lack the relevant experience to achieve such change. Although finance directors are required to hold appropriate professional qualifications (as opposed to being former police officers as was the case a few years ago) many have progressed within the Public Sector with limited opportunities for learning from and interaction with best in class methodologies. In addition cultural issues around self-preservation can present barriers to change.Whilst it is relatively easy to get the message of finance transformation across, securing commitment to embark on bold change can be tough. Business cases often lack the quality required to drive through change and even where they are of exceptional quality senior police officers often lack the commercial awareness to trust them.2) Supporting Force DecisionsMany Finance Directors are keen to develop their finance functions. The challenge they face is convincing the rest of the Force that the finance function can add value – by devoting more time and effort to financial analysis and providing senior management with the tools to understand the financial implications of major strategic decisions.Maintaining Financial Controls and Managing RiskSarbanes Oxley, International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), Basel II and Individual Capital Assessments (ICA) have all put financial controls and reporting under the spotlight in the private sector. This in turn is increasing the spotlight on financial controls in the public sector.A ‘Best in Class’ Police Force finance function will not just have the minimum controls to meet the regulatory requirements but will evaluate how the legislation and regulations that the finance function are required to comply with, can be leveraged to provide value to the organization. Providing strategic information that will enable the force to meet its objectives is a key task for a leading finance function.3) Value to the ForceThe drive for development over the last decade or so, has moved decision making to the Divisions and has led to an increase in costs in the finance function. Through utilizing a number of initiatives in a program of transformation, a Force can leverage up to 40% of savings on the cost of finance together with improving the responsiveness of finance teams and the quality of financial information. These initiatives include:CentralizationBy centralizing the finance function, a Police Force can create centers of excellence where industry best practice can be developed and shared. This will not only re-empower the department, creating greater independence and objectivity in assessing projects and performance, but also lead to more consistent management information and a higher degree of control. A Police Force can also develop a business partner group to act as strategic liaisons to departments and divisions. The business partners would, for example, advise on how the departmental and divisional commanders can meet the budget in future months instead of merely advising that the budget has been missed for the previous month.With the mundane number crunching being performed in a shared service center, finance professionals will find they now have time to act as business partners to divisions and departments and focus on the strategic issues.The cultural impact on the departments and divisional commanders should not be underestimated. Commanders will be concerned that:o Their budgets will be centralized
o Workloads would increase
o There will be limited access to finance individuals
o There will not be on site supportHowever, if the centralized shared service center is designed appropriately none of the above should apply. In fact from centralization under a best practice model, leaders should accrue the following benefits:o Strategic advice provided by business partners
o Increased flexibility
o Improved management information
o Faster transactions
o Reduced number of unresolved queries
o Greater clarity on service and cost of provision
o Forum for finance to be strategically aligned to the needs of the ForceA Force that moves from a de-centralized to a centralized system should try and ensure that the finance function does not lose touch with the Chief Constable and Divisional Commanders. Forces need to have a robust business case for finance transformation combined with a governance structure that spans operational, tactical and strategic requirements. There is a risk that potential benefits of implementing such a change may not be realized if the program is not carefully managed. Investment is needed to create a successful centralized finance function. Typically the future potential benefits of greater visibility and control, consistent processes, standardized management information, economies of scale, long-term cost savings and an empowered group of proud finance professionals, should outweigh those initial costs.To reduce the commercial, operational and capability risks, the finance functions can be completely outsourced or partially outsourced to third parties. This will provide guaranteed cost benefits and may provide the opportunity to leverage relationships with vendors that provide best practice processes.Process EfficienciesTypically for Police Forces the focus on development has developed a silo based culture with disparate processes. As a result significant opportunities exist for standardization and simplification of processes which provide scalability, reduce manual effort and deliver business benefit. From simply rationalizing processes, a force can typically accrue a 40% reduction in the number of processes. An example of this is the use of electronic bank statements instead of using the manual bank statement for bank reconciliation and accounts receivable processes. This would save considerable effort that is involved in analyzing the data, moving the data onto different spreadsheet and inputting the data into the financial systems.Organizations that possess a silo operating model tend to have significant inefficiencies and duplication in their processes, for example in HR and Payroll. This is largely due to the teams involved meeting their own goals but not aligning to the corporate objectives of an organization. Police Forces have a number of independent teams that are reliant on one another for data with finance in departments, divisions and headquarters sending and receiving information from each other as well as from the rest of the Force. The silo model leads to ineffective data being received by the teams that then have to carry out additional work to obtain the information required.Whilst the argument for development has been well made in the context of moving decision making closer to operational service delivery, the added cost in terms of resources, duplication and misaligned processes has rarely featured in the debate. In the current financial climate these costs need to be recognized.CultureWithin transactional processes, a leading finance function will set up targets for staff members on a daily basis. This target setting is an element of the metric based culture that leading finance functions develop. If the appropriate metrics of productivity and quality are applied and when these targets are challenging but not impossible, this is proven to result in improvements to productivity and quality.A ‘Best in Class’ finance function in Police Forces will have a service focused culture, with the primary objectives of providing a high level of satisfaction for its customers (departments, divisions, employees & suppliers). A ‘Best in Class’ finance function will measure customer satisfaction on a timely basis through a metric based approach. This will be combined with a team wide focus on process improvement, with process owners, that will not necessarily be the team leads, owning force-wide improvement to each of the finance processes.Organizational ImprovementsOrganizational structures within Police Forces are typically made up of supervisors leading teams of one to four team members. Through centralizing and consolidating the finance function, an opportunity exists to increase the span of control to best practice levels of 6 to 8 team members to one team lead / supervisor. By adjusting the organizational structure and increasing the span of control, Police Forces can accrue significant cashable benefit from a reduction in the number of team leads and team leads can accrue better management experience from managing larger teams.Technology Enabled ImprovementsThere are a significant number of technology improvements that a Police Force could implement to help develop a ‘Best in Class’ finance function.These include:A) Scanning and workflowThrough adopting a scanning and workflow solution to replace manual processes, improved visibility, transparency and efficiencies can be reaped.B) Call logging, tracking and workflow toolPolice Forces generally have a number of individuals responding to internal and supplier queries. These queries are neither logged nor tracked. The consequence of this is dual:o Queries consume considerable effort within a particular finance team. There is a high risk of duplicated effort from the lack of logging of queries. For example, a query could be responded to for 30 minutes by person A in the finance team. Due to this query not being logged, if the individual that raised the query called up again and spoke to a different person then just for one additional question, this could take up to 20 minutes to ensure that the background was appropriately explained.o Queries can have numerous interfaces with the business. An unresolved query can be responded against by up to four separate teams with considerable delay in providing a clear answer for the supplier.The implementation of a call logging, tracking and workflow tool to document, measure and close internal and supplier queries combined with the set up of a central queries team, would significantly reduce the effort involved in responding to queries within the finance departments and divisions, as well as within the actual divisions and departments, and procurement.C) Database solutionThroughout finance departments there are a significant number of spreadsheets utilized prior to input into the financial system. There is a tendency to transfer information manually from one spreadsheet to another to meet the needs of different teams.Replacing the spreadsheets with a database solution would rationalize the number of inputs and lead to effort savings for the front line Police Officers as well as Police Staff.D) Customize reportsIn obtaining management information from the financial systems, police staff run a series of reports, import these into excel, use lookups to match the data and implement pivots to illustrate the data as required. There is significant manual effort that is involved in carrying out this work. Through customizing reports the outputs from the financial system can be set up to provide the data in the formats required through the click of a button. This would have the benefit of reduced effort and improved motivation for team members that previously carried out these mundane tasks.In designing, procuring and implementing new technology enabling tools, a Police Force will face a number of challenges including investment approval; IT capacity; capability; and procurement.These challenges can be mitigated through partnering with a third party service company with whom the investment can be shared, the skills can be provided and the procurement cycle can be minimized.ConclusionIt is clear that cultural, process and technology change is required if police forces are to deliver both sustainable efficiencies and high quality services. In an environment where for the first time forces face real cash deficits and face having to reduce police officer and support staff numbers whilst maintaining current performance levels the current finance delivery models requires new thinking.While there a number of barriers to be overcome in achieving a best in class finance function, it won’t be long before such a decision becomes mandatory. Those who are ahead of the curve will inevitably find themselves in a stronger position.
Starting Guides For Home Improvement and Renovation
Home improvement and renovation is really a big task to perform, others may call it as a task that needs enough money and time to consume so that their desired output would be better. Lack of systematic planning and proper inventory of materials that is needed in order to complete the task is the most obvious of all. Also, lack of time budgeting or management can lead to unwanted extra expenditures both for the materials needed and for the labour force. Here are some guidelines that may help home owners minimize their cost expenditures and maximize their potentials in achieving their dream home improvement and renovation plan.
Setting up specific goals and trying to conceptualize and visualize a map of your renovation and improvement plan may help you achieve your goals in the most economic and prompt ways. Maybe asking some of these questions may help you almost or halfway of your desired output.
a.) When conducting a home renovation and improvement plan what do you want to achieve?
From this question be specific of what to improve or renovate is it only specific part of the house or including the entire house itself. You should also learn to distinguish and prioritize the most needed materials from the others. This includes your needs- the very basic materials that involve in improvement and renovation and your wants- also known as the materials needed for further beautification or the so called accessories. You should have a separate proper list of all the materials that will be involved. If you want beautification then so is it. If you want to improve or increase your space then follow it. Never intersect or criss-cross your other plans from the basic ones. Be open-minded but try and be clear-minded as possible.
b.) I have so many ideas but does it fit to my budget?
This is the time where you consult a building expert or consultant regarding your visions and expectations about your plans before any drawings and building plans are to be created. This can help avoid too much expenses and the mistake of paying too much for unnecessary things in the future. This will cause a sudden drift of budget that will focus or concentrate on the other part of the plan, which may cause shortage and loss on other important aspect. This is the cause why most home owners never achieve the intended outcome of their plans.
c.) Which is preferable a draftsman or an architect?
Be informed that the two jobs have their own distinction and both should be considered in a case to case basis. Draftsman is only needed when small or straight-forward services or minor renovations or improvements are involved. Architect is needed when a huge renovation or improvement is involved and it needs to be specific. Distinction between the two should be emphasized because each of them has its own cost. Architects are more expensive than draftsman because they are specially trained in design with much skills and expertise on specific fields. This is the reason why most home owners spend the wrong budget on the wrong person to be needed.
d.) Do I need both plans and permits?
Registered building supervisors are the ones who can give overviews and discussions about these matters. Sometimes matters like this even before building plans are produced cannot be answered. Experts about these matters can be consulted and verified so that all processes will be in smooth condition.
e.) Does home renovation and improvement a good investment and can it add a good value to my house?
Property values are determined by many factors and because home improvement is a different story from the others, a property expert is the best person to be consulted regarding these matters.
f.) Where do I go for my fitting materials and fixtures?
This question can be addressed to the joint group ventures of most developers and home planners wherein they can gave you some of their suppliers trusted names when it comes to home renovation and improvement. You can also consult some of the offices around your location so that they can look for one and arrange some recommendation. Canvassing of some other materials that can be bought in cheaper prices compared to the existing ones would be better, but be sure it passed the building requirements of the building experts.
g.) Where do I go to obtain permits and how long do I wait for it?
If the building proposal you’re going to make might cause impact to other home owners or neighbours and it surrounding community, planning permits should be acquired. A detailed submission of papers that contains technical drawings and an expert knowledge of Town Planning Act are needed. A Town Planning Consultant may be hired, for doing it yourself is not advisable when it comes to this matter. For “fast track” services it would take a few weeks and for “dispute permits” may require some more months in order to process. When a case for example that VCAT (Victorian Administrative and Civil Tribunal) is involved, the delay can be as long as an excess of 1 year. Building permits are created to maintain minimum building requirements or standards and so that it can help protect consumers from low class or sub quality builders. Since this process are now usually privatised, a local Building Surveyor who will be in charge of the said approval that will eventually issue the permit is now accessible and this type of service only takes a few usual weeks or even lesser.
h.) What items should I prepare before looking for a builder?
+Complete drawing set with specifications, which also includes all finishes and other special requirements
+Planning Permit (sometimes optional) and an accomplished the Building Permit application
+Approved proper finance
+Provisions for cost overruns or changes to your budget
+The insurance company must know you’re under home renovation project
+Alternative place to stay in case a renovation-free space is needed during the building works.
Home renovation and improvement is indeed a very laborious work to do especially if you are still new to a certain place. But if you’re equipped with important ideas and you planned out everything before starting, there is no need to worry about. By making these simple questions as your guide in making home renovation and improvement, you can save time, extra unwanted expenses and you can also save your precious efforts. Its not how much you’ve spent for your home renovation and improvement projects that makes the output very great, but its how much time you’ve spend planning and preparing for the things needed in it.