What are the Basic Uses of Boom Lifts?

An aerial work platform may be familiar to some who are in the construction business. It is the term given to machinery that allows workers to reach inaccessible areas at a height. There are many various types of these machines, such as scissor lifts, boom lifts and cherry pickers, but they all have the same basic function in aiding workers in their jobs.

The boom lift, in particular, is one of the most common aerial platform machinery that is used in a wide variety of ways. Also called a cherry picker, boom lifts are characterized by a platform or bucket that is attached to a hydraulic lifting system. Cherry pickers may look a bit like cranes.

Boom lifts are very advantageous when operating in tight spaces. It has also the advantage of being operated on it’s own; a single person can operate the hydraulic lift through a control panel found on the bucket or platform. This way, the operator can position himself properly.

Cherry pickers are called as such because this was its intended use. It was designed for use in cherry and apple orchards, where workers needed a machine that would enable them to easily pick off the fruits from tall trees. It is still widely used in orchards today.

Boom lifts have now found other uses in commercial ventures. For example, boom lifts are used by window cleaners in their work, especially when they are contracted to clean tall buildings. In some cases, it is cheaper for them to contract the services of a boom lift rental shop, especially if they are based in suburban areas and occasionally do this type of work.

Cherry pickers are also known for their use by firemen. They are able to control this better than a regular ladder, and can aid in saving lives from tall buildings.

Boom lift rental shops have also started catering to those who need to do exterior painting on their homes and buildings. Since boom lifts offer premium control, professional painters can do the best job in providing excellent coverage.

Other people who also rent cherry pickers are members of production staff in movies. They allow for better angles and cinematography, since boom lifts can reach high and normally awkward angles. The camera can be mounted as the cinematographer controls the boom lift with the panel found on the platform.

Finally, boom lifts are most commonly used on construction sites and mining, where they get the most use in aiding workers to get to hard-to-reach areas.

No doubt, boom lifts are one of the most versatile construction machines that can be used by a wide variety of professions. Since they may be expensive, it is also an advantage to have rental facilities that would allow one short-term usage of the machine without having to invest a lot of money. 

How to Become an ERA Property Agent?

Property agents act as a liaison between property sellers and buyers. They assist property sellers to look for someone who will pay the highest selling price and help buyers look for a property at the lowest possible cost. In cases where they need to act as both, they would need to have both parties sign a dual agency agreement which specifies whom they represent as client and customer to protect their broker license.

As an ERA property agent may not be the career of choice for most people because it requires a lot of hard work and time. But some people choose to be one because of the income or commissions are limitless. So how can you become a real estate agent?

Requirements

In order to become a real estate agent, you need to pass some requirements and qualifications. Requirements to become a real estate agent may be different for most countries. In Singapore, there are basic requirements before you can start a career as a property agent and these are:

• At least 21 years old
• Passed a minimum of 4 GCE O-Levels or Equivalent
•  Must be a Singaporean citizen or a Permanent Resident

If you meet these requirements, you can take and pass the Real Estate Salesperson (RES) Course which is schedule every two months and has a fee of $250-$350. Next, you must choose and apply to the property agency you want to represent and secure a real estate agent license.

Personal Skills and Investments

A real estate agent should be passionate about what they do. First you must love to sell and meet different types of people and money will just come in second. Becoming an effective real estate agent is a long process and requires you to gain more experience before you start earning. On the average, it will take about six months before you earn your first commission. If you’re lucky you might get it sooner, worse, it may take you longer. 

Time management is the key. A real estate agent does not work behind a desk most of the time. They have to be flexible and make sure all clients are met and this could mean working after office hours, weekends and even holidays, depending on the demands of your clients. 

Invest in making yourself better. You can do this by attending seminars to master the art of selling and know your target market. This may be a cost for you at first, but most people can prove this to be rewarding. 

Advertise. Some agents skip this part in order to cut expenses thinking it’s more profitable but they may be cutting out potential customers instead. Advertisement is a marketing strategy that can gain you more exposure and possibly more customers.

Find a mentor. If you are new in the industry, it would be best to find someone who has gained a lot of experience selling properties. This person can help you learn the best and fastest way to be successful. Your mentor will most likely be a part of your agency or team.

What Should a Wedding Photography Package Include?

A wedding is one of the unforgettable events that couples would love to remember forever. Usually, photographs are their way of reliving the experience. When couples plan for their weddings, they also designate a part of their budget for photos, and even videos! Anyway, these photos are the only things they can bring back memories of their big day. So these couples make sure to get the package that covers everything they would want to have, such as the prenuptial photos and actual day photos.

Couples who cut down on their wedding photography budget often regrets and wish they have spent a little more and get what they really wanted. Wedding photos are investments and it is best to plan which photographer and what package to choose. Getting wedding photography packages definitely comes out cheaper than paying for the services individually. 

If you are in the business of wedding photography, you must be able to come up with ideal wedding packages to suit all types of customers and their budgets. These packages can be tweaked and adjusted according to your customer needs. You must first research on what couples usually look for wedding photography packages and how much, on the average, do these couples normally spend for wedding photos.

We have collected data from couples who are getting married and who were recently wed and concluded that Actual Day Photos, Prenuptial Photos /Engagement Sessions and Photo Booths are the top three services essential for wedding photos.

Wedding photos on the actual day is obviously first in the list. This is the most important part of a wedding photography package and should never be skipped. These photos include pre-wedding preparations, wedding ceremony and photos during the wedding dinner /party. Some packages also include slideshows of photos taken earlier during the day and presented during dinner. Prenuptial or Engagement photos are not a must, but have become a trend for wedding photos nowadays. Some couples liked to have their pictures taken to use in their wedding announcements, invitations and even souvenirs. Photo booths have also become one of the services couples get for their guests. Families and friends can take their photos taken during the event and have these photos as their souvenirs too! 

Almost all wedding photography packages offer unlimited shots which are all returned to the newlyweds burned on a DVD. Package prices often vary with the number of photos that will go through extensive editing, number of photos to be printed, number of hours for each service and which services will be included.

Normally the wedding photographers bundle these services. Below are some suggestions on how your packages should look like.

 

Regular Wedding Package (Actual Day Wedding Photography Services)

·         Unlimited photos burned on a DVD with basic editing

·         100 photo prints with extensive editing compiled in an album

·         Slideshow for wedding dinner

Silver Wedding Package (Actual Day + Prenuptial or Photo Booth Services)

·         Everything included in the Regular Wedding Package

Prenuptial/Engagement Session

·         Unlimited photos burned on a DVD with basic editing

·         20 photo prints with extensive editing

·         Photography session up to 4 hours

Photo Booth Services

·         2 hours of unlimited photos with customized border and /or background

·         All photos burned on a DVD (no editing)

Gold Wedding Package

·         Includes services from Actual Day, Prenuptial Session and Photo Booth Services

These packages can be adjusted depending on your clients’ needs and budget. Just always remember to help in making a better wedding experience for your clients and be a part in preserving these memories.

Top Tips When Enrolling in an International School

If there’s one thing that parents strive in order to provide for their children—its education. As if making sure that their kids get the best education would be such an easy feat, families who are in constant relocation would have to deal with this dilemma on a different scale. With the growing number of expatriated families, one of the parent’s point of action is to look for the best international school to enrol their kids. 

Before panic hits you, here are tips on making sure that you are choosing the right institution for your kids. But before anything else, a rule of thumb that one must consider doing personally—spend time to visit your shortlisted schools. Internet research is good. But nothing beats seeing and (somewhat) experiencing the place for yourself. Take notes, even pictures if you deem necessary, and ask these questions to help you get going:

Child-related

• What exactly does your child need? Does the school offer them?
• Is there a history of bullying in the school?
• How do they plan on disseminating information to the parents?

School-specific

• How many years has the school been operating?
• Are they accredited by local and/or international education body?
• How do they assure the security of the students?
• What about the facilities? Do they have pools, libraries, gymnasium, and laboratories?
• Is the school near your place?

The school’s curriculum

• How is the school’s general approach to educating their students?
• Do they have extensive course offerings that is suited for your child’s needs?
• Do they have extra-curricular activities?
• How do they measure the learning growth of their students?
• How did their former students fair after graduating?

Instructors involved

• Are the instructors licensed / certified?
• Does the school support the continuous learning of their professors as well?
• Are the teachers generally friendly?

Parent’s participation

• Does the school push for creating a strong sense of community between instructors, students, and parents?
• Are they open for an opportunity for parent education?
• Do they encourage parent contributions in furthering their education system?

The list of questions may seem to be plenty but it is highly suggested that you take time to consider on contemplating and researching on those points. Besides, apart from home, the school is where your child will stay for most of their formative years. And it is no secret that you are paying a higher premium for these international schools so it’s best to make sure that your hard-earned money doesn’t go to waste. Keep your mind that it is also your child’s future that’s on the line.

What to Consider When Hiring a Bus Service in Singapore

If you are planning to tour Singapore soon, instead of fretting about what private vehicle to bring, or what MRT routes to memorize, hiring a bus service is your best bet. Compared to renting a car, a bus service can contain more people. The bus is also spacious enough for everyone to sit comfortably. You can even stretch your legs while traversing from one tourist spot to another in Singapore.

Instead of floundering around where to go next, using a bus service to tour the country is fast and efficient, and at the very least, enjoyable. This is also the cheaper choice as opposed to hiring several cars or going through different transit lines to reach one place. If you are a family of five, using a rented bus service to get around the country is going to be convenient for all of you. Hiring a bus also allows you to cover more tourist spots in Singapore compared to taking the MRT lines, riding the taxis or driving around in a small vehicle.

When looking for bus service in Singapore, choose the reputable ones. You do not want to compromise your safety while abroad. Buses in general are safe road vehicles, but you should still check those who have already good reputation to have a hassle-free tour of the country. When hiring bus service in Singapore, choose also one that knows the needs of foreigners. You can hire a tour guide that will point out to you importance places in Singapore but it is going to be hard for the tour guide to tour you around if your bus driver drives the bus at a very fast speed, as if not caring that the passengers are tourists wanting to view the beauty of Singapore.

Hire a bus service that gives you a good rate for its daily service. Hiring a bus service to tour you around Singapore is going to be significantly cheaper than riding taxis or the MRTs to see all the places you want to see, especially if you went to Singapore with a group of friends or your whole family. Still, you should go to the bus service that can offer you a low price for quality service. If you can save money from the bus service you hire without getting an ugly service, the better. You can use that extra money for buying souvenirs or eating out on the many Singaporean restaurants around.

Go for bus service that is reliable. Read reviews about the company you decide to hire a bus from. Make sure there are no complaints about them being late or unreliable. A bus that is late at picking you up from the hotel can compromise your whole tour. You are not going to stay in the country for an indefinite period of time, so every minute counts. You want a bus that can help you cover a lot of exciting places to see in Singapore, not one that makes you wait and lose time for sightseeing and exploring Singapore.