Christmas Kindness

Christmas is the time of year we all look forward to. Family, friends, presents, tradition, and random acts of kindness.  Many of us have been the recipient of these acts, and other times we have been the ones giving them.  Christmas spirit brings us together and helps us show our true giving nature to others.  Random acts of kindness are always remembered and reciprocated.  Hopefully you have had the opportunity to witness or participate in this Christmas tradition.

http://pinterest.com/sjserbinski/random-acts-of-kindness-ideas/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/27/random-acts-of-kindness-believe-in-the-human-race_n_1680813.html#slide=1230856

http://www.randomactsofkindness.org/kindness-stories

Customer Feedback

 Every year we work with hundreds of people and companies.  We keep customer service and satisfaction a priority at Advanced Restoration.  Here are a few comments we've received from clients this year.

“I appreciated the professionalism of everyone involved. Thanks!”

“Your company’s services far exceeded my expectations. Your estimator was so kind and explained the process and answered all my questions. The work was done very promptly and beautifully. I was impressed even further when your estimator came and checked out the finished work to make sure it was right. I would definitely recommend this company and use them again. Thank you.”

“Outstanding service, info, and follow up. I would use you again (But hope I don’t have to!) The estimator does a great job.”

“I used your services on a previous water problem… That speaks for itself.”

“Job Well done, keep up the good work. Friendly, hard-working staff. Many thanks!”


We appreciate our clients and always want to keep Building you Up !!

Deals of the Year?

We all love getting together for thanksgiving; the family, the turkey, the tradition, but slowly one tradition is taking the lead: Black Friday. Retail stores plan on Black Friday as being one of the biggest sales days of the year. How can this one day bring out the bargain hunter in all of us? How can seemingly innocent people turn into crazed shoppers at the sight of a markdown?

According to polls over 80 % of people believe that Black Friday is the best day to buy things for themselves, 75% say they can get their holiday shopping done this one day, and 60% say Black Friday is tradition. Wherever you may fall in these statistics be careful, and have a Happy Black Friday.

Black Friday Frenzy

http://www.debt.org/blog/2012-11-15-black-friday-christmas-tradition/

http://www.technicianonline.com/viewpoint/a-guide-to-black-friday-1.2795651

http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/18/opinion/greene-black-friday/index.html?iref=allsearch

It's Election Time !

Make sure your voice is heard so remember to vote this 6th of November.

Still wondering what might happen ? Check out this Electoral Map and see what the results could be.

http://www.cnn.com/election/2012/ecalculator#?battleground

Are you Ready ?

The eastern coast of the United States in bracing itself for the landfall of Hurricane Sandy. Calculated to be one of the most devastating storms in recent years, Sandy has people worried. With over 2 billion dollars worth of damage projected, homeowners are doing all they can to keep their homes safe from wind and water damage.

 

Flood Cleanup Tips

Do not drink or prepare food with tap water; it may be contaminated.

Open windows and doors if possible to air and dry out your home.

Do not stand or come in contact with standing floodwater; it may be contaminated with oil or sewage.

Keep children and pets out of flooded area.

Block off non-contaminated areas and try not to track waste from one area to another.

Do not use heat in an effort to dry closed building interiors; mildew and expanded-moisture damage may result.

Ventilate wet areas. Turn on air-conditioning for accelerated drying in summer; in winter, alternate cycles of opened windows and heating

Remove standing water from flat surfaces by sponging and blotting.

Remove saturated rugs and carpets when hardwood floors are at risk

Do not operate appiances while standing on wet floors, especially on concrete.  Serious injry may result

Place aluminum-foil spares, china saucers, or wood blocks nder furniture legs to avoid carpet staining.

During the winter months, alternate cylces of heating the home and opening the windows.

During summer months, turn air conditioning on for accelerated drying.

If you would like more information on how to clean-up, prepare for, or asses the damage after flooding feel free to contact

 Advanced Restoration.



{Ethics Count CE Class}

Advanced Restoration hosted a free CE class for insurance agents last week. The topic:

Ethics Count

This class had an interesting "twist" with a legos game. The object of the game was to put the legos together to form the vehicle with the directions provided. However, the twist was that one person was reading the directions and explaining what to do without touching the pieces, while the other was blind folded and had to listen to the directions from their partner.

 Frustrations were high with some, while others finished with ease.

 The temptation to "help" was constant, but all participants remained honest.

Deon Hahn taught the class that although "helping" wouldn't be the end of the world (it would surely make the job get done quicker and easier) it was still wrong. Ethics in today's society are growing more and more scarse. It's important to keep making honest decisions in our industry.

{Tour of Utah}

The Tour of Utah and the Echelon Project are proud to present four days of exciting kids events, known as the teamgive Pedal Power Festival. All events are free to the public.

•Children can bring their bikes, ride a safety course and learn the rules of the road.

•They will learn about street signs, bicycle hand signals and general bike safety!

•Professional BMX riders will do amazing tricks on a BMX ramp.

•Children will feel like pros as they compete in a relay specially designed for little ones.

•Kids can decorate their own banana racer and participate in the Tour of the Banana! Bananas are then raced down a track. Picture a Pinewood Derby with bananas!

•Kids can also get their face painted or a temporary tattoo.

•The Utah Jazz Bear and Salt Lake Bees mascot, Bumble, will be on hand to encourage the kids along and help hand out medals and take photos.

http://tourofutah.com/experience/calendar



Advanced Restoration is proud to be a part of the Utah community.

Advanced Restoration, where we "Build You Up."

{Air Conditioner Maintenance}

This has been an unusually warm summer for Utah. There are so many luxuries we have that we don't even think about, like our Air Conditioning. 

Whether it's a swamp cooler, air conditioner, or other way of cooling down the house there are maintenance requirements for all of them.

Make sure you're taking the proper steps to ensure your cooler lasts and performs to its best abilities. If you have any questions or concerns about yours, feel free to call us anytime. 

Building You Up

{Fire Investigation}

Herriman, Utah

1 Car 

4 Homes Burned to the Ground

950 Homes Evacuated

669 Acres Burned (approximately)

(Photo courtesy of Google Images)

Advanced Restoration held a Continuing Education Class in our facility last week to discuss and educate on exactly this issue. Fire Investigation. 

A Unified Fire Authority Fire Marshall taught the class, as a professional in the field. There is an entire science behind fires and how they "work," this is the type of knowledge that the Fire Investigators use in order to determine the origin, cause and damage of a fire. 

Once the investigation is over and the insurance company moves forward, that's where we come in to help Build You Up.

 Repairing your house is one thing, but putting the memories and cherished items back together makes it a home again. 

Super Bowl XLV

It’s that time of year again when family and friends gather around the TV for the annual Super Bowl game. Whether you are a football fan, you like good food, or you just like watching all of the funny commercials, there is something for everyone.

Who do you think will win this year? Do you have any Super Bowl traditions, recipes or story’s you want to share? Let us know and we will post it on our blog.

For a tasty seven layer bean dip click here

Ice Dams

Did you know Advanced Restoration repairs roofs and homes, damaged by ice dams? Ice dams are formed on slanted roofs. Poor insulation causes heat to escape from the house, melting snow on the roof. The resultant water travels down to the overhang where it refreezes above the eave of the roof. This is an area that lacks heat. The formed ice creates a buildup or dam. Water cannot escape past this ice blockage, and therefore accumulates on the roof, eventually making its way beneath the shingles and may leak through into the house.

Preventing Roof Ice Dams

There are ways to prevent ice dams. Clean out all debris that has collected in the rain gutter, allowing water flow to be efficient. Clear ice and snow from gutters and down spouts. Reevaluate the insulation and ventilation in your attic. Do not use a blowtorch on your roof to melt ice; your home may catch on fire.

Quick Ice Dam Cure

Can you imagine what it must have been like before technology?

Today we have life saving x-ray technology, solar panels to create natural energy, and the internet to find information and keep in touch with family members and friends that live far away.

Here is a list of some of the newest technology and inventions:


· Wall climbing car- This toy has a built in vacuum making it stay on any flat surface including walls and ceilings.

· USB memory watch- This watch has 8GB memory storage.


· Bluetooth laser keyboard- This virtual keyboard can perform all the same tasks of a regular keyboard completely wireless.
And of course…

· Flying car- This airplane/car is supposed to be introduced sometime next year! Want to see it for yourself? Visit http://www.terrafugia.com/




Advanced Restoration is no stranger to technology. We are one of the only restoration companies who use a FLIR camera. This device identifies the source and severity of water damage, defects in construction, and insect infestations.




Sources:
http://gadgetophilia.com/?s=christmas
http://gadgetophilia.com/10-best-gadgets-for-geeks/#more-8660
http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/07/06/the-flying-car/

OCTOBER MAINTENANCE

Fall is drawing near. Are you prepared? Look at this check list and prepare yourself for this year’s cold weather.

• Get an HVAC inspection and cleaning.

• Check crawlspace and attic for rodents and insects. Repair any holes that they can get through.

• Do an inspection and cleaning for any chimneys and fireplaces.

• Close crawlspace vents to prevent heat loss.

• Power wash the exterior of your home.

• Check weather-stripping on any entry doors.

• Make sure any damage to caulking around windows and doors is repaired.

• Have your roof inspected and clean roof vents.

• Check for any damages on the exterior of your house that may need repair.

• Paint house and refinish wood surfaces where needed.
  

Resources:
September Home Maintenance. (n.d.). Easy Home Improvement Projects. Retrieved September 13, 2010, from http://www.easyhomeimprovementprojects.com/september-home-maintenance.html
September Home Maintenance Tips Own Home Style .com. (n.d.). Own HomeStyle .com Advice on home improvement, home interior design, home loans & mortgages.. Retrieved September 13, 2010, from http://ownhomestyle.com/september-home-maintenance-tips/

Travel Preparations

Travel is a great way to rejuvenate from a busy schedule. So go explore the world and learn about different cultures; Have a tropical experience in Hawaii, have an African safari, or maybe just have a reunion.

Planning a summer vacation? Just make sure to take the following precautions before you leave for your destination:

Water Damage Tips

• Turn off your main water source- with the constant water pressure, pipes can burst causing a flood in your home.
• Turn your water heater down.
• Check seals on faucets, shower heads, and toilets. Repair any damage that has been done to caulking.
• Switch out the rubber hoses on appliances (such as the washing machine) for the more durable steel hoses. This can help you avoid leaks.

Vandalism Tips

• Don’t put a message on your answering machine, face book page, or blog that you are going on vacation. It is good to tell a trusted neighbor or friend that you are going on vacation so they can watch over your house, but telling anyone else is like saying, “I am going to be gone this weekend so feel free to rob me.”
• Leave spare keys with a trusted neighbor. Thieves know to look under the mat and under rocks; if you leave a key outside your house they will find it.
• Get a good alarm system.
• Automatic lighting systems can make it look like you’re home.
• Have someone pick up your newspaper while you are gone. Seeing a stack of newspapers on your porch alerts thieves that you are gone.

Fire Tips

• Turn off or unplug appliances. If left on for too long, appliances such as candle warmers and irons can start fires.
• Turn off gas to avoid leaks.
• Make sure you are current on your home insurance and have a GREAT vacation!

Reference List
Allen, Josh. "Water Damage; Simple Steps to Protect Your Pocket 2." Free Articles Directory Submit Articles - ArticlesBase.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Aug. 2010. .
"Before leaving for a vacation, Take these precautions! Security World News." Home Security Magazine, Today's Online News, Security World News. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Aug. 2010. .
Bonincontro, Aldo , and James Mockridge. "The benefits of travel in your life experiences - Travel Diaries & Adventures (Other) - Helium." Helium - Where Knowledge Rules. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Aug. 2010. .
Sardone, Susan Breslow. "When to Go Where in July/August - Best Places to Vacation in July/August ." Honeymoons Romantic Getaways - No. 1 in Honeymoons - Honeymoons Ideas. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Aug. 2010.

Building You Up

Most of you have probably already received our "Building You Up" puzzle ball. If you are having trouble putting it back together, here are a few simple pictures to help.