Topiclocal.com | Pros and cons of carpet cleaning services available today

Pros and cons of carpet cleaning services available today

Nowadays, there are a number of carpet cleaning services available in the market. It becomes difficult for you to decide whether to opt for a professional or do it yourself. Listed below are some pros and cons of carpet cleaning services that will make it easy for you to choose from all the available options.

Pros of carpet cleaning service

It helps you remove stored dirt, soil, oils, and debris.
It is a quick, easy and inexpensive way of cleaning carpets.
It is great for carpets of all kind as the service provider knows all about different kind of carpets and what it takes to clean them.
It helps you maintain the appearance of your carpets and sustain longevity.
It uses better cleaning equipment that gives you results without damaging your carpet.
It helps you remove stubborn dirt instantly, easily, and efficiently without efforts as the cleaners use high-quality equipment and products.
Carpet cleaning services work quickly and effectively without causing any trouble.
They provide you with neat and clean work.
They remove mold from carpet and improves the quality of air in the room.
It helps in restoring the originality of carpet.
It keeps your room/house/office cleaner for a longer period of time.

Cons of carpet cleaning service:

It may cost you much more than a DIY task.
If the carpet cleaning service doesn’t use the right machine to dry your carpet, they may spoil the carpet.
If the machine used for cleaning malfunctions, it can result in too much wetting of the carpet.
Some methods do not deep clean the carpet.
Improper cleaning can result in dust build-up.
The threat of having an unknown person at home or in office for cleaning is also a disadvantage of hiring a carpet cleaning service.
If a low-quality vacuum is used, all the dust gets piled up again.
It may cause allergic reactions due to use of low-quality chemicals.
Some of the carpet cleaning services are very expensive, while some overcharge the customers.

Professional carpet cleaning services help to remove all the dirt and dust from the carpets but in turn, may cost you more than the actual charge. Therefore, look at all the pros and cons before deciding or hiring any professional service provider.

Best 4 fitness franchises to consider buying

Are you a health-conscious person looking to start a business? Do you want to help others achieve their fitness goal? If yes, creating a fitness franchise business may be one of the best and the least risky options. Owning a franchise would help you as you would be backed by an acclaimed brand that would, in turn, result in a solid customer base. Here are some best fitness franchises you can consider:

Anytime Fitness
Anytime Fitness, established in 2002, is one of the leading franchises. It is headquartered in Woodbury, Minnesota, and is a subsidiary of Self Esteem Brands, LLC. There are 4200 gym locations of this fitness brand and three million clients in more than 32 countries as of 2018. It operates on a unique model, open 24 hours, 365 days a year, which applies to any location worldwide. Anytime Fitness offers numerous services, including cardio, yoga, spin, personal training, and Zumba. In franchise agreements, advertising and royalty fees are usually calculated as a percentage of the total or gross sales. However, for Anytime Fitness, the rates are flat monthly, and its initial franchise fee can be up to $42,500.

Planet Fitness
Planet Fitness, founded in 1992 and based in Hampton, New Hampshire, is the franchisor and operator of fitness centers. It markets and operates as the “Judgment Free Zone,” which caters to new and casual gym users and is one of the fastest-growing fitness franchises. In 2003, Planet Fitness started franchising units with an initial franchise fee of $20,000, and $10,000 is the area development fee. 7% of the total monthly and yearly membership fees are the royalty fees for Planet Fitness. As of 2019, the count of corporate-owned gyms was eighty, and others are individually owned and operated.

Crunch Fitness
Crunch Fitness, incorporated in 1989 by Doug Levine, a former stockbroker, is a US-based brand of around 400 franchises owned by corporates and fitness clubs. It works and markets itself based on the tagline “No Judgments.” Crunch Fitness believes it is an unfiltered philosophy, making them craft the community and the gym for all. It works on the values of positivity, fun, and inclusivity and believes in encouraging, empowering, and entertaining. So, if you are also willing to follow these values, then Crunch Fitness may be the right franchise choice or opportunity for you. The initial franchise fees are $25,000, and they offer personalized support. The royalty fees are 5% of monthly total gross sales, and the advertising fees are 2% of the monthly gross sales.

Orangetheory Fitness
Orangetheory Fitness (OTF), established in March 2010 by David Long, Ellen Latham, and Jerome Kern, is one of the renowned boutique fitness studio franchises. It is based in Boca Raton, Florida. This fitness brand has over one million members as of 2020. This fitness boutique has over 1300 studios expanded across 23 countries and 50 states. It works and operates on serious technology wherein heart rate monitors are worn around the forearm, chest, or wrist. All metrics are visible on the studio’s screens and depicted on tablets attached to the rowers or treadmills in the updated studios. The initial franchise fees are $54,950 to $59,950, and the initial franchise terms are ten years. There is a royalty fee of 8% of the monthly gross sales.

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Tips to make cheap clothes look expensive

Women do not want to wear cheap clothes that don’t fit well or which gives a flimsy look and get themselves embarrassed in front of their friends or loved ones. Even a cheap piece of clothing can be made to look expensive by tweaking them a little. Modifying the fit, replacing cheap buttons, choosing the right color are some of the very few tips of making a cloth look expensive. Let’s take a look at some of the tips which makes the impossible, possible for women.

Getting the cloth tailored

Even a $10 skirt can look better and expensive than a $300 skirt in the hands of an experienced designer. With a few stitches, even the most lackluster piece of clothing can look appealing in front of others. If ready-made clothes don’t fit well, it is best to take it to tailor and get it stitched to the perfect fit. Proper fit helps a lot in making a cheap piece of clothing look better.

Replacing Buttons

Cheap clothes for women come with equally cheap buttons which instantly catch others attention. It is always better to ditch cheap looking buttons and replace them with something rich like metal ones or even pearls. One can even harvest buttons by taking them from clothing they no longer wear. Buttons can also be bought at eBay for cheap prices.

Limited Washing of Clothes

One would always want their clothes to be clean and would love to wash them often which actually damages the fabric. Repeated washing wears down the fabric causing the color to fade off. It is always better to clean a specific spot with brush or sponge rather the entire cloth. Stinky clothes can be dealt with by keeping them in a freezer overnight.

Keeping it simple

It is always better to invest in simple clothing which is cheap. Clothes with lot of embroidery and embellishments are a strict no as they can look overdone and may not give you an elegant look. It is best to stream line ones appearance before choosing a particular piece of clothing. Also, comfort should be kept in mind for the type of clothes you choose.

Getting a steamer

Be it a cheap clothing or costly, wrinkles make them look cheap either way. Ironing the clothing is the simplest solution but there are some fabrics that cannot be ironed. It is best to own a steamer which can blast even the toughest wrinkles in a couple of minutes. Steam a cloth and leave it with open windows overnight. The cool air will neutralize the odor and the clothing will be ready for wearing the next day.

By following the above-mentioned tips, even a simple fabric can be made to look livelier and more attractive.

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Where can you find dealers for used cars

There are markets for all kinds and types of cars. Car dealers come up with attractive offers for used cars that sometimes buyers cannot just resist.

Generally, a dealer makes more profit on used cars rather than on a new car. That’s the reason; there are plenty of dealers for used cars.

Used car dealership

There are approximately 17,000 car dealers in the country alone. The amount of money a car dealer makes on selling used car depends on the size of his car lot and location. Here are two ways to find used car dealerships.

Websites: Who would have thought that one can sell used cars online? There are many websites that deal with used cars. Websites have made the work a bit easier especially when these days, buying and selling cars can otherwise can be time and money consuming. Cars.com, Autotrader.com, Nadaguides.com, Hemmings.com, Carsdirect.com, Autolist.com, and BringAtrailer.com are some of the websites that can help you find used car dealerships.

Dealers: Based on the location, buyers can approach local dealers to find the right price for used cars. But it is always better to find a reputed dealer or a manufacturer referred one.

What is better buying online or in person?

Both sources, websites and dealers have their pros and cons. When buying online, one can compare the prices, research, and then get the exact idea of how much a car is worth. There are all types and sizes of cars that are put up for sale. Most buyers prefer to check the prices, make, and model online and then approach the dealer. The only downside of virtual car selling is that sometimes one cannot get the correct estimate. Also, there are chances of fraud or scamming.

To get the correct value of a used car, approach the nearby dealer and take an estimate. One can get a proper car checkup done with the dealer and even get the car history. The buyer can test drive the car, negotiate the price, and get the best deal. But that may not be the case everywhere and every time. At times, salesmen are not responsive enough to give the correct quote and moreover, it takes up too much of time, negotiating and bargaining to finalize the deal.

Dealers are the old traditional way to find used car dealerships, whereas the rise of social media has made everything virtual. The best thing would be to evaluate both the choices and then get a better picture. Today for everyone, time is precious. Internet shopping for finding used car dealership works for both, the dealer and buyer. The buyer need not leave his or her home for buying and at times, the dealer delivers the cars at the buyer’s place. Whatever method one uses to find used car dealerships, one needs to remember to shop for dealers that give the best price.

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Frequently asked questions on affordable used cars

What are the differences benefits of buying a used car and not a new one?

The most obvious benefit to buying a used car is that on account of annual depreciation, used cars that are even a few years old cost way less than buying a brand new car. Also, most car manufacturers nowadays ensure a high degree of stability and reliability. Hence, you can get reasonably new models with a host of upgraded features at a fraction of what it would cost to buy the car entirely new.

What is the difference between a used car and a certified pre-owned vehicle?

Some car manufacturers and used car dealerships will themselves put the used cars they sell through a rigorous and painstaking check to ensure that the used car meets all the necessary compliance standards and also has a clear vehicle history. Having done a thorough maintenance inspection, they will then place the car on the used cars market with a certificate attesting to the quality of the pre-owned car. Owing to the emphasis placed on setting and maintain standards in selling used cars, it is often recommended that one opts for a certified pre-owned car rather than purchase your used car from an independent dealer.

What is the difference in insurance premiums when it comes to buying a used car?

Insurance premiums usually decrease conversely to the age of the car. The older a car, the less you have to spend on insuring it. This is one of the reasons why many people opt for a used car. Taxes involved are also less when compared to buying a brand new car.

Should I buy a used car from a third party seller or a dealer?

With most third party used car sellers, there is often no way of checking on their legitimacy and the authenticity of their dealings. There are a large number of third party used car sellers who operate on the shady side of the used cars business, palming off stolen and crash damaged cars on to unsuspecting buyers. A car dealership is an established business that is highly dependent on customer reviews. Hence, the emphasis on quality and transparency is variably higher.

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Create and manage documents with Microsoft Office

With the launch of Microsoft Office 2010, creating and managing documents has become more dynamic and efficient. Microsoft has incorporated a good number of new features with the 2010 version and it has also changed the way media presentations have been done. Several people are still making use of the older versions and they have to upgrade to this new version to enjoy excellent benefits. Here are the top 5 features Office 2010 that cannot be associated with the older Office versions:

Dynamic PowerPoint program

You can have video media in your presentation with the PowerPoint program available in the Microsoft Office 2010 version. There are options for changing color, altering contrast, setting poster frames and editing. The company has launched a new feature known as Broadcast Slide Show and it permits you to share your presentation with others using the web. In order to view, others do not need PowerPoint. All these aspects have made a lot of people ardent fans of Microsoft Office 2010 launched by Microsoft.

Word with enhanced features

Innovative features can be found in the Microsoft Office 2010 Word. Using the Word document, photos can be edited. Changing the color of the photos has become very easy and the background can be edited in an easy way. You can remove the objects that are not needed and it can be saved as a new image. Improved flexibility can be associated with word art and innovative features are introduced with the Search feature. You can find a paste preview option and there are different types of options with text effects as well.

Highly vibrant OneNote features

Organizing, tracking and sharing texts, pictures, video and audio notes can be done using the OneNote feature of the Microsoft Office 2010. Better control over notes can be achieved with innovative features like version tracking, linked notes and auto highlighting.

Amazingly beneficial Microsoft Office Backstage

Microsoft Office Backstage is a new feature introduced and it is being done by replacing the conventional File menu. With this new feature, you can find one common area for the management of files like publish, save, print and share. It offers excellent ease of use and a large number of people have shown great appreciation for the benefits this feature brings. The company has added an enhanced Ribbon on all Microsoft Office 2010 applications and it permits fast and easy access to file commands. The process of customizing tabs becomes really easy and you can have your own exclusive workspace that is congenial for your work style.

Highly impressive Excel

When it comes to the changes introduced in the Microsoft Office 2010, Excel is the one that has been undergone the most dramatic change. With the new version, you can have a graph in an individual cell called Sparklines feature. In the 2007 version, there were only charts. If you want your spread sheets more accurate and simpler to follow, this is the best feature that can be made use of. There are other features such as PivotTable for segmenting and filtering data in multiple layers with the help of Slicers and they help you to assess more effectively and allocate reduced time with the formatting.

Office 2010 by Microsoft is also equipped for many other features that offer excellent benefits for the users. You can find unique features that enhance your presentations, spreadsheets, and documents. Unfortunately, many people are still making use of a lower version of Microsoft Office and they have not yet realized the amazing benefits this new version offers. It is the time to upgrade because there are so many amazing and beneficial features that these people are missing out.

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All you need to know about gout attacks

Gout foot pain is characterized by a sudden and severe attack of excruciating pain along with swelling, redness and tenderness of the joint. It mostly takes place at the side or base of the large toe. It can be defined as a complex form of arthritis which affects more men than women. However, women become increasingly vulnerable to gout foot pain after menopause.The gout foot pain can occur without any aggravation or prior warning. People suffering from gout report that they find themselves wake up in the middle of the night with a burning sensation on their foot. The joint that has been affected by gout feels hot and is much swollen and sensitive. Check out some of the common symptoms of gout pain.

Intense pain in the joints
Gout normally affects the joint in the big toe. But this doesn’t indicate that gout pain cannot occur in hand, wrists, ankles, feet and knees. The pain is likely to be unbearable for in the initial 4 to 12 hours.

Constant discomfort
After the most severe gout foot pain subsides, there can be a continuous discomfort in the joints for a few days. Without the proper gout foot pain treatment, the discomfort would last longer and start spreading to other joints as well.

Redness accompanied by inflammation
The affected areas would become swollen, reddish, tender and warm.

Decrease in the range of motion
With the progress of the gout foot pain, you will experience a decreased range of motion.

Several reasons cause gout foot pain. Listed below are some of the common risk factors that can lead to gout.

Dieting irregularities
If you have a habit of consuming a diet which is rich in meat content along with sweetened beverages, you are more likely to have excess amounts of uric acid. This, in turn, increases your chances of having gout. Those who consume alcohol, particularly beer are more likely to have gout foot pain compared to others.

Obesity
When you are overweight, you are more likely to have high levels of uric acid. It pressurizes your kidneys to flush out the uric acid and the whole condition increases your risk of gout.

Medicines and clinical conditions
If you have high blood pressure and sugar, it also increases your chance of having gout. You should try to reduce the metabolic syndrome, heart and kidney conditions for reducing the chances of suffering from gout foot pain.

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All You Need to Know About Breville Appliances

Breville Appliances is an Australian brand of home appliances. They launched their products in the country in 2002. This company makes some of the best coffee makers, grills, ovens, and toasters in the world. If you are looking for an espresso machine to enjoy café style coffee, you should check out the various appliances offered by Breville. Their contact grills are the best in the industry too. Following are some of the best Breville appliances that you can bring home today.

Espresso machines
Breville offers eight different models of espresso machines. These machines are ideal for small offices or households where family members love their coffee. The price range for these machines is around $399.95 for a simple espresso machine to approximately $2499.95 for the Oracle® Touch model which is automated at every stage and helps in making some classy coffee.

Ovens
Ovens are an integral part of an active kitchen. Breville makes them in all sizes and with several smart functions like air-fry and dehydrate. Breville ovens are known for its slow cook functions that can keep food warm for the longest time. These ovens are worth their price due to the features they provide. Currently, the company is offering seven top-class ovens to its customers. The prices of these ovens range from $149.95 to $399.95 approximately.

Grills and sandwich makers
If your family loves barbeque, you have to bring home a Breville grill. This company also makes some excellent sandwich makers, which are apt if you and your family love grilled sandwiches. The top-end grill model from Breville is a high sear grill and has removable plates. Breville also has indoor grills with some high-tech options. The prices of their latest models are somewhere between $69.95 to $299.95 approximately.

Food processors
Breville makes some of the best food processors currently available in the market. These processors can chop, dice, slice, and do so much more at the press of a button. Breville makes its food processors with the utmost care. It pays attention to the ease of cleaning to ensure that you never have to avoid your processor because of how difficult it is to clean.

Breville’s appliances come in a wide range of options, both in terms of functionality and budget. You can buy these appliances from all the top electronics retailers in the country, both online and offline.

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Top 5 appointment scheduling software to try

Appointment scheduling software is a tool that allows professionals and business organizations to manage bookings and appointments. Organizations can use it to automate multiple scheduling tasks and get reminders for meetings. The right software can help improve organizational efficiency and streamline the process of scheduling and rescheduling appointments, thus improving the customer experience. The tools can provide features like customer and employee management, appointment reminders, calendar integration, mobile compatibility, and payment and revenue processing.

Appointy
Appointy is an easy-to-use platform that helps you book, cancel, and reschedule appointments and meetings. The software sends automated alerts to group members when an appointment gets confirmed or updated. Here are some of its top features:

Appointy allows you to schedule appointments anywhere and at any time
Helps manage class schedules for multiple participants during virtual sessions
Users can share the appointment pages on social media platforms
The tool allows online payments by integrating with payment apps

You can opt for the free or paid Appointy plans. The Growth plan is priced at $29.99/month, Professional at $59.99/month, and Enterprise at $99.99/month. You also get a 14-day free trial.

Simplybook.me
This tool is ideal for service-based industries. The software provides a secure platform to backup data every day. Its top features are: members can accept bookings via multiple channels, customize sites according to your brand’s requirements, and send customized emails and intake forms to clients. You can opt for the Basic plan priced at $9.9 per month, the Standard plan at $29.9 per month, or Premium plan at $59.9 per month. Additionally, you get a 14-day free trial.

Genbook
Genbook is a secure cloud-based appointment scheduling software that promises a smooth business experience. The software also maintains a database of the client’s information. Other top features of the tool are that it provides a calendar for online scheduling, promises an effortless booking experience and client management, 24×7 appointment scheduling, and users get a secured client booking site and integrated payment software. Its paid plans are Solo at $29/month, Team at $59/month, and Company at $99/month.

Calendly
Calendly is a reliable appointment booking software that allows you to set up your bookings and appointments in three simple steps—select availability preferences, share the links with guests, and the booking is added to your calendar. Calendly helps you maintain up-to-date availability status, creates reminders about upcoming meetings, and it can integrate with other applications to enhance business efficiency. You can opt for its Essentials plan for $10/month, Pro plan for $15/month, Teams plan for $20/month, or get a quote for its Enterprise plan. You can get discounted rates when you opt for an annual subscription.

Doodle
Doodle allows direct integration with other applications to make scheduling meetings easier. The software helps generate video and conference links and add them to virtual meetings. Doodle eliminates the confusion of double bookings, updates schedule changes, sends reminders to teams, and offers a secure platform to store client information. You can opt for the Pro plan priced at $6.95/month or the Team plan at $8.95/month.

Using appointment scheduling software is the best way to improve time management. The right tool can automate scheduling tasks, create multiple booking pages, and help you share them on different channels to connect with clients.

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