Month: February 2021

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Resources

What does a wedding planner do?

So you got engaged (congrats!), now what? As you begin the wedding planning process, it can feel a little overwhelming and couples can often get overwhelmed by choice. A decision you’ll need to make early on is whether or not to hire a wedding planner.

But what does a wedding planner actually do? To find out, we chatted with Natalie of EventZen, who after 8 years of wedding experience has a lot of sage advice to dish out. Read on for her insights on the industry, and advice for couples tying the knot during COVID times.

Natalie is a wedding planner & celebrant with over 8 years experience in the wedding industry / Source: EventZen

What exactly does a wedding planner do? 

A Wedding Planner is essentially a PA / personal assistant for your wedding day. We work with couples in the lead up to their wedding day, any time from 18 months to 1 month before. We offer different services such as Full or Partial planning, and Day of coordination.

I personally offer a month of service which allows me the time to develop a detailed run sheet, liaise with all the vendors and suppliers and help couples with final details and any last-minute bits and pieces that inevitably pop up. Planners will develop a budget for you, research suppliers, give you great options, save you money, bring your vision to life, make sure all details are covered, be the main point of contact, and take away the stress. Look at hiring a wedding planner as being an investment in your sanity! 

Why should you use a wedding planner vs plan on your own?

There are lots of reasons! Here’s a few:

  • You will save time – planning can feel like a part time job if you’re doing it yourself and can be exhausting. It can take anywhere between 80 – 250 hrs to plan a wedding. If you’re already working full time, hiring a planner is worth the investment, you don’t want to walk down the aisle stressed and feeling like a zombie!
  • You will have a professional on board – someone who has done so many different weddings and knows the drill. We know what to expect, good and bad and are well equipped to deal with any curve balls.  
  • We also have contacts. We know all of the best and most trusted professionals in the business and will hook you up with the right suppliers for your wedding. No prices are being hiked up because you mention the word wedding and are an unassuming bride! 
  • We won’t forget the details. If you haven’t planned a wedding before, you’ll quickly realise there are so many different aspects and endless tiny details to consider. A planner will ensure you don’t miss anything and that the process runs smoothly and you don’t feel overwhelmed. 
  • We are there for you to bounce ideas off! We are creatives who are in the know of all things on-trend, and that work (or don’t) for weddings. We will help you create the perfect vision for your day.

Do you need to be having a large wedding to use a wedding planner? 

Absolutely not! The most recent wedding I planned was for 30 people. I had 4 weeks to plan it from scratch as my clients were busy working and wanted to get hitched ASAP. I also plan elopements and that’s about as small as you’ll get! 

Contact local wedding planners

How far in advance should you start planning your wedding? 

I think the planning process should start anywhere from 8 – 12 months before. Locking in a venue and great suppliers such as photographers and a celebrant is good to do ASAP as the good ones get booked for months, sometimes years, in advance.

What are some of the most common mistakes couples make planning the big day? 

The number one mistake I hear of with people who don’t have a planner, is not having someone there to run their day. Even if you don’t have someone to assist in the pre-planning process, I cannot stress how important it is to have a coordinator on the day to run the show and be a main point of contact for all the suppliers, venue and guests. You don’t want anyone asking troubleshooting questions and stressing you out on the day – it goes so quickly and it’s so important to be present in the moment with your loved ones. 

Blowing the budget – not knowing how to allocate it properly. A good planner will always help you stick to your budget, keep you on track and if necessary bring you back to earth to keep your expectations realistic. 

Another common mistake is not having a wet weather backup plan; it’s like raaaaiiiiin on your wedding day! It’s not Ironic… it’s wet… and not great for hair and makeup! Also, not getting a videographer / good photographer – the day goes by so fast and memories fade. Your wedding photos and videos will allow you to watch in real-time and remember one of the most special occasions of your life.

Natalie suggests hiring a wedding planner, or at least an on-the-day coordinator to help ensure you can relax and enjoy the big day / Source: EventZen

Do you have a favourite wedding you’ve worked on? 

Oh that’s a tough one! Every wedding is so different and always so full of love – it’s hard to choose a favourite. I have been so blessed with all of my clients, they’re wonderful couples. I actually really enjoyed the last one I worked on, I really connected with my clients and I was their celebrant as well as their wedding planner. To be able to marry a couple after spending time with them and really getting to know them is such an honour. It gives me all the warm and fuzzies! 

Go-to advice for couples who just got engaged, and don’t know where to start?

Sit down and have a conversation together about what you want. What style you want, who you want there, where you want to do it. Then pick a date, set an ideal budget, and find a wonderful wedding planner! 

Any tips for couples planning a COVID wedding where restrictions are always changing?

Oh my heart goes out to all couples who are planning at this time – it’s hard enough as it is without all this uncertainty! My advice would be to make sure there is complete transparency and clarity between you, your venue, and your suppliers. Discuss possible alternative dates straight away, ask about their cut-off dates, read the fine print on their policies and see where they stand on reducing the number of guests. 

Reducing your guest list can be so hard, especially for large families, but if you can get the list reduced, this can give you a lot more flexibility and save you money. Keep everyone updated – so there is no confusion. Sadly, this is the new norm for now so until things settle, people will understand. Keep updated and check the WHO website and your local Government Health page for the restrictions in your area.

My last tip would be to breathe – you can do this! You are not alone. I am always here for a chat, support, and to help any couples navigate these strange times! 

Categories
Design & decor

5 tips to add an elegant touch to your bedroom

The word traditional in interior design doesn’t mean outdated or boring; it’s quite the opposite. It means imbuing the space with a retro vibe and a unique flair. If you have a traditional bedroom but want to add a distinctly elegant flair to the space, rest assured you have plenty of beautiful options at your disposal.

From a French provincial bedroom look and feel that focuses on statement furniture and soft shapes, all the way to the little details that make a big impact like a statement wall or a custom made rug, the possibilities here are endless. But that doesn’t mean that you can wing it; instead, it means that you need to take a more calculated approach.

After all, beauty in interior design is a product of meticulous planning and preparation. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the five tips to add an elegant touch to a traditional bedroom.

Creating an elegant neutral foundation

One of the simplest ways to revitalize any room is to give it a fresh paint coat. You can achieve many goals with a new paint job, whether you’re looking to evoke certain emotions or imbue the space with timeless elegance. When you’re revitalizing and upgrading a traditional bedroom, there’s nothing that says elegance like a new coat of neutral paint.

Neutral colours like white and off-white are simple, minimalist, and elegant. Their radiant glow emanates a feeling of sophistication. What’s more, neutral hues work amazingly well will rustic furniture and traditional décor pieces. Choose a pure white colour for the walls and off-white curtains on the windows to complement the distressed bedside cabinets and other wooden elements.

Source: Lindy De Waal Interiors

Playing with textures and patterns

Of course, you can’t just turn your bedroom into a winter wonderland by painting it all white because that would make space look too “clean”, and it might devoid it of its unique charm. There has to be a noticeable contrast for every neutral foundation, a set of textures and patterns that create the perfect juxtaposition and bring a dash of elegance to the space.

Luckily, you can play around with patterns and textures all around the room, but you should respect the theme and colour scheme of the space. Choose pillows and throws in contrasting hues to make them pop and break any monotony in the room. Evoke a sense of casual elegance by letting a faux sheepskin drape over the edge of the bed, and most importantly, focus on the rugs.

Introducing elegance with rugs

The floor plays a crucial role in the overall look and feel of every room in your home, especially the bedroom. You can achieve a lot by introducing the right carpet into your bedroom, invoking a sense of elegance and luxury while at the same time making the room feel welcoming and intimate. The best rug designers try to evoke multiple emotions at the same time and create a sensory experience with their rugs.

For example, the current rug collection at MissAmara focuses on traditional rugs that boast an artisan look and the finest materials to create a sense of luxury through numerous senses. You’re not only supposed to admire the rug with your eyes; you also get that sense of elegance by stepping on the carped and feeling the rich fabrics underneath your feet. This is how you use a rug to complement a traditional bedroom and add a distinct dash of elegance to the space. 

Contact local interior designers

Bringing in small but impactful accents

The room can only live and breathe if you give it life, and base décor is not enough to achieve that. While you should never clutter the room if you want to portray elegance, you should introduce those little accents around the space to give it an elegant flair.

Aside from the throws and the linens, consider adding accents like a single, luscious potted plant in the corner of the room. Give your light fixtures unique canopies that complement the design of the room and consider more elegant window blinds to boot. Choose gold accents for select décor pieces like a desk lamp or the hardware around the room to make the space feel more elegant without overdoing it. 

Source: Ama Studio Interiors

Scaling the lighting just right

Last but not least, don’t neglect the lighting in your bedroom. You can’t complete an elegant design without addressing the lighting because it can generate the right emotions and frame the ambience. During the day, you want plenty of natural light to saturate your bedroom but keep in mind that the right blinds can help you create a distinct setting for every occasion.

You want the artificial lighting to cast a soft glow in the evening. The lighting hue shouldn’t be white, nor should it be orange or yellow. It should be a soft off-white hue, diffused by the right canopies in a more earthy tone. You can also choose contrasting canopies like pure black to add a dash of luxury. 

Wrapping up

A traditional bedroom is a beautiful way to create a calm and restorative space away from the rest of the world. That said, it can often use a dash of elegance to make the space pop, so be sure to use these tips to bring elegance into your bedroom and give it a unique flair you’ll love.

Categories
Design & decor

How to become an interior designer in Australia

Do you love creating new looks in your home? Think you have what it takes to be an interior designer? A degree in interior design is an rewarding accomplishment and an excellent stepping stone to a success career. If interior design is your passion, follow your dreams with a degree. Here is a look at the world of interior design courses, including where you can further your education and enroll in a well-rounded course study program. 

What does an Interior Designer do?

An interior designer makes sure a room looks appealing and is structurally correct. In fact, an interior designer may find it necessary to make structural alterations to a home in order to increase safety, or to make it more functional. As an interior designer, you must understand how lighting, colour, texture and materials work together to create a space that’s appealing to the eye. Some job responsibilities that an interior designer does include:

  • Discussing a client’s needs and wants regarding a project
  • Formulating designs that keep clients happy, while still being functional
  • Creating drawings of the plan
  • Deciding on the furniture, floor material, wall coverings, lighting, fixtures, window treatments and fittings
  • Devising an estimate of the price of the project, including materials and construction
  • Supervising the project, in regards to the tradespeople and the delivery of material
  • Evaluating the work and making sure the project is running smoothly, especially in relation to budget and time

Studying Interior Design

In order to become an interior designer, you must complete a program through a university, technical and further education (TAFE) facility or another recognised provider. You can complete the program on-site or through a distance learning program. You’ll learn the basics, as well as more advanced practices. Additionally, you may want to complete some work projects, so you can gain real experience and get an idea of what it’s like to be an interior designer.

Interior design study options

There is a wide variety of interior design courses to choose from, and the ones you opt into will mold you into a professional home stylist. Whether you are looking to further your career or just want to develop your interior design skill set, there are plenty of institutions that will get you there. Here is a look at some of your options:

  • Community colleges are a great place to start your education journey in interior design. Not only do they offer thorough course curriculum, but they are also highly affordable as well. Community colleges frequently cater to busy adults, and offer flexible course schedules that meet the needs of working professionals.
  • TAFE colleges are another great resource for individuals interested in interior design. Many TAFE colleges offer certificate programs in interior design. Check a TAFE college near you for availability.
  • Public and Private Accredited Universities are a premium option for obtaining a degree in interior design. Many offer distance study programs that allow you to study online at home or in another location. 
  • Unaccredited courses are offered at a variety of locations and are perfect for individuals who are looking to enrich their personal knowledge of interior design rather than using it for professional development. Classes are often taught by field experts and can give you an inside look at the world of interior design. 

Choosing Interior Design courses

If you plan to pursue a degree in interior design, you will need to pass some pre-requisite courses such as Principles of Interior Design among others. Here is a look at some of the courses you may want to enroll in:

  • Colour: A course in colour theory and use can help give you the cutting edge in the interior decorating field.
  • Lighting: The difference between a drab home design and a vibrant one can sometimes be the light in which they are presented. A course in the use of lighting can push your styling ability to the front of the class.
  • Space Planning: A course that teaches the important practice of prime spacing of furniture and decor.
  • Feng Shui– A course on the ancient Chinese methods of aetsthetics and balance in the home can improve your interior design knowledge and prowess in a big way.

If you enjoy styling rooms, you may want to consider making a career out of your passion for interior design. Keep in mind that there are many types of courses and programs available to you. You can learn everything from basic information to the skills necessary to become an advanced professional in this field.

Which courses should you choose?

Choosing the courses you will take in this field is really up to you. Choose those that will allow you to learn the aspects of interior design that you have the most interest in and those that will help you meet your career goals. You may be able to study on-site at a learning facility, but do not overlook the benefits and opportunities present in enrolling in distance learning.

For those people who want to learn on-site, consider all of your options, including specialised interior design schools, university, TAFE, and other options. You can take courses as a full-time student or just do it part-time. The flexibility is there for those who want to use distance learning, though. This type of education, such as Cengage, allows you to learn the skills you need on your own time. The educational providers will give you all of the information and materials you need. You’ll also get the support you need through the process. Distance learning also allows you to learn at your own pace, which may mean learning faster to get your education in a shorter amount of time.

What to do after you complete your schooling

After you complete your education, you’ll be faced with a few different job choices. For instance, you can become part of an established firm. In most cities, you can find both large and small firms. Maybe you’re more independent and have a business mind. If this is the case, then you may wish to work for yourself. You can begin working alone and eventually expand your business and hire other interior decorators as you gain more clientele.

Categories
News & updates

What types of insurance do you need as a plumber, a builder or a handyman?

The rise of micro-businesses in Australia is a testament to the freedom and opportunities that running a small enterprise provides. But as more people are choosing to go out and provide specialised trade services, more are being faced with insurance issues that they haven’t encountered before. If the aim is to build a healthy and robust small business community, it’s crucial that more tradies understand insurance well enough to make informed decisions about their risk management plan.

In 2016, the ABS reported that a whopping 88.3% of businesses in Australia had 0 to 4 employees, which puts them in the sole trader or micro-business category, whilst only 9.2% had 5 to 19 employees, which is a more traditional small business size (1). The figure is slightly distorted by the number of ABNs allocated to SMSF ownership companies, but the reality is clear: the staff of the archetypical Australian company can all be driven to work in a small family car.

So if we’re going small, it means more business owners have less resources and limited experience with business insurance. If the trend continues, this issue could become a very real form of exposure within the business community.

With this in mind, let’s have a look at some of the major insurance types that tradies should consider. We’ll also offer some hints on what to consider before you buy, and the kind of information you’ll want to have handy.

Public Liability Insurance

Public Liability (PL) insurance is the number one priority for most small businesses because it covers a huge legal liability – the duty of care we have to keep others and their property safe from injury or damage. Whether a claim is valid or not, PL protects you against the legal and compensation costs involved.

Due to the nature of the claims involved, costs for PL cases can stretch well into the millions of dollars, so the risk for a small business can be incredibly high. Claims can stem from something as seemingly innocuous as tripping on a loose cord, accidentally bumping an expensive piece of equipment, or spilling coffee on a client’s laptop.

Highlighting the importance of PL insurance is the fact that many government and professional organisations require minimum coverage before they’ll licence a practitioner or grant membership admittance.

Professional Indemnity Insurance

Professional Indemnity (PI) insurance is crucial if you provide advice or services, and protects against the legal costs of being accused of any breach of duty. PI protects professionals against a huge legal liability by covering the risk of negligence, and will pay for court costs and compensation claims – regardless of whether a claim is valid or not.

Common business types that require PI include accountants, bookkeepers, masseurs, beauty therapists, consultants, life coaches, personal trainers and psychologists. Claims can arise from something as simple as an accountant missing a tax expense, to something more complex such as an engineering or architectural error leading to faulty building construction.

Business Insurance

Business Insurance (BI) can protect your contents and work premises against loss, damage or theft, as well as the financial pain of business interruption. But this is just the tip of the iceberg, as BI is really an umbrella term for a host of cover options, including things like machinery breakdown, glass, theft, portable equipment, employee dishonesty and money.

With BI, you can literally pick and choose the options you want to include, depending on the nature of your business and specific items that you wish to insure. It might be your tools, your dishwasher or the glass in your store. It may even be that you want to protect yourself against the expense involved in a tax audit, or business interruption so that an insured event doesn’t stop the flow of cash to your company.

The point of BI is that it should be tailored to your specific business needs. Be aware of the exclusions in your policy, however. Finding out you’re not covered for a claim after the event is a painful way to learn.

But wait, there’s more…

PI, PL, and BI are the primary insurance types that micro-businesses may need, but there are others that warrant consideration, including Management Liability, Personal Accident and Cyber Liability insurance. Personal Accident insurance, in particular, is widely needed as it protects your most valuable real asset – your ability to earn an income. Also, as more business is conducted online, the threat of cyber attacks is turning more business owners to Cyber Liability insurance.

So, where to begin?

The process of purchasing business insurance should be prefaced by a little bit of forethought and a small amount of research.

The forethought is related to risk. Ask yourself what kind of insurable risks your business faces and what the severity of those risks might be. The level of impact is key, because severity is much more important than probability. You want to protect yourself against the events that could do the most damage, not the ones that you could easily handle. You’ll also want to have a think about how you personally feel about risk. Do you have a high tolerance for it, or does the thought of risk keep you awake at night?

The research part is mostly about collecting the basic information you’ll need to have handy when you take action, including:

  • Location
  • ABN
  • Industry
  • Business size
  • Number of employees
  • Turnover

In addition, you should have a fair idea of the amount of cover required. With Public Liability insurance, for example, $10 million is a standard amount, but $5 million or $20 million are sometimes required.

Wrap up

Australia isn’t really a nation of small businesses, it’s a nation of micro-businesses. This is a wonderful sign for our economy, but the risk is that vast tranches of the business community are trading without first catering to their insurance needs. The key for sole traders and micro business owners is to find out what those needs are, and shop around for a provider that can meet them.

If you’re a small or micro business on Oneflare, insurance is important for you to have to perform jobs safely and without risk. It’s about being protected from any possible situation that could leave you out of pocket. If you haven’t already, upload a copy of any licenses, certificates and proof of insurance that you may have onto your Oneflare profile.

*Michael Gottlieb is the founder and managing director of BizCover, a leading Australian small business insurance site. He has founded a number of insurance businesses since 2001, and is featured on Insurance Business Magazine’s 2017 Hot List.

BizCover™ Pty Ltd (ABN 68 127 707 975; AR 338440) is a corporate authorised representative of Mega Capital Pty Ltd (ABN 37 098 080 418; AFSL 238549). This is general advice only.

Categories
Construction

What’s the best timber for decking?

A deck is a great addition to any home. They are perfect for entertaining company, soaking up the sun, and eating al fresco when the weather is nice. But before you call your contractor, you may want to consider the kind of materials that you will be using in your renovation project. Why be wasteful and use new timber when you can reuse and repurpose recycled timber for your project. There are many benefits to using recycled timber for building your deck. Read on for more information on using recycled timber for your project.

Timber grading

For centuries, builders and suppliers have used grading systems to assess the quality of construction-grade timber. Today, timber grading has evolved into a complex system that’s virtually impossible for the layman to comprehend. Unless you’re an industry professional, chances are you won’t be able to identify an F14 piece of hardwood or explain how select grade is better than standard grade.

If you’ve ever wondered how timber is graded, here are a few of the basics.

Not all timber is created equal, there are different grades available / Source: Bridgebuilt Pty Ltd

Grading tests

Timber that’s destined for structural use is submitted to these two stress tests:

• Visual: This type of test gauges the timber’s natural strength in relation to its species, and can determine the overall quality of an entire timber load by appraising the apparent defects in different lengths of wood. Timber that is unseasoned is graded from S1 to S7, and timber that is seasoned is graded from SD1 to SD8. The lowest number indicates the greatest strength.

• Mechanical: This type of stress test gauges the overall strength and flexibility or rigidity of the timber. A high number indicates a stronger timber. With the mechanical system, timber is graded from a weak strength of F1 to a high strength of F34. For example, a less-dense timber, such as radiata pine, typically grades from F5 to F14.

Grading for aesthetic timber

Timber that is used for aesthetic or decorative purposes, such as hardwood flooring, is also graded before it can be marketed. Aesthetic timber is classified into three grades:

• Character grade: Aesthetically, this is the lowest grade, and this grade of timber will be full of knots and streaks, presenting a rustic appearance.

• Standard grade: This is a medium-grade timber, which will have some sap streaks, knots and burls; it is commonly used because of its distinctive wood grain appearance.

• Select grade: This grade of timber has few visible knots, burls or sap streaks, and is generally smooth and even, with a uniform, straight grain.

Aesthetic timber grading doesn’t take strength or durability into account; just appearance. For more formal areas, you’ll want to choose a select grade with a smooth wood grain. For a rustic cabin or primitive-style room, you might want to consider using a character grade.

When purchasing a parcel of timber, be aware that not every piece has been graded or appraised. It’s a good idea to take the time to inspect as many pieces as you can for serious defects. By paying attention to the grading and making your own inspection, you’ll find the right quality timber for your construction project.

Contact local decking experts

Using recycled timber for decking

There is plenty of recycled timber to choose from in a variety of different species, so there is a broad window of opportunity to use your favorite type of timber for your project. Here is a look at just some of the timber that may be available to you:

  • Ironbark
  • Tallowwood
  • Blackbutt
  • Jarrah
  • Spotted Gum

Recycled timber is available in a variety of sizes ranging from 19mm-30mm in depth and between 60mm-260mm in width. There are also different and unique deck edging available to give your deck a unique look.

What to consider when choosing recycled timber for decking

If you going to go forward with recycled timber for your deck you will need to consider a few factors. These factors include:

  • Availability: Not all timber types will be available due to season, demand, and local variety. Also, keep in mind that suppliers may not have enough of a particular timber depending on the size of your project.
  • Strength and durability: You need to select a wood that can withstand the pressure of a group of people of varying sizes, as well as furniture and weather, as well. Recycled timbers that are designated for building decks are classified. Make sure you choose timber that has a 15-year guarantee.
  • Cost: A big factor that is sure to alter your decision is cost. Not all timber costs the same. Find a timber that will meet your needs and stay within your budget.
Categories
Building & renovations

What is a cabinet maker?

When you require assistance with a repair or need new construction of timber-related products, you should turn to a cabinet maker professional. Although many cabinet makers only specialise in one expertise, others can complete any requested job.

Cabinet makers mostly receive on-the-job training during their apprenticeship as opposed to formal training. Also, many are woodworking hobbyist who decide to enter the trade. In any situation, they have a specific skill set that matches their interests. The services they can provide include:

  1. Customised furniture design
  2. Restoring furniture
  3. In-home constructions
  4. Outfitting offices

Some cabinet makers work solo, some have a team of apprentices and others may be part of a joinery company.

In most locations, there are numerous cabinet makers to select from. However, what do you need to know about your local cabinet makers? How do you know who is best for the job?

Cabinet makers can create custom builds to suit your interiors – like custom TV cabinets / Source: Maif Kitchen & Shop Fittings

What’s the difference between a cabinet maker and a carpenter?

While both carpenters and cabinet makers are tradespeople that work with wood, there are some key differences between the two. Carpenters will usually work on-site, constructing, shaping and installing the structure of a building.

Cabinet makers on the other hand, will specialise in smaller scale projects – such as furniture or other quality woodwork.

Selecting a cabinet maker

When searching for a reliable cabinet maker there are several considerations, including:

  • Request a portfolio from the tradesperson and ask for references from satisfied customers.
  • If the cabinet maker has a showroom visit it and look at the displays.
  • Try to take a look at their workshop. You can see small hints about their skill through their organisation, equipment, tools and how well their current projects are being constructed.

Once you have selected the right person for the job, ask for a written quote prior to signing anything. Also, if the cabinet maker will be installing fixtures in your home, ensure they have their own insurance. If they do not have this and an accident occurs, you are liable for injuries and damages.

Categories
News & updates

4 ways to grow your margins through automation

Staying ahead of the curve for trade companies is notoriously tricky. The number of moving pieces involved in carrying out a job means that from the initial job request through to invoicing there are thousands of points where a job can go south.

The sheer scale of staying across every single facet of two or three jobs, let alone 20 or 30, is a task that nobody can or should be expected to complete flawlessly. In a lot of cases, there’s a sense that trade businesses are too much trouble past a certain point.

Over the past five years, however, we’ve seen trade companies start to emerge from piles of paperwork and mountains of debt by automating repetitive tasks and adopting smarter organisational tactics.

To spread the good word and help our tradie mates out, we’ve put together a list of tactics we’ve seen take trade companies from ditches to riches.

1. Accounting software

In the early days of running a trades business, there can be a tendency to want to learn how to do everything yourself. It, however, often a much better use of your time to hire a bookkeeper to look after your accounts for you.

To support this, it’s invariably in your best interests to move your books onto accounting software like Xero. Xero is a simple way of staying across all of your financials in a straightforward interface that both you and your bookkeeper can access remotely. Among other smarts, Xero can read photos of all your rogue receipts and turn them into expenses in your dashboard, easily create financial reports, and track inventory.

2. Online Price Books

Flicking through 20kg supplier price books all day is enough exercise to cripple the heftiest of footy players let alone a wee office manager. So put down the deep heat and pick up a job management software solution that does the heavy lifting for you with online price books. Online price books are the new kid on the trade block: they allow you to significantly reduce time spent on manual data entry by saving supplier price book files and auto-populating materials with their respective costs when you’re building quotes and estimates.

3. Just in time stock control

It’s often the little expenses that eat away at trade and service business profits, so it’s pivotal to make sure as little falls through the cracks as possible. Just in time stock control is a framework employed by some of the world’s most successful manufacturers to help with loss mitigation and cash forecasting. This is a methodology for managing materials costs. It requires you only to buy the materials that you need when you need them so that you’re never left with expenses that won’t ultimately be covered by the customer. Here’s how to do it:

  • Quote exclusively what you purchase: Quote with surgical precision and make sure that all the materials you’ll need will be accounted for.
  • Order what you quote: Only purchase the materials required to complete a job.
  • Charge what you buy: If you’ve purchased materials for a job that you know you need to complete the job, make sure you charge them to the job.
  • Control what you buy: Be disciplined in buying (or instructing your team to buy) the correct amounts of materials that have been included in quotes. An easy way to do this is to use the quote as a shopping list.

For many companies, it’s not as easy as going to the supplier a few times a day for materials specific to a job (and moreover, that would be inefficient). If you’re miles away from the nearest supplier, plan and buy all the materials you need for several jobs at once.

4. Digital job card apps

If you run a trade business and you’re just hearing about job card apps now, it’d pay to take a seat as you might get a little light headed when you realise how much time, money and stress you could save by adopting this system. Within job card apps office managers, project managers and tradespeople alike can make real-time updates to job briefs. Whether you’re rescheduling a job, adding hazards, changing an address, scheduling a second job or adding photos/notes – the job card is your oyster. The benefits here speak for themselves; it’s a game changer.

All things considered

Trade and service businesses aren’t an easy game, and things will always go wrong, but it’s on business owners to create a business structure that eases the pressures on their employees and minimises room for error and ultimately grows their margin. There are plenty of ways to do this, but they won’t come knocking at your door, so it’s best to think creatively and be resourceful to find solutions to suit your business.

Categories
News & updates

How to convert Oneflare leads

5 top tips to getting hired on Oneflare and growing your customer base

There’s a few simple things you can do to stand out to potential customers, wow leads and ensure you put your best foot forward to win more business on Oneflare. Here, we’ll take you through five of our top tips to getting hired today. 

1. Optimise your profile 

Seventy percent of customers will check out your business profile before hiring you, and completed profiles win up to 230% more work. The top things customers look for when considering hiring your business are reviews and qualifications, such as insurance, license details or certifications. Make sure your profile is verified by including your ABN and Public Liability Insurance details.

Include a high resolution business logo or profile photo of yourself, professional photos resonate well with customers as they lend authenticity and legitimacy to your business.

Highlight your specific skills and experience in your business description, make it easy for your customers to identify exactly what you do, and what your business specialities are.

The benefits of having a complete online profile are not only limited to differentiating your business from the competitors but also help to build your digital presence, boost your brand and assist with search engine optimisation.

Beyond profile optimisation, also consider:

  • Before & after photos: Your business profile has a portfolio section dedicated to showing photos of your past work. Feature great before-and-after photos of the projects you’re most proud of,customers love to see evidence of past work. Use high quality photos and descriptive captions to highlight the key stages of the project.
  • Getting descriptive:  Use your profile description as a selling tool to make customers hire your business over your competitors. State your business speciality, highlight your passion for your trade, quality of recent work completed, and any specific qualifications, certificates or licenses you hold. Highlight examples of your best work in your portfolio, ensure you have included all of the different types of jobs your business offers in the services section, and provide answers to the Frequently Asked Questions.

2. Get in quickly

To optimise your chances of winning work, always aim to respond to customers with quotes quickly. Sixty percent of winning quotes are submitted within 60 minutes of a job being posted. Responding to quotes quickly proves to the customer that you are keen to complete the work and run a professional business.

Did you know we offer autoquoting? 

3. Get personal

Personalising your quotes will show that you really care. When responding to customer quotes address them by their name, customise the price estimate and message to their needs, make alternative suggestions you feel may work based on their request, and attach any before-and-after photos of similar projects you have completed.

Explain to the customer how you estimated their price, provide a rough breakdown of costs, including labour, materials and time needed to complete the project. Let the customer know what the next steps involve one they have reviewed the estimation, and portray your excitement for completing the work. Phrases such as ‘I’d love to help’, ‘that’s our speciality’ and ‘we’ve just completed a very similar project, check out the before and after photos’ are great ways of showing the passion and expertise in your field of work.

4. Follow up

Oneflare will notify you as soon as a customer has viewed your quote, follow this up with a more personal conversation. Thank them for reviewing your quote and provide them with more information about your expertise, and how this relates to their specific needs. You are able to contact verified customers by their mobile number and email, though it’s always best to reach out via their nominated method of contact. 

Give the customer enough time to review before you make the initial point of contact. Calling them as soon as they have received the quote may catch them off guard and lead them to think you are too pushy. Some customers prefer email or sms communication, while others respond better with a direct call. With time you will develop a deep understanding of your customers and know what triggers a better response from them.

5. Maximise your reviews

Having good reviews on your profile will resonate well with prospective customers. Businesses with five or more reviews are hired, on average, four times more often than those with less. Don’t be afraid to ask your customers to leave a review of your services after you have completed the job. Oneflare makes this easy providing every business with a review link, which is found below your business information on your profile. You can share this link with customers via email/SMS and social media. The Oneflare Win Work Guide includes comprehensive, step by step instructions on how to collect customer reviews.

Categories
Real estate & moving

What are we forgetting when we move?

Moving is an overwhelming process – we’ve all been there. We also know that it’s easy to forget the little things when we’re in the middle of a million tasks. So, when you decide the take the plunge, here’s a list of things to prompt you to remember the little (and most important things). 

Homebuyers always dread moving day. Everyone forgets something on moving day, and there’s no surprise why. Without a doubt, moving is one of the most stressful things we can put ourselves through. From packing to labelling, organising removalists, unpacking and cleaning, there’s always one thing that ends up overlooked. 

Here’s a quick list of some common things we are most likely to forget when it comes to moving day: 

Miscellaneous items & knick-knacks 

When packing items, the small miscellaneous items are the hardest to place and therefore the easiest to lose sight of. Things like cords, remotes, stationery items and other uncategorised items will likely get lost. 

Because these items are hard to place, we have a tendency to throw them in any box, often unmarked, and leave it to deal with when unpacking. This is when we begin to short-change ourselves. Moving is about organising – so even if you don’t know where to place those growing collection of knick-knacks, put them all together and remember to label it accordingly. It will save you the headache when it comes to unpacking. 

Source: Ozziee Movers

Switching addresses

Moving entails a list of a million and one things to do. One of the more forgettable tasks is to remember to switch mailing addresses. 

While remembering to send out your new address to family and friends is one thing, your bank, driver’s license, health fund/Medicare and utilities are important ones to keep on top of. Keep a running list of any subscriptions or institutions that require your address is an excellent way to stay on top of it. It may be the last thing on your mind, but the aim is to do the work’s brunt at the beginning of the moving period, so you’re not drawing out the process. 

Storing important documents

Documents such as birth certificates, passports, insurance and legal documents obviously need to be accounted for. It’s unlikely that you’ll forget to pack these documents, however, it can be easy to forget to remember where you have stored them. Again, it’s easy to assign all paperwork to its own box, but this can quickly turn into a disaster when you have to sift through piles of paperwork to find crucial documents. 

In this case, assigning essential documents to its own box and labelling it specifically will easily solve the problem. If you’re really paranoid about losing them in the mountain of existing boxes, keep it close and store it in the car with other essentials. 

Contact local removalists

Clean as you go

This is another time-saver, organising the move in increments will help you tick off (mentally or otherwise) your checklist. While this is true for packing, it’s also a time/energy saver for cleaning. 

Cleaning as you go can help keep the stress levels down. It can be tempting to want to pack everything up first and deal with the cleaning later but having an entire house to clean at the end is a dreaded task. 

Cleaning a room (vacuuming, wiping/cleaning walls and windows) after the room’s contents is packed will allow you to thoroughly move through the house. You won’t be able to do this with every room, but it will certainly help out when you’re going through more dominant areas of the house like the kitchen. It’s also a good opportunity to do some decluttering in the process.

When you’re finished, close the room off, so you know it’s done and completed. 

Similarly, when you move into your new home, take the time to clean and organise your possessions. You’re more likely to remember where things are if you’ve taken the time to place them rather than dumping them somewhere. This is especially true with storage spaces like your garage and shed. These are the areas that are most likely to get disorganised very quickly. Yes, it will take time, but you’ll be grateful for your efforts later on. 

Remember to set aside the essentials 

Packing and unpacking aside, your first moving day will be the most exhausting and stressful day. 

Having your essentials ready at hand will be your saving grace when it comes to the first few days in your new home. Make sure you have these essentials packed and ready in the car the night before you move to save you the pain of rummaging through your packed boxes. 

  • Bottled water
  • Utensil-free snacks at hand 
  • Disposable plates, cups and cutlery 
  • Cleaning supplies: paper towels, sponges, multi-purpose/window cleaner, broom, dustpan and garbage bin 
  • Charging cords
  • Light bulbs
  • Bathroom essentials – toiletries, bath and hand towels and soap
  • Laundry supplies
  • Bedding essentials – sheets, duvets/duvet covers and pillowcases

You’ll likely spend the first few nights eating out or ordering in but if you decide to cook, refrain from anything that requires too much effort or cooking supplies. Be sure not to unpack anything unless you have a designated space for it.

Aside from the above, pack your personal possessions as if you were going away from the weekend – be sure that you have your toiletries and any medication packed with you. Again, the last thing you want is to be going through packed boxes trying to find your shampoo and conditioner. 

Source: R.W.C Transport

Understand the value of your property

It may not seem like it, but understanding your new home’s value is the first pre-emptive step in moving into it. Before you make an offer, a property valuation is a good start to ensure that you’re paying the current market value. You don’t want to pay more than what the property is worth. Purchasing a property, the process of moving into it and everything that can come after is expensive, and you don’t want to add any unnecessary costs. A property valuation will give you a clear indication of the property worth. It will help you save a bucket load in long term mortgage repayments. 

Moving will always be a hassle; however, remembering these little things can help save you time and (more importantly) money. Being as organised as you can be will be your saving grace and remember to label everything. The rest will fall into place. Happy moving!