Certified locksmiths keep your property safe

Getting locked out of your car, home, or business is the sort of day-ruining life event we all experience from time to time. Or instead of getting locked out, you may break a key, or need a door lockout quickly.

If you find yourself in any of these frustrating situations, don't try to save money by attempting to fix the problem yourself.

Instead, here are four compelling reasons it's worthwhile to hire a certified locksmith.

1. Certified locksmiths are highly trained.

When you hire a certified locksmith nearby, you can be sure that they have undergone in-depth training to repair and install a variety of locks. They can quickly and accurately create keys, fix a broken lock, open a locked car door, or install a brand new lock for you. When you choose a professional locksmith, you have peace of mind because you know the job will be completed correctly and in a timely manner.

2. They are also bonded & insured.

Certified locksmiths are typically bonded and insured, which offers you protection against any damages that occur in the course of the job. This means you're completely covered in the unlikely case your door, window, or lock is damaged during the repair or installation process.

While it is unlikely that you will need to make use of this feature, it is reassuring to know your locksmith is credible and responsible enough to go through the process of becoming bonded and insured. If needed, you will be compensated for damaged property.

3. Certified locksmiths keep your property safe.

When you move into a new apartment or house, chances are that someone else has lived there before. If you don't change the locks, you're taking a huge risk. Anyone with a key to that lock will be able to simply walk right in at their leisure, which is unsafe for you.

You may also want to change your locks and duplicate key after losing a key, lending one to a housesitter or acquaintance who didn't return it, or any other situation that makes you feel uneasy. Hiring a 24/7 apartment locksmith service to change the locks will assure your safety and security in the long-run.

4. They always come through in an emergency.

Getting locked out or having another key-related emergency never seems to happen at a convenient time. It is frustrating and in some cases dangerous to be locked out of your home, business, or car. Sometimes locks malfunction, other times tampering causes them to stop working, and in other cases, keys simply get locked inside.

When you call a certified locksmith, they will evaluate the problem and come up with a solution quickly. Certified locksmiths are normally available whenever you need them, even late at night or on the weekend.

As you can see, hiring a certified locksmith has many advantages. Instead of trying to fix or repair a lock yourself, or break into your home or car after being locked out, save time and frustration by calling a certified locksmith.

Citizen Men's BZ0016-50E The Signature Collection Eco-Drive Grand Complication Watch

CITIZEN ECO DRIVE WATCH Black Dial Titanium Men's Watch BZ001650E. 44 mm silver titanium case with a black dial, a scratch resistant sapphire crystal, and luminous rose gold tone hands and hour markers. Minute markers around the rim. Day and date windows. Month subdial. Leap year indicator. Chronograph.
Citizen Signature Black Dial Titanium Men's Watch BZ001650E. 44 mm silver titanium case with a black dial, a scratch resistant sapphire crystal, and luminous rose gold tone hands and hour markers. Minute markers around the rim. Day and date windows. Month subdial. Leap year indicator. Chronograph. Tachymeter. Perpetual Calendar. Hands: hours, minutes, and seconds. Case thickness of 15 mm. 23 mm two tone (silver and rose gold) titanium band with a fold over clasp. Eco drive movement and water resistant up to 100 meters. Signature series.

BRAND	Citizen
SERIES	Perpetual Chrono AT
MODEL	BZ0016-50E
GENDER	Men's
MOVEMENT	Eco-Drive

CASE

CASE SIZE	42 mm
CASE MATERIAL	Titanium
CASE SHAPE	Round

DIAL

DIAL COLOR	Black
CRYSTAL	Scratch Resistant Sapphire

BAND

BAND MATERIAL	Titanium Band
BAND WIDTH	24 mm
CLASP	Fold Over

FEATURES

WATER RESISTANCE	200 Meters
LUMINESCENCE	Hands and Markers
CALENDAR	Day and Date
FUNCTIONS	Day and Date
FEATURES	Chronograph, Tachymeter, Alarm

ADDITIONAL INFO

UPC CODE

013205086687

Underground Swing Operators

Underground or In-Ground Gate operators (for example: MIGHTY MULE 500 ) are the top of the line when it comes to aesthetics and refinement for an estate gate. They consist of steel boxes that are set into concrete at the base of the column or post and attach directly to the bottom of the gate. The circuit board and controls are hidden in a separate box which can be inset into the column or mounted nearby. Because of the low profile these are the ideal choice for doing high end custom gates where the appearance of the finished product is the most important aspect of the install. Due to the way these units connect to the bottom of the gate, it is advisable for installations where there is not more than 3 inches difference in side to side elevation of grade on driveway.

That being said, there are a number of downsides to using this type of operator. First and foremost, you will need to provide drainage for the operator itself since it is mounted below grade. The unit itself will need to be aligned perfectly with the center pivot point of your hinges so that the hinge does not bind up. The initial cost of the operators tends to be the highest of all the styles available. Warranties are typically short with the longest one being 4 years and maintenance can sometimes be a pain depending on the configuration of the operator and the gate.

Mechanical In-ground Operators:
These operators are generally 24VDC. You can find this same unit with several types of electronics driving it. The Platinum Access UGP712 is typical of the 24VDC driven units available and can be powered by 110VAC/220VAC or 24VDC Solar. They include a 4 Year warranty which is the longest on the market and can handle a gate up to 700 lbs and 12’. Viking Access and DoorKing offer similar models, although the warranties are shorter and the DoorKing has a lighter duty weight rating.

Hydraulic in-ground Operators:
FAAC is the lead manufacturer in this field. There are two types of in-ground hydraulic operators. The most common has the pump and dual acting hydraulic piston in the same enclosure. The other version has the pump out-boarded in a cabinet. Both styles use a hydraulic lock to release the gate during an equipment failure. Hydraulic operators need positive stops because they do not have limit switches to control the position. Instead they use a timer on the pump to turn it on and off. Typically you can hear the motor running for a few seconds after the gate has closed or opened. Most of these units run on 110VAC or 220VAC but FAAC recently released the S800Hwhich runs on 24VDC with battery backup and a built-in magnetic encoder to control positioning of the gate. This is a great choice for this type of install because of the high capacity rating at 13’ and 1760 lbs, the nicest features of the available units, and FAAC is a reputable company that stands behind its product.

How to Create a Plan of Action to Grow Your Business

So often I have business owners approach me with ideas and thoughts about growing their business. Often, the problem is not the lack of ideas but where to start and which ones to start with. Sometimes, business owners are so overwhelmed with options (which is a good thing) that they do not know what to do with them. So to not get overwhelmed, it’s necessary to create a plan of action (POA)!

Here are three steps to help you create your own plan of action to grow your business:

How to Know if It’s Time to Expand Your Business

Thinking about expanding your business is a big deal for obvious reasons. If your clientele is growing and you need to move to a bigger space or increase the number of employees, you need to make sure that you’ll continue to operate efficiently and effectively. More importantly, you need to make sure that you don’t get ahead of yourself.

Growing is good, expanding without doing your research is bad. Is your business ready?

Look at the World Around You

In 2005, I had a client that wanted to expand. Business was booming and they were running out of space in their tiny warehouse. By 2007, they had purchased a building and started pouring money into the building and increasing inventory. Then 2008 happened, and the business closed two years later. From boom to bust in three years’ time. That is what can happen if you don’t look at the world around you.

Pay attention to the US and world economic factors. What affects other parts of the country or other industries can affect you as well. Kiplinger puts out economic outlooks and forecasts every year. If strictly looking at the numbers makes your head spin, Forbes usually has a lot of great commentary about indicators and forecasts.

Either way, keep researching until you find one that you can make sense of. These economic forecasts are done by experts, and while they can only make an educated guess on what all of this means, it can at least help you make some good decisions.

Why Collaboration as a Business Model Works

Over the past few months, I have had a myriad of discussions around the concept of collaboration. It has come in many different forms, ranging from finding the right clients to how to create a startup community in my city. Interestingly enough, I had three conversations in one week about how “helping each other” was a necessary and vital part of the small business community. Though, the last conversation blew my mind—not because what was discussed was so innovative or a part of the next technological revolution. It was because it was so simple, important, and the most often overlooked aspect in small business.

Collaboration as business model. I know, right? Your mind is blown too! Collaboration by definition is the act of working with someone to produce or create something. We do this all the time. But what if your business model was not just the result of collaboration, but the act of collaboration?

Shelly Rice is the premier collaborator. I had the opportunity to talk to her for an hour and a half, and I was impressed and overwhelmed at the same time. She made me wonder what I had been doing with my life all of this time! Here are just a few of the nuggets that she shared with me.