Hiring a Restoration Company

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September 2, 2020

Disasters are very abrupt and devastating. They breakdown a person mentally and financially, many lose their close ones or their hard-earned assets due to the adverse effects of disasters. It takes years of hard work to collect every penny for building a home, but it takes a few seconds for a fire to burn them down into ashes. As we are moving forth in the 21st century, the ecosystem balance is getting disrupted more than the past years, the number of floods, landslides, cyclones are increasing tremendously.

To help the common man in dealing with these disasters or any other accidents like a house fire, water damage, roof damage, many restoration companies have come up. These restoration companies are with their clients from the evacuation process until settling the insurance claims. They help you in dealing with every disaster-related aspect like ensuring the safety of human and animal lives, carrying out the post-disaster cleaning process, preventing secondary damages, collecting evidence to settle insurance claims. Restoration Company plays a vital role in disaster recovery and disaster management; hence, we must only hire a trust-worthy restoration company. Always remember that you are trusting them with your property and funds, so the best company should be employed. Before, hiring the restoration company always go through the portfolio of the company or its website to get the necessary information about the company, its achievements etc.

frs247.com offers prompt and reliable service; they have been deep-rooted in the restoration industry for years with extremely skilled and well-equipped technicians. They have set an outstanding benchmark in settling insurance claims and versatile. They provide restoration services or minute as well as severe damages, irrespective of the cause of the disaster.

Steps to follow while hiring a restoration company:

1. Go through their experience record

It is very important to go through the work history and work specimens of the company you intend to hire. Their experience can be a handy unit to measure their efficiency and restoration strategies. If the company is experienced, this implies that its employees are also experienced, skilled, and trustworthy. This helps you in being at mental peace after the company takes over the site.

2. Remember, cheaper may not be better

It is a good consumer strategy to compare the estimates given by the various companies. Still, it is not true that the cheapest solution will be the most reliable and durable solution. For any damage or restoration strategy, there are plenty of cheap alternatives available, but that are not durable and can cost you even more in the long run. So, when you are making the deal, you must invest your money in a reliable solution instead of a cheap solution.

Source: Restoration & Remediation Magazine

3. The company should be certified

Similar to all the competitive industries, the restoration industry also has its body for issuing authenticated certificates to worthy companies. Institute for Inspection, Cleaning, Restoration Certification (IICRC) or the Restoration Industry Association (RIA) are the two top certifications that a restoration company may procure. The certificate verifies the company’s credentials and operations industrially. Click Here if you want to see the sample of a certified professional tile & floor restoration company.

4. Settling insurance claims

Settling insurance claims is another significant task of a restoration company. The usual homeowners and businessman are not so familiar with the terms and requirements of an insurance service provider, here the need for restoration experts arises. A restoration company should have specific officers that deal with such financial matters. The report generated by the restoration company should contain as the bills of the damage expenses and other supporting evidence. As if the submitted documents are in the incorrect format or any necessary document or relevant evidence is missing, the insurance service provider will reject the request instantly.

5. The company should be insured

If the company is insured, that means its employees and equipment are in the proper working condition and well-maintained. Some restoration processes are long-term and may require constant inspection and maintenance if the restoration company is not well-established; it will cause a lot of problems later. The restoration process can be prone to risk, so we must ensure that the company is deep-rooted and secure.

6. Customer reviews and ratings

Always go through the customer reviews and ratings given on the website of the restoration company. Many customers add their experience with the company on social-media through Quora or other forums. Before hiring any company, we must go through the experience details shared by others, so that we a distinct picture of the quality of the service provided and the reliability and dedication level of the company. If the company is in your neighbourhood, you can contact your friends and neighbours for their feedback. We learn and gain from other’s experience, so we must refer to them.

7. Availability in terms of time and location

Any ideal restoration company should provide twenty-four hours service that too seven days a week, as disasters are known for being abrupt. Fire damages, water damages or any other damage or emergency may occur any time. A good restoration company should be deep-rooted at least in its city, with a significant number of branches or offices, so that a prompt service can be given to the citizens.

8. Payment procedure

You must never pay any restoration company upfront, without knowing the estimate of the repair. An ideal restoration company always gives you a detailed report about the expenses incurred and the corresponding repair procedure. This helps in getting a proper understanding of the entire procedure and assures that your money is being spent wisely. The estimation report also helps us in making the insurance claim later.

9. Set of services offered

Many damages are inter-linked, like roof damages often lead to water damage, water damage often lead to drywall damage, so we must make sure that the restoration company covers a wide range of damages. Apart from the basic services of cleaning and repair, the restoration provider should be efficient enough to assist you in settling insurance claims and documentation of the expenses.

Feel free to ask any question regarding the restoration services we at First Restoration Services help everyone.

Winter Holidays in Krakow

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Дмитра Врачарић

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September 2, 2020

Krakow in winter time is becoming very popular for tourists looking for that little extra besides the usual winter sports opportunities. Snow laden Krakow presents a fairy tale image of white topped buildings and glistening trees reflecting the sunlight. It looks fantastic but what can you do during your break? Here are some suggestions on sights, activities and places to visit.

Christmas Market

Krakow’s Christmas market is held on Rynek Square in the Old Town or city centre, the whole square is filled with quaint wooden stalls offering everything you can imagine. This tradition of the Christmas market first started before the 2^nd World War then ceased under USSR rule to be re-instated in 1989 after the fall of communism. It commences in early December and continues until early January.

Apart from the usual souvenir sellers many artisans from the surrounding towns and cities bring their local specialities and wares to sell to the abundant amount of visitors during the Festive Season. Some of the more unusual artefacts on are sheepskin and cattle leather products, honey and gingerbread, intricate lace products and handmade carpentry utensils.

There are also food stalls serving regional winter recipes to combat the minus temperatures and another Polish speciality of mulled wine and beer served piping hot to keep out the winter chill while listening to Christmas carols being sung by groups of people dressed in traditional period clothing with candle lamps and chestnuts roasting.

Szopki

The well-known carol of Away in a Manger comes to mind when you hear Szopki as they are nativity creations of Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus in his crib but in Polish style with bright colourful scenes of turrets and arches resembling the central building on Rynek called Sukiennice. They come in all different sizes and are displayed around the various monuments in Krakow. This tradition stems back to the Middle ages and the main exhibition is held in Celestat Exhibition Hall. Many of the interpretations of the traditional nativity scene as you may know it are absolutely amazing and adds to the spirit of Yuletide festive greetings.

Ice Skating

Every winter ice skating rinks are set up, the main one being in Jordan Park, you can hire out the skates and spend an hour of fun trying stay on your feet. In recent times other seasonal ice rinks have appeared and Galleria Krakowska Shopping Mall has one on the square next to the train station and a little further from the city centre in the Nowa Huta area of Krakow which is an attraction in itself as Nowa Huta was created as a live, play, work project under the Russian regime after WWII with the workers accommodation separated by a green area the factory zone, a concept at that time proved successful and today a charming sightseeing tour.

Sleigh Rides

Rynek the main square is lined with the Horse & Carriage operators ready to give you a tour of the city but in winter a visit to the nearby Ojców National Park and you can have a fantastic or even romantic sleigh ride in the snow filled countryside with the elegantly decorated horses and jingle bell your way through the forest.

Krakow Nightlife

Although nightlife in Krakow is vibrant all year round, winter time is a great time to explore the abundance of Krakow cellar bars and clubs. From cozy places to huge nightclubs for 2000 people Krakow has it all. If you are into craft beer, there are 2 microbreweries just around the Market Square, plus plenty of craft beer pubs. If wine is your thing, then you will surely enjoy mulled wine which you can try at one of many “barrel-kiosk” at the Main Market.

And last but not least- great Polish vodka. Specialist companies provide well organised vodka tasting activities tours plus cocktail making events (you might want to check Party Krakow if you’re planning a stag do in Krakow) . The arranged events include Guides and platters of drinking snacks to complete the experience.

Zakopane

Visitors to Krakow often take advantage the day trips to the nearby picturesque country-side and the breath-taking views of the Tatra and Pieniny Mountain ranges along with their respective national parks. The Tatra Mountains are home to Zakopane and a little further south the Pieniny Mountain range which is shared between Poland and Slovakia. Zakopane is the most well-known, popular and all year destination in Poland that Polish families flock to visit during the seasonal festivities and holidays. Poland’s highest city in altitude, at just over 11,000m has its origins with the highlander settlers from as far back as the 15^th century with mining for copper, silver and gold and, of course, farming, one of the oldest ironworks established in the 19^th century.

Nestled in the Tatra Mountains close to the Zakopianka River the city offers a wide variety of activities for visitors in the winter season. The journey from Krakow takes 90 minutes. After The Great War Zakopane became popular with artists, writers and poets who wished to find inspiration in the peace and quiet this mountain location provided. They resided in many of the Dom Kultury which are still there today and made available for tourist lodging although there are plenty of quality hotels that have been built to accommodate the ever increasing visitors.

Zakopane is abundant with museums and galleries populating the area, the Tatra Mountain Museum exhibiting the history and lives of the highland families, Zakopane has its own thermal spas and well-being centres to relax in after a full day’s skiing or snowboarding. Horse and olde worlde wooden sleigh carriages with a driver in highlander dress will be happy to take you on a tour If you are really adventurous there are some highlander dishes to try but not found in the more mainstream restaurants.

Zakopane is the Poland’s winter capital and the activities available go from downhill skiing or skiing tours, snowboarding, cross country ski trekking, snowmobiling, horse and husky sleigh tours, quad biking, snow shoe walking tours and the nation’s cherished sport of ski jumping.

All of these activities except ski jumping can be taken for short or longer periods according to your length of stay with all the equipment necessary if you don’t have your own. Let’s say that you could go skiing for the day even if your accommodation is in Krakow with the many companies offering package deals to suit.

Antonio Cuellar: The Luxury Travel Connoisseur Who Succeeded

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Дмитра Врачарић

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September 2, 2020

Luxury Resort Photographer Antonio Cuellar Small — Source: prweb

Antonio Cuellar is best known as a luxury resort photographer and cinematographer who specializes in capturing the architecture and lifestyle of the world’s most luxurious hotels and resorts. He is very well known for his signature lighting and creative composition.

But did you know that he is a Luxury Travel Guide contributor too?

People often confide in successful luxury travel connoisseurs about how they always dreamt of traveling the world for a living. For most, it sure is a fleeting dream during a moment of hatred at their current jobs. It’s something they would never actually figure out a way to do.

But for some people like Antonio Cuellar, the dream is real and more importantly, they have the drive to make it happen. And since we haven’t heard any travel blogger saying they hate exploring the magic of luxurious places, Oprah is right to feature the job of a luxury travel advisor as one of the “happiest jobs in America”. Antonio Cuellar had a lot of resilience to reach where he is right now and actually be part of the club “happiest jobs in America” too.

Not many people know but Anotonio Cuellar has a Bachelor degree in Arts, Sound Engineering and Music Production from Berklee College of Music. His education is followed by an MBA degree in Services Marketing from the University of Miami and even back then his activities and societies included being part of the Photography club. A degree in business has really helped him to communicate with his clients in the best way possible.

His education did not end there though. He also is a licensed Remote Pilot (Drone Operator) from the U.S. Department of Transportation. His kind and generous nature also led him to do volunteer work for the organization Flashes of Hope where he was involved with this non-profit organization to benefit children suffering from cancer. In his career, Antonio did not only gather recognition but also accolades like Best Photographer of 2013 by the American Society of Media Photographers.

His love to explore magical luxurious hotels and resorts earned him a legendary eye for detail that also contributed to his successful career as a Luxury Travel Connoisseur. If anyone is looking forward to building a career as a luxury travel blogger or any luxury boutique hotel is looking forward to wise tips on how to cater to the needs of the luxury traveler of today, Antonio Cuellar is the man.

Cuellar now is one of the esteemed judges on the Luxury Travel Guide Awards. He, as an expert in luxury travel, lifestyle, and accommodation, decides with a panel of other esteemed judges like Travel Channel TV Host Anthony Melchiorri from Hotel Impossible and Shane Green host of TV show Resort Rescue, which are the best luxury products, services, individuals, and places where luxury travelers can find solace. They basically identify everything from the very best hotels to the airlines and even tour operators as they have scoured the globe and traveled extensively in order to be able to do so objectively.

Antonio Cuellar has offices in New York, London and Miami. He also owns the majority of his equipment. Having offices at three places, owning the majority of the equipment, timely delivery, and excellent client communication, ensure his clients receive work of the highest quality. There’d be no one who will disagree on the fact that the images he captures tell stories and accentuate the qualities of a property in the best way possible. One can have a look at his work both on his website Antonio Cuellar Photography or his Instagram account where he often posts about his work and shows his fondness towards luxury travel trivia.

At the same time, he travels worldwide for his notable clients with assignments taking him to various parts of the world; Mexico, Ireland, China, Dubai. Scotland, etc. He also is approved by major hotel brands like Starwood, Marriott, and Hilton.

Not many people know but Antonio is fluent in Spanish and English and also has a working knowledge of the Portuguese language. The fact that he has a business degree helps him towards unmatchable client communication and also conveying his message in the most subtle and understandable way. One can read his guides on luxury travel at various places on his website.

After seamlessly traveling and collaborating with various clients he decided to find a way to translate his eye for detail in a career as a luxury travel advisor and connoisseur. Basically, he translated his passion into a career. Having a look at his work as an LGT contributor, an LGT Awards judge, and a luxury hotel and resorts photographer, one can understand his journey and also confirm that he enjoys every step of the planning process. He takes pride and must feel incredibly fulfilled to realize that he has created a life-altering experience for the guests and the hotels too.

Having a look at his numerous interviews about luxury travel and his passion to curate the best luxury travel experiences available for the affluent travelers, we also come to think that he is born to do all of this and even continue to contribute with his beautiful insights about the luxury hotel industry. But the truth is that he has done a lot of hard work to reach where he is.

Antonio Cuellar is an inspiration for many aspiring luxury travel connoisseurs because he actually found his space in this industry. He is up to experiencing magical luxury experiences at the best of best places across the globe that too at the expense of his profession.

In a world where it is difficult to make a living by doing the work that you love to do, Antonio Cuellar is breaking the norm and is one of the very few people who are not only surviving but also making it big and succeeding at what they’re doing.

Any job is a huge challenge at the beginning because it sure is going to be worth something. Antonio’s passion for travel as a lifestyle has made him even love the parts of the job that may not seem very glamorous. Every job has those parts. But the key is to really love to travel and have a passion to share it with people.

In the end, everyone should look up to him as far as branding oneself is concerned. In such industries, the #1 thing is to sell yourself the right way with extraordinary work and contribution to the hotel industry.

Are Online Casinos the Answer to Economic Recovery in the US?

By

Abdar Grincoli

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September 2, 2020

After months of a nationwide lockdown in the US, an economic crisis was inevitable. The country depends on businesses that involve face to face transactions immensely. And since they had to close down for safety reasons, there was little anyone could do to protect the economy.

Luckily, not every industry has been hard hit by the lockdown. Some sectors like online casinos have been thriving amid everything happening in the world. So, should every state legalize online gambling? Could online casinos provide a solution to America’s economic challenges?

Over One Million Jobs

One of the most devastating impacts of the nationwide lockdown regards job losses. CNBC reports over 47 million Americans have lost work temporarily or permanently since March. That translates to 32.1% of the nation being unemployed.

Against that backdrop, there’s a dire need for job creation. Could online casinos be the answer? Legalizing online gaming countrywide would help create at least one million jobs according to financial experts.

To expound, Britain’s online gaming sector employs 107,000 people. And the UK is a fraction the size of Texas. New Jersey, one of the few states where online gaming is legal, has already recovered the 11,000 jobs lost after five casinos shut down in 2014.

Better yet, the Garden State has added 35,000+ jobs since it legalized online gaming in 2018. If every state were to add a similar number of jobs through online casinos, at least 1,750,000 new jobs would be created.

$20 Billion in Revenue

Last year, New Jersey casinos generated $3.4 billion from the casino industry. Pennsylvania’s gambling sector generated an almost equal amount of money. This shows there’s immense potential in the iGaming sector—only that more states haven’t realized it yet.

In all fairness, New Jersey and Pennsylvania host almost all of the best online casino sites in the USA as discussed on the bestonlinecasino.com. That’s because of their progressive gaming laws. They were also two of the top four to legalize online casinos in the country.

With that in mind, there’s hope things will get better starting next year once the economy opens up fully. Britain’s remote gaming industry generates the country roughly $7 billion each year. And as we mentioned earlier, its market is significantly smaller than the US.

Britain has a mature online gaming market, though. And it took decades for the island to have an industry that generates so much revenue. That said, America’s gigantic market means it could dwarf Britain’s gaming revenue in just a few years.

$1Billion+ Tax Income

Online casinos are a taxation cash cow for countries and states that have legalized it. Take New Jersey as an example. It generated $36 million last year through direct tax income from online casinos.

Across the Atlantic, Britain generated $3.8 billion in the same period. The income was an increase from 2018 despite the fact that a new law was introduced to limit betting amounts in the country.

Interestingly, Britain has a significantly lower tax rate than many US states where remote gaming is allowed. New Jersey is an exception with a 13% tax rate although it also charges gamblers. Britain does not.

As an estimate, American states could generate a combined $2 billion if they taxed casinos in the same way New Jersey does. But considering some jurisdictions charge up to 50%, online casino tax could become a critical source of income for many states.

Protection from Future Lockdowns

As the US prepares to open up after months of a lockdown, experts are asking for one thing. America should consider online-based jobs. Not everyone will get employed in the remote gaming sector.

In fact, online casinos are only one industry of the many Internet-based sectors not affected by the lockdown. However, they provide proof that America’s economic future lies online. More people should consider Internet-based jobs for a quick recovery of the economy.

Some organizations like Facebook and Google are a step ahead and will allow their employees to work from home until 2024. These companies believe an online-work environment is feasible and needed to avoid the sort of economic loss suffered this year.

Is it possible for all businesses to move online? Most likely not. However, many industries can move some sections of their departments online. That way, whole industries don’t have to be shut down during future pandemics.

Casino Gaming as a Profession

So far, we’ve said online casinos could add nearly million jobs through professions like dealers, managers and customer service agents. But there’s one more position we haven’t mentioned yet: gaming as a career.

Some people don’t believe it’s possible to play casino games professionally. Yet, professional gamblers exist. A huge portion of them bet on sports and poker. But there’s a small group that also delves into blackjack, slots and roulette.

Professional casino players choose their games carefully. They have strategies, goals, and tactics for maximizing their profits. Some of them also take online classes and subscribe to magazines just to sharpen their skills.

With that in mind, most casino millionaires made their money through sheer luck. They took a risk with a small bet, spun the reels of a slot machine and hit the jackpot. The luckiest winner is a British ex-soldier who won £13.2 million in 2015.

Ending the Black Market

Legalizing online casinos could shutter a black-market worth billions of dollars. It’s already happening according to the American Gaming Association (AGA). Before 2018, the majority of bets in America took place through unregulated casinos.

But after the landmark SCOTUS decision in 2018, black market sports betting has decreased by 25% based on a study by the AGA. The American Gaming Association also discovered 74% of Americans want the country to legalize online casinos.

In other words, the people who drive the black-market are willing to end it under proper circumstances. Of course, the conditions in question include legalizing all forms of online gaming in every state.

Another condition is to provide a friendly tax environment. States could end taxation for player wins or keep it low. That way, casino players will no longer have a reason to gamble at unregulated overseas gaming websites.

Delaware Casinos Thriving After Reopening From Lockdown

By

Abdar Grincoli

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September 2, 2020

Delaware’s casinos have been performing incredibly well post lockdown and for good reasons. For starters, they are now free to welcome patrons albeit with strict rules. On the flipside, online casinos in the state have grown in popularity and are witnessing an upsurge of new customers.

Unlike many states, Delaware has some of the most progressive gaming laws. And thanks to these regulations, the state’s gaming sector is one of the first industries to open post lockdown.

In all fairness, Delaware’s legal casino industry is small. It consists of three brick and mortar casinos and three mobile gaming websites. Generally speaking, land-based establishments have dominating the market for long. But as we’ve outlined below, the Internet-based gaming is quickly overtaking land-based casinos.

Map of Delaware Casinos

Dover Downs Hotel is the biggest casino in Delaware with a land size of 165,000 square feet. It features a gaming floor with 3200 slot machines and 41 tables. Add 18 poker tables to this list and you have a house capable of providing any gambling tournament.

While it’s big in size, Dover Downs lags behind Casino Delaware Park in ratings. That’s probably because Delaware Park has a horse racing track, a golf course, restaurants and bars. Or maybe people just like Delaware Park’s games better.

The only way to find out is to visit both casinos and experience their products. In case you’re wondering, the Delaware casino map at casinos.us provides more details about these two casinos. It also shows a map of how to visit all the casinos and racinos in the Diamond State.

The third land-based casino in Delaware is Harrington Raceway & Casino. It was created to host horse racing events primarily. But with time, it added gaming positions like slots, poker and roulette games. It also supports real event sports betting, so you can wager on both sports and casino games.

Online Casinos in Delaware

Delaware’s online gambling legal environment is a tad complicated. It features one system managed by 888 Holdings. Under this system nearly all forms of online gaming are authorized. That includes slots, video poker, roulette, blackjack, poker and bingo.

Although Delaware permits online gaming, it hasn’t authorized many online casinos. That makes it an excellent target for foreign casinos that provide casino games in states with legal gambling environments.

These foreign online casinos are the reason there’s an uptick of online gaming in DE. Most of them are licensed in Malta, Curacao and Britain. But more importantly, they are famous for these outstanding features:

Frequent Bonuses

Many of the casinos that target players from Delaware are international corporations known for their generous bonuses. They give out bonuses to all new customers although the offers are optional.

Should you claim these offers? It depends on what you get. No deposit bonuses, for example, let you play casino games for real money immediately you create an account. They are fantastic offers for testing a new gaming website.

On the flip side, first deposit bonuses are an excellent choice if you want to increase your bankroll. Some casinos give you a more bountiful reward—say 400% your deposit. The betting credits magnify your stakes and help increase your winning chances.

At the best DE casinos, bonuses don’t stop at the welcome gates. You receive rewards weekly or monthly. And if you increase your bet sizes, you become an esteemed VIP customer.

Massive Game Libraries

Foreign casinos feature massive game libraries because they’ve been around longer than most US online casinos. They also have access to the world’s best software developers: Playtech, Microgaming, NetEnt, Betsoft and Evolution Gaming.

The best part of online casino games is that they provide more than variety. They feature highly paying software. What’s more, they are jam-packed with in-game features, including progressive jackpots that pay up to $20 million.

Thanks to technology, online casinos also provide social gaming through live dealer games. You can play Texas Hold’Em with your friends or blackjack against a human dealer. Crucially, you can see and interact with your opponents.

Another benefit of online games is that they are mobile responsive. If you have an iOS or android device, you can play hundreds of slots or card games at the comfort of your home.

User Friendly Interfaces

Today’s gaming websites are designed to provide a smooth gaming experience for both new and experienced players. For that reason, they feature neat, professionally designed websites and apps.

Finding games or bonuses at a top-rated casino is a breeze. All you need is to use a search bar or navigate through game categories. This makes searching for a game much easier than it’s at brick and mortar casinos.

User friendly interfaces also ease the gaming process. That’s because every game responds fast and smoothly. And since the websites are maintained regularly, they rarely have downtimes.

Variety of Payment Methods

You can deposit and withdraw money from Delaware online casinos in many ways. On the one hand, you could use Visa, MasterCard or Maestro. On the other hand, you can opt for a direct wire transfer.

If you’re looking for a faster payment method, you could choose PayPal, Skrill, Neteller or any other e-wallet. Crypto fans could also choose Bitcoin or Altcoin to benefit from their low fees and fast transactions.

Better than payment variety, online casinos in Delaware facilitate payments fast. Deposits reflect in your account almost instantly. In contrast, withdrawals take as fast as five minutes for e-wallets or a few days for bank payments.

Safety and Fairness

One of the biggest fears people had before Delaware legalized online casinos concerned safety. People weren’t sure whether they could trust gaming websites. These days, Delaware provides a safe, regulated market for online casinos.

Regarding foreign casinos, Delaware might not handle their regulation. But that doesn’t mean they are unsafe. Some of the companies are extremely reputable overseas and that’s because they are safe and secure.

Foreign online casinos provide fairness by encrypting your data and following strict regulation laws. They also invite public auditors to verify their games are safe and fair.

Benefits of Smoking Kratom

By

Дмитра Врачарић

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September 2, 2020

In recent years you have probably heard about Kratom, but you may still not know what it is and what it is used for. Mitragyna speciose, also known as Kratom, is a tropical evergreen tree from the coffee family. It is native to Southeast Asia and indigenous to Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea. Since the early 19th century at least, it has been used in various traditional medicinal practices. Since it has stimulant effects, nowadays it is mostly used by workers in laborious and monotonous professions who must stave off exhaustion. In addition, it is a mood enhancer and a painkiller.

Kratom has different benefits and it can be argued that it can be useful for a wide variety of people. Similar to therapeutic drugs and (in)famous drug-like items, it can be smoked and it is one of the most popular yet controversial ways of intake. In this article, we will explore the benefits of smoking this plant and tell you why you might be inclined to try it. To learn more, make sure to visit oasiskratom.com.

Smoking Kratom

Kratom powder is a much more popular way of taking the plant, as it can be used in various ways. Smoking on the other hand is often looked down upon because many are related to some illegal drugs. Therefore, customers are much more willing to buy powder products.

While smoking is less efficient than powder use, it is a great way to treat addictions and habits of using other, more serious smoking substances that harm the body. The Kratom leaf is easy to burn, making it more than a viable option for smoking. However, considering how dominant powder use is, there is not enough data on how much smoking works. Despite the lack of knowledge in the West, people of Southeast Asia have been smoking Kratom leaves for decades.

What they know from their long experience of smoking Kratom is that it is much less powerful than powder because most of the ingredients burn up quickly, like they do in the smoking of most other substances. Considering this fact, a higher dosage is needed for the Kratom to be effective. To get the equivalent of an average oral powder dose, there should be between 20 and 25 grams of leaves. Depending on the user’s health and body shape, this may further vary. As the power of the plant is lost in the burning process, one needs more of it to get the effects and results.

Although it is possible to smoke Kratom powder, the same problem is present since more of it is needed to feel its benefits. The powder will also burn away rather quickly and you will need more of it to feel the same effect you would from taking it orally.

Benefits

1. Addiction Treatment

As mentioned earlier, one of the most important benefits of smoking the leaves of this plant is how it helps addictions and abuse of other substances. There are no major side effects and it is next to impossible to develop an addiction to Kratom, as one would to Marijuana for example. Therefore, it someone is looking to break a bad habit, switching to Kratom is a great way to keep doing virtually the same thing while escaping the detrimental effects of other illegal and controlled plants and drugs. All in all, Kratom is a much safer and healthier replacement for anything else that is smoked, be it drugs or regular tobacco cigarettes.

2. Lack of Addictive Chemicals

Kratom does not develop an addiction in users because it lacks the chemicals that tend to build up dependencies. On the contrary, this plant provides a soothing effect on the mind and body as it is completely natural. While it could be argued that the ingredients influence the receptors of the body the same way as some opioids, there is far less risk involved and therefore no addictions nor health problems.

3. Treatment of Various Issues

There are different types of Kratom plants, but all of them are famous in Southeast Asian cultures for their amazing abilities to reduce both physical and emotional pain. They have been also used as mood enhancers and confidence booster by anyone who is feeling down. Common problems like joint pains and stiff movements are often treated with Kratom too. If higher doses are used, Kratom is an effective tool in fighting chronic anxiety and depression, and it can even work as an effective natural aphrodisiac that lacks all of the dangerous and annoying side effects of medication and other artificial libido supplements.

Potential Issues

Like most things, Kratom leaves and powder for smoking are not without their bad sides. For one, storing large amounts of it can be troublesome, and you need large amounts if you mean to regularly use it because of how much smoking requires. What is more, there are plenty of low-tier products out there, so finding the right one can be challenging. Some manufacturers mix low-grade Kratom with light amounts of top-quality plants, a practice you should try to avoid. Furthermore, if you live in a country or region that is not so open to the ideas of smoking plants, you might end up in legal trouble since some people may think you are consuming something else. An obvious negative side for beginners is the lack of definite information on how much to use. It seems that it greatly depends on the person and their limits, as well as their body constitution and health history. In case of respiratory conditions, you should definitely smoke Kratom, but this is true for any kind of inhaling no matter the plant or substance.

Final Thoughts

While smoking Kratom is not the most efficient way of consuming it, and although most experienced people think it is not worth it, there are many who like the general practice of smoking either because they used to smoke something else, or because they find it convenient and interesting. For breaking other addictions it is more than useful. In summation, it is up to each individual and what they enjoy doing whether or not they will like smoking Kratom leaves or powder.

10 Best Logo Templates for Photoshop

By

Дмитра Врачарић

-

September 1, 2020

Nowadays, everyone understands the meaning of a logo in the normal functioning and development of any company. It is an identification mark, a kind of brand marking. That is why well-known companies don’t mind spending money for the logo development. They just know that all of this money will more than pay off in the future.

Logo development is not as easy as it might seem at first glance. Some of them are designed by entire studios and teams of professional designers and marketers. However, even the best design studios use specialized programs that are available in the public domain to create logos. One of these programs is Photoshop. It is perfect for you if you need to make a simple logo on your own. You can, of course, make a more complex logo in it, but this will require a very good knowledge and ability to work with the program.

It is also worth noting that Photoshop was not originally developed for drawing illustrations, logos, and other branding elements. However, the latest versions have all the necessary tools for this – the ability to draw freely, edit shapes, and add ready-made raster elements. Due to the fact that the work process is strongly tied to layers, you can interact simultaneously with a large number of graphic elements and quickly make any adjustments to them, if necessary during the work.

As an example, we can cite the famous Apple logo. Before the release of each new apple smartphone model, customers take a few weeks to queue in front of the company’s brand store. They just want to be the first to buy a gadget on the backside of which is a recognizable bite of an apple. And it’s not about the best features of the smartphone, but only the brand!

Are you creating a new logo for your company or personal brand? And looking for fresh original icons that could be the basis for it? Then let us make your search easier. In this article, we present a selection of the 10 most famous and popular logo templates for Photoshop, such as Template.net.

So, they include:

1. Free Floral Logo Templates in PSD, AI, EPS

Source: free-psd-templates.com

These logos are often used by beauty salons, florist shops, cosmetic brands, and companies that provide floral services. Such an image is also suitable for other organizations that try to give the emblem sensuality and tenderness if it concerns their occupation. An interesting fact is that floral logo templates are chosen by many owners of photo studios and coffee bars. They are completely compatible with Adobe Photoshop.

Enjoy these templates from Free-Psd-Templates!

2. Animal Series – A to Z

Source: behance.net

Look at these logo templates of animals and birds designed in a modern and minimalist style to convey a certain mood and character. Such images convey an emotion that is inherent to a particular animal, attract attention, and often help reflect the company’s occupation. Pets, birds, and other animals are often used by pet shops. Shelters use images of the animals they worked with, security companies bear the image of predators, animal activists – any animal.

3. 15 Free Minimal Logo Template

Source: behance.net

These minimal logos templates help companies cut off everything superfluous and focus on the most important thing. Today, many brands are beginning to use minimalism. It leaves things simple to understand and directs them in the right direction. In this case, the purpose of branding is to make someone think and feel the same way as you do. The simple design makes it easy to remember.

4. 12 Nature Logo Templates

Source: dribbble.com

Would you like to make a logo for a florist? It is so easy to use greenery and flowers depicted in these logos. This collection consists of 12 beautiful images of plants for florist companies or beauty salons. It is so obvious to use the image of your product in the corporate identity of the company.

5. Delightful – Logos Pack

Source: dribbble.com

These logos templates for women emphasize beauty, elegance, harmony of images, smooth curves of the silhouette. They can be both minimalistic, with just a few strokes, and more complex, combining several techniques, for example, the image along with the lettering.

6. 12 Floral Logo Templates

Source: dribbble.com

Look at these floral logo templates. Flowers are always a joy and a feeling of a holiday, a feeling of the moment. Each flower in its own way gives a special world of fragrance and beauty so that a person begins to feel loved. That is why people decorate their lives and the lives of loved ones with flowers. With the help of flowers, your company can convey to a person the most intimate thoughts and feelings.

7. 25 Delicate Feminine Logos

Source: dribbble.com

These templates are used by companies with features associated with “traditional” femininity, such as grace, softness, warmth, elegance. If you want to emphasize these features in your branding, choose a classic feminine logo. Use calligraphic, handwritten fonts, intricate lines, curved shapes as well as pink or other pastel colors.

8. 8 Free Logo Templates & 3 Photoshop Styles

Source: Photoshop Styles

You can use these logo templates whatever your company is: a restaurant, store, beauty salon, or bakery. They are not just pictures but important aesthetic elements in the design of the goods or services. You can use it for personal or commercial use.

9. 200 Minimal Logos Template

Source: behance.net

These logos, crafted with refined elegance, embody the art of simplicity, making them perfect for companies aiming to communicate their essence in the clearest way possible. Designed in Photoshop, each logo ensures clarity and immediate recognition, effectively telling the story of the brand it represents. This collection emphasizes minimalism, using Photoshop’s sophisticated tools to strip away unnecessary elements, focusing solely on what is essential. For businesses striving to make a sophisticated statement without overwhelming their audience, this array of logos offers discreet yet distinctive options. Ideal for those looking to convey their brand identity with a touch of class, these templates leverage Photoshop’s capabilities to create logos that resonate with elegance and simplicity.

10. 20 Hands & Logo Templates

Source: behance.net

It is a large collection of logos, the authors of which decided to take stylized images of human hands as a basis. These templates depicting hands express friendliness and kindliness. The image of the hand as an important means of human communication is used in logos of many organizations, public and charitable foundations, medical and social institutions.

Company logos play an important role in its promotion and development. The purpose of the logo is to convey its idea to the target audience of the company. Qualitative logos distinguish the product and the company from a competitive environment. In the eyes of attentive consumers, the corporate identity of the company solves a lot, if not all. At different stages in their history, companies use different variations of their emblems which emphasize its values, loyalty to traditions, community, and other qualities. This article will help you choose a successful logo for your organization.

What is Growth Hacking?

By

Дмитра Врачарић

-

September 1, 2020

The Age of Innovation is here to stay, along with all its buzzwords, one of them being ‘Growth Hacking’. Simply put, ‘Growth Hacking’ is an umbrella term for the various strategies that encompass growth in a business. Simple enough, right? Well, there’s obviously more to it than just that, or there wouldn’t be experts in the field. Still seem a little vague?

A Little More About Growth Hacking

It’s important to note that Growth Hacking is an adaptive way to grow your business. A key goal of Growth Hacking is to acquire more customers, using low-cost strategies. Essentially, as a Growth Hacker your job would be to grow your company’s customer base, with as small a budget as possible.

The Growth Hacker’s Mindset

If you decide your dream job is to become a Growth Hacker, it’s important to know the characteristics that would make you successful. Since this is a non-traditional, out-of-the-box concept, it’s only natural that you would need to be that kind of person to fit the role. You would need to be a creative-thinker, adaptive to change and savvy in budget planning – a multi-faceted person.

It would also help to have a background in marketing, as a key part of Growth Hacking, is, well, lead generation and client acquisition, which is an important function of marketing. In addition to being creative, you also need to be analytical and critical – after all, you would need to evaluate your strategies and adapt them as and when it’s required.

How It Works

By now, you might have heard about the Sales Funnel, the customer’s journey from awareness to eventual purchase. This is a key component of the Growth Hacking strategy, in that the essence of what you’re trying to achieve, is growing your customer base.

The Sales Funnel, especially in Growth Hacking, begins with Awareness, generating more traffic to one’s site. From here, the goal is to turn those site visitors into users or customers. Finally, retaining those customers for future business becomes the final step in the process.

Growth Hacking Strategies

Growth Hacking strategies form part of Advertising, Content Marketing and Product Marketing strategies. Content Marketing is a popular, cost-effective form of marketing, in line with Inbound Marketing concepts. Where Inbound Marketing is a deliberate approach, Growth Hacking is slightly more experimental, although both employ similar tools to achieve growth.

Growth Hacking Examples

1. Dropbox

There was a space in time when Dropbox used a referral campaign to generate new business. Remember that? That was a great example of Growth Hacking. It was a simple, cost-effective campaign that offered 250mb of extra storage space for every friend one referred. They grew from 100 000 users in 2008 to 4 million users in the beginning of 2010.

2. Airbnb

Airbnb is now a global entity. It’s crazy to think they started as a group of broke guys in San Francisco that let strangers pay to stay in their place when hotels in the area were sold out. Something that started as a crazy idea, has led to one of the most disruptive business models in our decade.

They went through conventional marketing tactics, like attending industry events and appealing to early adopters. But it was actually the simplest hack that improved and grew their business – photography.

By improving the quality of the photos on their site, they were able to grow their business. Interestingly, now, hosts with professional photos of their accommodation, earn 40% more than those who don’t.

3. YouTube

The Internet has evolved so much over time and Youtube has become one of the biggest inventions relating to it. Previously, uploading video content to the internet was a tedious task – having to convert file formats that would be compatible to the web.

Youtube created a platform that allows users to upload and embed content straight away, simplifying a process, making uploading and watching content accessible and easy. This in itself was a Growth Hack; by simplifying a process, one can grow a market.

4. Electric Surfboard Company

The founder of an electric surfboard company used a very clever little growth hack to drive awareness about his brand and consequently increase sales. As electric surfboards are big ticket items he chose a few upmarket beach locations in California and Florida where he got friendly with the lifeguards. Once he had built a rapport with these lifeguards he gave them each an electric surfboard to use both in their spare time but also whilst on duty. You can read more about electric surfboards on Beginner Surf Gear.

This achieved two things. Firstly, it created brand awareness because the lifeguards are positioned in prominent and visible positions on a beach, and are viewed by most beachgoers with a level degree of reverence. Secondly, whenever there was a rescue to be made the lifeguards would use the electric surfboard wherever possible which added an additional level of credibility to the brand. Needless to say, at the end of the first summer season the sales of his electric surfboard company had soared by over 280%.

Summary

Disruption. Another buzzword that flies around these days. It’s also a great way to describe what Growth Hacking is. In a world where the financial resources available to a company can determine their success, Growth Hacking provides a silver lining in a possibly dark cloud. Growing a business, whether a start-up or a large corporate is possible without seven figure budgets. Like growth hacking, product-led sales can be a high-ROI revenue strategy. For more information, visit https://www.paceapp.com/product-led-sales.

With creativity, critical and analytical thinking and collaboration between marketing, product and engineering teams, growth can be achieved. Whether it’s a disruptive campaign idea or a simple change like improving the quality of how you present your business, Growth Hacking is a broad topic, determined by a business, their specific problems and goals.

7 Best Places to Photograph in Los Angeles

By

Iva Aris

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September 1, 2020

Los Angeles is known as the City of Angels but also the city of endless photo opportunities. There are incredible beaches, theme parks, stadiums, museums, funky coffee shops, and endless modern architecture making this one of the most iconic cities in America.

It is nearly impossible to determine which direction you will be pulled in once you visit Los Angeles. There are literally countless attractions and places to take photos. Gregg Jaden is high on the list for the best commercial photographer in Los Angeles. He is @greggjaden_ on Instagram. Usually known for his travel adventures around the planet, he also frequents local treasures for some irresistible photos. Jaden gives us new perspectives while taking a break from landscapes and exploring the urban vibe of LA. “I usually shoot travel adventure landscapes but always take time for some urban vibes. LA is so diverse, I can shoot inside a cave at Palos Verdes and search for new angles around downtown all on the same day” says Jaden.

Gregg Jaden – The Broad Museum Downtown LA

For travelers seeking interesting angles at iconic locations shoot at a wide-angle to get the most architecture you can as you tour around downtown LA. A hot spot is a Broad museum. There are literally unlimited angles of this spectacular location.

“When I’m at known locations, I search for new angles and something happening that doesn’t usually happen to try to capture it in its natural element. The shots at Griffith and Santa Monica were all done spontaneously. These are people in their own moments captures as it happened” says Jaden.

LA is labeled as the third most photographed City in the World by Instagram. It is increasingly difficult to find a fresh angle.

Today, Los Angeles has been named the third most photographed city in the world by Instagram. Los Angeles is one of the most famous cities in the United States and of course also worldwide, thanks to its most representative places such as Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Disneyland, Santa Monica, the Walk of Fame, Downtown Los Angeles, among others. More and more people from all over the country seeking to visit and even move to Los Angeles increasingly motivated by visuals on social media.

Gregg Jaden – Ball-Nogues Santa Monica CA

Here is a list of the city’s most symbolic spots that tourists shouldn’t miss. In order to experience the essence of Los Angeles, it is important to explore each day. Tourist attractions can always be busy but some of the places off the beaten path will amaze your Instagram following beyond their wildest imagination.

1. Hollywood

The hike up to the Hollywood sign is probably the highest on the list among photographers. Don’t kid yourself this hike looks easier than it is. If it’s a hot day bring lots of water. Griffith Park is right where you will start your hike so plan enough time to do both locations. It can take all day or break it into 2 days. Shoot this one wide and telephoto. Try creative angles.

2. Best Photo Locations to Add to Your List

It’s imperative to visit Downtown Los Angeles and walk amidst its skyscrapers. If a tourist visits the civic center, he will be able to find out the nerve center of the city of stars. In this area, there are buildings that bear the emblem of the City Hall and Cathedral of Our Lady of Los Angeles. For those who like contemporary architecture, it is highly recommended to visit the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Bradbury Building, The Last Bookstore, Skyline/Freeway at the W 4th Street Bridge, and The Broad.

3. Palm Street

Palm Street is the exact street to take the picture with the palm trees lined up and the Hollywood sign in the background is on South Windsor Blvd between 4th and 5th Streets. This street is sort of a must-visit for anyone visiting Los Angeles.

4. Ocean Front Walk and Venice Beach

Anyone visiting the Venice area cannot leave without first taking a walk along its road called the Ocean Front Walk. There’s a kind of typical American muscle training at Muscle Gym which is famous for being frequented by celebrities like Justin Bieber or skateboarder Jay Alvarrez. The place is full of clothing stores, food stalls, ice cream parlors, gift shops, and even street artist shows. Next to the Muscle Gym, there is a large sports area with several volleyball courts, a bicycle area, and many basketball courts, where all kinds of people play games. This is one of the most interesting photography spots with the possibility of capturing a few NBA stars there.

5. Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills’ fame is due to the fact that many Hollywood star spottings happen here. It has been the backdrop of many TV series and films. In Beverly Hills, tourists will have the opportunity to see mansions on American trolleys (minibusses with the appearance of the old tram). They can also enjoy a walk through the famous shopping street Rodeo Drive and visit Warner Brothers (one of the most important film studios in the world). A photography opportunity you don’t want to miss is LACMA (Wilshire) at night.

6. Sunset Strip

Visiting the Sunset Strip in Los Angeles is almost a must. This neighborhood has its own charm and a very bohemian atmosphere. The city is known for its rock clubs, colorful billboards, “trendy” restaurants, and happening nightclubs. The Sunset Strip isn’t just nightlife … There are tons of boutiques and fashion shops where tourists can spend the day shopping for trinkets. Many famous locations along Sunset so do your research before you go.

7. Santa Monica

Bathing or having a drink on Santa Monica’s beautiful beach is another activity that will let everyone experience the essence of Los Angeles. Walking the streets and finding art displays around many corners. The famous wharf and Pacific Park fairground is a must-see.

There are thousands of places depending on what kind of photos you seek. Usually, most locations are online with easy to follow directions. Happy Travels!

All photos used with permission from Gregg Jaden

Flooding in Houston, TX

By

Дмитра Врачарић

-

September 1, 2020

Being of tropical origin, Houston is highly prone to experience hurricanes and floods. The subtropical water bodies, support the formation of hurricanes, which is kind of a storm but has many adverse effects. In simple words, we can describe hurricanes as a storm with a maximum speed of constant winds as 74mph; the main reason behind this is the warm ocean water and humidity of the city. Apart from this, the usual coastal flood due to high tides is very common in the region.

Flood are so impactful here that they can simply submerge an entire vehicle in less than an hour. The main factor behind such impactful flood is the heavy rain that gets accumulated on the ground, due to constant high-density rainfall. Houston even experiences “flash flooding”, this means, a sudden flood due to tremendously rising water along a low-lying area or a stream. Flash flooding is extremely abrupt, such that the residents of the affected area don’t even get time to evacuate. Hence, it causes immense loss to life and property. Even driving attempts are failed during a flash flood, as the vehicle may also get submerged or washed away due to the swift flood water. This causes a lot of motor accidents, and the probability of death of the victims is very high.

As mentioned earlier, Houston is a flood-prone area, so some preventive and flood preparedness measures are pre-required if you are a Houston habitant. For evacuating, during any disaster, you need help and support from other individuals. Instead of being selfish, a disaster requires citizens to be sympathetic and vigilant. Even the Government needs to step forth to help its citizens by setting up evacuation camps and emergency shelters with an adequate supply of food and other everyday necessities. Houston has seen many such Floods, so the Government is also well-aware of the requirements of the flood victims such as medical help, food supply, motivation talks, running tests for infections, protection from water-borne diseases, and so on.

Helpline

The Government and the citizens of Houston have devised a disaster warning system from their past experiences; the citizens can send a “Reverse 911” call to warn the neighbourhood people about the occurrence of flood or any other disaster. They can even get to know about the recent weather broadcasting or disaster alerts by calling the City’s Office of Emergency Management at 713-884-4500 or by listening to the NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts made throughout the day.

Let’s have a look at the categories of flood encountered in Houston, TX:

1. Fluvial Floods

In common man’s term, fluvial floods are known as river floods. The most common cause is due to overflowing of an adjacent water body like rivers, streams, or lakes. The probability of fluvial floods increases after hurricanes or excessive rainfall. They can turn more adverse depending upon the amount of precipitation. If any of the dams get damaged, then the severity increases further.

2. Pluvial Floods

They can be further divided into two sections, namely, flash floods and surface water floods. Both flash flood and surface water flood are abrupt as well as unpredictable. They can happen anywhere, even if a huge water body is not present nearby. Heavy rainfall in a short span of time leads to flash floods. They are more prone in hilly areas, where water slopes down into the valleys and gets accumulated. Surface water floods are caused mostly due to the failure or blockage in the drainage system.

3. Coastal Floods

As the name indicates, coastal floods are more prone in the coastal areas, where high winds blow during the high tides; this is also referred to as storm-serge. Due to a large number of hurricanes in the Gulf, Houston often experiences heavy rainfall, that ultimately leads to a flood. That’s why water damage in residential, commercial, and industrial properties is a pervasive issue faced by the people of Houston.

Some safety tips that you must follow during a flood:

What to do before a flood:

Always store important legal and educational documents on an elevated shelf.
You can install a water level sensor, that will give you a signal or ring an alarm if the amount of accumulated water exceeds a certain height.
Keep the contact details of the water restoration company handy with you.
Always arrange for cleaning and inspection of the drainage system to avoid blockages.
Have healthy vegetation nearby, to avoid soil erosion.

What to do during a flood:

Turn off the main switch and other heavy electrical appliances as soon as possible.
If the water level is rising continuously, evacuate or go to the upper floor.
Take your valuable document along with you.
Do not come in contact with floodwater, it might cause skin allergies or infections.
Do not stamp any naked wire lying on the ground; it might give you a shock.
If you’re inside a vehicle when the water level rises, abandon it and move to the elevated ground.
Don’t walk through the flood areas. Only 6 inches of water is sufficient to completely sweep you away.

What to do after a flood:

Do not enter the subjected property, until cleaning has been done.
During the cleaning process, wear a mask, gloves and other protective equipment to minimize exposure to possible hazardous materials.
Take extra efforts, like boil water before drinking to avoid getting water-borne diseases.
Don’t turn the main switch on until an electrician has inspected your home.
Clean and disinfect everything that was in contact with the floodwater.

Most of the homeowners are unprepared; these allow damages to overtake their property. If immediate action is not taken, water damage will start disintegrating the property, and secondary damages will begin like mould and mildew formation, that might lead to the rejection of the insurance coverage.

That’s why it advised contacting a water restoration company if any unforeseen situation happens; they reduce the risk of secondary damages, the experts have the right knowledge about the tools and the chemicals required, they help in collecting evidence for supporting insurance claims, they know all the methods of controlling mould and mildew formation, and so on. Instead of wasting time and letting the damage increase exponentially, call for restoration service as soon as possible or visit our website for any help https://hallmark-mc.com/restoration-services/water-damage-houston-tx/