How to avoid locking your keys in your car

Learning to avoid locking your keys in your car is the wish of many drivers ... Photo by CC user  Masi27185 on English Wikipedia

Of all the misfortunes which can befall you while driving, locking your keys in your car is certainly one of the most annoying. Aside from wasting time and money, it makes one appear to be incompetent. Once this happens to you for the first time, you’ll never want it to happen to you again.

Even if you have no problems calling up a car locksmith specialist whenever your absent-mindedness rears its ugly head, taking the time to adopt the following habits will help keep these embarrassing incidents to a minimum.

1) Never lock the doors without having your car keys in hand

If there is one habit that has served the author of this article well over the years, it has been the adoption of the following practice: never lock any door without having its respective key in your hands.

It doesn’t matter if you swear that your keys are in your coat pocket – take them out and place them in your hands as you lock the door from the inside.

On occasion, you’ll find your keys are not where you think they are. In these instances, you’ll find them on the passenger side seat, or in the ignition. Oops.

Once you get used to this protocol, the number of situations where you’ll have to call upon a car locksmith Perth will drop drastically.

2) Only lock the doors using a fob

The development of modern car systems have made fob-controlled locks a ubiquitous feature in all but the most basic of models.

As such, you can adopt the policy of only locking your doors from the outside using your fob. Since they are attached to your keys, this makes it impossible for them to be inside the vehicle while you are securing it.

Even if the batteries die within the fob (get them replaced at an auto parts store ASAP when this happens), you’ll still have your physical keys present to lock and unlock your vehicle.

3) Stow spare keys in your house/purse/pocket

Don’t trust yourself still? Add another layer of security by going to a key cutter and having replicas of your car keys made.

Make enough so your partner has two sets, one to hide in the kitchen, and an extra set to put in your pocket or purse. With all these redundant keys, you’ll have a backup even if you commit a massive brain fart and end up locking the main set in your car.

4) Have a locksmith in your phone’s contact list

Despite all the measures described above, Murphy’s Law will sometimes supersede all these safeguards. Example: you lose your spare key in the laundry one day and then proceed to lock your keys in your car hours later.

Guard against this by having a trusted car locksmith on speed dial. Find their number of a car locksmith Perth and store it in your contacts before you find yourself in this situation. If you don’t, you’ll inevitably find yourself out of data or be too far from your provider’s tower to try to search for a number on the fly.

With a variety of tools designed to pick the lock of almost every make and model on the road, your friendly neighbourhood car locksmith will be able to save you from this awkward situation within minutes of their arrival.

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How to Pre-Screen Potential Tenants

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Renting your home or apartment is a great way to invest in your future, but you definitely need to know what you are doing. Every landlord knows the importance of carefully screening potential tenants before anything is signed.  This typically begins by requiring the interested person to complete a detailed application form which will collect the applicant’s financial and credit details, references from past and current employers and landlords, and information about things like whether the applicant smokes, owns pets, or has ever been convicted of a felony.

However, getting this information is only the beginning – in order to make sure that you are protected, you need to follow through on the process of actually checking the information you have been provided – this means calling references, reviewing credit reports and obtaining a criminal background check. This process, however important, takes time and energy.  Savvy landlords know, however, that the screening process actually begins before the application – these landlords will ask several pre-screening questions when they are first contacted by the applicant that help them to determine if it is worth the time and energy to undertake a more careful screening. Here are a few things to find out before you take the process further.

How many people/pets will be living in the property?

This preliminary question is important to ask for a few reasons.  First, there are laws in some states against renting to more than two tenants per bedroom – this is in place to prevent over-crowding situations for reasons of safety and health.  It is also relevant because more people using the space means more wear and tear on carpets, bathrooms, appliances, and so on.  In this case, you may be justified in asking for a higher rent, or to exclude utilities or apply a premium if they are included.  Similarly, if there are pets, there is reason to anticipate that damage may occur as a result, and again you may want to increase the rent or include a damage clause.  This is something that could be discussed in your first contact with the potential tenant, and this will be their opportunity to decide if they are willing to pay a higher rent.  If not, then the conversation can end there.

Will they provide references from their employer and landlord?

For obvious reasons, you want to know something about their record of employment and especially about their reliability as a tenant.  Anyone who indicates that they are not prepared to give you that information, or who has a story about why that information is not available, should be politely declined during the first conversation.

Will they allow you to check their credit report and conduct a criminal background check?

Anyone who refuses to allow you to check their background or conduct a people search on them should be immediately passed over.  Potential credit problems may have a legitimate explanation, and a credible person will be prepared to let you check and will provide an explanation that you might accept.  Similarly, a criminal background check is necessary because you as the landlord may be responsible for criminal activity on your property. Again, you should not automatically discriminate against someone with a criminal past, but you should be wary of anyone who refuses to disclose it.

With these simple questions in mind as you take phone calls from people interested in renting your house or apartment, you can focus your screening efforts on serious applicants and find the right tenants for you.

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Five quick tips on how to prepare for worry free travel abroad

Worry free travel can be realized by thinking about a crucial few aspects beforehand
Photo by CC user Hiljon on Pixabay

Just the thought of going abroad for a vacation is exciting enough, but it’s the actual journey and destination where the fun is. However, to ensure a worry free travel experience, you need to follow some pre-travel tips and guidelines. Read on!

Familiarize yourself with your destination. Start by researching the norms, customs, rules and regulations of the country where you’re going. You can do this by simply surfing the web for information. Travel blogs (like this), buying good travel books and visiting online forums will help you get a feel of the local culture.

Make a list of landmarks and popular tourist locations, and make sure to visit some of these sites. Do not limit yourself to the web. Approach other tourists you know who have recently visited the place, and ask them to give you some tricks for a smooth trip.

Carry your camera and binoculars. Camera is a must, regardless if you own an SLR, a compact one, a sports cam, or even just your trusty smartphone. You are visiting a new locale and have a unique chance to capture the unforgettable moments for keeps. Binoculars may seem like an unnecessary accessory, but its benefit shines through when you really want to see a particular area without having to actually travel there.

Be prepared. Let’s start with a simple advice. Traveling abroad almost always come with a long and tiring flight. Ensure that you embark on your journey prepared with some kind of entertainment, so that you won’t get bored during the trip. Bring along your gaming device or your favorite collection of music to listen to or a great book to read on the flight.

Put your safety first. It wouldn’t be much of a holiday vacation if you get sick or got into an accident, would it? Therefore, your health is of utmost importance. Keep these tips in mind before you fly:

  • If you’re traveling to sunny regions (Australia) for example, then pack a LOT of sunscreen. 15-30 SPF is the current recommended amount. If you suffer from food or environmental allergies, then be sure to pack the necessary prescriptions in your carry bag.

  • Next is food. There’s no doubt that you’ll want to try out most local cuisine you’ll get your hands on, but remember that many ingredients may not agree with your stomach and may end up falling ill. Find out the list of popular foods beforehand and check their ingredients. See if you’re allergic to anything and avoid it.

  • Always stay in a safe and secure location to avoid the risks of burglary or theft. There are many ideal guesthouses, hotels, and holiday apartments available, which will enhance the quality of your stay.

Choosing a travel insurance. Many people, even frequent travelers ask if it’s really necessary. Quick answer: Yes.

With a relatively small fee, you’ll benefit from a safer and insured travel. To know its initial cost, simply get an instant quote online with travel insurance Singapore. Travel insurance, for example covers medical evacuation, which means you won’t need to pay any medical emergency transportation. It also protects you against trip cancellation, interruption, etc.

Following the tips above will give you a worry-free travel regardless of your destination. Have fun!

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Lost access to your lifeline? Dial-in to unlock a phone today

Knowing how to unlock a phone can save you much stress in the future...

Photo by http://photos.oliur.com/ and https://www.pexels.com

For many consumers, their phones are pretty much their entire lives.

Whether they run their own small businesses, work for others, or are just regular consumers going about their business on a daily basis, staying connected to the outside world is oftentimes done via the phone.

Stop for a moment yourself and think about what happens when you misplace your phone or get locked out of it. How soon until that sense of panic sets in?

Whether you lose your phone or have trouble getting into it, having the right help available when you need to unlock a phone is critical.

With that being the case, how much time and effort do you put into finding the right provider for your phone?

Connect with the Right Phone Provider

So that you can choose the best phone option from day one for your needs, keep the following tips in mind:

  • Best offers – You will undoubtedly be searching for the best provider at the best rates. So that you can locate such deals, make sure you do your research. Such research can be done both in-person (visiting stores, talking to others who may have recently purchased new phones etc.) and by going online. Look to see what types of contact (if any) are included and/or required. Depending on the time of year, providers may be running special deals, so keep your eyes open for those too;
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  • Customer service – As important as quality and price of any piece of merchandise is that you ever purchase, the provider’s level of customer service can never be taken for granted. You may have the best phone in the world, but how is that provider and/or service when you go to them with an issue or question? Do they respond immediately? Do they keep you waiting (literally on hold) for a long period of time? Do they provide you with successful responses more times than failures? Having a phone provider give you unparalleled customer service should never be taken for granted. If the situation calls where you need to use Unlock-Network to unlock your phone, having the right company by your side for this task is crucial. Being locked out of your phone can be one of the most frustrating things to happen to you, especially if you need your phone for an emergency matter such as a health issue, broken down vehicle etc. Always remember to gauge the level of customer service you receive in any phone matter, allowing you to dial-in to where you will best be served;
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  • Protecting your phone – Whether for business or pleasure, your cell phone should be secured at all times. What would happen if you accidentally misplaced your phone or it was stolen? What kind of personal or small business information do you have on there that could be damaging if it fell into the wrong hands? Just like your wallet or purse, you don’t want your personal phone getting away from you. If it does, trying to locate it typically comes down to dialing the number to see if you get a nearby ring, asking those you were around last if they have spotted and/or found your phone, or going to the painful choice of having to acquire a new phone. As a preventative measure, never store financial information or other such sensitive data on your phone. If the phone is lost, you could find your finances targeted and/or hacked into. As for physical protection of your phone, handle it with care at all times. Dropping a smartphone just once could lead to having to replace it, something that typically does not come cheaply.

 

If you use your phone minimally at best, even getting locked out of it once can be a frustrating time.

When you purchase whatever cell phone is best for your needs, be sure to learn as much about the item as possible. In doing so; lessen the chances of having issues with it down the road.

For those times when you are locked out or your phone simply is not living up to the standards you expected of it when purchased, make sure you seek remedies to all but eliminate the problem/s from ever happening again.

 

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