talklocal — Talk Local Blog

Archive for the ‘talklocal’ Category

Friday, April 19th, 2013

Business owners are probably well aware of what an audit report is and why it is necessary. For those who are new to business, or not involved with one altogether, they might be left asking: What is an audit report?

An audit report is the result of a financial audit carried out by an independent accountant. Both the audit and the subsequent report provide an assessment on the overall financial health of a company. An audit report is important to a number of parties for a variety of reasons.

Business owners: It lets company heads know how their business is performing and whether or not financial action is required. It also gives them an idea of what to expect financially in the future.

Company shareholders: Those that own a stake in a company are entitled to be clued in on the business’ financial outlook.

The United States government: Most people associate an audit with the Internal Revenue Service. An audit report is valuable to the IRS because it allows the government to determine whether the company paid the correct amount in taxes.

Because the findings of an audit is so crucial, it is required for all companies that are publicly traded or that are apart of industries regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

In order to provide an accurate profile of a company’s financial picture, an audit report includes such information as assets and liabilities. Audit reports offer a variety of opinions on the company.

Unqualified opinion: Financial records were kept per Generally Accepted Accounting Principles standards and provided no misrepresentations.

Qualified opinion: Records weren’t necessarily kept according to the standards, but did not contain any misrepresentations.

Adverse opinion: Records were not kept according to standards and contained gross misrepresentations.

Accountants That Help With Audit Reports

Still wondering: What is an audit report? You can learn more about audit reports — how they are compiled, what they mean, etc. — through a qualified accounting professional. TalkLocal can connect you with one right now, for free!

Posted in Accountants, talklocal | No Comments »

TalkLocal Shows The Magic City a Little Magic of it’s Own

Monday, March 25th, 2013

TalkLocal is thrilled about its launch in Birmingham, Alabama and can’t wait to show off it’s brand of time-saving magic. Birmingham earned the name The Magic City because its revolutionary growth in the late 20th century, but the pioneers who built this city on iron and steel did work, not tricks. And while even the Vulcan statue knew that Birmingham, Alabama was headed straight to the top, the city’s founders could not have imagined how tricky modern life could be.

“Birmingham’s lived in the shadow of what’s often called The Heaviest Corner on Earth,” Seva Man observed while admiring the staggeringly tall buildings on 20th St and 1st Avenue. “Sounds to me like they could stand to take a load off.”

That’s where TalkLocal comes in. TalkLocal saves you the trouble of scanning searches or classifieds, calling countless dead numbers and dead-ends, or waiting for a response to your countless voicemails/emails/carrier pigeons. Just fill out a simple request and get up to three phone calls from top-rated professionals in your area who have heard exactly what you need and are ready and able to help. Neat trick, huh?

So, if you’re in Birmingham, Alabama and need anything from a vet to an accountant, or would like to register as a local service provider for free, just go to TalkLocal, and experience the magic!

Posted in talklocal | No Comments »

Peanut Butter on Mousetraps Not Working?

Saturday, January 26th, 2013

Peanut Butter on Mousetraps Not Working?

Do you have a pesky mouse problem that just won’t end? If you are using mousetraps to fix your rodent problem, you are on the right track. Mousetraps can be an effective way to kill any unwanted mice that may be living in your house. However, it is important to use the right type of bait to maximize the success of the traps. There are a couple of different types of bait that you may find more effective than peanut butter for your mousetraps.

More Effective Bait for Mousetraps

High Sugar Foods: Mice like foods with a high sugar content like grains and fruit. Peanut butter can work in some situations, but if you have not found this successful try moving on to a different type of food. Keep in mind that when you use food as bait, you are more likely to catch male mice that are out hunting for food.

Lint or Cotton: Consider putting lint or cotton in some of the traps. This will help you catch pregnant female mice that are out looking for nesting material. Getting rid of pregnant females will exterminate your problem much more effectively than targeting males.

Still Having Rodent Problems?

Try one or both of these types of bait to maximize your at-home pest control. If you still have a rodent problem after several attempts, consider hiring an exterminator. TalkLocal will connect you to up to three local pest control professionals in minutes!

Posted in Pest Control, talklocal | No Comments »

Keep, Toss or Store: 8 Secrets to Making Downsizing a Breeze

Tuesday, November 20th, 2012

Downsizing can mean less housework, minimal home maintenance and lower electric bills. Moving can mean stress, change and excitement. Here are 8 secrets in combining the two and making downsizing a breeze.

Decide What Stays and What Goes

Even if you only have a month to pack, decide what stays and what goes before you move into your new place. Too often people pack everything up with the intention of sorting possessions when they unpack. You are more likely to find a place for something you don’t need when you are unpacking. Don’t do it. Throw away, donate or recycle items now. Grab a bag and get rid of everything that no longer has a function or value.

Stow or Throw

If you decide there are some things you just can’t part with — like Mother’s Day cards from your son or camping gear you use once a year — use self storage units to stow these items until you find a place for them. If you are afraid your new place is too small for anything but everyday items, invest in dual-function furniture to serve as somewhere to sit and somewhere to stow.

Weed Out Your Wardrobe

Sort through your closet and if you find articles of clothing that haven’t been worn in the last year it is time to say goodbye. Donate old or never worn clothes to someone who will get more out of them then you.

Have a Yard Sale

Sell bulky furniture or appliances you won’t need to earn a little cash and downsize what you won’t have room for. Items you don’t sell can be donated, recycled or even given to friends or neighbors as a parting gift.

Cull the Library

It’s possible you’ve spent years adding to your library and feel proud of what you accomplished. Unless you plan to have shelves instead of walls, cull your library. Find the books you won’t read again or haven’t read in a while and donate them to a school, public library, charity or thrift shop. If some novels or story books seem too sentimental to part with, give them to your friends or children.

Clean Out the Kitchen

Most people don’t need 10 mixing bowls and won’t lose sleep over parting with an extra spatula or two. Analyze your kitchen and decide what you do and don’t need. Determine if you will be hosting many parties in your new, smaller place. If not, consider passing your china or fine silverware onto family or friends who could use it more.

Let Things Go

If you are on the fence about an item, let it go. Chances are you won’t even realize it is missing, let alone miss it when you move into your new home. Even if a craft project or 15-year-old ottoman doesn’t have an expiration tag on it, these items do have expiration dates. Weed out projects that you never got to — and still won’t get to, don’t fool yourself.

Get Excited

Not only are you moving, but you are downsizing. It can be stressful; we get that. But take time to relive the memories, photograph the stories and comfortably close that chapter in your life — smiling. You have a new, smaller space waiting for you. Get excited about decorating it.

Lastly, remember, you don’t have to do everything by yourself! When you need help, call moving and storage professionals at TalkLocal!

Posted in Moving and Storage, talklocal | No Comments »

Breaking: TalkLocal Takes Over Pennsylvania!

Tuesday, October 16th, 2012

Erie background photo credit: Igor Borisenko Photography http://www.flickr.com/photos/igorb81/2886772312/

TalkLocal is proud to announce the launch of their service in Erie, Pennsylvania. Recently launching in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Allentown, the TalkLocal team is ready to take over Pennsylvania! With TalkLocal launching in Erie, it will be easier for local consumers to find the right service professional.

“Everybody in Erie knows somebody who knows somebody who swears by a certain service professional,” says Andrew Gordon, a TalkLocal intern and Erie native. “With TalkLocal, locals can stop relying on the grapevine to find the best professionals. Let TalkLocal do the research for you!”

We all know that it’s not easy for a consumer to find a professional for a specific task. It could take hours or even days to find the right person for exactly what you need done, and sometimes the task of looking for a professional can become so exasperating that you just give up. TalkLocal wants to relieve that frustration and do the work for you. It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3 – 1) visit www.talklocal.com, 2) tell us exactly what’s wrong along with your location, and 3) answer your phone to the 3 companies who can help fix your problem.

“Why do the work if we can do it for you in just a few minutes?” asks Seva Man.” Let TalkLocal help you, it’s what we do and we’re good at it!” Keep checking back for more news on other city launches, as well as the launch of TalkLocal’s iPhone and Android app.

Posted in talklocal | No Comments »

Noisy Pipes in the House

Tuesday, July 10th, 2012

Noisy pipes in the house can be frightening and worrisome. You may assume that they aren’t working, but that is not always the case. Many noisy pipes just thump and groan because the pipes have lost their “air cushion.” Air cushions absorb the shock of water when it is turned off. Air cushions can leak out and result in less “padding” for the water, which causes noise. Luckily, there is a quick fix for this common problem. In order to get the air cushion back, just turn off the main valve by following these steps:

1. Find the main water valve in your house. If you live in a warmer climate, the main water valve will be located by your water meter. If you live in a cooler climate, the main water valve will probably be in the basement. It should be set in the wall or on the water pipe leading to the water heater. If your water comes from a ground well, it will be on either side of the pressure tank (turn off both in this case).

2. Shut off the valve by turn turning it clockwise until it won’t turn anymore.

3. Open all the faucets both inside and outside your home. Leave them open.

4. Turn on the main valve again.

5. Turn off all your faucets.

This should solve the problem of having noisy pipes. However if this doesn’t, there’s always help. It may be time to call a pipe repair professional. To find a local service provider that can help with your noisy pipe problem, go to TalkLocal. This free online service will connect you directly to high rated repair services in your area. Just fill out a short online service request describing your problem, availability and location. After you submit, you will receive up to three phone calls from repair services that can tackle your specific problem.

Posted in Plumbers, talklocal | No Comments »

Web Browser Rankings

Tuesday, July 10th, 2012

How Safe Do You Surf? Here are the web browser rankings below:

#4: Apple Safari

Hacking Safety: Poor

Operating System Safety: Good

Ease of Surfing: Good

Safari benefits greatly from being exclusive to Apple’s OSX Operating System and having a clean interface. Pages load quickly and the toolbar is unobtrusive. However, Safari is actually the easiest major Internet browser to hack, despite the advantage of existing on an OS famous for its lack of viruses. This was discovered after Safari was the first to be hacked at a conference of elite hackers. This makes sense, given that Safari probably has less protection due to the lower rate of virus incidents it experiences. Essentially, Apple is used to not having viruses that they haven’t felt the need to put as much encryption on their browser as Windows based browsers may be pressured to do. While Safari is still an effective browsers, the potential for exploit exhibited by recent epidemics like the MacDefender and MacGuard malware make it the least safe platform to surf on.

#3: Microsoft Internet Explorer 9

Hacking Safety: Fair

Operating System Safety: Fair

Ease of Surfing: Good

Previous iterations of Internet Explorer have earned the browser a bad reputation, but the latest version, IE9, has received widespread critical praise from tech sites such as Ars Technica. With a significantly cleaner interface, IE has gone from by far the ugliest browser to one of the better-looking ones. Unfortunately, it is still probably the most victimized browser in terms of virus infiltration, with almost every virus designed to work through IE. However, this has also resulted in large amounts of encryption by Microsoft to reduce the chance of viruses getting opportunities to infect your PC, making IE a browser unlikely to be hurt by a few viruses the way Safari is. While still not the safest option you could choose, IE does a pretty good job of keeping its surfers well protected from the biggest threats, even if it can’t stop every one of the many viruses that run through its browser.

#2: Mozilla Firefox 4

Hacking Safety: Fair

Operating System Safety: Fair

Ease of Surfing: Great

What gives Firefox an advantage over Internet Explorer is a combination of improved aesthetics and a dedicated community. Thousands of users are designing better, safer ways to surf Firefox through add-ons, a system Mozilla has really pioneered in the browser industry. While these add-ons don’t make a huge difference, they show attention to the individual web surfer in a way that Microsoft and Apple’s browsers don’t. However, this still means that Mozilla is roughly as open to viruses as Internet Explorer is. The reason I give Mozilla the overall advantage is that it has the most user-friendly interface of any web browser. This easy-to-understand layout makes it more enjoyable to surf.

#1 Google Chrome

Hacking Safety: Good

Operating System Safety: N/A

Ease of Surfing: Great

In one of the biggest new hacking tournaments, Chrome was the last of these four web browsers to be hacked. There are a number of reasons that make Chrome more difficult to manipulate, especially the fact that it runs as a “Sandbox”, which means it doesn’t interact with the computer’s operating system, making the Windows/Mac OSX debate irrelevant for this particular browser. This factor makes hackers want to steer clear of Chrome entirely when making their viruses just because they are so used to incorporating the operating system within said virus; so the “sandbox” is an unwelcome change for hackers that requires extra work. This isn’t to say that Chrome doesn’t have its share of bugs, but its system definitely makes these bugs more of a challenge for hackers to take advantage of. Google Chrome is the safest and cleanest system because it has an interface that does away with the toolbar entirely and integrates the tabs into the top of the browser. It may not have Mozilla’s community or personality, but it is superior in safety aspects.

Posted in Computer Repair, talklocal | No Comments »

What Do Maids Do

Monday, July 9th, 2012

Got a messy house? Are you too busy to clean it all yourself, or would you just prefer some help to get it all cleaned quickly? Many families today are hiring professionals to help out with all the maintenance that comes with owning a home. You might be wondering what do maids do. These house cleaners can provide services efficiently, reliably and at an affordable price.

Maids offer a variety of services, catering to your specific level of needs. Most house cleaning includes vacuuming, dusting, cleaning windows and upholstery, and organizing items. These services are considered light housework, so you can generally assume all companies offer these services. Some service companies will do “deep cleaning,” which can include washing laundry, washing dishes, scrubbing bathrooms and taking out the trash. For whatever you need cleaned in your house, there is a maid service that can provide it. You just need to make sure you find the right one. Be sure to discuss your needs and expectations for a cleaning service before hiring one. You wouldn’t want to pay extra for something you don’t need or come home to a half-cleaned house.

Based on how quickly your house gets messy, you can hire a maid weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or whatever frequency works best for your budget. You can also hire a maid as a one-time service for clean up after a party, or even in preparation for one.

Need help finding a maid in your area? Check out TalkLocal, a free service that will connect you with home cleaning professionals in your neighborhood within minutes. All you need to do is specify your cleaning needs, location and availability and–with the simple click of a mouse–high-quality, reliable businesses will call you. Instead of searching the phone book for maid and home cleaning services who may not even be available when you are, try TalkLocal instead!

Posted in Maid Services, talklocal | 1 Comment »

The Best Locks for Your Home

Friday, July 6th, 2012

What type of locks are best for your home so that it will be the most protected? There are many different types and brands of locks on the market today, so knowing which ones to choose can be quite a task. Here you’ll find out about basic kinds of locks and how to best guard your home.

Doorknob Lock

This is the most basic type of lock. This is the kind that is inside a door handle and opened with a key from the outside. While existent on many homes’ doors, a doorknob lock is actually quite easily compromised. This type of lock is suitable for inside doors, such as bathrooms or closets, but it should always be paired with another type of lock in an indoor/outdoor passageway.

Auxiliary Lock

You most likely know this type by its use in hotel rooms (the attachable chain that only allows the door to be opened a certain amount). An auxiliary lock can be overcome by mere human force, making it even less safe than a doorknob lock.

Deadbolt Lock

This is the most common and safest lock to install for home security. From the outside, this is the type of lock that looks like a metal cylinder with a keyhole in the middle. When activated, a deadbolt inserts a piece of metal into the frame next to the door, preventing entry to those without a key to turn it back.

There are a few features to be aware of when choosing an adequate deadbolt for your home. First of all, you want the device to be steel. This will provide the strongest resistance should someone attempt to overcome the lock by force. Secondly, the deadbolt itself should be at least one inch long. Anything smaller than this can too easily be worked out of the door frame without the proper use of a key. Another part of the lock that you want to work properly is the strike plate. This is where your deadbolt is being inserted, and damage should not be easily inflicted upon it. Durable screws (the safest being about three inches long) are essential in keeping the strike plate at its most secure.

Even with this basic knowledge of locks in mind, you may still be overwhelmed when presented with so many brands in a hardware store or locksmith shop. It is tempting to simply grab the most expensive one and expect it to be the best for your home’s protection. However, remember that unless you are upgrading to a very high quality, nearly indestructible brand, most locks (if installed correctly) will give you the same level of security.

If you are unsure of the quality of your home’s locks, it is best to consult professionals. Locksmith companies are full of experts in this field and can point you to the best types and brands of lock for your home. TalkLocal can easily connect you to these local professionals and put you well on your way to the best home security.

Posted in Locksmiths, talklocal | No Comments »

Top 10 Things to do with your Kids this Summer

Monday, July 2nd, 2012

School’s out, the pool is open, and temperatures are up; summer is officially here and your kids are on cloud nine. Summer marks the beginning of lots of trips to the beach, neighborhood cookouts, and ultimate relaxation time. If you’re a parent at home with your kids this summer, avoid the boredom train with these 10 summer activities that don’t involve sitting on the couch watching Spongebob. The key to staying busy and having fun is mixing it up, so don’t be afraid to try new things!

1. Revamp your backyard: Take an old tire and some rope and make a tire swing, set up a backyard theater, or build the ultimate tent. Disney’s Family Fun website has great ideas for backyard fun that will last all summer long.

2. Have an “arts & crafts day” once a week: Websites like Pinterest are great for finding DIY crafts perfect for kids. Your kids will love getting crafty, and will be proud of their finished products.

3. Try a new summer recipe once a week: Again, Pinterest has tons of ideas for easy, kid-friendly treats that you and your kids can make together. We love these M&M, pretzel and peanut butter bananas for a fun afternoon snack.

4. Water fun: Whether it’s a neighborhood water balloon fight or a sprinkler in the front yard, playing with water is a great way to let the kids have fun while staying cool. You can even host happy hour on the deck while the kids play!

5. Road trip to an amusement park: This can be a fun and inexpensive day trip! Most amusement parks offer great deals for families, and coupons for ticket discounts can be found almost everywhere.

6. Visit the library: The library doesn’t have to be boring! Check out new books each week, or check your local library’s schedule for summer reading groups for children.

7. Catch a movie: Don’t rule this one out yet! Regal is offering a Summer Movie Express at participating theaters that will show G- and PG-rated movies for only $1 on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at 10:00.

8. Visit the fair: Does your town host a fair during the summer? If not, neighboring towns probably do. This could a fun day- or night-time activity for the whole family. Ride rides, visit the petting zoo, and eat some cotton candy with your kids.

9. Take a trip to the zoo: The zoo can be both fun and educational; surely a memorable trip for both you and your kids!

10. Organize a fishing trip: Walk to a nearby pond, or rent a boat at a lake and take your kids fishing. This is a new and different idea to switch things up a bit.

Whatever you decide to do, remember it’s all about having fun and spending quality time with your kids. Don’t let the boredom sink in this summer, and make it one to remember!

Posted in talklocal | 2 Comments »

« Older Entries

Newer Entries »