Trusted Tips and Resources

Trusted Tips & Resources

TRUSTED DIRECTORIES ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP WITH FIX IT UP!


S & E TRUSTED ONLINE DIRECTORIES INC & FIX IT UP -JOINT  MEDIA RELEASE

For Release - January 26th, 2021 at 10 am SASKATOON, SK  

TRUSTED DIRECTORIES ANNOUNCE A PARTNERSHIP WITH FIX IT UP! 

S & E Trusted Online Directories is a multi-award-winning Saskatchewan marketing company headquartered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Founded in 2011 by local award-winning entrepreneur Sara Wheelwright, it has a local online directory division, that includes Trustedsaskatoon.com and Trustedregina.com. In addition, there is a full-service marketing agency, Our company focus is supporting local businesses operated with integrity as a priority. 


FIX IT UP is owned by Brad Fekula and Dwayne Melcher. Brad has over a decade of marketing expertise at Cubbon Advertising, primarily dealing with Saskatchewan businesses. Dwayne is the owner of Melcher Media, a previously Trusted Regina website company and a highly respected Saskatchewan tech agency specializing in software and virtual reality (VR) development.  The Fix-It Up software allows consumers a convenient and reliable way to save time and money when looking for a local quote. The FIX IT UP quote software was created by the developers at Melcher Media to revolutionize the way quotes are provided. 

SASKATCHEWAN TECH COLLABORATING TO CREATE ADDITIONAL VALUE FOR SMALL SASK BUSINESSES
 

In 2020 Trusted and FIX IT Up entered into a mutually beneficial legal partnership agreement with the view to providing more support to local businesses in Saskatchewan.  On the surface the 2 companies may seem to be in competition as local web-based directories; but in fact, on closer inspection, it became obvious that they instead complement each other's activities. They share a common goal, to provide the best solutions and advertising value to their clients in the Saskatchewan services industry. 


The Trusted Directories partner with a select and restricted number of locally owned businesses. These businesses fall into 40 specific categories and most are based in and around  Saskatoon and Regina. These businesses are mostly service providers, and to become partners they must meet a unique set of standards, pass a Trusted qualification process, and sign a contract to commit to upholding specific standards of service ‘ The Trusted Guarantees’.  Trusted then promotes the partners individually and as part of the ‘Trusted Community’. Essentially, we sell the Trusted Partners as our only ‘product‘ to the local marketplace via a comprehensive marketing campaign - including, but not limited to,  billboards, radio, social media, CPC campaigns, event marketing, sponsorship, and more. This gives the partners significant exposure in their local marketplace, drives quality leads, and helps their SEO. Trusted also contributes time and money to help the partner's community support efforts, and the Trusted community holds each other accountable as a group of like-minded, quality-driven, locally owned businesses. 


FIX IT UP directories on the other hand, primarily provides a comprehensive quoting platform for local service providers in over 220+ categories. A detailed and industry-specific online quoting system saves service providers significant time. In addition, to build such a platform/feature on their own websites would be a significant cost that most service providers would not invest in. FIX IT UP businesses pay a very small lead fee, which they only pay if they are selected for a job they quote. The benefits for consumers and corporations is that they can provide all their information in one easy-to-use platform and await quotes from local service providers.  This is a managed process and also saves consumers time shopping around and the frustration of businesses not getting back to enquiries in a timely manner. 

The Trusted/FIX IT UP partnership involves the following elements:

1. Integration of the FIX IT UP quote software into the Trusted Directories clouded database platform. 

This means that Trusted Partners will be able to receive detailed quotes from local consumers who want a Trusted local service provider. This saves the consumer time and as the partners have to respond in a timely fashion customers are not left ‘ hanging ‘ waiting for a reply. In addition, they can request a quote at their convenience as our platform is open for business 24/ 7!


A bonus for the Trusted partners, is that the quote link and landing page is unique to each business. This means they will not be competing with other businesses in their category that are signed up as a FIX IT UP provider.

See a listing example here: https://www.trustedsaskatoon.com/listing.aspx?lid=334 



2. Trusted Saskatoon & Regina Partners who are listed on Fix It Up will be highlighted as Trusted on Fix It Up.


This differentiates Trusted Partners and recognizes the steps they have taken to invest in their integrity.
It also shines a spotlight on their consistently high standards of quality work and customer service and gives them an advantage in the selection process.



3. FIX IT UP operates on a ‘ typical online directory model’.
They aim to sign up as many businesses as possible and charge a very small fee per lead.  After staffing and development costs this does not allow for much capital to invest in local marketing to drive consumers to use the platform, especially when it comes to mass media like print, broadcast or billboard.  


The Trusted Directories model is different, they charge more for an annual fee and severely restrict the number of businesses in each category to offer much more individual promotion, marketing value, and personalized service for their partners. They appreciate the quality of the FIX IT UP quoting software and in return for integration they are committed to promoting the feature and their FIX IT UP Partnership as part of their ongoing marketing strategy in the cities they serve. 


The owners of Trusted and FIX IT UP believe that local businesses like themselves should actively seek out collaboration opportunities in order to become more successful. We appreciate each other’s strengths, and we are proud to enter into a partnership as two established and recognized leaders in the Saskatchewan marketing industry. A community whose tech sector collaborates is a valuable asset to the province and we believe is crucial for the success of Sask tech as a whole. 


Support local and we all win!


Trusted Saskatoon Salon Hairstyle Inn Explain The Difference Between Dry Cutting vs. Wet Cutting

Hairstyle Inn Salons in Saskatoon is a family run business with 3 generations of artistic hair design. The design team members have trained thousands of stylists and they are regularly used by major manufacturers to showcase their color, cut and texture design techniques. Also, impressively, the artistic design teams work has been featured in movies, theatre, hair shows, commercials, fundraisers, TV & Awards. Hairstyle Inn are Trusted Saskatoon salons. In their most recent blog, they discuss dry cutting vs. wet cutting and which is best.

Dry Cutting vs. Wet Cutting. What's Best?


Throughout my career, I've always taken interest in the divide amongst haircutters who have a preference for wet or dry cutting. In most cases, I've heard great arguments for why one is superior to the other. I've gone through phases of experimentation with both and have concluded that there are certain variables at play when cutting hair dry vs. wet and vice versa. Let's take a look at the benefits of each more closely.


Cutting Wet Hair 


Cutting wet hair offers you a great deal of control. This may be necessary when working with heavier densities and coarser textures that may prove problematic when cutting dry. The moisture in the hair acts as both a lubricant and adhesive, binding hair and acting as a sort of detangler, making it easier to part and secure. Wet hair also has greater elasticity than dry hair. This helps the hair to stretch more, resulting in strong shapes that are retained for long periods of time. It is also the recommended method for those precision cuts. As for the downsides, cutting hair wet takes some effort as often you will still have to check the hair when it is dry, which takes time. Wet cutting sometimes makes hair look choppy once it has been dried. This is a balancing act that most stylists encounter. Ask if wet cutting is best for your look and finished style.




Cutting Dry Hair


Cutting dry hair allows your stylist to create softer shapes more easily. In most cases cutting hair, dry allows your stylist to create shape and texturize at the same time. This can be done by pointing or notching into it, a process that is slightly more difficult with wet hair because of its binding properties. Cutting hair dry is ideal for refinement as the effects can be measured in real-time without the weight of moisture, as the hair lives where it is cut. It is for this reason many hairdressers have a preference for cutting hair dry. Trimming, low densities and finer textures are also good conditions for dry cutting as they require less control and may be more easily handled. Maybe a client is reluctant to have their hair cut at all. Dry cutting is a great way to minimize the amount of hair taken off and could be a better fit for these clients than wet cutting. Lastly, cutting hair dry can be done at a fast pace so don’t think the stylist is just being lazy or short of time. Dry cutting often takes greater skill and talent.



There are pros and cons for both wet and dry cutting, and although the case can be made for choosing one over the other, I've found a lot of control in using both when the situation calls for it. Ask the question of your stylist and decide which one or if both might be the magic approach to tame your amazing locks.


Remember your hair is your #1 fashion accessory!

Hairstyle trends change like the weather, but Shelley, Laddie, and rest of the Hairstyle Inn team are always keeping up to date! For the best Saskatoon salon experience and Trusted customer service call Hairstyle Inn salon today or get more Hairstyle tips Inn in our Trusted Salon Tip Library.


Differences Between Engineered Wood Flooring vs. Hardwood Flooring



Engineered Wood Flooring vs. Hardwood Flooring


Engineered hardwood flooring sure has made a name for itself. Some people won't even look it's way, preferring traditional hardwood flooring, but there are of course advantages to both. What advantages does engineered flooring have over regular wood flooring you ask? Let's look at both sides of the equation and compare these two types of flooring so that you get a good look at the complete picture.

Engineered Harwood Flooring


First of all, engineered hardwood has a better reaction when it comes to both temperature and humidity. There are many reasons why companies prefer engineering flooring, it can be built and modified to be longer-lasting, more durable, and more cost-effective than some of its contemporaries. That's not the end of the story, however, so let's take a look at more of the differences.



Hardwood Flooring

In order to install Hardwood flooring, it is required that the floor be nailed into the ground. This is not the case with engineered floors however as glue can be used, or in some cases, staples. So far, we are painting a picture together that highlights engineered flooring as the winner of this battle but there are still two sides to this story. 

Let's say that you have been using a hardwood floor for over 20 years in your home. The chances are that by then it may start to lose its original finish. A tremendous benefit to Hardwood floors is that they can be easily sanded and refinished. This is not the case with engineered wood floors as the amount of true wood surface that on has to work with is limited in comparison.

Hardwood flooring will typically cost more money than its engineered counterpart. However, this is not always the case as there are many different kinds of materials that can be used to construct an Engineered Wood floor. One of the benefits of Hardwood is that it has a reliable material that one can expect to last for decades on end. This is not to downplay engineered hardwood, however, as there are many brands that offer tremendous quality and value for the product.





Now you know have a little more knowledge on what you can expect from both types of flooring, you may see why engineered flooring is making such a splash in the market. With more flexible installation options, an engineer’s design palette and reliable companies backing the product, we believe Engineered Floors offer something of great substance and value to the consumer.

At the end of the day however both hardwood and engineered wood flooring both have many advantages and neither is strictly better than the other. Different situations call for different types of flooring and what matters most is choosing the ideal product that will not only help your floor but also make you happy. Flooring is a big decision and there should be no bigger criteria than customer satisfaction.






Trusted Saskatoon Realtor Marla Janzen Explains The First Time Home Buyer Incentive

Marla Janzen is an award-winning SASKATOON REAL Estate expert she takes action to sell her client's homes and find them the perfect new place to live while negotiating the best terms and price possible. She loves what she does and takes great pride in providing excellence in customer service to all of her clients. 

Marla Janzen is a  TRUSTED SASKATOON REAL ESTATE EXPERT listed on the SASKATOON DIRECTORY and she loves to provide Trusted Saskatoon real estate Tips that help the public!


The First Time Home Buyer Incentive




As an award winning Century 21 Fusion Saskatoon Real Estate Agent, Marla knows Saskatoon, Warman and the area extremely well. She takes action in order to sell her client's homes. She strives to find them the perfect new place to live while negotiating the best terms and price possible. She truly loves what she does and she takes great pride in providing excellence in customer service to all her clients. She feels blessed to live in Saskatchewan and she is a TRUSTED SASKATOON REAL ESTATE Agent.

By now you have likely heard about the buzz regarding The First Time Home Buyer Incentive (FTHBI), which will come into effect on September 2nd, for homes that close no earlier than November 1st. The Government of Canada is offering interest-free loans in the form of a shared equity mortgage to help home buyers obtain a smaller mortgage and keep their monthly payments lower. The program will offer 5% for a first-time buyer's purchase of a resale home and 5% of 10% for a first-time buyer's purchase of a newly constructed home. 



The incentive can be repaid at any time without penalty, but it must be repaid after 25 years or if the property is sold, whichever comes first. Repayment is based on the property's fair market value. When the loan is repaid, the government will also get a share of any gains from appreciation of the property. Vice versa, if the property value goes down, the government will shoulder some of the loss. 

In order to participate in the FTHBI, buyers must meet two main requirements: 


# 1 - Be a first-time home buyer
# 2 - Have an annual income of less than $120,000


Buyers will still need to save their down payment of at least 5 percent and the maximum home price is limited to 4 times the buyers qualifying income. Let's look at an example:

Anita wants to buy a new home for $400,000:

Under the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive, Anita can apply to receive the $40,000 in a shared equity mortgage (10% of the cost of a new home) through the program. This is on top of the minimum required down payment of $20,000 (5% of the purchase price) from her savings. This lowers the amount she needs to borrow, and reduces her monthly expenses. As a result, Anita's mortgage is $228 less a month or $2,736 a year. 

Years later, Anita has sold her first hoe for $420,000. At this time, she would have to repay the original incentive she received as a percentage of her home's current value. This would result in Anita repaying 10%, or $42,000 at the time of selling her house. -- www.placetocallhome.ca/fthbi

The program will certainly help some first-time home buyers. But it's important to remember although this is an interest-free loan, it is still a loan that will need to be paid back.





Contact Marla Janzen, she is one of the 3 Trusted Saskatoon Realtors! Marla is looking forward to helping you sell or buy your home! She loves what she does, and she takes great pride in providing excellence in customer service to all of her clients. She strives to find them the perfect new place to live while negotiating the best terms and price possible.

Find Marla Janzen Online at www.marlajanzen.com   she is a Century 21 Fusion Realtor and Marla Janzen is TRUSTED SASKATOON REAL ESTATE EXPERT!


Trusted Saskatoon Plumbers at Perfection Plumbing Tip on Preventing Drain Blockages

Perfection Plumbing & Drain Cleaning Ltd. is a premier provider of quality drain cleaning and plumbing services in Saskatoon, SK. They are the company of choice to handle all of your plumbing concerns including drain cleaning service, water heater installation, plumbing repair, and more.  Perfection Plumbing is a Trusted Saskatoon Plumbers on the Saskatoon Directory. In their latest tip, they share helpful info on preventing blocked drains. 


Prevent Drain Blockages With Common Sense and Saskatoon Drain Cleaners

Saskatoon drain cleaners very often have a hard job; the majority of any drain cleaning job is reactive, in that it’s clearing away the result of months, even years of buildup in drain and guttering systems, when the problem could easily have been alleviated, or even prevented, in the first place. But it is still surprising how many people do not know how to proactively keep their drain systems clean, and there are many reasons why this should be a priority. But just how can someone be mindful during their day-to-day tasks?

Avoid Pouring Fat Away

An alarming amount of commercial premises that serve food, and just as many residential customers, require Saskatoon drain cleaning services as fat build-up has clogged their drains. It may seem like the easy option to pour away boiling hot liquid into a plug hole, but it won’t stay hot forever. When it cools down, it congeals and effectively creates a plugin the draining system. Before long, anything that goes down the drain in the same building, and very often with neighbouring buildings who share the same pipes, will come right back up, delivering old waste and a foul smell to boot. For commercial premises, this can mean closing down while the ‘health hazard’ has to be remedied. The easiest option is to avoid pouring away fat altogether.

Claw Back on Lumpy Food in The Sink!

It’s easy when the cooking is done to throw pots and pans into the sink and forget about the lumpy, off-cut pieces of food that lay in the bottom of the bowl. But again, over time, these will not go away. When they eventually get soft enough to go down the drain, they’ll rot and start to produce a rotting smell. A quick clear away before throwing the pots and pans in the sink will mitigate this problem.

Avoid Blocking the Gutter

Many gutter drain cleaning jobs can be avoided by simply not letting the gutter clog up. Over time, waste in the guttering needs to go somewhere, and when the rain and wind hammer down, it’ll push what waste is in the guttering down the downspout, causing a blockage. Regular cleaning of the gutter is a must.

For plumbing problems in your home, don’t hesitate to contact Perfection Plumbing for help.


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S & E Trusted Online Directories Inc
TrustedSaskatoon.com
310 Wall St #209
Saskatoon, SK   S7K 1N7
Ph: 306.244.4150

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