Bring Back the Guests!

from Resort Cabanas

It didn't use to be this tough getting bookings.

And so here you find yourself, pulling out all the stops to fill those rooms and bring sufficient meetings-and-events business in through the front doors. Improve your chances of success. How?

By maximizing your property's visual cachet, its "Wow!" factor. The temptation in times like these is to cut corners on site optics and instead rely on brand reputation to carry you. But you know better. Name alone is no longer enough. You need your place to stand out as never before in order to convince the world that yours is the only hotel or resort worth visiting, worth spending money at. What's imperative is that travelers, tourists and event-goers fall madly, passionately in love with you the instant they catch sight of your grounds. And that's exactly what Resort Cabanas can do for you!

Resort Cabanas, a division of Eide Industries, Inc., offer contemporary beauty, comfort, protection and privacy alongside the swimming pool, on the beach, in the garden and in any lounging area with custom cabanas and canvas gazebos.

10 Myths of Pool Ownership

from California Pools

Here are the top ten myths - and some helpful tips - about owning and maintaining a swimming pool.

1. "I can't afford a pool."

Owning a pool is probably a lot easier than you think. There are many reasonably-priced options for putting a pool in your backyard. The type of pool, materials, accessories, and landscaping you choose will influence the cost of the project. You should also remember that your pool will help reduce other expenses, such as the cost of vacations away from home, membership dues to community pools and other recreational activities.

2. "My yard will be ruined for a year and workmen will be around all the time."

An accurate understanding of the building process will help you develop realistic expectations for the completion of your pool. Many pools are completed in just a few months. But obviously, unforeseen factors such as the weather or permit delays can affect the building process. A good builder will communicate any changes in the project schedule to you as soon as possible.

3. "It takes too much time and effort to maintain a pool."

You can always hire a professional to do the job, but with today's cost-effective technology, you can get the same great results in very little time. In fact, maintaining a pool is easier than maintaining your car or your lawn!

4. "My electric bill will significantly go up if I own a pool."

Utility bills vary depending on where you live and who your provider is, but average estimates show that utility bills only increase between $30 and $50 each month. But that's nothing when compared to the money you'd otherwise spend on entertainment, vacations, and trips to the community pool, including the expense of gasoline, food, and concessions.

5. "I'm afraid of the risk of accidents and drowning occurring at my pool."

While attentive adult supervision is the best way to maintain a safe pool, fences, pool covers, gates and pool alarms offer additional layers of protection to enhance safety. Some experts believe that having a pool actually saves untold lives because children who learn to swim at a very early age are less likely to drown in an emergency situation later in life.

6. "I am worried about the increased insurance and liability that come with owning a pool."

Homeowners should always check with their current insurance brokers and shop around for the best coverage available. You should also contract with a reputable builder, carefully read safety materials, closely follow safety equipment instructions, and ensure that there is adult supervision of the pool at all times.

7. "Pools require constant repair."

You should research a builder's work and ask questions about the longevity of the pool types they are considering. Proper cleaning and maintenance prevent the need for unscheduled refurbishing, and some companies may even offer a lifetime guarantee for pools they install.

8. "I'm afraid of getting taken by a dishonest pool builder."

Like with any building project, you should always check a builder's professional credentials, ask for references and view samples of complete work.

9. "A pool is a big investment and I'm afraid that financing will be really difficult."

Homeowners can finance a pool with a long-term mortgage. Additionally, pool builders who offer in-store financing have industry experience and can explain financing options, loan terms and current interest rates to help you find a manageable monthly payment plan.

10. "I've heard that pools detract from the appeal of a home in the real estate market instead of adding to it."

Not true. Banks and other financial lenders often look favorably upon swimming pool financing, considering it a "home improvement" that will increase both the current and resale value of the home.

Global Drowning Tracker

http://www.drowningtracker.com/

May is National Water Safety Month.  How do you get involved?  Start with the Global Drowning Tracker.

Should you build a porch or a patio?

Do you need to build a porch? Maybe a patio will suffice.

Read more: from Fox News via Networx

Are you thinking of hiring a deck builder to build a new porch or deck for your house? While it could be a good investment, it might not be the most effective expenditure. If you need to landscape your yard as well as create an outdoor living space for yourself, a patio built into your landscaping might be a more efficient use of resources. Building a patio into your yard also is time efficient. If you are considering building an outdoor living space to improve your house's curb value and you want to start showing your house as soon as possible, then bypass the deck and go right to building a patio.

A good landscaper or landscape designer should be able to guide you through the process of building a patio into your existing landscape. Before you hire the landscaper or landscape designer, be sure to check his or her references. Go to see patios that he or she has built or designed before, to see if the work is durable and up to your standards. If all is a go, then have some fun choosing materials with the landscaper.

Flagstone or slate tiles are a classic material for a backyard patio floor. Also look into cement pavers. Cement pavers come in many different shapes and sizes, and can give you some flexibility with design. Another option is to create a gravel or rock-covered patio ground covering. Solid stone slabs are pricey, but look luxe. Another option for a patio floor material is brick, which is durable and classic.

The way that you edge around the patio will help to create a patio that rivals a deck's independence from the rest of the yard. Shrubs, flower beds, rocks, or pathways are options for edging around a patio. You can also erect trellises, arbors, or fences, or build a pergola over your patio for shade. A raised garden bed or a small wall in the center or near the edge of a patio can help to define the space. To make your patio really stand out, be sure to add dimensionality with built structures and edging.

For patio inspiration, I recommend looking at Minneapolis-area landscaper Switzer's Nursery & Landscaping's photos of patio alternatives to decks on Hometalk.com. It's a great inspirational starting point for building a patio as an alternative to a deck.

EP Henry Contractors Weigh in on the Year's Top Trends for Outdoor Living Spaces

By EP Henry, via herald online

WOODBURY, N.J., APRIL 8, 2013 — /PRNewswire/ -- With the steadily improving residential real estate market and recent uptick in sales reported by home improvement retailers, many homeowners are investing more in enhancing their outdoor living spaces this year. The timing of tax returns and current low interest rates are among other factors driving consumer spending.

These positive economic signs point to parallel growth in the Hardscaping and landscaping industries, which stand to benefit from increased sales during their busy season.

"We recognize that refinancing dollars are important to our industry," said Mark Wagner, president and founder of Wagner Landscaping and an EP Henry Authorized Hardscaping Contractor®. "A lot of our work is tied to interest rates, and with low refinancing rates, we're seeing an increase in demand for a lot of our products."

EP Henry, the leading manufacturer of unit concrete products serving the mid-Atlantic region, recently surveyed its contractors to identify trends for outdoor living spaces this year.

Topping the list of outdoor design trends for 2013 are:

Outdoor living rooms. "Adding a roof structure over patios allows people to spend more time in their outdoor space," said Joseph A. Nardo, owner of Private Paradise Construction and an EP Henry contractor. A recent survey by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) indicated outdoor living spaces earned almost a 95 percent rating in popularity from respondents.

Multifunctional "kits." This year, EP Henry introduced its Solitaire Kit, which allows customers to convert their fire pit into a fish pond or an aquatic garden. This enables the feature to serve a dual purpose as both a heating source in the cool early spring and fall months and a refreshing water feature in the summer months.

Outdoor kitchens. Adding to outdoor living spaces, certain amenities such as built-in grills, refrigerators, countertops and concrete seating walls make for a versatile outdoor space that can be enjoyed day or night.

Sustainable products. Environmental concerns continue to be a strong driver with outdoor projects. Products such as permeable pavers help the environment by allowing rainwater to recharge the ground, reducing stormwater runoff. They can also be used to harvest rainwater for multiple purposes, such as watering gardens, replenishing ponds and fountains or washing cars. EP Henry's ECO line of permeable pavers brings beauty and functionality to sustainable design.

Natural-looking stone products. "Many of our customers don't like the look of concrete blocks," said Chip Bunch, president of Shan-Gri-La Contractors and an EP Henry contractor. "But the natural look of Cast Veneer Stone™ coupled with its price point makes it a popular product."

For more ideas on ways to enhance an outdoor living space, visit EP Henry's Inspiration Gallery or watch the company's Hard Facts on Hardscaping video series.

About EP Henry

EP Henry (www.ephenry.com) is the premier family-owned and operated manufacturer of unit concrete products in North America. The company supplies Hardscaping™ – a term it coined – and architectural concrete masonry products, all of which are 100 percent American-made, to homeowners and businesses. Headquartered in Woodbury, NJ, EP Henry was founded in 1903. A sponsor of the world-renowned Philadelphia International Flower Show, EP Henry also supports veterans' organizations through its Heroscaping™ Active Military and Veterans Donation Program, instituted in 2012.

SOURCE EP Henry

Read more here: http://www.heraldonline.com/2013/04/08/4754493/top-five-hardscaping-trends-for.html#storylink=cpy