Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Summer is the season for DIY projects. But before you embark on your next wish list task, its a good idea to hop on some quick home maintenance projects. Its easy to get too relaxed or lean into the need to have some fun as the warm weather arrives. You might think that you can put off these maintenance projects until next year. However, tackling them before starting something new will help ensure your property is in tip-top shape before the seasons change once again.

Below are seven of the best summer home improvement projects homeowners should evaluate and fix up if necessary.

Before you start up the mower and begin on a summer of yard work, give it a tune-up. Check your mower blades, change the oil, and clean up any gunk in the machinery that has been sitting in the garage or shed since last year. Also, double-check the spark plug and clean out the air filter so your mower can be in its best shape as you begin your summer yard maintenance. The last thing you want is for your lawn mower to break down in the middle of cutting grass and wind up with costly repairs and an uneven yard.

Powering washing your house at the beginning of summer is a great way to clear off any grime or stains from the winter months. Whether you hire a professional or choose to DIY your exterior cleaning, power washing your siding, cleaning doors and windows, and washing your roof allows you to create a pristine house exterior that will up your curb appeal and protect your investment. Also, take this opportunity to power wash decks, patios, and porches so you can enjoy evening barbecues and host gatherings without fretting over grimy outdoor spaces.

If your windows and doors look a little worse for wear with paint chipping at the sides or near-impossible stains that need removing, maybe its time to repaint these areas of the home. Adding a fresh coat of paint to your window and door trims will help enhance the exterior appeal of your home and give everything the facelift it needs this summer. Depending on your trim, you could also restain wood trim, fencing, and decking during this project as well, giving new life to worn-down parts of the house.

The driveway is often the focal point of any exterior home design. It takes up a lot of space on your property and can sometimes be an eyesore within your landscaping. If youve been putting off a driveway update for a while now, perhaps this summer is the time to give your driveway the makeover it deserves. Pave your driveway, remodel it entirely, or add more landscaping to make it feel integrated into the outdoor space. If youre satisfied with the current look, consider adding more gravel, sealing cracks in concrete, replacing broken or missing pavers, and touching up the existing driveway so it looks stunning this season.

While youre working on your home maintenance list, updating the deck or backyard patio is a good idea. Replace broken and cracked deck boards, add a fresh stain to the wood, and revamp the overall design of the space. If you have a concerted patio, consider giving it some TLC by sealing any cracks, replacing broken pavers, and trimming up the landscaping at the edges for a tidy and elegant look. Also, dont forget to clean up your patio furniture and spruce up the space with some gorgeous outdoor lighting.

Decluttering may not sound like a summer home maintenance project, but believe us. Its a necessity! Decluttering your garage and shed can be a beneficial step during your home maintenance routine. This allows you to clear out old and unwanted items, reassess your toolbox, sort through your yard tools, and organize your storage systems so you know where everything is before embarking on that new DIY project. This summer project is also a great idea for homeowners who also plan to declutter other areas of the house this season or who are planning to host a yearly garage sale in the fall.

Every year, one of the most common home maintenance projects for homeowners is sprucing up the existing landscaping. Lets face it. The winter months are hard on plants. So, as summer is coming up fast, its the best time to update your landscaping and enhance your curb appeal. Add new stone pathways, revamp your flower garden, plant new shrubs, and invest in some quality outdoor path lighting. Doing so will help your exterior be a block showstopper and will likely bring you much joy during summer get-togethers.

While we all want to hop on fun summer projects like starting our gardens or remodeling the kitchen, some home maintenance tasks need a bit of attention first. Dont neglect these projects as summer rolls around. Instead, get on these tasks so you can enjoy many sunny days while the weather is warm.

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7 summer home improvement projects to hop on right now - 21Oak

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A Sarnia man has been convicted of arson and a woman has been cleared of all charges linked to the $500,000 explosion that rocked a south-end apartment building, sending the man to hospital in critical condition and forcing more than 300 tenants to find emergency housing.

The Dec. 12, 2021, explosion one neighbour described it as a mega blast blew the patio doors off a ground-level unit inside the seven-storey building on Finch Drive near Confederation Street. A family, including a newborn baby, was in the unit at the time, but a 47-year-old Sarnia man rushed to London hospital in critical condition was the only person injured.

One neighbour described the man as being in a state of shock with charred clothes while others alleged the explosion was linked to drugs.

Following an extensive investigation by the Ontario Fire Marshals Office and Sarnia police, Matthew Dekker, 47, and Kimberley Denomme, 38, were both charged with arson. Denomme was a tenant while Dekker had an address elsewhere in the city but was staying there, police said.

Along with counts of arson endangering life and arson causing property damage, the pair was also charged with altering cannabis using organic solvent and possession for the use and production or distribution of illicit cannabis, police said. Denomme was also facing an additional charge of criminal negligence causing bodily harm.

Nearly 17 months after the explosion, a preliminary hearing was supposed to take place last week in a Sarnia courtroom. But after a delay, with multiple witnesses waiting to take the stand, Dekker, now 49, abruptly decided to plead guilty to two charges: arson endangering life and altering cannabis using organic solvent.

All charges laid against Denomme were dropped.

No details surrounding the incident were heard in court, though. An agreed statement of facts will be read by the prosecutor later this summer during whats expected to be a long and contested sentencing hearing. When asked what he wanted a pre-sentence report to focus on, Dekkers criminal defence lawyer, Luigi Perzia, said his client has physical issues including significant scarring and injuries to his legs.

Justice Krista Lynn Leszczynski asked if that will be relevant to an argument about incarceration.

Possibly, Perzia responded.

The case will come back in September.

All but two units the site of the explosion and the one directly above were handed back to Skyline Living the next evening after an engineer concluded the buildings structural integrity was not compromised. For several months both of those units appeared to be uninhabited, with boards installed over the ground-level apartment.

tbridge@postmedia.com

@ObserverTerry

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Sarnia man convicted of arson in $500K apartment blast - The Sarnia Observer

Tyrone Williamson was murdered by Anthony George after he was accused of stealing Tyrone's phone. Some of his family then hunted him down and sought their own revenge.

This week they were jailed after repeatedly stabbing him with his own knife.

Also locked up this week was a controlling thug who treated his ex-partner like an animal, a prolific burglar who broke into peoples homes as they slept and a predatory paedophile who preyed on schoolgirls.

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Prison sentences are handed down to the worst offenders each week at our region's courts. And Manchester Evening News reporters are on hand to cover the most serious cases.

A murderer was repeatedly stabbed with his own knife by the friends and family of the man he'd killed 90 minutes earlier. Tyrone Williamson was murdered by Anthony George in Bolton after the pair rowed in the street.

George, 42, had been in Mr Williamson's home but was thrown out after being accused of stealing his phone. Fuelled by vodka and cannabis, George said 'watch whats going to happen to them' before knifing 25-year-old Mr Williamson three times with severe force.

Some of Mr Williamson's family and friends began searching the area for the killer after learning of his death, Manchester Crown Court heard. Adam Disa-Green, a friend of both George and Mr Williamson, saw George in the aftermath of the killing.

He remonstrated with George and when he later saw Mr Williamson's half brother Brendan Carney, and another of his friends, Jason Wilding, he told them where he'd met George. Shortly after the group found George and brutally attacked him. He was stabbed five times and suffered life threatening injuries which required surgery.

The knife used to inflict the injuries was the same weapon he'd used to murder Mr Williamson, the court heard. After being arrested, a 'very angry' Wilding told police: "I hope the motherf*****'s dead."

"These individuals were looking for Mr George with revenge on their mind," prosecutor Jaime Hamilton KC said. Mr Williamson died in the hours following the fatal attack, at about 6.30pm, on Saturday, December 11, 2021.

In December last year, George was found guilty of murder and ordered to serve at least 21 years in prison. Carney was found guilty of wounding him with intent after a separate trial. Disa-Green and Wilding pleaded guilty to the same offence.

Now all three men have been sentenced for their part in the revenge attack. George was stabbed by Carney, 27, and Disa-Green, 22, while Wilding, 29, punched, kicked and stamped on him. Wilding, who has 36 previous convictions, was declared dangerous and handed an extended sentence for public protection, comprising of a jail term of seven years and two months, and an extra four years on licence.

Disa-Green was sentenced to five years and 10 months, while Carney received eight years and eight months. All three will serve two-thirds of their sentence in jail. Wilding will have to satisfy the Parole Board that he is safe to be released.

A controlling boyfriend 'humiliated' and 'degraded' his ex-partner by depriving her of food and treating her 'like an animal'. Thomas Barton, 43, forced his girlfriend to eat scraps of garlic bread off a hotel floor - and refused to let her order when they visited a Chinese restaurant in Manchester.

His former partner said she was made to feel like 'a dog' and was terrified Barton would use violence against her if she didn't go along with his bullish demands. Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard how he also attacked her after she challenged him about using her bank card without asking.

He was jailed for 34 weeks after a judge said she was 'worried' about the risk he presented to women he was in a relationship with. Prosecuting, Gwen Henshaw told the court the pair were in a relationship for around three years, but didn't live together.

Over the space of a month in July last year, Barton's behaviour was said to have become more controlling. "During that period in July they were going through a difficult period," Ms Henshaw said.

"On the first occasion, they had been staying in a hotel and they were planning to have a nice evening."

The court heard that during the course of the evening, Barton drank nearly a whole bottle of vodka, as well as lager and whiskey. They ordered a takeaway which consisted of a 12inch pizza, garlic bread and a kebab - with the plan to share the food.

But Barton refused to let her eat anything, apart from tiny scraps of garlic bread which he left on the floor, making the woman feel 'like a dog'.

Ms Henshaw added: "He was telling her to 'shut the f*** up' and said 'you are doing my f******g head in'. She was crying and he told her the noise she was making was too loud."

The court heard that in another incident, the couple had an argument after Barton used her bank card without her permission. The court heard he pushed her and caused her to fall to the floor.

Barton, of no fixed address, was jailed for 34 weeks - which he is thought to have now served in prison, after admitting controlling and coercive behaviour; and common assault. Barton was also made the subject of an indefinite restraining order banning him from contacting or approaching his ex-girlfriend.

This was the dramatic moment a police chase came to a sudden end before the driver fled the scene. Greater Manchester Police began a 'lengthy' investigation to track down Michael Turner after he made off from his car on a narrow country road near Bolton.

The footage, captured by GMP, shows the car driven by Turner being pursued along Slack Fold Lane, in Farnworth. Early in the footage, a red car appears to brake sharply and pull over to allow both Turner's vehicle and the police car behind to pass.

While approaching a bend and passing houses at the side of the road, the pursuit reaches speeds of 60mph. But as Turner tries to drive past a second car later in the video, the pursuit comes to a sudden end.

Turner's car appears to hit a hedge at the side of the road, before rolling over and landing on its wheels. GMP says Turner made off from the scene following the pursuit, on September 23, 2021, and was later identified as the man behind the wheel.

The 28-year-old, of Longworth Road, Horwich, was charged with dangerous driving and possession of class A and B drugs with intent to supply. He pleaded guilty to the offences at Bolton Magistrates Court before being sentenced at Bolton Crown Court jailed for four years and 10 months.

A 'predatory' paedophile who handed sinister notes with his phone number on to schoolgirls on buses has been jailed.

Adetunji Akona-Dosunmo, 35, formerly of Salford, tried to lure young girls into sexual activity by handing out notes, which asked them to call him, whilst travelling in Manchester and Merseyside.

One of the girls he targeted was just 11-years-old. The judge who locked him up said he posed a 'significant risk' to children. He was arrested in April last year following a long investigation by Merseyside Police into the incidents in February and March.

Akona-Dosunmo, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual communication with a child, attempting to arrange a child sex offence and four counts of breaching an existing Sexual Harm Prevention Order at a hearing last month.

Earlier this week, at Manchester Crown Court, he was sentenced to two years and four months in prison. He also issued an indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

A man has been jailed for a minimum 14 years after a jury convicted him of raping and sexually assaulting two young girls. Michael Hopwood, 27, from Openshaw, sexually abused the girls, who were under the age of 12.

The married father had denied three counts of rape, two counts of attempted rape, four charges of sexual assault and one charge of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child. But a jury convicted him and now he has been handed a long jail sentence with an extended licence period.

Peter Cadwallader, prosecuting, told Manchester Crown Court that one of his victims went into school 'upset' towards the end of last year and 'indicated' to friends that she had been raped.

The girl, too young to understand what rape was, reported what had happened to an adult and police were called, the court was told. She described to officers how Hopwood climbed on top of her and described one incident which the jury concluded amounted to an oral rape.

Police later interviewed the second girl. The girl told police graphic details of how Hopwood would molest her.

The girl said the abuse had started during the summer. She told officers she had not spoken to anybody about her ordeal and was scared to do so, said Mr Cadwallader.

When police arrested Hopwood, he denied all allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct, said the prosecutor. The court heard those caring for the two girls were glad he was facing a long jail term as Hopwood could no longer harm them.

Both girls, entitled to lifelong anonymity in press reports of their case as victims of sex crimes, have been 'profoundly' affected by the abuse, the court heard.

Hopwood was handed a 20-year prison sentence. He will be eligible for parole after 14 years. He was also handed an extended licence period of eight years, which means, even if he is released after 14 years, he will be on licence for a further 14 years.

A man has been jailed after he carried out a string of burglaries and broke into people's homes as they slept.

Lewis Dooley, from Moston, was involved in five burglaries in Oldham and north Manchester last year, police said. The 22-year-old broke into victim's homes in the middle of the night while they were sleeping and used lock snaps to force open patio doors.

Five vehicles were stolen using keys from inside the houses, along with a number of high-value items. Dooley carried out the burglaries with a young accomplice, who cannot be named due to their age.

Dooley was arrested on October 24 last year following a police pursuit. He was in a car that failed to stop for officers in north Manchester.

He and four others were arrested on suspicion of taking without the owner's consent. In the vehicle, keys from a number of burglaries were found.

At Manchester Crown Court, Dooley, of Penn Street, was jailed for four-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to a number of burglaries. On May 9, a juvenile was sentenced to a 24-month youth referral order, a six-month electronic curfew and 91 days community service at Youth Court.

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Revenge-fuelled family, a prolific burglar and a 'predator' among those jailed in Greater Manchester this week - Manchester Evening News

The huge 20-foot-by-40-foot game room in Nancy and Stu Schrier'sCinco Ranch home came just in time.

The couple bought their home nine years ago and expected to make changes as time went on. In a project that added space for entertaining family and friends and made other parts of their home more functional, the Schriers sought to make their now 4,550-square a place that their grown children and their grandchildren would enjoy visiting and always call "home." And, about a year ago, one of their daughters moved back in temporarily with her family of four.

Their renovation list included creating a porte cochere in front of their two-car garage. This would allow them to create new square footage for a second-floor game room, renovate their kitchen, reimagine their dining room, refresh the foyer and expand their backyard patio, add two full bathrooms and retiletheir swimming pool.

Those are the broad strokes accomplished in six to seven months but there were other small touches, including a novel approach to the dining room.

The couple had a formal dining room, but the prominent, front-of-the-house square footage felt wasted because it was used so little. Still, Nancy and Stu, both 72, wanted a place to have extended family holiday dinners, and they didn't want to get rid of their beautiful drop-leaf dining table that had belonged to Nancy's mother.

Their interior designer and general contractor, SophiaVassiliou of Sophia Designs, said she stayed awake at night thinking about what she could do with the table and chairs, ultimately coming up with a brilliant solution. She designed a large bookcase for the living room, and its larger base was sized to hold the table and the leaves that allow it to seat up to 20 people.

The bookcase's front doors are simply decoration since they don't really open. It's the side doors that operate, one end opening so that the dining table can be rolled out and the other end used to store the leaves. The table was put on casters so it could be moved in and out of the bookcase easily.

For occasions when they do use the table, they simply shift the living room sofas and chairs to the back of the room to make way for the dining table setup. That's what they did at Easter, when they hosted 13 people for dinner, and at Christmas, when they hosted 24. Some of the dining chairs are in a new upstairs storage closet and others are sprinkled throughout the home as extra seating.

In the kitchen, nearly everything was replaced, and the floor plan reimagined to put a full range in front of a bay window and move the sink to a spot in a peninsula. Before, the sink was in the bay window and a cooktop was situated in the island. They kept a microwave and full oven built into the wall, liking the extra oven space it provides.

Now, the island is purely a work space, and it's large enough to accommodate barstools so people can use it to sit or dine. More barstools are located along the outside of the peninsula.

At the end of the kitchen, where a breakfast area used to be, Vassiliou helped them configure a mud room, where benches provide a place to put on or remove shoes and cabinets are a place for storing dog leashes, jackets or backpacks.

All of this comes in handy now, since the couple's eldest daughter, Haley, 39; her husband, Clay Hargrove; and their two children, a second-grader and a third-grader, have been living with them for nearly a year. Clay retired from the U.S. Army and is undergoing Houston-based training to be a commercial pilot.

The couple's other daughter, Jenny, 37, lives with her husband, Garrett Duff, and their two children in a nearby neighborhood, and the Schriers also have a 40-year-oldson wholivesin Houston.

Haley and her family stay in the upstairs bedrooms and use the game room a lot for family time. The big space has two seating areas one with a sectional sofa and the other with four swivel chairs nestled around a coffee table and a kitchenette that has dishwasher drawers, a microwave oven and a small refrigerator.

The 800-square-footspace includes a gorgeous bathroom, with cabinets painted peachy-pink and walls covered in black-and-white wallpaper.

All of the counters in the kitchen, the upstairs kitchenette and the bathrooms are Cambria quartz.

Another area widely used by the Schriers, their kids and grandkids is the backyard, where they retiled their existing swimming pool, expanded the patio's size and added a roof to make it more usable. A dining table, fireplace, new lighting and ceiling fans and new furniture from JANUSet Cie make it usable year-round.

Knowing the backyard would get used so much more, the couple added a pool bathroom with an outdoor shower. The bathroom is large enough for changing clothes and designed to be easy to clean.

Once the dining table had a new, hidden home, Vassiliou could help the Schriers find a new use forthe dining room, as many homeowners are doing as they make their homes more functional. Since Nancy always wanted more storage, a bigger pantry and a better laundry room, the dining room was transformed into a multipurpose room.

A pair of French doors and a transom that lead from the foyer intothe dining room, were removed and the space enclosed with drywall. Now, this multipurpose room is accessed from the kitchen area.

Side walls were filled with cabinets, where Nancy keepseverything from kitchen items to thegrandkids' arts and crafts supplies. The back wall has a big pair of doors that hide the washer and dryer.

In the center of the room is a casual table and chairs, where the family can eat meals or the kids can do schoolwork or arts and crafts. Sometimes, Nancy uses the table as she foldslaundry.

"This is the room we used to use three times a year, and now its used every day," Nancy said. "We eat here sometimes and if we have big family dinners, like at Christmas, we canuse this as a dessert table."

The home's foyer got a big refresh, too, greeting guests with freshcolors and a lively pattern.

Vassiliou already knew that Nancy would embrace big ideas, and she suggested Schumacher's "Yangtze River" wallpaper pattern, running it up the two-story walls and adding a pretty bench that Vassiliou found on Chairish.com.

"We went through books and books of wallpaper with different ideas and looks. Sophia showed me this pattern and said I think this will work and I immediately loved it. I loved all of the colors," Nancy said. "We used this palette all through the house, so I knew it would tie in with everything."

Also, with the French doors to the dining room gone, that big wall, even with wallpaper, needed something. Vassiliou suggested that they moved three mirrors framed horizontally she'd designed thosefor the living room in an earlier phase of decorating to this spot. the French doors and arched transome were shifted to the doorway leading to the living room, saving an architectural feature and making the short hall between the two spaces more important.

diane.cowen@houstonchronicle.com

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Katy home's massive makeover adds 800-square-foot game room ... - Houston Chronicle

Downsizing from a family with 5 siblings was an adjustment for me that took a bit of adjustment when I started cooking for my new family as a young adult. I find myself adjusting once again to just my husband and I. Until I get the hang of it, how do I deal with leftovers?

My husband is quite particular about what he will and will not eat for leftovers. Im not nearly so picky, but I wonder how long they can sit in the fridge until Im pushing my luck on the food poisoning scale. I love eating leftovers for lunch. It saves so much time and money. When my husband and I cook dinners, sometimes we make extra on purpose because we like it so much. How long can I stretch this family dinner dollar?

To keep food safe, you need to know theres a sweet spot for bacteria.

If you follow those simple rules, the general rule is 4 days in the fridge and 4 months in the freezer. Following the rule doesnt guarantee leftover health, though. Look out for warning signs your dinner is showing.

Finally, reheat leftovers properly. Heating to at least 165 degrees will kill off bacteria. Using a stovetop or microwave will be the best option. Avoid food poisoning. Ive had it before. It is an overrated experience that you don't want to have.

For a great restaurant patio in Twin Falls, we needed to look at the location, the view, size, and overall appeal.

Someone in a popular Boise foodie Facebook group asked: "Good places to eat along the Greenbelt?" Well, the answer is there are a TON of them!

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What's the Best Way to Keep Leftovers Edible? - kezj.com

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As a local company, CAppliances Repair serves Manitoba, Winnipeg, and surrounding areas. The technicians at the company are trained and possess expertise in repairing and servicing both domestic and imported brands of home appliances. Their services include Fridge repair, dishwasher repair, dryer repair, Washer repair Winnipeg, oven repair, stove repair, and more.

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For more information about CAppliances Repair and their services, visit their website at https://www.cappliancesrepair.com

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Mr. Ethan LeytCAppliances Repair+1 204-698-2282cappliancesrepair@gmail.comVisit us on social media:FacebookTwitter

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CAppliances Repair Provides Affordable and Reliable Appliance Repair Services in Winnipeg and Surrounding - EIN News

Californians should get to choose who repairs their electronics and appliances, but state lawmakers are sliding toward protecting manufacturers monopolies instead.

Anyone who has bought a television, toaster or anything else with a warranty is likely familiar with the sinking feeling that occurs when it breaks right after the warranty expires. It used to be that people could call a local fix-it specialist who would show up with the right wires, compressor or whatever to repair the ailing device. Handy individuals might even make repairs themselves.

That sort of low-key repair that extends the life of an appliance is a lot rarer today because manufacturers want their customers to use officially approved vendors for repair. Some manufacturers even install digital or electronic passkeys so that only their hand-picked service centers can work on a device.

Theoretically that ensures that repairs are done to manufacturer specifications. In practice, it mostly prevents any competition and lets approved repair shops charge whatever they want, cutting in manufacturers for a piece of the action.

Thats if the parts are available at all. Anyone who has wanted to get something repaired has likely heard something like, Sorry, I could fix this, but the manufacturer doesnt make the part anymore. Maybe I can find an expensive one on the used market. Its cheaper to buy a new one. That works just fine for a manufacturer happy to sell the latest model. Its less ideal for people trying not to buy expensive new appliances every few years and for the landfills where old appliances land.

California law offers consumers some protection when it comes to parts. Manufacturers must continue to provide parts and service for three years on products that cost $50-$99.99 and for seven years on those that cost more than $100. If a refrigerator goes kaput in the first seven years, parts have to be available.

What the law doesnt address is the monopoly part of the system. A manufacturer can still insist that the owner go to an officially sanctioned repair shop.

State lawmakers could change that. Senate Bill 244 would require manufacturers to provide parts and related documentation to any repair shop that wants them. Those shops would have to pay fair rates, but they could then woo customers with better prices, better service or faster repair times. A related bill, SB 271, would extend the system to powered wheelchairs.

North Bay Sen. Bill Dodd is the lead sponsor on the wheelchair bill and a co-sponsor on the broader right to repair legislation. The bills are part of a national movement toward empowering consumers to do what they want with the products theyve already paid for.

Inexplicably, some senators may not want to give consumers a choice when it comes to repairing their expensive appliances. Both bills have landed in the Senate Appropriations Committees suspense file. Thats an opaque process that often leads to a bill quietly dying without explanation or even a vote.

The suspense file isnt a final death sentence. Lawmakers could and should revive these pro-consumer bills. People who spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on an appliance should be able to use it for many years and get it repaired where they want.

You can send letters to the editor to letters@pressdemocrat.com.

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Some of the most common reasons to repair a washing machine include water leaking, not filling the washer or not draining, the basket not spinning, noisy bouncing or banging, and problems with the door or gasket. Depending on your specific issue, you can expect to pay more or less for your repair. If the problem is water-related, you may need to replace the inlet valve, drain hose, or pump. The inlet valve or drain hose, which control water flowing into and out of the machine, are generally cheaper fixes, costing about $130 to $140 on average. The pump, however, can cost around $350 or more, including parts and installation services. Mechanical issues can be cheaper to fix; a new door and lock costs between $110 and $280, a new belt averages around $150, and bearings cost about $200. One of the most expensive pieces to replace, besides the pump, is the drum, which can range between $350 and $550, almost the cost of a new washer.

These average prices include the installation and service fee, but of course, those rates can range wildly depending on where you live, your washer brand, and the average cost per hour. In some cases, you may be able to save money by calling a local handyman or performing minor fixes like a door latch by yourself, but it's best to call a professional if you're having problems with the motor, pump, drum, or electrical wiring.

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Here's How Much It'll Cost You To Repair Your Washing Machine - House Digest

The new custom-built DCH ToolBox Service Platform - DigiFix leverages the OutSystems platform to streamline electrical appliance after-sales service workflows for customers and DCH staff

HONG KONG, May 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading Asian distributor, Dah Chong Hong Holdings Limited("DCH") has partnered with OutSystems, a global leader in high-performance application development, to transform electrical appliance after-sales services via a custom-built platform DCH ToolBox Service Platform - DigiFix. The platform has automated overall service processing time, providing greater flexibility and visibility for customers, staff and management by centralising communication on a single field service portal.

DCH's operations extend across 13 Asian economies and cover a wide range of product categories including motor, food, healthcare, electrical and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs). Before deploying the OutSystems platform, data and service details were managed independently by separate business units, with each business developing customised applications to handle unique requirements. To strengthen visibility and drive synergies while maintaining necessary flexibilities, DCH has prioritised system modernisation and integration across the organisation.

Transforming the Electrical Appliance After-sales Service Experience for Customers and Employees

One of the key processes that DCH aimed to enhance was its customer after-sales experience for electrical appliances.

Leveraging OutSystems low-code capabilities, the IT department developed the DCH ToolBox Service Platform - DigiFix, a field service portal and mobile app centralising communication among customers and DCH team members. The platform simplified customer experiences and internal workflows, offering greater flexibility and visibility. Customers can now book and change repair appointments online at their convenience. Enhanced workflows have accelerated the service process and streamlined technician communication. Moreover, customers can use digital payments and share feedback directly on the platform.

The benefits brought by DigiFix include:

"Building the DCH Toolbox Service Platform DigiFix on OutSystems was a game changer in our service. The low-code platform enables us to customise our portal and connect systems across cloud platforms," said Alan Chung, Chief Information Officer, Dah Chong Hong. "DigiFix redesigned the entire customer after-sales service process for better overall customer experience while giving our teams and management the visibility and flexibility they need. Our developers appreciate the agility and speed in application development enabled by OutSystems."

Technicians can see their assignments, report project status and fast-track billing processes through DigiFix.

The Digital Transformation Continues

In addition to DCH Toolbox Service Platform - DigiFix, Chung's team also redeveloped the IT systems that support the company's management. They developed a new HR & finance portal, and replaced existing ITSM and internal workflow systems with OutSystems-built solutions.

Chung continues to leverage the OutSystems high-performance low-code application development platform to accelerate the digital transformation journey of DCH across the company's subsidiaries, includingLaputa Technologies (Laputa). With OutSystems low-code capabilities, Laputa provides consulting and implementation services for cloud-based solutions and application development, helping companies in Asia streamline operations, grow and stay connected. They are now an OutSystems registered partner, offering services to 100+ customers in Greater China, APAC and EMEA with 400+ successful projects delivered.

"A high-performance low-code development platform enables businesses with a complex organisational structure like DCH to modernise and integrate their IT systems without compromising management visibility or business divisions' flexibility," said Mark Weaser, Vice President for Asia Pacific, OutSystems. "Gartnerforecasts that 70% of new enterprise applications will be developed using low-code/no-code technologies by 2025[1]. As a Gartner-recognised leader in enterprise low-code applications, we would like to help businesses transform experiences for customers, staff and the management team with excellent flexibility, agility and speed in application development."

[1]Gartner Says Cloud Will Be the Centerpiece of New Digital Experiences

About OutSystems

OutSystems was founded in 2001 with the mission to give every organization the power to innovate through software. The OutSystems high-performance low-code platform gives technology leaders and developers the tools to rapidly build and deploy their own business-critical applications. The company's network spans more than 600,000 community members, 400+ partners, and active customers in 87 countries across 22 industries. OutSystems is "The #1 Low-Code Platform" and a recognized leader by analysts, IT executives, business leaders, and developers around the world. Some of the most well-known brands use OutSystems to turn their big ideas into software that moves their business, people, and the world forward. Learn more at http://www.outsystems.com.

About Dah Chong Hong Holdings Limited

Dah Chong Hong Holdings, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of CITIC Limited (stock code: 0267.HK), is an integrated trading and distribution company operating in Asia, supported by an extensive logistics network. DCH is a leading distributor and dealer of motor vehicles in Greater China as well as a provider of a full range of associated services. DCH's consumer business comprises the manufacture, retail and distribution of food, healthcare, electrical appliances, beauty and lifestyle products. DCH employs 16,000 staff with operations in 13 Asian markets. For more details, please visit http://www.dch.com.hk.

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Dah Chong Hong Leverages the OutSystems High-Performance ... - PR Newswire Asia