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Finding the correct legal representation is vital to achieving the best possible outcome from a divorce case.

A divorce lawyer will work with you throughout the entire process, providing legal guidance, and fighting on your behalf should the case go to court.

Divorce cases can have a major impact on the future of you and your family, so finding the correct lawyer is not something that should be taken lightly.

However, with so many different firms offering legal services, it can be difficult to know where to start when looking for a divorce attorney.

To make the process easier, consider following this step-by-step guide to ensure that you find the perfect divorce lawyer for your needs.

Step 1 – Make a List

Before you can begin to research individual lawyers you need a shortlist of candidates as there will be countless possible options in your area and going through them all one by one is simply not viable.

You should never choose a lawyer based purely on the recommendation of one individual but seeking referrals from family and friends is a good way to start building a list of possibilities.

 A quick web search of lawyers in the local area and a look at their reviews or testimonies from previous clients on their website is another useful method of narrowing down your search.

Law is a very broad subject and even divorce lawyers will have their own areas of expertise.

By checking websites to see what each lawyer specialises in, you will be able to match their experience with your needs.

By taking this approach you should be able to quickly narrow down your search to just 2 or 3 candidates that you are potentially interested in arranging a consultation with.

Step 2 – Prepare

Before your consultation with a potential divorce lawyer, it is worth writing down a few key questions that you want to ask during the meeting.

This will help you to get an idea of what you can expect should you decide to use their services and work out if you will work well together.

Some of the best questions to ask during a divorce lawyer consultation include:

• What is your fee? – It may be worth paying slightly more to obtain the services of a lawyer that you think will do the best job, but there is no point going any further if the expected cost of their legal representation is well outside your budget.
• How much time will you devote to my case? – Divorce is a busy area of law and you should make sure that a lawyer will be able to devote sufficient time to your case to obtain a satisfactory outcome.
• What do you foresee being the best outcome of my case? – If several lawyers give a similar answer to this question, you will be able to set your expectations at a realistic level. If one answer aligns more with your hopes for the case it is a good sign that you will work well together, but make sure they are not just saying what they think you want to hear.
• What is your approach to divorce cases? – Some divorce lawyers will specialise in resolving divorce cases through litigation, whilst others will prefer a more collaborative approach.
• Who else will work on my case? – If some of the work on your case is to be managed by others at the firm as opposed to the divorce lawyer themselves, it is worth getting an idea of their qualifications and how much they will be involved.

Step 3 – Consultation

Once you have your final shortlist of potential divorce lawyers, and decided upon the questions you want to ask, it is time to see what they have to say for themselves and arrange a consultation.

Many lawyers will offer free consultations, whether in the office, or via video/phone call.

You should always check the website for information regarding this however, and not assume that consultation charges will not be imposed, as potential fees can make this phase very pricey, especially if you are considering more than a couple of options.

You may decide that a small fee is more than worth it if you are seriously considering utilising the services of a lawyer.

In some cases, a paid consultation may be more worthwhile as it may be an indication that a lawyer will take the consultation seriously and give a more detailed proposal of how they would proceed with your case.

You should arrange your consultations close together, if possible, to make evaluating and comparing each lawyer an easier task.

Hiring the right divorce lawyer at www.oraclelaw.com is a crucial part of getting the best outcome from a divorce case and having a strategy in place to achieve this can make the whole process a lot easier.

At the end of the day, the decision on which lawyer to choose is yours alone, but hopefully, this guide has given you an idea of how to get started.

Going on holiday is often a very exciting time – but it’s vital to remember the security of your home before going on holiday. Empty homes are frequently targeted by thieves and burglars. In this article we’ll look at the approaches you can take to ensure your home is kept safe while you’re on holiday.

Alarms and CCTV

Alarms and CCTV systems are an excellent approach to home security in any situation. Modern Alarm and CCTV systems are backed up by high quality software and monitoring systems that keeps false alarms to a minimum and allow you to protect your home 24/7. These systems can also be specifically configured to suit the needs of your home – while systems like remotely monitored alarms mean that if anything happens, a local response from the police will occur even if you are thousands of miles away from your home.

Many burglars and thieves will avoid a property with alarm systems Glasgow and CCTV systems because they are aware the potential to be caught and prosecuted is raised significantly. As a result, the presence of alarms and CCTV systems alone is often enough to keep your property safe.

Remember to properly set up and service your security system!

Many people purchase alarms and CCTV systems (and home security systems in general) but do not familiarise themselves with the systems or even set them up. As a result, they are effectively unprotected, and furthermore, the systems are increasingly vulnerable to suffering faults or errors.

It is vital that your security system is set up. While its presence is invaluable, if it’s not functioning as intended then in a worst-case scenario you are incredibly vulnerable.

Remember to get your security system serviced

If your security systems are not properly serviced on a regular basis then they are likely to suffer faults, errors, and other issues. They may be configured improperly or have other problems too. This means it is very important to have the system serviced on a regular basis. While this cannot guarantee the system won’t suffer faults, it can prevent them from happening or resolve the problem before your holiday starts. There’s nothing worse than, while you’re on holiday, having your alarm system going off day and night. In these cases, there’s very little anyone can do, since an engineer cannot go onto your property to resolve the issue without you being present.

Furthermore, if you have not had your alarm systems serviced, you may not be liable to make insurance claims.

Lighting and other inexpensive options

Automated lighting, lamps, and other inexpensive lighting options are a fantastic way to give your home the appearance of activity while you’re on holiday. Thieves will avoid properties they think are occupied. Timed lighting systems also mean it’s harder for thieves to sneak onto the property without being detected as well. These are a relatively cheap way to secure your home while you’re away on holiday and a great choice if you’re worried about the security of your home.

Making sure everything is locked up

Even with Alarms and CCTV systems running, it is vital to ensure before you leave that your home is properly locked – every door and every window will need to be properly secured. Determined thieves will check every potential entry point. A good thing to do is to not only double check, but have friends or family check your home once you’ve left as well.

Physical Barriers

Alongside CCTV and alarms, it’s important to have physical barriers in place to prevent thieves from being able to enter either your garden or your home. High hedges, locked gates, and locks on windows are all excellent approaches to the protection of your property.

Getting Neighbours, Friends, and Family to help

One of the best ways to protect your home and property is by bringing in friends, family, and your neighbours. Having someone watch your house and regularly check on it can often keep snooping burglars away, while having someone park their car in your drive can do a huge amount to keep thieves and burglars away. Criminals will avoid properties they believe to be occupied and the presence of a car is often enough to ward them off. They will usually not take the risk of attempting to enter a property which has the potential of being already occupied

Avoid posting about your holiday online

Many criminals actively monitor people’s social media to see if they are on holiday and if their property is empty. This means they unfortunately pay close attention to people’s social media, and messages or photos about being on holiday are used to find empty homes.

It can be best to start posting about your holiday once you’re back in your home.

If you are looking out the window at wind and rain and hearing news of yet another storm heading our way, nice weather planning may not be the first thing on your mind.

Believe it or not, however, summer is on its way and with spring well underway, the timing has never been better to start thinking about home improvement.

One of the most effective ways to spruce up your home and invest in the future of your property is to install brand new doors and windows.

Expert installers such as the Advanced Group are able to put the latest uPVC windows and doors in place at any time of year, but spring is particularly popular among our Scottish customers, and for good reason.

What makes spring such a popular time for window replacements?

There are many reasons that spring is our busiest time of year as a professional window installer:

Perfect Weather Conditions

Our technicians can fit new windows and doors to a high standard at any time of year, but the mild nature of spring is especially conducive to a successful installation.

Some of the vital components of windows and doors are made from materials such as aluminium and vinyl which tend to expand in high temperatures and contract in colder climes.

Cold weather can cause the caulking used to connect seams and joints to split as the two surfaces being held together are pulled apart as each side contracts, leading to cracks and splits that could potentially cause leaks in the future.

On the other hand, if the conditions are too warm, caulking won’t cure in the first place.

For a perfect fit, every time, the mild temperatures associated with spring are ideal, and by the time any form of extreme weather rolls around, your windows will be set in and prepared to tackle anything that is thrown at them.

Enjoy the View!

It would be a shame to install a fantastic set of shiny new windows in your home only to have clouds and rain be the only sight for months to come.

Whilst we certainly can’t guarantee nice weather (This is the Scottish Spring we’re talking about) having your windows installed at this time of year will allow you to watch your garden come to life as spring sets in and hopefully welcome in plenty of sunshine in the months to come.

More Fresh Air

A long winter can leave your home feeling a bit stuffy and there is no better way to freshen it up than throwing open your windows and letting fresh air breeze through your home.

Fresh air can help to remove pollutants and allergens that have become embedded in soft furnishings and blow away stale air.

A failure to do this can lead to a range of health problems such as allergic reactions and asthma attacks.

If your windows have become stuck or stiff to open, this can be impossible, so installing new windows is essential to your quality of life in this situation.

At Advanced, we offer a wide range of windows that open in a number of different directions and manners in order to allow every customer easy access to outside air, no matter the characteristics of their property.

These options include:

• Casement Windows
• Tilt and Turn Windows
• French Windows
• Top-Hung Windows

Keep the Perfect Temperature

Whether it is keeping your home warm in the winter, or cool in the summer, temperature control is vital to being comfortable in your home.

Modern windows with double glazing Edinburgh are brilliant at preventing heat transfer, meaning that the heat generated in your home during the winter will be retained, whilst the warm air on the outside in the winter will be reflected away from your living space.

Older and single-glazed windows, on the other hand, leak heat and are often the cause of extortionate heating bills and heat leaves your home as quickly as your heating system generates it.

This means that by installing market leading double or triple glazed windows with Advanced, you will see an immediate reduction in your energy bills in the winter and improve your quality of life during the summer, offering you year-round benefits from your investment.

Contact the Advanced Group

The Advanced Group is Scotland’s leading supplier of uPVC windows, doors, and conservatories.

Spring is one of our busiest times for all the reasons mentioned in this article so if you are looking to upgrade your home, make sure to get in touch as soon as possible to avoid a wait.

We have been in the industry for 34 years and with expertly trained installers working hard to meet all our customer’s expectations you won’t find quality like this anywhere else.

For more information, or to get a free quote, call us today on 08000 502 502, or fill out our contact form.

A hybrid heating system incorporates a renewable heat source such as an air source heat pump with your existing traditional boiler to create one highly efficient heating solution.

Hybrid systems will use smart technology to automatically switch between your boiler and heat pump based on which is most suitable and energy efficient at any time, offering all the benefits of renewable energy whilst maintaining all the comfort and efficiency of oil or gas heating.

Why are hybrid energy solutions required?

Hybrid heat pumps are becoming more and more common in the UK and widespread installation could be the key to significantly reducing the country’s dependence on fossil fuels.

For many, meeting the heat requirements of your home through a heat pump alone may not be viable, especially in Scotland where there are a multitude of older large buildings that can only be fitted with limited insulation and therefore leak a lot of heat energy.

How do hybrid heat pumps work?

Hybrid heat pumps work by integrating a heat pump into your existing home heating system to ensure maximum energy efficiency.

By doing this, your hybrid heating system will be able to select the most effective heating source at any one time by monitoring outside temperatures and automatically switching between the heat pump and boiler depending on the observed conditions.

During the summer, your home’s heating requirements will likely be able to be provided solely by your heat pump, where as your boiler is cheapest to run, and most effective when temperatures drop in the colder winter months.

Are hybrid heat pumps energy efficient?

Superb energy efficiency is one of the main benefits of a hybrid heating system.

Air source heat pumps generate 3-4 units of heat energy for every 1 unit of electricity that they use to keep running, meaning they can achieve an incredible 300-400% efficiency rate.

To put this in perspective, traditional heating systems such as electric radiators and gas boilers can only achieve a maximum of 100% and 94% respectively.

Will hybrid heat pumps reduce my energy bills?

With the current energy crisis in the UK escalating wildly out of control, many are looking for a way to cut back on their annual bills.

Installing a hybrid heat pump is estimated to reduce the average UK homeowner’s heating bill by a whopping 50%, as although a heat pump does require a small amount of electricity to run, the decrease in the amount of time you will have to use your gas or oil boiler for will far outweigh these costs.

Installing a heat pump is also a great way to protect your home against price hikes in the future as you will not be so financially reliant on the fluctuations of fuel prices.

Are hybrid heat pumps long-lasting?

Very. The average boiler has a lifespan of 10-15 years but considering that your heat pump will do the legwork for a large percentage of the year, reducing the strain work your boiler has to do, hybrid heating can last significantly longer.

When you install a hybrid heat pump with Greener Energy Group you will also receive an unrivalled guarantee on your heat pump, meaning that if something does go wrong you don’t have to worry about expensive repair or replacement costs.

Is there Government Funding Available?

The UK Government has made a commitment to ensure the country becomes carbon neutral by 2050 and encouraging people to switch to more sustainable home heating systems is key to achieving this.

In Scotland alone, around 15% of the country’s entire carbon output is generated by home heating systems, so the Government has put in place a number of incentives to encourage people to make the switch to renewables.

Not only is there a current Government scheme offering those looking to install an air source heat pump with up to £13,900 towards installation costs, generating heat using any form of renewable energy system will qualify you for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI).

The RHI scheme requires energy providers to pay homeowners for every kWh of heat energy they generate using a heat pump or similar, on a quarterly basis for 7 years after installation.

Is a hybrid heat pump suitable for your home?

For many people who are looking to invest in renewable energy, installing a hybrid heating Glasgow system may be unnecessary, and for thousands of our customers, a heat pump alone is more than enough to provide all the heat requirements for their home.

If you are unsure if your home could benefit from a hybrid system, take our HOME SUITABILITY SURVEY.

Contact Us Today

For more information on hybrid heat pumps, contact Greener Energy Group today on 03335 77 66 99, or info@greenerenergygroup.co.uk.

We have over 30 years experience providing bespoke energy solutions to customers across Scotland and pride ourselves on our fantastic customer service and our expert sales team will be delighted to answer any questions you may have.

Carpet cleaning is a major part of regular home cleaning for most homeowners with vacuuming the most common method of keeping your carpets looking fresh.

Besides the aesthetic benefits, however, keeping your carpets clean is essential to you and your family’s wellbeing with everyday debris such as dust, bacteria, and allergens causing a range of health problems if left untreated.

Unfortunately, whilst it is a valuable way of maintaining the life of your carpet, vacuuming only removes surface dirt and professional cleaning is the best way to optimise your health.

So then, what exactly does a professional cleaning company do that makes your home a safer more comfortable place to be?

Professional cleaning removes dust mites

Most people see dust as annoying and the cause of the odd sneeze here and there, but the reality is that a build up of dust mites can actually cause many different health problems.

Dust mite droppings can cause asthma attacks, trap allergy inflaming pollutants that can lead to eczema and rhinitis inflammations.

These mites will settle throughout your carpet’s fibres and simply running over the surface with a home vacuum, whilst possibly removing some of these tiny bugs, will be unable to reach the majority of them.

The only way to completely eliminate dust mites from your carpets is to have them steam cleaned by a professional carpet cleaning company.

Professional steam cleaning will destroy mites permanently as they cannot survive at the high temperatures applied to the carpet fibres by the steamer.

Professional cleaning removes bacteria

As well as mites, carpets trap all sorts of other debris in the form of hair, skin cells, faeces, and bacteria in its fibres that may become airborne in what appears to be just ‘dust’ and all increase the risk of illness and create an unhealthy living environment.

Bacteria can survive for up to 4 weeks in carpets and in that time, pollutants will spread and pest species may be attracted to your home, bringing their own range of hygiene problems.

Although your carpet may appear clean, no amount of home cleaning can eliminate these pollutants completely as are there are bacteria embedded within the deeper fibres that only a professional clean will be able to remove.

When disturbed, whether by vacuuming or simply walking through your home, the pollutants embedded in the carpet release toxic gases that significantly damage the air quality within your home.

Unlike shop bought carpet cleaners, professional carpet cleaning companies will use specialist shampoos and sanitising pre-treatments when cleaning your carpet to safely eliminate such pollutants and ensure you and your family are breathing safe, fresh air when relaxing at home.

Professional Cleaning Stops Mould

Houses that have a high humidity level often have problems with mould growth. Moisture in carpets around your home encourages mould infestations to develop and if left unaddressed can have damaging health implications.

Mould produces spores that cause allergic responses such as sneezing, a runny nose, dermatitis, and eczema as well as increasing the risk of asthma attacks.

Long term exposure to toxic mould has also been linked to more serious health problems including memory loss, depression, and life threatening primary and secondary infections for asthma sufferers.

Carpets are one area of the home that is considered high risk for mould growth and can be prolific breeding grounds in the right conditions.

Damp spots that are present on your carpet, through spillages, pet urine, or even where you have tried to clean using home treatments are prime locations for mould spores to land, feed on dust, and multiply.

Mould on your carpet is not always as obvious as it would be on the wall or windowsill and in many cases, the growth is completely invisible. Signs of mould included discolouration, odours, or dampness.

Professional cleaning companies will not only ensure that the products they use will leave your carpet completely dry after cleaning, but they will also be able to tackle existing mould by using a drying element that removes moisture, existing mould, and prevents future growth.

Contact Acorn Carpet Cleaning

To help maintain a healthy environment in your home, through professional carpet cleaning, get in touch with Acorn Carpet Cleaning today on 0141 212 0212, info@acorncarpeting.co.uk, or via our Live Chat.

Acorn carpet cleaning is a family owned company based in Paisley and provides customers throughout the West of Scotland with bespoke, industry leading, carpet cleaning service.

Our experts specialise in stain removal, upholstery maintenance, and general cleaning of carpets, rugs, and hard flooring, leaving your home looking, smelling, and feeling fresh and pleasant and removing dangerous pollutants.

Our expert team puts our customers at the centre of everything that we do, providing a flexible, reliable, and friendly service and taking the utmost care of your property at all times.