Happy Leap Day! Wed Feb 29th

Confession.  I am seriously addicted to 30 Rock.  Even though I am not a big fan of TV, Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey are the reason I continue to reluctantly throw money away every month to Rogers.  It’s an expensive addiction but the laugh factor once a week is worth it.

Last night’s episode was about the creation of a ‘magical’ (yet fictitious) holiday with absurd festivities in celebration of "Leap Day".  I just love the whit and intelligent writing of this TV series.  They spoofed the classic story of ‘A Christmas Carol’, with Jack being shown Leap Day past, present, and future.  It was clever and funny.

As silly as the premise of this show was, I realized something.  Leap Day SHOULD be a holiday!

I mean, how often have you wished you had more time?  More time with family, more time to take better care of yourself, more time to finish that nagging “to do” list?

Next Wednesday, the 29th of February we will get an extra day.  How will you spend it?  

This gift of extra time to enjoy family, friends and fun activities is precious, so why wait around another four years before you do what you never have enough time to enjoy?

Insurance Housing Solutions for Residential Claims

If you handle Residential Claims, you will be interested to know of our cost saving and convenient housing solution for your policy holders.  DelSuites has been providing Insurance Housing Solutions in the GTA for 13 years.

When you call our 24/7 Insurance Housing Hotline, you will be speaking directly with one of our Temporary Housing Specialists with instant access to exactly the type of housing your client is looking for.  We will arrange to promptly meet your client at their desired location and assist them in settling in to their temporary home.

As a division of Tridel, we have an extensive inventory of properties to offer - which means your Insured can often select a location that is right in their own neighborhood!  Also, if we don’t have the property they are looking for, we will help them find it – same day.

To better serve you, our website now offers floor plans, neighborhood walk scores and 360° virtual tours of all of our locations.  For more information, visit us online at www.delsuites.com.

Or, while attending the 2012 OIAA Conference, stop by Booth #506 to receive a very special VIP gift and meet our team of Temporary Housing Experts.

Moving Children

If you have young children, you’re well aware that leaving the house can be difficult. Even easily adaptable children have the occasional melt down when they’re told, “It’s time to go now.”

Dealing with their reluctance to get moving is just one of the challenges.  Decided what is needed for the time you will be ‘away’ is always an added stress.  Why is it that a simple trip to the park requires more packing than was needed for my honeymoon?

I’m truly amazed by the clients I meet who have moved their young children across the country (sometimes across the ocean) to a new city, a new school and a new home.

Relocation is stressful for any adult so it’s no surprise that it's even harder for children.  Moving means losing home, friends and all that is familiar to encounter the unknown.  It is a loss, and children go through the grieving process before they can positively adapt to such a change.

I can say from my personal experience, the negative effects of moving are temporary.  Most children adjust fairly quickly and make new friends.  I’ve also learned that the younger the child the easier that adjustment is.  

As a mother and a former transferee, I’m proud of the measures my company takes to welcome the trailing spouse and children.  The Temporary Housing we provide is the family’s first impression of the new city.  Ensuring their needs are considered and making them feel special, gives them reassurance they’ve made a good choice.

We can’t take away all the stress that comes from relocation, but we can make those first weeks a positive experience so everyone can more comfortably adjust to their new life.

10 Must Ask Questions before choosing a Temporary Housing Provider

When booking a hotel, making the selection is relatively easy.  You pick your location, check their “Star Rating” and typically select a brand or chain you're familiar with, right? 

For stays of 30 nights or more, you may be looking for a more spacious and cost effective temporary housing solution.  Selecting the right temporary housing company can be a daunting task.  There is no “Star Rating” and most likely you won’t recognize any familiar brands.

If you want to make the right choice, here are the 10 Questions to ask any provider you are considering:

1) What does this rate include?  Get in writing a complete list of services that the quote includes to avoid any surprises on your bill.  Read the contract carefully.  If the contract is 10 pages deep and you need a magnifying glass to read it, walk away!

2) Are you a member of the Corporate Housing Providers Association (CHPA)?  All CHPA members abide by a professional Code of Ethics.  You can visit their website for a complete list of all members in your desired area.

3) Do any of your staff have their CCHP designation?  This is the industry’s symbol of expertise and excellence.  Having this designation demonstrates a commitment to their industry and the clients they serve.

4) What other Associations are you a member of?  Another good indication of their level of professionalism and commitment to their clients is the company’s involvement in the Industries that use their services (Insurance, Relocation, Corporate Travel etc.).

5) How long have you been in business?  Longevity in the Industry is a good sign that you are dealing with a company you can trust.  Ask for and check references before committing to contracts.

6) How can I reach you outside of regular office hours?  Trust me!  You definitely want to ensure the company is easily accessible.  If you found them online and have only been communicating by email, try calling them as well - and try calling after hours to see how responsive they are.

7) Do you have Liability Insurance?  This may seem like a silly question but you would be surprised to know that many providers do not.  It’s a cost savings to the provider but a huge liability and risk for the client.  If the contract doesn’t have a clause that mentions insurance coverage that is a good indication they don’t have any.

8) Are your Housekeeping and Maintenance Staff Bonded and Insured?  These are the people who will have access to your home and your personal belongings.  Being bonded and insured provides a company full financial coverage from damage, theft or any other issues.

9) What is your business model?  There are three business models for corporate apartments: direct, third-party, and blended. “Direct” is when the suite you are offered is managed directly by the company you are booking with.  “Third-party” is when the suite is essentially sub-leased from another temporary housing company. A “Blended” business model is a combination of both renting directly and 3rd Party.

10) What if I am not 100% Satisfied?  If the provider does not have a Satisfaction Guarantee, chances are, there'is a reason!  They must be willing to offer an alternate suite/location or refund your stay.

Home 'Suite' Home

In the case of fire or flood, you may be left with no place to live and considering a hotel as your only option for temporary housing.   There is a better solution... a temporary living arrangement that is not quite a hotel or a rented apartment. Rather, it is a hybrid of the two that has become increasingly popular: a temporary furnished condominium.

Life in a furnished condominium takes much of the sense of dislocation out of being away from home. Having lost their home, even temporarily, a family can get to feeling displaced.    A furnished condominium offers all the comforts of home, for less than the cost of a hotel.  In some cases, the family may even be able to remain in the neighborhood in which they previously lived so that children can easily attend their regular school and parents can continue the same commute into work each day.  This sense of familiarity can be a great comfort to them.

Finding a “home away from home” is just a click away!  For more information on DelSuites' Insurance Housing Solutions, visit http://www.delsuites.com/insurance-housing.php. 

Happy New Year!

With 2011 nearing to an end, it’s a good time to reflect on the past year. What have you accomplished?  What did you set out to achieve and did you achieve it?  

New Years is typically the time we set goals, also known as "resolutions".  So, how do we keep those resolutions?  One thing this past year has taught me is to live ‘proactively’ and not ‘reactively’.  The key to living proactively is to set goals and stay committed to them. 

As I reflect on the past year, I’m amazed at what I have accomplished both personally and professionally.  You could say “it was a record year for me”.  I don’t think I’ve ever looked back on any year in my life and felt such a sense of accomplishment.

Honestly, every milestone reached could not have been possible without the support of the “great motivators” in my life.  You know who you are.  Thank you for believing in me, for pushing me to reach new levels and for your constant support.

I NOW BELIEVE!  When you surround yourself with positive people who believe in you and inspire you, anything is possible.

Risk of Home Fires Significantly Higher During the Holidays

Over the years, I can’t tell you how many devastated families I’ve met who've lost their home due to a fire.  They look to DelSuites as a temporary home while their house is being restored, or in some cases, rebuilt.

Sadly, the incidence and severity of fires is significantly higher during the winter holiday season.  Use of decorations, candles, fireplaces and Christmas trees contributes to this increase.

It amazes me how often this occurs and, of course, has caused me to become overly cautious.  I unplug our Christmas lights when we’re not home or when we’re sleeping, I’ve switched from wax candles to battery operated tea lights and even invested in a fire proof safe where we keep those hard to replace documents. 

You might be thinking, “This would never happen to me.”  A quick bit of research left me with some startling statistics.  Ontario averages 6,000 preventable home fires annually!

From my personal experience, I wanted to share these simple tips this holiday season to keep your home and loved ones safe:

1)  Test your Smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors - today!
2)  Never burn wrapping paper in your fireplace. It can cause a chimney fire.
3)  Use flameless candles.
4)  If you have an artificial tree, be sure it is fire retardant.  If you have a real tree, keep it 3 ft. away from any heat source and water it daily.
5)  Always turn off Christmas tree lights before leaving home or going to bed.

Have a safe holiday and a happy New Year!