Wow, what a week! It’s been quite a busy week for all of us here with the  Burgin Team and I’ve managed to get more than a little behind on several things, including the blog. There’s been a lot going on in the world and the news this week so it’s easy to miss some of the things that may be important to your home. Never fear! The Burgin Blog is here! We’ve put our heads together and pulled out a couple of items that we think will be of interest to you. And no worries – there’s no politics, stock market, ponzi schemes, natural disasters or other doom and gloom in this post. Just news you can use!

First off, we’ll start with the California Sales and Use Tax increase. I know, I promised no doom and gloom, but the fact that buying now can save you money is a good thing! The 1% sales tax increase goes into effect on April 1st, so you have until next Thursday to get those purchases made without paying the extra 1%. For small, everyday items this isn’t a big deal but if you’re planning large purchases (say appliances, fixtures, etc. for a home remodel?) now is the time to buy! You can get more information on the sales tax increase at the California Board of Equalizations website at http://www.boe.ca.gov/sutax/0401TaxIncrease.htm.

Next up – Earth Hour! We are constantly hearing about green initiatives, recycling, energy efficiency, etc. Tomorrow night is the time to do your part and power down for one hour. Earth Hour 2009 is a global initiative created by the World Wildlife Fund to raise awareness for climate change. This year everyone across the globe is being asked to turn off their lights, televisions, computers and all the other energy consuming gadgets we use on a daily basis for one hour. According to the Orange County Register, approximately 75 area restaurants, several businesses and many OC and LA landmarks are expected to participate. You can learn more at the Earth Hour website at http://www.earthhour.org/.

If your family chooses to Vote Earth, please leave comments here to let us know how you spent your Earth Hour. We’ll be updating next week with stories of what our families did during this time.

With my job I focus each and every day on customer service. I am responsible for ensuring that our clients are informed, all of their questions are answered and that we are performing to their satisfaction. In any given day I am sure that I say the words “Thank You” dozens of times. I’ve found that it’s more nature and nurture than anything else. I was taught from a young age to be polite and use my “please” and “thank you” – it shows good manners and professionalism.

Over the past week I’ve thought a lot about how we say thank you to our customers and our trade partners, and with good reason. Last week our Customer Service line rang and Rhonda answered it. It was Lowes Home Improvement, one of the many vendors we use for supplies on a daily basis. The manager on the other of the phone was happy, energetic and said he simply wanted to say “Thank You” for our business. He said he expected it to be all over the news very shortly that we were one of their best customers and they really appreciate us. Cheesy?…Possibly. But also VERY effective. Rhonda immediately relayed the experience to Brad, Me, and other staff members. I know that each of us have mentioned it to at least 5 other people over the past week and now it’s here, in our blog. This call took less than 3 minutes to make and now, a week later, it is still fresh in our minds and I am sure that at the end of the month we will find that we have given Lowes more of our business than other suppliers this month.

With that in mind, we are all refocusing our efforts to provide the best in service to our clients, both new and old. In case we haven’t said it lately –  We truly appreciate that you have chosen to meet with us or use us for your Home Remodeling project. It is an honor to serve you and we look forward to making sure that your Remodeling experience is the best. THANK YOU!

Late yesterday afternoon I locked myself up in my office to work on some marketing projects that seem never-ending. I was in the perfect mindset – relaxed, creative juices flowing, research at hand and ready to go – and I couldn’t wait to dive in for a couple of hours of uninterrupted, productive work time.

And there, is where my fantasy ends. I quickly found that all I could focus on were the noises from the rest of the house. The television going in the family room, the kids arguing, the dog chasing the cat around…what I wouldn’t give for one of those soundproof rooms they use to record music. As all of these things were jumbling my brain I decided to check my email for a change of “scene”. I skimmed through the various Construction and Remodeling industry newsletters, blogs, and updates that I receive on a daily basis and one caught my eye – Quiet Rock Soundproof Drywall – the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

I clicked the link to find that the Quiet Solution company offers not only Soundproof Drywall but also Soundproof Wood and Noise Reducing Windows. Their Quiet Solution line is filled with patent-pending products designed to reduce sound waves and vibration in order to provide a quieter home or business. By this time I, of course, had moved completely away from my marketing projects and called up Brad to tell him about this fantastic line of new products. He quickly burst my bubble by informing me that he knew all about them and that we have, in fact, used their products on a couple of our Remodeling jobs. I was amazed that I hadn’t heard of this before and spent quite a while researching their products. There was tons of information from tests and studies done on the items to case studies relating real-life stories of their use in projects.

So, for those of you out there seeking solace and a quiet place to work, play or just escape (I can just imagine the soundproof bathroom with a Whirlpool tub…) there is hope! And, if you’d like more information on these products give me a call as my brain is currently filled with facts and info on them at the moment and I’d be more than happy to share!

The Kitchen is a natural breeding ground for bacteria. High humidity and plenty of food sources make this the perfect space for germs to set up house and take over. One industry solution to this problem is the addition of antimicrobial agents in Kitchen and Bath products including countertops and fixtures.

 While the addition of antimicrobial agents is certainly a plus, consumers need to understand the different types and their limitations. Some are able to kill most viruses and bacteria (not the spores) quickly and others work to reduce those germs over time and slow their growth. The purpose of these agents is not to replace ordinary cleaning practices but to provide an extra level of protection agains odors and stains and to keep the surface resistant to bacteria between regular cleanings.

One product that is an industry leader in antimicrobial products is Silestone. They are the only countertops with Microban antimicrobial protection to help fight stain causing bacteria on the surface of the countertop for an added level of cleanliness protection that will last the lifetime of the countertop.

If you’d like more information on antimicrobial products, especially Silestone Countertops, please contact us at 714-558-1094.