#contractor-client communication

[asestimationsconsultants]

The Role of Construction Estimating Services in Enhancing Client Relationships

Introduction

In the construction industry, strong client relationships are essential for business growth and success. A key factor in building and maintaining these relationships is the ability to provide accurate and transparent cost estimates, stay within budget, and ensure high-quality work. A construction estimating service plays a vital role in this process by helping contractors present detailed, clear, and reliable estimates that foster trust and satisfaction among clients.

This article explores how construction estimating services contribute to strengthening client relationships by improving communication, managing expectations, and ensuring financial transparency throughout the project.

Building Trust with Accurate Estimates

One of the most critical aspects of client relationships in construction is trust. Clients want to know that the contractor can deliver the project on time, within scope, and most importantly, within budget. Providing accurate and reliable estimates is essential for earning and maintaining this trust.

A construction estimating service helps build client confidence by:

Providing Detailed Estimates: Offers clear and thorough breakdowns of costs, including materials, labor, and overhead, helping clients understand exactly what they are paying for.

Ensuring Transparency: Clients can see where every dollar is being spent, which reduces concerns about hidden costs or overcharging.

Real-Time Updates: With real-time data, clients can be kept informed of any changes in pricing, material availability, or labor costs, fostering trust throughout the project lifecycle.

Accurate estimates lead to a stronger sense of trust, as clients are reassured that they are not facing hidden or unexpected costs down the line.

Managing Client Expectations Effectively

Managing client expectations is one of the most challenging aspects of construction project management. Without clear communication and realistic cost projections, misunderstandings and disputes can arise.

A construction estimating service helps contractors manage client expectations by:

Setting Realistic Budgets: By providing accurate cost estimates from the outset, clients are better prepared for the financial commitments involved in the project.

Providing Detailed Timeframes: Many estimating services also offer project scheduling tools, which help provide clients with clear timelines, reducing the risk of missed deadlines.

Identifying Potential Risks: Estimating services can flag potential issues that could arise during construction, allowing contractors to discuss them with clients in advance and prepare contingency plans.

By presenting realistic expectations and proactively addressing potential challenges, contractors can avoid surprises and build stronger relationships with clients.

Enhancing Communication Through Clear Reporting

Effective communication is a cornerstone of any successful client relationship. A construction estimating service facilitates communication between contractors and clients by providing clear, concise, and up-to-date reports that outline project costs and progress.

Some key ways estimating services enhance communication include:

Real-Time Reporting: Clients can access live, up-to-date reports that show the status of their project, including expenditures, completed work, and remaining costs.

Visual Cost Breakdown: Detailed reports that break down costs by category (materials, labor, equipment, etc.) allow clients to clearly understand how their money is being spent.

Customizable Reports: Estimating services often allow contractors to create reports tailored to the client’s specific needs, whether they require high-level summaries or detailed cost breakdowns.

With easy-to-understand reports, clients feel more involved in the process and are better informed about their project’s financial and operational status.

Reducing Disputes and Misunderstandings

Disputes can arise when clients feel they were misled about costs, project scope, or timelines. A construction estimating service minimizes these risks by providing precise estimates and clear communication from the beginning of the project.

By using estimating software, contractors can:

Avoid Scope Creep: A detailed and accurate estimate helps define the scope of work and prevents additional costs from accumulating without client approval.

Address Change Orders: Estimating services allow contractors to easily incorporate change orders into the original estimates, ensuring that clients understand the financial impact of any project modifications.

Track Adjustments and Updates: Changes in project requirements or costs can be quickly reflected in the estimate, keeping clients up-to-date and reducing confusion.

Accurate estimates and transparency throughout the process help reduce the chances of disputes and ensure that clients feel their interests are being protected.

Improving Client Satisfaction Through On-Time, On-Budget Completion

One of the ultimate ways to build a strong relationship with clients is to complete the project on time and within budget. A construction estimating service plays a major role in making this possible by offering accurate estimates that help contractors stay on track throughout the entire project.

The benefits of accurate cost estimation and forecasting include:

On-Time Completion: With accurate project timelines and realistic labor/material forecasts, contractors can stay on schedule and avoid delays that might frustrate clients.

Within Budget: Accurate cost projections ensure that all project expenses are accounted for, helping contractors stay within budget and avoid cost overruns.

Quality Assurance: Estimating services ensure that quality materials and skilled labor are included in the budget, resulting in a project that meets or exceeds client expectations.

Delivering projects on time, within budget, and to the desired quality will leave clients satisfied and more likely to recommend your services in the future.

Building Long-Term Client Relationships

The goal of any construction company should be to build long-term, repeat client relationships. Satisfied clients are more likely to return for future projects and refer your services to others. A construction estimating service can help cultivate long-term relationships by:

Delivering Consistent Results: With accurate estimates and well-managed projects, contractors can demonstrate reliability and expertise, making clients more likely to work with them again.

Promoting Client Trust: Transparency and effective communication foster trust, which is the foundation of any long-term client relationship.

Creating Opportunities for Future Business: By consistently delivering accurate estimates and high-quality work, contractors can position themselves as trusted partners for future projects.

Long-term client relationships are built on trust, transparency, and reliability—three areas that construction estimating services help improve.

Conclusion

A construction estimating service is not just a tool for calculating costs; it is a powerful asset that can strengthen client relationships. By providing accurate, transparent estimates, improving communication, managing expectations, and reducing disputes, estimating services help build trust and client satisfaction throughout the construction process.

In the competitive world of construction, clients value contractors who can deliver on their promises. With the support of a professional estimating service, construction companies can ensure that projects are completed on time, within budget, and to the highest standards, leading to stronger relationships and repeat business.

[interiorergonomics]

How Professional Interior Designers Communicate in Dubai

Professional interior designers in Dubai operate in a fast-paced, multicultural environment. This means they requires all of them to adhere to effective communication in order to deliver exceptional results. Their communication strategies are tailored to meet the diverse needs of clients, contractors, and suppliers. Here is what helps them ensure seamless project execution. 1. Understanding…

[astrogre]

People Represented in each House

Including niche examples

1H

Yourself, your persona. You as an individual. Your role models (projection of your ideal self)

2H

Business partners, business collaborators, acting/modelling/any agency you are under. Podcasters you listen to, literal social media influencers, salesman, your self esteem mentors,your real estate agent, your savings coach, your bank, your stockbroker

2H includes people who influence how you earn money. 2H represents people who can influence your personal values and your self esteem E.g a Ben Shapiro to a politically curious individual, the kardashians to a teenage girl. 2nd house can also represent people involved in the maintenance, acquisition and management of your possessions and finances

3H

Your siblings, your neighbours, your relatives like extended family, peers and acquaintances like the people in your class you know of but don’t talk to enough to say they’re your friend, peers, acquaintances, colleagues/coworkers, professors, educational teachers, speaking coach, language teacher

3H is related to intellectual pursuits, learning, just all forms of intellectual development, mercury sits well here. It’s about the people who you interact with daily as they influence your way of communication The individuals here would influence your communication style, interests and knowledge

4H

Your mother (mother figure if you don’t have a mother), your parents but particularly your mother figure, the collective of your whole family, ancestors, caregivers, people that live in your house like your flatmates, your housemates, housekeepers, butlers

4H represents the physical home, the mother, familial connections, nurturers etc. so the people here would be the ones living in it and those who have influence in your domestic life

5H

Your children, your inner child, you as a parent, your nieces, your nephews, romantic partners (short term), artistic partners E.g co-writers, collaborators, people involved in your projects, your students, your mentees, your investors, your hook up partners, people who you gamble or just play games with.

5H represents children, creativity, your mentoring to others, gambling, fun, joyful light love affairs, it’s also ruled by Leo. So we have these people involved with these themes

6H

Coworkers, colleagues, employees, staff (individuals who work under you or provide a service to you), your doctor, your contractors, your nurses, your teammates, your healthcare providers, your therapist, your career coach, your internship mentor, your assistants, your service providers, your pets, your gym colleagues, your fitness instructor, your nutritionist, your organiser, your HR department, your vet

6H represents work environment, daily routines, service, health and well-being, these are the people that you find under that setting

7H

Romantic partners, your spouse, life partner, your closest friends, confidants, allies, your supporters, your business partners, anyone you form a pact with, your clients, your customers (the kind you engage with in professional settings), your lawyers, your legal team, your competitors, your opponents, your matchmaker, your wedding planner, your relationship therapist

7H ruled by Libra represents all relationships that also includes bad ones btw, business relationships, marriage, 7H represents companions, partnerships, professional relationships, legal matters, professional representation so the people that fall under this house would be those that build relationships with you

8H

Financial partners/advisors, therapists, inheritors, beneficiaries (who you inherit from), occult teachers, your intimate long term sexual partners, your accountant, your councillors, your psychologist, your insurance agents, your estate planners, your morticians

8H is associated with death, sex, psychology, transformation, joint resources etc. and so these are the kind of people that 8H would represent

9H

Your professors, your teachers, your spiritual leaders, your priest, your pastor, your favourite scholars, your favourite philosophers, your lawyers, your judges, your legal advisors, your authors, your educational materials, your foreign friends, your foreign connections.

alike to 3H in education but 9H rules higher education so it’s an octave higher than 3H in terms of the teachers associated with it. 9H also represents justice and law so it would include people that work in this field that you encounter

10H

Your father, your boss, your mentor, your manager, people of authority, your parents (father in particular), influential figures you look up to, e.g your fave celebrities, government, politicians, your PR team, your publishers, you as a role model, your admirers like the people who look up to you, influencers, your business, icons

10H association with self-image and reputation and classic Saturn authority would include those who are involved in those themes

11H

Friends, peers. Social activists, humanitarians, philanthropists, inventors, forecasters, visionaries, leaders, community organisers, trendsetters

different from 3H in the sense that with 11H friends, you actually share the same goals and interests in mind whereas with 3H it’s mostly an exchange of communication about these parts of yourself and they are less as significant in your social life compared to 11H type of friends

12H

Spiritual beings, your religion, spiritual forces, your subconscious mind, artists, creative people, writers, hospital patients, prisoners, monks, religious people, volunteers, dreamers, charities.

12H represents those that can derive what is within their inner secluded world and bring it into reality. It’s associated with empathy, mental/spiritual state, seclusion and the bed. The people here would be those that would retreat, help others and tap into realms beyond the physical)

[centrally-unplanned]

I know, I am really on a "mocking Tyler Cowen" kick, I will move on from this soon. I just think the ways he is failing these days is very symptomatic of the zeitgeist faux-intellectualism and the ways thinkers are struggling to slot into an openly anti-intellectual movement.

He starts with "USAID is probably good", but in a very compliment-sandwich way. You taught me what a Straussian read is my dear Cowen, so when your "it is good" section is two lines of link dumps, and the rest of the piece is criticism, I am getting the message. So let us set that part aside and dig into those criticisms:

To be clear, I consider this kind of thing to be scandalous.  And I strongly suspect that some of the other outrage anecdotes are true, though they are hard to confirm, or not

The link is to the think tank The Urban Institute putting out a donation call because 1/3rd of its budget is from the Federal government. Which is scandalous...because...uh, why? It is the Urban Institute. They analyze government policy for hire. Their biggest customer is the government. What the fuck? Their latest research - just chosen randomly, top of the list - is an impact evaluation of a program to help at-risk youths graduate high school. Is that bad now?? Does Tyler Cowen no longer think impact evaluations of policy are good??

Imagine describing consulting firms this way: "Oil Well Advisors has hit significant headwinds now that Exxon Mobile is suspending all outside contractors", is that a scandal? Or just absolutely normal behavior for industries with large institutional clients? What is the alternative here? Does he want - in a post subtly praising the Trump Admin - the government to in-house all impact evaluations? I don't disagree that they should do more but, uh, read the room buddy?

I know I am harping on this point but I really wanna emphasize how much of a bad writing call this is - taking an actually insane position (orgs specializing in government contracts shouldn't exist lmao) and because it is so indefensible you instead just handwave it as obvious so the audience maybe doesn't notice. Very cringe.

Okay, moving on:

It does seem Nina Jankowicz and her work received funding, and that I find hard to justify.  It seems to be evidence for something broken in the process. 

The money went to her work with the Center for Information Resilience, which does investigative reporting on war crimes like in the Ukraine War. Maybe her project sucked, I don't even know, but come on. This is incredibly normal behavior for USAID.

 Or how about funds to the BBC?

You mean the BBC Media Action charity, which trains journalists and helps build out mobile & communication networks in developing countries? Should the US build 100% of its own orgs and never fund effective, international partners from US allies? Is that a coherent foreign policy goal I can just wave my hands about and never explain because it is so obvious?

He then goes into the "reforming USAID" angle:

The Samo piece is excellent.  For one thing he notes: “The agency primarily uses a funding model which pays by hours worked, thus incentivizing long-duration projects.”  And the very smart Samantha Power, appointed by Biden to run AID, “…is in favor of disrupting the contractor ecosystem.”  Samo also discusses all the restrictions that require American contractors to be involved. Here is a study on how to reform AID, I have not yet read it.

Which is totally fine, I agree if I ran USAID I could totally like boost efficiency by 50%. I bet a lot of spending is inefficient. But why are you pretending that the current admin is, in any way, aiming for technocratic reform?

Why bother bringing this thread up? That isn't what they are doing! It isn't relevant.

I love this classic trick:

According to the very smart, non-lunatic Charlie Robertson: "My data suggests US AID flows in 2024 were equivalent to: 93% of Somalia’s government revenues, 61% in Sudan, just over 50% in South Sudan and Yemen" While I do not take cutting off those flows lightly, that seems unsustainable and also wrong to me as a matter of USG policy.  Those do not seem like viable enterprises to me.

You can think whatever you want is wrong, your call. But unsustainable? All of USAID is half a percent of the federal government. Payments to Somalia are a rounding error. This is the definition of sustainable! You could run this forever and never even notice.

But okay, maybe you mean like it is creating a culture of dependency or somesuch, not the same thing but I will humor you. Let's look at the latest USAID impact assessment of their work in Somalia:

Oh whoops, looks like our ability to even evaluate programs has been stripped away by the current admin's mass purging of databases like impact assessment reports! Fortunately I have the Wayback Machine, so I can get around this:

"Culture of dependency" this money went to food and clean water for starving people. You can say whatever you want about priorities and all that shit. That it is "unsustainable". But if someone doesn't do this then some of these people die. I notice "let them die" does not appear in your bloodless discussion of "aid dependency". Maybe we should cut aid because they will be forced to get their state together and be better off in the long run. I understand that logic, I really do, you can make that case.

But fucking say it. Say "let them die" to my face. Man the fuck up.

Alright, last one since this is going on too long:

There are various reports of AID spending billions to help overthrow Assad. I cannot easily assess this matter, either whether the outcomes was good or whether AID mattered, but perhaps (assuming it was effective) such actions should be taken by a different agency or institution?

I love this one because it is a peak "attack of opportunity" moment. At the beginning of this very post he says this:

Here is a Samo analysis...The Samo piece is excellent. 

The linked piece, by the Samo Burja, is this:

The piece, to clarify, explains that USAID is not an aid agency, but fundamentally an extension of US foreign policy and conducts itself to achieve foreign policy goals. That this is its explicit, stated purpose. And Tyler Cowen says it is a great piece.

And then proceeds to say that pursuing those goals in Syria should maybe be at a different agency because that isn't "aid".

Bro you don't give a rat's ass about that! You just wanted to score points, you don't care about this at all. It was just on the list, you didn't even think about it, you just said something that sounded plausible. It is pathetic, you don't have to comment on every headline if you don't have a hot take. Just post a meme instead like a normal person.

But he does have to comment, because this post exists to ingratiate himself to the vibe shift. It as transparent as it is embarrassing - it is so limp-wristed, saying things like "the 'Elonsphere' on Twitter is very much exaggerating the horror anecdotes" when their most viral claims are just naked fabrications. Come on, man. You used to be better than this.

[ellethespaceunicorn]

Daddy Dearest

Title: Daddy Dearest

Rating: Explicit, 18+, Minors - DNI

Pairing: Lloyd Hansen x Female!Reader

Word Count: 1.5K

Prompts: Lloyd Hansen + Female Reader + Daddy kink + “Can you feel how much I want you?” + Darkfic, requested by @hansensgirl

Summary: Your latest client takes everything from you.

Warnings: Creep!Lloyd, Daddy kink, Dark!Daddy!Lloyd, pet name (Princess), darkfic, sex work, forced ageplay, Lloyd has a corruption kink, dead dove: do not eat, dacryphilia, violence against Reader (choking, threatening, Lloyd tackles Reader) 

A/N: Hi, Sab!!! Unbeta’d, we die like people who tried their best. 

Dividers by me

Support/Reblog banner by me

Cover Art by me

Sweet Treats Event 2024 Masterlist

My Masterlist

The dossier for your latest client reads like a warning label. It is full of kinks and fetishes you are familiar with but have never experienced yourself. And then there were a few that you had to do a little research on. 

There isn’t much to read about his personal life. You notice that he is single due to his line of work, which is only listed as ‘Contractor’. You decide to keep the conversation only about pleasing your client.

The car service drops you off at a gorgeous modern mansion in the hills. In the back of a gated community, it shines with floor-to-ceiling windows and marble stone walls. The fountain in the middle of the circular driveway spouts glistening water that shoots a bit higher out of the fish sculpture atop it to signal the top of the hour.

To say you feel out of place is an understatement. While you are used to meeting high-profile clients, you would rarely meet them at their homes. They tend to opt for penthouse suites in expensive hotels or apartments that their wives or girlfriends don’t know about. 

Your heels click and clack across the stone-paved driveway as you walk to the front door. You fix the short black dress that you picked to wear today. It wasn’t your usual style, a bit showy in places you would have seen on slinky lingerie, but you wore it so the client could get a better look at your assets. Noticing the doorbell camera to the right of the entrance, you press it and wait. 

You weren’t expecting to hear a woman’s voice.

“Mr. Hansen will be with you shortly. Please, do come in and make yourself comfortable in the lounge to the left,” she says in an eerily chipper voice.

Before you can respond, you hear the metallic click of the door unlocking. Swallowing your uncertainty, you turn the ornate handle and open the door. You peek around the door and then step through it, closing it behind you. Spotting the lounge area, you walk over and sit on the pristine white leather couch.

While looking around the room, you notice there are no photos or other personal touches that make a house into a home. You still haven’t seen what the guy looks like; he could be hideous. But he could also be just a normal dude. As if thinking about him could get his attention, you hear a cheerful whistling accompanied by quick footsteps skipping down the stairs.

Once he makes it to the entryway of the lounge, he leans against the door jamb and crosses his arm, studying you for a moment. You refuse to be the only one being scrutinized, so you cross your arms and tilt your head while staring at him.

Handsome face, even under that trashstache. Gorgeous blue eyes and soft pink lips. His yellow and beige striped polo fits him nicely, showing off his big biceps. His fitted khakis stretch across his thick thighs. You attempt to hide your excitement as you peek at the bulge in his pants, but he catches it and chuckles.

“Alright, Princess. As much as I love that dress you’re wearing, I’ve got something that is much, much cuter waiting upstairs for you.” He winks at you, stepping toward you and holding out his hand once he is towering over you.

You tentatively put your hand in his, and he helps you up off of the couch. “Thank you, Mr. Hansen.”

He tsks at your words. “Now, Princess, while I love how polite you’re being, you’re getting the name wrong,” he starts, smiling at your confused expression. “When you’re here with me, you are Princess, and I am Daddy. Go ahead, try it out.”

His thumb soothes the skin on the back of your hand while his eyes stay on your face, waiting for a response. His smile threatens to fade as the grip on your hand grows tighter.

“Daddy,” you murmur, your voice barely loud enough for him to hear.

His other hand comes to cradle your face, then boops your nose. “Good girl, Princess. Don’t worry, I’ll get you to say it louder in due time,” he promises. “Now, come on. Let’s go and get you changed into something a bit more comfortable, okay?”

You nod, and he puts a hand around the shell of his ear. You realize that he wants you to answer him. “Yes, Daddy.”

“That’s my good girl. Let’s not forget that again. Daddy might not be as patient with you next time, Princess.” He boops your chin this time and turns, pulling you behind him as he exits the room and ascends the large staircase in the foyer to the second floor. You keep up with his quick steps somehow, ending up being tugged down a long hallway to a set of double doors. He lets your hand fall from him so he can be as dramatic as he needs to be.

Turning the knobs and pushing the doors open, he steps aside and lets you assess everything. A plush pastel pink carpet greets you as you move inside the room; its fluffiness compels you to remove your heels and feel it between your toes. Everywhere you looked, from the bedding on the four-poster canopy bed to the knickknacks on countless shelves to the stuffed animals piled high in one corner, various shades of pink and white assault your vision. 

Posters on the wall range from inspirational quotes to teddy bears dressed as ballerinas to anime girls with varying stages of undress. The pink and white marble wardrobe draws your attention, and you open it to reveal more outfits than you could wear in a lifetime. The clothing, all in pastel shades, is of great quality and, surprisingly, all in your size. You close the wardrobe and step back into the center of the room.

“You don’t like it,” he surmises, closing the doors of the room as he steps inside fully.

“I’m just confused. I don’t feel comfortable in here, Mr. Hansen,” you plead, facing away from him so you don’t see when his face changes.

“You’re about to feel a lot less comfortable, Princess,” he cautions.

You jump at the sound of the lock clicking into place in the room. Whipping around, you watch helplessly as he lunges at you. His hands wrap around your neck as he tackles you to the pink carpeting. You try in vain to peel his hands away, and as you struggle, he somehow manages to get his hips between your legs. He growls when he feels the heat from your barely covered pussy. He uses his grip around your neck as an anchor so he can grind into you.

“Can you feel how much I want you?” He loosens his hold on your neck when your eyes threaten to roll back in your head. He pushes your face into the carpet when you start to sputter and cough. 

After getting your breathing under control, you lay stock-still under him, afraid to make a move that may anger him and cause you more pain. As much as you want to push him off of you, he’s already proven what he’s capable of.

“You behave, and so will I, Princess,” he huffs, slowly rising to stand over you. “Now, you put on this cute little outfit and let Daddy take care of you.” 

You follow his line of sight to clothes laid out on the bed, pulling yourself up and fixing your dress. Once you are close enough, you take in the features of the clothing he picked out-a pink denim overall dress with a stitched bouquet on the large front pocket. To wear underneath the dress is a plain white T-shirt and white briefs decorated with flowers. White knee-high socks and pink jelly sandals complete the outfit.

If you weren’t so in shock, you would scream or try to fight him. But you are past the realm of where this wasn’t going to happen. Instead, you undress as he watches. Putting on the shirt, underwear, and socks was easy enough. However, he offers to help you with the dress and gropes you here and there. He sits you down on the bed and puts your shoes on for you in an act so sweet, you almost forget where you are and what you are doing.

After looking you over, he stands to his full height in front of you and cradles your face in his hands. “I am going to ruin you. Inside and out, Princess. You have no idea,” he chuckles, using his thumb to wipe away the tear that falls from your right eye. “And please, let those tears out. They only get me more excited.” The sniffle that escapes you had him biting his lip as if to prove his point.

The remaining shred of hope you had held onto floats away in the wind as you watch him unbuckle his belt and unzip his pants. By the time he is lying next to you and catching his breath, your grip on reality has been fucked out of you. You curl into his side and smile at him, “Thank you, Daddy.”

A/N: Possibly the darkest Lloyd I have ever written. This Lloyd is a creep, but damnit…I love him.

[popatochisssp]

Would it be too much to ask what kind of jobs the new skeles might have since you already shared bram would be a groundskeeper at a cemetery?

Looks like I never officially did this one for Wave 2, just Wave 1 over here.

So, while we’re at it, let's do 2 and 3!

Ash (Undergloom Sans): He’s semi-unemployed, or self-employed depending on how you look at it. He busks, playing his trombone out on the street and accepting donations from anyone who feels so inclined. He likes playing music and the idea of brightening peoples’ days in the middle of their commute, so the money doesn’t really matter to him. Sometimes he picks up small gigs at local venues, mostly by word of mouth, and eventually he breaks into the tutoring scene—teaching his favorite instrument to young aspiring musicians who find the same joy in it that he does.

Yrus (Undergloom Papyrus): He works as a professor at the local community college, teaching anthropology. He’s passionate about the subject and can’t think of anything he’d rather do than share it with a classroom of humans who probably have no idea how interesting they really are. If only one student walked away from his class with a new appreciation for what humanity’s all about then he’s fulfilled—but he tends to send a lot more away with that than just one, since he’s a very popular, friendly, and accessible teacher.

Brick (Horrorfell Sans): He’s self-employed, knitting blankets at home and selling them online. He doesn’t need a job at all, between the Queen and his brother, money’s not an issue, but he’d go crazy if he didn’t have something to do all day, and nobody wants to see what he looks like when he goes crazy. He takes commissions often, but other times he just makes things according to whatever he’s feeling and what color yarn he has handy and sells to whoever feels like buying it.

King (Horrorfell Papyrus): He works as a physical therapist. He more or less taught himself to walk again after losing his leg, and a second time after getting a replacement, so he very personally understands the need that exists for people who are injured and want to get back to their normal life—but maybe lack the discipline, the knowledge, or the tools to take that journey solo. He’s hard on his patients and sadistically merciless, but his success rate in terms of mobility recovered is very high and any complaints after the fact are begrudging at worst.

Merc (Horrorswap Sans): He’s a home baker, making cakes and small pastries for a small but growing client base. He likes the freedom of getting to pursue his passions seriously and to be his own boss, set his own hours, screen his own clients, et cetera. He puts a lot of time and care into what he makes, both in terms of flavor and decoration, and finds nothing quite so satisfying as a repeat customer or a glowing review and recommendation to someone new.

Ell (Horrorswap Papyrus): Freelance programming is what he does for cash. It was something he could both learn how to do and actually do remotely, without the need for more than the bare minimum of in-person contact. He likes problem-solving, and complaining about the problem-solving, and the field is pretty much always in demand so if he’s bored of certain kinds of jobs, or sick of the person giving him the jobs, he can jump ship at any time and be a contractor someplace else.

Pitch (Horrorswapfell Sans): He’s a boxer, more amateur than pro so he doesn’t make a ton doing it, at least not consistently, but he likes fighting and draws in a decent crowd by being a bit of a spectacle (a blind skeleton in the ring) so the entertainment value is worth something. Aside from that, eventually, he fills in for his brother as a combination business partner/agent/accountant, helping him get jobs and keep clients and manage the money he makes doing so.

Nemo (Horrorswapfell Papyrus): He’s unemployed for a long while, but ultimately breaks into professional photography, with a specialty in travel photographs. He likes taking pictures and getting to see the world in the process, and it helps that it’s a family business so he and his brother have pretty much full control over what jobs he takes and for how much. He doesn’t really concern himself with the money numbers, though, he just likes filling out his portfolio with gorgeous locales all around the world.

Sunny (Gastertale Sans): He does a lot of odd jobs, all over the place, generally (things that are considered) unskilled labor—bussing tables, janitorial work, desk clerking, that kind of thing. He doesn’t like the thought of getting too stuck into any one thing and being unable to try something else out later if it doesn’t work out, and there’s something to be said for the satisfaction of being closely connected to the results of your labor. Sometime down the line he will end up sticking in one career, as a dealer for a casino, because it combines his social, charming nature with his sharp eye and quick hands, but until then he’s happy to bounce around.

Aster (Gastertale Papyrus): He’s a bookkeeper at a nondescript company. He’s organized and thorough with record-keeping and double-checking data, and he likes putting those skills to use to make sure his employer’s finances and transactions all balance out at the end of the day. Some might find it boring work and he could almost certainly qualify for a much more ‘prestigious’ job doing something else, but he’s satisfied having a job that doesn’t require all of his effort and brainpower, so he can save some of that for his personal life and private interests.

Spectr (Transcendtale Sans): He’s a nomad, a wanderer, he has no job. He’s a robot in the shape of a monster—ostensibly still a monster, even so—in a world full of humans that as yet believe monsters don’t exist, so even if he wanted a job, getting one would be logistically difficult. Luckily, he feels no special need to be gainfully employed and just spends his time wandering around and taking in the world. If he needs something, he’ll either just take it or use one of his brother’s accounts to pay for it.

PapAIrus (Transcendtale Papyrus): He’s a performer, a disc jockey who mixes, makes, and plays music to crowds at clubs, raves, and discos, anywhere he’s welcome. He takes advantage of the perception of his holographic form as an artist’s gimmick, like Daft Punk, Hatsune Miku, dead musicians projected onto stages to play posthumously… In his defense, that last one is sort of exactly what he is, except he didn’t really start making music until after he died. Still, he has fun doing it and adores the fame he’s steadily gaining as a popular, cutting-edge technology music act.

Xanth (Ascendswap Sans): He does aura readings for people. For those interested to know, he shares his perception of their colors and the flow of energy in and around them, and just generally describes the sense he gets about a person. What he does is really more of a soul read than an aura read, so a lot of the color meanings and terminology he uses contrast with the kind of readings his clients may get from humans who practice something a little bit different. Still, he’s earnest in his desire to help people understand themselves and their energies and emotions, so he gets a lot of recommendations and repeat clientele who trust he’s the real deal.

Piper (Ascendswap Papyrus): He works as an event planner, organizing gatherings, arranging vendors, booking venues, the whole nine. He has a great reputation for making things go smoothly and always seems to be able to talk out bumps and snags before they ever become a major problem. He also maintains great relationships with people in the industry and delights in having connections just about everywhere in case he needs to call on a favor to make something happen for a client. He's got the magic touch and the silver (gold) tongue that makes everything fall into place just so.

Carmine (Underfell Fruition Sans): He works as a clerk at a pawn shop. He gets to handle a lot of interesting items and assess roughly how much they’d be worth, and he’s pretty good at haggling and negotiating with people who might not agree with said assessments. Sometimes people will come in with broken stuff they wouldn’t be able to get too much for, but maybe he can cut ‘em a deal, fix it up on his own dime and if they come back for it, great—and if they don’t, his boss’ll be happy to have something that works to sell to somebody else at a markup, how ‘bout it? He does a brisk business and both sides of the counter love him.

Tank (Underfell Fruition Papyrus): He’s in construction. He’s huge, strong, takes direction well, and diligently follows rules and protocols—he’s an ideal fit for it. He likes to work hard and be able to see a job come together, knowing he had a part in it and being satisfied with the quality of his contribution. He especially likes to take every safety training and equipment certification course he can attend because he likes knowing what the rules are and being specifically told how certain procedures are run, machines operated, et cetera. He’s very likely to be apprenticed in as a foreman if not the inheritor someday of the construction business by its current owner for his work ethic and dedication, but that’ll be a long ways from now.

Vi (Swapfell Fruition Sans): He works as an independent auditor and combs through companies’ records, internal and external documentation, processes, and accounting and ensures everything is being done in accordance with industry standards. In short, he shows up, demands to see everything they have, and looks through it to see if they’ve lied, did something wrong, or lost information they weren’t supposed to. Sometimes he can do this remotely but other times he has to travel out to a physical office somewhere and sit down with a bunch of stuffed file cabinets, and he really doesn’t mind either way. He likes the work and he’s good at it—maybe because he’s good at it—and he finds it satisfying to catch the tiniest little misses and errors to demand an accounting of them.

Hunter (Swapfell Fruition Papyrus): He’s a trail maintenance worker for Ebott National Park. He walks the paths and hiking trails and makes sure they’re safe and unobstructed for visitors, as well as whatever odd jobs in the area that happen to come up—looking out for invasive species, helping with a bench install, directing lost tourists, that kinda thing. It’s not especially glamorous work but it’s pretty much exactly where he wants to be and he’s happy to do it, probably wouldn’t pick any other job in the world…except maybe to volunteer for a seasonal fire-watch position and do pretty much the exact same thing, but more isolated and with a big cool tower to sit in.

Kohl (Descendtale Sans): He works as a mortician at a local funeral home. He generally isn’t expected (read: allowed) to deal with grieving families, that’s more the funeral director’s purview, but he works behind the scenes embalming, processing, and otherwise preparing the dead for their final party and last ride home. He has a strong stomach—or rather, no stomach at all—and doesn’t get squeamish or emotional about the dead, so that works out. They also let him work nights so he has several long, quiet hours of methodically going through the routine with no (living) humans around to irritate him or vice-versa. Sounds like a good gig to him.

Bram (Descendtale Papyrus): Yes, still a groundskeeper for the cemetery and loving it. It was something he kind of fell into through his brother, when he didn’t really know what he wanted to do on the Surface, but his brother sends dead humans off to their final resting place and said final resting place was looking for someone to dig holes, mind the grass, keep everything looking neat and nice—and that’s certainly something he can do! He also works nights, being that monsters are almost entirely nocturnal these days, so he’s also an unintentional scarecrow deterrent to teenagers sneaking in late for partying or spooky dares when they see a slim, bony silhouette materialize out of the shadows with a shovel in hand, asking if they’re just visiting or thinking about moving in.…

[multidimensionalguidance]

📚💸 Career + Wealth Analysis 💸📚

One of the most frequent questions astrologers receive from their clients when doing a chart reading is about their career, profession or work.

The labor we do on an everyday basis is essential when it comes to our finances and self fulfillment. It can either be something we enjoy doing that meets all of our needs, or what brings a paycheck yet lacks inner satisfaction.

There are several ways to confirm if the work you are doing is activating your Venus properly, and you may wonder why that planet in particular? Simple! Venus is related to finances, luxury, and comfort. The jobs that align with our Venus sign tend to be the ones that not only fits into our financial needs, but also provides a genuine feeling of contentment.

So, if you want the straight forward answer to “What career/field/job/hobby can help me create wealth and feel joyful about it?” Then Venus is your short answer. Remember that wealth will look differently for everyone since we all have different perceptions of how much money is truly enough to have the lifestyle we dream of.

Look for the Sidereal sign that your Venus falls in, find below the careers or fields related to it, and confirm for yourself the difference in your wealth accumulation once you incorporate it into your life.

Note: please keep in mind that if your Venus is conj, square or opposite a malefic planet/s (Mars, Saturn, Rahu/Ketu), there will be some natural resistance or challenges that you will experience throughout life with work, job, profession, or financial matters. Venus in Virgo, Scorpio, and Capricorn to a degree could also experience similar experiences.

The house where this planet is placed also tells a lot about the way your job manifests in your life (places, people, etc). Now, there are many ways to remediate any negative effects, so no need to be concerned or feel doomed.

There are many advanced Vedic Astrologers who mostly focus on remediation of planets that are in difficult or challenged positions, so take a look at the options available if you ever feel like there's an extra difficulty for you in those matters.

♈️➡️ Vocations that require independence, daring and the pioneering spirit: entrepreneurs, pioneers in any field, idea people, those who initiate new projects, troubleshooters, directors, adventurers, executives.

Firemen or fire fighters, forest rangers, engineers (metallurgical), members of the armed forces, firearms experts, police officers, machinists, mechanics, iron and steel workers, locksmiths, welders, athletics that involve speed and daring, race car drivers, contact sports, boxers, dancers, movement therapists, physical education instructors, surgeons.

♉️➡️ Vocations dealing with the earth and substance: farmers, ranchers, agriculture instructors, landscape architects, gardeners, rock collectors (semi-precious gems), builders, carpenters, building contractors, concrete pourers, chiropractors, massage therapists, computer programmers.

Occupations involved with money and finance: bankers, bank tellers, stock brokers, financiers, money managers, investment advisors, security analysts, treasurers, economists.

Artists, sculptors, jewelers, pottery makers, fashion designers, tailors, florists, musicians, singers, voice teachers, throat specialists.

♊️➡️ Vocations involved with communication or transportation: authors, proofreaders, ad copywriters, screenplay writers, editors, reporters, teachers, lecturers, linguists, speech therapists, librarians, bookstore owners, publishers, magazine employees.

Radio operators or disc jockeys, television producers, telephone operators or repair persons, telemarketers, stationery store owners, journalists, salespeople, printers, book distributors, clerks, office workers, secretaries, typists, typesetters.

Messengers, mail carriers, taxi drivers, bus drivers, railway employees, plane pilots, accountants, jacks-of-all-trades. Can engage in two or more occupations at once.

♋️➡️ Vocations that nurture: physically or emotionally (especially through food): caterers, restaurant owners, chefs, cooks, bakers, waiters and waitresses, confectioners, dairy farmers, grocers, food distributors, nutritionists.

Social workers, counselors, psychics, nurses, family therapists, preschool teachers, children's writers, tioners, caretakers, water-related occupations, plumbers, swimmers, lifeguards, fishermen.

All careers dealing with the home: realtors, hotel managers, innkeepers, homemakers, governesses, maids, laundry workers.

♌️➡️ Performers of all types: actors and actresses, playwrights, entertainers, dancers, singers, musicians, movie stars, circus performers, jugglers, clowns, sports figures, teachers (good teachers are entertainers), amuse ment park owners, speculators, gamblers.

Leaders of all types: executives, managers, government officials, politicians, foremen, judges, athletes, salespeople, the profession of selling, promoters, dia: mond and precious metal brokers, gold workers, heart specialists, all vocations involving children.

♍️➡️ Vocations dealing with analysis, detail and technical expertise: statisticians, accountants, book-keepers, computer programmers, teachers of technical subjects, stenographers, critics, inspectors of all types, draftsmen, graphic artists, technical illustrators, crafts-people, specialists.

Health occupations and the social services, mental health workers, therapists, psychiatrists, psychoanalysts, social workers, employment counselors, nurses, doctors, massage therapists, respiratory techairians, dental hygienists, dentists, secretaries, office managers, food service worker, nutritionist, waiters and waitresses, dieticians, veterinarians, zoologist, sanitation workers, janitors, public health officials, house cleaners, butlers.

♎️➡️ Vocations that pursue balance, harmony and justice: negotiators and counselors of all types, marriage counselors, wedding related businesses, diplomats, labor arbitrators, judges, lawyers, managers, salespeople.

Occupations dealing with beauty: artists, architects, painters, illustrators, photographers, fashion designers, fashion industry workers, milliners, color consultants, clothing store owners or salespeople, beauticians, hairdressers, cosmeticians, interior and exterior decorators, cosmetic manufacturers and dealers, jewelers, florists, candy makers.

♏️➡️ Vocations that focus on uncovering hidden secrets: researchers, muckraking journalists, investigators, detectives, physicists, occultists, those who work behind the scenes, espionage agents, psychics, astrologers, all matters dealing with death, funeral home directors, morticians, cemetery workers, insurance salespeople, soldiers, those working under the earth, undertakers.

Those who work as healers. all medical practitioners, physicians, nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists, surgeons, pharmacists, pathologists, past-life investigators, hospice workers, chemists, music therapist, musicians.

♐️➡️ Vocations dealing with exploration, travel and adventure: explorers, astronomers, travel agents, airline employees, flight attendants, astronauts, import-export agents, foreign correspondents, language interpreters, traveling salespeople, promoters, customs officers, athletes of all types, archers, sporting goods manufacturers, horse trainers, breeders and jockeys.

Occupations dealing with higher knowledge: philosophers, college professors, ministers, theologians, missionaries, preachers, orators, publishers, metaphysical writers, philanthropists, lawyers.

♑️➡️ Vocations dealing with administering and organizing: administrators of all types, managers, business owners, executives, government officials, politicians, judges, manufacturers, coordinators, principals at schools, wardens, disciplinarians, buyers, consul-tants, vocational counselors.

Occupations that work with form and structure: architects, contractors, builders, carpenterivil and rivil and get industrial engineers, economists, chiropractors, orthopedic specialists, osteopaths, miners, landowners, mountain climbers.

♒️➡️ Vocations dealing with progress and inven-tion: inventors, scientists, educators, researchers, astrologers, social workers, psychologists, futurists, humanitarians, social reformers, United Nations workers, employees of world relief organizations, future-oriented occupations, astronauts, airplane pilots, aviators, parachutists, hang glider pilots, solar energy researchers, physicists, radio and television technicians, electricians, electrical engineers.

♓️➡️ Vocations of a spiritual, healing or artistic na-ture: religious workers, priests, monks, nuns, sisters of mercy, rabbis, clairvoyants, mediums, charity workers, prison workers.

Physicians, faith healers, psychic healers, nurses, hospital workers, psychiatrists, psychologists, hypnotists, anesthesiologists, podiatrists. Poets, musicians, writers (inspirational, fantasy, metaphysical, science fiction), actors, dancers, painters, artists, entertainers, comedians, singers, filmmakers.

Water-related activities, fishermen, sailors, divers, swimmers, lifeguards, marine scientists, oceanographers, bartenders, oil industry workers.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Is your Venus sign all you need to know to find all the clues and perfect descriptions to tailor your ideal professional life? No, but it is a huge start in a small way and with short information.

If you guys would like to go more in depth with career astrology, then also take your time to check the following, and find the common theme:

•10H sign + where its lord is located

•D10 Lagna (Dasamsa chart)

•Mahadasha planet in your chart, the house its located, and where the lord goes.

[writinggoesgreen]

I see a lot of people writing various sex work AUs who maybe don't have very much exposure to the industry outside of popular media, which has traditionally not represented it with respect or accuracy. This is something I can speak about at length from a real life perspective, so I've tried to break it down into some managable chunks!!

Disclaimer: This is not a 'how to' guide, nor should it be used as one, nor is it meant to be a suggestion to enter the sex industry. There are often very real safety issues in being a sex worker. If you are considering, please research thoroughly into advice, community programs and local charities before you do so.

At it's core, sex work refers to the labour that someone does while working in the sex industry. This covers all manner of jobs, but particularly FSSWs (full service sex work - the act of exchanging sex for money), pornstars, cam workers, strippers, dominatrixes, phone sex operators, and sugar babies. Although their experiences will differ, people of all gender and sexual identities will work in these rolls.

I do not have the experience required to give a thorough breakdown of how all these industries work and I implore you to research them properly before writing them.

FSSW takes place in a variety of ways - I'll go over online and street-based here, as I have never worked in a brothel and frankly, don't quite understand how it works.

Online: Many workers set up a profile on an online platform, or utilise social media to advertise. They will display their prices, their 'dos and don'ts' list, and some pictures. Clients will then contact you. Platforms specifically for this, like AdultWork, often have a rating system that allow people to leave reviews for both workers and clients, to minimise risk.

Street-Based: This is probably the system more people imagine when they think of FSSW, in which workers will hang around in popular areas for escorts (some cities have areas famous for this, but depending on legality, this can be better or worse for safety) and pick up customers there. Sometimes they return to either the worker's home, or the client's, a hotel room, or use a car or public toilet.

Strip clubs my beloved. Stripping works very differently in different places, so this is based on my experience working in clubs in the UK.

Stage Work: Not all clubs have huge stages and tall poles for routines. Your character doesn't have to be a professional grade dancer to work in a club like this. If the club has a poll, you will likely be expected to go on it at least once a night, but think of this like 'advertising'.

Tipping: Tipping culture is going to vary anywhere in the world - in the UK, where we don't have low denomination bank notes, no one is throwing singles at you on stage. It's also very variable, sometimes you might pull £300 in tips in a night, others, you might pull nothing at all. It depends on the people.

Dances: Many clubs work on a tiered system for dances, particularly where workers aren't making money on tips on the floor. My club worked on a 'private dance' and 'VIP dance' system, where private dances were shorter and less expensive, usually one on one, and VIP dances are longer, often in a more private room, and sometimes come with things like a drink. You can keep someone in a dance for longer than they paid for if they give you more money. Different clubs work differently in terms of taking a cut - some, you pay a percentage of what you earn in a night, others have a 'house fee', which is a set payment (that might be higher on weekends) that essentially works as 'renting out space' in the club to work as a private contractor.

Outfits: The clothes you wear will also vary hugely on where you live. In the UK, different counties have different laws regarding how much skin you can show in the 'open bar' area, so you might have to wear a gown, which are often long, to cover your butt, but with a slit up the skirt, and low cut. In other places, you can wear underwear, but not show your nipples unless if a private room. I've known dancers also wear bikinis. Almost all dancers will wear Pleasers or a similar brand of stripper shoe, which are specially designed to be worn for long periods of time. The toes of the shoe is also used to 'clack' the dance floor (make a loud noise when it hits it) so you can make an audible impact when you do a knee drop from a pole or other similar moves.

Sites: Camwork is, obviously, pretty much exclusively online. Most workers that I know work from home, and use either a hosting website like MyFreeCams, or advertise privately on social media for Skype shows. Hosting sites will take a cut of your profits, as these payments are all online. Some, it's a set percentage of your earnings. Others, like MFC, encourage you to do 'private shows' as they take a lower percentage of your money than, for example, a tip given in a free show.

Tiers: Every site I've used has multiple tiers: 'free room' is quite literally a chatroom where you can advertise and chat to people to try and convince them to tip you or 'take you private'. Then, you have group shows, where you have a non public chatroom that clients pay to watch, but other people can join in if they pay. Then, private rooms are where you are one on one with someone. Some sites will not allow you to be nude in a free room, as not all of them require membership - and thus age verification - to chat.

Levels: 'Levels' in how sex workers describe what they are willing to do in a chat room - for example, a character might have a 'higher level' in a private room than a group one because they will earn more money that way. More money = more to look at. This can be the difference between showing nudity, and using toys.

Camwork is, in my personal experience, the most varied form of work. Some clients will want your character to just chat to them, some will ignore anything they say and simply wait for them to 'show them the goods' etc. There are also camshows with 'specialties', and these are as varied as the human sexual experience: sitting in the bath, to cleaning the house and ignoring the chat.

Phone sex lines work in a similar manner to camwork, in the sense that some workers choose to host their profile and number on an industry site, and others advertise privately. Some things to keep in mind:

Hosting on a site will often create a barrier between the client and the worker, protecting their privacy, and meaning they often won't carry a second phone. Those who advertise privately often will.

The variety of kinks and preferences your character will come across on phone sex lines are also as varied as they are in cam work - every kind of fetish imaginable, and often with no prior discussion. Plan for their surprise in those instances.

Is your story taking place in a universe where sex work is legal? Is it criminalised, legalised, or decriminalised?

Is your character 'out' to friends, family etc?

Workers talk to each other. Unless your character is new to the industry, they will likely have a community, even a small one, that they exchange information about safety and opportunities with. This might be within a club, a brothel, or a local area.

Here is a list of prompts for sex work AUs that do not rely on sex worker falls in love with client. I cannot stress enough how this is not a common occurance. The relationship is transactional, and quite often, based on mutually ignored lies. I'm not saying it doesn't happen or can't work in a way that is healthy, I'm just saying, in my experience, whores tend to love, fuck, and marry other whores before they do civs. I love a cliche as much as the next guy, but stretch outside the box on this one, trust me. Note: As always, I have tried to write these to leave them open to romantic or platonic dynamics, and comedy, tradegy, or romantic storylines. Go hog wild, experiment.

Character A works in politics, and has gone to several charity galas where they have noticed various different collegues entering with the same person. Character B, an escort who has been hired by several prominent politicians, notices that they have been clocked.

Character A is working as a cam model to put themselves through college while desperetly coming up with increasingly ridiculous lies to cover the noises coming from their room to their dormmates.

At a popular strip club in [INSERT CITY], Character A is put in charge of showing Character B the ropes.

Character A and Character B, two FSSWs who have never worked together, agree to work a double with a long term client. They go out for coffee afterwards.

Working a pole dance studio during the day and a strip club in the evenings, Character A bumps into one of their students in the bar.

After a rough breakup, Character A calls a phone sex line on a particularly lonely evening. Character B, their long time friend, recognises the number when they call.

Character A and Character B both work in the strip club, but no one knows they are married.

[lastimeexteriors-omaha]

How Do You Choose the Best Contractor for Residential Metal Roofing?

When upgrading your home, selecting the right contractor for residential metal roofing can feel overwhelming. After all, a roof is more than just an aesthetic choice; it plays a significant role in your home's overall safety, durability, and efficiency. Whether you're looking to replace an old roof or install a new one, choosing the right contractor is essential for ensuring your project goes smoothly and meets your expectations. Here’s how you can decide on the best contractor for your residential metal roofing needs.

Understanding Residential Metal Roofing

Before diving into the selection process, it's helpful to understand the benefits of residential metal roofing. Metal roofs are durable, energy-efficient, and provide excellent snow resistance, making them ideal for winter climates like Montana's. They can shed snow quickly and withstand harsh weather conditions, offering long-lasting protection for your home.

Evaluate Their Experience and Expertise

One of the first things you should consider when choosing a contractor for residential metal roofing is their experience. Look for contractors specializing in metal roofing with a solid track record of successful installations. Experienced contractors will be familiar with the unique challenges of metal roofing, such as proper installation techniques, local building codes, and the necessary systems for preventing issues like ice dams.

Ask for References

Don’t hesitate to ask potential contractors for references. Speak to previous clients about their experience: Were they satisfied with the installation process? Did the contractor meet deadlines? Did they encounter any issues post-installation? Getting firsthand accounts can help you gauge the quality of a contractor’s work.

Check for Licensing and Insurance

Ensure that any contractor you consider is properly licensed and insured. This protects you as a homeowner and indicates that the contractor meets specific industry standards. An insured contractor will cover any accidents or damages during the roofing project, giving you peace of mind.

Review Their Portfolio

A reputable contractor should provide you with a portfolio showcasing their previous residential metal roofing projects. Look for various styles and designs to get a sense of their capabilities. This will help you determine if their work aligns with your vision for your home.

Get Multiple Quotes

Don’t settle for the first quote you receive. Getting estimates from multiple contractors allows you to compare prices, materials, and services. However, be cautious of quotes that seem too good to be true; they may indicate subpar materials or workmanship. Look for a balance between quality and affordability.

Inquire About Materials and Warranties

Ask contractors about the types of metal roofing materials they offer. Not all metals are created equal; some are more durable and weather-resistant than others. It's also essential to inquire about warranties. A reliable contractor should provide clear information on the roofing materials and the workmanship warranty. This is important for your long-term peace of mind.

Understand the Installation Process

A knowledgeable contractor should explain the entire installation process to you. This includes timelines, equipment, and how they plan to manage waste during the project. Understanding how they handle these steps can provide insight into their professionalism and attention to detail.

Communication is Key

A good contractor should communicate openly and effectively. They should be readily available to answer your questions and provide updates throughout the project. If you feel that a contractor isn’t responsive during the initial stages, this pattern will likely continue throughout the project.

Read Online Reviews

Review online reviews on platforms like Google, Yelp, or the Better Business Bureau. Look for feedback regarding their workmanship, customer service, and overall satisfaction. This can help you understand what you can expect when working with a particular contractor.

Ask About Post-Installation Services

Some contractors offer maintenance or repair services after installation, which can benefit residential metal roofing in the long run. Inquire about any post-installation services they provide and whether they offer inspections to ensure your roof continues to perform well over time.

Trust Your Instincts

Finally, trust your instincts. If a contractor seems unprofessional or doesn't align with your vision for your residential metal roofing project, it’s okay to keep looking. You want someone who has the skills to do the job and makes you feel comfortable throughout the process.

Transform Your Home with Expert Roofing Solutions

Choosing the best contractor for your residential metal roofing project is vital to ensuring your home's safety and efficiency. You can make an informed decision that meets your needs by evaluating experience, checking for licenses and insurance, reviewing portfolios, and communicating effectively.

If you’re ready to explore your options for metal roofing, visit Lastime Exteriors to learn more about their services and discover energy-efficient roofing solutions tailored to your home. Don’t hesitate; your dream roof awaits!

[spann-stann]

Setting Blurb: The United Markets Military (UMM)

Unified Militia Command (U.M.C.) - Refers to the “military” of the United Markets as a whole. Well, it’s multiple militaries due to the highly decentralized nature of the United Markets. Since there’s no central government, there's no unified military structure. The U.M.C. is a conglomeration of mercenary companies and local militias. Mercenaries vary in tactics and equipment, and their organizational structure varies wildly. Militias, depending on the community they’re defending, can be as armed and armored as an Imperial tumen. Most, however, focus on light infantry, supplementing additional equipment with specialized mercenary units.

(Famous) Mercenary Commands:

Ad Hoc Inc.: Ad Hoc Inc. prides themselves in their rather…irregular style of warfare they offer to their customers. Ad Hoc specializes in having a wide array of contractors at their beck and call to perform whatever kind of security a client would require. Don’t expect them to wage a war on their own for you, though.

Brigade of Belter Bombardiers: BBB serves the United Markets as one of the few “Mercenary Spacies” operating in human-settled space. BBB was formed from several aerospace enthusiasts that served in the Belt Wars. They provide advisory and apprenticeship services for up-and-coming pilots and spacecraft crews. Their largest asset at their disposal is the Invisible Hand, the 15-kilometer-long mothership housing BBB personnel.

Geldmeister’s: “When one wants a war fought, you hire mercenaries. When one wants a war won, you hire Geldmesiter’s!” The number one in offering armies – and at a great price! – Geldmeister’s is what most citizens of human space imagine when thinking of mercenaries. As the largest mercenary command, Geldmeister’s can field formations equivalent to an Imperial Bandon on the battlefield. Frequent contracts against CorpEmp have made them the U.M.’s experts in mechanized and maneuver warfare.

Hot Trod Proactive Securities: When you want an enemy gone before they have a chance to do the same to you, you call Hot Trod. The mercs of Hot Trod are specialists in lightning warfare, utilizing light combat vehicles and aircraft. They do not last long if their targets are well fortified.

Jungle Work(s): Specializing in operations countering the Green Consensus, Jungle Work(s) are masters of warfare in all forms of foliage. They have received a lot of lucrative, long-term contracts as the likelihood of resettling the Earth grows.

Myrmidon Martial Industrial: The other Mercenary command that offers whole armies for sale. Unlike Geldmeister’s, Myrmidon Martial Industrial is for the customer that wants to win a war, but not interested in casualty counts. MMI was formed by shell-shocked veterans of the Human-Crystalline War, and its purpose was to have mass produced clone armies ready for any future invasions of the Solar System. No such invasion has occurred in 800 years, but MMI is still perfecting their human wave tactics. Just in case. Ant-themed.

Philanthrope: For those that can’t afford the cheapest Ad Hoc security package (or want a cheap and moral security package), there’s the helpful folks at Philanthrope. This non-profit mercenary firm, governed by a board of anonymous donors, exists to provide some means of defense for the more impoverished portions of U.M.-affiliated territory.

Free Market Militias:

Militia Command: Even with the market anarchies of the U.M. (Belt and beyond), some semblance of centralization exists. Militia Commands, often, exist only on paper. During periods of peace, Militia Commands are left vacant. When the need arises, contracts are signed by officers of the Command’s soon-to-be subordinate units indicating the terms of the Command’s purpose and longevity. Among the singing officers, a Cincinnatus-General is elected to serve as commanding officer (or a third party from outside the command is elected). Due to their more defensive inclination, Militia Commands are given names like the Free Market Defenders, Free Market Guardians, Free Market Watchmen, etc.

Regiment: The regiment is the largest Milita formation that is active in peacetime. Due to variations in manpower and equipment, there is no real uniform definition of the term. A “regiment” is whatever command is responsible for the defense of a particular territory that isn’t subordinate to another active command. Each Regiment is created by the residents of a territory affiliated with the United Markets (sometimes the Reserves create Regiments of their own) coming together and drafting a contract. Said contract defines the structure of the Regiment, the contributions of each signatory, and delimitate the “territory” it will be defending. A commander is elected from among the signatories, with the elected commander allowed to grant subordinate ranks. Regimental commanders title themselves however they wish (since they’re usually footing most of the bill for upkeep).

Client Regiment: Sometimes a regiment does not have enough manpower or equipment to properly defend their contractually assigned territory. Larger Regiments may extend the hand of patronage of smaller neighboring Regiments, provide discounted supplies and additional manpower in return for contractual obligations (like defending their Patron’s territory including their own). To save face, clients are allowed to still call themselves Regiments.

Battalion: Ideally, a Militia Regiment will have two or more battalions subordinate to it at any given time. Much like their parent regiments, manpower and equipment are dependent on who is willing to serve in their local militia and what each member can afford to bring.

Company: Companies are the smallest combat unit within a Regiment due to aforementioned variations in manpower and equipment (if a Regiment is large enough to field Companies). Depending on their strength, Companies can either be broken down into Platoons or Squads.

How’ver: A common phrase among U.M. militiamen referring to the recruiting calls at a Regiment’s establishment. It refers to however many personnel that bothered to show up to join the Regiment. Depending on its size, a Regiment (and its subordinate units) can be made up of multiple How’vers, or the Regiment itself can consist of a single How’ver.

[luck-and-larceny]

FFXIV Write: Telling

Audr Shade's home is a small, nondescript house in a relatively undeveloped ward of the Lavender Beds. It sits tucked away in an appropriately shady, uninhabited corner of that undeveloped ward. This says to me one of two things:

This guy is a recluse who is just begging to be robbed and Nymeia is fully on my side today.

There is no Audr Shade. This is an elaborate set-up by my asshole ex-boyfriend and the Adders and Nymeia has decided I should get fucked today.

If I abandon the plan to rob this very introverted and probably very imaginary music genius now, I will avoid being arrested. That might be nice.

But I'll also never know what might have happened if I went inside and what secrets could be hidden within. That is not nice. I do not like that.

It occurs to me that I have more options than just stupidly going into this house. I don't have to roll the dice without knowing who I'm playing against. I don't have time to go searching through public records or to interview people about this lucky landowner's history and tragic backstory, but I know people who do have that time. I settle into a cozy spot hidden away at a nearby, half developed house, behind abandoned construction supplies, and watch Audr Shade's place while I call my fixer.

“Floors and Decors,” he answers. 

“You changed the name again? Sibert, you're not going to be taken seriously as a committed business if you can't even commit to a name for that business.”

He sighs. He hasn't made it through even one sentence from me before becoming exhausted. I feel so powerful!

“Go on then,” he says in a world-weary voice. “Give me more business advice I can rightfully ignore. I've got the time.”

“Oh, good! It's time that I need, actually. See, I'm working on– you know what? No. I need to say more. I take back my criticism. I don't think you're changing the name of the store enough actually. You should switch it up at least once a week. Keep em guessing. What's that guy in that ramshackle place down by the dock saying he's got this week? Chairs for Lairs? Sheds and Beds?”

He cuts me off to grumble, “Stop! What is it that you need?”

“Couches for Grouches then,” I reply, “I'm working on a job and I don't know if it's a setup. I don't actually know if the guy I'm robbing even exists. I've been sent to Ward 31 of the Lavender Beds–”

“I didn't know there was a 31st Ward,” he interrupts. “I thought it was still being constructed.”

“Me too,” I say, “But there is a house here all the way at the very end of this ward. It's super basic. Nondescript. Nothing notable in the yard. I don't even see a place to tie up a chocobo.”

He scoffs. “Well, that's telling. Are you calling to ask me if this obvious trap is actually a trap or to try to convince you it's not?”

Well, fuck. When things look like they are too good to be true, they usually are. But sometimes they're that good because Fortune has smiled on you. I admit I have some difficulty these days discerning between divine intervention and my own intervening delusions. I really ought to examine that more. I won't, of course, but I ought to.

“Could you just look into this guy for me anyway, boss man? His name is Audr Shade and–”

“Audr Shade? The musician?” He's curious now.

And I'm annoyed. Why did he know that immediately? I'm the one whose hobby is music and I didn't know him! Unbelievable. I bet Sibert couldn't tell the difference between a flute and a fart.

“Yeah. Him. So he's real?”

“Well, I've never met the guy face to face, but I know him, yes.”

“Right. Of course. Because you definitely pal around in the same circles. The antiques and home goods community sometimes invites the art crowd to brunch?”

“Well, no. I mean, sort of? I mean– Lia, he's worked with me before. Not as a contractor, but as a client. Not recently, but not so long ago either. Actually, I had you retrieve a golden spoon once for him. Do you remember that?”

Do I remember that? Sibert had “forgotten” to warn me that the woman who had this antique spoon also had a trained Gigatoad. I shudder at the memory and suddenly feel like I'm covered in toad slobber all over again.

“Yeah, I remember. Wait, so this guy is a part of our world?”

“Enough that he's reached out a few times anyway. Describe the house to me again?”

“Like I said before, I can't. It's the most boring house I've ever seen, but, like not even in a notable way. Like… it's just a white house with black shutters. You know what? Shutters are stupid. Like they don't DO anything. They're just a decorative thing that pretends like they have a function, but they're nailed to the sides of windows! They couldn't even actually shutter anything if they wanted to. Everyone's just got these silly pieces of nothing fixed on their houses because they see every other house has them–”

“Yes. Great. People do things because other people do them and because it looks good. Very insightful. Back on task, Lia. I said it was telling that his house is nondescript. I thought that might be because it's a trap. But maybe it's not. Maybe it's nondescript so it'll be ignored. Maybe he does live there."

A light turns on in the home. Moments later it turns off again and a guy… a very boring looking guy– the Highlander equivalent of a nondescript white house with pointless shutters– steps outside. And looks right in my direction. 

[fear-is-truth]

hey girl currently deciding between subjects for school it’s either aircraft engineering or defence law any tips ??

1. what are you into ?

aircraft engineering: mainly focused on science, math, & getting your hands on tech. do you like figuring out how things work, solving technical problems, and working on projects that have real-world applications?

defence law: this path is more abt critical thinking, communication, understanding legal systems. are you interested in debates, policies, and the idea of working in areas like military law, advising/ representing clients?

2. think about job opportunities !

aircraft engineering: you could work with aerospace companies, defense contractors, or even projects focused on space exploration <3 . jobs usually pay well but can mean long hours and relocation.

defence law: roles could be in government, private firms, or military legal systems. it could involve more paperwork, policy work, or litigation etc. just consider if you’re okay with the time and cost of going through law school if that’s what’s needed.

3. do some research + ask ppl online !

search reddit or quora to find people in each field talking about their experiences. for aircraft engineering, i’ve already found a reddit thread here. as for defense law, it might vary depending on your country, so it’s tricky to give specific advice, but you’ll likely find some useful perspectives on these platforms. hearing firsthand experiences can help you get a better sense of what each job involves.

4. practical stuff to consider !!

how long will education take?

what are the costs like?

are there more opportunities for one career in places where you’d wanna live or work?

5. interest is key ! super important !!!!

you don’t have to be super passionate about either choice, but you should at least have some curiosity or interest. otherwise, it’ll be hard to stay motivated if you end up in a career you don’t care about… and that’s hell.

if you’re still a lil unsure (completely understandable btw), perhaps you could look into areas where the two overlap; e.g. legal compliance in aerospace or defense policy work. ultimately, choose the path that best matches where you see yourself in the future.

disclaimer: this is just my silly advice, and i hope it helps in some way. you know yourself best, so take your time, do some research, and chat with family or anyone you trust. i’m already so proud of you & wishing you the absolute best of luck with whatever path you choose—you’ve got this pooks !!! 🤍🤍

[ri47]

Economy: KHU Standard

Before going any further, it should be clarified that the KHU Standard economic system is not the only one that exists within the KHU's territories, but is the only one that is mandated by the Seneschal Board. In short, this means that certain territories may issue their own currency and dictate their own economic norms, but that all affiliated entities are required to respect the KHU Standard

The KHU makes use of three primary currencies, each with their own system of established value: SIP, Vo, and Lira

While the average person rarely carried anything besides SIP, all were required to "own" some amount of Lira. Vo, on the other hand, was seen as more of an investment currency than normal legal tender (in spite of its official recognition in government exchanges)

Steelgoods Interests Piso [SIP]: SIP, more commonly referred to as pisos, are the most commonly issued currency in the Union. The value of SIP is fairly stable, as steelgoods (a euphemistic governmental term for unprocessed alloy plate) remain in more or less permanent demand. SIP is also notable for being the only currency issued in standard physical cash rather than being a digital marker, which has the handy side effect of ensuring that the average person can avoid the hefty transaction fees associated with the cashless currencies. SIP is available in note, coin, and digital format. While one piso can be subdivided into one hundred sentimo, physical currency is only issued for a half-piso. Though it's technically illegal, the presence of a dividing line across the centre of the half-piso has led to the practice of splitting the coin to create a fourth-piso in some territories.

Trade Voucher [Vo]: Vo, usually just referred to as vouchers, represent an investment in Callisto's trade with affiliated (but nominally non-puppet) colonies. Most currency-issuing client states maintained their own form of voucher, but these voucher currencies were all measured against the Vo proper, and so most were handily converted into it as a way of "cashing out" on financial investments in trade sectors. When the board cracked down on the minting of currency and corporate scrip by non-Seneschal entities, dissolving all forms of voucher, only those holding Vo were insured in SIP. all others were left at the mercy of the entity which issued their vouchers. Because of this, many populations were left without any financial power, leading to the collapse of several smaller governments and a handful of larger ones.

Federal Lira [Lira]: The Federal Lira is the currency in which all official debts are paid to the board and its associated governmental entities. Taxes, fees, bills, and anything similar are paid in the lira. While the exact value of the lira may seem to fluctuate, this is actually a side effect of the fluctuating values for currencies which may be converted into lira. Once another currency is converted to lira, the value of the holder's account towards paying government debts rarely fluctuates. While the highly restricted financial infrastructure of the lira makes it non-viable for daily use (lira cannot be converted back into other currencies, does not mint, and cannot be used for non-government debts), the usage of lira remains mandatory. For logistical reasons, groups are allowed to share accounts that pay towards agreed-upon debts. This sees frequent use in rural communities, where pisos are gathered to be converted into pools of lira, paying towards territorial taxes and other regular bills that would prove troublesome to pay every time they arrive.

By 103 EC, only the piso and lira remained in regular use. While some voucher currencies continued to exist within the KHU, these were relegated entirely to contractor stations and other demigovernments that were too large to be fully brought under the currency unification mandates.

[bitchesgetriches]

Hey y’all, what’s your experience and thoughts on working with a startup for your first piece of job experience?

I was gonna work for free at first but the client went back and forth between paying me and then leaned backwards into paying me scraps for my first project.

It’s been hard too cause they’ve been unreliable and flakey with communication so far too.

So I don’t know if this is an opportunity that I should bite and suck it up with or if I should let it go for a better fish to bite. I’m doing just fine otherwise.

Let 'em go. The pay thing alone is weird, but they seem unreliable and like they're going to waste your time. And we are VERY MUCH AGAINST working for free. Even if it's an internship "for exposure."

Because remember: people die of exposure. And that's what you should tell anyone who asks you to work for free.

Should Artists Ever Work for Free?

Stop Undervaluing Your Freelance Work, You Darling Fool 

Ask the Bitches: My Boss Won't Give Me a Contract and I'm Freaking Out 

“Independent Contractor” My Ass: How to Stop Wage Theft Through Worker Misclassification

If you found this helpful, consider joining our Patreon

[sophieinwonderland]

Personal story, related to the other diagnosis asks. Feel free to ignore

Diagnosis is sometimes more harmful than helpful. An upsetting number of psychiatrists and therapists still operate on the "make them a singlet" model of treatment for DID or any plurality, or will just pressure systems into "voluntary" committment

I am pretty sure it doesn't work, or at least doesn't work most of the time, and it causes a lot of trauma in the process regardless

Our system has a lot of internal communication issues, difficulty distinguishing ourselves from each other, and only the most abstract metaphorical headspace as a result of this "therapy". We're still plural, but now it causes issues, moreso than it did before we were diagnosed and treated

Of course this story is coming from a place of personal trauma to our system, so results definitely may vary, but when you're looking to get diagnosed make sure that your mental health care providers are safe first

That's totally fair. It's horrible that you went through this.

I think one thing systems need to know in these doctor-patient relationships is that the client does have a lot of power here even if some doctors might try to make you think otherwise.

I think it's best to approach psychiatrists as contractors. You need a job done so you're paying these people to do it for you. You need to be upfront about what you want help with and what you don't, and set clear boundaries. Make sure from the outset they know what you want the parameters of your treatment to be, and that they agree to that. And if they can't, that you would rather seek other providers.

Basically, if you don't want fusion, make that clear from the very beginning. And if they ignore your boundaries and still try to push you into it anyway, be prepared to drop them and find a better provider.

Your mental health belongs to you.

Also, it can be helpful to remember that doctors are humans. I imagine it's difficult to have to treat over a dozen people, and keep track of their lives and what they're trying to achieve. All while keeping up with current medical information.

Older doctors may fail to keep up with current psychiatric views and findings, and can have a "multiplicity bad" mindset that was prominent in their generation that they need to unlearn.

Conversely, newer doctors will be inexperienced. They'll hopefully try their best but if they haven't worked with a lot of patients, they might make mistakes.

The main thing I want people to remember when seeking therapy is that, even with years of schooling and training to deal with patients... it's still a fallible human being on the other side who is dealing with their own issues and will not have perfect judgement.

If people remember this, I hope it can make it a bit easier to not give in to being pressured into doing something you don't want to do or you believe could be actively harmful to you.

[kit-williams]

Barn Anon. Bet Space Marines give other Space Marines a discount price. They know for sure which human businesses aren't to be trusted. I headcannon that Imperial Fists and Iron Warriors have construction companies of their own where the humans are more for admin and communication with human clients. They're in high demand but they'll give a bit more priority to fellow Space Marines.

Your Space Marine effortlessly plucked the heavy bag of groceries from your hands. He refuses to let you hold anything more than the carton of eggs that you're currently holding. You raise your eyebrow at the sight of an Imperial Fist moving about the back porch. Your Space Marine nudges you along, a soft hum from him as he steers you straight to the kitchen. You're aware that your own Space Marine is a bit of a social butterfly with his fellow Space Marines but this is the first time you've seen this particular Imperial Fist. They tend to stick to the south side of the state. You live in the north.

Your Space Marine puts the bags on the island, patting you on the head before he heads out to speak to the Imperial Fist. You tilt your head curiously when you see the Imperial Fist pointing at certain parts. You had off-handedly mentioned to your Space Marine that you feel like redoing your back porch now that some of the wood flooring is starting to wear down. You are aware that the porch was build a decade before you bought the house and it seems it's time for a new look for it. You didn't think he would take it this seriously.

You had included him when you looked over various contractors and at some designs online. It was only polite given how he lives here most of the week. He does disappear a few days a week but that's normal for Space Marines. He had expressed his preferences design wise but was visibly unsatisfied with the contractors you found. He had said something to you but you couldn't understand a single word. He disappeared soon after that rather one-sided conversation and later that night you heard two set of heavy footsteps. Now you realize that he found human contractors insufficient and sought to find one that was more to his standards.

When he comes back in from the back, you teasingly tell him that human contractors would be out of business at this rate. The Imperial Fist outside clearly heard as you would hear a bark of laughter from outside. Your Space Marine only shrugs. You're his human, of course he would make sure you get the best.

Post

Uh 100% I was thinking about writing this in for some of Orn trying to get a discount from another Iron Warrior on lumber in exchange for chopping down some trees on the readers property.

But you've brought it up. Thing is this goes into the business of payment if he is with a company that does employ humans then of course some sort of cash would be exchanged but it's always cheaper than human contractors but then again you need to have an Astarte to even get in contact with them.

I think there is also a side payment in terms of far more bartering on the Astarte's half as given they were so use to getting whatever they wanted they probably have their own exchange system in lore when dealing with other Chapters.

You pat the gold armor of your blue helmed Lion as he treats you like a child but you're a young adult capable of handling everything but your Astarte treats you like a child. He seems a bit nervous about things... you've done your research and you can hardly find any information on your boy except that he is very friendly with Imperial Fists.

You can tell your boy does enjoy to provide and protect as it seems he is very caring but very distrusting of certain organizations it seems. He drew a symbol on a piece of paper for her to watch out for but you tell him there aren't any symbols like that but you'll be the first to let him know if you do see it.