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Summer Home Maintenance To-Do List

YourUpdateTV

Summer is a great time to tackle your to-do list, but with seemingly endless lists it is hard to know what project is a “must-do” or what can be delayed. It is easy to put off home maintenance projects, but there are a few projects that shouldn’t wait. Recently, Home Care Expert at Angi, Bailey Carson, shared her top maintenance projects for the summer and tips on saving money and time. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/fm8VglbsBJM If you only do a few home projects this season, make them these—you’ll save yourself a lot of time, money and despair down the road. Weather Proofing - A home that can withstand all seasons is critically important and key to a four seasons home are weather proofing projects like caulking and weather-stripping doors and windows and implementing passive design can make a huge difference. Leaky Roofs or Windows - Leaks in the short-term are a nuisance, but in the long-term leaks create huge problems for your home. At Angi, major roof repair is one of the most common tasks and according to our cost data can easily cost in the thousands. To avoid the total replacement, be proactive and take care of weak spots. Call a professional to do an assessment. In addition to saving money, leaks can cause water damage and buildup of hazardous mold. Cleaning gutters & downspouts - Fall leaves, followed by winter weather and spring showers, can cause major buildup in your gutters and downspouts. Cleaning these each year can prevent roof problems, water damage and flooding in and around your home. Annual HVAC servicing - A hot summer day is the last time you want an unexpected AC outage. Servicing your HVAC units can help prevent those, while also determining if there are any inefficiencies that could be driving up your energy bills and costing you more and more each month. Cleaning out dryer vents - We may be good at cleaning out the lint trap each time we use the dryer, but most of us tend to put off dryer vent cleanings because they’re out of sight, out of mind. No more – these are a major fire hazard, and they cause your dryer to work harder each time, wasting energy and driving up your monthly utility bills, and replacements can be costly. For more information and to find an expert near you, visit Angi.com About Bailey Carson: Bailey Carson is a Home Care Expert at Angi and Head of Book Now. In this role, she oversees all aspects of Book Now services from product and operations to sales and marketing. She transitioned from her prior role as General Manager of Everyday Services for Angi. Previously, Bailey was the SVP of Growth for Handy, an Angi sister brand, where she led the expansion of its cleaning business, overseeing marketing, operations and customer support. In addition to her 15+ years of work experience, Bailey is also a seasoned homeowner and just completed a move to Virginia including a remodel – all with three kids (including twins)! She has dedicated countless hours of personal and professional time to understanding the ins and outs of everyday home care including cleaning, lawncare and more. Bailey earned her MBA from Harvard Business School and her BS in Business Administration and Accounting from Washington and Lee University. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

July 01, 2021 11:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Comcast Business Delivers Deluxe Viewing and Connectivity Solutions to Make Rally Hotel Guests Feel at Home

Comcast Colorado

Comcast Business today announced it is providing Rally Hotel with services that will improve the guest experience, including customized TV viewing experiences and options to keep guests connected to their home away from home. The Comcast Business solutions include X1 Hospitality, along with a 2 Gig Ethernet Dedicated Internet (EDI) connection and a 500 Mbps EDI circuit. The solutions will span the hotel’s 182 rooms, as well as its 17,000 square foot outdoor plaza, rooftop pool, bar, event spaces and more. Located in the heart of Denver, the newly opened Rally Hotel offers modern comfort and amenities while putting its guests directly in the center of the exciting LoDo neighborhood. Guests can enjoy unique local attractions before or after they head back to their rooms for a comfortable place to relax and unwind. From the dramatic views on the skybridge rooftop and pool deck to the inventive and playful culinary options to the 21,000 square feet of private event space, The Rally Hotel is the perfect destination for leisure, business, weddings and more. “When it comes to booking a hotel stay, travelers aren’t just looking for a place to rest their heads anymore – they want truly immersive experiences that feel unique to them,” said Tiffany Owen, General Manager, Rally Hotel. “One of the main reasons we partnered with Comcast Business was because we knew they could help us fulfill this need and allow us to create tailored experiences from check-in to check-out.” Comcast Business’ X1 for Hospitality solution makes it simple for Rally Hotel staff to activate, reset, and clear guest-room video devices at check-in or check-out via the Hospitality Management System portal available with X1. Additionally, Rally Hotel can add its logo to the X1 menu and include local On Demand content, like property amenities. As a result, guests can access live TV, their streaming and music apps, as well as On-Demand shows and movies at no extra cost. Easy navigation tools allow them to search for content, get viewing recommendations and rewind live TV with the support of a voice-enabled interactive guide. Meanwhile, the hotel’s 2 Gig EDI connection and 500 Mbps EDI circuit will enable reliable, high-speed connectivity for guests and hotel staff alike. “Technology has become a critical element to delivering high-quality travel experiences, especially in venues like Rally Hotel where people are looking to both decompress and be entertained,” said Robert Thompson, Vice President of Comcast Business for Comcast’s Mountain West Region. “We are pleased to work with Rally Hotel to help keep visitors to the city of Denver feeling comfortable and entertained during their entire stay.” For more information, please visit https://business.comcast.com/denver. About Comcast Business Comcast Business offers a suite of Connectivity, Communications, Networking, Cybersecurity, Wireless, and Managed Solutions to help organizations of different sizes prepare for what's next. Powered by the nation's largest Gig-speed broadband network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is the nation's largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and one of the leading service providers to the Enterprise market. Comcast Business has been consistently recognized by industry analysts and associations as a leader and innovator, and one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. For more information, call 866-429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social. About Rally Hotel An anchor of McGregor Square, Denver’s new downtown playground, The Rally Hotel is more than just a place to stay. Adjacent to Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies, The Rally combines modern hospitality with lively local spirit. Inside you’ll find 182 inviting accommodations ranging from cozy rooms to spacious suites. The hotel’s restaurants and bars bring the city’s cutting-edge culinary scene to you, and the skybridge rooftop and pool deck is the perfect place to soak up some sun — and striking views. With expansive and adaptable event space, The Rally is perfect for both intimate gatherings and grand events. The Rally inspires the playful side in all of us — start your Denver adventure here. Learn more at www.therallyhotel.com. Contact Details Comcast Leslie Oliver +1 303-810-6326 leslie_oliver@comcast.com Company Website https://colorado.comcast.com/

June 24, 2021 08:30 AM Mountain Daylight Time

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Cipriani Remodeling Solutions implements innovative strategies to combat industry-wide challenges in a post-pandemic world

Cipriani Remodeling Solutions

As demand for home remodeling reaches an all-time high in 2021, South Jersey-based remodeler Cipriani Remodeling Solutions announced they have changed their processes to overcome the new challenges. To get ahead of supply chain issues, Cipriani’s designers and project managers implemented a communications process to get ahead of ordering key materials that will keep a project on schedule. They are also offering a unique payment structure for homeowners. Cipriani requires only a 2% down payment from homeowners and a pay-as-you-go structure throughout a remodeling project. Builders and contractors typically require large upfront deposits. Cipriani now employs 31 in-house remodeling and design experts, including nine project managers that ensure a project will not experience delays due to labor shortages. According to Cipriani, the demand to remodel a home has never been higher during a summer season due to a workforce that continues to shift to a home office environment, the need for more functional space for the family, and historically low interest rates. “We’ve listened to our customers and understand that peace of mind is a top priority when embarking on a remodeling project,” said Jay Cipriani, President of Cipriani Remodeling Solutions. “As we come out of the pandemic, there is so much uncertainty in our industry with supply chain concerns, fluctuating lumber prices, and delays. Not only do we have a system in place to provide solutions for those industry-wide question marks, but we also want our customers to feel at ease with the payment structure – whoever has control of the money has the power.” “The Summer of 2021 will be our busiest summer since our company was founded 43 years ago,” added Cipriani. “But our incredible staff is ready to meet that demand and take on new projects while other companies are not.” About Cipriani Remodeling Solutions Inspired at a young age, Jay Cipriani founded Cipriani Remodeling Solutions in 1978 and has since completed over 3,500 renovation projects throughout South Jersey. Jay has been featured on home improvement shows such as the Discovery Channel’s “Gimme Shelter” and DIY Network’s “Rescue My Renovation.” Under Jay’s leadership, Cipriani Remodeling Solutions has won numerous awards for excellence in home remodeling and is viewed as an expert in the industry nationwide. To learn more, visit their website at CiprianiRemodelingSolutions.com or following them on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn. Contact Details Eric Nemeth nemeth@ericpr.com Company Website https://ciprianiremodelingsolutions.com/

June 24, 2021 09:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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UPDATE: Timber Exchange urges exporters to Egypt to prepare for the October transition to the new customs platform

Centersource

(Update: The Ministry of Finance announced an effective date change to October 1) While Egypt’s new advanced cargo information (ACI) system is expected to streamline regulatory requirements for importers, the new system represents a significant departure from the current customs system. B2B supply chain platform with marketplace and market data Timber Exchange by Centersource is reminding timber exporters and other companies shipping to Egypt to prepare for the transition. Effective October 1st, Egypt’s unified registration system, called NAFEZA, will become the only means of processing maritime imports into the country. The new regulation will require exporters to submit all cargo data and documents (commercial invoices, packing lists, and final or initial bills of lading) with 3 additional unique elements: ACID number representing the shipment, Importer taxation ID, Exporter registration number upon vessel’s sailing from Port of Loading. If documents indicate wrong or mismatched numbers, cargo will be banned from being loaded on board. Furthermore, all exporters must be registered on CargoX’s blockchain-document-submission platform. Other processes that exporters should be aware of include: 1. Exporters are responsible for providing importers with accurate information: • Exporter’s company cargo ID. • Exporter’s type (whether it is a factory, branch, etc.) • Correct details of the contact person. • Clear details of Proforma Invoice including GS1 code or part/item number & HS code. 2. Create and verify a CargoX account. 3. Ensure that verified ACID 3 elements are added on required documents. 4. Create an ACI filing envelope & submit it to Customs authorities in Egypt through CargoX or through one of its integrated partners such as Timber Exchange by Centersource Technologies. In addition, exporters should be aware of the Importer's responsibilities, which include: 1. Importers will have to register an account on the electronic portal, NAFEZA. 2. Importers must register primary and detailed information about the shipment in order to apply for the issuance of ACID number. Failure to meet ACI requirements could cost exporters. In a scenario where the cargo is loaded onto the ship, but the documents were not submitted in time or one or more of the three elements are missing or miss-matched, the cargo will not be discharged in Egypt, and all re-export costs will be borne by the carrier. In the final months before the mandatory operation phase of NAFEZA, Centersource is working to bring the timber industry up to speed to avoid any disruption. Centersource’s founder and CEO Amir Rashad is available to talk about what exporters to Egypt can do to prepare for the next phase of NAFEZA. Amir and his team of 30 logistics professionals are also available to discuss the ways in which Timber Exchange is creating trading opportunities across challenging markets, and helping exporters overcome language and regulatory barriers. To speak with the Timber Exchange team, contact Mai Taha at mai@centersource.io or Jéssica Sanduta at jessica@centersource.io. About Timber Exchange Timber Exchange is a supply chain and risk management cloud-based system by Centersource Technologies offering supply chain tools, market data and marketplace. The platform is built specifically for the unique needs of the forestry industry to drastically improve overall performance and coordination. 80 smart tools in 5 languages cover all steps from inquiry of cargo until it arrives at destination. This allows stakeholders to manage sales, logistics and legal obligations from a central workspace that automatically creates tasks and warnings. 40% of the work can be automated, which reduces delays and helps avoid deviations in responsibilities. Contact Details Charlie Pesti +1 267-439-4355 charlie@pesti.io Company Website https://www.centersource.io/

June 24, 2021 07:30 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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CHOC Awarded $22.6 Million in State Funding to Build Affordable Housing in Coachella

Community Housing Opportunities Corporation

Community Housing Opportunities Corporation (CHOC), a non-profit affordable housing developer, has been awarded $22.6 million of financing to begin construction of the Coachella Valley Apartments, which will bring new affordable housing units to Coachella. The development, which has a total cost of $35.3 million, initially replaces 20 existing units and adds 36 new units on 2.97 acres at 84900 Bagdad Avenue in Coachella. The 56-unit project, which will include one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, is expected to break ground in December. CHOC’s efforts, along with the support of its funding partners, will ensure the property is no longer at risk of being converted to market-rate apartments and remains affordable to the families who need it most. It is the second affordable housing project CHOC has announced in the Coachella Valley this year. “CHOC has long focused on the housing needs of struggling families in the Coachella Valley and remained focused on this region even as the global pandemic presented unforeseen challenges,” said Vincent Nicholas, Vice President of Real Estate Development for CHOC. “This funding comes as part of a highly competitive process, and CHOC’s ability to provide a high-quality, high-impact solution to the growing housing shortage in desert communities has proven a worthwhile investment for Californians.” The award was announced by the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee (CTCAC), which oversees federal and state low-income housing tax credit programs. Much of the project’s remaining costs are funded by a $5 million Joe Serna Farmworker Grant, a program that deploys funding to support housing for farmworkers and their families in rural areas. Additional project costs are supported by $1 million in Riverside County HOME Funds, a $3.8 million City of Coachella CFD loan and USDA Rural Development financing. “We have an obligation to build affordable housing. What pleases us is that it’s one thing to say we are for affordable housing, it’s another to get the funding necessary to make it happen. This award gets us closer to realizing our goal of constructing these much-needed units,” said Coachella Mayor Steve Hernandez. “We are grateful that our families will have access to additional affordable housing opportunities and excited to see state investments support this vital local project,” added California Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, who represents the 56th district where the project is located. “The affordable housing shortfall has placed a heavy burden on residents, leaving many families to choose between housing payments and other essentials such as food and healthcare. This CHOC project demonstrates what can be accomplished to help alleviate this crisis when we work together as Californians.” Designed by Maria Song, AIA, LEED & AP, principal with the Palm Springs-based architectural firm Interactive Design Corporation, the project shares many of the same design elements of the recently built Coachella Branch Library. Upon entering the property through two entrances that serve a two-way circular drive, the structures are designed in a Contemporary Spanish Colonial with Moorish details of smooth plaster siding, terra-cotta roofing, ceramic mosaics, tile-accented rounded arches, and decorative wrought iron. The architectural style and finishes will be seen throughout all residential buildings, the community building and landscape and are compatible with the character of the neighboring community. “This property will be a fusion of affordability and the design elements seen in the neighborhood and throughout the Coachella Valley. This project will create homes that are not only safe and stable for local families, but also sources of pride for the residents who live there,” said Joy Silver, CHOC Regional Director for Southern California. Funding for the Coachella Valley Apartments project was announced just weeks after the state awarded CHOC $21 million to build The Monarch Apartment Homes, a 60-unit affordable housing community located in Palm Springs. Both properties will begin construction this year and bring needed affordable housing to the Coachella Valley. Since its founding in 1984, CHOC has provided economically-integrated, affordable housing that has given pride to residents, stabilized families and improved local economies throughout California. About CHOC: Founded in 1984, the Community Housing Opportunities Corporation (CHOC) is a non-profit, affordable housing developer based in Fairfield, California with offices in Palm Springs, that creates and manages communities for individuals, families, seniors and those with special needs. CHOC believes that economically integrated, affordable housing is key to self-sufficiency and is achievable with enriching, supportive programs that give pride to residents, stabilize families and improve local economies. www.chochousing.org Contact Details The Hoyt Organization Cinnamon Thompson +1 310-933-6836 cthompson@hoytorg.com Company Website https://www.chochousing.org/

June 23, 2021 08:10 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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Comcast Business Helps Sabey Bring High-Speed Connectivity to Washington Area Data Centers and Offer Better IT Continuity

Comcast Washington

Comcast Business today announced it is investing in local Washington data centers in partnership with the Sabey Data Centers to bring better IT continuity and connectivity to businesses. Specifically, Comcast Business will integrate its connectivity into data centers located in Tukwila and Quincy, giving businesses a private connection to regional Sabey data centers. The collaboration will also help advance digital transformation initiatives and enable Washington state businesses to better support their employees working remotely. Most recently, Washington state has made a name for itself in the data center sector for hosting the digital assets of California-based enterprises. Thanks to these benefits, Washington is currently experiencing rapid growth across its data center market. Recognizing the benefits of hosting data in Washington state, Sabey Data Centers has brought to market a combined 2.2 million square feet of data center space throughout the state, and is providing tenants with access to reliable, price-stabilized affordable power via sustainable generation, superior connectivity and turnkey infrastructure deployment. As one of the largest privately-owned data center operators in the world, Sabey needs reliable, credible partners to help capitalize on the booming data center market in Washington. They have teamed up with Comcast Business for comprehensive solutions that support the broad connectivity initiatives data centers demand. “CIOs and IT decision makers are often challenged with managing connections to multiple data centers and cloud solutions, managing application performance as well as troubleshooting latency and throughput issues from their data center connections,” said John Ford, VP and General Manager, Sabey Data Centers, Seattle. “Comcast Business’ data center connectivity helps our customers simplify their workloads by providing direct access on a network that can be tied to a business’s physical location – this means great performance, reliability, and scalability, and ultimately greater network agility for businesses.” By integrating Comcast Business’ Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) system, Sabey Data Center customers will be able to take advantage of high network availability. Comcast Business has also built diverse 100 Gbps connections through separate network locations in its HFC system, so if there is an outage along one path, alternative paths are available for backup connectivity and support so Sabey customers can stay online. As part of the partnership, Comcast Business will also offer Sabey customers an “on-ramp” to popular cloud services like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and IBM Cloud via the Comcast Business Direct-to-Cloud platform, which connects customers to the cloud without going through the Internet. “Comcast Business is focused on empowering businesses with a choice in hybrid IT solutions and massive Ethernet network reach,” said Scott Woodard, Director of Sales Engineering for Comcast Business’ WA Region. “Our goal is to connect data centers and cloud services to more than one million Ethernet-enabled buildings and businesses nationwide.” In addition, businesses already using Comcast Business Ethernet and IP services will have efficient and secure access to Sabey’s data centers. Plus, workers with Xfinity internet who need to remotely access information or upload files will be able to send their information through Comcast’s statewide network. “We’ve already seen that the demand for digital transformation has the power to completely revolutionize how a business operates,” said Rob Brenner, Vice President of Comcast Business for Comcast’s Washington Region. “As a provider of comprehensive technology solutions for businesses, we are thrilled to partner with the Sabey Data Centers to help local businesses in Washington transform their backend operations and modernize in anticipation of a data-driven future of work.” For more information, please visit http://business.comcast.com. About Comcast Business Comcast Business offers a suite of Connectivity, Communications, Networking, Cybersecurity, Wireless, and Managed Solutions to help organizations of different sizes prepare for what’s next. Powered by the nation’s largest Gig-speed broadband network, and backed by 24/7 customer support, Comcast Business is the nation’s largest cable provider to small and mid-size businesses and one of the leading service providers to the Enterprise market. Comcast Business has been consistently recognized by industry analysts and associations as a leader and innovator, and one of the fastest growing providers of Ethernet services. For more information, call 866-429-3085. Follow on Twitter @ComcastBusiness and on other social media networks at http://business.comcast.com/social. Contact Details Comcast Nick McDonald +1 425-977-5565 Nick_McDonald@Comcast.com FINN Partners Chloe Huard +13132094957 chloe.huard@finnpartners.com Company Website https://washington.comcast.com/

June 23, 2021 05:58 AM Pacific Daylight Time

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PCMA Announces Continued Nationwide Expansion with the Addition of South Carolina to our Lending Footprint

PCMA

PCMA, the pioneer and leading voice in Non-Bank Private Client Lending, announces the expansion of our Private Client services to the state of South Carolina - Company NMLS ID: 237710. The expansion of Private Client Lending into South Carolina highlights the remarkable growth of PCMA and the continued growth of the high-end housing growth in the South Carolina. The South Carolina housing market has stayed competitive one year after the pandemic with luxury homes selling in almost half the time of a year ago. In March 2020 high-end homes were on the market for 117 days; today those same homes are spending an average of only 62 days on the market. As luxury homes are on the market for a shorter period of time, the media listing price for luxury real estate is up with as the coastal markets are seeing the highest sales; including a 27.9% increase in Charleston, 47.9% in Hilton Head and 43.5% in Myrtle Beach. “South Carolina is well known for its beautiful beaches, award winning golf courses and warm southern hospitality; the perfect combination for high net-worth borrowers in search of a forever home or the perfect vacation home,” said John R. Lynch, CEO and Founder of PCMA Private Client. “Luxury home sales in the South Carolina market have been mirroring the national trend that has seen the high-end housing market unbridled; continuing to outpace last years record numbers for the state.” High-net-worth consumers have been driving force in luxury home sales during and post the health crisis. This distinguished buying class has spurred a surge of home sales in suburban and vacation-home markets and the trend does not appear to be slowing down any time soon. “The growth in the luxury realty space is being fueled by the Private Client community, a community that consists of business owners, high income professionals, real estate investors and asset rich retirees,” said Lynch. “The creation of our market leading products OMEGA, ZENITH and ULYSSE will meet the needs of the complex and sophisticated estates owners of South Carolina.” PCMA’s expansion into the South Carolina market comes on the heels of expansion in both Maryland and Montana. PCMA continues to experience an unprecedented growth of new loan originations since the start of 2021, increased loan amounts for high valued estates, and continued national expansion with Texas, North Carolina, and more to come online in the next 90 days. PCMA is the leading non-bank private client lending organization serving the needs of their high net worth clientele. PCMA offers qualified individuals and institutions bespoke lending solutions across all major residential asset classes. PCMA is a diversified financial enterprise offering private client solutions through a direct and indirect to consumer business model. PCMA strives to build trusting and enduring relationships by putting clients and professional partners at the center of all they do. PCMA is headquartered in Orange County, CA. Additional information is available at www.pcma.us.com Contact Details PCMA Private Client Lending Jason Jepson +1 949-394-7033 jason.jepson@pcma.us.com Company Website https://pcma.mortgage/

June 23, 2021 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Housebuilders Are Failing Disabled Homebuyers by Cutting Corners on Disabled Access

HouseScan

The latest research from new build snagging company, HouseScan, has found that not only is the number of new build homes being delivered to market with disabled access expected to fall throughout the next decade, but the ones that are being delivered are also unfit for purpose has housebuilders cut corners to maximise profits. There are approximately 14.1m people living with a disability across the UK, around 21% of the total population. It’s thought that around 7.9m of these are working adults who face a tougher financial task when it comes to saving for a property, as living with a disability comes at an additional cost of £583 on average each month compared to those living without. In addition to the tougher financial task, new build homebuyers with a disability also face a lower level of housing stock to choose from. Not only has Covid caused new build housing delivery to fall by 45% per year, but research shows that over the next decade (2020-2030), the proportion of those new build homes built to accessible standards is predicted to fall from 34.4% to 31.5%. This decline directly relates to accessible and adaptable homes (M4 Category 2) or wheelchair user dwellings (M4 Category 3). These homes provide additional features to the average new build including wider doors, stronger bathroom walls that can facilitate a grab-rail and greater circulation space for those in a wheelchair. The latest figures show that 180,140 new build homes were completed across the UK over the last year. This reduced level of disabled accessible homes means that just 56,744 would have been fit for disabled new build homebuyers, over 5,000 less than the level delivered prior to 2020. Over the course of a decade, a consistent rate of new build housing delivery would see over 1.8m homes delivered with just 567,441 of these fit for disabled homebuyers. With both property prices and stock availability making it harder for disabled homebuyers to climb the property ladder, it’s hardly surprising that the 2019/20 figures show that just 40.9% of disabled people owned their own home - the lowest level in the last seven years. However, HouseScan has also found that it isn’t just stock delivery that is failing disabled homebuyers, even the standard of homes reaching the market are unfit for purpose. Founder and Managing Director of HouseScan, Harry Yates, commented: “In this day and age, it’s just not acceptable that some housebuilders continue to cut corners, and quite frankly it’s appalling that they would allow such serious errors to occur where disabled access to a property is concerned. Unfortunately, it’s a problem that we’re seeing more and more of in our work at HouseScan. The repercussions from serious, technical issues are far greater than those from your more common, aesthetic snagging issues. In some cases, these issues are severe enough to cast concern on whether or not the house should have been signed off in the first place. Although we see many new homes that have been built to correct standards, the push for more new homes and the increasing amount of professional snagging inspections taking place means that we’re seeing more and more issues come to light, leaving home buyers uncertain and anxious about the quality of their homes. While John is leading the charge in highlighting this issue, we would urge anyone who thinks they’ve been let down on any aspect of their new build to make themselves heard so that the handful of housebuilders who chance their luck on the life savings of their customers are held to account and the overall standard of new homes in the UK can improve.” Case Study One such homebuyer to suffer from this and other housebuilder failings is John Gaskell, who bought a property from the development arm of Cambridge Housing Society Ltd, due to their claims of ethical housebuilding, which he soon found did not seem to extend to new-build homebuyers on his small development. A snagging survey of John’s house by HouseScan found multiple failings by the developer, failings that John is still campaigning to have put right with his Homebuyers Fightback campaign, which has received the backing of local MPs and the former chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group that investigated problems in the new-build sector. In addition to the 150 defects found in the property, John also discovered that the developer had cut corners where the disabled access to his home was concerned, rendering the property to not meet basic Part M disabled access building regulations. He was first alerted to the problem after HouseScan had inspected the problem. After the developer had pushed back on various areas of the report, despite there being clear violations of building regs, John instructed a registered expert witness to inspect the property, who reaffirmed the downstairs WC had not been built in accordance with disability access requirements. There is also a problem with an excessively steep pathway to the front door which would make it difficult for safe wheelchair entry. John said that after reading both the detailed reports, it became clear that the developer could not have properly understood what is needed to accommodate the basic needs of wheelchair users, despite the clear diagrams and details in the building regulations and NHBC standard. If the house had been built one brick wider or the limited space been appropriately configured, the problems would not have arisen. Mr Gaskell went on to say he was concerned that the CEO of a registered charity, which claims to support the disadvantaged and the disabled, who is also on the Board of the Cambridge Sub-regional Housing Board, had referred to the catalogue of problems in his new home as ‘ largely cosmetic or decorative’ in the local and national press. He has submitted the reports to the developer, along with an estimate for the cost of putting things right, but the CEO has not even replied. Ends Notes to Editors: Founder of HouseScan and BuildScan, Harry Yates, comes from a family background of construction and also holds a Construction Management degree. Having done the basics of the job for a number of years, Harry launched HouseScan four years ago, then started introducing his bespoke technology in 2020 to fulfil the snagging process properly. HouseScan is the new build snagging experts, using their knowledge, expertise and equipment to ensure your new home is as it was promised. HouseScan has been employed by thousands of customers buying new build homes from a wide range of different housebuilders. The HouseScan inspection and report is not only award-winning but more comprehensive than any of their competitors. HouseScan keeps up to date with all industry changes and regulations and they are also equipped with a range of equipment totalling over £4000 each. www.housescan.co.uk BuildScan is a multi-platform app that allows users to manage defects, snag lists, punch lists, surveys and project workflow in full synchronisation and with unlimited collaboration. Teams or individual users can manage entire projects through BuildScan, assigning and controlling tasks, workflow and much more for effective construction defect management. With BuildScan you can break your projects down into sites, plots and build stages for easy project management, log unlimited snags & defects straight into the BuildScan app, assign these defects as tasks to individuals & contractors within your team, manage and track progress throughout all stages of your project, create, manage & export snagging & inspection reports directly from the app BuildScan launched on the 3rd November 2020. www.buildscan.co Contact Press Enquiries James Lockett M: 07584 248960 T: 0207 856 0185 E: james@properganda.pr PropergandaPR Data Enquiries Alex Pericli M: 07979 262393 T: 0207 856 0185 E: alex @properganda.pr PropergandaPR Contact Details PropergandaPR James Lockett +44 20 7856 0185 james@properganda.pr PropergandaPR Alex Pericli +442078560185 alex@properganda.pr

June 22, 2021 06:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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Cyvatar Raises an Additional $9 Million in Series A Round

Cyvatar

Cyvatar today announced that it has raised $9 million as part of its Series A financing to help scale and serve its rapidly growing customer base and continue to drive the adoption of its innovative cybersecurity-as-a-service (CSaaS) model. Escalating cybersecurity breaches and the need to address vulnerabilities across systems, networks, and apps fuel the security services market, expected to reach $193 billion by 2028. Additionally, the growth in hybrid and remote workers coupled with unsecured and unpatched BYOD devices further underscores the need for on-demand cybersecurity resources that include human talent, proven processes, and best-of-breed technology delivered from a single intuitive platform. Cyvatar has grown more than 200% since its debut in October. ATX Venture Partners led the round with additional participation from existing customer CORTEC and longtime Cyvatar investor Bill Wood Ventures. Cyvatar closed a $3 million seed round late last year, bringing the total amount raised over the last eight months to $12 million. “We’ve seen fundraising explode in the security space, in part as a result of the raft of ransomware, email compromise, and phishing attacks that have made people more aware of the problem and increased the need to fix it quickly and effectively,” said Chris Shonk, partner at ATX Venture Partners. “Cyvatar is an exciting addition to our dynamic portfolio and a natural fit alongside our other rapidly growing organizations. No other company we evaluated solves the problems of cybersecurity like Cyvatar. With Cyvatar CSaaS, security becomes as effortless as turning on the lights. There’s no better value for customers.” Cyvatar CSaaS offers security in a box for organizations of any size and any level of cybersecurity expertise--already more than 150 platform members have started the security journey with Cyvatar. Its mature sales and marketing engine makes it easy for new members to join and offers ongoing education and support for existing customers to continuously remediate evolving threats, safeguard critical systems, and boost compliance scores. "I can tell you that after implementing just three Cyvatar solutions, our security confidence is a lot stronger than it was before and our company as a whole is far more secure,” said Brent Fanguy, vice president of technology at CORTEC. “We applaud Cyvatar for pricing by employee count because it’s so easy to calculate and fit into our budget -- no counting servers or workstations, which is a nightmare. Cyvatar has delivered consistent value from our security spend, and we look forward to continuing to grow our partnership with them.” Whether customers need to speed their sales cycles, remediate after a breach, prevent future incursions, or respond to a third-party risk assessment, Cyvatar helps them achieve superior business outcomes every day. Click HERE to get started free and learn more about how Cyvatar is making cybersecurity effortless for every business. About Cyvatar Cyvatar is committed to effortless cybersecurity for everyone. As the industry’s first subscription-based, cybersecurity-as-a-service (CSaaS) company, it’s our mission to transform the way the security industry builds, sells, and supports cyber solutions. We empower our members to achieve successful outcomes by providing expert advisors, proven technologies, and a strategic process roadmap to guarantee results that map to their business drivers. Our approach is rooted in proprietary ICARM (installation, configuration, assessment, remediation, maintenance) methodology that delivers smarter, measurable security solutions for superior compliance and cyber-attack protection faster and more efficiently, all at a fixed monthly price. And because we’re a subscription, members can cancel anytime. Cyvatar is a global organization with operations around the world. Begin your journey to security confidence at cyvatar.ai and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. About ATX Venture Partners ATX Venture Partners is an early-stage venture capital firm specializing in the South-Central US. The firm’s seed and Series A investments focus on software-as-a-service, IoT, e-commerce, AI, frontier commercial technologies and mobile applications. ATX Venture Partners brings institutional-grade funding, process and rigor to early-stage venture capital investments, and is the partner to propel portfolio companies forward to larger growth capital. The firm was founded in 2014 and is based in Austin, Texas. Visit www.atxventurepartners.com, and follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Contact Details Cyvatar KC Higgins +1 303-434-8163 kc@cyvatar.ai ATX Ventures Meg Brigman +15127666462 meg@atxventurepartners.com Company Website https://cyvatar.ai/

June 17, 2021 07:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

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