Welcome to the new ETC e-newsletter. Now don't be scared!  We promise not to bore you with technical topics that harass your email each week.   Nope, instead our goal is to provide you with helpful property tips and  share some light-hearted topics.   Watch for our newsletter to grace your mailbox bi-monthly.

In This Issue

Scratch & Win Ticket
Good-bye Graffiti 
The Wine Shop - Best Buys
Planters: Weigh Your Options
Packing For The Beach
Planning Your Next Renovation
Get To Know Shabbir

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SHABBIR KAZMI

Registered Architect

10 Things You Didn't Know About Me.

1. I came to the US with my family and landed in Lake Braddock HIgh School, Burke, Virginia...GO BRUINS!
2. I am a proud graduate of Catholic University, Architecture Department.
3. I am a 3rd degree black belt in Shorin Ryu Karate and still train with my 13 year old nephew who also just earned his black belt.
4. While living in South Beach Miami for two years, I witnessed actor Jack Nicholson passed out and buried in the sand.
5. My childhood dog 'Gala' became a TV star in Pakistan...after I left!
6. Each year I volunteer with Karachi University students on  restoration of buildings in Pakistan. The students now think I'm famous in America because they follow the ETC blog.
7. Best time of my life was living in New York City next to Grand Central Station.  Best place for "Curry in a hurry".
8. My dream is to buy a Harley and ride with my wife in the desert...or even Fairfax County Parkway would do.
9. I recently missed a connecting flight and ended up touring Dubai for 2 days. Their taxi cabs are 740 BMWs
10. My hobby as an independent filmaker won a merit award by Best Short Films. My mom thinks it should have won an Academy Award.
How Can We Help?

Good-Bye Graffiti

By Pat Gray, RS (ETC, Inc.)
Fans of Basquiat and Banksy might disagree, but graffiti is a blight. It’s also as old as mankind and not likely to go away so property owners and managers have to deal with it. There are basically three ways to do that – strip it with chemicals, remove it by mechanical methods, or cover it.  
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Top 100 Best Buys

By: The Editors of WIne Enthusiast
Most people would agree that the wine market is completely saturated. Every wine shop features a barrage of eye-catching labels that draw you in with the promise of delicious juice. While spending a bit more on a bottle might improve your chances of finding a super sipper, it’s much more exciting to throw the dice hoping to find a perfectly priced and equally delicious buy.  
Well, if you don’t feel that way, the good news is that your gambling days are over—this Wine Enthusiast list of the Top 100 Best Buys from 2014 takes the guesswork out of the equation. 
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Planters:  Weigh Your Options

By: Joe Shuffleton, PE (ETC, Inc.)
We are often asked about weight limitations for balconies, particularly with regard to the allowable sizes and weights of plants that may be put on the balconies.  The simple answer is that it depends on exactly how the balcony was designed and built.  In general, plants that are placed on balconies should not be so large or heavy that they cannot be readily moved by the average size adult.
This would generally mean that an individual plant (with its pot, soil, etc.) should not weigh more than a normal adult (about 200 pounds).  Plants with this type of weight limitation can often be placed throughout the balcony surface as long as a clean space of about two feet is provided between them.
Please remember that each case may vary.  If you are concerned, think about having a structural engineer evaluate your specific planter layout.

Packing For The Beach

By:  SmarterTravel.com Staff
Headed to the seashore? Use  the SmarterTravel.com essential beach packing list to help you pack everything you'll need for a relaxed beach getaway. Best of all, it can save you money, since packing the right things now will keep you from having to repurchase items once you arrive.  
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Planning Your Next Renovation

By: Shabbir Kazmi, AIA (ETC, Inc.)
Your next building renovation doesn’t have to be a daunting task, but it will take organization. There is no industry standard for renovation because there are too many factors to consider. Following is a ‘Renovation Checklist’ we’ve put together to assist your efforts. 
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