Posts Tagged ‘small business’
Wednesday, December 28th, 2011
If you are new to visiting open houses, you could be unsure what is predicted, and what’s scowled upon. During my years of hosting, I have experienced many uncomfortable visitors, mainly due to the fact they feel they're intruding. It feels wierd walking into a family’s home, regardless of whether you're supposed to, but what precisely is correct etiquette? Learn below what I've known in the numerous years of showing my Merritt Island homes for sale at open houses.
Proper etiquette for an open house embodies the following:
Walk right in. As long as you've arrived at the right time, be at liberty to walk right into the house. If the door is closed, take a fast scout around for a sign or note in case the realtor left one stating to not come in. There’s no need to ring the bell or knock on the door, as long as you are not too early or late, you're expected to let yourself in.
When you have entered the house, it is proper etiquette to wipe your shoes. If you see shoes at the front door, the owner might be more content with you taking them off. Look for a note or sign asking you to take off your shoes, if there is not one, wear them.
Find the host of the open house. The host will typically be round the front door area, but they might be showing the house when you arrive, so they might be on another floor. Look around the house, but acknowledge the host when you can.
Although there is no time limit for you to look around, if you get a few hints from the host, it could be time to leave. Hints such as turning off lights, looking out the front door, or even chatting on their phone about leaving, are fairly clear. Remember, they cannot leave until you do.
If you like to attend open houses and be at liberty to walk around at your own rate, you may consider going at a busier hour. This will make sure the host is busy with others, and they won't be following you raising questions about your plans. Many of us like going to an open house to look round and relax, and it can be tricky to do if an agent is hot on your heels.
Always remember you're a guest in somebody's home, and acting deferential is anticipated. Making a mess, talking loudly, and disrespecting property, are all tawdry actions no matter where you are. Act like you would desire folks to act in your own home.
If you use the toilet, be sure to clean up if you make a complete mess. There could be others utilising the washroom after you, and you are in somebody's home.
Smoking, taking something from the fridge or looking in somebody's drawers are all in bad taste. Routinely I would not add these to the list, but I have witnessed all three of these at open houses, so I realized they were worth discussing.
Attending an open house can basically be good fun, and sometimes it’s ideal to spend the day visiting many [**]. This will permit you to be well placed to compare 1 or 2 different houses and style while they're still fresh in your brain. This could make it better to decide what styles you like. You do not necessarily have to be looking to buy a house straight to go to an open house. I actually know many couples who attend many on the weekends to get decorating ideas, but when you do go to an open house, respect the house you are visiting.
Article written by Beshiva D. Bransten a Cocoa Florida real estate agent. If you’re planning on attending an open house, you can find out more about the correct etiquett by going to Beshiva’s Palm Bay Florida real estate website.
Tags: business, buying, credit, general, home based business, insurance, internet and businesses, internet marketing, investing, legal, marketing, open house, property insurance, real estate law, small business Posted in property insurance | No Comments »
Friday, November 25th, 2011
Are you stuck in the rut of having an office phone, cell phone, a fax line and a cell phone? Well, the days of having a home phone are going by the wayside and becoming an extinct dinosaur. And, not far behind that is the traditional office fax line and office phone.
When I started in real estate investing I worked for a guy that refused to give up his fax machine. I would walk in his office and see fax paper all over the place. He would constantly be looking for a document someone had sent him. I never got that guy moved in the “the real world” and he is probably still using a 1985 fax machine to this day.
Let’s fact it; we are all on our cell phones these days and rarely are they more than 3-5 feet away from us. So, why not just combine all of your voice and fax communication in to one device? It is here and has been for years unless you’ve been hiding under a rock.
We’ve been using Ringcentral for well over two years now. Initially, the dashboard was a bit confusing and frustrating. However, once we over came the initial learning curve we were well on our way. Their customer service is excellent. When I have called them I have received an email or return phone call within the hour.
There are a lot of cloud based business phone systems out there but we have only used Ringcentral and have never had a problem with their service.
If you don’t know what e-Voice / Cloud phone systems are then you definitely need to check RC out. There are many features with RC but the one that I like the best is that they send an email every time someone calls and also when someone leaves a message. So, you get two notifications via email when some calls. Good to have when often times some buyers are hesitant to leave a message. We’ve picked up a couple extra sales by calling back the numbers that didn’t leave a message. Good to have.
Also, you can set up what we call “Round Robin”. From within the RC dashboard you can have the service rotate the calls to different agents so that no one person gets all the great leads. And, that also eliminates the need to have a receptionist answer your phone. You basically just put it on round robin and, let’s say if you have 6 agents, if one is busy and doesn’t answer it just rolls over to the next person. And, you can set it for how many times it rings to each person before rolling over to the next.
For the tech-savvy agent you can also embed a button in your email that will allow a potential buyer to click on that button and it will dial you up direct from their computer or cell. Pretty cool feature. We don’t use that feature any longer as we were getting overwhelmed with calls. Now we just include our number on all of our mailers and advertisements. But, you can configure that within your outgoing email provider.
They also offer fax lines as well and their plans vary according to your office size/number of numbers/agents/etc. Every feature that you can imagine is offer for the mobile device as well.
Since we have streamlines our operation with E-voice/Cloud based phone communication we have noticed an upswing in productivity.
Looking to read more e-voice-reviews, then visit www.gettingstartedasarealestateagent.com to find the best advice on e-voice-review-ringcentral for your real estate needs.
Tags: cloud computing, entrepreneurs, finance, insurance, leasing, loans, mortgage, online business, online marketing, property insurance, real estate, small business, VOIP Posted in property insurance | No Comments »
Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011
3 Great Tools for all Real Estate Industry Professionals
Marketing online is difficult for anyone involved with the real estate industry. Whether you are an escrow officer, title officer, transaction coordinator, agent, broker, painter, demolition, lender, etc., it just isn’t easy any longer to get traction in the real estate industry. Learning how to improve your page rankings is one thing but learning how to create content is another. So, what tools do you use to create the content, track the content and what portals do you use to syndicate the content? Over the next few weeks we want to share with you some of the tools we have found helpful and that we recommend so be sure to check back often for updates.
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1. Screen Capturing Videos: There are a lot of possibilities available online. There are some that are paid services and some that are free. Jing is a free tool that was created by TechSmith. Just Google it to find it. Jing will allow you to do screen capturing from your desktop. Basically, you have an onboard video camera capturing your every move on your screen. Jing is really easy to use but, Jing has limits. The downside is that the free version only allows you to record a total of 5 minutes. So, for short presentations or for short tutorials for sending to associates or outsourcers then this works really well. After you set up a Jing account then Jing will host your videos and allow you to upload that content with a URL specific to your account. If you want to record more than 5 minutes then you need to upgrade to Jing Pro. Initially, when I started out, I used the free version. But, trying to fit all of your content in to one 5 minute video is tough. Plus, if you do that then you have a series of 5 minute videos to upload to YouTube (YT) or Vimeo which is more labor intensive. Last time I checked it was $15 a year. Not a bad choice if you want to create screen capturing videos. Another cool feature is that if you have a YouTube channel it will sync up and upload to your YT channel. Pretty convenient. Keep in mind though, you can create videos up to 2 gigs in size for upload to YT but if you are new to uploading and getting traffic to your channel then YT will limit your upload time to 15 minutes no matter what size the video file is. You’ll have to have videos that are driving enough traffic before YT will allow you to upload longer/larger videos.
Second, Camtasia for screen capture: TechSmith Camtasia is my tool of choice. Great tool, but requires some technical knowledge to navigate. Many more features Jing and I use almost daily. I will create a video tutorial or give a task to my virtual assistant (VA), this is by far the best option. Jing has complete functionality and more. Like going from a Hyundai to a Porsche when going from Jing to Camtasia. I highly recommend.
Third, Bitly: The days of wondering if someone has clicked on your links are over. Bitly is a URL Shortener. There are many shorteners out there so shop around and find one you like. You only need to create an account, log in, enter the URL to that gives you a code shortened. You can then customize the shortened link so that it will be a bit more memorable for you and your viewers. Most people do not realize the benefits of URL shortening. In real estate, we want to follow our efforts. With bitly you can do just that. One really needs to track and follow their data if you really want to know if your efforts are producing the desired results.
Soon we will share more tools the real estate industry can use. What tools are you using?
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Tags: article marketing, entrepreneurs, finance, home based business, insurance, leasing, loans, mortgage, online business, online marketing, property insurance, real estate, real estate agent, real estate broker, small business Posted in property insurance | No Comments »
Friday, October 28th, 2011
Cleaning windows can often be difficult. It just seems like they can never get clean no matter how hard someone tries. There are always these unsightly streaks that can be difficult to see or remove without the correct equipment and technique. There really are some window cleaning secrets of the trade.
Starting with a squeegee and a scrubber is the best way to prepare to clean a window. Squeegees that are longer in length will not cause as many streaks as shorter ones. Soap, water and a good cloth or paper towels are also a good idea to use on the window.
Start by squirting the window cleaner onto the window itself. Squirting into a rag is not necessary. The next thing someone will need to do is to use the scrubber to scrub the windows. The scrubber could be a sponge or a good towel. The idea is to scrub the windows so the dirt and fingerprints will come off more easily.
Next thing to do is to use the squeegee. Starting near the edge and working down is the best way to avoid lines and streaks after the window is dry. The bigger the squeegee is the better it will be at getting the whole window without leaving lines that would not be visible. Not leaving lines will get easier when the window cleaning secrets of the trade are understood.
Using a paper towel to wipe off the the squeegee after each swipe will help to decrease streaking. Wiping off the edges with a paper towel is smart so there will not be lines and streaks down the edge of the window. The window will sparkle in the sunlight all the more.
Cleaning windows on a cloudy day is probably the best because it is easier the streaks. Cleaning in direct sunlight can make things more difficult because the streaks are more visible. The window also dries faster when there is no humidity and the sun is out.
The task of cleaning windows can be a hard one if someone is not experienced in this area. Someone really feels like there are window cleaning secrets. It does seem like sometimes it is impossible to get a streak free shine. If someone will take his or her time and use the proper equipment, then there is no way the windows can be sparkling clean.
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Tags: business, careers, cleaners, employment, finance, home business, house and home, insurance, Property, property insurance, small business, window cleaning, work Posted in property insurance | No Comments »
Thursday, October 27th, 2011
If you are the proud owner of a small window cleaning business, you most likely don’t have sufficient money to employ a bookkeeper or an accountant of your own. You’ve still got to maintain some accounting records of course, otherwise you won’t be able to compile your tax and VAT returns, and you will have no way to determine whether your business is running at a profit or a loss. Below are guidelines on basic book keeping for small window cleaning businesses.
The two most basic bookkeeping items you are going to need is a receipt book as well as an invoice book. The receipt book is for when you make cash sales and the invoice book for when you grant credit to a client (something you should only do for repeat customers).
The next important element of your bookkeeping system will be to keep all documents related to business expenses. If you buy a new bucket, keep the receipt. If you have the delivery vehicle serviced, keep the receipt. You must also have a wage register with the names of all your workers and let them sign for their weekly pay.
At the office you should have a cash book, into which all these income and expenses are then entered on a daily basis. You also need registers to keep track of credit sales and of business related items you bought on credit. These are called accounts receivable registers and accounts payable registers.
The cash book is for all cash income and expenses. Use the receipt book above to enter all your cash income on one side, and the expense vouchers you kept to list all your expenses on the opposite side. You also need a column reflecting the total amounts, and then columns indicating the type of income or expenditure it was. This way you can easily add them up at the end of the month and see how much you earned from customers during the month, and how much you paid for cleaning materials, wages, petrol et cetera.
If you had credit sales, the invoices from your invoice book should be entered in the accounts receivable register in numerical order. At the end of the month you will be able to get a total for credit sales therefore. The same is true for items you bought on credit, which goes into the accounts payable register.
If your accounts receivable register shows that you had credit sales during the month, which haven’t been paid yet, that amount has to be added to the profit shown by the cash book, because if it had been paid you would have had more money in the bank. The same is true for credit purchases: if you owe money to suppliers at the end of the month, that amount must be deducted from your profit according to the cash book.
Following the basic book keeping for small window cleaning businesses guidelines above will give you an excellent idea of the profitability or not of your business.
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Tags: business, careers, cleaners, employment, finance, home business, house and home, insurance, Property, property insurance, small business, window cleaning, work Posted in property insurance | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 26th, 2011
Window Cleaning Secrets Of The Trade will leave windows looking the best that they can. Organization is important in getting the job done in a timely manner, while still leaving windows completely clean. Items which are regularly used should be kept in good repair, and on hand at all times. They should also be stored in a location where they may be quickly accessed when needed.
Some basic supplies which will be needed include spray bottles, scrapers, a long handled squeegee and sponge, paper towels, and cleaning fluids. It is important to keep a regular inventory of these items, in order to avoid running short, or running out. Time wasted running to purchase these items at the last minute will amount to money lost on a job.
Looking and behaving in a professional manner will definitely give any new business an edge. A business which cleans windows is no exception. A company uniform is a good and inexpensive way to begin. Choose a neat and clean look that also is comfortable to work in. This will give potential customers a positive first impression, that the business is serious and the employees are ready to get to work. Avoid allowing jeans and t-shirts as part of this uniform, or it may become difficult to find and keep faithful customers.
The phrase ” I don’t do windows” is very commonly heard. This is because properly cleaning a window is serious business. It is not a simple matter of spraying and wiping, otherwise everyone would just wash the windows themselves. A professionally cleaned window will have flaking paint and old stickers removed, grime on wood as well as the glass cleaned, and will definitely require more than just a spray and wipe in most cases.
Before a window is wet, any flaking paint needs to be scraped away. Warm water will be applied to any decals or stickers which must be removed. Generally all spot cleaning is done at once in order to allow softening of the glue, tape, or paper. Then the area will be gently scraped in order to clean the glass without scratching it.
The first washing will be with water and a mild detergent. This will ensure that the entire surface will be clean before concentrating on the glass. Use the sponge to wash the entire surface, including the wood, and allow it to dry thoroughly.
Harsh chemicals are not necessary when cleaning glass, and in fact may cause damage. The closer a person can get to using a natural cleaning solution, the better. A vinegar and water solution is a perfect choice. Although some may not like the smell, it will soon fade and leave things smelling fresh and clean. It will also leave the glass looking crystal clear.
Having nice clean windows can make a whole house look better. Window Cleaning Secrets Of The Trade will create a professional looking and truly clean window.
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Tags: business, careers, cleaners, employment, finance, home business, house and home, insurance, Property, property insurance, small business, window cleaning, work Posted in property insurance | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 25th, 2011
A clean sparkly window is something that some people dream of but never manage to truly achieve Even after all their hard work they are sometimes left with streaks and smudges that can be frustrating. But with a few window cleaning secrets of the trade, you too can have windows that your friends and neighbors envy.
Just like cleaning the rest of your home, windows need special attention, techniques and tools. Grabbing a bottle of a brand name cleaner and a roll of paper towels may be good for cleaning up the mirrors in your home, but when it comes to windows it is going to take a bit more than that.
Professionals all use tools of the trade to get the job done quickly and right and the main tool is the squeegee. You never see a window washer without one and you shouldn’t be without one either. A scrubbing wand is good if you have tall windows that are hard to reach. Cleaning towels are also a big plus to have on hand. Washing a store bought cleaning towel several times to remove as much lint and fuzz as possible is one tip that professionals use.
There are many products on the market that guarantee no streaks and to make your window sparkle, but most people still opt to make their own cleaning product. Using soft water instead of hard will eliminate the buildup of minerals on the window that are hard to remove. A dish soap added to the water saves in cost, as these go a long way as only a little is really needed. Vinegar is good for removing hard water minerals that builds up, if diluted with water, but most advise against using this in your cleaning solution. Vinegar and ammonia can evaporate your solution quickly and they can also dry and crack any rubber sealants they come in contact with.
Mastering a squeegee will take some time and a lot of practice. The best part in learning is that if you mess up, you can start all over again. When the window is free from all the dirt that can build up, it is time to get started with the squeegee. At with the edges first, you’ll want to go in a back and forth motion, then up and down, making sure to wipe as you go along. When you are done with that, starting at the top, you angle the squeegee slightly and go from one side to the other, working your way down the window, making sure to wipe the squeegee and the edges as you work.
A clean, dry squeegee is necessary to keep the flow of movements smooth and to prevent streaking, so use the dry part of your towel to constantly wipe it. Working fast is another necessity; you want to get the water off before it dries. Something else to remember is choosing the right time of day to clean. You want to go for a time when the sun will not be shining directly on the windows, like the early morning. A perfectly cleaned window is almost impossible if working in direct sunlight.
By remembering a few of these window cleaning secrets of the trade, you too can have windows that cause jealousy around the neighborhood. And the more you practice, the faster you’ll get and the easier it will be. You may even find that you enjoy cleaning windows after all and offer your squeegee services to friends and family.
We are glad window cleaners are around! We hired a good window cleaning service to clean our windows in our two story home and must say that they did a fantastic job! Would you like to use that same service?
Tags: business, careers, cleaners, employment, finance, home business, house and home, insurance, Property, property insurance, small business, window cleaning, work Posted in property insurance | No Comments »
Wednesday, October 12th, 2011
One of the primary risks of doing work within a fabrication or commercial area is definitely the chance of personnel slipping as well as falling out, resulting in harm which is sometimes crippling and also fatal.
In case you work in a mechanic shop, hangar, cafe, factory, manufacturing plant or perhaps any other work environment which involves substances lying down on the floor where they could cause individuals to slide, you are without doubt aware of the good governing administration rules about slipping accidents. It is illegal for any enterprise not to supply enough precautionary measures towards slips and falls, and also lacking the right kind of flooring within your place of work might be a lawful as well as physical danger for your company.
The best way to combat these kinds of incidents is to install epoxy flooring in any location where personnel might fall. Epoxy is a kind of coating that is laid within the floor, sealing it completely and also preventing any external compounds through going within it. This includes dampness and oils which can give an actual physical danger. The top of a surface which has been placed with epoxy flooring is the very least likely of any floor allowing slides. It is even probable to install a special type of anti-slip epoxy floor coating that will ensure that your working environment is in accordance with government ordinances concerning flooring surfaces.
Another benefit of epoxy flooring is the fact that its 100% covered floor surface stops dangerous substances such as glass or perhaps oil from hiding in the floor. This as well signifies that cleaning the floor will be effortless, and you could be assured that there will be absolutely nothing left around to cause danger.
Though installing quality concrete sealing brisbane could be pricey, it is a huge step forward in stopping accidents as well as complying with rules. Imagine if one of your workers got a slipping accident and also subsequently sued your business? If the floor of the working place was not determined to abide entirely with policies, you would might lose hundreds, perhaps tens of thousands of bucks. Applying epoxy flooring in your place of work is a very little investment given that you could prevent these sorts of legal challenges.
You don’t need to bargain on style, anyway. If your business requires an attractive design for the floor coverings, or a highly visible white colour scheme, it will not be a problem - epoxy floor coating comes in a wide range of colours and it’s simple to have designs printed as the coating is laid.
Guard your company from bodily injuries as well as legal threats by setting up epoxy flooring and you’ll be ready to wind down in the knowledge that there will be unwelcome shocks. Your employees will be grateful for providing them with a safe and also reliable working area which will not permit slips even in damp places.
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Tags: concrete coatings, concrete sealing, eco friendly, epoxy flooring, floor coatings, less chemical material, non-slip, property insurance, real estate, safety, small business, water resistant, workplace floors, workshop floors Posted in property insurance | No Comments »
Saturday, August 27th, 2011
Are you planning to move out? If so then you need to start packing your things and call a reliable moving company that would help you carry and unpack your stuff in your new place. But since there are tons of them in the market today, choosing for the right one can be quite complicated. Good thing I know some simple tips that would surely help you choose for the right service you need.
Obtaining a low-priced shifting company isn’t whatsoever occasions the top alternative. You must think about the shifting company’s customer verify rating and their history with previously clientele. Additionally you must search if they’re suggesting shifting and storage selections in case your move is postponed. Selecting a qualified shifting group at the best charge is easy when you have some moving group quotes to pick from.
Right here are some of the basic ideas in picking for the correct moving organizations.
#1 In case your move is just going to be local, you could make utilization of a neighboring business suggested by a buddy or loved ones member. In case you are heading to use the internet to search for a mover keep in thoughts that bids established on line which are incredibly low could possibly be undependable or simply plain scams. Whether it’s a neighboring or lengthy distance move, be specific you examine its positions very first. It really is also an exceptional strategy to examine with a number of the moving groups close to your place to guarantee that the mover you may use is covered and criticism-free.
#2 Pick what type of moving group to take into service with. Are you heading to maneuver across the state or just 1 or 200 miles absent? Do you need them to perform the entire factor for you or are you keen to carry out quite a few from the jobs your self? There are actually lots of long distance moving companies and neighboring moving businesses to select from available. Long distance moving companies will carry their person packing materials and set your possessions for you, on the other hand you can too set the boxes your self and just have them convey the whole factor to your place destination. No matter if you’re going for any cross state move or maybe a move to a close by city, you might must make certain you make use of movers you might be contented with for the lengthy distance journey. Professional lengthy distance movers are regularly individually taught and know ways to manage your home wares to put off smash up.
#3 Acquire quotes from highly regarded moving corporations. Get in touch with quite a few dependable companies and setup an appointment with their revenue manager. The moving organization agent will come out typically for your home, will make a list from all your possessions and make use of that data to provide you a moving estimate.
Learn more about what it takes to move. Check out the authors website about moving company where there are trusted moving company rating and reviews.
Tags: auto and trucks, auto insurance, family, home, home improvement, home insurance, insurance, moving, moving company, moving vehicles, small business Posted in home insurance | No Comments »
Saturday, August 20th, 2011
Home health care is usually administered in the comforts of your own home. It is also less expensive compared to getting patient care from hospitals and other medical establishment. It is more convenient since you do not have to be out from your house. It is also as effective as the care that you would get from medical facilities with skilled nurses. The goal of having health care administered at home is to treat injuries and illnesses. It aims to make patients feel better and at the same time self-sufficient and independent.
There are different skilled cares needed in administering home health care to patients. These skills are from skilled nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech and language pathology. For individuals who are in need of care at home, these services may be provided by professionals in the specified field of need. Services for health care administered at home such as medical social services and home health aide assistance may also be utilized.
The services coming from a home health care agency usually coordinates with your doctor. By doing so, they will be able to determine the right treatment suited for you. This will guarantee that the care administered at home is in line with the care supposedly given in any nursing facility. Patients will have a faster healing at home where comfort and convenience meet up with the administered care.
Home health services include wound care for surgical wounds. Since it is entirely difficult for a newly operated individual to move from one place to another, getting home health care services will eliminate this burden. Wound care will be administered at home by a skilled home health aide. You do not have to worry about going out and stretching too much effort to bring yourself to a nursing facility to have your surgical wound taken off. For patients with bone fractures and the like, physical and occupational therapy are also administered at home.
Speech and language therapy is also available for individuals who have suffered from a stroke. Other illnesses that caused speech defects can also use these kinds of therapy. Patient and care giver education is also administered to both patients and those who look after them. This will ensure that people at home are giving the right and proper care aside from the home health care provided by agencies and home health aides.
For patients who have dietary problems, nutrition therapy is also provided. Every patient with dietary needs is given recommended dietary allowance to support the body’s need for the right kind of foods. However, there are patients who cannot have food intake instead intravenous therapy is administered. Skilled individuals conduct home health care to ensure that patients are given the same amount of care in medical facilities. Injections can also be given at home as well as monitoring of serious health conditions which are becoming unstable. With health care administered at home, individuals who can no longer go to medical establishments can still avail of medical patient care.
Find home health care minneapolis and home care agencies in your area.
Tags: elderly care, family, health, health care, health insurance, home, home health care, home insurance, insurance, retirement, retirement insurance, senior home, small business, society Posted in home insurance | No Comments »
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