Posts Tagged ‘leasing’

3 Steps To Saving More Money

February 14th, 2010

Saving money is not easy and is made more difficult if you have a short-term outlook regarding your personal finances. If, like many people, you are living from one pay cheque to the next, it is difficult to put some money aside for a rainy day or for a summer holiday. But what if you were to change your financial outlook into a medium to long-term one? You might believe that you cannot afford to think ahead and make plans, but in most cases you would be wrong. Most people should be able to save some money and with some effort, maybe even as much as 20 percent of their salary each month.

Step 1 – Income Analysis

First of all it is important to have a handle on where your income is going. Unless, we are on an extremely tight budget or are very money conscious for other reasons, many of us have never really sat down and considered what our money is being spent on – we just know that by the end of the month, it has all gone! You will know if you are consistently spending your money on unnecessary purchases, for example. Having this knowledge equips you with the control to change things a little or a lot.

Step 2 – Saving Money Mentality

Many people have never been taught to save and as children, immediately spent the money they received without any forethought. You often hear people say, “Life is short, if you want something buy it now”, but thankfully for most of us life is not really so short and along the way we will have to deal with both opportunities and challenges. Having some money saved will help you make the most of the opportunities and ride the challenges. Step 3 – Savings – Seeing the Big Picture

If you could save 20 percent of your salary each month, imagine what that would mean in real financial terms. For example, if you earn 2000 dollars per month and you saved 20 percent or 400 dollars out of every pay cheque, after 12 months you will have saved 4800 dollars! Regularly saving this amount of money would give you the financial freedom to take advantage of more of life’s opportunities. You could plan the special holiday you have always wanted to go on, buy the car that you have been dreaming about for years, or help put a child through college. When it comes to life’s challenges, having a lump sum put away could help you pay for private medical care or deal with an expensive plumbing problem in the home, all without having to turn to the bank for a loan and getting into debt.

Now Do Something Special or Pay Off That Debt! As we have already seen, knowing exactly where your money is going is the starting point. Next, start thinking about the big things you could achieve with some money in the bank. Some people compensate themselves for not having what they really want, by making many frequent small purchases and getting a temporary “feel good” sensation afterwards.

Rather than satisfying yourself with small purchases, such as new clothes and CDs every week or always buying the latest mobile phone, think about how much more satisfying it would be to save up and buy or do something special like going on holiday or important like paying off a debt. You can now do something which you previously thought was out of your reach, but is achievable with a little effort.

Emmanuel Mendonca is the webmaster of Living and Working in Greece at http://www.living-and-working-in-greece.com. Can debt consolidation loan help you reduce your debt?

First Time Buyers Fail To Shop Around

February 5th, 2010

Almost two thirds of first time buyers accept the first mortgage they are offered and fail to shop around, often missing out on better deals.

Many first time buyers feel pressurised by their estate agents into quickly organising a mortgage for fear of losing out on a property or are attracted to a low interest rate without looking at the mortgage deal as a whole.

However, with such a vast range of mortgage lenders to choose from, first time buyers are well advised to step back and do a little research before they commit.

There are a number of places to find good mortgage deals:

Speak to your bank

Your bank or building society may provide special offers to their account holders, but don’t feel that you have to accept their offer through customer loyalty as there are many other places to look.

Consult with a financial advisor

Financial advisors can offer you a range of mortgage deals to choose from that are appropriate to your circumstances. Some financial advisors offer free advice, but can only provide a limited range of mortgages, through which they earn a commission.

Independent financial advisors will offer a wider range of deals, but you may need to pay them to provide this advice. However, this is often a worthwhile investment, as commission earnings do not influence the advisor, so the mortgage is more likely to meet your requirements.

Get on the net

A search on Google will generate a list of hundreds of UK mortgage providers to choose from. Many will have online mortgage calculators, to give you an idea of your repayments.

Alternatively you can use financial comparison sites, such as MoneySupermarket.com to do the work for you. Simply enter your requirements and let the comparison site search hundreds of providers to provide you with the best deals.

Don’t always depend on the rate

Don’t always assume that a low interest rate makes a cheap mortgage. Providers often use low rate deals to attract new customers, however you may end up paying more money in the long-term.

Check the small print of the mortgage and find out if you will be penalised financially for opting out of the deal early or if there are any hidden costs.

Don Suter is Managing Editor of the UK Property Portal (http://www.ukpropertyportal.co.uk), an online directory. Mortgage Rates Credit Cards Refinance Home

Understanding Unsecured Debt: The Pros And Cons

February 2nd, 2010

What do you do when you fall in the need of money and you have no property to offer as collateral to the lender? You take an unsecured loan to fulfill your financial requirements. But are you well aware of the pros and cons of availing an unsecured loan? You must have a clear understanding of what these unsecured loans are and how can you extract maximum benefit out of them.

An unsecured loan is that kind of a loan that is provided to the borrower only on the basis of a written promise of repayment. There is no need of keeping collateral before the lender as security to the loan. So, the lender is at maximum risk in case of unsecured loans while the borrower takes least risk. This is why the lender charges a high interest from the borrower. The term fixed for the repayment is short and the monthly installments are bigger.

But, an unsecured loan is very beneficial for tenants and other people who do not have any property to be kept as collateral. It also saves much of your time as you are free from the hassles of valuation of property and annoying documentation work. Most importantly there is no risk of repossession of your property as there is no property involved in the deal.

While procuring an unsecured loan you should be aware that most of the lenders offer similar interest rates and fees but there are some lenders who offer special payment discounts that can reduce the cost of the loan. These repayment incentives or borrower’s benefits can include reduction in the interest rate of the loan, fee rebates and principal balance reductions.

There are a number of lenders offering various packages on unsecured loans. But to know the current market trends, understand how such loans are faring and how many are being converted into secured loans, borrowers need to understand the market well. For this, they need to research online and visit various sites. Once you find a suitable lender and a suitable unsecured loan package, you just need to fill up an online loan application form and your loan will be sanctioned within a very short period of time.

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A Win Win for Business Success

December 5th, 2009

Victory does not come easy or is inheritated to you on a “silver-dish”. Achievement requires motivation, determination, goals and grueling labor. What does achievement stand for? Success is Achievement. Triumph is placing a plan into action with a definitive time outline and getting that success. It may take numerous tries to get these goals but never throw your hands up. Dig up off the floor, sift yourself off, and carry on moving to the fore. Persistence and intense drive will let you to be successful each while

We could analyze or outline victory in many ways, depending on who we solicit. A dairy farmer’s explanation of accomplishment will be to a great extent dissimilar than a beginner signing up for the military. No matter how one defines accomplishment, they are attainable if we craft a unique business table and group precise measures to make these achievements.

Make clear in your mind your goals are explicit, reckonable, within reach, significant and have a time approach. Saying you are open to be prosperous in two years probably isn’t viable or attainable and not detailed. If money is “victory” to you then a target such as “I’m going to step up my revenue by $10,000 all three years is more genuine. Brief period goals can not call for as in depth specifics as extended term measures might require. Lengthy term goals are more doable if you converge on placing “steps” along the route. We might be able to then gauge accomplishment in “steps”, which will keep us paying attention and motivated as we attain each movement. Each stride could be considered a gratifying victory or realization.

Are you comfortable with your existence and standard of living? Would you consider this as triumphs? Are material belongings worthy to you? Would this be how you determine triumphs? There is no correct or inaccurate remedy to these questions. How you label achievement is not more or less vital than how another person identifies achievement. What is imperative is creating measures and reaching these measures defined by the S.M.A.R.T principle. (Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Relevant and Time frame).

Victory is just an exciting situation or what is noteworthy to you. Achievement may be a feeling of execution or merely keeping a definite view on your visions. A positive attitude only can be so worthwhile. Ever detect folks with “depressing” mind-sets tend to be inflicted with more troubles in life?

The dictionary equates “success” as a “positive extinction of attempts or happenings”. This practically sounds vague however reach backward and translate this explanation two or three additional times. It could not be more accurate. Triumphs is not a dimension or estimate of “importance” but instead a favorable attainment no matter how many times it takes us to step to that triumph. This is why goal planning is extremely notable. We cannot attain anything if we don’t plan or place a goal as to what we are trying to attain.

With the present real estate market and unemployment we need be optimistic and keep plugging forward. If you have been in a sure field for years and observe yourself unemployed do not get dispirited. Center on the wisdom and experience you bear and “leap” those hurdles. You will be astounded what you can pull off by creating brand new goals, setting a plan and facing “straight on” everything that gets in your track. We might have had to put up for sale our house, trade in that automobile but with a confident approach we will be a success. Reach for that success, one measure at a time.

Wake up every day with a plan. Work tough at achieving this idea and accomplishment will happen next. Do what you can to the best of your talent and you’ll again envision those dreams at the end of the tunnel.

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categories: real estate,homes,finance,mortgage,self help,marketing,entrepreneur,money,education,foreclosure,loans,blog,leasing

The Keys to Prospecting Success

November 28th, 2009

You know how hard it is to start that daily commitment to exercise. Well, proactive prospecting seems to be as difficult. We know it is something we must do to gain positive results yet most sales people will try to avoid prospecting like the plague.

The key word is commitment. Commit to setting an appointment with yourself for one or two hours each day. Start with utilizing your resources such as your sphere of influence. It is easy to say to ourselves, “Well, I have a lot to do today so I’ll start prospecting tomorrow or next week”. Prospecting not only requires commitment but discipline as well. You are important so make that daily appointment with yourself just as you would will any potentially important customer or client.

Have a specific message. Everyone needs to hear the latest news of markets conditions in your area. It’s likely that they have some misinformation and you can become the expert to help them get a more accurate picture.

Accurately define your target market before you begin. Determine how many calls you will make in that hour or two. Some sale people will call until they get an appointment or make the sale. Or you could decide to make 20 calls in that allotted time. Whatever you feel comfortable with and reasonable within the time allocated.

Be prepared with a list of names from your personal Sphere of Influence before you call. Not being prepared with a list of names will force you to devote much, if not all of your prospecting hour, to finding the names you need. Have at least a one month supply of names on hand at all times.

Work without interruption. Do not take calls or schedule meetings during your scheduled prospecting time. Take full advantage of the prospecting learning curveas with any repetitive task, the more often you repeat it during a contiguous block of time, the better you become. Prospecting is no exception to the rule. Your second call will be better than your first, your third better than the second, and so on.

Consider prospecting during off peak hours when conventional prospecting times don’t work. Some of your best work will be done between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM, between 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM, and between 5:00 PM and 6:30 PM. Vary your call times. We are all creatures of habit. So are your prospects. In all likelihood, they are attending the same meeting each Monday at 10:00 AM (or whatever time you can’t seem to connect with them). If you cannot get through at this time, call this particular person in your sphere of influence at other times during the day or on other days.

Did you know that most success is made after the fifth call? Most sales people give up after the first call. Persistence is your best virtue.

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categories: real estate,homes,finance,mortgage,self help,marketing,entrepreneur,money,education,foreclosure,loans,blog,leasing

Best Recruiting Practices for All Types of Businesses

November 28th, 2009

Recruiting is least successful when you’re forced to find someone quickly due to an unexpected resignation. Recruiting should always play a part in your daily routine. Out of desperation, many employers often end up filling a critical vacancy with an available candidate who lacks one or more of the essential skills required by to be a good employee.

The best recruiting programs are those in which recruiting is an ongoing activity, instead of a knee-jerk response to an immediate need. Even if you’re not currently expanding your sales team, normal turnover or performance issues almost certainly means that you’ll need to hire every month.

Take advantage of all recruiting tools and resources. Placing a Help Wanted ad occasionally in the paper used to suffice. In the current marketplace there are so many other recruiting options. Be versatile and creative with your recruiting approach. This will by far target many more prospective candidates that will be a positive addition to your work force.

In the real estate industry even Open Houses are a good tool for finding qualified real estate agents. There are vast resources on the Internet and many website advertisements are available for minimal or no fee. Job Fairs are another good resource to find good recruits. Take advantage of all these resources and be creative so you stand out in the competition.

If you think that the burden of creating a favorable impression rests completely with the candidate, think again. With lots of companies competing for the best people, your interview process must be efficient, responsive and, most important, respectful of each candidate’s time and interest. That means being organized, keeping to your interview schedule, and getting back to prospective agents when you say you will. After all, if you can’t make an effort to make a favorable impression during the interview process, what kind of an effort will you make when the person is on board?

If you find an excellent candidate, and they turn down your offer, do not get discouraged. Another job they might be considering could turn out not to be as positive as they thought. Staying in touch with the recruit will flatter them and increase the chances of you winning them back at a later time.

Another reason for being proactive in recruiting is even more important in the sales industry. Sales people are also hard to find and overstaffing might not be out of the question. This would be especially true in the real estate market. This will not only expand your team but give you an opportunity to replace a mediocre performer. Having trained real estate agents or sales professionals in reserve who understand the business could be vital to your company’s growth.

Management’s duty is to delegate responsibility. Recruiting is one area that might be better off left in the hands of management. Inexperienced recruiting tactics could be detrimental to your organization, not to mention the cost and ramifications that could be caused by hiring the wrong individual. The initial interview is of the utmost importance as is the final determination.

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Productivity Is a Measurement of Time

November 23rd, 2009

We are each provided with 24 hours in a day. How we invest this time is totally up to us. The coined phrase “working smarter” not “harder is meant for us to focus on our time better, not to become lazier. Our strategies, whether personal or business minded, to utilize our time management are varied, but we can all agree that making better use of our time, will improve our performance.

Most of us will admit we are guilty of Procrastination. We all think if we postpone something what will it hurt if we achieve or complete it later. We use this excuse in our personal daily lives so there is no question it will be carried over into our business world. Stray away from this thought process as it could have a devastating impact on our road to success.

LACK OF SELF-DISCIPLINE. We are blessed or cursed, depending on your viewpoint, with a non-negotiable need for discipline in our jobs. We might be Independent Contractors, have a Home Based business or work for a Corporation at home. Since we probably don’t punch a time clock, and are somewhat out of sight most of the time, we are responsible first to ourselves to provide the proper mindset of success and the energy necessary to accomplish our goals.

We tend to get so caught up with our customers and clients and want to provide them with the best service possible. This will at time give us the inability to say “NO”. We can accomplish this tactfully without disrespect to our customers or clients. We are terrified we might lose our customer or their business. We have to be confident in ourselves and this will project through to the client. There will be time we have to say “NO” when a customer is possibly asking for major concessions, a price reduction or additional services.

We most likely communicate with all different types of clientele. Evaluate the current business model you are using and determine if improvements can be made to become more organized. Improved organizational skills will save you critical production time and increase your net worth.

ATTEMPTING TOO MUCH. Because of the nature and definition of our business combined with the belief that nearly everyone is a potential customer, it is easy to become overwhelmed by trying to do too much! Creating your daily and weekly game plan in writing will help you maintain control of your time and keep you aiming for the target.

Our path to success is followed by clear and precise goals. We have defined objectives that are determined by written goals. These defined objectives are crucial to our business growth and development. This provides us with a specific plan of action and is of no value otherwise. Reviewing your objectives daily is of the utmost importance. Reaching our objectives will be interrupted with obstacles along the way. Stay focused, leap over these hurdles and watch your productivity soar.

Time truly is our most precious commodity. What we choose to do with it is an individual choice and decision. We function daily in a world of reward for performance. Managing our time effectively by eliminating the time wasters can mean the difference between mediocrity and magnificence!

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Could HOA’s Change Your Investment Strategies?

November 22nd, 2009

The immediate or future intent of investors, vacation home residents and even full-time residents might be the option to lease their homes if the need arises. Do you think it’s possible to be restricted from renting your home either seasonally or yearly? You own the property so why shouldn’t you be able to fully control how the home is occupied. Well, beware because renting your home may be forbidden.

In Arizona for example, most communities built after’90 are in master planned communities and have Homeowners Associations in place. Also called HOA’s, these associations have rules and restrictions known as Covenants, Conditions … Restrictions (CC…R’s). These rules are specific as to how the homeowner may alter or use the land and the property.

These CC…R’s are provided to you prior to purchasing the home and should be read carefully. Usually anything that can be seen from outside can be controlled by the HOA. A bench in the front entry or even window coverings is two good examples. The HOA rules can regulate what plants and trees are allowed in your yard, the paint color of your home and even if you are allowed to lease your home. Some buyers request specifically from their real estate agent, to see only homes in non-HOA communities but these types of developments are far and few between.

Some CC…R’s restrict owners from renting their homes. Some rules state that the property cannot be vacant for any length of time. Most homeowners are aware of the restrictions. During the real estate boom in 2004-2005 many new home builders would not allow someone to buy a home unless it was their primary residence. Even though many homeowners were aware of their responsibilities, the housing crashed left the homeowners no other choice but to break some of these rules. Of course, it was unintentional.

People’s perception of rental properties usually relates to higher crime rates, declining property values and un-kept homes. Although this is the assessment by many, it is not true in most cases. In the current housing crisis the foreclosures and bank-owned properties are portraying a worse image.

Is renting our homes today an option? This is a good question. Many HOA’s are trying to amend their CC…R’s to prevent rentals in the community. Where does that leave us? Do we have any leverage or authority in the HOA’s? Can they make these changes without our approval?

Most states have laws clearly stating that if you reside in a Homeowners Association that has CC…R’s, there is a contract between the property owner and the Homeowners Association. When you execute your purchase, the imposed restrictions are binding. Hence, you must follow the rules.

Although somewhat difficult these amendments to the CC…R’s are realistic and can be done. Take these factors and considerations to heart when purchasing a home. Your investment strategy decisions could weigh differently in the short and long term.

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categories: real estate,homes,finance,mortgage,self help,marketing,entrepreneur,money,education,foreclosure,loans,blog,leasing

You Are How You Think

November 19th, 2009

What is the difference between motivation and discipline? Can you have one without the other? Which one comes first?

Motivation is a driving force within your conscious and subconscious mind allowing a person to attain a pre determined vision. The success of obtaining goals relies heavily on the motivation or inspiration behind them. If the conclusion of your thoughts is sincere and heartfelt, motivations gives a person the extra kick they need to stay on track.

Motivation comes from within us. It is developed based on our personal experiences, education and surroundings. Discipline comes by way of actions of practice preparation and self control, just to name a few.

We all have areas of our lives we would like to improve. Whether it’s a new job, more time with our families or furthering our education, what we think will enrich our lives, usually will. As long as the thought is personal and not derived from trying to please someone else, this becomes the first step in using motivation to help us.

When determining what inspires you, you must spend a bit of time figuring out what you want and why. A clear visual picture of the end result is critical in staying focused and moving forward. This first step is the foundation for your motivation.

After determining our motivation, we can then begin implementing discipline or a strategy to incorporate our motivation into reality. Remember, discipline is what will improve a skill or begin a new one. Discipline involves focus on your motivation and a plan to carry out your goal.

Every morning and every evening find a quiet place where you can spend a few minutes reviewing your motivational guide as well as yours beliefs and feelings about what you are trying to achieve. This is where the motivation comes to life. Reminding yourself several times a day exactly what your plan is and the reason for your plan will allow you to remain focused.

Motivation is a powerful and proven asset. It allows us to reward ourselves as we reach milestones within our lives. It permits us to center our attention on what we have set out to achieve. From these consistent thoughts and actions, we reach our desires and dreams.

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The Power of Having a Follow Up System

November 19th, 2009

To some salespeople, follow-up means a call or two after the sale has been closed. It may come as a shock, but most don’t even do that much! Consider this: if salespeople stop at one post sale follow-up call, they are throwing away future business. Successful sales professionals and experts consistently tell us that not keeping in touch with your clients after the sale can have serious negative consequences.

The Eighty-Twenty Rule in sales usually signified 20% of the sales people did 80% of the business. This could also represent 80% of your business comes from 20% of your client resources. In other words, following up with your clients could generate 80% of your sales. This is true for repeat clients or referrals from these particular clients.

Let’s look at the real estate industry for a minute. Over 80% of real estate agents clients do not remember the name of the agent that represented them in a buying or selling transaction. By being proactive in periodic follow up would more than cut that percentage in half. Clients usually won’t bother you with minor problems, but them knowing you are there for them if they need you is powerful. Continually putting your name in front of them has very positive results and will show in your sales figures.

In any sales venue, whether you are selling real estate, furniture or software, you need to ALWAYS reach out and follow-up with your clients AFTER the sale. I cannot even begin to count how many time someone has sold me something and I never heard from them again. If the sales people would have touched base with me, I’m sure I would have asked for their services again the next time I purchased something.

With computers, technology and the Internet, we have vast resources at our disposal for following up with our clients. Use these tools to your advantage to touch base with your sphere of influence. Postal or electronic emails for Christmas cards, thank you cards, birthday cards or a “Just wanted to say hi” cards are a few of several choices you have.

With today’s innovative ideas we can easily try to escape the phone call approach. This is probably more powerful than any other follow up technique and should not be forgotten. If it is available to you, then I would highly recommend incorporating this method in your follow up procedures. A few minutes of conversation will reconnect the rapport with your client.

Sales people seem to not realize how powerful follow up can be. Repeat business is what we all strive for and you will get positive results by including follow up in your daily or weekly agenda.

Add this “follow up with my sphere of influence” to your daily or weekly calendar. By doing so, you will see your sales increase significantly if not skyrocket to the top.

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categories: real estate,homes,finance,mortgage,self help,marketing,entrepreneur,money,education,foreclosure,loans,blog,leasing