It’s no secret that property and real estate can be a wise investment, and many are putting their money into residential buildings to build up extra income. Those who are savvy and make all the right moves when it comes to buying, renovating, and selling property, are able to quit their day jobs and go into real estate full time. However, it takes guts, smart decisions, and the help of those in the know to get to that stage.

If you’re considering your first property investment, outside of your family home; you’ll need to be prepared to do your research, and ensure that you are familiar with what’s happening in the market today. Perhaps, you've already started out n your real estate journey and need a push to get you to the next level and build up your portfolio of work. Whether you want to buy to sell, or you’re ready to be a landlord; you’ll need to make wise choices and ensure that you’re always following your head and not your heart.

Remember that these investments are nothing to do with your style and taste, but they are a way to raise extra income and can turn into the nest egg you’ll need in the future. Therefore, you need to understand when to employ the help of experts, where to outsource certain jobs, and how to save as much time and money as possible without cutting corners. The following are some things to consider if you’re ready to make your next move in real estate, for the best return on your cash as possible.

Know Your Building

If you’re restoring or renovating period properties into houses or apartments; it’s crucial that you’re sympathetic to the design and era of the building. Buyers are often looking for original period features and will appreciate a high-spec finish in each room. Therefore, it’s worth seeking the help and services from companies like Rupert Cordle who specialise in the restoration and building of such properties, and have a proven track record of excellence. If you’re willing to invest in sought after areas and want to attract the right buyers; there’ are no cutting corners on the minor details, so seek the help you need. The same goes for a more modern, or new build; you need to research into what your audience and potential buyers are seeking from their new home. It might be open plan living for a young couple, or multiple bathrooms for families; whatever it is your target market is buying into, make it a priority in your property.

Never Forget Location

You might have renovated a house to an excellent standard, and it would be ideal for family life. However, if there are no schools nearby, or amenities or transport; you’re not going to attract any buyers or renters. Therefore, keep the location of your chosen property at the forefront of your decisions, and reconsider your budget, the size of the building, or the amount of work that needs doing to it, to invest wisely. Success in real estate all depends on your smart and timely decisions, so keep thinking about who you’re aiming for and what the market wants.

The risks associated with starting a business are monumental, but if things go your way, you can end up becoming another success story and inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs. One of the main reasons most businesses fail is that they are unable to manage their finances effectively, leading to poor ROI. In order to ensure success, you need to make well-grounded financial decisions, such as choosing to franchise if this is the best decision for you (like choosing to start one of the best senior home care franchise companies), and take calculated risks when investing in different aspects of your business. Take a look at a few accounting mistakes you should avoid while starting your first business.

1.Mixing Up Your Personal and Business Accounts

It’s common for people to advise that you should keep your personal and professional life separate while working for an organization. The same applies to your personal and business accounts while running your startup. If you keep them separate, you’ll be able to evaluate how much your business is actually making. You have to keep track of your financial records to find out how much you have exactly invested, and the ROI your business is generating. If you don’t, you’ll soon realize your personal funds have mixed up and disappeared without any recorded transaction. If you are too busy to keep track of your finances, hire a professional bookkeeper or accountant to help manage the accounting side of your business.

2.Falling in a Debt Trap

If you don’t have enough money to start a business, you can turn to a local bank for a business loan. Even though it will help you bridge the financial gap, you’ll have a large debt on your plate to deal with and that can potentially create a lot of problems for your business. If you fail to pay back the loan, it will affect your reputation in the market, and clients and partners may not want to work with you. In the worst scenario, it may lead you to file bankruptcy. It’s better to be patient and gather enough savings before starting a business, so that you don’t have to take loans putting extra pressure on your shoulders.  

3.Not Saving Up for Emergencies

It’s always advised to keep backup cash for emergencies. A business journey is full of surprises – you never know what’s coming for you. With a constantly fluctuating economy, you can’t expect to make enough sales all year round to generate sufficient revenue to cover your expenses. It is likely that you may need extra money to pay the bills and keep your business afloat. It is advisable to take a portion of your profits and transfer it into retained earnings. That way, you will always have extra cash to settle your expenses during hard times without having to borrow money from others.  

4.Setting Nearly Impossible Goals

Most people set unrealistic goals like becoming a multi-millionaire within a few months. Setting objectives is a good tactic to stay focused and measure success, but they shouldn’t be nearly impossible to accomplish. Start your business by setting SMART goals, like 15% rise in profit in the second year, 500 customers within six months, or purchase a new truck for your business within a year. Set milestones that can be achieved. 

5.Not Chasing Payments

Never stop chasing your payments, or you’ll run out of cash to fuel your business operations. Many businesses have crashed due to lack of cash in hand, even though they showed reasonable profits on the books. Cash flow is one of the key factors to survive in the market. Don’t go easy on your debtors –contact them from time to time and prompt them about the deadline to pay off the credit balance.

6.Making Large Purchases

While starting a new business, you may be tempted to invest in the latest technology and design your office in the best possible manner. However, did you calculate the opportunity cost of purchasing all the new equipment? You could save a lot of money if opt for used equipment instead. Remember, a successful entrepreneur utilizes their funds and available resources to squeeze out the maximum benefits, instead of wasting on unnecessary things.

Starting your own business is filled with high risks, and no one can guarantee you success. However, the above-mentioned tips can help you avoid some of the more common mistakes that could cost you a fortune if not taken into consideration. 

About the writer: Steven McMeechan is a strategic marketing and communications specialist with over twenty years’ experience in senior marketing management roles across a range of industries including Information Technology and Financial Services. He works for Capstone Financial Planning and lives in Melbourne Australia.

One thing can lead to another, and before you know it your company is in need of a big financial clean up. Financial problems are the main downfall of any business that falls. Take Carillion as an example. Millions of pounds worth of debt being left pretty much unhandled, this eventually led to the downfall of a multi-million pound company going into administration, thousands of jobs lost, and a good company that will most likely never surface again. So, if such a big company like this can fall to the ground, how easy is it going to be for a smaller company like yours to do the exact same? The answer is very easy if you’re not keeping your finances in order. So, we’ve got some financial clean up ideas that your business might be begging for you to do. Have a read on to find out more.

Shareholders

You’ll most likely have one or two shareholders in the beginning. Someone who has invested money into your company, with the hope of having a decent enough share from it to make their money back. As your company grows and grows, you’ll have more shareholders purchasing shares of your company. It’ll likely be other business owners, or the general public that might just be interested in using their money wisely on some shareholder investments. But, the one thing some companies forget to do is re sell the shares in their company once one shareholder moves on. They’re likely to move on if they want to invest their money elsewhere, or they may have passed away etc. Removing a shareholder from your company isn’t hard to do, but it’s something that is essential if you want to keep the running of your company nice and smooth. Shareholders are a type of investment into your business. They’re a little bit of extra cash that you can have to keep your ship afloat. Having that one small gap when one shareholder moves on can be all you need for your business to start wobbling a little. Advertise and find a new shareholder pretty much as soon as the other one leaves.

Investments

Once you’ve got to the point where you’re bringing in enough money to pay your employees, sell your products or services, and have enough to give yourself a generous monthly salary, you should start thinking about investment ideas. All businesses invest when they get to the point where they feel they can, and for good reason. Investments is one of the easiest ways to bring in an extra income for your business. This extra income is often enough to keep your business stable, or the return could be high enough for you to invest back into your own business to improve it for the better. There’s so many different investment ideas that you can choose from, one of the main that businesses seem to chose is other businesses or industries. For example, the oil and gas industry is one that a lot of businesses have invested a lot of money into. However, investing in a small business might be a better option as you can suggest the return you’d like to have from the investment. With bigger companies in industries such as oil and gas, the price is usually controlled by them.

Taxes

Taxes are something that a lot of businesses fail to manage. If you do it wrong, you can have massive fines and implications for the business. One tax that so many companies get wrong is business tax. It’s one big bill at the end of the year that can often hit a lot of small businesses in the face like a brick wall. The more your company makes, the more tax you’re going to have to pay. So, the best way to do this is to save all year round for it. Don’t just wait until the last minute, and always have an accountant on hand to help you through the process. An accountant can ensure that you know which payroll taxes you must pay, will know what is futa, and what you have to do to be compliant. There are so many different rules to follow, if you get them wrong it can put your business in a sticky situation.

Debts

Debts are something that nearly all businesses have. When you first start off your company you’ll need a business loan no doubt to start your company. There’s nothing wrong with taking one out, but making sure you clear it down should be your number one priority. There will be minimum payments, and there will be interest charges if you miss those payments. The sooner you get it gone, the sooner you can use the money to invest back into your company.

Owning a home presents its own set of challenges. Many people on the outside might think that all you have to do is pay the mortgage in order to avoid any problems. After all, it is your own home, so you do not have to deal with the rules of a landlord or another party. 

With this freedom comes a great deal of responsibility. When one lives in an apartment, he or she can rely on the landlord for a variety of things. If there is an electrical problem or some sort of a pest infestation, it will be on the landlord to take care of it. However, when it is your own home, you are the one who has to take care of the problem or else it will just persist indefinitely.

It is important that you are able to pay for repairs. If it’s something major, such as broken plumbing or a leaky roof during storm season, fill out a payroll advance application for a loan to cover the cost if no other option exists. This enables you to take care of the repair as soon as possible rather than putting off the problem. If you let home improvement projects sit and do not take care of them, the issues will likely just get worse over time. In some cases, letting the problem go could actually cause severe damage to your home that may not even be repairable.

For example, if you have a minor mold problem, it is a good idea to take care of it right away so that the mold does not spread. When a mold problem is minor, it may take a few thousand dollars to fix, which may seem like too much for some people. However, when they let it go, the mold can spread all throughout the house. At this point, the amount of money required to remediate the mold could be absolutely exorbitant and more than you can afford. 

Paying for home repairs is something that should be done in the early stages of any problem so that the problem does not become worse and eventually get out of control. In terms of the home itself, you should be focused on protecting your investment, as this is more important than the attempts to save money in the short term by not addressing home repairs right away.

Your home is likely your most valuable asset, which is why you should make protecting your investment a high priority. It is important that you are able to pay for repairs as soon as you see that they need to be made. Keep investment property routinely inspected to proactively address problems before they get worse. If you do not have funds stashed away for this purpose and cannot immediately afford to make the repairs, then what you should do is save up money as quickly as possible and then pay for the repairs as soon as you are able to do so. Or, as mentioned earlier, take out a loan to cover the repair.

You do not want to put it off and then end up having to pay much more money when you finally end up making the repair. Also, by then, the problem could have gotten so out of control that you may not be able to fix the damages properly and end up having to resign yourself to the fact that your home is permanently damaged; this can happen if the foundation of the home is destroyed by the problem when it could have been fixed at an early stage, for example. It is important to have your priorities in order when owning a home.

The stock market is a confusing place for many people, which is why a lot of us who have ever thought about investing have stopped in our tracks after seeing the complicated nature of this business first hand.

In the stock market you are able to buy small shares of companies from all over the world. For example if you see something like vht healthcare etf, you will be able to click and see the value of buying a stock in real time. You have to time when you buy a stock because the value will fluctuate throughout the year or if the circumstances of a business change. Here is all you need to know about investing in the stock market.

Buy Low, Sell High

the first and most important rule of the stock market is to buy the stock when the value is low, and sell when the value is high to make a profit for yourself. Sounds simple,right? The key to buying at the right time is to keep an eye on the trends of the company and also look in the news for anything which might affect the value in the future. For example, the stock value of Nintendo shot up to record heights on the first week the game Pokemon go was released. If you could have bought the stock prior to it being released you could sell during this time and make a great profit. It also works the other way around too. If you had a stock in a company like united airlines, you will know that once the scandal went viral, your stock value is going to decrease. The key is to sell quickly before you make a massive loss. 

Nothing Is Set In Stone

Remember that you can’t simply judge a company by its cover and assume that someone like Disney will always be a safe bet to invest in, because you never know what is about to happen with a company. And something catastrophic could occur which completely destroys the company. Make sure you always stay aware of trends and also don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Divide your money between a few different investments to lessen the blow if one of them goes down. 

Think Long Term

Investing in the long term can be a brilliant way to make some extra money for the family and can even provide you with a good enough stand alone wage to keep you afloat. Before you go and put all of the money you have on a company like Apple the week before they release a new phone: remember that you want to be in this for the long haul. Sure, put some of the money here, but also spread your money in other places and wait them out for changes. You will soon get the hang of seeing the signs when it is the right time to sell up and move on to the next one, must trust your instincts.

For all employed individuals, short term lending can be one of the best borrowing options, especially for those who require borrowing a small amount of money in order to ward off some instant financial emergency. Those who have poor credit history often use quick loans as the process of application is not only simple but also quick and it happens within few minutes. In case your bank is open to accepting faster payments, the money will become available within few hours. However, quick loans won’t be a good solution in case you’re already drowning in a sea of debt. Don’t make the mistake of using quick loan proceeds to pay off other loans. In cases of debt issues, it is better to seek help of a financial expert.

Quick loans assist you during emergency

In case you’re wondering about quick loans and you wish to ask ‘how do they work?’ here’s help for you. For any unforeseen emergency like a sudden breakdown of your car or your washing machine, when you need immediate cash but you’re not able to fund your repair, you can turn to quick loans. Whenever you’re paid during the end of the month, you’re supposed to repay your quick loan on time to avoid any debt issues. Here’s how a quick loan can benefit you. 

Application process is easy and fast

One of the many benefits of quick loans is its speedy application process. Both online and offline, you will find quick loans available and it is also possible to apply with several lenders through a loan partnering service. The basic criteria for receiving this loan is that you need to be living in the country, you should be earning a minimum amount of $500 in a month, you should have a working debit account and you should own an email address and a mobile phone which are being used currently. Once the loan is accepted, the lender will give you additional checks before he releases the funds. Read the loan terms and agree to the terms and conditions of the loan.

Payment reaches within hours and loan is approved in minutes

If you are able to meet all sorts of criteria and in case everything runs smoothly and you pass the affordability checks, the approval will take few minutes. Once you provide the details of the bank account where you would want to receive the funds, you will immediate receive the proceeds of the loan within an hour.

You’ll get the loan despite having poor credit

Even though you may have a poor credit score and a tarnished credit history, you will still be able to obtain a quick loan. They are nothing but short term loans which are tailored to meet the needs of people with poor credit. The interest rate that you pay might change or become high but the charges will all be capped as per federal norms. 

Hence, if you’re going through some kind of emergency and you’re desperately looking for funds, you can take resort to the quick loans and reap the above listed benefits.

If you’re thinking about investing in property, you’ll want to make sure you do your homework as there are many common mistakes to be made as a property investor.  That said, you don’t need to be a plumber, builder, surveyor or architect to determine whether a property is solid; you just need to put in the effort, the time, and know what to look out for.

This checklist offers some food for thought when looking into residential property investment; but the key point is to narrow down your options and then dig deep into a few shortlisted properties where you do as much research into the neighbourhood, and the property itself, as possible in order to avoid unexpected headaches down the road.

1. DRAINS & SEWERS

Clogged drains are one of the most common issues plumbers are called out to resolve, as they are simply caused by built up oils, material like toilet paper, loose hair and so on.  Whilst common, and seemingly simple, clogged drains can lead to serious leaks.  To test a drain, turn on the water and let it flow for a few minutes.  It should drain instantly and consistently.  You should then look under the sink for signs of water damage, mould, and visible leaks.

You may wish to invest in a sewer inspection whereby specialist plumbers will come with a sewer camera to inspect the main sewer line.  The reason for this is that if the line is partially blocked it will not resolve itself - remedial action will be required and if the Line were to collapse due to deterioration this would require a major repair or replacement at significant cost.

Drains clog for a reason and they do not fix themselves; this camera inspection is highly recommended, as if you know the condition of the sewer line prior to purchase you have the certainty of knowing all is well or the insight to negotiate a more informed price.  In short, a quick camera inspection of the sewer line could make you aware of a hidden and potentially costly issue prior to purchase that would otherwise go unnoticed.

2. WATER HEATERS

The water heater that will heat your home and provide hot water should last around ten years.  Consider the location of the tank, in that if it were to leak would it ruin your carpet or wooden floor?  Could it cause drywall damage?  If it is in a location where damage is likely to occur should there be a leak you'll need to consider what preventative measures you can take.

The majority of water heaters are placed in areas that are out of sight.  However, less thought can be given to what damage they could cause if they were to leak.  Unfortunately, leaks are only noticed because of visual evidence of water damage (such as water coming through the ceiling).

A professional plumber should be able to determine the age and whether it's safely working. You also need to consider the size of the water heater and ensure it's suitable for your needs.  The investment required to obtain an efficient water heater is significant; so if the boiler does need to be replaced you may want to work this into your negotiations.

3. TOILETS

You will want to check around the base of each toilet, as whilst the leak often appears insignificant, overtime the water will have started to damage the floor.  Perhaps, the seller has used sealant, being unaware of the gravity of this problem and making matters worse.  You'll therefore want to check for additional sealant and water around the base of the toilet.  Look for warping and discolouration.  Check to see if the floor feels squidgy or soft around the base.  It movement is apparent (i.e. if it rocks from side to side) then there's a strong change water damage has occurred.

If a toilet is constantly running it could mean the chain or flapper needs to be replaced whilst some could say it's a sign of a ghost being in the property.  One thing is for sure, which is that a toilet not draining properly will lead to leaks.  A leaking toilet will eventually rot through the floor - meaning, you have the potential to literally fall down the toilet.

4. DAMP

You can normally smell damp as soon as you enter a property, but this tends to be when things have advanced significantly - meaning just because the property doesn’t smell damp or musty, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t suffering from damp.  

You’ll want to scrutinise the ceilings, windows and walls - looking for any damp staining or discolouration, particularly on the ceiling, which could indicate previous leaks.  Are there any signs of damp or mould on the walls (including inside covered areas such as walk-in wardrobes).  Are the timber frames showing any signs of rot?

If so, this is a sign that the gutters attached to the property might need to be replaced or cleaned. Accordingly, you can learn more about the importance of functioning gutters by researching Gutter Cleaning Detroit or by searching for similar gutter cleaning professionals in your local area.

5. LIFE ESSENTIALS

Consider things such as whether your phone works in the property.  This one is often overlooked to the lament of new homeowners everywhere.  Do you have full reception or do you need to go in the garden and stand on one leg in order to be able to make a phone call?  How about the speed of the internet?  These little life essentials are becoming increasingly important in today’s world - and shouldn’t be overlooked.  

How is the garden?  Is it suitable for hosting outdoor parties and having friends over, or is it small and unsightly?  Again, these little things are important particularly when you consider the fact you’re turning your purchasing a home rather than just a house.

6. THE VIEW

A beautiful view is a nice to have, but more essentially, you want to be checking for strange structures or signs of heavy construction within the area - for what could be a nice view today, could in a few years, end up very different.  

7. THE SOUND

How does the property sound?  Can you hear the neighbours arguing?  Is there a busy road that will keep you awake at night… or a cockerel that’s sure to wake you up at the crack of dawn each morning?

8.  STAY NEARBY

Spend a night or two at a nearby hotel or an AirBnB in order to get a feel for the area; go to the local gym, peruse the shops, eat at the local takeaway - what’s the attitude and atmosphere of the location.  How does it get after dark?  How busy and congested are the roads in rush hour?

Do you consider yourself an expert in the real estate department? Probably not, without a degree associated with developing property. That means when you’re building your own home, there’s a lot you’re going to have to cope with. It’s a learning curve for most people; you’re not always going to have the money available to build an entire house after all! Many people save a lot of their lives to build their dream homes. And yet, that doesn’t mean you should get conned out of anything you bought and paid for, and it shouldn’t just be the experts such as berkshomes.com who know what mistakes not to make. With that in mind, here’s some of the most important things you shouldn’t forget to do if you’re building a house.

Factor Everything with a Cost

If you’re building a house, you’re not only going to have to pay for the structure to be built alone. If you want more than a very basic model, you’re going to have to fork out extra to upgrade your facilities, and that’s going to come with a hefty price tag. So before you pay for any work to be done, make sure you factor in everything you want to install in your new house with a price. 

Don’t be taken in on appearances alone. Always ask if something is considered an upgrade and will come at an extra price. Common areas to find these matters is in the kitchen and bathroom, where most of a builder’s money can be made. A lot of upgrades are things you don’t actually need, and you can always install later when you’ve built your savings backup. 

Find a Contractor with Good Reviews

Reviews are everything in the business world, and it’s no different when it comes to hiring someone you’re trusting to build a house with a stable structure and foundation. Do background checks such as checking their surety bond information (learn more about surety bond new jersey bonds here) and get references from the people they’ve worked for; a review they hand over themselves might not be quite so truthful. Similarly, don’t get led into a trap because of the allure of a lower price!

Going on from the above point, research what the base of your house and any upgrades will cost, and see if the prices match. Contractors don’t tend to immediately point these out after all. You can also put some steps in place to make sure the contractor completes the work you’re having done completely. Surety Bonds are there for your protection, and the reputation of the builder you’ve hired, so make sure you’ve signed an agreement over this for the protection of your money and the home you’re looking to live in one day. 

Do Some Work Yourself

This is just a quick point. When it comes to the finishing touches on your house, you can usually polish them off yourself. Something like painting the walls is easy enough, and if your profits are running thin it’d be a good idea to finish up with the contractors. 

Building your own home is not undertaken lightly, so always make sure you know what actually needs doing.

If there is one thing that most people would like to do more of it is travelling. But some dismiss the idea completely, believing that it is totally unaffordable for them. Don’t despair; there are plenty of ways to fulfil your travel ambitions without breaking the bank. In this blog post, we will be running through just a few of the key aspects involved in travelling including accommodation, transportation and entertainment. So, let’s get you out into the big, wide world!

Sort Out Your Transportation in Advance

Whenever you are booking flights, whether that's a commercial flight or you have the budget to splash out on private jet rental, make sure to use a comparison search site that throws up the best deals. And, if possible, you should avoid booking at the peak times of the year and instead opt for the off-season. Also, choosing flights on a weekday rather than a weekend can save you a bundle. Rather than booking your bus or train tickets at the station, check out the deals that are available online beforehand. And you could even look to get around under your own steam by renting a car or cycling - just make sure that you have the appropriate bicycle insurance beforehand. The more time that you give yourself to plan, the more likely it is that you will be able to snag good deals on transportation.

Travel to Cheaper Countries

Rather than travelling to the expensive tourist hotspots like Paris, London or Rome, you could instead look to cheaper countries. Perhaps somewhere in Eastern Europe or Asia where you will be able to travel for a lot longer for a fraction of the price. And if you do decide to go to the bigger destinations, try to get off the beaten path a little bit and into the areas which tourists aren’t treated like walking ATMs!

Look into Affordable Accommodation

The plethora of accommodation services that are now available makes it easier than ever to find an affordable place to stay. If you are looking at hotels, guesthouses or other more traditional forms of accommodation, make sure that you use a comparison websites to see where you can get the best deal. It is always worth checking with the hotel directly to check if you can get a better price compared to the third party booking website. Alternatively, you could look into alternative accommodation websites such as Airbnb where you may be able to snag yourself a great deal. Alternatively, you may even be able to stay in places for free in exchange for volunteering your time and services.

Check Out Free Activities

The simplest free activity that really helps you to get to know a place is simply to walk around - or cycle if you prefer. You get to know a place so much better than if you only use public transportation. More and more cities now organise free walking tours where an experienced guide will take you around the destination and give you exclusive tips and advice. Also, you should try searching online for any free museums or other monuments which you could visit.

Earn While Travelling

There are now more opportunities to earn some cash while you are out on the road than ever before. If you are planning on going away for the long-term, teaching English abroad is always a popular option, as well as one in which you could make a decent living. Alternatively, you could make money from your laptop by freelancing. Whether you are a writer, graphic designer, translator, web specialist or something else, there is a growing community of ‘digital nomads’ out there and you could become one of them. Otherwise, you could look into short-term casual working options which help to fund your travels.

Get into a Frugal Mindset

If you aren’t careful, costs can mount up very quickly when you are on the road. Don’t let yourself get talked into spending more money than you need to by a silver-tongued local. Avoid taking taxis when public transportation or your own two legs will do. Eat at the authentic restaurants rather than the tourist traps - you can usually identify them by someone standing outside and waving an English menu at you! Otherwise, if you have a place with a kitchen, you could save even more money by cooking for yourself. For entertainment, check out whether the destination offers a pass to get you into the main tourist attractions.

Start Saving Long Before the Trip

So far, we have only talked about the ways that you can cut down on your spending during the trip itself. But you should also be looking to get into a saving mindset before the trip has actually begun to build up your travelling fund. Write down a list of your regular monthly expenses and work out which of them can be cut back on. Cook at home rather than ordering take-away and brew your own coffee instead of making your regular trip to Starbucks. Create a travel savings account and take pleasure in watching this grow, knowing that it will all be going towards the trip of a lifetime.

One of the most fundamental aspects of saving money while you are travelling is doing your research beforehand. This way, you will be able to get the best deals on transportation and accommodation. You will also be in a better position to avoid the main tourist traps and get a little bit more off-grid. There are also more opportunities than ever to make money while you are on the road - even if this is simply tapping away for a couple of hours on your laptop. Take pleasure in the savings that you are making, and know that you can still have a totally unforgettable travelling experience without shelling out a vast sum of cash. Set a date for your trip as well as a savings plan. Stay strict with your budgeting and always identify areas of your life that you could make a cutback or two.        

Everybody knows that good customer service should be your number one priority when you’re running a business. If you don’t offer a good service, customers will tell all of their friends and even post terrible reviews about you online which is really going to affect sales. Most companies understand that they need to give great customer service when they’re selling products, but that’s only step one. You also need to be giving good customer service at every other stage of your dealings with a customer, even after you’ve made the sale. These are the steps to great customer service that you might be missing. 

Make It Easy To Buy

This sounds like a no brainer but you’d be surprised how many companies are making it difficult for their customers to buy their products online. Some companies come up with a flashy website idea that opens on a homepage with loads of great videos and pictures, telling the story of the product etc. but customers struggle to find where they actually buy the thing. It’s easy to get caught up in grand ideas for the website and forget about actually making it functional but it’s vital. Customers don’t want to work hard to buy something so if they can’t find it right away, they’ll leave it. It’s also frustrating if the checkout process takes ages to get through and is slow to load, so make sure that you’re spending a bit of money on a good ecommerce platform. 

Deliver Products Quickly 

If you’re selling online, you need to deliver products quickly, otherwise, customers will get frustrated. You’re competing with the likes of Amazon that offer one day shipping on a lot of their products so, while you don’t need to match that, you do need to get products out to customers as quickly as possible because expectations are high these days. If you’re struggling to get products out quickly, you’ve probably got an issue with your supply chain and shipping services somewhere. Get some expert advice from consultants like Paul Trudgian who can help you to identify where the inefficiencies are and show you how to iron them out. By streamlining your shipping process, you’ll make customers a lot happier and see a whole lot more great reviews on your website which will drive sales further. 

Email Etiquette 

Everybody knows that when you’re speaking with a customer on the phone, you need to be polite to them, but people don’t always follow the same rules when emailing. People often consider it a more informal way of communicating so they don’t use the same tone that they would on the phone. The problem is, things can easily get lost in translation when you’re emailing and so a sentence that you didn’t intend to be rude or sarcastic could seem that way to a customer which is bad news for you, especially if you’re dealing with a complaint. Whenever you email a customer, think about how they might interpret what you’ve said before you hit send. 

These are some of the aspects of customer service that you’re probably missing out on but it’s vital that you sort them out right away. 

Most small business owners reach the point when they feel that their business needs to grow in order to generate a higher profit margin and expand. This is actually fantastic news, as it means your business is a success! Often this realisation isn’t gradual though and you may find that due to customer demand you need to generate funding options quickly, so that you can pay for a rise in staffing costs, rise in rent as you move to larger premises or invest in equipment to meet  demands and deadlines. If you are unable to meet customer demand there will always be other businesses that will step into your shoes to fulfill orders.

   

This article aims to highlight ways of taking your business to the next level.

Embrace technology

Technological advancements occur quickly and to stay ahead of the game, it is important to incorporate the latest technology in order to fulfill customer demand more quickly and efficiently. This is particularly important if your business is involved in manufacturing. Many companies such as RNA automation are now incorporating robotics within their technology, which will increase the speed during manufacturing tenfold.

Technology also includes computer systems and methods of communication. Having the latest software will ensure quick sales and data security. 

Manage your time

To allow your business to grow you should spend at least 80% of your working day on generating sales and leads. It is so easy to get bogged down with administration tasks and managing staffing issues, but with no sales, there will be no staff! Delegate tasks to others within your team or consider outsourcing tasks such as admin, accounts and telephone answering.

Ensure your target market remains the focus 

Spend time getting to know your customers and target market. Build up a rapport with them and listen to what they like and dislike about your business. Everyone loves to put a face to a name. This will put you a step ahead of your competitors and your business will become the number one choice.

Make positive changes

Keep ahead of innovation within your business sector and adapt accordingly. Changes in the marketplace occur quickly and often, so it is essential that you keep up with changes and tweak your products, sales techniques and services where required.

Get funding

To move your business to the next level getting funding is often the only viable option. Equipment and technology doesn’t come cheap, but will promote future sales. Your first point of call would be family and friends to keep repayment costs down. Other funding options include  small business loans, sponsorships, crowdfunding and using your own credit card. Ensure you can make the repayments and shop around for the best deals.

Develop your brand

Ensure you brand connects with your target audience within the marketplace. Listen to how your brand makes people feel and make adjustments as necessary. A good brand will be instantly recognisable and will evoke trust. Your aim is to create an emotional attachment in your customer base. Take your brand to market and promote it to the world, there’s no point in developing a fantastic brand if no one sees it. Get your brand out there!

By following these tips, your small business could evolve into a major player within your business sector in the future.

In 2016 alone, $1.9 trillion was made in the e-commerce sector in the United States alone - that’s a whole lot of money, and you can bet that it will keep growing and growing as more and more people realize the many benefits of buying their goods and services online.

So, if you’re looking for a good place to invest your money and make decent profits, you could do a lot worse to look at investing in an online business. I mean, check out these very sensible reasons why online business is the place to be:

Companies Need Websites Anyway

It’s the 21st Century, and if your company doesn’t have a website and a social media presence, many of your customers aren’t going to take you seriously, or even be able to find you at all anyway, so why not just keep it totally online and save money anyway?

Costs are Lower

When it comes to setting up an online business, you’ll need someone like Darren Langley Web Designer to create you an attractive and functional site, an SEO expert  and content writer like James E. to help you drive traffic to your business and a few other basic technologies. What this means is that you can set up an online business for a fraction of the price of a bricks and mortar venture and you can do it much more quickly too.

Risk is Lower

Not only are the costs of an online startup typically lower, but the risk to your investment usually is too because you don’t have to purchase as much physical equipment as you do when you’re setting up a ‘real world’ company and providing your get your marketing and SEO right and you know what your audience likes, it’s not as hard as many people think to drive traffic and make an income. It’s also easier to diversify and set up new streams of income when one isn’t giving you the returns you would like, too.

You Can Be More Hands-Off

Obviously, this isn’t always the case and if depends on the type of online business that you invest in, but a lot  of the time, once you have an online company up and running, you can make passive income, which means that you really don’t have to do very much (at least not personally) to keep things ticking over and the money coming in. There are many bloggers and e-commerce business owners, for example, who don’t work more than a handful of hours every week and make great profits - there’s no reason why you couldn’t be one of them!

It’s More Flexible

In a similar vein, because websites can be open for business running along nicely 24 hours a day seven days a week and because they can be accessed from anywhere in the world, running an online business is a lot more flexible  - you can literally work from a beach in Bali providing you have an internet connection if you want to - I mean what’s not to love!

Invest smart, invest in an online business!

Money may be one of the most taboo topics of conversation. Talking about our finances can feel uncomfortable, as it brings up negative emotions for many. People even avoid discussing money with their significant other, afraid it will cause an argument, or worse.

Despite our discomfort, there are some good reasons why talking about money in our relationships is healthy. Whether you’re in a long-term relationship or newly dating, consider these four reasons to start a money conversation.

1. Spot potential red flags

How someone talks (or doesn’t) about money can be very revealing. If your partner is hesitant or outright refuses to discuss their finances, they may be trying to hide something. Debt, overspending or secret credit cards are all things people commonly keep from their significant other. Hiding money issues from a partner may indicate deeper problems with trust or respect.

Money is also a topic that can spark strong emotions—worry, embarrassment, jealousy, anger—and our attitudes toward it are often formed from a young age. Someone reacting negatively to discussing finances might not entirely understand why they’re so emotional. There may be underlying issues to work through individually or as a couple that begin to surface when you talk about your finances.

2. Avoid fights

Money arguments are the leading cause of stress in relationships and a strong predictor of future divorce. No wonder people avoid discussing money in relationships! However, talking about the finances with your partner can actually help couples avoid disagreements.

A survey of Australian adults found that 61% of couples who talk about money together report that they rarely or never fight about their finances. The same is true for only 34% of couples who never discuss money. Couples who openly and honestly discuss their finances give themselves more opportunities to work through money disagreements, process emotions and provide each other with emotional support.

3. Improve your financial fitness

Talking about money can also help couples improve their financial situation. That same Australian survey found that people who talk openly about their finances are more likely to actively manage them. Discussing money issues, goals and strategies may make you more confident, and thus more likely to take a hands on approach with the finances.

This attitude could make a big difference to your future. Knowing your budget inside and out could help you save for big purchases faster, invest more wisely, or put a financial protection plan in place for your family. It could also put you in a better financial position when purchasing a new house, paying for your child’s education or having a comfortable retirement.

4. Make sure you’re on the same page

Compromise is a big part of a healthy relationship, and money matters are no exception. By discussing your individual or shared finances, you can identify potential conflicts and work out how you’ll handle them together.

Start by bonding over your shared money goals. Are you saving for a future event, such as a wedding, house, travel or starting a family? Do you want to payoff existing debts by a certain date? Having shared goals gives you something to work towards, and could make it easier to create a strategy for accomplishing them. It also holds you both more accountable to each other, as you work together to build your dreams.

Talking about money can be tough, but avoiding it could hurt your romantic relationships in the long run. Financial disagreements are normal, and knowing how to work through them together could strengthen your bond and your bank account. 

There could be several reasons as to why a homeowner may want to sell his home and rent it back from the potential buyer. When you are selling your home with the intent to rent it back the most obvious benefit is that you don’t have to worry about packing and moving to a different home right away. Nor do you have to go hunting for a new place to live. If you have kids that are going to local school, they can continue to go to the same school and no disruption will occur in their life.

If you are selling for financial reasons, you can use the money to pay off your debt especially if those debts would have caused the mortgage company to foreclose your home.  This can be huge sigh of relief for you at least for the short term. Keep in mind that offering a rent-back agreement for the buyer can be beneficial as well since it makes their offer have an edge over other offers especially in a competitive market. And the rent that the seller would pay the buyer could help cover some of the closing costs.

Sell-and-rent-back agreements are legally binding agreements made in writing between the buyer and the seller. Both parties need to decide on a couple of things, which are how long the seller will need to stay in the house after closing and how much rent the seller will pay. Negotiating a good deal will work to your advantage as well as offers a peace of mind.

Most people say that if they had money to spare they would invest in real estate. However, it takes more than money to be successful at building a property investment portfolio. You will need to learn a lot about the real estate market before you could build an extra source of income from the ground up. If you are up for a challenge, and would like to avoid the most common real estate investment mistakes, you should check out the below list before you would get started. 

Choosing the Wrong Area

If you would like to succeed in real estate, you will have to learn as much as you can about different areas and locations. Find out which demographics the area appeals to and what the expectations of your target market are. It might be worth to look at crime and population reports, and learn more about the competition. Without knowing what the realistic asking price for letting out your residential or commercial property is you will not be able to calculate the yield on your real estate portfolio. It is also important that you get tenants in as soon as possible, so you can maximize your profits, but for that you have to choose your area carefully. 

Micromanaging Properties

If you have multiple properties, you might not want to do all the inspections yourself. Make sure you reduce the risk of emergencies by getting a contract with a local firm that will handle everything; from installations to carpet replacement and fixing leaking faucets. You don’t want to spend your weekends checking on your properties. The good news is that you will be able to secure a monthly deal and let the management company deal with the small stuff, while you enjoy your free time. 

Targeting the Wrong Demographics

Another common mistake property owners make is choosing the wrong demographics when marketing their homes to let. You might want to appeal to older retired people, thinking that they can afford the rent more, but they simply don’t want to be in the city, and will look for properties in the suburb. Alternatively, you might target families, but your home will not be large enough, and appeal more to working professionals who want to be close to the center and transport links. 

Not Taking Out Additional Insurance

While having a basic home insurance for your rental real estate gives you a basic level of cover, it doesn’t protect you from everything. You need to make sure that you also have liability insurance in case your tenants suffer an accident while in your real estate, and an additional cover to pay the rent if they cannot. Some realtors and agencies will offer to pay your rent while you are looking for new tenants, which will help you manage your cash flow. 

Not Securing a Fixed Mortgage Rate

To manage your finances better, it is always a good idea to get a fixed buy-to-let mortgage rate instead of a variable one. You will not want to take more risks than necessary, and being able to calculate your outgoings for a few years ahead will help. Unless you are an economic expert, you cannot determine when the next interest rate rise will come, and reduce your profits on all your real estate. Reduce the risk of investing in real estate by securing fixed repayment deals. 

Not Keeping on Top Of Maintenance

Prevention is always cheaper than dealing with emergencies. If you don’t have a contract with an electrician and HVAC maintenance company yet, you should get one to avoid breakdowns that are avoidable. Yearly or 6-monthly inspections can help you keep your property and your tenants safe and avoid accident and injury claims or paying compensation for your real estate becoming uninhabitable. 

Neglecting Inspection 

You will also have to take some time to inspect the homes you rent out regularly. You can get a friend or a company to do this for you, but if there are any issues you want to know about them as soon as possible. When you draw up your contract, make sure that you provide your inspection schedule and clarify how many days of notice you will give people before you turn up. If you simply come and go as you wish, you will not give out an air of trust, and your residents will look for another place that gives them more privacy. 

Not Keeping In Touch with Neighbors

If you want to know what is going on in your rental real estate, you want to befriend the neighbors. You will be surprised how nosey people can be and how many things you can hear from others who live nearby. Instead of trusting your residents to tell you everything, and avoiding employing a private investigator, you can get neighbors know that they can contact you any time they have concerns. Whether it is inappropriate sound levels or unreasonable parking, you can solve the issues before they would escalate further. 

Choosing the Wrong Property Management Company or Plan 

If you sign up with a real estate agent to manage your portfolio and collect the rent, you might end up paying a large proportion of your profits to the company. Always consider the condition of the home and the potential cost of repair before you sign up for a property maintenance plan, or you might end up paying more than you get out of the service. If you have a brand new heating system in the home you rent out, or the commercial building, you might not benefit from a HVAC maintenance plan, and end up paying hundreds of dollars just to get inspection reports every month and get your money transferred to your account. 

Low Occupancy Rate

If you don’t schedule your maintenance and renovation well, and have to wait for the contractors to finish the job, you will be losing money daily. It is important that as soon as your occupiers give you a notice that they wish to move out you create a plan and put your home back on the market to avoid losing your income. Even if you still have people in the home, you can advertise it and show it to other people, giving them an estimated date for moving in. 

Lack Of Property Portfolio Diversity

If you want to add extra security, it is recommended that you invest in various markets and areas. Check out http://www.denverhomesmarket.com  to look through the different types of properties for sale and the estimated return on investment. Make sure that you check the area and the transport links and carefully choose the type of people you want to rent your real estate. 

Not Having an Emergency Fund

If you don’t have an emergency fund for when your tenants leave or fixing urgent problems in the real estate, you will easily get into debt. Make sure that you put a proportion of your rental income in the bank, and use it for urgent repairs and to cover periods when you are not receiving an income. This will help you deal with problems more efficiently, and you can get your property back on the market, without having to pay extortionate interest rates to get a fast loan. 

Not Consulting with an Attorney

You will always need to consult with an attorney before you let your property out. This will help you understand the basic and additional clauses and get the legal protection that will secure your income and protect your reputation as a property investor. You need to be aware of the taxation regulations related to making money of your real estate portfolio, the expenses you might face if you need to evict people from your property, and much more. As an owner, you will have a lot of responsibilities to protect the residents of the property, and if you fail to comply with the legislation, you could be prosecuted. 

Going Private Instead of Getting a Professional to Draw Up the Lease

While it might seem like a good idea to save money and go out on your own, you can lose money if your lease doesn’t cover every aspect of the real estate deal. While you can save money on agency costs when you let your property out privately, you can lose out big time. Unless you are an expert with a real estate background, you should always get a professional to write and check your legal documents. 

Whether you are just starting your real estate empire or are thinking about expanding your portfolio, you need to make sure you don’t fall for the common misconceptions many property owners do that can make you lose money. Consult with a professional and make sure that you are minimizing the financial and legal risks. Choose your location and market carefully, and take out extra insurance to cover your rent in unexpected situations. This way, you can carry on growing your real estate empire and securing a long term residual income. 

Many people find it challenging to sell their property, but there a few simple things you need to keep in mind to make it appealing. Each house is different, and each of them will have different strengths and weaknesses that you can use or that need to be addressed. There is no magic formula to sell your house, but there are a few things that you need to consider before you put it on the market. Real estate agents and professionals all address these issues when they want to sell a property so that you can use them too. You don’t have to be an expert to make your house look presentable and up to scratch, and you don’t need to spend a lot either. Depending on what state your house is in, you might need to do a lot to improve it and you might not. Read on and find out some key things you need to address if you want to make your property marketable, and try them out immediately. Even implementing some of these changes could make all the difference between selling and not selling your property.

Make it Presentable

This might seem like simple advice, but many people fail to make their property look clean, tidy and presentable. If you are a buyer coming to have a look around your home, what would you think? If the kitchen is not clean and is difficult to see the bedroom because of clutter, then people are much less likely to buy it. When buyers look around the property, they want to imagine their life here, and you want to offer them the best picture for them. Making your house presentable is not difficult, and it can be done while you are living there too. Making it clean and tidy will just involve a bit of elbow grease. Tending to the garden out front, weeding and trimming the grass will also make a really good first impression which is essential. Even if the property is great and exactly what a buyer wants, simple things like it being unpresentable can make it much less marketable. One of the first things the buyer will see is the exterior as they make their way inside - so you want it to look as good as possible. Consider a service that provides Rendering in Essex (or wherever your house is on the market) to get your property looking flawless! Make sure you consider this when putting your property on the market.

Make it Neutral

There is a reason why new build properties are always neutral throughout and have very little character or distinguishable features. This is because neutral homes are a lot easier to sell. If a buyer look s around a brightly colored house with very particular taste, it is very difficult to imagine their own furniture and things there. When making your property marketable, you want to sell them an idea of what their life could be like if they lived here. If your property has very particular interior design then consider making it more neutral with beige, white and brown colors throughout. It does not have to be cluttered with loads of furniture and nick nacks, less is more, and keep it simple. Consider changing the color scheme and presentation of your home to make it a success on the market.

Repair Any Faults

Every home has those little things that you were planning on getting round to fixing but never did. When you are putting your house on the market, it is best to make sure it is in the best condition it can possibly be in. This goes for presentation but also for how the house functions too. Fixing that door handle that fell off, replacing the light bulb at the end of the hall is also a good idea, so the property is well lit too. If there are any bigger issues like needing a new boiler to damp these also need to be addressed and fixed, or at least be in the process of being fixed when people come to view the property. You can always look at other properties that are on the market and see how yours compares. You can view some here: https://www.rumah.com/rumah-dijual/di-area-malang-idji16. While nowhere is perfect, issues like this can put off potential buyers. If you are buying a home you want it to be a finished product, and no one wants to spend more money after they have just bought a home.

Take Expert Advice

No doubt you will be selling your property through an agency and they will usually give you some advice on how to make your property marketable. Even if you don’t agree with all the advice they give to you, it is important to hear them out and see what they have to say. At the end of the day, they are experts who sell houses regularly. They will have a lot of experience with selling and they know what will work and what buyers are looking for and want to see. Even if you don’t agree with all of their advice you should hear them out and take on board what they say. Taking advice from experts and making the most of them is the best way to make your property marketable, and get it sold.

Here are a few ideas for you to try. Making your property marketable is not rocket science and by considering some or all of these ideas, you will be able to sell your property in no time. Making your house look clean, tidy and presentable is the best thing you can do to make it appeal to buyers. No one can fall in love with a property that looks untidy or unclean. Buyers want to imagine a happy future there with your family and it is your job to sell them this. Making your house neutral and changing up the interior design will also make it appeal to more people who have all kinds of tastes. Simple things like changing the color scheme and decluttering the house will make people much more likely to buy it. These things aren’t rocket science and anyone can make their house more marketable for a relatively small cost. Try some of these ideas out and see the results.