Restaurant Trappers

Archive for August, 2009

Do you want to have a successful start to your Home Based Business? I sure did and I am assuming you want the same to happen for you. Well, setting up your home office the right way makes a big difference in your business success outcome. You may or may not agree, but it has made an impact in my experience and many others I have talked with.

For example, you are talking with a prospect and you need your business partner to speak with them, but you don’t have 3-way calling setup on your phone system. Guess what, you now are going to miss out on some invaluable training because you will not hear how your business partner handles the prospects questions.

8 Tips for Setting up Your Home Based Business for Success

1. A great phone plan is essential to your success, so make sure you have the following:

* UNLIMITED Long Distance

* 3-Way Calling

* Caller ID

* Call Waiting

* Voice Mail

* Call Forwarding

* Anonymous Call Rejection

* Call Return

* Repeat Dialing

2. You must have a calendar

Your calendar is the backbone of your office. Without it, nothing moves forward. You can choose an online calendar such as in Google or Yahoo or in Outlook, or you can purchase an appointment book from your local office supply store.

3. Your computer software tools:

* High Speed Internet Access

* Adobe Acrobat 8: Free download – http://www.adobe.com/

* Flash Player plug-in: Free download – http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/

* Internet Explorer: Free download – http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/default.asp (Internet Explorer 6 is sufficient)

* JavaScript: Free download – http://www.java.com/

* Email Software – You may want to use Outlook or Outlook Express for your business email. Most other people use one of these, so it will keep uniformity in your business organization.

4. A good filing system

Staying organized is extremely important because doing so will help you work efficiently. Organization is very personal, so I suggest you personalize your folder names in a way that makes sense to you.

Here are some examples of folders you will need:

* Your “Main Business” Folder

* Sample Business Emails

* Training Material

* Advertising

* Announcements and Promotions

* Faxes

* Leads

* Tax records and payment receipts

5. Email signatures

Your signature should include a closing, your name, contact information (website, email address, and phone number) and a quote or favorite expression is optional. (always be mindful if using a quote to keep the message appropriate for a business environment)

Your signature can be a powerful advertising method, use it wisely.

6. Staying connected: Instant Messenger Service

Instant Messenger services allow you to communicate with your online contacts, get your questions answered and leverage your time because your phone line will be open for incoming calls from prospects.

Be sure to get the instant messenger ID of your mentors and business partners so you can always be in touch!

Yahoo Instant Messenger: http://www.messenger.yahoo.com

MSN Instant Messenger: http://www.msn.com

AOL Instant messenger: http://www.aim.com

Skype: http://www.skype.com/

7. Shopping for office supplies

You will need:

* Large 3-Ring Binder with Tab Dividers

* Plastic Sheet Protectors

* Calendar

* Pens and Pencils

* Paper (printer paper and writing pads for taking notes)

* Correction Fluid

* Manila folders

* Plastic organizer to hold pens, paper clips, sticky notes, etc.

* Post it Notes

* Paper Clips

* Stapler

* 3-Hole Punch

* Filing Cabinet

8. Creating the mood – your office environment:

Your office should buzz with positive energy. Motivate yourself by posting your goals and the reasons “WHY” you started your home based business. Family photos may help you keep your focus. Motivational slogans or an inspirational quote can keep you focused on your goals.

Decorate your office in a way that reflects your taste and personality. Create an up tempo climate which motivates you to do your best. Your environment should promote a peaceful, yet exciting atmosphere for you to work in, so use pictures or anything that will create this scenario for you.

One of the biggest perks of working at home is having the freedom to personalize your workspace, so be creative in setting up the ideal work environment.

These 8 simple tips that we have covered can help you to a successful start in your business. By following these tips, you will be able to expand your business and keep your business flowing. You will be more focused on building your business and that is your goal, is it not? I wish you the best in your business venture.

Vapor Barriers

Crawlspace Vapor Barriers

Throughout the United States, even in desert areas, there is moisture in the ground from groundwater being absorbed. Even in an apparently dry crawlspace, a large amount of water is entering the home. In a dry crawlspace, the moisture is drying out as fast as it is entering, which causes high moisture levels in the crawlspace and elsewhere in the house. A solid vapor barrier is recommended in all crawlspaces and should be required if moisture problems exist.

This vapor barrier, if properly installed, also reduces the infiltration of radon gas. Of course, if the moisture is coming from above ground, a vapor barrier will collect and hold the moisture. Therefore, any above ground source of moisture must be found and eliminated. The source may be as obvious as sweating pipes, or may be more difficult to spot, such as condensation on surfaces. The solution can be as simple as applying insulation to exposed sections

of  the piping or complex enough to require power exhaust fans and the addition of insulation and vapor barriers.

The more common causes of moisture problems in a new home are moisture trapped within the structure during construction and a continuing source of excess moisture from the basement, crawlspace, or slab. To resolve this potential problem, 6-mil plastic sheets should be laid as vapor barriers over the entire crawlspace floor. The sheets should overlap each other by at least 6 inches and should be taped in place. The plastic should extend up the perimeter walls by about 6 inches. The plastic sheets should be attached to the interior walls of the crawlspace with mastic or batten strips. All of the perimeter walls should be insulated, and insulation should be between the joists at the top of the walls. Vents, which may need to be opened in the late spring and closed in the fall, should not be blocked. If not properly managed, moisture originating in the crawlspace can cause problems with wood flooring and create many biological threats to health and property. A properly placed vapor barrier can prevent or reduce problem moisture from entering the home.

Concrete paints, waterproofing sealers, or cement coatings are a temporary fix. They crack or peel and cannot stop gases, such as water vapor and radon.

Damp basement air spreads mold and radon through the house. Efflorescence (white powder stains) and musty odors are telltale signs of moisture problems. Basement remodeling traps invisible water vapor, causing mold and mildew.

Most basements start leaking within 10 to 15 years. The basement walls and floors should be sealed and preserved before they deteriorate. The basement floor should be concrete which has been poured on at least 6 inches of gravel. The gravel distributes groundwater movement under the concrete floor, reducing the possibility of the water penetrating the floor. A water proof membrane, such as plastic sheeting, should be laid before the concrete is poured, for additional protection against flooding and infiltration of radon and other gases.The basement floor should be gradually but uniformly sloped in all directions toward a drain or a series of drains. These drains will permit the basement to drain if it becomes flooded.

Water or moisture marks on the floor and walls are signs of ineffective waterproofing or moisture proofing. Cellar doors, hatchways, and basement windows should be weather-tight and rodent-proof. A hatchway can be inspected by standing at the lower portion with the doors closed; if daylight can be seen, the door needs to be sealed or repaired.

Vapor Barriers for Concrete Slab Homes

Strip flooring and related products should be protected from moisture migration by a slab. Proper on-grade or above-grade construction requires that a vapor barrier be placed beneath the slab. Moisture tests should be done to determine the suitability of the slab before installing wood products. A vapor barrier equivalent to 4- or 6-mil polyethylene should be installed on top of the slab to further protect the wood products and the residents of the home.

 

Accurate Home Inspection of Atlanta

www.findmeaninspector.com

 

Foreclosures are occurring at an alarming rate and have been for quite some time. No one likes to talk about losing their home, but the fact is, more and more Americans are in fact, in foreclosure or have already lost their home.

Need some advice on avoiding foreclosure?

Here is some general information about foreclosures.

Several states have a record number of foreclosures, such as Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

CNN Money reports that adjustable-rate mortgages, especially mortgages that are considered, sub-prime adjustable rate mortgages, continue to contribute to foreclosures.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Americans borrowed $2.2 trillion dollars through attractive adjustable rate mortgages between 2004 and 2006.

These adjustable rate mortgages were hard to pass up with low monthly payments.

Unfortunately, these ARMS (adjustable mortgages) cannot last forever. Experts explain that these adjustable rate mortgages need to reset themselves in order to make up for the difference through higher rates, which means a higher mortgage payment.

You don’t need to be an expert in real estate to figure out that when the banks significantly raise someone’s mortgage payment, you are going to see many foreclosures.

It’s also predicted that as these mortgage loans reset, 1.11 million homeowners will lose their homes. This prediction was reported following a study completed by First American CoreLogic, a firm that documents home mortgage risks.

If you fail to make a payment by the due date, the lender has every right to start the foreclosure proceedings. Many banks will allow you a “grace period,” so as not to start any foreclosure process.

After a certain period of time, the lender will send you a certified letter stating that your loan is in default. Included will be any penalties and any unpaid mortgage totals. It is important that you contact the lender to try and work out a plan to pay the bank back.

Banks are not in the business of owning homes; banks are in the business of lending money. Banks do not want the house back! Contact them and try to work out an agreement to pay them back the unpaid payments.

Your loan will likely be reinstated if you bring the mortgage back to good standing if you pay back any outstanding mortgage payments and fees.

If the lender has given you the allotted time to make the loan current, and you cannot make the payments, the loan will still be considered in default and there will be a scheduled auction.

Following the auction, if there is any money still owed to the lender, the homeowner may be required to pay those debts owed. If there is money left over from the auction, that amount of money will go to the foreclosed homeowner, if all of the fees have been paid to the lender.

With any court foreclosures, the sheriff carries out the sale, which is about 45 days after the county clerk orders the sale. The auction is open to the public which means anyone who has the available funds, may bid on the foreclosed property.

Generally, the accepted bid must be paid to the sheriff no later than 5:00 P.M. on the day of or the day after the auction.

A certificate is issued following the foreclosure sale. If the property is not abandoned at the time of the sale up to the next six months, this is known as the redemption period. Some states will allow the borrower to redeem the property. Any secondary lender may redeem the property within a certain amount of time. In order to redeem the property, the total amount owed including any fees, must be paid.

If there isn’t anyone who redeems the property, the sheriff will then transfer the ownership to the winning bidder at the time of the foreclosure auction.

With Out of Court Trustee Sales, notice of the sale is noted which includes the property description, date, time, place, etc. The auction notice is then recorded with the county.

The trustee mails the notice to all interested parties. This notice is sent out three months before the sale date and will be published in the local newspaper.

No less than 20 days before the sale, the foreclosure auction notice is posted on the property and the county courthouse.

The day before the sale is scheduled to take place and leading up to the sale, the trustee must provide the opening bid of the sale to anyone who inquires about the sale. If not, the sale might have to be delayed for a short period of time.

Out of Court foreclosure sales require every bidder to provide a refundable $10,000 deposit in order to bid. The trustee keeps the deposit of the individual with the winning bid.

The winning bidder has until 5:00 P.M. by the next day to pay his/her bid price.

Following the sale, the trustee then transfers ownership of the foreclosed property within seven days. The proceeds of the sale are paid directly to the primary lender, then to any secondary lenders that exist.

There is no right of redemption following Out of Court foreclosure sales.

Bank foreclosures have occurred in record numbers. If you are an investor, your’e likely to find foreclosures all around the U.S.

Will foreclosures decline in numbers? Only time will tell.

The information provided here within, is not considered professional legal advice. It is always recommended that you seek professional legal advice such as a local real estate attorney.