Tips to Do it Yourself Home Inspections

Home inspection is an important process of getting a suitable home with the help of an agency or a home inspector or on your own. Inspection is actually a process of evaluating a home with the intent of finding any defects or problems in the home. It helps both home sellers and buyers to get the best. A home seller thus gets a good value of its property and a home buyer can have a dream home of its own of actual worth.

Home inspection is usually done by hiring good and skilled professionals from a reputed agency. But it's not mandatory to have your home inspected by a hired professional. Do it yourself and it is also quite effective. A person having interest and knowledge in this stream is capable of carrying home inspection on its own. It needs a good knowledge of both people and things. If you have interest in matters related to property and have prior experience in it, then there no need to hire any professional. You can yourself start home inspection.

Before making a start for inspection, make sure that you have a properly generated home inspection checklist. This checklist comprises of all the details regarding inspecting the parts of the home. You can easily get a sample or demo of this checklist online and thus make sure to get one while inspecting as it's sure that you can skip out some parts without a checklist. Always carry a notepad and make notes while making inspections.

Once you are done with the inspection and have satisfactorily gone through all the portions internal as well as external, prepare a final inspection report on the basis of the notes. This final report gives the final outlook of the home structure and takes your attention towards the areas that need more care and repairs. Thus, a Do it yourself Home Inspection has a benefit, as you need not require making any extra expense to hire any professional and you are satisfied with the performance of your dream home.

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How to Set Up a Legitimate Home Based Business

Of the various home based business ideas you've come up with, you were able to make your choice and now you're raring to get started. If so, start right by establishing a legitimate home based business and applying for the necessary permits and licenses.

What You Need for Starters

The first thing you need is a permit to do business, and you'll get this from both your local and state government. You will also need a permit for all signage ads you intend to use, in the event that you'd want to establish your own store at home. Keep in mind that you'll be paying a fee for every signage so try not to go overboard. A Fire Department permit is always necessary, and it usually entails having your own fire extinguisher - even a small one would do - at home.

Choose a Form

Are you alone in your plans of establishing a home based business or do you have other people contributing capital or skills to the business? What are your future plans for the business? Both questions are important to answer immediately as they can help you determine the ideal form for your home based business to take.

Sole proprietorship is the quickest to set up and enjoys the most number of tax benefits. But of course, sole proprietorship also makes you and only you personally liable for losses incurred and violations committed by your business.

Partnership is the next form in the organization ladder. It's relatively easy to set up and has its own advantages to offer as long as the partners can work in harmony and without violating their partnership agreement. Keep in mind, however, that any home based business owned by a partnership will immediately dissolves if any of the partners dies or leaves the business.

Home based businesses can be owned by corporations, too. The incorporation process make take a lot of money, time, and paperwork to accomplish, but it also provides the greatest amount of protection from liabilities for its directors and stockholders.

Pick Out Names

Most home based businesses use sole proprietorship as the form of their business. Assuming that you'll do the same and you intend to use your own name for your business, there won't be any need for registration then.

If, however, you intend to operate your business under another name then that's something you'll have to register as required by the Trade Name Registration Act. To avoid making repeated trips for registering your business name, try having several alternatives ready in case your first choice isn't accepted.

Legitimacy is occasionally judged on the mere basis of a business's name so take care when picking out a name for your home based business. Choosing one that sounds too much like a competitor's could make people think you're not averse to using illegal tactics to do business.

Choose a name that best represents your business and one that can easily catch people's attention. Try not to make it too difficult to spell as your business name, in ideal cases, would also be your website's domain name. Generic names might sound cute at times, but the law generally doesn't approve its use as a business name.

Pay Your Taxes

Legitimacy may be established earlier on, but it's also something you have to consistently prove. One way of doing so is by paying your taxes properly and on time. Customers in general have greater respect for home based businesses managed by diligent taxpayers and they're quicker to trust such businesses, too.

Be meticulous in keeping your books. A home based business is entitled to certain home office benefits as specified by the law but you'll have to submit documentary proof before your deductions can be approved.

Get Accredited

Last but not the least, work hard to obtain a positive rating from the Better Business Bureau; a commendation from the said agency is the best proof you can obtain that yours is indeed a legitimate home based business. You will not be evaluated by the BBB if you don't ask for it. You also have to pay a small fee for the accreditation and yes, you have to pay even if you don't like the end result. Aim to have the BBB OnLine Reliability seal on your website and don't worry, your customers can guarantee that it's not a fake because they can click on the confirmation link redirecting them to the BBB site.

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The Importance of the Buyer Having Their Own Agent

Many want to do the purchase of the property by themselves. This is all right as long as they do their homework first. They need to know where to look. Aside from that, they also have to know how the process works. They have to understand the steps, what is essential and what they can negotiate. With this, they will be able to successfully purchase a property they want. However, this is easier said than done because purchasing a property is such a complex process.

Anyone who wants to purchase a house without the help of a professional is all right. However, this is not encouraged. Keep in mind that buying a home is one of the most important and expensive investment that you will incur. You have to make sure that the manner in which you acquired it is right. You should also be careful in choosing the property you want to invest in to avoid having regrets. And most importantly, the terms of the mortgage you have should be the right fit for you to avoid foreclosure. This is why it is best to have an agent who will professionally represent the buyer. Below are some of the advantages buyers will enjoy:

• Having an agent will help prevent legal problems. Purchasing a property involves a series of steps. There is a contact between a seller and a listing brokerage. The listing brokerage receives payment as stipulated in the contract. This payment is intended to be shared with the agent who will bring the buyer. However, without the agent, the amount may be shared with the buyer, which is deemed illegal. Additionally, there are recent changes in the Real Estate Purchase contract. Without a knowledgeable agent, the buyer will be left clueless unless he does his research.

• An agent has duty to advice the buyer on what to do if ever problems occur. The buyer cannot depend on the agent of the seller because he only represents the seller and will protect the interests of his client. He is not obliged to advice the other party on what to do when he decides to cancel the transaction.

• In most cases, having an agent will not cost the buyer anything. As mentioned earlier, the listing broker will split the sales commission with the agent of the buyer. The agent will be able to decide if the amount offered to him is acceptable. If not, then he will not show the property to his client. In rare occasions, buyers will have to pay their agents but only when the seller is the property owner who refuses to give the agent his commission.

If you are going to get an agent, make sure to have a formal agreement with him. This is essential to ensure that he will be representing you and your interest. If you meet a listing agent in an open house, it does not mean that he will represent you too. There has to be a formal agreement. The dual agency happens when you have specific agreement with the agent of the seller. With this, he will be representing you too.

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Five Common Pitfalls When Getting a Home Mortgage

Owning a home is a lifetime dream for many. The best way of acquiring a loan is with the help of a home equity mortgage. You will also sometimes feel the requirement to get some finance by providing your home as collateral. There are some fine points to look before you sign up for a loan by providing your home as guarantee.

Pitfall number 1: Dealing with wrong people

You have heard enough of frauds and cheats. Financing your requirements with unscrupulous can cause you lose the equity you build up and your home as a whole. Don't talk finance with any party that asks you to claim more income than you actually have and to apply for higher amounts than you require. Such people are also likely to sign unfilled forms, not allow you to keep a copy of the documents you sign and most importantly put pressure on you to pay huge monthly payments than you could afford, usually at a later stage of loan approval.

Pitfall Number 2: Not Keeping a Good Credit Score While Applying for Home Equity Mortgage

Major credit purchases immediately before you apply for loan can affect your score. Not caring too much about your credit score for a long time can damage your credit scores and you will not be able to quickly build up the damage. Healthy credit score is always desirable to get lower interest on home mortgage too. However, succumbing to the pressure of the first lender that sites your average credit score as reason for higher interest is also a major pitfall you should avoid. If the credit score is affected due to inability to repay a credit due to illness or temporary loss of job, you can still shop around and negotiate your way to low interest home mortgage.

Pitfall Number 3: Allowing a lot of credit Companies Check your Credit Score

Equifax, TransUnion and Experian are the main credit rating agencies. Ordering your own credit score can cost you $ 40. Your credit score drops a little with each credit check by lending companies. If you shop around and allow all the companies to check your credit score, it can drop considerably, disqualifying you from lower interest mortgage. Allow only the company you zero in on for your financing requirements to check your credit score.

Pitfall Number 4: Holding Back Information about your Credit History from Your Broker

Once you choose to deal with a mortgage broker to find a good home equity mortgage, you must talk with him if you had any credit problems in the recent history. If you try to misguide the broker, you will be in a bad light to getting a mortgage. If you describe your situation well, chances are higher that he will find a low cost loan to you.

Pitfall Number 5: Overlooking Overages and giving up the power of negotiation

Overage is the difference between lowest available price for the mortgage and the higher price the buyer is willing to pay. Lenders or brokers can keep the whole of or a part of the difference as additional compensation. Ask your broker(s) how much he gets as compensation.

Copyright © 2006 Joel Teo. All rights reserved. (You may publish this article in its entirety with the following author's information with live links only.)

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Tips and Hints For Making the Right Decision For In-Home Care

Living at home is possible and a lot easier when you know what questions to ask. Those agencies who do care for Medicare patients, results can be reviewed through their last state survey results by visiting Medicare's main website.

But not all agencies handle Medicare, they are private pay only. Tips and Hints in making the right decision: Be organized Ask the Home Care Agency if they remain on-call 24 hours a day? Does the agency require a long-term service contract? Provide the aide with a checklist of duties for EACH DAY. Communication is 'key' to the relationship working.

The aide should not sleep (except live-in) or smoke in your home. If there is a problem, immediately contact the agency who sent the aide. The aides should provide their own lunch/dinner unless you offer. Do not tip the aide. Do not send your loved one out in a car with the aide, unless this is prearranged with agency. Aides should only minimally use the phone for personal calls. Make sure you know in advance how payment is expected. Ask the Agency what services they can and cannot provide. Certain services will require the aide to be licensed.

There should be some consistency after about 1 to 2 weeks regarding the person who is sent to the home. Sometimes it takes a week or so to get the same person on schedule for your home. Be patient! What is the hiring practice of the agency? Have background checks been performed on every caregiver prior to service? Are they bonded and insured? Do they carry professional liability and workers' compensation insurance? What unique process does the agency offer to insure caregiver's compatibility with you or your family member?

If there are too many late shows/no shows or inconsistencies, CHANGE AGENCIES (speak to them about the problem first, perhaps they can correct the situation). Always meet in person with an owner of the Agency first and have the option to interview the aides. Hopefully the above suggestions will help you in making the right decision for your loved one!

Marilyn Rowe is the CEO and owner of Home Care Assistance of Denver, Colorado.

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Medicare 101: Making Your Health Care Coverage Options Easy to Understand

Simple questions like 'What is Medicare?' or 'What are my health care options?' are oftentimes followed by complex answers. Medicare beneficiaries, their loved ones and caregivers may be left even more confused and even doubtful about their health care coverage.

That's why Touchstone Health created this "Medicare 101" series in everyday language. We will dive into world of Medicare, breaking down benefits into easy to understand information

This four part series will explain:

Original Medicare
Medicare Parts A and B
Medicare Parts C and D
Your Medicare Coverage Options?

Part I: WHAT IS ORIGINAL MEDICARE?

In this first installment of Touchstone Health's "Medicare 101", we are going to explore the ins and outs of Original Medicare.

So What is Original Medicare?

Medicare is a fee-for-service health insurance plan provided by the government. Fee-for-service means you have to pay a set amount for each type of service you get before Medicare pays its share.

Original Medicare is composed of Parts A and B, providing coverage hospital and medical insurance coverage directly. Part A is hospital insurance, which helps cover inpatient care in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, hospices and home health care. Part B is medical insurance, which helps cover doctors' services, hospital outpatient care and home health care. Part B also helps cover some preventive services to help maintain your health.

Who Can Get Original Medicare?

To be eligible for Medicare, you must be 65 or older, under 65 with certain disabilities, or have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) - permanent kidney failure requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant). You may be automatically enrolled in Part A and Part B under certain circumstances.

If you are turning 65 within the next 3 months, or have turned 65 within the past 3 months, now is the time to select a plan if you haven't already done so. Waiting too long could leave you without medical coverage and cost you more in the long run.

Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 for more information about your Medicare eligibility, and to sign up for Part A and/or Part B.

What Do You Pay with Original Medicare?

You usually have to pay a deductible (a set amount for your health care) before Medicare pays its share. Then, Medicare pays its share, and you pay your share (coinsurance/copayment) for covered services and supplies. There is no yearly limit for what you pay out-of-pocket.

You may be eligible for premium-free Part A coverage. However, you usually pay a monthly premium for Part B.

Can You Go to Any Doctor or Hospital?

You can go to doctor, supplier, hospital or facility that is .

Rent a Home For Your Family Vacation

Wouldn't you just love to spend your vacation on the beach? Did you know there are two ways to make that dream vacation a reality? Consider a beachfront rental property.

There are two types of beachfront vacation rentals: apartments and private homes. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Just as there are different types of vacations, there are different types of rentals. Here are some things to consider when deciding which is the best option for you.

A beach rental apartment may be the best choice for you because of the luxury amenities and a smaller location. If there are only two of you, there's no need to pay for additional bedrooms and extra space. You can search for just the right size apartment to meet your needs. In addition, beachfront apartments are typically located in a complex. The apartment complex may have a swimming pool, a fitness center, a gathering space etc. that add extra value to the rental price. An apartment gives you a chance to rub elbows with other renters. Your children may enjoy playing with the other children in the complex. Rental condos offer similar amenities.

On the other hand, consider renting a house or cottage if you prefer privacy. Sometimes you truly want to get away from it all and a beach house will let you do just that. Also, if you are vacationing with a family or a large group, you may want a house so that you can all spread out and relax. Rental houses often include private gardens or yards along with a patio or deck so you can enjoy the outdoors.

Once you decide which type of vacation rental property you want, it's fairly easy to obtain one. First, decide where you want to visit. Then go online to find vacation rental properties in that area. You are likely to find a beach rental agency to help you find just the right rental. The agency can help you settle down the details.

When you find a promising rental location, be sure to consider several factors: Find out the rent and what the rent covers. Are there any extra fees involved?

Also consider where the property is located: Is it near attractions, such as golf courses, theme parks, major cities, etc.? Is it near to grocery stores, churches, medical facilities, etc.?

Be sure to consider what amenities are included, such as those described above. Also find out what you need to bring with you, such as bedding, towels, cookware and recreational equipment. If necessary, find out if children and/or pets are permitted.

Once you've settled on your ideal holiday rental, read the rental agreement carefully and be sure you understand it before you sign it. Ask about anything you don't understand.

Whether you choose an apartment or a private home, if you consider carefully what your needs are, you will make a great choice for your beach vacation.

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Medicare Health Insurance Coverage

President Lyndon Johnson signed the Social Security Act of 1965 into effect on July 30th of that year. Part of the act included a special social insurance program that is meant for people ages 65 and older, although there are some exceptions so others can be eligible as well. This special social insurance program is called Medicare.

Medicare is paid for by payroll taxes that are removed from your income due to the Federal Insurance Contributions Act, or FICA, as well as a matching percentage of the wages as paid by the employer. As mentioned above, typically only those aged 65 and older can use Medicare, but some exceptions to this rule include those who are on continual dialysis for end stage renal disease or in need of a kidney or those who have Lou Gherig's disease (ALS).

Medicare's health insurance coverage includes four different parts: hospital coverage, medical insurance, Medicare Advantage, and prescription drug coverage. When you are looking to withdraw support from your Medicare, you can choose to use only one, a mix, or all of these options. Before you choose, though, you should realize the different aspects of each area of coverage.

First, hospital coverage, often called Part A, covers inpatient hospitals stays of at least one night. This gives you the right to a semiprivate room, as well as food, diagnostics, and the doctor's fees. Additionally, Part A also covers stays in skilled nursing facilities. This means that the nurses have to performed skilled tasks, not just "home care" such as cooking and cleaning for the patients. Additionally, you must meet certain requirements for this to apply, such as have a preceding hospital stay of at least three full days, need treatment for an ailment that was diagnosed in the hospital, and need treatment that requires professional nurse supervision.

Part B of Medicare, or medical insurance, tends to help with more outpatient needs than Part A. This includes diagnostic testing that can be performed in a lab or physician's office, such as x-rays. Additionally, it covers blood transfusions, outpatient treatments, certain severe drugs like chemotherapy, as well as prosthetics that you may require after an illness or surgery.

Medicare Advantage plans, or Part C, gives you the option to receive your Medicare help via a private institution rather than public. While Medicare Advantage plans can have their own prescription drug plan, a separate Plan D that is open to those who are eligible for Plan A and Plan B can also help you with your prescription drugs.

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What to Look for When Reading Home Business Reviews

If you do a lot of research on how to earn more income, then you may have come across home business reviews both online and offline. In such reviews, you will encounter the different ways that people make money from their homes; you will get information on how much money you need to put in and how much you will be earning; and you will also get information on what kinds of paperwork you will need in order to get your home business running. How can home business reviews help you when you are doing network marketing?

Many other home businesses start from scratch: the owners of such start up home businesses will often have to go through a lot of paperwork, legwork, and bureaucracy in order to get the proper licenses for selling certain products or services, and in order to demand taxes from their clients. Moreover, such home businesses will require a larger staff, with people undertaking accounting, marketing, product research and development, and financing. Although home businesses are literally small enterprises, they still need the right number of people to staff and run them, especially since micromanaging by one owner will do more harm than good.

In network marketing, however, things are less of a hassle. For one, you do not need to go through paperwork in order to get the license to sell things, aside from the paperwork that you need to join the network marketing program. You also need less legwork: when joining a network marketing program, many of the legalities will be in the hands of the network marketing program heads, who will assist you through buying different things and selling them later on. What you do need to take care of, however, are your finances, since some network marketing programs require a bit of capital from your end; and a marketing scheme, since you need to network with as many people as possible in order to make more money and earn more off your commissions.

When going through reviews on network marketing programs, there are many things that you need to be on the lookout for. If the review sounds too uppity-up, and if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Watch out for overblown promises, such as thousands of dollars in your first week of work, which can sometimes be impossible when you are starting out and without a network to back you up. Watch out for failure to mention any accrediting agencies: many network marketing programs are actually masked scams, so you need to be extra careful and vigilant when going through reviews.

Look at how much capital you will need at the onset. It makes no sense to go into a network marketing program that promises you thousands of dollars in payout if you are going to have to put in thousands of dollars of your own savings first. You may want to start low: assess your savings and see how much you can spare for capital. Remember, you need to be healthy and clothed, and your family needs to be sheltered, fed, and clothed, before you can do any investing in a network marketing program.

Lastly, look at the products or services that you will have to sell. Can you sell such products and services? Will you need them? Will they be useful to other people? Can you identify the target market for such products and services? Do you know where to find this target market online? Can you talk to this target market and is it in your marketing power to sell these products and services to this kind of market? Is there a monthly quota that you have to meet? When reading home business reviews, look at for these crucial questions as they get answered, and you can make the most of a network marketing scheme that is built especially for you.

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Start Your Own Pet Sitting Business

In summer most animal owners face a major dilemma. Go on holiday or stay at home? And if you opt for the holiday, decision number two is whether to put Fido into kennels or find someone to look after him while you are away.

Until recently it was a simple choice between kennels or finding a temporary home for your pet with caring friends or relatives. Or worse, asking someone you trust to visit your home each day to see to Fido's needs.

Now there is an easier option. One that's kinder to pets, saves you worrying, and could cost less than traditional boarding kennels. And you'll have the comfort of knowing your home is safe during your absence. That easier option is pet sitting.

Not all animals are suited to traditional boarding facilities sometimes they're old or ill and need constant attention. Very often the owner simply wants more personal attention for her pets than kennels or catteries can offer. Pet sitting fits the bill.

Sitters usually look after pets in the owner's home and generally supervise the property during their absence. Sometimes it's the other way round, where the animals are welcomed into the sitter's home. Sitters can work alone or through an agency. Where they operate via an agency, they are usually classed as self-employed. Bookings are invariably made through the agency and passed on to independent sitters who are free to accept or reject whatever placements are offered. Alternatively, some organisations accept sitters as employees, people who work when and where the parent firm stipulates and who are affected by all other conditions of the normal employer/employee relationship.

The business is fairly new to Britain and, despite the existence of several established firms, there's plenty of room for others to enter this enjoyable, potentially very lucrative field, especially at local level.

WHAT YOU CAN EARN

Much depends on the scale of your operation and whether you are self-employed or on an agency's payroll. The highest rewards go to sitters prepared to move into clients' homes and to offer related services, like caring for pets, watering and feeding plants, helping take care of the client's business, answering telephone calls, and the like. The more you offer, the higher your profits will be. And the more work you'll get.

WHAT TO DO NEXT

Decide on the type of service that suits you best. It's unlikely that anyone with family responsibilities can take over the running of another person's home but there's nothing to prevent you caring for animals in your own home.

Start by looking for advertisements placed by competing firms. Glossy magazines are popular advertising sources, so too are publications targeted at pet owners and animal lovers. Contact a few of these firms, pose as a potential client and ask for information about their business. Learn all you can about other firms then model your business on the very best features of theirs.

MARKETING YOUR BUSINESS

Again, it's mainly a question of emulating your most successful competitors. Base your advertisements on theirs - especially advertisements that have appeared unchanged over several issues. Have a brochure prepared for enquirers, indicating what service you offer and how much you charge. Ask enquirers to telephone for further information or to complete the booking form enclosed with your brochure. On receipt of the form, you confirm the booking and arrange a deposit. The balance is usually paid when the assignment begins.

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Select the Right Contractor For Your Home Improvement Project

Although there is no dearth of contractors, you need to select the one who can fulfill your specific requirements, just the way you desire. Before finalizing a contractor you need to take into consideration some important factors.

Though, you may find numerous listings of contractors in the yellow pages or on the internet, however it would be advisable to do some reference checks by consulting your friends or relatives who may have got their homes renovated.

In case you are unable to find any recommendations from your family or friends, then you can resort to any of the contractor referral service websites on the internet. Selecting the right contractor is highly crucial, since only a well experienced contractor would be able to execute your home renovation project with perfection.

Once you have shortlisted the contractors, it is advisable to do some reference checks from their previous clients; getting a background on the kind of work they have done will give you a clear insight on the quality & skill of their work. You will also be able to assess whether the contractor understands your requirements or not.

Checking the credentials of the contractor is an important step and should not be overlooked. You can contact your state's licensing agency to determine the validation of the certificates and licenses held by the contractor. Another important aspect that you should look for is the liability insurance cover held by the contractor. Carrying adequate general Liability Insurance and Worker's Compensation Insurance is essential to avoid unnecessary claims of negligence arising against you.

Get estimates and compares contractors on the basis of what they are charging for your particular project. However, one word of caution to people who want to select contractors solely on the basis of their price; a low priced estimate could be due to the fact that the contractor uses low quality material to complete a job. Although such a deal will cost you less, it is generally not recommended to opt for it.

Finally, after you have shortlisted and finalized a contractor you should get all the agreements in writing. Carefully review this written document and only if everything is satisfactory, sign a contract. A contract should contain various details such as the starting and completion date of the project, the payment terms, detailed job specifications as well as a 'right to cancel' clause that would allow you to cancel the contract within a specified period of time in case you are not satisfied.

Although the task of short listing and selecting a contractor for your home renovation project can be quite complex, by following the above mentioned points you will definitely be able to select a contractor who will execute your home improvement project as per your requirements for the best price.

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Health Care Reform Can Start Now With No High Price Tag

Obama and Congress are taking the entirely wrong approach to health care reform. We can be doing so much right now to improve health care without suspicious price tags. There is nothing wrong with carrying out reform in two phases: the immediate and low price-tag phase, and the longer-term, let's-find-the-money-first phase.

What can be done now, with little public opposition:

One group plan

Everyone would have access to insurance if all insurance companies were required to offer a plan to individuals as though they were all in one large company group plan, with the same rate and no exclusions. There is no cost to taxpayers; premiums are paid by the insured.

Guaranteed coverage and insurance market reforms

Few would argue with such provisions. The health insurance industry has been such a Wild West that companies could promise anything and provide nothing. They suffered no bad consequences when they blatantly breached contracts with subscribers. Other than enforcement, there would be no cost to taxpayers.

Essential benefits

An independent committee would define an "essential benefit package" as a minimum quality standard. It would include preventive services with no co-pays or deductibles, mental health services, and oral health and vision for children. It would cap the amount that consumers have to spend per year, and cost taxpayers nothing. Insurance companies could add features to this basic package. Now they can get away with not paying for basic services because most people do not have a choice of plans, and insurance plans are far too complicated to easily compare.

Individual responsibility

It is time for the government to be honest about the lifestyle factors that cause many of our health care problems. According to an article at preventdisease.com that is based on research reported in The New England Journal of Medicine, "preventable illness makes up approximately 80% of the burden of illness and 90% of all health care costs," and "preventable illnesses account for eight of the nine leading categories of death." This is the single most important factor in lowering health care costs and making people healthier. But in most ways it is not a role for government. It is up to individuals to change their habits. However, the federal government certainly shouldn't be making the situation worse. That means telling the truth about the fast food and prepared food industries. And it means requiring that government agencies and contractors use part-time and telecommuting work arrangements so people have time to exercise and prepare food at home. A national campaign aimed at employers, encouraging them to use flexible schedules for workers, such as part-time and telecommuting, could do a lot of good, with the government itself taking the lead. Cost to taxpayers: nothing. In fact, there are potentially huge savings in lowered health care costs.

Pushing for results

It is time for ratings. Netflix movies are rated. EBay sellers are rated. This is established technology. It is time for a central web site that shows us ratings for healthcare providers. Some sites do this now, but there are too many with too few ratings and it is chaotic. An insurance company doing ratings of its providers is not an unbiased source. How good is that doctor / hospital / radiology lab anyhow? How effective? How organized? How long a wait? How polite? How accurate a bill? This costs little and offers so much in savings and making healthcare very effective quickly. No more money is wasted on ineffective providers. People get well much sooner. Providers change their methods to get better ratings. Cost to taxpayers: very little. Such a site would also reveal the really bad eggs... moving on to...

Making sure health care providers really do their job

States are supposed to enforce this now, but often don't. According to a press release from Public Citizen's Sidney Wolfe, MD, "Most state medical boards are doing a dangerously lax job in enforcing their state medical practice acts and adequately disciplining physicians." In another article, Dr. Wolfe said that from 1990 to 2002, just five percent of U.S. physicians caused 54 percent of the nation's malpractice lawsuit payments, basing his numbers on information from the National Practitioner Data Bank. A constant stream of reports show that hospitals are covering up mistakes. If states were doing their job, there would be little or no malpractice lawsuits. This is far more important than tort reform. With ratings, state regulators, properly funded and monitored, could spot and check on providers who are doing a poor job before they do something really really wrong. Such a practice would eliminate payments to incompetent providers and lower malpractice cost. Cost to taxpayers: very little.

Emphasizing primary care

Health care reform needs to enhance the partnership between patient and primary care doctor. The primary care doctor is the one who needs to be on top of what is happening with a patient, with whatever record-keeping system works best for him or her (usually a hybrid of paper and database. All-electronic record-keeping is not reliable yet). Primary care doctors need to be paid as much or more than specialists and be paid for phone call and record-keeping time instead of just doctor visit time. Many doctors are forced to use a more expensive visit when a phone call will do because they don't get paid for phone time. Cost to taxpayers: nothing

Looking close at hospitals

Hospitals need to be very closely audited. Not only are there often bogus charges on bills, but the charges are far far beyond costs. No one really checks this, so they keep doing it. Employees wander around hospitals that don't seem to be doing anything. Hospitals charge for unnecessary tests, with no one making sure that tests are based on research. Anyone who complains is ignored. Medical institutions are roach motels for our hard-earned dollars. Dollars check in but they don't check out. Cost to taxpayers: very little.

A simple little thing

Refrigerator magnets can save millions. Yes, you read that right. A magnet can list the phone numbers, hours, and locations of urgent care centers that can be used during weekends and evenings instead of much more expensive emergency rooms. We now waste millions on non-emergency problems being treated in emergency rooms simply because people don't know where else to go. Cost to taxpayers: very little.

Another simple little thing

Money is wasted on mailed Explanation of Benefits forms from insurance companies when this information could be provided for free via a secured web site. Cost to taxpayers: nothing.

These no- or low-cost changes would greatly improve care and save millions. They are the first step. There is no reason to delay them in order to get a "comprehensive" health care reform. No reform can possibly work without them in place first.

Patty Zevallos
media producer - web, video, print
writing, directing, design, illustration, layout
pbzproductions.com pbzproductions.com

How Much Should I Sell My Home For?

The million dollar question when a person is selling a home is how much should they sell it for? That is one that they will often struggle with for quite some time. While there is no set way to give you such an answer, there are some things you can take into consideration that will help you to come to a number you are happy with. It is easy to overvalue a home you have for sale due to your attachment to it so be careful not to let that cloud your judgment.

Start by finding out what your payoff will be if you owe anything on the home. If you can help it you always want to make sure you get enough to cover what you owe and the real estate agency commissions if you aren't selling the home on your own. If you can't do this then you may have to lower the cost to cover as much of it as you can. This issue can be complex though so make sure you get some professional advice regarding it as well.

Do you want to make a profit on the sell of your home? You may need money for a down payment on a new home or to pay off some credit card debt. If so, then you will need to add that into your asking price. You need to be realistic though or you could end up with a home that simply doesn't sell due to being overpriced.

Find out what the value of your home is as well as those homes in your neighborhood. You can get this information from your local assessor's office free of charge. It is a great way to make sure you have the right information to work with. Hopefully the value of your home is more than you owe or more than you paid for it. When it is less though you will have to decide how much of a loss you may be willing to take on it.

How big of a hurry are you in to sell your home? This is a question that really impacts the selling price of a home. If you are desperate to get out from under it then the lower price is the best way to go. It is going to get you someone that is seriously interested in buying it right away. Remember that even after a bid has been placed and accepted it takes a while for the closing date to roll around.

What have you done to your home to increase the value? You may have installed special flooring, new carpeting, or even a new roof recently. All of these items can contribute to a justified increase in the asking price of a home. For example if you have a finished basement it will definitely be worth more than the same type of home with an unfinished basement.

Remember though that your asking price is mainly just a guideline. You may want to go a few thousand higher to start with. This is because it is very likely that a potential buyer is going to give you an offer that is a bit less. They want to get the best possible deal they can. This gives you some wiggle room with them too and you will still get what you need out of your home. Hopefully with all of these things taken into consideration you will have the information you need to determine how much to sell your home for without second guessing yourself.

How to sellhousenow.com.au sell my house? Many home owners may have this question when they want to sell house. How can I selling my house with a good price can be another question for home owners. If you don't want go with an agent who just label you house with a "house for sale" sign, you should try to sellhousenow.com.au sell house privately. Sellhousenow.com.au is a free portal for both home sellers and buyers.

The Benefits of Providing Cheap Accommodation in Return for Childcare Or Home Help

There is a growing trend in the budget travel market now, where backpackers are prepared to stay with host families in return for providing either childcare, home help or both. A mutually beneficial situation for the traveller and the family alike, where they can work and stay in their chosen destinations while still seeing the sites and sticking to their budget.

Providing accommodation for such backpackers can be a cheap alternative to paying the hefty cost of childcare. Perhaps you just need someone to mind the children while you go to work in the school holidays. Maybe you are looking for a more permanent arrangement. Whatever your childcare needs might be, there is now a way for you to find it online. Globetrotters from all over the world are now enjoying the benefits of finding and connecting with host families, and making arrangements for their stay before they have even left home.

As a potential host family, you can now look for and make arrangements with suitable candidates over the internet, or even line up several potential nannies or AuPairs if they are looking for short term employment with you. You can advertise for exactly what you are looking for, at a fraction of the cost of going through a childcare agency, and make your own decisions and choices from the comfort of your own home.

The Nannies and AuPairs available can select from the host families available, in the same way that you as the Host family can, but this method allows for everyone to gain what they need from the arrangement, and ensures compatibility.

You may also advertise for someone who is not only going to provide childcare, but is prepared to take on the house hold chores that you don't have time for. You may want a person who can do all of your house work, or just someone to run errands from time to time or do the ironing. There are no limits to what you can do; you can tailor your advertisement to suit your needs and connect with the right people for the job.

Childcare or AuPair agencies can often charge exorbitant fees, and you still may be left with someone who is incompatible with your family dynamic. By cutting out the middle man, in this case the agency and their fees, you can be sure to find what you and who you are looking for, in your own time and for a fraction of the cost.

You may not have had an AuPair before, and may be concerned about taking on a backpacker for the position, but with the ability to connect with each other and get to know each other online before your arrangement begins, you can take the time to get to know your Nanny before they even knock on your door.

If you are looking for just a little babysitting from time to time, full time childcare, or just vacation care and some housework, make sure you take the time to explore the possibilities online.

Finding a Nanny or AuPair is easy at busybusy.com.au Busy Busy so come and take a look - sign up is cheap!

What You Need to Know About Bad Credit Mortgages

While a credit score is not actually a reflection of your worth as an individual, it can feel that way at times, particularly when you're ready to move your family into a home of your own and face obstacles because of your credit. The Current Mortgage and Credit Crises The current economy is not a good time to be seeking a bad credit mortgage. With the real estate market imploding and creditors cracking down on people with less than stellar repayment records, this is a very difficult time to seek a mortgage with bad credit. But if you realize going in that you may have difficulty getting a mortgage with your credit rating, and you're willing to be persistent, seek out a good mortgage broker who can help you find a legitimate lender, and pay a little more in interest to get into a home now, it is possible.

Can You Get a Mortgage with Bad Credit? There are mortgage lenders who specialize in borrowers with bad credit. Even in the current economic downturn, it is possible to get a mortgage with bad credit. Lenders may be more selective about their borrowers now, but if your income is adequate and you've shown a willingness to save and try to repair your credit, you can probably find a lender who will help you get into a home.

The problem is, you may also find a "lender" who wants to profit from your bad situation. Unfortunately, unscrupulous people are always willing to take your money, so you need to be on the lookout for these scam artists and avoid them at all costs. How to Spot Fake Bad Credit Lenders Fake lenders are most easily spotted by the fact that they want you to pay up front for their services. They may couch this as an "evaluation" fee, or a fee for finding you a mortgage. However they phrase it, this is a way of separating you from your money without performing any services. If you pay this fee, you will never hear from the "lender" again, and your money will be gone. You may be asked by a legitimate lender to pay a very small fee (on the order of $20-$25) to have them pull a credit report. This is to cover their costs of pulling the report, and does not make them a fake lender. In fact, a fee this small would hardly interest fake lenders. The scam artists ask for far larger fees, often in the hundreds of dollars, and "guarantee" you will get a loan, or you will get the money back. Their guarantee is worthless, of course, because as soon as you turn over the money, they disappear with it, and you'll never hear from them again. Two warning signs of a fake lender are an upfront fee to find you a loan, and a "guarantee" that you will receive a loan. No one can guarantee that, and no real lender will, but a scam artist has no problem making such a guarantee, because he knows you'll never be able to collect on it.

What Will a Genuine Lender Do? A genuine lender will not give you any numbers regarding what you can qualify or how much you will be able to borrow, until the loan officer has examined your credit report in detail. The fact is, bad credit mortgages vary widely, based on what your credit and income look like and what the current circumstances are in the credit market. A legitimate lender will be extremely courteous and helpful during the process of looking over your credit report and financial situation and helping you determine what kind of loan, if any, you may qualify for. Real lenders answer questions and help potential borrowers with any issues or problems they might have. Keep in mind that the customer service you receive before the loan is granted tells you how you will be treated later. You will never get better service than while the lender is trying to get your business, so don't accept anything less than the best. What You Should Not Accept Scammers will try to convince you that since you have bad credit, you will not be able to find anything better than what they are offering, and that the service you're receiving is the best you can expect "because of your credit." This is not true. While you may not be able to get the greeneasylife.com best loan terms, you deserve, and can find, a lender who will treat you with respect and courtesy and try to get you into the greeneasylife.com best loan available considering your circumstances.

Getting Help Getting a Loan In many areas, housing agencies and community advocacy organizations offer help in getting a loan with less than desirable credit. These programs often offer a class you can take, usually for free or for a token amount, and a certificate of completion you can take to certain lenders to show that you are trying to improve your situation, get your credit back in line, and buy a home. These programs will usually line you up with a lender open to bad credit mortgages and sometimes real estate agents who are experienced in helping first-time homebuyers find the right property. Do not feel embarrassed or ashamed about signing up for one of these programs. If you have had financial difficulties in the past and are now overcoming them, you should feel proud that you are emerging from your problematic past and are about to become a homeowner.

This is an important step and you should not feel bad about needing a little help to get back on track. Hidden Terms and Conditions of Bad Credit Mortgages You should look carefully at any loan you are offered, to make sure there are not hidden costs that drive up your payment or your overall cost for the home. One common hidden cost is a prepayment penalty. When this exists, you may be paying excess interest simply to cover the prepayment penalty. If a lender insists on this penalty and you cannot find a loan without it, ask the lender to reduce the amortization, to reduce your overall cost. The One Thing to Keep in Mind when Researching Bad Credit Mortgages When you begin looking for bad credit mortgage lenders, do a lot of research, and make sure the lender you decide to work with is legitimate. You can find a lot of information online about any institution you consider working with, and you can also learn a lot by asking real estate agents about lenders they have worked with. Keep in mind that any lender, no matter how sincere they may seem, who asks for a substantial fee to "find you a loan," is trying to scam you. Legitimate lenders do not ask for large fees for their services. They get paid when they make a loan and you repay it. Only scam artists will take your money up front for services they have not, and will not, perform. Keep in mind, when looking for a mortgage with bad credit, that people have, and continue to, get bad credit mortgages. There are lenders who offer mortgages to people in your situation. If anyone else can get a mortgage with less than great credit, you can get a mortgage, as well. You may encounter scam artists in your search for a mortgage. Do not let this worry or deter you. You will be able to avoid these cons and find a legitimate lender who will be happy to work with you to find a mortgage.

If you are interested in going through a program for first-time home buyers with bad credit, contact your local or state housing agency, or talk with a real estate agent in your area to find out if any organizations in your area offer such a program. These programs are usually offered on weekends to help working individuals attend the class, and can provide a great deal of assistance in getting into a home. Making bad credit decisions in the past has happened to almost everyone at some time or other. Some did not reach the level of having bad credit, and some have recovered. But you are not alone in the position of seeking a mortgage with credit that does not reach the standards usually required for a mortgage. You will no doubt pay a higher interest rate, and may be able to borrow less than you had hoped, but in the long run, you will find that your decision to seek a mortgage and become a homeowner have been the best decisions you've ever made.

Author Jason Brooks is a Denver mortgage originator denverhomelender.com denverhomelender.com Information about Denver mortgages can be found on denverhomelender.com denverhomelender.com

An Eye Towards the Future of HME Billing Software

A true "enterprise" system should handle virtually every operational, financial and clinical aspect of a provider's business in one fully integrated database. The system will handle all of the Provider's service and product lines including HME, respiratory, nutritional, infusion and/or happinesslifetime.com home care agency, providing one common patient record, common financials and enterprise-wide reporting capabilities. An enterprise system should be able to manage every aspect of the business, from patient intake right through the delivery of the product to the patient's home. This should include the various steps that it takes to make it all happen such as purchasing, inventory control, equipment maintenance tracking, compliance issues, clinical reporting, dispatching of delivery vehicles, customer service functions, A/R, billing and collections.

Having access to good data is key to being successful. A software system that supports a true open architecture with full access to the database will allow providers to analyze their various product lines, vendors and patients to determine profitability and undercover potential revenue streams. Many software products either limit the client's access to all of the data, or store it in such a way that it is not easily accessible for analysis. Fastrack offers a completely open database, providing multiple tools to access the data - including extensive reports, the ability for clients to write their own reports with Crystal Report Writer, our executive dashboard, and Fastrack Business Intelligence, a powerful data mining tool.

Certain inherent features that provide checks and balances are absolutely required to meet the accreditation deadline, including the ability to track HIPAA statement compliance; required security features - including knowing who is accessing patient records; the ability to invoke hold options; and equipment maintenance so that the provider knows when the equipment needs preventative maintenance/servicing. Additional requirements include built-in emergency procedures, a robust patient database, and the reporting tools to complete the accreditation questionnaire.

The software will need to provide information to help complete the bids, especially in the area of profitability by product. It will also need to alert the user that they can or cannot provide the patient with a specific product depending on whether they won the bid.

Determining how easy or difficult this process will be depends on a number of factors. Switching to a new software system can be made easier if clients take the time to train their staff properly, work with their vendor to determine a good strategy, or electronically transfer their database to the new system - and are open to potentially improving their workflow process. The key is not to get hung up on "how we did it in the past."

The biggest misconception is cast, which ironically, with all of the various options to finance, can be as little as the monthly fee on a good copier - but unfortunately, many providers are not aware of this. Fastrack offers an Internet-hosted solution with one low monthly fee that includes the application, data backups, and other IT support. The other misconception is that staff members will not be able to embrace new technology. Our experience has always been the opposite in that the staff tends to want to take advantage of ways to improve their responsibilities and eliminate the tedious tasks that many people face in their work - as well as the potential mistakes that are time-consuming.

Don't be fooled by canned demonstrations where the sales rep doesn't allow users to enter information because they do not want the prospect to see the lack of functionality. Be suspicious of pretty looking screens that make it appear easy to use, but really lack the depth that you need to run an HME company. Be wary of promises of features that are coming that cannot be demonstrated today, or vendors that do not come on-site for an implementation meeting to learn how your business operates - and don't provide on-site training.

There are companies that offer only a hosted model. While hosting has many advantages for smaller providers, as your business grows you may want to take the system in-house, and this may force you to have to switch to another vendor. Make sure your vendor offers the ability to take the application in-house if you need to.

Unfortunately, much of the software being sold is still overglorified billing systems that lack serious technology advances. We offer a true enterprise system incorporating the latest technology for this market. We continue evaluating new technologies to incorporate into our products for the purposes of helping our clients reduce operating costs and improve efficiencies.

onlyfastrack.com onlyfastrack.com

Spencer Kay
President/CEO
Fastrack Healthcare Systems
onlyfastrack.com onlyfastrack.com

Guidelines to Follow When Moving

Once in a few years you might find the need to relocate your home which is unavoidable. Moving homes is one hell of a job and demands too much out of you. There are too many things to be done, things packed, inventoried, closing of local accounts and moving things, unpacking, putting away etc. In the entire project you are likely to make mistakes and leave out few things unattended which is quite natural. If you are moving from one state to another, then the complexities are that much more because you do not have a chance to keep unfinished business and come back later to finish it off.

The first thing that comes to our minds naturally when we think of shifting homes is that it is quite easy to hire a trailer or a truck, inventorize things and pack them at home in advance. Then it is only the job of loading all things into the container and there it goes. You also think that you can drive down with your family in the car and follow the truck perhaps. But then this may not happen and may not be the ideal solution. You might have overlooked lot many practical things and issues.

The professional relocation service providers are the people who manage such projects across the country on day to day basis and would be the best professionals who know how to handle such things.

These professional have packers who assess the items and go about packing all of the furniture, equipments and all other things including show pieces, paintings, bone china etc so that they do not get damaged or break. They know how to optimize the space and save on space too.

If you try to complete the project you might take more than a week, whereas the professionals would requires just about one or two shifts. They come in multiple teams, ready with all toolkits and packing materials. They take an inventory of all things to be transported, pack them neatly with reinforcements if required, label the contents and finally make a packing list of al items to make it easier for unpacking at the destination.

The companies always use in house or contracted drivers to cover long distances. These drivers are responsible; know their routes and delivery the cargo safely and in time. Moreover transit insurance is also covered by the agency and charged back to you at actual.

When you plan to do the relocation by yourself, you would need to run around and take care of all these things yourself. You might end up spending more and also have to spend on repair or replacement of parts damaged if any. Etc

Having to close up your home, all accounts, saying good by to friends and moving your family to a new location and helping them settle down itself is a huge project by itself and needs all your attention. Finding new schools for children and getting to know how things work in the new environment and new office can be quite a strain. It is better that you do not add to your burden and engage an agency to do the shifting for you.

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You Want To Become A Work At Home Mom -- Here Are Some Things To Watch Out For!

You finally made the decision to become a work at home mom. Congradulations! The choice to work from home is becoming more and more popular for many moms. And for good reason, you can...

* be your own boss

* set your own schedule

* make money

* be home for your kids

Basically you have two choices, You can start your own home based business or you can telecommute for a company that hires remote workers.

As the popularity for finding work at home grows, unfortunately so do the scams offering big financial rewards. Work-at-home con artists have always preyed most upon moms who want to stay at home with their kids, people with low income and few job skills, and those who are looking to get rich quick.

Your first step when searching for a work at home opportunity should be for you to familiarize yourself with whats out there in the way of work at home "jobs" and "opportunities" on the Internet or you may find yourself being conned by work-at-home scam artists. You may also become unwittingly involved in helping them to promote their programs, and helping them to continue their deception.

The key to finding "Real" Work at Home jobs or opportunities is research. I know it's very tempting to fall prey to work-at-home opportunities that offer "easy money". I was a victim myself several years ago when I was a "newbie" to the Internet. Be sure to take the time to learn all that you can about a home employment offer, and about what you'll REALLY need to do to make money in it BEFORE you say yes or you could

Lose your money!

Waste valuable time!

Ruin your reputation!

Or even be a target of legal action!

Here are some common scams to watch out for, sometimes the ads may be worded a bit different- scam artists are very sneaky...

ASSEMBLY WORK AT-HOME: Typical Ad -- "Assembly work at home! Easy money assembling craft items. No experience necessary."

This scheme requires you to invest your money for instructions and materials and many hours of your time to produce items for a company that has promised to buy them. Once you have purchased the supplies and have done the work, the company often decides not to pay you because your work does not meet certain "standards." You are then left with merchandise that is difficult or impossible to sell.

CHAIN LETTER: Typical Ad -- "Make copies of this letter and send them to people whose names we will provide. All you have to do is send us ten dollars for our mailing list and labels. Look at the chart below and see how you will automatically receive thousands in cash return!!!"

The only people who benefit from chain letters are the mysterious few at the top of the chain who constantly change names, addresses, and post office boxes. They may try to impress you by describing themselves as successful professionals who know all about non-existent sections of alleged legal codes.

ENVELOPE STUFFING: Typical Ad -- "$350 Weekly Guaranteed! Stuffing Envelopes at Home!"

When answering such ads, you may not receive what you expected, but instead get instructions on how to place the same kind of ad the advertiser ran in the first place. There are several variations on this type of scheme, all of which require you to spend money on advertising and materials. According to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, "In practically all businesses, envelope stuffing has become a highly mechanized operation using sophisticated mass mailing techniques and equipment which eliminates any profit potential for an individual doing this type of work-at-home. The Inspection Service knows of no work-at-home promotion that ever produces income as alleged."

PROCESSING MEDICAL INSURANCE CLAIMS: Typical Ad -- "You can earn from $800 to $1000 weekly processing insurance claims on your home computer for health care professionals such as doctors, dentists chiropractors, and podiatrists. Over 80% of providers need your services. Learn how in one day!"

When you respond to the ad you will be told that you must have this particular software program to perform medical billing work from your home. Prices can range from $50 to $500. The software program consists of not much more than doctor names and addresses and examples of letters that you may use to contact them. Few people who purchase this medical billing business opportunity or software program are never able to find clients, start a business and generate revenues-let alone earn a substantial income and recover their investment. Competition in the medical billing market is fierce and revolves around a number of large and well-established firms. Furthermore, those that are hired as Billers for "real employers" have years of experience.

HOME TYPIST JOBS: Typical Ad -- "Now hiring clerical home typists! Work directly for our company. No experience necessary. No selling. Positions available worldwide."

There are several companies on the internet that advertise the availability of "home employment" through home typist or ad typist "jobs" with their companies. The truth is, you will not be "hired" as an "employee" of the company as their advertising suggests. Instead, you will pay a fee to join and get instructions on how to advertise the same type of ad you answered.

E-MAIL/ORDER PROCESSORS - This may also be advertised as "Clerical Workers Needed" When you answer this ad you will be asked to submit a payment anywhere from $10 - $50 for application and/or processing fee and shipping and handling for the software they tell you is neccessary to complete the required work. What you get is a letter with instuctions on how and where to place the same kind of ad you answered and a 3x5 floppy with useless work-at-home jobs, a mixture of computer-related work such as word processing or data entry and the same old envelope-stuffing and home crafts scams. You are instructed to copy the letter and floppy and send this to people who answer your ad.

Real legitimate work at home jobs do exist...you just have to know where to look and what to watch out for to avoid being scammed. So what can you do to protect yourself while still seeking out work-at-home opportunities?

Steer Clear of Starter Fees.

When searching for a telecommuting job remember...Legitimate EMPLOYERS will NOT ask you for money (not for software, not for an application or processing fee, nothing)--REMEMBER don't pay someone to work for them! Legitimate Employers Pay You!

Beware of Big Promises.

Be suspicious of any job description promising overnight success or using phrases like "effortless," "no experience required," "easy money," "hidden job market," "make money fast," or "earn hundreds or thousands a week." Believe me, there is no such thing as easy! Work is Work. Your success will depend on the amount of time and effort you put in to it. If it sounds too good to be true, chances are it's a scam.

Do a Background Check.

Before getting involved with any work-from-home opportunity or job resource, type in the company's name on various search engines to view anything that may have been written about it. Good or Bad

Then check out the company with watchdog agencies such as:

bbb.org The Better Business Bureau

scambusters.com Scambusters

fraud.org National Fraud Information Center

webassured.com Web Assured (click on its "Watch List" to view complaints about various companies.)

So remember, to avoid losing any of your hard-earned money, be sure to take the time to learn all that you can about a home employment offer, and about what you'll REALLY need to do to make money in it BEFORE you say yes.

Kim Miller is a work at home mom and knows what it's like to scammed. She invites you to visit her website [wahmoms.net] - a site to help moms find work at home success!

Enter the Age of Home-Based Senior Care

In the Research Triangle area of North Carolina, more and more elderly citizens are choosing to "age in place" by hiring providers of home care. Durham NC residents have much available to them in the way of geriatric health and living services. From the run of the mill nursing facility to luxury retirement communities - seniors have a number of lifestyle options by the time they reach the latter years of their life and determine that they're in need of more care than they themselves, or their loved ones, can provide.

Senior care, Clayton NC to Clayton MO, is not just another small, specialized area of health care - it is an expansive and lucrative business that is rapidly growing into a colossal industry as the Baby Boom generation continues to age, demanding a whole new slew of services - and lots of them. As the population of senior citizens here in North Carolina and across the nation skyrockets, the number of seniors using home care is expected to double - likely by the year 2030. Medical professionals, social workers, advocates for the elderly - not to mention the senior citizens themselves, are quickly discovering they're more comfortable being cared for in their homes than relocating.

Home care services can be chosen based on the needs of the patient. Depending on where you live and what you have available, you can find round-the-clock care providers or nurses to come in just a few hours of the day, on all or just certain days of the week. You can have special needs tended to as long as you have hired an agency that can dispatch medically trained caregivers. And if you're a cancer patient, an Alzheimer's patient, or you're on dialysis, for instance, you can find someone to come into your home to care for you and who has specialized training and experience with some or all of your unique medical conditions.

For sick and aging citizens who don't require health-driven home care, there are plenty of providers that offer basic care services at the patient's home. Lots of folks just need someone to help with things around the house and maybe run a few errands. Maybe your eyesight isn't what it used to be and you're no longer comfortable driving but sharp as a tack and still capable of performing most normal daily tasks. This is a scenario where a provider of home care, Clayton NC or wherever you live, would really work.

Major life decisions deserve a lot of consideration, particularly if they are costly and long-term. When, either alone or with their loved ones, seniors make the choice to age in place, it's crucial that a great deal of thought is put into the hired caregiver. Choose a home care provider in the Durham area that is reputable, well-established and that just feels right to you. Conduct thorough interviews and ask to see credentials for both the agency and the caregiver. This may be the biggest decision you'll ever make.

Written by Jenny Heart. Quality homecareraleighnc.com home care Durham: Receive home care Clayton, Alzheimer's and elder care through homecareraleighnc.com senior care Clayton NC, Raleigh, Cary, Wake Forest.

Risks to Know About in a Sell and Rent Back Scheme

Although there are many different benefits that can come out of a sell and rent back scheme it helps to be aware of some of the risks that can be associated with it. These risks are ones that deal with a variety of factors that you should know about before you get into this type of plan. They can easily influence various things with regards to one's home.

The first risk comes from how you will no longer be the owner of your own home when you get this type of plan. When entering a sell and rent back scheme you are essentially giving your home out to another agency that works with this type of plan. You are simply going to be seen as the renter of your property.

With this in mind the ability of you to do certain things in your home like make massive renovations or other types of services on your home could be extremely limited. In some cases a contract might be able to say otherwise but this is not always going to be the case. You will need to check your contract carefully to see what this part of the deal entails.

In addition to this while you will be able to pay a rent charge that can be lower than that of what you were originally paying with your mortgage there is no guarantee that the rent charge will be the same during the entire life of your scheme. There is always the risk that the value of your rent payments could end up increasing over time. This can happen due to a number of things including the possible increase in the value of the property that is being used in the contract over time.

You will also be able to get less money off of your home when you sell it and get into a sell and rent back scheme than if you sold off your property altogether. In many cases a traditional type of sale can be one where you can get close to what the property value of your home was. In this type of scheme you will end up getting much less than what you were originally going to get from your home.

While it is true that you can get into a sell and rent back scheme without having to deal with any repossession concerns you should know that you can still become eligible for repossession later on. This will come in the event that you fail to pay off the rent that you will have to deal with. When this happens you would be removed from your property and you will be forced to go somewhere else for a home.

Finally there is the risk of what could happen in the event that the agency that you handle a sell and rent back scheme with folds or goes out of business. If this happens you will be forced to either buy your property or be evicted from your property. This comes from how your property would be placed in the open market as soon as your home is no longer under the control of a scheme. These risks are important to consider when getting into this type of scheme. While you can get all sorts of helpful benefits off of a sell and rent back scheme you can still be at risk of being evicted and you can get less off of your home with this type of plan. Be sure to consider these factors when you are looking into getting into one of these plans.

Steven Martin is a FSA interim authorized provider of quickpurchase.co.uk/content/sell-and-rent-back Sell and rent back and also provides a Quick property sale and Stop repossession service. He works at quickpurchase.co.uk quickpurchase.co.uk

Mortgage Loans: Your Credit Score and Your Mortgage Application

When you apply for a mortgage or home greeneasylife.com equity loan the mortgage lender will use your credit score to determine how much of a financial risk you are and what interest rate to charge you. Many homeowners do not know their credit score or understand how it is derived; these homeowners overpay their finance charges as a result. Here is what you need to know about your credit score before applying for a loan.

Mortgage lenders use your credit score from the Fair Isaac Corporation. This credit score is referred to as your FICO score. FICO credit scores range from 300 to 850. If your credit score is less than 620 you are considered to have poor credit and are a risk for lending. If your credit score is 720 or greater you are considered to have excellent credit; if you have excellent credit you can negotiate for just about anything you want with your mortgage.

If your credit score is in the neighborhood of 500 you can still qualify for a mortgage; however, you will pay much more for nearly all aspects of the loan. There are mortgage lenders that specialize in poor credit greeneasylife.com mortgage loans; however, you may need to enlist the help of a mortgage broker to find a loan that is right for your individual situation.

As a homeowner it is important to stay on top of your credit score and your credit history. Check your credit reports with the three credit agencies carefully for errors. If you find errors in any of these reports you will need to dispute them. Also, make sure you are making all of your payments on time. A large portion of your credit score is derived from your history of on-time payments. Another way to improve your credit score is to lower your debt-to-income ratio. Pay down the balances on your credit cards and avoid making large purchases prior to applying for a mortgage or home greeneasylife.com equity loan.

To learn more about your your credit, mortgage options, and how to avoid common mortgage mistakes, register for a free mortgage guidebook.

To get your free mortgage guidebook visit RefiAdvisor.com using the link below.

Louie Latour specializes in showing homeowners how to avoid common mortgage mistakes and predatory lenders. For a free copy of "refiadvisor.com Mortgage Refinancing: What You Need to Know," which teaches strategies to find the best mortgage and save thousands of dollars in the process, visit Refiadvisor.com.

Claim your free guidebook today at: refiadvisor.com refiadvisor.com

refiadvisor.com/pblog mortgages for dummies

Questions to Ask Your Baby Sitter Agency to Get the Best Babysitting Services

A baby sitter agency is there to help you with your babysitting requirements. There will always be times when you are unable to attend to your kids, and that is definitely not uncommon among parents everywhere. However, randomly picking a babysitter from a sitter agency will not ensure the best services and utmost safety for your kids. Therefore, you should take time to review and match candidates to your family's specific needs.

If you want only the best services for your family, consider jotting down as many questions as you can pertaining to the specific service you are looking for from the baby sitter agency. It is essential that you make inquiries so that you get the best assurance and of course, peace of mind while you are not in your home with your kids. Your questions could help you obtain vital references, make comparisons between top agencies, see exactly what your options are, confirm the costs that fit your budget, and be certain about the policies and guarantees involved with an agency.

Now let's talk about what questions to ask. You could ask how many years of experience a babysitter has had, and if he or she has cared for children who are similar to your child's age. You could ask "additional" questions, such as how they would keep your kids entertained or busy while you are gone and if they can cook for your kids. Other important questions to ask is how they would be able to handle emergency situations, if they've completed any babysitting or first aid course, and if they have their own transportation.

Finally, ask about the rate that a babysitter is charging and if he or she can give you some references from previous or current babysitting clients. Finding and getting some assistance from a baby sitting agency is your first step, and the rest you have to personally make sure the sitter you're looking into hiring is qualified, reliable and professional.

You can enjoy Mommy Time without the guilt or worry of leaving your baby to untrained, incompetent sitters. nannies-sitters.com Find a babysitter for your baby. Log on to the best-reviewed baby sitting agencies online and learn howtofindababysitter.com how to find a babysitter for your kids.

Pharmacist Jobs - What Are Some Of The Places A Person Can Work?

At one time or another while looking for work, you may have noticed the multitude of pharmacist jobs advertised in a local newspaper or on an internet website. And, as it has always been in the past, there still seems to be plenty of work for pharmacists, and in many different venues. For your convenience, here are just a few examples of some of the places you could go in a pharmacist career, should you choose one:

Chain stores that have pharmacy services - One of the many roads you could choose to travel is to look for jobs in the pharmacy at one of the big retail store chains that provide this service for their customers as a regular convenience.

Besides getting your foot in the door of a company that has the potential for a long, rewarding career, consider the other benefits you could encounter. In addition to getting the regular medical, dental, vacation and profit sharing package many companies still offer their employees, you could also end up with perks like huge discounts on all of their store merchandise, as well as on medications for yourself and family members.

Non-profit hospitals and other medical facilities - Another great route in which to take to start or continue a pharmacist career is by getting a job at a big hospital or at one of your town's smaller medical clinics. Besides the many fine benefits that also come along with working for these types of organizations, there is another thing for you to consider.

Hospital employees, and licensed medical personnel in particular, often end up staying at the institution at which they begin their career - for the whole life of their career. And, during that time, there is often ample opportunity for a person to take advantage of continuing his education in regard to his chosen profession, and in doing so, may get offered opportunities to take higher paying positions with more responsibility.

And, if things like that don't interest you but you do like to "shake it up a bit" are far as working at different locations to keep it "fresh", there will usually be an opportunity or two for you to transfer to another facility within the organization that will still let you maintain your exact job duties in the pharmacy.

Home IV Therapy company - In some countries, such as the United States, there exist private companies that cater specifically to those persons who are in-patients at hospitals, and can go home - provided there is a way to make sure they are still able to get their IV antibiotics, chemo or other medications that they were getting in the facility. And, this is the need that these types of companies fill.

Some of them were actually started by former hospital pharmacists themselves - and now they hire other pharmacy personnel to take doctor's orders and mix up the compounds patients need, right there on-site. Then, they are responsible for shipping it to wherever the patient resides, so the patient or his caregiver can be trained by a nursing home care business, to run and operate the IV - just like medical personnel did at the hospital. You could choose to go this route, and be a part of an organization that provides this alternative to many grateful patients who now have the opportunity to recuperate in the privacy of their own homes.

So as you can see, there are pharmacist jobs all over the board and many different ways to go with them - all waiting for those who are ambitious enough, and wish to get educated in this field.

RPh on the Go offers pharmacists total flexibility to customize their career, competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and personalized rphonthego.com pharmacy career counseling.

When Buying a Spanish Property - Do You Need An Agent? Find Out Now

As many have learnt the hard way - there are agents in Spain who will willingly take you for a ride - and it tends to be the bigger and well known foreign agencies that are the worst (the very ones who say you can trust them). So in this jungle is it worth using an agent to buy your Spanish Property or is it worth going on your own?

There is no doubt that an agent can be of great assistance if they know their area and should be able to help you narrow down your search to a few specific properties. Ideally they should sit with you a while and endeavour to discover your real requirements for your house. But this boils down to much more than how many bedrooms a house has and if it has a pool or not. For example you may see your dream house in a photo, and the agent takes you to view it, but after talking to you he/she discovers that one of you doesn't drive. The house may be perfect but the area is miles from anywhere. Clearly then going to see such a property would be a waste of your time.

You can rest assured that if you visit 10 agents at least 9 of them would take you to see this house. The sad fact is that most agents aren't really concerned about your needs, only whether you buy a property from them or not, so you may end up being shown many houses that really don't fit the bill. You will feel frustrated, dejected and probably begin to think that your dream home doesn't exist.

They may have nothing better to do with their days (and in today's slow market it is probably a welcome relief to be showing houses than sitting in their office drinking coffee). But do YOU really want to be trailing around houses that do not meet your basic needs let alone your implied needs.

Also some agents put you under inordinate pressure to buy and some (like my now friends who bought by a main road) are pressurised into buying something not suitable for them. Don't ever be pressurised by anyone. If you don't feel comfortable with a viewing for any reason - politely say so and exit.

I once asked to see apartments within 200M of the beach and was shown a town house 20 minutes inland (that's 20 minutes drive inland). When I asked why we had come to see it I was told that it was a lovely house. No doubt it was but it wasn't what I asked for. Needless to say we went back to the car park to pick up my car amid protests from the agent that he had some really nice properties to see.

Your time is important and you need to utilise it very carefully. A good agent on the other hand, is worth his (or her) weight in gold. They will help you through every step of the way and guide you through the minefield and ensure you get the best property to suit your needs. At the very least they will try and understand you as a person/family and try to ensure that they match you with an ideal property. It shouldn't stop there though. A good agent will also help you long after the ink has dried - easing you into your new life, helping you locate schools, buying cars finding tradesmen and much more.

How do you find a good agent?

Finding bad agents is easy. Finding mediocre ones equally so. So how do you pick out the good from the bad? The easiest way is to ask questions. Many people advocate only using agents who have API membership - this is the Spanish Estate Agents association (or one of them). However whilst current membership extends certain safeguards on the client, not all API registered agents are still registered. Equally not all non registered agents are bad. Wow what a battle - how do you judge?

Prepare a list of questions to ask them - the following is a sample, but not exhaustive, list

o How long have they been in business

o How many clients have they dealt with

o What services do they offer their clients both during and after the sale

o What commissions do they charge

o Do they speak good Spanish (if not how can they possibly operate in Spain)

o Do they translate all documents in English

o Can you speak to some previous clients

and anything else you deem important. Also ask in local bars (specifically Spanish ones) who they would recommend - the Spanish don't like estate agents and so will only give you recommendations that they believe are good.

What about going it alone?

So let's assume you decide you don't want to use an agent. How do you find a property yourself? In the Costa Blanca and the Costa del Sol you will find many publications (CB News, Inland Trader, Costa Del Sol News, Sur in English). However these are English Language papers and so you will in the main be dealing with English owners (a lot of whom have over realistic ideas as to the values of their property). Also be wary because a lot of agents advertise in the local papers in the lineage ads. Why - It is cheaper to do so and a lot of people just go straight past the main display ads for agents.

The internet is obviously a good source with sites such as ThinkSpain.com and Kyero.com - but these tend to be mainly agents advertising. In fact most of the properties advertised on the internet are agents. You may find a few For Sale By Owner type sites - but not many for the Spanish Property Market.

You can also pick up a copy of the local Spanish Papers (in the Valencia region a great source is Levante). These have adverts by Spanish People for property. You will find these comparatively cheaper than similar properties in the English Speaking Press.

You could also drive out to the areas you would like to live in look for Se Vende Signs (for Sale), ask at bars, in streets and anywhere (obviously this requires a knowledge of Spanish) but you would be surprised how many properties are up for sale but not advertised - there is a great jungle telephone system working out here. Many a time I have asked about property for sale to be told that neighbours have properties for sale - and the prices being asked are considerably less than you find in the estate agents.

Finally you could locate a buyers agent who would only act on your behalf. Be wary though many so called buyers agents are really just estate agents or collaborators who use the term to lead the buyer into thinking they are working for them. If it is a true buyers agent you should be paying their commission not the seller (or their agents)

So If you choose to go it alone make sure you do your homework - locate your area first then locate your property.

To use an agent or not? If you find the right one they can make the process so much easier. There are a few good ones. There are also many who have the best intentions but don't really know their right hand from their left, and there are others who will rob you blind if you let them But if you have no other option then just make sure you choose wisely.

Vince Barnes is the owner of SpanishProperty-Direct.co.uk SpanishProperty-Direct.co.uk – a website aimed at informing buyers about the process of buying in Spain and keeping up to date with news and regulations affecting the Spanish Property Market. He has also just published the book – “The Insiders Secret Guide To Buying A Property In Spain – The Book Estate Agents Don’t Want You To Read” – available at [spanishproperty-direct.co.uk/book.htm]

When the Elderly Refuse Care

You've spent hours pouring over information regarding elder care; you've researched and developed a plan of care for your elderly loved one that should be etched in gold! You're feeling so relieved, knowing that they will now be safe at home, and a caregiver will be there with them when you can't...until the day arrives when the caregiver comes to meet them, and your loved one refuses to open the door! What do you do now?

There can be many causes for this reaction to your plan. Perhaps they feel a loss of control in their lives. Maybe they resent feeling like they aren't trusted to be alone at home any longer, and their self esteem is hurting. Maybe they're afraid of having a stranger in their home. Maybe they want their privacy and don't really understand why they need help in the first place! The way you respond to your loved one's concerns may eventually determine if your "golden" care plan is going to be successful or not.

Before you even begin to initiate your care plan, include your loved one in the "research project." Make sure they feel like they are a part of making the decisions as to who to hire, when the caregiver should come, and what type of care they may need. Even if they aren't completely sure they need the help, it may give them the added confidence they need to know that you still value their input and respect their opinions.

If your loved one is fearful of having strangers in their home, listen to their concerns and let them know you understand. When deciding who to hire, make sure you go to a reputable agency that does criminal background checks and has good referrals and testimonials. Reassure your loved one of those things when you make your final choice. Make sure the caregiver comes to meet them for the first time when you are there with them, and give them a chance to form an initial impression before you insist on keeping that particular caregiver. Usually after just a few visits, the apprehension dissolves into a cheery, trusting relationship that your loved one will truly enjoy.

If they just don't agree that they need the help, you have unfortunately entered into the greatest challenge of all, especially if your loved one is suffering from altered thought processes and is unable to identify with your concerns. This may be the time to be loving but firm with them, and let them know that there really isn't a choice when their safety is at stake. Reassure them that your motive is to help them live at home for as long as they can safely do that, and let them know you're on their side. Make compromises if you can safely do so; for instance, have the caregiver come the same number of visits per week, but maybe for shorter time periods. Try referring to the caregiver as the "cook" or the "housekeeper" ...let them know you want to pamper them! Make sure your loved one realizes they aren't expected to entertain their "guests", and they can go about doing whatever they would normally do if no one was there. On the other hand, if your loved one enjoys socializing, suggest a lively game of cards when their caregiver is there, or some other activity with them that your loved one would enjoy. Persistence is the key...in time, your loved one will grow to accept their new lifestyle and the friction will dissipate.

Remember, in the midst of all these issues, your own health and lifestyle are also important. Caregiver burnout can be a real threat to you and your family if your loved one doesn't cooperate with the plan of care you have worked so hard to design for them. Don't allow yourself to be manipulated by a false sense of guilt if your loved one has difficulty making these adjustments. In time, they will realize that you have their best interest at heart, and they may even grow to appreciate you for it!

Jo Nelson, RN is the owner of Servant's Heart Homemaker Services, a personal care assistance company. For more information, check out their website at servantsheartservices.com servantsheartservices.com or email Jo at