Getting Back to the Basics

In today's online business climate, there are those who say that one-on-one contacting is dead and a no touch approach for lead generating is the new rage. Rather than excluding the old method of phone calling and face to face contacting, I believe that a balance of the two prove to be the best answer. There is no denying that internet lead generating via SEO programs, auto mailings and the usual buying of leads are quite effective. In fact, it is feasible to think that one could operate a business without ever cold calling at all. I believe that we will see the "warm body" concept soon return at least in part. A cunning blend of the two will keep the entrepreneur on his or her toes and the business rocking.

To be honest, I never have cared for cold calling. That is a sure way to get a hard boot right in the ego. As such, it thrills me to see the new methods of contacting potential clients emerge. However, there is still something about that personal touch that computer contacts don't manage to accomplish. That alone leaves the potential customer/client alienated with the feeling that they've been communication with a cold and indifferent machine instead of a personal friend...not good.

One of the answers to that sterile process is personal branding. In other words, when you join a internet marketing company, they often will give you one of their very nice websites with all the bells and whistles which includes a back office. There is where all the information is gathered and accessed by you to assist in business.educationeasy.net lead generation and a myriad of other things. All that is amazing but it usually lacks one thing...YOU. Sure, your name is there but that personal touch and care cannot be replaced by all the slick presentations in the world. This is not to say that those things don't have their place. Your potential customer needs to see a professional presentation. That in many ways substantiates the fact that what they are looking at is indeed a legitimate business. Just remember that if your voice and face are not a part of that ultimate equation, the chances of success are reduced exponentially.

Clearly today people still prefer to have that close encounter with another person when they are deciding to buy a product or start a new business. If they feel all alone then all the gimmicks and modernized websites in the world won't fix that. Only another person can give them the feeling of acceptance and support. That's why so many are now abandoning the idea of using only the corporate website but instead are coupling that with an introductory personalized website of their own. A personal greeting video or instructional video of some kind inserted in that site are keys to getting people to recognize your honesty, sincerity and authenticity. These are three elements that must exist if you are to win the heart of your potential business associate. This also gives them an emotional connection to the actual concept or product that you are asserting. Without this, it is simply glitz and glam with no substance.

Avoiding personal branding is a sure way to leave the customer feeling that in some way that he or she is being talked down to. I know that sounds odd at first but if you think about it, people are more cynical and litigious than we have ever seen. Assuming that they will respond merely to some sterile commercial appeal alone is like assuming that they can't or won't think for themselves. I call it the "If I only had a brain" syndrome. Marketers often buy into that idea. These marketers wrongly assume that all they have to do is to tell the sheeple (sheep + people) what to do and they will do it.

That might have been the case at one time when we were more innocent but it appears that those days are gone. The public is more educated than ever before and sadly, they have been exposed to some harsh world conditions that sometimes make us all a bit more cynical. As such, we must approach the public with a genuine respect if we are to gain their confidence. It cannot be phony or they will sense that in a New York minute. The days of naivete are over. When it is assumed that the customer is not the sharpest tack on the board, it becomes condescending and they know it. The world of marketing is adjusting to this but the turn of the ship is slow. Get ahead of the game by considering the strategies that I have listed for you.

Below are some tools and methods that will enhance any business and help them to regain that personal touch that the public not only deserves but is demanding.

1. Add a personalized website to your array of marketing strategies. Include greeting or instructional videos to make your appeal. There are occasions when a professional spokesperson is ideal for a presentation but not here. Self branding is not new, we just forgot it for a while. Any insurance agency knows that if your customers call you by your first name, you are accepted into their circle of trust. Internet marketing is no different.

2. Try to develop a local base. Even though we all want the world to come to our door, we offer a certain security to the potential client if there are others in the "team" that actually know us and talk to us face to face. Yes, think globally but start at home.

3. Keep encouraging your neighborhood to join you in your endeavors. Put posters up in restaurants, truck stops, hotels, laundromats, work break rooms, hospitals, colleges and on and on. It's good to have your poster with web address tear off sheets at the bottom. That way, people can tear and go. I like to put my personal website address there so they can quietly go there without obligation. They feel safe that way without fear of being "hawked".

4. Consider local radio advertising if your budget can afford it. Newspapers and trade papers can also be good options.

5. Handing out fliers to passers by can also be effective. Be sure to check your local ordinances for that.

6. Don't forget to email your friends and let them know what you are doing. If you are insecure about doing that, consider what made you decide to start your business in the first place. If it is all that good, wouldn't you want to at least share it with the people you love? While it's true that most people want to wait to see if you make it, they are nevertheless watching. That's a clue that they are indeed interested but they are afraid to fail.

7. Your success alone is the most compelling advertising that you can do. While the other mechanical aspects are necessary and we have to develop a report with our customers or potential associates, nothing is so compelling and magnetic as success. This seems to be a catch 22 but keep in mind that the start up is always the hardest part. After that, you are IN business! It is a natural fact that people like to deal with those who are successful. People with a failure mentality only compel like minded individuals. I call them "Whinos". Sadly, they just cuddle up to the bottle of despair and drink more. That's another subject but many of these can be rescued with a change of thinking.

8. Follow up any leads with a genuine desire to satisfy the need of the contact. One on one is best but phone calls work fine. If you have trouble with the phone, just pick it up, dial the number and be calm. Put a "smile" in your voice and ask the potential customer if he or she has any questions. Let it organically go from there. Remember, sales are made from people that like you. Therefore relationship building is key. Oh, did I mention that if you are not genuinely fascinated by people then this might not be the business for you to be in?

Be encouraged as you progress. Take one problem at a time and fix it. Move to the next one and keep your campaign real. All the modernized tools are spectacular and should be used to make a powerful presentation. Adding the warmth of personal branding and you're bound for a long lasting experience in the world of marketing. We should always remember that the potential customer still has warm blood in their veins and they want someone that feels that their needs are real too. If you do this, people will be drawn to you if for no other reason, so many other marketers really don't get this. Ah, but those that do...their future is as bright as the sun!

I am an entrepreneur of many years. My favorite online business of all is Pyxism. It is a deeply discounted online travel company. It has the best elements built in to its design that I have ever seen. The pay is great and we get to travel. It's a blast! Thanks so much for reading my articles and watching my videos!

I am an entrepreneur of many years. My favorite online business of all is Pyxism. It is a deeply discounted online travel company. It has the best elements built in to its design that I have ever seen. The pay is great and we get to travel. It's a blast! Thanks so much for reading my articles and watching my videos!

Devon Blanton, Associate Member
pyxismiscool.com pyxismiscool.com
YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=kiHLGZf4G8g youtube.com/watch?v=kiHLGZf4G8g
YouTube channel: devon4travel

Spinal Injuries - Hope For the Future

With the right care and assistance, even the most devastating of injuries doesn't have to mean the end of your dreams and aspirations, as one 15 year old girl found out.

Jordan was a bright, bubbly 15-year-old girl with a great future ahead of her. She was due to take her GCSEs and her school teachers had high hopes for her academically. As well as being academically gifted, Jordan was also making her first inroads into the competitive world of fashion modelling, and had been singled out by an agency to do modelling work. This was her dream - to become a successful model. But a car accident one wet day suddenly halted those dreams in their tracks.

Jordan was a rear-seat passenger in a friend's car and was travelling to meet some school friends. The rain had been heavy enough to leave pools of standing water on the road, and her friend lost control of the car after aquaplaning on the wet surface. The accident, although it didn't involve any other vehicle, was serious. Jordan suffered spinal injuries and was rushed to intensive care at her local hospital.

The worst news

Jordan had suffered a high level break in her spine, resulting in tetraplegia. This meant she had lost the use of her arms and legs - the worst possible news for an active teenager. She was transferred to a specialist spinal injuries unit where her long road to recovery began.

After being transferred to the specialist unit, Jordan's family spoke to a specialist solicitor with expert knowledge in spinal injuries. Although it may not seem that claiming compensation for her injuries was a priority at that point, the family knew that because of the nature of Jordan's injuries, they had to plan for her future and that she would need specialist care for a long time to come. The solicitor was instructed to act on the family's behalf and immediately called in a team of investigators to reconstruct the events leading to Jordan's injury. Within seven days, the team had received confirmation that liability had been admitted in favour of Jordan.

A week later, a substantial interim payment had been made. But that wasn't all her team of solicitors did. Whilst she was still receiving hospital treatment, the team worked closely with her family and other agencies including Jordan's school to put in place a care package that would ensure Jordan not only received the best possible medical treatment, but also that her home environment would be adapted to cater for her long term needs. This included the purchase of a new home with a specially adapted 'wet room', as well as making sure that her education didn't suffer. The school worked closely with the team to make sure that Jordan could continue her studies when she was well enough.

Planning for the future

Today, Jordan is on the road to building a new life for herself. With the help and care she received, she has now managed to secure her GCSEs and is once again pursuing her dream of becoming a successful model. Her story demonstrates that, whilst the initial medical care is vitally important, it is also paramount to plan for the future.

Long term spinal injuries mean a lifetime of care but do not mean that life is over. Jordan's determination to succeed has been an inspiration to everyone around her, including the specialist legal team that have made sure that her financial future is secure. During a difficult time for the family, the legal team didn't just concentrate on getting the compensation Jordan needed, but also acted as a support team for her and her family. That support has meant that Jordan, despite her injuries, can live a full life with financial security and the specialist care that she needs on a daily basis to make her dreams a reality.

Article from N Glover, Serious Law - Specialist support services for those affected by seriousinjurylaw.co.uk/leading-spinal-injury-solicitors.php spinal injury from the UK's leading specialised seriousinjurylaw.co.uk/serious-injury-services.php injury law practice.

A Guide To Finding Legitimate Work From Home Jobs

It is important to know with whom you are working, so taking a moment to investigate work at home job opportunities and companies will pay off in the long run. Don't just assume that fantastic claims equal legitimate work at home job opportunities. Many moms, desperate to work at home and care for their kids get taken by unscrupulous people offering work at home jobs. There are legitimate work at home opportunities out three. You just need to find them.

Here are some tips for evaluating opportunities and checking resources to determine legitimacy.

1. The legitimate work at home company is difficult to find with a simple internet search but it is a good place to start. Check the company name with complaints.com to see if any complaints have been filed.

2. Conduct a national and local search through the Better Business Bureau.

3. Contact your state Attorney General's office and local consumer protection agency for complaints. But be wary, the absence of complaints does not necessarily mean it is a legitimate work at home company. Unscrupulous companies may settle complaints, change their name or move to avoid detection.

4. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace. FTC also provides information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid fraud. Seek out the FTC to file a complaint, or to get free information on any of 150 consumer topics.

5. You may also Google the word "forum" and the company name or product name.

6. Many moms use a variety of tools to communicate. You may find other information about the company in question or home business venture on a forum site. Be sure to visit the forum page of sites you visit.

7. Typically a legitimate work at home job provided by a company does not involve a down-payment or investment on your part.

Here are some suggestions for searching online.

o Visit general employment sites and work at home employment directories.

o If there is a phone number or email address test it out. You should get a person who is willing to speak with you. They should be professional and answer all your questions. If they are vague or the answers seem confusing it is probably too good to be true.

o The website on which the work at home employment opportunity appears should be easy to navigate with clear information and the links should work. For instance, if the link to email follow-up questions does not work - do more research.

o The earnings for the particular job functions should be realistic. Check the industry standards by researching your online or paper version of area newspapers for similar positions. Also use a salary data website. If your research reveals that actual salaries being paid are vastly different from the promises made in a pitch to you, beware. Do more research.

Questions to Ask the Employer

o What tasks will I perform? (Ask the program sponsor to list every step of the job.)

o Will I be paid a salary or will my pay be based on commission?

o Who will pay me?

o When will I get my first paycheck?

o What is the total cost of the work-at-home program, including supplies, equipment and membership fees? What would I get for my money?

o At an advanced stage in the interview process, ask to speak with and employee. This is your opportunity to ask questions about that employee's experiences on the job and with the company overall. (some information taken from FTC)

Final Note- There should be a letter of engagement or offer letter when you start employment. The items addressed in the questioning should be documented in the letter.

Michelle Yanik, is co-owner of Smart Moms, a company committed to being the top online resource for moms who want to earn money from home and find work/life balance. Sign up for our information packed e-newsletter and get a complimentary copy of our e-book, Striking A Balance at smart-moms-online.com smart-moms-online.com

The New Look of Medicare Advantage Plans and Original Medicare

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services provide benefits to an estimated 100 million people, or about one in three Americans. Yet, the centers have not had a permanent chief executive since the fall of 2006.

President Obama intends to nominate Harvard professor and Massachusetts pediatrician Donald Berwick, who is known for his work to improve patient care, to oversee Medicare and Medicaid. Berwick heads a nonprofit organization for improving efficiency in health care. He is the president and CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, a nonprofit organization in Cambridge, Mass. The Institute works to eliminate needless deaths, suffering, waiting for help, and waste within health care systems around the world.

Berwick is also a professor of pediatrics and health care policy at Harvard Medical School, and a professor of health policy and management at the Harvard School of Public Health.

How Health Care Reform Impacts Medicare

The final health care reform bill did not include Medicare benefit cuts. It did not increase the share you pay for doctor office visits, hospital stays, prescription drugs, or any other medical treatment under Medicare.

The final bill phased out what's called the doughnut hole. That's a gap in Medicare coverage that leaves beneficiaries to pay full price for prescriptions and premiums. Medicare beneficiaries who fall into the coverage gap will receive a $250 rebate this year, and a 50-percent discount on brand-name drugs next year. The percentage that beneficiaries pay for prescriptions will decrease each year until the gap in coverage is eliminated.

After that, Medicare beneficiaries will pay about 25 percent for their prescriptions after they've paid a deductible until they reach catastrophic coverage. Then, they will pay only 5 percent, and will no longer have to pay full price for prescriptions except during the deductible period.

Health Care Reform Promotes Prevention

Parts of the reform legislation are designed to improve health care quality, and prevent the need for hospitalization by supporting preventive care. The bill eliminates co-pays and deductibles for preventive care, and provides coverage for annual check-ups.

Hospitals will also receive incentives to be sure people are ready to go home when released, and to prevent unnecessary readmissions. Doctors will be encouraged to coordinate the care that patients receive from different specialists to eliminate gaps in treatment.

Medicare Savings to Extend Medicare Benefits by Nearly a Decade

The health care reform bill had over $400 billion in Medicare savings over the next decade. Most of those savings result from reducing annual increases in payments to home health agencies, hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities. The annual increase would be reduced by a productivity factor to encourage providers to be more efficient.

A 1997 bill reduced Medicare spending by more than the current health care reform, but Congress has passed bills to moderate those 1997 cuts to Medicare. Congress could do the same for the current health care reform provisions. While the current reform has no pay cuts for doctors, previous legislation did pass with pay cuts for doctors that will take effect on April 1st of this year, and in the years to come.

Changes to Medicare Advantage Plans

Medicare now pays 14 percent more per enrollee to private Medicare Advantage plans than the same care would cost under original Medicare. The final health reform bill brought these payments more in line with original Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans still have to provide coverage that is as good or better than original Medicare, and Medicare Supplement Plans still cover gaps in the original Medicare.

The bill prevents Medicare Advantage plans from charging more than original Medicare for specific services. It also requires Medicare Advantage plans to spend at least 85 percent of taxpayer funds on medical services for members, instead of using that money for marketing or keeping it as profits. Members who see premium increases, or benefit reductions in their Medicare Advantage plans can change to another plan or original Medicare.

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the combination of Medicare savings, and increased revenues in the bill more than pay for coverage for the uninsured. As a result, the CBO says the bill will reduce the deficit over the first ten years as well as long-term to make Medicare available to seniors retiring in coming years.

By Wiley Long - President, MedigapAdvisors.com MedigapAdvisors.com - The nation's leading independent agency specializing in MedigapAdvisors.com Medigap coverage. Our professional medigap advisors will help you choose the best Medigap plan for your needs.

How To Sell Your Property ( UK )

There are five distinct phases to selling your property.

1. Preparation

During the preparation period you should be doing three things:

a) Decide how you are going to sell. This can be through an estate agent, selling privately or going to auction. When you have worked this out, you can then

b) work out how much it is going to cost you. This should include items such as relocation costs, purchase costs associated with a new property, solicitors' and agents' fees, tax (including VAT), mortgage penalties and even the cost of hiring a removals van.

c) Prepare the property for viewing and, hopefully, a quick sale.

2. Valuation and marketing

Your property should be prepared to pass the stiffest of inspections, both inside and out. Make sure that the person who values your home possesses the appropriate professional qualifications from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors or the National Association of Estate Agents. A valuer, usually employed by your estate agent, will visit the property and put a price on it. The price needs to be set low enough for you to be able to sell it within the timeframe you require and also so that you can attract enough potential buyers to view the property. But it also needs to be set sufficiently high that you don't lose out on any money that you could have made from the sale.

The agent will then advertise your property in the local press, in his window or on the internet

3. Negotiation

When someone is interested in buying your property, they may make an offer below the asking price. It is up to you to decide how much or how little you are prepared to accept. If your property has been on the market for months with very few viewers, you may be happy to accept less than the valuation price just to be rid of it and move on. However, if several offers come in during the first two weeks of the sale period, you would be well advised to stick to the asking price. Whether you accept an offer or not depends on your situation and circumstances.

4. Conveyancing

Once you have agreed the sale with a buyer, your solicitor will take over. Although the conveyancing process (moving title of the property from your name to the buyer's) takes the same length of time for buyers and sellers, there is much more onus on the buyer's solicitor in terms of the amount of work required so your legal bill on a property sale should be lower than for a property purchase. The normal total cost of disbursements for a seller usually amounts to an £8 land registry charge, plus legal fees. Though not usually charged as a percentage of the property value, most solicitors and conveyancers will link their fees to the price band in which your property falls. Expect to pay anything from £250 to £500 for solicitors fees on the sale.

5. Completion

This is the last stage of the process. It is the precise moment at which the sale is complete and you no longer own the property.

PREPARATION

When to sell

The best time to sell is when there are many buyers in the market and prices are increasing, and when interest rates remain low.

Buying and selling property is also seasonal, with more sales being made between March and July each year. The year-end or Christmas period is slow, but a pick-up is usually achieved in the new year.

When not to sell

The worst time to sell is when there are fewest buyers in the market. If interest rates are temporarily raised to calm the market, you may find that buyers are in short supply. If both your neighbours put identical houses up for sale at the same time, it may be a bad idea for you to do the same. Try to follow the markets and read the signs.

If your property is in a sought-after location, you should have no problem selling at a reasonable asking price regardless of the time of year or market conditions.

Choosing An Estate Agent

An estate agent can take care of all aspects of the property sale for you. A good estate agent will:

Arrange a property valuation

Advertise the property for sale - both online and in traditional media

Court potential buyers

Arrange and conduct property viewings

Negotiate with potential buyers on your behalf

Help to maximise the property sale price

An estate agent will ensure you avoid mistakes when selling your home, which could otherwise be costly. The agent will charge a commission of up to four per cent of the sale price, although this is normally around two per cent. The actual amount is likely to be at the top end of this scale if you instruct them as a joint or multiple agent, but at the lower end if you decide they should be the sole agent in charge of the sale. No fees are payable up front and you should accept only a no sale, no fee agreement with your chosen agent.

Try several agents and get recommendations from people living around you. Find out about estate agency bodies and only choose one which is professionally accredited.

An estate agent acting as a sole agency is acting alone in the sale of your property. You are contractually bound not to allow other agents to try and sell your property during the term of the agreement and will be liable for a commission payment to the sole agent should you do so and successfully sell the property.

Two agencies working together to try and sell your home is known as joint sole agency. The main advantage is that there will be more than one outlet or distribution channel for your property. You may pay slightly more in total commission than you would if there were just a single sole agent, as both businesses will receive a share of the commission when the property is sold.

Multiple agency is where you instruct a number of agencies working in competition with each other. Each is acting fully autonomously and the person or business that sells your property gets to keep the commission. It can be the case that the agent will spend less on marketing your property or act less aggressively trying to sell your property under these terms. This is because they are aware that there is a possibility that they will receive zero commission regardless of how much effort they put in, and so may focus their efforts on properties for which they are the sole agents.

Auction

If you need a quick and virtually guaranteed sale, you could auction your property. As long as the property is sold, you can guarantee that the transaction will be complete within 28 days of the auction date which offers a certainty of timescales not enjoyed by either of the other two methods.

Auctions are becoming increasingly popular with buyers but there is no guarantee that the seller will achieve the asking price of the property. Auctions are not suitable for everyone, as they attract a certain breed of buyer that may not be interested in every type of property. However, if you set the reserve price low enough, then you can virtually guarantee a sale, even if the price may not be what you are looking for.

Selling your property at auction generally costs around two and a half percent of the price attained. There may well be additional charges involved for marketing your property, adding it to the catalogue or contributing to the hire of the auction room. These charges are not always made separately - sometimes they are incorporated into the commission payment - but you will probably have to pay for them separately if your property is not sold.

Private sale

You could decide to do all the agent's work yourself by selling privately, and, if you manage to get a few lucky breaks along the way (such as already knowing someone who might be interested in buying your property), it is possible to spend no money at all on the actual sale of your house.

For those people whose overriding goal is to maximise the proportion of the sale revenue that ends up in their own bank account, selling privately is certainly the best option. You can directly constrain your marketing expenditure and not a single penny of the sale price will be lost in commission payments.

The main downside of a private sale is that sometimes it can take longer to sell your home, as your property does not enjoy the level of exposure that it would have if it were being marketed by a professional estate agent. But if time is not crucial, then saving thousands of pounds can be a good reason to go it alone.

Prepare for Viewing

Buyers can be put off before they're through the front door. Make sure the outside of your property looks its best, with the rubbish in a bin, and communal hallways clear of junk. Make sure any lawn, garden or window box is a selling point. Clean, repair and repaint exterior surfaces. This should be done before you contact an agent.

Caravans, white vans and old vehicles on and around your property deter more buyers than anything else. Get rid of them on viewing days.

Make sure that you clear away any junk or untidy looking areas in your property before potential purchases arrive on the doorstep. Aim to have your property in pristine, showhome condition at all times. This means sparkling surfaces in bathrooms and kitchen, fresh made beds, plumped cushions on sofas and chairs, polished furniture and clean floors throughout.

Disguise pet smells and make sure that fresh flowers are displayed. Make your home as warm and welcoming as possible to potential buyers.

The Future

A new way of selling your home will be introduced in June 2007. You will have to prepare a Home Information Pack (HIP) which will be made available to purchasers and will cost the seller around £1,000 to prepare.

The Home Information Pack is like a traditional survey and will include local authority searches and the property's title deeds as well as energy performance information and certificate. Buyers and sellers will be given A-G ratings on their properties, as well as practical measures to cut fuel bills and carbon emissions. This must be introduced in response to new European laws.

The Government says that the home condition report - the most expensive part of the pack - will no longer be mandatory. Sellers will only be obliged to provide a half-HIP at an estimated cost of £150 to £200.

HIPs are supposed to speed up the house buying process, ensure that fewer deals fall through, help first-time buyers and reduce the scope for gazumping.

Selling your home can be a stressful and expensive experience. To make it easier on yourself you should:

a) choose a reputable estate agent

b) prepare your home for sale

c) build in plenty of time - the process can take months

d) find out what it is going to cost and make sure you can afford it.

This is meant as a general guide and should not be seen as legal advice.

estateagents123.com estateagents123.com

Dealing With Alzheimer's Disease

Growing old is not a surprise. It's just a fact of life that every living thing has to deal with. There are some things, like diseases or illnesses that can not only be a surprise, but also a terrible situation. Not just to you, but to your family and friends as well. Alzheimer's disease is one such disease.

Alzheimer's disease is a brain disorder, caused by a genetic defect that progressively destroys the functions of the brain. Memory, the ability to learn and communicate, and carry out everyday tasks is greatly affected, if not destroyed altogether.

Some warning signs include the loss of memory, difficulty with daily tasks and communicating, disorientation, poor judgment, and mood swings. There is no cure for Alzheimer's disease and it's not contagious, so one of the best things you can do for someone you know with this disease is to be educated.

Since people with Alzheimer's disease aren't able to live by themselves anymore, there are many options to care for your loved one. Most try to take care of their loved ones themselves, but that can be hazardous to everyone involved.

There are many options to choose from, a home care agency, a long-term Alzheimer's Care Facility, or yourself. During any stage of Alzheimer's disease, some feel like they're neglecting or betraying their loved one if they don't care for them themselves, but that can lead to serious emotional and financial stress.

That stress affects the caregiver and the loved one. Since taking care of a person with Alzheimer's is so stressful, a home care agency is an organization that can help you find the best person to bring into your home to help, especially as the disease progresses.

A home care agency provides a wealth of information, but most importantly, they have nurses and nurses' assistants to help with skilled care or just helping with the daily life activities. Since it's tough to deal with this disease, it's important to have a support system, whether it is family and friends or an actual support group with other people dealing with the same issues. It's also important to take care of yourself as well as your loved one.

Alzheimer's disease effects more than just one person, it affects any and everyone around from family members to friends. While it is a difficult disease, being educated and emotionally and morally supportive is one of the best things you can do, as well as finding the proper method of care whether it is a home care agency or a long-term facility.

Finding quality help such as a vidaseniorresource.com senior home care or a nursing home for a loved one can sometimes be a trial. Mike has examined this topic in an effort to help educate anyone in their search. For more info on finding the ideal vidaseniorresource.com/inhome.php home care agency for your needs, check out his other publications.

Buying a Property in Spain - 10 Points You Should Consider

Buying a property in Spain is the dream of many people who are looking for a good place to live in a sunny location. In order to make a dream like this come true, however, it is necessary to do some research so that you can find the best property at the best price. If you want to purchase property in Spain in an easy and hassle free way, then take a look at the 10 points below and apply them when you begin your search for Spanish property.

1. How much money do you wish to spend?

The first question is where is your money coming from? Is it tucked away in the bank or the building society, a second mortgage on your home in the UK or will you get it from the sale of your present home? You need to know that it is in place and ready to use before you make any decisions. If you are considering a mortgage in Spain then you need to have all the evidence necessary to show the bank how you will service the mortgage as well as telling your real estate agency so that they can direct you to properties that are mortgage-able. Your budget depends on what you have raised in your own country or the amount that you currently have available to put down as a deposit for the mortgage.

2. Mortgages in Spain

They are much more expensive to set up but the interest rate is much lower than other European countries so you win in the long-term. "Foreigners" usually receive 70% of the bank valuation of the property, which is not necessarily the selling price. This means that you have to find at least 30% of the price of the property plus the costs of the mortgage: approximately 350 euros for the bank valuation, 1% of the mortgage value for the arrangement fee, 0.3% notary fees for the mortgage and 0.3% land registry for the mortgage.

3. Costs for Property Purchase

Generally you should allow between 10 and 12% of the purchase price to cover the costs of the actual purchase. Here is how this amount breaks down:

Lawyer - the usual charge is 1% of the purchase price of the property to cover conveyancing, searches and the visit to the notary to complete the purchase. Lawyers will often offer other services such as obtaining NIE numbers, changing utility services to your name, opening bank accounts etc. Take care though, you do not have to use a lawyer for the extra services and can often find these at less cost elsewhere. Always ask for an itemised quote before you agree to them doing this extra work and check with your estate agent for prices from other suppliers.

Taxes - Transfer taxes for a resale or a newly built property are 7%. These are set by the government and non-negotiable.

Land Registry - All property transfers have to be registered and this will cost about 0.3% of the purchase price.

Notary - In order to be fully legal all contracts for completion of a sale have to be signed in the presence of a Notary. Costs to the Notary will be about 0.3% of the purchase price.

All these cost are in addition to the costs of the mortgage stated above.

4. What kind of a property do you want?

Start with two columns, "must have" and "would be nice". The "must have" list will include the number of bedrooms, outside space and other things you need for your family including proximity to schools, shops or public transport. The "would be nice" list may include things like en-suite bathroom or extra bathroom, more terraces, garage. Jacuzzi, swimming pool, tennis courts etc. Are you prepared to renovate? If so, you would need to have two separate budgets - one to buy the house and one for the work. Alternatively, put your renovation and purchase budget together and buy something that needs little or no work. Make this a family discussion so that everyone has the opportunity to put something on the list and nothing is forgotten.

5. What do you want the property for?

If it is a holiday home you will probably want easy access and so will want the property within a reasonable distance of an international airport. If it is a permanent home then other considerations might be more important. If you are buying as an investment to let, you need to think about the kind of rental, i.e. Long term or holiday as again the area is important for your potential guests.

6. Where do you want the property to be?

Now that you have your budget and your list of essential requirements, this is the time to start your research. Your first step is to go on to online and begin searching. Although you can search by town it is much easier at this stage just to search by area and budget as this will give you an idea of what you will get for your money. You will see that the closer to the coast of the Costa del Sol, the more expensive the property whether it is a town or country house.

7. What legal requirements are necessary for foreigners?

The most important is an NIE number, this is a national identification number and is necessary for most things you will want to do in Spain but essential for buying a house.

If you are coming to live permanently in Spain you need to think about transport. Residents of Spain are legally obliged to drive a Spanish registered car with a Spanish driving licence. Although you can import your car from the UK this can be expensive and a RHD car is not the best thing to have on Spanish roads, far better to sell your car in the UK and buy one in Spain. The Spanish licence is just a straight exchange for your UK licence, there is no test to take.

If you are in receipt of a UK state pension you will be eligible for free health care in Spain if not you will need to have private health insurance if you are not paying into the system by working in Spain.

8. Taxes and Insurance?

There will be annual tax to pay on your property in Spain whether you live here permanently or have a holiday home. These charges are MUCH less than in the UK, as an example 50 to 250 euros PA is normal to cover refuse collection and other council provided services.

If you live here permanently you are responsible for paying taxes on your world wide assets so you need to ensure that you are not paying in the UK as well. If you own property in Spain it is necessary to have a Spanish will. Although you are not subject to Spanish Inheritance law on who the inheritors are, it makes life easier for your descendants if you have a Spanish will.

9. What else is important?

Find an estate agent you can trust, that will offer more services than just selling you a house. Beware of advertisements offering you free or low-cost inspection trips, you could pay dearly for them in the end.

The Guardia Civil are currently investigating several estate agencies who have been selling illegal properties. They estimate that more than 2000 illegal houses have been built in the last three years. The title deeds show the plot only and the agencies are not informing clients so they may not find out for some time that they are living in an illegal house. Reputable agents provide checklists for their clients of questions to ask so that they can double check everything when viewing properties and when talking to lawyers.

10. Get Title Insurance

In order to have complete security when buying a property in Spain it is important to get, Title Insurance. This type of insurance protects the buyer against any losses arising out of title related defects for the total time that they own the property. Some examples of covered risks include: claims by third parties such as undisclosed heirs, unrecorded tax liens, errors and omissions in the public registry, alteration or loss of title documentation, fraud, forgery, and clerical or typographical errors affecting ones title, thus affecting their investment or holiday home.

Title Insurance can enable you to purchase a property for a permanent home, holiday home or investment with absolute peace of mind.

If you use the above 10 points when buying property in Spain, you will be well on your way to realizing your dream of owning a home in Europe's sunniest location.

Cristina Sanchez is a specialist in Spanish real estate. She is the Customer Relations Manager of 1Casa.com, 1casa.com/1 1casa.com , a real estate agency that helps foreigners (and Spanish Nationals) buy property in Spain, Turkey and Bulgaria.

7 Easy Steps to Starting Your Home-Based Business

Operating a home based business can be one of the most liberating and financially rewarding experiences for new entrepreneurs. Startup and ongoing operating costs are usually substantially lower for home businesses compared to more traditional companies. Because of these dollar savings, more people are able to start and run a successful business out of their home.

Starting any kind of business requires planning, proper capitalization, and some hard work. However, a home business presents certain opportunities that can make the startup processes quicker and more straightforward. The following seven steps can be used by anyone to help start a successful, home based business.

#7 Go With What You Know: When determining what business to start, take a personal inventory of your skills, background, hobbies and interests. Use this inventory and start thinking of business ideas that can leverage your existing skills and knowledge. Having some background or experience in your future business will help take the guesswork out of a majority of decisions you will likely face.

#6 Focus on Self Discipline: With the proper self discipline, personal productivity will skyrocket when working from home. Home based business owners are usually free from pointless meetings, needless presentations, and lurking colleagues. However, other distractions abound at home. If you do not already have a quiet place to set up your home office, make sure to create one. Set expectations with your friends and family that your privacy, when working in your home office, should be treated with the same respect as any formal office setting.

#5 Form a Legal Entity: Make your home business official by forming a legal entity. You do not need to establish an expensive and complex corporation. In many cases, a sole proprietorship will do. File the necessary business forms and licenses with your local government agency and make it official! Not only will your business be in good legal standing, you will take your startup efforts more seriously after this step is complete.

#4 Set and Follow a Schedule: Home based businesses come with a tremendous amount of freedom and flexibility. This is why we love them! Make the most of your time by setting and following a routine schedule. Keep in mind that your daily routine may not necessarily look like the typical 9-5 workday. Set a schedule that works for you and your customers. When possible, arrange working time to match the hours of the day you are naturally more alert and productive.

#3 Keep Accurate Records: Maintaining accurate, up-to-date financial records is an important part of running any home based business. Proper bookkeeping will increase your visibility into business cash flow and will help reduce the possibility of a tax audit. Keep in mind; never commingle personal and business finances! This is a common mistake for new home business owners and can introduce a host of financial liability issues down the road.

#2 Start with a Service: Consider starting a service oriented business. Compared to product based businesses, service businesses can usually be started much more quickly and with less startup money. Service businesses eliminate the need to manage inventory, complex fulfillment, and sales tax. Since most services are performed at an external location, running your service business from your home is typically quite easy.

#1 Fund Your Business Properly: This final step applies to every business and is equally important for all. Before starting your home business, carefully plan out your expected startup costs, ongoing expenses and revenue projections. If your home business will be your sole source of income, calculate your short-term living expenses as well. Make sure that you have enough personal savings to cover your living expenses while you establish a positive business cash flow.

If your dream is to own your own business, get started today! Starting a home based business does not have to be a complicated, drawn out endeavor. Put excuses to the side, make up your mind to get started today and do it! Following these simple, seven steps will help you realize your dreams of home business financial freedom.

Nathan Cracraft is Managing Editor for the small business website MySmallBiz.com. The site caters to people who want to start their own small business and need some help coming up with ideas. For access to hundreds of categorized, small business ideas and thousands of helpful startup resources, check out MySmallBiz.com MySmallBiz.com .

New ideas and resources are added weekly.

Do Insurance Agencies Actually Offer Competitive Home Insurance Policies?

When you visit a Myrtle Beach insurance agency to inquire about home insurances, you will be presented with several options. An experienced agent will explain all your choices, including the possibility to separate the building from its content. However, most home owner will opt to keep both policies together under one umbrella.

What separates one kind of property policy from another is the level of protection. A Myrtle Beach insurance agent will explain that in great detail. Many property owners will insure their home against natural disasters, theft, fire and deliberate acts of vandalism.

The most popular insurance plans covered by Myrtle Beach insurance companies are:

? Basic coverage - The coverage is limited (may include lightning or fire)

? Broad coverage - The insurance company will pay for damages caused by explosions, riots, fire, vandalism, hail, earthquakes, storms, etc. You may also be insured if your building collapses, or the plumbing malfunctions.

? Special coverage -Your Myrtle Beach insurance agent will help you design an insurance policy that will cover everything according to your specifications.

? Tenant coverage - If you are renting out homes or apartment, you should have a tenant insurance policy to protect your building and your personal belongings within the structure. This policy will also cover a certain amount of medical expenses.

? Condominium coverage - Condominium insurance takes care of your personal property and possessions, which are often not covered by general insurance policies. Personal liability protection is included.

Aside from explaining the different policies, your Myrtle Beach insurance professional will also present you with an excellent, competitive price. Familiar with the local and online competition, he cannot, but offer you the best possible deal.

waccamawinsurance.com ( waccamawinsurance.com waccamawinsurance.com/ ) has been one of the leading Independent Insurance Agencies in waccamawinsurance.com Myrtle Beach insurance, South Carolina due to the dedicated service of our employees, the representation of our insurance companies, and the loyalty of our customers.

Know How to List Your House With the Help of an Agent

For people who have never sold their homes before, the question of how do I list my house is something that is really dicey and therefore needs to be looked into with great detail as this is something that will seriously go onto affecting the price that you get for your home. Properly listing your home will ensure that you home gets sold at all as if you list it at a price that is too high then there will not be any takers for your home. When it comes to listing your house, you must understand the concept of demand and supply which entails that this is something that is really important and one should definitely take help from experts like real estate agents who will be able to guide you and allow you to correctly answer the conundrum of how to list my house and allow you to get the best deal.

One of the most common however difficult ways in which one can organize their home listing is by way of an open listing. This reserves the option for the home owner to decide whether or not they will work. Another way in which one can work this is by way of the exclusive agency set up where by the owner should keep their broker who has been working with them or also going into a contract with a new real estate broker. This is a manner in which you can list your home whereby you may or may not even pay the broker and do not have to have your home sold by the broker himself and as it leave an option for you to sell your own house. However you need to be well versed with the requirements of the real estate industry and know how to value and hence answer the question that you ask often in this regard is how I should list my house such that it sells.

Brokers and real estate agents can also help you in this regard in a way called a multiple listing where there is a pool of brokers who can get together and then help in selling the home within the pool of multiple brokers and then share the resultant commission after the home has been sold. This is a good option for you to how they should list their homes which they can then sell. However one thing is sure that they should keep in mind is that they should check and work very carefully with the broker who will be answering your entire questions related to how do I list my house. One should be wary as it often happens that people do get somewhat hard done by, by their own brokers and your task is to avoid that.

If however you intend to get your home listed, then it is best that you do know how to go about it to a large extent. When you are going to list your house, do check, if needed with the help of your broker, on similar homes which had been made available in the market in the near vicinity. This will help you get a good idea of how the listing may be done. Another important thing that is kept in mind while we are facilitating valuation of homes is the locale and factor in any kind of local barriers and issues that they hamper the home owners when you are looking into the aspect of how to list my house. Therefore we see that listing your house is something that needs great attention especially when you are not exactly fully aware of how the market works.

Luis Pezzini

Follow This List Of Ideas For A Stress-Free Property Purchasing Journey

1. Get a pre-approval prepared by a mortgage banker prior to seeing any houses.

A Lot Of real estate sale contracts necessitate buyers to submit an application for a greeneasylife.com Mortgage Loan in a special time frame, say ten days after the agreement is accepted. You can negotiate the loan application deadline with the different party, but you will have to make a concession on another point.

This is a pretty crucial issue because if a mortgage application is not submitted, then a borrower may be breaking the purchase and sale agreement. Not having a loan qualification may cost you money in many ways. Consequently, purchasers must experience the purchase and sale agreement with adept care leading up to signing the offer to ensure that all requirements are known and understood. Search for someone who has a specialty in in working primarily with buyers.

Aqcuire some sort of hard copy of a prequalification or approval of the Home Loan agent that is helping you. without delay provide this document to the seller's agency in the format obliged by the purchase and sale contract.

2. have the agent Explain What The Seller Is ending up with In Return For "Seller Contributions".

Anytime owner concessions are part of the agreement without the buyer surrendering something in exchange then there is something of a danger sign. The seller might wish to take everything with them like the ceiling fans and the buyer desires to retain the furniture and the shower curtains.

The paying of closing fees by the owner usually helps the transaction go more like clockwork overall (Close on Our home and you will get credit of $x when you buy. Seller covered closing expense circumstances provide tremendous help to first time home buyers particularly.

3. Become happy because of your decision to buy a house.

You will probably worry yourself to death when it comes to whether or not you should be buying a property, irrespective of how strong your financial circumstance is. Why is this?

A house is a superbly enormous acquisition. you've submitted a commitment that will have you tied to a plot of land and to a particular town for years to come. Real estate transactions and marriage both create commitment angst on account of the size of the oath.

The main thing you can do about it is relax your nerves and decide to take delight in it. A sensation of joy and ease will take over just after you sign the closing documents.

first-time-home-buyer-programs-info.com first-time-home-buyer-programs-info.com/ Regarding further free principles and tools for newbie home buyers, especially for the first-time-home-buyer-programs-info.com/az-first-time-home-buyer AZ first time home buyer, go ahead and pay a visit to our website and find out much more when it comes to the many first time home buyer programs available to you.

How to Improve Your Chances to Qualify for a Conventional Home Loan

Before you give up on the idea that you will never be able to get a home greeneasylife.com equity loan because of your bad credit, first be sure you can't get one. It may save you a lot of work, and it opens up more possibilities for home purchases and help from real estate agents.

You might be surprised to find that there are ways you can get conventional financing, even though you never thought you would be able to. More and more lenders are looking at people with less-than-perfect credit. Usually the interest rates are higher than average, but you get into a house. You can refinance later, after showing how you reliable you are making your monthly payments.

Here are a few suggestions to get mortgage companies to look at you. If this method sounds likely for you, try talking to a reputable home loan consultant, and see what your chances are. This would be one of the easiest ways to get into a house.

Can You Fix Your Credit Report?

You might find that your credit is easier to fix than you supposed. Have you seen a copy of your credit report lately? You are entitled to a free copy of your credit report if you have been denied credit, employment, or insurance within the last 60 days. If you were denied because of credit, the company should give you notice and give you the contact information for the credit bureau.

No one can legally remove accurate negative information from a credit report (no matter what those ads say) but you can dispute mistakes or outdated items for free. Request an investigation of information in your file that you dispute as inaccurate or incomplete. There is no charge for this. Ask the credit-reporting agency for a dispute form or submit your dispute in writing, along with copies of any supporting documentation. You don't need a credit repair organization to do this. Everything a credit repair clinic cando for you legally, you can do for yourself at little or no cost.

Look into Special Loans for Bad Credit

Concentrate on those lenders who specialize in working with those who have had credit problems. Spending time (and money) applying to lenders who do not work with credit blemishes will accomplish nothing. If you have local sources that you know will consider such loans, take advantage of them.

Other sources, available online, such as Lending Tree, have a large network of lenders nationwide, including those who have experience in dealing with credit problems.

Have a Home Telephone

If you have a telephone in your home and in your name, it helps increase your chances of getting a loan. Lenders worry about people who don't have a home phone. I know that today a lot of people today use their cellular phones as their home phone, but a land-line still looks better. It shows stability and roots, at least to a bank.

Live in One Place for a While

Again, banks want to see that you have some stability. It helps if you have lived in one place for at least 6 months. If you have just moved, show that you lived somewhere before this for at least 6 months (and hopefully several years).

Have a Good-sized Down Payment

The larger the down payment, the better your chances will be to get a loan. (See "The 30/70 Rule" in the next chapter.) The more money down, the happier the bank is to work with you.

And if you can show that you have saved the money over a period of time, instead of borrowing it, it looks even better to some lenders. Not all lenders ask where you got the money, so if you did save it, be sure to point that out.

Show That You Have Good Character

Banks and lenders want to know that you are dependable and reliable. Show this when you talk to them by showing up to meetings on time, dressing nicely, and having your information organized. Have your bank account and credit card account numbers and financial information ready to show them.

It will help if you have someone you know write you a financial letter of reference, such as someone whom you borrowed money from and who you paid the money back to.

Be ready to show them any sources of credit you may have that may not be on your credit history, such as paying the cable or cellular bills regularly. Even information about a loan from a relative or friend that was paid back in installments and on time will help. Be ready to tell them how you will be able to pay this loan back.

Use Any Collateral You May Have For a Personal Loan

Maybe you have something of value that you can use for collateral for a personal loan. This might be a good way to come up with a down payment.

Some of the things banks will consider for collateral are:

Stocks

Bonds

Gold and precious metals

Other Real Estate, such as land

Vehicles

Furniture

Collectables

Have a Relative or Friend Co-sign the Loan

This is a time-honored way of getting a home. Often close relatives or friends will help someone they care about who is in need. Sometimes all it takes is to ask. You can also get someone else to buy the house for you and later be added to the mortgage and quit-claimed to the deed. Check your state laws on the subject.

Increase Your Income

Get a second job. This can just be for a while. The increase in salary may be enough to qualify you for a loan. Also it gives you extra income to save for a down payment or pay off debts and fix your credit.

Start a small home business to bring in extra income. Be careful there-- a small business can be costly to start and run, and may not bring in much income for a while. But it works for many people. Do your research before you start. Weigh the risks and advantages.

Ask For Help

Ask for help from your church, synagogue or other nonprofit organization. Some government programs and organizations will help you with financing or other housing options. Check out our website for links to many of the organizations that help people get into homes of their own.

From the book "Buying a Home When You Have Bad Credit-- 12 Ways to Purchase a House When You Can't Get a Home Loan" by Alexis Dey. ? 2005-6 Mohave Publishing. All rights reserved. i-can-buy.com i-can-buy.com

For more ideas on how to buy a house when you can?t get a home loan, look for our exclusive FREE e-book, ?Buying a Home When You Have Bad Credit,? which can only be found on our site at i-can-buy.com I-can-buy.com.

For free rent to own agreements, as well as other free real estate contracts and forms to download in PDF format, check out our site at site at i-can-buy.com I-can-buy.com