Productivity Office Tools you can use to get more done.
We all need to be more productive. Experience and focus get your projects done. Speed up by using good business tools to produce effectively. Below are some of my favorite computer and business tools to save you time.
Cardscan – Why type contact information when you can just scan it in with over 95 percent accuracy? I have over 1,500 contacts and could not maintain this data base without this software and scanner. Customer service is great, and the best thing is the Accucard service which is included. All your contacts are backed up on a secure website, and they are contacted every 6 months to
Laptop / Dell – Why not work other places than your desk? Portability is wonderful. Yes, it cost more. Yes it is riskier because you can drop it. It is worth it. I buy refurbished Dell’s to save money. Laptops are also more likely to have problems, so buy the service program where they come to my office if needed. You can buy HP and other brands with good service from Circuit City, and Circuit City covers battery replacement which is costly.
MemoryTen – Add more RAM to your PC. All these new software, the internet, required anti-virus, and anti-spyware programs use slow down machines that are a couple years old or more. RAM really speeds up your programs, internet surfing, and life and is the best dollar to dollar investment. Have upgraded 4 machines myself, two desktops and two laptops. It is an amazing simple do it yourself project for most people. Go to MemoryTen http://www.memoryx.net/ and find out exactly what you need.
Flash drives – Take your in process work with you in your pocket. Very fast transfers between other computers. Back up your work in process when traveling. 1 gigabyte is around $8 – 12 and falling. Only burn disks to send to clients.
Gmail – Google email is accessible anywhere you have an internet connection. Best spam filter out there, go through the spam folder and teach it who your friends and newsletters are. Higher security maintained with no personal effort. I download my gmail to Outlook for convenience, and keep a back up copy on Google’s server. Was able to recover all my messages quickly after a hard drive crash. Used with Cardscan to get my contacts back was able to recover quickly.
Carbonite / External Hard Drives – Been through 4 hard drive failures and upgrades over the years. You can’t afford to lose your data. Carbonite backs up your computer to their servers. Your data is safe in case of theft, fire and hard drive failure. Works when computer is idle so it does not slow you down. Also have a local backup like a external hard drive. Why? Because if something happens it will take hours to download data from a server. You can plug in an external hard drive in another computer and get back to work quicker. Seagate, Western Digital, Maxtor, Iomega and Simple Tech are reputable companies. (Note to Seagate marketing, put your name on the product so I what I have)
Blogger.com – How I bring you this blog. I write in Word and post here. My spelling is too poor to type here. Overall very simple to use so you just write.
PDA is old school, but I find not having to pull out the laptop or find another computer is priceless. Cell phones are taking over this function and it is a good marriage. Neither will ever totally replace my favorite business organizer, a Steno pad.
Steno Pads – simple notepads eliminates loose post-its, scrap paper, envelops picking up phone numbers, addresses, ideas, and plans. It is easy to chronologically find what you have not transferred into your electronics. Consider Sir Richard Branson manages 150 – 250 companies at a time with large pads of papers. He does not use computers, but plans marketing and projects. Also like 8 x 10 inch 70 page spiral notepads for a larger size pad.
Skype / Google Talk – If you make lots of calls or travel overseas, Skype is a great way to stay in touch. Google Talk looks like it is easier and simpler to use, but have not tested it yet. Still trying to get my father to install Skype, maybe we can figure out Google Talk easier.
PCWorld.com – Where to get technical advice? PC World is usually on the cutting edge. Great reviews and software downloads. CNet, and Forbes are good places to find out what is practical to use.
Ebay / Buy It Now –I like shopping for bargains, but if you want to know what something costs at a discount this is a great place to start. Then shop Yahoo, Google, Buy.com and other places for better deals online. But Ebay often has great deals on software. Just make sure the software is able to be registered legally.
I promised good tools. Now it is up to you to take action and get what you need. I recommend once a week maintaining your systems (computer and otherwise). Install one of these suggestions a week until you have incorporated what you want into your life.
September 27, 2007
September 11, 2007
September 11th and Everyday
We remember those who died in the attacks on New York and Washington. They were victims of attacks on the United States by evil people who wish to destroy us. Al Qaeda started World War III by attacking any western nation they can.
The World Trade Center was targeted (twice by the way) because they thought if you destroy a Wall Street finance center, you will destroy or damage the American Economy. America would be too weak to respond.
The Pentagon was also targeted because it is the headquarters of US military, and they wanted to slow our response. They feared the military, but think of us as a weak enemy. Based on our response to military losses in Somalia, they think we would quit after the loss of a few soldiers. Take out our headquarters, and no one would stop them.
The reality is the leaders of Al Qaeda are older, educated and dedicated to destroying anyone in the way of their vision of an Islam led world. Al Qaeda is targeting Christians, Catholics, Jews, Hindus, Buddhist and other Muslims who do not believe their distorted interpretation of the Korean. They kill randomly with bombings, mass attacks, and wipe out innocent families for their convenience and security. Parts of Iraq has woken up due to the number of Iraqi’s who have been victims of Al Qaeda murders, and areas of Iraq are coming to us for help ridding themselves of this evil.
Remember 9/11. Remember Pearl Harbor. Remember the Maine. Remember the Alamo. One if by Land, and Two if by Sea. History has taught us winning wars takes persistence, sacrifice and dedication. We have been in Bosnia over 15 years to insure peace. In Korea 54 years. In Germany and Japan for over 60 years. Al Qaeda wants to take over every country possible. The world needs to step up and help contain this enemy of religious freedom with us.
The best strategy for this ongoing World War is to enlarge our military now, to prepare for the long battles remaining, and to remain determined to win over evil. That is how we will succeed remaining free.
The World Trade Center was targeted (twice by the way) because they thought if you destroy a Wall Street finance center, you will destroy or damage the American Economy. America would be too weak to respond.
The Pentagon was also targeted because it is the headquarters of US military, and they wanted to slow our response. They feared the military, but think of us as a weak enemy. Based on our response to military losses in Somalia, they think we would quit after the loss of a few soldiers. Take out our headquarters, and no one would stop them.
The reality is the leaders of Al Qaeda are older, educated and dedicated to destroying anyone in the way of their vision of an Islam led world. Al Qaeda is targeting Christians, Catholics, Jews, Hindus, Buddhist and other Muslims who do not believe their distorted interpretation of the Korean. They kill randomly with bombings, mass attacks, and wipe out innocent families for their convenience and security. Parts of Iraq has woken up due to the number of Iraqi’s who have been victims of Al Qaeda murders, and areas of Iraq are coming to us for help ridding themselves of this evil.
Remember 9/11. Remember Pearl Harbor. Remember the Maine. Remember the Alamo. One if by Land, and Two if by Sea. History has taught us winning wars takes persistence, sacrifice and dedication. We have been in Bosnia over 15 years to insure peace. In Korea 54 years. In Germany and Japan for over 60 years. Al Qaeda wants to take over every country possible. The world needs to step up and help contain this enemy of religious freedom with us.
The best strategy for this ongoing World War is to enlarge our military now, to prepare for the long battles remaining, and to remain determined to win over evil. That is how we will succeed remaining free.
September 3, 2007
Ways to Have a Better Life
It is hard to separate work and life, and you are better off with an integrated life. The suggestions here will help you live and work at a higher level. The benefits of these ideas may be immediate from trying them. Others will have long term rewards.
Talk about what is good – Focus on the great to the nice parts of life to have better perspective when difficult times come.
Look for the good in people – Yes we all have flaws, but you will enjoy people more when you see their strengths and heart.
Talk with friends and family – Be with people who love you regardless of the stupid mistakes you will make. And love them unconditionally.
Hang around with positive people – Why not find people who enjoy life if you want to live life fully?
Work hard and work smart – Action is the tool that makes things happen. But we all have the same 24 hours a day. The people who get things done, do things in common. They think, visualize what they want, plan what to do in small steps, and then take action by priority. They do not do it all themselves, but build a team and delegate to be productive. They continually learn, and improve by reading, listening to seminars and making mistakes.
Volunteer and serve others – Our purpose in life is to help others, not to take from the world selfishly. “It is not about you!” [Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life]
Work with your gifts – We are all naturally good at some things. There are things you care about more than other people. Why not use what is easy for you (and not the rest of us) to make your living? A passionate employee or leader will accomplish much more in their life.
Let little things go – There are plenty of little things that you will not care about in about 2 seconds, 2 minutes, 2 hours, 2 days, 2 weeks, 2 months nor 2 years. If you will laugh at this later, why not laugh now?
Stop thinking depressing thoughts – Do a “Brain Interrupt”! After 10 to 15 minutes, I catch myself, and say time to stop. Whatever it is, it will not be the end of the world. Tomorrow will come in spite of everything. Most events resolve themselves in a few days or weeks. This is easier if you are religious and can give it to God.
Laugh daily – Especially if you can laugh at yourself. You will always be entertained.
Journal your life –Write down the good and the less than perfect. See what you learn from the day, and really enjoy the successes. Lessons from mistakes are better learned without beating yourself up. Write a little down, let it go, and get on with your life.
Limit the news – Too much negativity and sensationalism will affect your attitude. In the 24 hour cable news world, “everything” is a crisis Now! To be honest, most events are not the end of the world. Keep your perspective.
Limit your vices / Moderation in everything – Too many people mess up there life with drink, drugs or sex. You want to be the person who can have fun sober, and the dependable person worth someone spending their life with you. Be moderate in moderation. A rare excess of exercise, food, drink or fun is wonderful.
Choose to Enjoy life – Life still has hard days, but then you can find joy everyday if you choose. Try it.
Talk about what is good – Focus on the great to the nice parts of life to have better perspective when difficult times come.
Look for the good in people – Yes we all have flaws, but you will enjoy people more when you see their strengths and heart.
Talk with friends and family – Be with people who love you regardless of the stupid mistakes you will make. And love them unconditionally.
Hang around with positive people – Why not find people who enjoy life if you want to live life fully?
Work hard and work smart – Action is the tool that makes things happen. But we all have the same 24 hours a day. The people who get things done, do things in common. They think, visualize what they want, plan what to do in small steps, and then take action by priority. They do not do it all themselves, but build a team and delegate to be productive. They continually learn, and improve by reading, listening to seminars and making mistakes.
Volunteer and serve others – Our purpose in life is to help others, not to take from the world selfishly. “It is not about you!” [Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life]
Work with your gifts – We are all naturally good at some things. There are things you care about more than other people. Why not use what is easy for you (and not the rest of us) to make your living? A passionate employee or leader will accomplish much more in their life.
Let little things go – There are plenty of little things that you will not care about in about 2 seconds, 2 minutes, 2 hours, 2 days, 2 weeks, 2 months nor 2 years. If you will laugh at this later, why not laugh now?
Stop thinking depressing thoughts – Do a “Brain Interrupt”! After 10 to 15 minutes, I catch myself, and say time to stop. Whatever it is, it will not be the end of the world. Tomorrow will come in spite of everything. Most events resolve themselves in a few days or weeks. This is easier if you are religious and can give it to God.
Laugh daily – Especially if you can laugh at yourself. You will always be entertained.
Journal your life –Write down the good and the less than perfect. See what you learn from the day, and really enjoy the successes. Lessons from mistakes are better learned without beating yourself up. Write a little down, let it go, and get on with your life.
Limit the news – Too much negativity and sensationalism will affect your attitude. In the 24 hour cable news world, “everything” is a crisis Now! To be honest, most events are not the end of the world. Keep your perspective.
Limit your vices / Moderation in everything – Too many people mess up there life with drink, drugs or sex. You want to be the person who can have fun sober, and the dependable person worth someone spending their life with you. Be moderate in moderation. A rare excess of exercise, food, drink or fun is wonderful.
Choose to Enjoy life – Life still has hard days, but then you can find joy everyday if you choose. Try it.
August 14, 2007
Things I Would Have Done Different
Was in a reflective mood about my career recently. Writing (with other coaches) a career book to dispel myths. Normally would not change my experiences since they made me who I am today, but surprised myself this time and wrote a person list of changes I would make. Truthfully would love to know what I know now then. So this posting is general advice to manage your career and life.
Study Real Estate for Investment. (Bad investment for next couple years, then will return as good investment. Study business cycles.)
Studied Real Estate / Business Finance
Learned more about computers (useful tools.)
Saved more (More to invest.)
Bought a home where I love. (Get a small home on a big enough lot in the nicest neighborhood you can afford.)
Bought fun autos (Had three fun cars to date and recommend you buy what you love.)
Join Toastmasters (Talking to groups is a tremendous career booster.)
Write more (Communication skills are vital to your career.)
Taken more seminars: (Invest in yourself.)
– Dale Carnegie: How to Win Friends and Influence People
– Real Estate Investing
– Investing
– Finding your gifts
– Sales
1. Made lists of my dreams
2. List actions steps to make dreams happen
3. Take action (Keys to your success.)
Drank less (Really negatively affect your life.)
Exercise more (Being healthy has improved my life and work.)
Dated more, and avoid toxic people (Read Ten Stupid Things (Men, Women) Do to Mess Up Their Lives by Dr. Laura C. Schlessinger)
Not stayed home so much (Overcome shyness.)
Seen my family more often (Plan.)
Be more grateful (Best thing for your mental health.)
Be less depressed (Don’t be too hard on yourself. Limit how long you beat yourself up to ten minutes.)
Been more confident (Lets you be humble and sure of your commitments.)
Stay active in your faith (Being Catholic turned my life around. The most important thing you can do.)
Follow these and you will have a good life from now on. Wish I had read this list years ago.
Study Real Estate for Investment. (Bad investment for next couple years, then will return as good investment. Study business cycles.)
Studied Real Estate / Business Finance
Learned more about computers (useful tools.)
Saved more (More to invest.)
Bought a home where I love. (Get a small home on a big enough lot in the nicest neighborhood you can afford.)
Bought fun autos (Had three fun cars to date and recommend you buy what you love.)
Join Toastmasters (Talking to groups is a tremendous career booster.)
Write more (Communication skills are vital to your career.)
Taken more seminars: (Invest in yourself.)
– Dale Carnegie: How to Win Friends and Influence People
– Real Estate Investing
– Investing
– Finding your gifts
– Sales
1. Made lists of my dreams
2. List actions steps to make dreams happen
3. Take action (Keys to your success.)
Drank less (Really negatively affect your life.)
Exercise more (Being healthy has improved my life and work.)
Dated more, and avoid toxic people (Read Ten Stupid Things (Men, Women) Do to Mess Up Their Lives by Dr. Laura C. Schlessinger)
Not stayed home so much (Overcome shyness.)
Seen my family more often (Plan.)
Be more grateful (Best thing for your mental health.)
Be less depressed (Don’t be too hard on yourself. Limit how long you beat yourself up to ten minutes.)
Been more confident (Lets you be humble and sure of your commitments.)
Stay active in your faith (Being Catholic turned my life around. The most important thing you can do.)
Follow these and you will have a good life from now on. Wish I had read this list years ago.
August 2, 2007
Why Bridges, Products and Companies Fall
The bridge collapse on 35 West in Minneapolis is in the news today. Have just seen the security camera video of the collapse. The cause is off camera. You just see the bridge start falling level from one end, and then the structure pulls itself down section by section in seconds.
Falling level is a hint, if one joint failed on one side it would have tipped or wobbled when it fell. The initial failure has to be on the hidden support at that end. Whether the support collapsed, the section slid off the end, or too much concrete (weight) had been added for the structure will be determined by more knowledgeable engineers than me.
The truth is the real cause has taken years to be created. It is probably the accumulation of several human errors: possibilities include the design, past maintenance, the planning, and the execution the current project.
The same thing is true of any product or business. When they start to fail it is an accumulation of causes: late deliveries, poor trained customer service, customers struggling to order what they need, lack of marketing to new clients, and often the lack of new products and services. These are all symptoms to be taken seriously and corrected before the collapse.
Falling level is a hint, if one joint failed on one side it would have tipped or wobbled when it fell. The initial failure has to be on the hidden support at that end. Whether the support collapsed, the section slid off the end, or too much concrete (weight) had been added for the structure will be determined by more knowledgeable engineers than me.
The truth is the real cause has taken years to be created. It is probably the accumulation of several human errors: possibilities include the design, past maintenance, the planning, and the execution the current project.
The same thing is true of any product or business. When they start to fail it is an accumulation of causes: late deliveries, poor trained customer service, customers struggling to order what they need, lack of marketing to new clients, and often the lack of new products and services. These are all symptoms to be taken seriously and corrected before the collapse.
June 10, 2007
Getting Projects Done
When you want something bigger than a task done, something that will take longer than a couple days, you are getting into a project.
The main secret to success is to properly define the project. It is amazing how hard it is to complete something where you don’t know what it is suppose to look like!
So what does success look like? Define it. Is it a new product release with all marketing materials. Is it a new service as a business profit center? Is it increased profit margins for existing products or services? Are we changing the company culture? Is it a combination of several of these? Focus by defining what success will look like.
Focusing on defining success will motivate you to do break down the step of a project, overcome the problems that will, stay with a project until completion, and enjoy the fruits of success from getting projects done.
The main secret to success is to properly define the project. It is amazing how hard it is to complete something where you don’t know what it is suppose to look like!
So what does success look like? Define it. Is it a new product release with all marketing materials. Is it a new service as a business profit center? Is it increased profit margins for existing products or services? Are we changing the company culture? Is it a combination of several of these? Focus by defining what success will look like.
Focusing on defining success will motivate you to do break down the step of a project, overcome the problems that will, stay with a project until completion, and enjoy the fruits of success from getting projects done.
May 24, 2007
Secrets to Sell Real Estate Now
It is Memorial Day, and Now is the Prime Selling season for Homes. A friend of mine is flipping an investment house he bought and is fixing up. He needs to finish soon and sell before July. Do you need to sell your home, condo, single family, duplex, vacation home, forclosure, or investment real estate Now? I will disclose the secrets to a fast sale.
Most homes are sold after school is out and before September in most of the country. We will exclude the winter home markets where the fall is the big market like Florida and desert communities.
When you get promotions, new jobs or if your company moves you may have to sell quickly. My advice is based on my experience as a homeowner, an investor, a former agent, and as an appraiser. Have over twenty years experience. I sold my last house in 4 days on the market within $3,000 of my asking price, so I do know how to market a house.
The steps are simple: Price the house right for your market. Get professionals involved. Prepare for buyers. Develop a marketing plan. Deal fairly.
1 - First focus on being realistic. Every house is special, but every house has flaws, neighbors, and competition. To real estate professionals and investors, houses are a commodity and won't generate emotion like when selling your own house. Find out what houses are selling for in your neighborhood, NOT what other homes are listed for. List prices are wish lists. Then find out how long it took to sell the homes that sold. You need to know what is the sales trend for similar homes. Price it below the median to generate buyer traffic. Price it near or at the bottom to sell now!
The general trend in 2007 is prices are falling after the big boom of the last 6 years. Investors and speculators are selling, or only buying bargains. Buyers with borderline credit will not qualify for loans, so there are less buyers.
Why should you ask a low price? Because you don't have time for someone to fall in love with it. You need a buyer now. Agents will only bring buyers to houses priced fairly. Ask too much and no one will see your home. The ideal to get multiple offers so you can pick the best qualified buyer and get close to your price.
Special note to those who owe more than it is worth. Mortgage holders will work with you if you are selling below what you owe. Technically they can make you pay the whole amount, but they do not want to take the foreclosure. If you can sell it for them and get most of their debt they will be thrilled. Don't forget the second or third mortgage holders. They have the most to lose.
2 - You want to sell fast? Get every real estate agent in town to see your place. The odds of your listing agent having a buyer also is low. That is why they want other agents to bring their buyers. Hold agent open houses. Clean up, get out of the way, and they will run through your house in five minutes as they tour all the open house. If an agent wants to see your place quickly, let them in no matter how messy or inconvient. The agent just will run through quickly, ask a couple questions, and bring buyers. Have your agent invite agents for other companies!
Don't consider selling yourself if you are in a hurry. The odds of your advertising beating the Multiple Listing Services (MLS) is low. Great agents will maximize your sale price and do lots of paperwork for you.
Disclose any problems to your agent. They may help remedy them, and you will avoid a messy lawsuit or canceled sale. You can write down an allowance for new carpet or whatever necessary will be included in the sale.
3 -Buyers buy within the first 5 to 10 steps into your home. First impressions are the most important! Beware, lots of buyers will stay in their car unless your house appears ready.
So get the buyers into your house. Key is to have a neat front lawn, fresh paint or washed walls, and some colorful flowers by the front door. Potted plants are a good investment.
Next clean up the junk in your house. Especially the living room and any room you can see from the entrance. Start packing momento, family pictures, knick knacks, books and anything you won't need until you are in your new home. Especially throw away anything you can.
The next thing is how does your house smell? Go out for an errant, and check when you come in. The kitchen is the main culprit. Especially cooking with oil, garlic, onions, or strong spices. Next where do you keep shoes? I ate out, cooked outside on the grill, and still sprayed the house with Lysol or Oust every time I left for work or someone wanted to see my house. Don't forget to pack and remove clutter from the cabinets.
Next focus on the bathrooms and the master bedroom. You have made a good impression, don't destroy it. Pack, throw away, and pack some more. Storage is a good idea, and I found buyers will forgive your garage if it is filled with packed, taped moving boxes. They like the idea you are ready to leave.
4 - Market your house. Now is not the time to be private or discreet. Anyone can find out how much your house is list for or what it sold for. Before the internet, most homes are sold to friends of one of your 20 closest neighbors by them telling family or friends about a house for sale. Tell everyone you know and tell them the price.
Classified ads with prices get 5 to 10 times the response than ads without a price. I don't know why agents don't put the price on the for sale sign instead of making people stop for the flyer. So tell every neighbor a couple street each way with a flyer your house is for sale. Some agents will mail postcards for you.
Next I will remind you how important it is to be nice to agents. They are your friend no matter what a nuisance they seem to be. They bring buyers. Hold a second agent open house. Invite other agencies to visit.
5 - Deal fairly with everyone. People can tell if you are looking for an excuse to stiff the agent his commission, or trick a buyer. If you smell tricky, or desperate you will not do as well. It is best to be honest, disclose fairly, and be a good seller to do business with. Agents make their money by commission, and they will keep buyers away rather than deal with a foolish seller. Especially with so many other homes for sale. In this market your deal may fall through, so you want them motivated to deal with you.
Be reasonable. I was trying to sell another home in Connecticut when I changed jobs in Texas. My agent called me up with an offer below what I wanted. When he told me the price was $3,000 below my asking price, I responded "That is only a couple months mortgage payments", and we countered $1,000 higher to insure the deal went through. I saved money by being reasonable.
Good luck and get to work! Believe it or not this method will get you the most money as well as sell quicker.
Steve
Most homes are sold after school is out and before September in most of the country. We will exclude the winter home markets where the fall is the big market like Florida and desert communities.
When you get promotions, new jobs or if your company moves you may have to sell quickly. My advice is based on my experience as a homeowner, an investor, a former agent, and as an appraiser. Have over twenty years experience. I sold my last house in 4 days on the market within $3,000 of my asking price, so I do know how to market a house.
The steps are simple: Price the house right for your market. Get professionals involved. Prepare for buyers. Develop a marketing plan. Deal fairly.
1 - First focus on being realistic. Every house is special, but every house has flaws, neighbors, and competition. To real estate professionals and investors, houses are a commodity and won't generate emotion like when selling your own house. Find out what houses are selling for in your neighborhood, NOT what other homes are listed for. List prices are wish lists. Then find out how long it took to sell the homes that sold. You need to know what is the sales trend for similar homes. Price it below the median to generate buyer traffic. Price it near or at the bottom to sell now!
The general trend in 2007 is prices are falling after the big boom of the last 6 years. Investors and speculators are selling, or only buying bargains. Buyers with borderline credit will not qualify for loans, so there are less buyers.
Why should you ask a low price? Because you don't have time for someone to fall in love with it. You need a buyer now. Agents will only bring buyers to houses priced fairly. Ask too much and no one will see your home. The ideal to get multiple offers so you can pick the best qualified buyer and get close to your price.
Special note to those who owe more than it is worth. Mortgage holders will work with you if you are selling below what you owe. Technically they can make you pay the whole amount, but they do not want to take the foreclosure. If you can sell it for them and get most of their debt they will be thrilled. Don't forget the second or third mortgage holders. They have the most to lose.
2 - You want to sell fast? Get every real estate agent in town to see your place. The odds of your listing agent having a buyer also is low. That is why they want other agents to bring their buyers. Hold agent open houses. Clean up, get out of the way, and they will run through your house in five minutes as they tour all the open house. If an agent wants to see your place quickly, let them in no matter how messy or inconvient. The agent just will run through quickly, ask a couple questions, and bring buyers. Have your agent invite agents for other companies!
Don't consider selling yourself if you are in a hurry. The odds of your advertising beating the Multiple Listing Services (MLS) is low. Great agents will maximize your sale price and do lots of paperwork for you.
Disclose any problems to your agent. They may help remedy them, and you will avoid a messy lawsuit or canceled sale. You can write down an allowance for new carpet or whatever necessary will be included in the sale.
3 -Buyers buy within the first 5 to 10 steps into your home. First impressions are the most important! Beware, lots of buyers will stay in their car unless your house appears ready.
So get the buyers into your house. Key is to have a neat front lawn, fresh paint or washed walls, and some colorful flowers by the front door. Potted plants are a good investment.
Next clean up the junk in your house. Especially the living room and any room you can see from the entrance. Start packing momento, family pictures, knick knacks, books and anything you won't need until you are in your new home. Especially throw away anything you can.
The next thing is how does your house smell? Go out for an errant, and check when you come in. The kitchen is the main culprit. Especially cooking with oil, garlic, onions, or strong spices. Next where do you keep shoes? I ate out, cooked outside on the grill, and still sprayed the house with Lysol or Oust every time I left for work or someone wanted to see my house. Don't forget to pack and remove clutter from the cabinets.
Next focus on the bathrooms and the master bedroom. You have made a good impression, don't destroy it. Pack, throw away, and pack some more. Storage is a good idea, and I found buyers will forgive your garage if it is filled with packed, taped moving boxes. They like the idea you are ready to leave.
4 - Market your house. Now is not the time to be private or discreet. Anyone can find out how much your house is list for or what it sold for. Before the internet, most homes are sold to friends of one of your 20 closest neighbors by them telling family or friends about a house for sale. Tell everyone you know and tell them the price.
Classified ads with prices get 5 to 10 times the response than ads without a price. I don't know why agents don't put the price on the for sale sign instead of making people stop for the flyer. So tell every neighbor a couple street each way with a flyer your house is for sale. Some agents will mail postcards for you.
Next I will remind you how important it is to be nice to agents. They are your friend no matter what a nuisance they seem to be. They bring buyers. Hold a second agent open house. Invite other agencies to visit.
5 - Deal fairly with everyone. People can tell if you are looking for an excuse to stiff the agent his commission, or trick a buyer. If you smell tricky, or desperate you will not do as well. It is best to be honest, disclose fairly, and be a good seller to do business with. Agents make their money by commission, and they will keep buyers away rather than deal with a foolish seller. Especially with so many other homes for sale. In this market your deal may fall through, so you want them motivated to deal with you.
Be reasonable. I was trying to sell another home in Connecticut when I changed jobs in Texas. My agent called me up with an offer below what I wanted. When he told me the price was $3,000 below my asking price, I responded "That is only a couple months mortgage payments", and we countered $1,000 higher to insure the deal went through. I saved money by being reasonable.
Good luck and get to work! Believe it or not this method will get you the most money as well as sell quicker.
Steve
May 17, 2007
Ways to Make More Money
Looking at improving my career and earnings. To get a higher salary the clients need more value. So where can I learn more that will deliver more value to my customers? The answer is to solve their problems better. My clients need more profits, better margin, new product and services, reduced cost, and more productivity.
Came up with focused areas to help clients:
Came up with focused areas to help clients:
- Marketing / Branding
- Core Offerings
- New Product Ideas / Extensions / New Services
- Project Management
- Marketing
- Website Development
- Selling Information
- How Rich People Think
This may not be the obvious answer for the top subjects, but based on my skills, talents, experience, and interests this is the focus for the this year minimum.
Now, what would improve your value? Write down some ideas. Think about service.
May 8, 2007
New Products and Services
The most important thing in business is to create profitable products or services. The problem is after a while, everyone copies success. So how do you keep your growing profits when margins are under pressure?
Think about it, and we will discuss it in a future post. Email your questions to problem1solver@gmail.com and we will discuss it here.
Suggestion: How can you better serve your clients or customers?
Steve
Think about it, and we will discuss it in a future post. Email your questions to problem1solver@gmail.com and we will discuss it here.
Suggestion: How can you better serve your clients or customers?
Steve
April 21, 2007
Turnaround Business and About Me
My catch phrase is "Turning Opportunities into Profits". I enjoy business and business is about being profitable. Quite frankly, with no profit there is no business. Only a charity that will eventually fade away.
Business is about serving the customer so well they don't want to work with anyone else. You want to solve their problems for them.
Problem Solving is my core skill. Before I had a degree in Engineering, I could fix some of my family's and friends toy's. I fixed my and their bikes, put chains back on the sprocket, adjusted the gear changer so chains would not fall off the ends of the gears.
My father is a do it yourselfer, so I learned by watching and helping. Watching Dad change the tubes on the television (the black & white one), building and painting sheds, gardening, maintaining pool filters, building a trellis for mom, and of course maintaining the cars. It is amazing the patience he had to let us try what he could do in seconds so we would learn.
At fifteen I started working on cars. I insisted on taking Auto Shop as an school option for one semester. Dad bought a meter and a timing light to interest me in taking care of the cars, and was shocked as I taught him what it was for and how to use it. Typical teenager I was car crazy and fascinated with them today. Hybrids are cool, and I have been waiting for hydrogen cars for to come for over 25 years. Thank you BMW for answering that desire. Can't wait for a ride in one.
At sixteen I learned to use computers. I started with teletypes and punch cards. Yes I am an antique. Same time I learned about cars and computers, I also learned to swear. Not sure which one led to that :)
My engineering education and experience taught me how to solve more problems. The facinating thing to me is how little it was calculations to do things, and more about common sense and working with people. Then again my favorite professor in college only taught one formula per semester, and probably needed a calculator to balance his checkbook. So computers can only help us do our work, not think for us.
Now I enjoy growing and fixing businesses. Great products and great services only happen when a small committed team infects everyone to do it together. Someone has to decide lets do it, and the leader has to commit to make it happen. Then magic happens. Airplanes fly, cars get safer, air gets less pollution, more food gets grown, and man can walk on the moon.
So how does a business turnaround from losing money? From losing customers? From having poor quality products and services? It is the same thing. Someone commits to doing it. A leader creates a small team that decides it has no option but to succeed. People don't feel sorry for themselves, and do the hard work it takes to make the customer happy. The team grows, struggles, succeeds a little, fails some, learns and improves. The team solves a couple problems, grows some more, and tackles bringing out new products or services. Along the way, more problems get solved, customers get made happy, and pride comes in being part of a successful business.
That is how you can turnaround businesses.
Steve
PS - Look forward to more thoughts on business, life and problem solving...
Business is about serving the customer so well they don't want to work with anyone else. You want to solve their problems for them.
Problem Solving is my core skill. Before I had a degree in Engineering, I could fix some of my family's and friends toy's. I fixed my and their bikes, put chains back on the sprocket, adjusted the gear changer so chains would not fall off the ends of the gears.
My father is a do it yourselfer, so I learned by watching and helping. Watching Dad change the tubes on the television (the black & white one), building and painting sheds, gardening, maintaining pool filters, building a trellis for mom, and of course maintaining the cars. It is amazing the patience he had to let us try what he could do in seconds so we would learn.
At fifteen I started working on cars. I insisted on taking Auto Shop as an school option for one semester. Dad bought a meter and a timing light to interest me in taking care of the cars, and was shocked as I taught him what it was for and how to use it. Typical teenager I was car crazy and fascinated with them today. Hybrids are cool, and I have been waiting for hydrogen cars for to come for over 25 years. Thank you BMW for answering that desire. Can't wait for a ride in one.
At sixteen I learned to use computers. I started with teletypes and punch cards. Yes I am an antique. Same time I learned about cars and computers, I also learned to swear. Not sure which one led to that :)
My engineering education and experience taught me how to solve more problems. The facinating thing to me is how little it was calculations to do things, and more about common sense and working with people. Then again my favorite professor in college only taught one formula per semester, and probably needed a calculator to balance his checkbook. So computers can only help us do our work, not think for us.
Now I enjoy growing and fixing businesses. Great products and great services only happen when a small committed team infects everyone to do it together. Someone has to decide lets do it, and the leader has to commit to make it happen. Then magic happens. Airplanes fly, cars get safer, air gets less pollution, more food gets grown, and man can walk on the moon.
So how does a business turnaround from losing money? From losing customers? From having poor quality products and services? It is the same thing. Someone commits to doing it. A leader creates a small team that decides it has no option but to succeed. People don't feel sorry for themselves, and do the hard work it takes to make the customer happy. The team grows, struggles, succeeds a little, fails some, learns and improves. The team solves a couple problems, grows some more, and tackles bringing out new products or services. Along the way, more problems get solved, customers get made happy, and pride comes in being part of a successful business.
That is how you can turnaround businesses.
Steve
PS - Look forward to more thoughts on business, life and problem solving...
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