usingspors.gq

More and more people are looking to run a home based business these days. Actually over 95% of working people’s biggest dream is to own their own home based business. For millions of Americans it is a nightmare getting up to the alarm clock on Monday morning to go to a place and build someone else’s dream. For those who are stuck going to the office every day, most think; what could be better than being your own boss, no office politics, being able to wear your fuzzy bunny slippers all day and have a 2 hour lunch rather than wolfing down a cold sandwich in a crowded lunchroom in 30 minutes. Network marketing is a great way for anyone to get their start at home. Here is the thing with network marketing as a home based business. You still have to work.There are some seriously great benefits of network marketing and working from home. Setting up shop is relatively easy. The biggest challenge with setting up your home based business is usually the WORK. The work is the part that makes the network marketing business profitable. So here are 3 tips to help you build a profitable home based business while not losing focus with your personal life.Set a ScheduleSetting a schedule for your home based business is the #1 most important step you can take. It is so easy to let work take over some part of every waking moment you have when you desk is but a few feet from your living room or bedroom. It is hard not to get out of bed and go straight to the computer sometimes and others times it is too easy to do something else other than work. Because most people have some form of a life whether it be tending their family or visiting with friends, it is really important to set a schedule for work and set time aside to balance your life too. All work and no play will make anyone very dull as well as unproductive eventually if you are in network marketing as you need to get your face in front of people. You need to set an 8 hour day for productivity with your home based business (if you are working it full time). The beauty with a home based business and working from home is it can be ANY 8 hours during the day. The catch is sticking to the hours you set and being productive during those hours.Staying in the Work ZoneWhen you are scheduled to work, you need to ignore everything else going on in your home. You need to be in the zone. If you have a home office where you can run your home based business and can shut the door, it is recommended to keep all the distractions at bay. By distractions, I mean a ringing home phone line, children or others that may be at home during the same times as you are schedule to work. Keep televisions and radios off especially if you need to concentrate on the computer or with making phone calls. Some less noticed distractions when working from home are things like dishes in the sink or house cleaning or mowing the lawn or other house tasks that can WAIT. Save these activities for after your work hours that you have scheduled. As well it is also important to get up in the morning and get ready for your day. This means set the alarm (this doesn’t have to be at the crack of dawn, but I also don’t suggest later than 8am), get up and get dressed. As easy as it is to stay in your bathrobe, things like PJ’s and lounge clothes are usually associated with relaxation which defeats the purpose and will make you less productive. You will be more in the zone if you are dressed to work.Have a Work SpaceIt is all too easy to work from many areas in your home with your home based business, especially with new technology of laptops and WiFi, but it is vital to pick a space for working where you will not be disturbed. Not only does moving spaces daily cause clutter in your head which is stressful in itself, but it causes disorganization with work. As well, opting for a well lit, inspirational area of your home to run your home based business will help you keep your mood up when working from home. Bedrooms are not recommended as they are associated with sleep and relaxation.Overall, working from home is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have and it will allow you so much more freedoms that you normally wouldn’t have, but making sure you are actually productive while working and then being able to balance your personal life is really the key to success with any home based business and network marketing opportunity.

I have held a real estate license and been a full time agent in the state of Illinois for many years now and I love what I do. Yes, even in this down market, I still have fun. People still need places to live. With the market the way it is though, there are lots more rental and rent to own properties than there were a few years ago. And that is not likely to change any time soon. The market is ripe for anyone wanting to invest in real estate in what will turn out be the most lucrative time to buy in a very, very long time. But there are things to be cautious about, whether you’re a buyer or seller, or want to be an investor.

To the Buyer or Seller -

Caveat Emptor, let the buyer beware. There’s a good reason for that phrase, there’s a lot of truth in it. If you are a buyer or seller, you should be very careful when approached by someone saying they are an investor. They do not have your best interest at heart, no matter what they say. They are looking to make money on the buying and or selling or leasing of property. They are not an agent and answer to no regulating agency. They are not your AGENT and do not owe you any obligation other than to honor the contract they enter into with you, which may or may not be a good deal for you. Sure, if they’re engaging in licensed real estate activities without a license, they may be subject to penalties. But that won’t stop you from getting screwed. So beware. My advice is get someone to represent you, either a real estate broker or attorney, or both. You may or may not, by law, have to have a real estate attorney in your state. In my state, Illinois, it’s optional for buyers or sellers to have one. But also, in Illinois, real estate brokers can’t act as an attorney, only as an agent. So it’s recommended that you have an attorney, even though it’s not required.

To the Investor -

Periodically, I run across individuals who say they want to buy “wholesale”. They describe a process where they make an offer to purchase a peace of property. Then once under contract, they procure an “investor buyer” for their purchase contract. They make their money buy charging their buyer a finders fee.

There are a couple of things a would be investor should be wary of. Each state has licensing laws, and certain things require a professional license. Being a doctor, a lawyer, an accountant, a real estate broker are all fine examples of this.

Section 1-10 of The Illinois Real Estate License Act of 2000 defines several called licensed activities for a broker. Here are a few excerpts from Section 1-10:

“Broker” means an individual, partnership, LLC, corporation, or registered LLP who, whether in person or through any media or technology, for compensation, or with the intent of receiving compensation, either directly or indirectly:

Sells, exchanges, purchases, rents or leases real estate.

Offers to sell, exchange, purchase, rent or lease real estate.

Negotiates, offers, attempts, or agrees to negotiate the sale, exchange, purchase, rental or leasing of real estate.

Assists or directs in procuring or referring of leads or prospects, intended to result in the sale, exchange, lease or rental of real estate.

Now, I’m not a lawyer nor did I play one on TV, or did I stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night. But when an investor is looking for a buyer for that contract they have, they may be skirting the law in a very dangerous way. A slip of the tongue, say the wrong word, and it could be very costly for them.

People wanting to invest should do just that. They should buy it and hold it as a rental property, or buy it, fix it up, and sell it. I would not recommend buy/fix/sell though in the present market unless you’re getting the property incredibly cheap. Resale is hard, unless you’re well below market value. To be an investor, you don’t have to have an agent. It’s legal for an individual to represent themselves in a transaction without having a license. They just can’t represent someone else without one. For those folks who wanting to “wholesale” – sell real estate contracts, I recommend checking with your state regulating agency and finding out just how close you are to violating laws. And you might want to consider getting the appropriate license.

Now you have an investment property the next step is to find someone to take over its management. Do your research and list questions you want to ask when interviewing prospective property management companies. Short list a few companies that interest you.

Phone them to ask questions then, if you are still interested; make an appointment to visit in person. Visiting in person gives you an idea of how they conduct their business and you can meet the people who will represent your interests. Here are the top five questions to ask when you interview a property manager.

1. Does the Company have a Dedicated Management Arm?

You want to know whether the property management company offers a complete service or if it is just a side line for a real estate office. Who and how will your property be managed. How many staff are in the office? Who will deal with you and your tenants if staff leave or are sick?

2. Does the Company Owner/Director get Involved in the Business?

Most property management companies are divided in two – selling real estate and managing real estate. Usually the company director is involved with the sales side as it is the high profit area of the business and a property manager takes care of leasing. If the company director is involved with the property management arm of the business, you may find they take it more seriously than others.

3. How well do they know the Rental Business?

Check with the property manager how long they have personally been dealing with property management. Just because you are talking to a well known real estate company does not mean their staff have a lot of experience. It also does not mean they provide top quality customer service.

Some property managers start out working in a real estate office as the office person and work their way up. Some move into property management and the rest into sales. Other property managers have specifically chosen property management as their career.

4. How long has the Property Manager worked for the Company?

You want a property manager that is stable in their employment, and who takes looking after your interests seriously. There is a lot of stress involved in property management, with a high turnover of staff. In six months time, you want to be talking to the same person to build a business relationship that understands your needs and the property. This is a good reason to look for a property manager dedicated to it as a career.

5. What Area does the Company Service?

You are right to consider companies that have expert local knowledge but, if you intend buying more properties in the future, how far does their expertize reach?

You do have a choice – either hire a property management company in each geographic area or find one that covers a wider area to take on all your properties.

6. How do they Conduct Property Inspections?

This is really an important one – the last thing you want is for a property manager to just hand out your keys to prospective tenants. Too much can go wrong. You want to know that the property manager will give good customer service and personally take prospective tenants to inspect your property. Or, they may hold open houses at specific times. This gives them a chance to get to know a future tenant better.

7. How many Properties does the Company Manage?

You want to know how many properties the property manager manages personally. Some may have 200 or more. If they do, I wonder how they can give you and your tenants top customer service. Others may have only up to 150 but charge more for their service. This may be a better option to get peace of mind and, ultimately, make a good return on your investment property.

8. Does the Company’s Staff Work Six Days a Week?

You want a property management company that can show your properties when it is convenient for the tenant. After all, you want tenants that can pay the rent so that means that most will be at work during normal business hours; unless it is a commercial property for rent. In the world of internet advertising, enquiries come in 24 hours a day. This comes down to their availability and ability to deal with maintenance issues as well.

9. Does the Property Manager Check New Tenant’s Credentials?

It is important to ask how the property management company checks out the credentials of short listed prospects. You need to reassure yourself they check people’s credit and rental history, and their past and present employment.

All prospective tenants must be screened carefully. Does your property manager have adequate access to information for this purpose? Do they provide you with a written report that backs up their claims when handing over short listed prospective tenants?

You now have plenty of information to help you seek out the very best property manager for your growing property portfolio. Enjoy your investment.