Monthly Archives: February 2018

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The Next Big Steps Your Startup Might Be Ready For

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When you start out on your entrepreneurial journey, it’s highly likely that you’re going to have a vision. You’ll know what you want and roughly how to get there. But as with every startup, you probably also know that you’ll need to earn your stripes. You’ll have to go through that period where you’re giving it everything you’ve got and not really getting anything in return. When this is the case, you can kind of get used to it. So when things suddenly start to take off, it can take you by surprise – especially when it’s earlier than you imagined. However, when it does, you need to be ready to make your next move. When you’ve got there early, or when you weren’t expecting it, you may not know what the best next steps will be. So let’s take a look at some of the most common options.

  1. Hiring

One of the first moves that you might like to make is taking on your first member of staff. This can be quite a big commitment, as you’ll have a second salary to cover – or even a first if you’re not taking one for yourself just yet. So you may want to call toll free and get some professional assistance with the recruitment process. It’s always best to know that you’ll get the best candidate for the job. Because you need to make sure that you’re paying out for quality, and that it will benefit your business in the long run.

  1. Expansion

Another idea could be to expand the business. This could be in a variety of different ways, but mainly in terms of your current capacity. If you’re selling really well, no matter what your product or service is, you may need to be able to sell more. So by expanding, you’ll be able to offer more of that service to other clients, or sell more products without selling out too quickly and leaving customers empty-handed.

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  1. A Bigger Office

Taking into consideration points one and two, as well as this idea in its own right, you may also want to consider going for a bigger office. Because you may need the space and capacity to grow. Choosing an office space can be tough, as you’ll need to stick to your budget but also make sure that you have potential to grow too.

  1. New Markets

Maybe you’re ready to move into a new market? If your product or service is doing really well in your own country, maybe it’s ready to move into another? This is something that you’ll be able to do in your own time, but it’s a great idea for when you want a bigger slice of the pie.

  1. A New Product

Finally, you may also want to consider laughing a new product or service. When your current offering is doing so well, you may find that a complementary product or service to go alongside it or meet another need is exactly what your business should be doing next.

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Home Sellers Beware: These Are The Biggest Turn-Offs For Property Buyers

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It’s a common sight across the country. Homes with ‘For Sale’ signs on their lawns, some of which have been lying in wait for a home buyer for a long time. Why? There are many reasons. Many people prefer to rent for example, especially if they are struggling to maintain a regular income. Some locations go out of fashion, especially if they have been hit with recession. In some cases, the seller has tried to add value to the property, with little idea about what it is today’s home buyers are looking for, especially the current dominant force in home buying, the millennial generation.

So, are you thinking about selling your home soon? Or has your house been on the market for a long time, and is failing to sell? In either case, we have trawled through the internet for some of the biggest turn-offs for home buyers. Using real estate surveys and expert opinion, we have gathered a list of the things you need to look out for when selling your house. Fixing these problem areas will give you a greater chance for a sale, so you neglect them at your peril. From property issues to human mistakes, these are the common turn-offs you need to be aware of.

A dirty house

We aren’t saying your general housekeeping is bad, though it might be. Unfortunately, a quick vacuum before the prospective buyer comes to look at your property isn’t going to cut it. Your house needs to look immaculate, from top to bottom, with added renovation to improve the overall cleanliness. So, as well as keeping on top of your regular housework, you might also consider replacing old carpets that may be stained or worn. Alternatively, hire a steam cleaner and give your carpets a deep clean. You should grout your tiles too, as well as giving every other area of your home a thorough clean. Hiring a professional cleaning service is also a good idea, as they have the tools to make your home sparkle.

Bad odours

First impressions count, and that goes beyond how your property looks. Any bad odours will turn the viewers off your property, and you need to rectify it before their arrival. However, chances are you have become accustomed to the way your house smells, so it’s worth asking a friend to give you their polite opinion on how fragrant your home is. You may have pets, for example, and they give off their own scent, as well as the expected litter trays and animal paraphernalia. Other odours come from the dirty carpets we mentioned earlier, as well as any damp problems around the house. Smokers need to beware, as furnishings and upholstery will absorb the cigarette smell. You should also avoid cooking any strongly-odoured food the night and day before your viewers arrive, so avoid fish and exotic foods. A deep-clean will deal with some of the smells, as will general repair work in damp rooms. You should also add your own fragrances, such as vases of flowers, air fresheners, and even the homely smell of baked biscuits, which will attract the viewer’s nose, rather than repel it.

Maintenance issues

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Whether large or small, there may be maintenance problems you need to get on top of. We have already mentioned damp, and that should be one of your priorities. Not only does it look and smell bad in your property, but your prospective home buyers will also be concerned with their health. Larger maintenance issues include leaking roofs, faulty heating, and areas with cold drafts coming in. Smaller issues include creaking door handles, dripping taps, and loose floorboards. Our advice is this. While you will probably have a good idea of the repairs you need to do in your house, you should also hire a property surveyor to give your home a once-over before you put it on the market. The buyers will be doing the same thing, so preempt them before they have a chance to grumble about the disrepair in your home. When you know what you need to fix, get on with the job as soon as possible, and hire professionals to deal with fixes that you aren’t qualified to handle.

Curb appeal

The inside of your home may be immaculate, but you need to concentrate on the areas outside of your property. If your grass is overgrown, you need to get the mower out. Your fencing may be worn, so replacing broken fixtures, and giving it a fresh lick of paint will make a world of difference. If you have a driveway, you need to get rid of any built-up dirt that has accumulated around it, including in the gaps. High pressure cleaners will do the job nicely. Then look at your walls. Scuffed paintwork is going to look unsightly, so get the paintbrush out again, and clean up both the walls and frames around your home. Wash your windows, add some hanging plants to improve curb appeal, and throw in a welcome mat at your front door. As we said earlier, first impressions count, and your home exterior is going to be the first place the home buyer sees before they step through your front door.

Too many personal touches

For starters, don’t make any unnecessary changes to your home just before you put it on the market. You might want to replace the wallpaper, for example, as you are liable to go with something you like, above and beyond what the buyer might be interested in. While you should definitely replace old fixtures, especially if they are worn and outdated, don’t replace them with anything too niche. Generic is fine, provided they look good, and the buyer can replace them later if they want too. Then there are the general knickknacks around your home, from collectible items to family photos. When you are showing your house, you need to remove all such items. They are only talking points for you and your friends, and the home buyer won’t be interested in them. The viewer wants to imagine themselves living in the property, and your personal belongings will only get in the way of their imagination.

You

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No offence, but you may be putting off the home buyer yourself. Yes, you may have showered and combed your hair before arrival, but your behaviour can put off the viewer. What do we mean? Well, you may be keen to engage in conversations the buyer isn’t interested in. Trying to persuade them to buy is another no-no, unless you are fluent in the art of a sales rep. You might only come across as being needy and persistent. If you in any way emotionally attached, the buyer might sense this. Not only will the sight of you crying in the corner be a concern to the buyer, but you might also impose your opinion on how the buyer should live in the house, what they should do with it, and what they need to leave alone. Once you have handed over the keys, it’s theirs to do what they want with, so you need to keep your opinions to yourself. You might also grumble about their muddy shoes and sticky fingers, and this is only going to make them feel uncomfortable. So, leave the showing to your real-estate agent. They know what they’re doing, and will have the sales patter down to a tee. Make yourself scarce, and distract yourself with something else while the experts do their job.

And so…

Those are the biggest turn-offs for home buyers. If any of them are true to your property, you need to deal with them as soon as possible. You should then consider the features that are going to attract buyers, especially the young millennials who are looking to get onto the property ladder. This includes the following:

Energy efficiency – Being environmentally aware, today’s buyers want a home that is both economical and planet-saving. Adding green features to your home will add a huge amount of value to the property.

Storage space – Even the smallest home can include extra storage, so add shelving and walk-in closet spaces, and highlight the storage spaces you do have by removing your own clutter.

Modern technology – Especially for the younger generation, having a house fitted with the latest tech is guaranteed to impress. Automated thermostats, LED lighting, and smart features are some of the things you should consider adding before selling.

Modern decor – You need to be careful here, as you don’t want to put off the buyer with your personal taste. Still, look online at the latest decor, especially for the kitchen and bathroom, and consider updating your rooms with something that is in line with the latest trends.

By avoiding the turn-offs and adding the turn-ons, you are going to have a greater chance of selling your home. Always speak to your real-estate agent for professional advice, and keep an eye on the property market for the best time to put your home on the market. So, if you are selling anytime soon, we wish you every success and happiness in your home move.

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Are You A Diligent Driver Or An Accident Waiting To Happen?

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Did you know that you’re more likely to be injured in a car accident than almost any other mode of transport? Most of us get into the car every day without any anxiety, but there are always risks involved with driving. Modern cars are built for safety, as well as performance, but even the most innovative of vehicles cannot correct or prevent driver errors. Mistakes and a lack of care and attention account for more than 90 percent of accidents on the roads. Bearing this in mind, do you consider yourself a diligent driver or could you be an accident waiting to happen? Here are some of the most common causes of crashes and some golden rules to follow to steer clear of trouble.

Monitoring your speed

If you drive on a regular basis, you may have come across signs that encourage you to reduce your speed and stick to restrictions. You may think that it’s fun to drive fast and that there are no risks involved in driving above the speed limit if there’s nobody else around. However, there are speed restrictions in place for good reason. When you drive fast, there’s a higher risk of losing control of the vehicle and the impact of a crash is likely to be much more severe at speed. If you crash at 30 mph, damage to the car may be minimal, and injuries are likely to be minor. If you crash at 70, 80 or 90 mph, the story could have a very different ending. It’s worth bearing in mind that if you exceed the limit, you will be liable if you have an accident and you may face legal charges and be required to pay a fine or even spend time in jail. Just as going too fast is dangerous, it’s also important to make sure that you don’t drive too slowly. If you’re holding up a line of traffic behind you, this can also be dangerous. Use the speed limits as a guide and adjust your speed in line with conditions. If it’s raining or there’s snow or ice on the road, reduce your speed and keep well back from vehicles in front, as your stopping distance will increase.

Image by https://www.flickr.com/photos/zachd1_618/3489625168

Focusing on the road

Be honest. How often do you take your eyes off the road to mess around with the radio or make a phone call or send a text message? When you’re driving, you need to maintain your focus at all times. Even if you only glance away for a second, this can put you and other drivers at risk. Keep your eyes on the road ahead, pay attention to other vehicles around you and always be wary of hazards, such as animals, pedestrians and obstacles in the road. If you’re not looking and you’re involved in an accident, it’s highly likely that you will be held liable. If you need to make a call or you want to change the CD or program in a new radio station, find a safe place to pull over. If you tend to do business on the go, invest in a Bluetooth headset or look for a car that has an inbuilt system that enables you to make calls without using your hands or taking your eyes off the road.

Picture credit http://www.freestockphotos.biz/stockphoto/15866

Drunk driving

Drunk driving is one of the most common causes of major accidents on the road. Alcohol affects your ability to react quickly, it can alter your mood and your behaviour, and it can also cloud your judgment. You may think that you’re absolutely fine after a couple of drinks, but often, the impact of drinking isn’t immediately visible. If you want to drink, arrange a lift or book a cab. It’s much better to be safe than sorry. If you’re out on the road and you’re hit by a driver who has been drinking, you have every right to get in touch with experts like those at Mirian Law and find out more about claiming compensation. Drunk driving puts everyone at risk, and often, it’s innocent people who haven’t touched a drop of alcohol that get hurt. Legal limits vary depending on where you are, so the safest thing to do is avoid alcohol altogether if you plan to drive.

A set of car keys in the foreground and glass of whiskey behind.

Image from https://www.flickr.com/photos/99329675@N02/11064883376

Tiredness

Have you ever been in a situation where you feel like you can’t physically keep your eyes open? Driving tired puts you and other drivers at risk of injury. When you’re tired, it takes you longer to react, it’s harder to concentrate, and you could even fall asleep at the wheel. If somebody suddenly walks into the road, a tree falls, or a car in front changes lane without looking, you may struggle to hit the brakes fast enough, and this could have disastrous consequences. If you feel exhausted, don’t risk driving. Take a nap and make the journey later. If you’re already on the road and you start to feel tired, pull over in a safe place, have a coffee, stretch your legs and get some fresh air and then get back on the road. If you struggle to stay awake, try and avoid driving late at night and plan journeys in advance. If you’ve got a long drive ahead, schedule an overnight stop and break up the journey. It may take you a little longer to get from A to B, but at least you’ll make it in one piece.

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Most drivers have opinions about other drivers, but have you ever thought about your performance on the road? Surveys show that most people think they’re good drivers, but the statistics would suggest that not everyone is quite as diligent as they may think. The vast majority of accidents arise as a result of driver errors. Although some accidents are impossible to avoid, most could be prevented. Next time you head out in your car, think about what kind of driver you are and do everything possible to keep yourself and those around you safe. Take your time, stick to speed limits, focus on what you’re doing, avoid drinking and take a break if you’re tired.

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It Takes More Than One Pair Of Hands To Build A Construction Business

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When starting a construction business, your first and most serious concern might be filling your team with a roster of experienced, reliable builders bringing together all the skills you need to handle the average project professionally. There’s no doubt that’s important, but it’s not all you need. For a truly successful business, you need to look at the personal, both hired and outsourced, that is going to make sure you can build more than a property, but a fully functioning business.

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Soil testers

Unless you have a structural engineer on the team, this is always going to be a service relevant to preparing any business site. Testing the soil is essential for making sure that any building will be foundationally secure. They can tell you a variety of things about the site, including soil strength, density, compaction, contamination, soil content and much more for a variety of areas around the site. Many soil testing services also offer a range of structural engineering tools to help more evenly distribute the load of the project in any site that might not normally be able to withstand it. In most cases, construction teams work hand in hand with soil testers and civil engineers as opposed to hiring them directly.

Suppliers

Your relationship with your material suppliers is going to be one of the most important relationships in the business. How well you’re able to negotiate costs will drastically affect the estimates you can give, which can be one of your primary tools in winning more leads. As soon as your business opens its doors, look for your material suppliers with a view to creating a long-term relationship. Suppliers are much more willing to offer price cuts and deals to those teams that can guarantee and prove ongoing repeat sales. Get to know your supplier’s supplier, too, identifying risks that might impact their supply, and have a backup option at the ready so you’re not caught out if those risks come to pass.

Equipment providers

You might want as many assets and skills in-house as possible. However, acquiring them costs money and attempting to grow too fast can make once-profitable jobs highly unprofitable. So, leasing equipment is most likely going to become a common affair for you. Learn which equipment needs are more consistent from project to project and keep them in-house to make them more cost-effective. For things like soil removal, in which your needs can change from site to site, be more flexible in your approach, and hire equipment as is necessary. Investing in purchasing equipment that you’re not going to use all the time is much less cost-effective when you have to consider ongoing maintenance and upkeep costs beyond just the initial purchase.

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Subcontractors

The same goes for the skill set that you have within the business. You’re going to want a well-rounded set of skills amongst your core team, and you shouldn’t fall into the trap of only relying on temporary hires that can often result in a scarcity of skills within your actual business. But for vehicle qualifications and skills that you don’t use as often in your primary services, you should look to subcontractors. This can include things like electricians, plumbers, drivers of specific vehicles, painters, and much more. The services that don’t fit your core expertise but are going to be an essential part of completing most projects.

Accountants

It’s not all about the building, either. Any business owner needs to have a firm grasp of the finances of the situation. Learning to make accurate cost breakdowns and estimates, a comprehensive understanding of your overheads, budgeting decisions, taxes, you have to be familiar with all of them. Being cost-savvy helps you stay competitive, after all. But there’s no denying the need for an accountant in just about any business to focus solely on the money. Rather than a standard business accountant, think about hiring construction-specific accountants who are well-versed in the many unique financial considerations within the industry. Beyond acting as a bookkeeper, accountants are trained to offer advice, including legal advice when tax time comes around. Having an accountant won’t just help you save money in the long-run, they’ll help keep you compliant with accounting and tax laws.

Marketers

How do you win leads for your business? Making bids and networking within trade associations and trade shows are likely going to open a lot of doors for you, but there’s no denying how powerful a tool that branding can be when it comes to convincing leads. What’s more, having an effective, far-reaching brand can help you catch the attention of leads you might never have considered. Nowadays, it is essential for most businesses, including construction firms, to have some investment in digital marketing. It can provide the professional face, the portfolio, and the reputation you need to improve your chances of winning over potential clients. Branding your construction company might sound as simple as showing your qualifications and experience, but the average homeowner looking for a builder is going to need more, and marketers are great at finding the extra appeal your brand needs.

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Safety officers

Safety should always be of a concern and it likely is. Beyond making you legally compliant and reducing the worker’s compensation you have to pay out, you want your team to trust you. Regular safety training and providing the right equipment can help the team become more conscious. But safety isn’t always their first thought; getting the job done is. That’s why you should create a position for a permanent safety officer whose sole role is highlight safety risks, unsafe work practices, and come up with solutions to help you minimize them.

Whether in construction or another industry, the business owner must always be surveying the business and its needs, considering whether or not they have the skills and resources to handle those needs. Think about whether those needs are regular and integral enough that you should make a permanent position to handle them, or whether they’re temporary enough to justify outsourcing.

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Are You Ready to Stop Micromanaging Your Startup?

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Micromanagement has long been one of the most frustrating business practices that any manager or entrepreneur could use. It’s overbearing, it’s not productive and it tends to cause more trouble than it’s worth. Sadly, there’s not much we can really do to stop ourselves outside of being self-aware, and many employees are far too concerned about their job security to bother telling you when you need to stop being so controlling.

While it’s natural to want to oversee everything as a startup, it’s a mentality that you need to break out of if you want to be successful in the future. To help you out, we’re going to list a couple of ways to help you stop micromanaging your workplace to ensure your company has a promising future with a strong office culture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Micromanagement can be detrimental if it doesn’t stop early. (Source)

Have Faith in Your Employees

One of the biggest factors that will help you stop micromanaging is to have faith in your employees. Trust is a huge component to any healthy office culture and if you’re not being at least somewhat trusting of your employees, then you need to take a good look at why you have a lack of faith. Is it because they’re not performing well enough to your standards, or are you just being too harsh on them? Building trust with your employees isn’t the easiest thing in the world, but it’s certainly worth the effort and one of the easiest ways to break out of your micromanagement habits.

Start Looking at the Bigger Picture

If you want to grow your business then it’s important to start looking at the bigger picture. Whether it’s growing your home-based business and moving into an office or achieving international recognition, you need to focus on long-term goals instead of using your time to micromanage your employees.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s natural to want to keep an eye on your employees, but it can’t continue for long. (Source)

Hire Help When Needed

Some managers feel like they need to micromanage because their employees just aren’t able to cut it. For example, a manager might get involved with the work their employees do (this is more common in startups than small or medium businesses) because there’s a deadline coming up or because they need to teach their employees about certain things such as technology or how to use certain software. During times like this, you may want to consider managed IT services or other professional services that can help lighten the load. This will give you the peace of mind knowing that you have trained consultants advising your staff and it will take a load off your mind.

Final Words

Micromanagement is a habit that needs to be removed if you want to have a stable company culture that is ready to embrace growth. If you start growing your business and stick to your overbearing nature, then you’re going to have a tough time being a productive and efficient business in the future.

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Can You Really Run A Supercar On A Budget? (The Answer Is Yes)

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Ask a petrol head what they would like to drive and the answers will range from Ferrari to Lamborghini. No one wants a Nissan per-say, but they are quite attractive and affordable. And, that is the pertinent point to keep in mind: the cost. Supercars are sexy and fast and desirable, yet they are out of most people’s budget and that is a sticking point.

But, what if there is a way to own a car that will make your neighbour’s eyeballs bleed and it didn’t break the bank?

Of course you’d be interested, but it isn’t true. Well, that isn’t entirely the case.

Set A Figure

A Bugatti will cost a cool half a million dollars, which is an astonishing amount. Ferraris aren’t much cheaper at a quarter of a million, while Porsches and Lambos are six-figure sums too. It seems that all supercars are unattainable yet it isn’t true as some only have four zeros at the end. Take the 911, the German manufacturer’s iconic model. Today, a newer version can cost as little as $40,000. Sure, you won’t have it lying around the house, but the number is a hell of a lot smaller than $500,000. You can pick up an Audi R8 for the same price.

Choose A Runner

What this means is that you want to pick a car that is reliable. Sadly, supercars are known for breaking down and costing their owners a small fortune. The last thing you want to do is go balls out and then realize the auto repair expenses are too high. As always regarding reliability, pick a German car. So, their PR department is working overtime currently, but it doesn’t mean a Porsche is going to break down. On average, the life of a car can last as long as 250,000 miles. The Japanese also have a solid reputation, too.

Back To The Future

Fuel efficiency is another expense that can break the bank if you are not careful. Supercars are notorious for guzzling gas and spitting it out in toxic fumes and it’s not good for your bank balance. The price of fuel is rising around the world as fossil fuel resources deplete, which is a bummer. Burning petrol is not the answer, but using electricity is a fine solution. Tesla is the market leader at the moment, with traditional manufacturers hot in pursuit. Choosing a hybrid or a fully electric engine like a Roadster is a fantastic way to be current and own a badass motor.

Try Second-Hand

The idea of owning a supercar is to show off to the whole of the neighbourhood. However, you do need to have the money to floss and not care about the costs. For those that can’t buy a car without checking their bank balance, a used model is an option. Lots of owners get rid of their toys and replace them with new, in vogue alternatives, leaving perfectly good wheels to rust. Not only is the right one cheap but reliable, too.

Do you want to own a supercar? Hopefully, you’ll be four steps closer.

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Eight Spring Cleaning Steps You Should Never Forget

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Everyone has the usual household chores that they get done every day or every week, but there are some things that are usually left until you have an excuse for doing a thorough clean. Well, spring is the perfect excuse. It might not feel like it yet, but the days are slowly getting longer and warmer, so what better time is there to let in some fresh air and wipe away all of the bugs and germs of winter. I know what you’re probably thinking, yes, spring isn’t quite here yet, but it is only just around the corner, so it’s sensible to start making plans now. While you’re doing so, make sure you remember the eight important steps listed below.

  1. Remember The Forgotten

When you’re completing your usual chores, there are lots of things that you probably forget or decide to put off until you next clean, and then forget about them. Luckily, these things aren’t necessarily important and don’t need to be cleaned every week, but they do need to be cleaned at some point, and what better time to do this than spring. Your walls and door frames are just two examples of these types of things. Some warm water and a little washing up liquid will do wonders and get rid of all of the grime of the past year, so don’t forget these forgotten things during spring.

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  1. Deep Clean Carpets

Most people vacuum their carpets every few days, or once a week at the least, so it might be surprising that your carpets are actually filthy; You just can’t see it. Renting a carpet cleaner or hiring a professional to clean your carpets will bring life back into every single room of your home. It will get rid of any built-up hair, dirt, or dust, and leave your carpets looking as clean and fresh as the day you first bought them. They can usually also get rid of any stains that may have occurred over the past year too.

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  1. Clean Windows When Cloudy

Depending on where you are in the world, it can be absolutely freezing throughout winter, so getting outside and cleaning your windows is as unlikely as a pig flying to the moon. Unfortunately, over winter, your windows will have suffered quite a lot due to the wind, rain, and snow, so they could probably do with a good clean now that it’s starting to warm up. Just be sure that you do this on a day that is fairly cloudy, as water will dry too quickly on your windows when sunny, and will leave streaky marks.

  1. Move Everything

All throughout the year, you’ve probably just cleaned around pieces of furniture or kitchen appliances, as moving them would be a lot of hassle. However, if you want to give your home a thorough clean this spring, then you are going to need to get some help and move everything around so that you can clean where furniture was. This is especially important when deep cleaning carpets if you want to avoid sofa shaped dark patches in your living room. To make this feel more worthwhile, you could use this as an excuse to move rooms around and give them a new look.

  1. Don’t Forget To Declutter

If there is ever a time to contact a skip bin hire company and have a proper clear-out, it’s springtime. When I’m on a decluttering mission, I tend to follow one simple rule – If something is broken, or I haven’t used it in the past six months (and it’s not a seasonal item), then it can go. Go room by room, and put everything in “keep”, “donate”, and “throw away” piles and make sure to keep them separated to avoid any mix-ups. Trust me, I know that this is not going to be very easy, but you will feel a lot more relaxed at home when you don’t have unwanted junk spilling from every cupboard and drawer.

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  1. Change Your Wardrobe

Throughout winter, you will have been wearing mostly warmer clothes, like jumpers, long-sleeved tops, scarves, and gloves. When it starts to warm up, the last thing that you want is only to be able to find these types of clothing. To make your life a lot easier, get all of your clothes out and separate them into “spring”, “summer”, “autumn”, and “winter” piles. Then you can make your spring and summer clothes more accessible by bringing them to the front of drawers and your wardrobe and put your others to the back or store them away somewhere, like your attic.

Bill St. Clair, the assistant fire chief at Coast Guard Fire and Rescue in Kodiak, displays a type of smoke detector commonly used in the United States Oct. 11, 2013, in Kodiak, Alaska. Most modern models of smoke detectors are designed to not only detect smoke but carbon monoxide as well. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Klingenberg.

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  1. Complete Safety Checks

Although this isn’t necessarily a cleaning tip, it is something that you should regularly do, so spring is a great excuse and reminder. Go around your home and test all of your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure that they all work. You should also test your fire escape plan, or come up with one if this isn’t something that you’ve thought about yet. You should also purchase a fire blanket or extinguisher, if you don’t already have one, and make sure you know how to use it.

  1. Get In The Gutter

Throughout winter, you should have been checking your guttering regularly and cleaning it out to avoid causing any damage to your home. However, a lot of debris can build up in your gutter in a short space of time, and because spring is notorious for its rain, it would be best to give it one more clean out, just to make sure that your guttering can function properly. You can also use this time to repair any damage that might have occurred over winter.

Some people absolutely love spring cleaning, and some people absolutely hate it, but whatever side you are on, you can’t deny that it is incredibly important. However you feel, I hope that these tips will help you, and ensure that you don’t forget any important spring cleaning steps this March.

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Are You Ready To Launch A Home-Based Business? A Guide To Getting Started

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Are you ready to take the plunge and set up your own business? Many budding entrepreneurs choose to base their new business at home to save money, but launching a home-based company isn’t as easy as putting a desk and a chair in a guest bedroom. There’s a lot of work involved in getting a new venture off the ground, regardless of the location of your headquarters. Here are some tips to help you get started.

Image by https://www.pexels.com/search/home%20office/

Creating your base

If you plan to run a new business from home, consider where you’re going to base yourself. The areas you choose to use for work purposes will probably depend on the kind of company you hope to launch. You may need an office, a studio, a gallery, a treatment suite or a workshop. Think about the best location for your headquarters. Have you got spare bedrooms that could be converted into an office, an art or design studio or a stockroom, or do you only use part of the garage? Could you use the loft or basement as a workspace, or have you got outbuildings that would make fantastic treatment rooms? Whatever type of business you hope to create, you’ll need space to be creative, meet clients if this is applicable and get your head down and focus. If you can, it’s best to choose an area that is separate from living rooms and bedrooms, as this may help you achieve a better work-life balance. Before you start looking at colors, desks or blinds, come up with some designs and layout ideas.

Kitting out your headquarters

Before you can knuckle down and get started, you need to make sure you have all the tools, equipment, technology, gadgets and supplies you require to do your job. There’s no point in starting something to find that you haven’t got everything you need to finish it. Stock up and get yourself ready in advance of the launch date. If you’re designing an office space, prioritize furniture. You’ll need a comfortable, supportive chair, preferably with a caster for greater flexibility, and a desk you can adjust to your height. It’s also a good idea to invest in storage. If you have a treatment room, a home salon or an area where you plan to meet clients, ensure that the space is clean, tidy and smart, and add some touches to inject interest. Plants, wall art and splashes of color work well.

Drumming up interest

Once your home is set up, you can turn your attention to drumming up interest. There are countless ways of doing this from posting flyers through doors and paying for adverts in the local press to using social media, email marketing and search engine optimization. Design your campaign based on your target market and the type of business you own. Promotions like flash sales, offers for recommending the service to friends and introductory discounts are a great way to get people talking.

Image source: http://creative-commons-images.com/handwriting/m/marketing-strategy.html

Are you ready to launch a home-based business? If so, hopefully, this guide will come in handy. Good luck!

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Is Your Business Geared Up For The Mobile World?

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Take a look around you. Whether you’re on a bus, you’re sat at home chilling out with your kids, or you’re out at a bar or a cafe, you’re likely to be greeted with the sight of people staring at a screen. It is estimated that approximately 6 billion people in the world have access to a mobile phone. If your company isn’t geared up life in the mobile world already, it’s time to embrace business on the move. Here are just some of the ways your business could benefit from going mobile.

Increased efficiency and productivity

With modern cell phones, it’s possible to do almost anything on the go. If you run a business, you can use mobile access to increase both efficiency and productivity. Gone are the days when you have to be chained to your desk from 9am until 5pm. If you’ve got members of your team moving throughout the building, attending meetings at different branches or closing deals in the field, you don’t have to lose out if they’re not at their computer. With effective DAS design and communication through instant messaging, email and SMS, your team can do its job regardless of location. Investing in modern software and developing apps can also enable you to be more flexible when it comes to working arrangements and ensure that your team has access to up to date information even when members of staff aren’t in the office.

Image via https://www.pexels.com/search/phone%20call/

Round the clock sales

If you run a business, consider the impact of operating around the clock rather than during office hours. Whether you own a cafe, a restaurant, a beauty salon or a hotel, you can boost sales and create a more positive customer experience by providing mobile services. If you’ve got an app, for example, a customer can book a table, reserve a room or make an appointment within seconds regardless of the time of day or their location. Your ability to do business isn’t limited by the clock, and you don’t have to employ people to man phones. If you’ve got a website, make sure it is mobile-friendly and ensure you respond to questions, comments or queries swiftly.

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Image from https://www.flickr.com/photos/ashkyd/8429183220

Catering for your customers

Did you know that the average person checks their phone screen more than 80 times per day? We are increasingly reliant on our phones and business owners can tap into this trend to maximize profits and beat rivals. If you can offer interactive features and the option to place orders or make bookings online, you may be a more appealing proposition than a competitor. Many of us would rather spend 20 seconds reserving a table at a restaurant online than wasting time finding a phone number, making a call and actually talking to somebody at the other end. Being mobile-friendly gives your clients more choice and flexibility.

Image courtesy of https://www.pexels.com/search/mobile/

We live in a world where the majority of people spend a significant amount of time on the phone. If you own a business, adapting to the mobile world is likely to bring rewards. You can boost employee satisfaction and efficiency and improve customer relations and drive sales by going mobile.

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The 3 Rules To Follow Every Time Your Business Takes A Hit

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It’s never going to be smooth sailing, and you need to face the facts, your business is going to take a hit every now and again. Whether the projections didn’t match up with the reality, or there’s something going wrong but you can’t put your finger on it, every company finds itself sailing in murky waters on occasion. When you are at the very beginning of your business life, this can be very disconcerting, but there is no need to panic. Instead, follow these three rules.

Assess What Really Needs Fixing

When we take a hit, it can be a struggle to find out the long-term impacts of this. Most people, when they hit a bump in the road, tend to solve the immediate problem, rather than fix the long-term repercussions. It’s vital that, instead of firefighting your problems, that you dig deep down and find out the overriding problem. Sometimes the problem is staring you right in the face; you have a technical issue, and it’s down to the IT support you have in place to fix it. Sometimes the problem isn’t so apparent, and you may spend a lot of time going through every ounce of data, looking for bugs in the system, which takes a lot of time and effort. While it doesn’t feel like it at the time, this effort to drill down exactly what the problem is, is the most effective solution.

Monitor The Performance Of Your Team

Do you have adequate resources in which to monitor the productivity and the quality of your team’s work? If not, and your business is struggling to stay afloat, this is an option that has to be considered. Developing KPI’s can be a lengthy task, but once you have developed the right sort for your business, it gives you an invaluable insight into how everything is performing. There are some straightforward channels you can take advantage of, but it’s better to be specific for your own company’s processes. Using analytical tools to monitor how everybody is doing will give you tangible results that you can translate into new processes, or you can improve on the existing ones you have. That once the results are there, in front of you, you can see if your team are contributing to the failure of business. And from there, you can take action.

Keep Calm

It’s easier said than done, but keeping calm is always going to be the best way forward. Every time your company takes a hit, or something goes wrong, it can affect you personally. It doesn’t feel good, but you need to figure out coping strategies to help you through these difficult times. You need to be fighting fit, and make sure you get your eight hours sleep, because you need to keep a level head to tackle these problems head on. The best approach is to discuss your problems with like-minded entrepreneurs, and they can provide some reassurance, but combining this with some effective coping strategies, will help you now and in the future.

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