Another month passes with the credit crunch really starting to bite, a number of high street agencies are closing their doors. With the downturn in the propery market I wanted to share some ideas on how to bring additional revenue into your agency before it is too late.

Go back to basics, look at the services your agency offered when it first started. You may even need to ask a retired director or a member of staff who now takes a back seat as to the methods used as you will probably find that strategies used to build your agency up from the start have been dropped due to a buoyant market and natural source of landlords with property coming in through your doors.

If your agency currently out sources services such as tenant referencing or conducting inventories look at bringing these services back in house. Always ensure your agency tenancy agreement is up to date with the newest legislation as tenancy clauses are continually challenged in court. You do not want to have the bad press associated with your agency if action was taken against you. Inventories are time consuming to produce, when completing one for a large property make sure you have plenty of time to complete it, allowing extra time for furnished properties. A quickly writen inventory may not be up to standard if damage to a property occured during the tenancy.

Look into schemes offering commission for providing new account customers. When a tenant is moving home the last thing on their mind is sorting out the utility accounts. Some schemes simply require the tenant to sign a form and everything else is taken care of, allowing a fast and efficient way to have all utility accounts changed to their new address. Although schemes vary in services offered, you should be able to find a suitable scheme for every utility service including broadband and even mobile telephones. I have recently read about a commission based scheme where one agent had received over ???50,000 over the year, so dont turn your nose up to them until they have been tested.

Consider the times and dates of arranged viewings. If you can book viewings in one after another you will save the cost of fuel travelling back and forth. This method of multi viewing also creates urgency with interested tenants as they feel they need to act quickly or will loose the property.

Make some time to assess your agencies fee structure, are you charging too much lower income groups. It is far better to have a larger amount of tenants snapping up your rental accommodation than having houses left on the market due to high fees. You only need to make a small reduction in fees to sound competitive. Remember there are now a large number of student accommodation bed providers which compete for your tenants so do all you can to retain their business.

Look into selling insurance products that will appeal to landlords, such as rent guarantees and building insurance. Extra income can easily build up by simply passing a leaflet to an enquiring customer. There are also similar products that can be sold to students offering protection of their deposit or the contents of the building. Please remember that if you are going to give advice on insurance products you do need to be registered with the Financial Services Authority, although this is not required if you are only handing out leaflets with you agency details printed on the back for commission payments to be made. Before selling or providing insurance products please find out exactly what is required by contacting the insurance company and asking about their reseller requirements.

Finally look into partnerships with other local agents and agree on a commission split. You may have tenants on your books that can be introduced to another agent who is struggling to fill a particular property or vice versa. Half a commission is better than disappointed tenants sat waiting to be informed of suitable properties.

These methods may all seem as low income stream generators and not worth the hassle to implement but once made part of your usual business will generate a good source of income. In the current climate every penny counts!

The snow is falling here in Michigan, and the winter season has begun to set in.??? Neighborhoods are buzzing with children sledding down snow covered hills, and families are busily decorating their homes.??? It really is ??beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!??

Before we know it, school winter breaks will be here and our children will be home for a couple of weeks.??? With the holidays right around the corner, I thought it might be helpful to share some tips and activity ideas that will help you and your family thrive during this busy time of the year.

• Keep a consistent schedule.??? During this busy time of the year, it is very easy for families to get away from their regular routine.??? Before you know it, the kids are eating breakfast at noon and staying up until all hours of the night.??? It is important for families to keep a fairly consistent schedule even through the holidays.??? Keeping regular bed, wake, and meal times will be important to maintain your routine.




• Have some jolly holiday fun.??? There are so many fun activities that you can undertake during this holiday season. ???Making holiday cookies and snacks, having a red and green meal, going sledding or caroling, decorating the house, and making holiday ornaments for friends and relatives are just a few of the fun activities that you and your family can enjoy.




• Don??t overdo it!??? The holidays tend to be an extremely busy and stressful time of the year.??? When you are looking at your calendar and scheduling activities, be sure that you are limiting them so that you are also including time for just your family.




• Make a family new year resolution.??? The new year is a great time to start a new endeavor.??? Are there things that you would like to work toward in the new year???? Keeping the house clean, sharing chores among family members, and saving as a family for a desired trip are all great things to work toward.??? As a family, sit down and create a family resolution for the new year.??? Be sure it is something reasonable to which all family members will be able to contribute.




• Enjoy the season.??? Even though the holidays can be a busy and stressful time of the year, it is important for everyone to sit back, relax, and enjoy the season.??? Be sure to take time for yourself to get some well deserved rest and relaxation.

By following these simple suggestions, your holiday season will be merry and bright.??? I wish you all a wonderful holiday season, and look forward to sharing more with you in the new year!

Nobody wants to think about the tragedies that can overtake a family in the aftermath of a natural disaster. But after listening to the distressing stories of victims of Hurricane Katrina, preparing for a natural calamity should be on everyone’s mind. Even if you do not live in an area likely to have hurricanes, there are still many different natural disasters to prepare for, including floods, wildfires, tornados and earthquakes. Any one of these natural disasters can knock out electricity and water and leave you and your family stranded. Putting together an emergency strategy and provision kits really can mean the difference between an annoying situation and a tragedy. Preparing for a natural disaster is as simple as buying groceries at the grocery store. The key is to know what your family requires and for how long.

Begin Getting Ready for a Natural Disaster Promptly

The advantage to preparing for a natural disaster is that you can do it rather quickly and cheaply. First, select a cool, dry place to store supplies. Your first priority should be food and water. Obtain jugs of water from store, so you won’t have to worry about bacteria or other cross contamination. You should have a three-day store of water for each person in your household. Healthy adults require at least one-half gallon of water a day. Children, nursing mothers and sick people will require more water. If the temperature is rising, you will also need to store more water per person. Provisions in your emergency supply kit should be canned or other non-perishables-nothing that requires cooking or have water combined with it. Good choices include breakfast bars, canned juice, peanut butter and jelly, trail mix and ready-to-eat meats, vegetables and fruits. And remember to pack the the can opener!

Together with food and water, you should also have a thorough first aid kit with plenty of bandages, antiseptic, tweezers, thermometer, soap, latex gloves and sunscreen. You should also put in sufficient pain reliever, antacid and an emetic substance (to stimulate vomiting). You also need at least one full change of clothing per person, outer wear, blankets or sleeping bags and sturdy boots or shoes. To help keep everything and everybody as hygienic as possible, include toilet paper, antiseptic, soap detergent, trash bags with twist ties and other personal hygiene items in your natural disaster emergency kit.

Remember to Take into Consideration Any Particular Needs of Family Members

Babies and anyone on prescription medication or with other medical needs entail extra emergency supplies. For infants, you should pack formula, diapers, bottles, pacifiers, diaper rash cream and any medication. Frequent medications many adults need include blood pressure medication, prescription drugs, insulin, denture needs, contact lenses or glasses and hearing aid batteries.

You should also always store a copy of essential documents in a safe place that you can access in case of a natural catastrophe. This includes wills, contracts, insurance policies, stocks, bonds, deeds, photo IDs, social security cards, bank account numbers and credit card information. Keep these items in a waterproof/fireproof container that you can pick up and carry easily. You may also want to insert some cash, if in the situation where you cannot access your ATM or bank in the wake of a natural disaster.

Summer is almost over, and we will soon be seeing the flashing lights of school buses during the morning and afternoon commutes.� Now that August has arrived and the summer is quickly coming to an end, it is time for parents to begin thinking about getting ready for school.� Gearing up for the new school year can be very difficult for families.� Buying supplies, going to orientations, and getting the kids to bed earlier can make those last few weeks before school stressful, especially for parents.� Here are several suggestions to make this time of year more enjoyable for all.

• Go to bed and wake up earlier.� By gradually modifying the times your children go to bed and wake up over the course of a few weeks, you can help them transition to new sleep and wake routines without having to do it during the first week of school.� This allows their bodies to have time to adjust to the gradual changes as well, and makes the morning evening hours more enjoyable for all.

• Make a plan before going school shopping.� Before you even step foot into a mall or local store to do back to school shopping, it is very important for you to make a list of what you need and plan a set budget.� Have your children make lists of the items that they need for school.� You can also sort through their wardrobe and determine what will still fit, and what clothing items you may need to purchase.� By having a prepared list and a set budget, you can do your back to school shopping more effectively; and there is less stress in trying to determine what your child needs versus what he or she may want.

• Pack backpacks with the school supplies you purchase.� After shopping for back to school items, it is important to organize and put them in a safe place.� Many households are chaotic during the last few weeks of summer, and items can be lost easily.� The simplest and safest thing you can do is to pack the items that you bought for your child in his or her backpack.� That way you do not have to spend several hours the night before school searching the house for a lost pack of markers.

• Establish a general routine for meal times.� During the summer months, we can become more lax with the times when we have breakfast, lunch, and dinner.� By gradually moving toward a set meal schedule, you will be able to help your children’s bodies adjust to the time differences in a gradual way.

• Visit your child’s school.� It is very important for children to feel comfortable with their surroundings at school.� In the last few weeks of summer, you can visit your child’s new school several times.� By having picnics, peeking in the windows, meeting staff and reviewing your child’s schedule, you will be able to help him or her feel more comfortable when the first day of school arrives.

• Make a family plan.� Summer is a time of more relaxed family schedules and chore routines.� Prior to the start of school, have a family meeting and discuss the chores that need to be done, who will be doing them, and when.� By establishing your chore routines ahead of time, you will be setting your expectations for your children and hopefully eliminate some of the battles that can occur with completing tasks.

• Relax and enjoy your time together!� Summer is a wonderful time for family members to have fun together.� Even though the school year is quickly approaching, it is still important to make time to have fun with one another.� Try to take that last family trip to the beach or the amusement park, and enjoy one another’s company.

As we embark on the beginning of a new school year, it is important for families to keep their stress at a manageable level.� Transitions are difficult for children; but by maintaining consistency and establishing routines, this time of the year can be more enjoyable for all.� Enjoy the last few days of summer!

Losing a friend or a loved one causes a deep, searing pain that is difficult to endure, but sending over flowers can give comfort to those who are mourning.� However, one should always remember that grieving relatives and loved ones may have some conservative views on death.� Before sending over any floral arrangements for a funeral, you might want to know a little bit of etiquette when it comes to sympathy arrangements.�

Since funerals and wakes are very sad occasions to begin with, color should be incorporated into the flower arrangement to bring life and energy into the room and to achieve the purpose of bringing comfort to grieving family members and loved ones.

The first thing you should remember is to send the arrangement to the funeral home on time; if you cannot send them in time for the wake itself, have the flowers delivered to the home of the deceased’s family. Always include a note, even if the message is as simple as “Our prayers and condolences are with you.”� Sending a note makes the gesture more personal and meaningful than just sending a card with the recipient’s name.� Finally, if you knew the deceased well, you might want to look for an arrangement that will reflect his or her tastes.�� If you know that the he or she loved colorful flowers, send an arrangement with pink and yellow roses.� If you know that the deceased loved white flowers, choose an arrangement with daisies and white roses.� Sending an arrangement with the deceased’s preferences in mind will carry more meaning and stand out among all the other arrangements in the funeral home.

The most traditional of all funeral arrangements is the all white wreath.� It is a symbol of peace and tranquility and is your safest bet when sending to any funeral.� Many cultures pay careful attention and are sensitive to the meaning of the flowers you send so if you are not sure, go for a plain white flower wreath.

If you don’t mind sending a colorful flower arrangement to a funeral, I recommend that you choose a lively spray of orange roses or yellow roses.� These warm colors are known to instantly lift the mood and soothe the spirits of anyone who receives them.� Yellow, in particular, is a very cheerful color that represents joy and new beginnings.� There’s nothing wrong with choosing an arrangement that isn’t as somber as lilies and white roses. Death, after all, is the only the start of an afterlife, and a flower arrangement with lively, vibrant colors will remind everyone that this is an occasion to celebrate a life well lived.

As your newborn baby grows, it is slowly acclimating to sleeping at night and being awake during the day. Also, as baby’s stomach is growing and holding more breast milk or formula, it will be able to go for longer periods between feedings at night.� At approximately three months of age your baby will likely sleep about 15 hours out of each 24-hour period, and two thirds of that sleep will take place during the night. Most babies will have settled into a daily sleep routine of two or three sleep periods during the day, followed by “sleeping through the night” for 6 to 7 hours after a late-night feeding.

You can help adjust your baby’s body clock toward sleeping at night by avoiding stimulation during nighttime feedings and diaper changes. The act of breastfeeding itself provides frequent eye and voice contact, so try to keep the lights low and resist the urge to play or talk with your baby. This will reinforce the message that nighttime is for sleeping. Keeping the door closed to keep out well-meaning but vocal older children, spouses and pet will also keep reduce stimulating your infant. Avoid the use of musical mobiles or toys as a way to lull your infant back to sleep after night-time feedings.� This will also help to reinforce that nighttime is for sleeping.�

And, as with adults, overly tired infants often have more trouble sleeping than those who’ve had an appropriate amount of sleep during the day. So, keeping your baby up thinking that he or she will sleep better at night may not work. You may find that when your infant sleeps at regular intervals during the day, it will be easier to put them back down to sleep after night-time feedings.

�Iron Facts Many women have an inadequate level of iron in their system to begin with, and the lack becomes more pronounced during pregnancy Iron is very vital for the fetus; it is the only nutrient which the fetus depends totally on the mother for the supply. Iron is needed for the formation of red blood cells; sufficient stores of iron from the start of the pregnancy to the end is vital. The average woman cannot depend on diet alone. The demand doubles during pregnancy and so iron supplements are added to compensate for the insufficiency. There are two types of iron, heme and nonheme iron, categorized this way because the former is derived from meat and the other from non-meat sources. Heme iron is more readily absorbed than nonheme iron. Vegetarians have to be careful in planning their menu to make sure they get a sufficient dose of this mineral. Iron Deficit • Insufficient store of this mineral is the likely cause of incessant fatigue; it also increases the incidence of illnesses and fainting spells • Lack of iron will put a strain on the maternal heart • Lack of iron will also endanger the mother should she face excessive bleeding during delivery • On the other hand an iron overdose can be disadvantageous as well. Supplement fundamentals • Iron supplements are useful; they help to manufacture hemoglobin, which will in turn help you to maintain the energy required during pregnancy. • Iron tablets come in several forms and under various trade names: ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate and ferrous fumarate • Absorption of iron is enhanced by vitamin C. Ideally supplements should be taken with fruit juices • Certain foods and medications including high calcium foods, caffeinated drinks and antacids inhibit iron absorption. Avoid taking your supplements with these items at the same sitting. • In the later months of pregnancy, when the blood volume has expanded, women may have to take additional supplements apart from their prenatal vitamins as the iron dose won’t suffice then. • Do not exceed the recommended dose of this mineral unless advised by your doctor – iron can suppress zinc levels. On the Flipside • Iron in excess can cause dry stools leading to constipation. The reverse happens with some women; they get diarrhea • Diarrhea or constipation, it makes sense to change the form: you can switch from tablet to liquid as liquid is known to be easier on the tummy • You may also try switching to either one of the three compounds (e.g. ferrous fumarate to ferrous gluconate) and see if it works for you • The strength of the dose counts. Sometimes the strength may need reducing. If that is decided then make sure you compensate by increasing your intake of iron-rich foods everyday. Small amounts of iron are found in most fruits, vegetables, grains and meat that you consume daily. Work on increasing this mineral by eating iron-rich foods along with your supplement.

I have seen credit reports get littered with collections, charge offs, foreclosures, late payments, and just a total disregard for obligations during a divorce. We all know divorce can be a bad experience for anyone that is going through it. There are times where everything is paid on time as well, but the divorce attorney does not know what will affect your credit report in the long run if the divorce decree is not drawn up properly. Here is what you need to know!

Get debts that are not your obligation per Divorce Decree out of your name:

During the process of drawing up the divorce decree make sure you get obligations out of your name that is no longer your responsibility. Make sure that in the decree it clearly states that the other party is responsible for getting obligations out of your name.

Examples:

1. Mortgages; get them refinanced or sold.

2. Credit cards that are joint accounts

3. Land that are joint accounts

4. Car notes that are joint accounts

5. Any obligations that is joint, that is no longer your responsibility per decree.

This is a huge problem out there, getting divorce decrees drawn up properly. Let’s assume it’s done the wrong way, and the person that is responsible for paying the obligation is late on a payment or two. This particular account is a joint account with your social attached to it. This means the obligations reports to the credit report in your name as well. You now have 2 late payments on your credit report, and you credit score just dropped 50 to 100 points. I am sure you can see why it’s important to get this process done correctly. Maybe there is a house that is in both of your names, and you are in the market to buy another house. Unfortunately the attorney did not put in the divorce decree to either sell the old house or refinance it out of your name. The mortgage is a FHA loan, and you only qualify for a FHA loan. Guess what, you cannot have two FHA loans. Now you cannot buy a house. I am sure now you can see the importance of getting a good divorce attorney, and how they need to prepare your divorce decree properly. I see this problem all the time.

Conclusion:

I see this all the time, make sure your credit report is not affect as a result of a divorce. Matters could get worse if you don’t have obligations drawn up correctly during this unfortunate process.

Saving A Knocked-Out Tooth – Knocked-Out Tooth Emergency First Aid Kit

Knocked-Out Tooth is a common accident, especially among children, sports related activities and even on the road.� In the US alone, almost five million teeth got knocked-out from the mouth every year.� Ninety percent of these teeth could have been saved and reinserted back if proper preservation techniques has been used during the time of the accident or incident.

Parents, caregivers or people present during the accident usually bring the knocked-out tooth to th dentist in the hope that it can be replanted.� However, generally if the initial necessary steps to keep the tooth viable for replantation is not taken, the chances of a successful replantation of the knocked-out tooth becomes minimal or at most zero.

Generally, the public understanding is that submerging the tooth in milk will preserve it.� The truth is that the main component of our tooth is enamel.� It is one of the hardest substance in our body.� However, once the tooth is out of a persons mouth, it begins to die.� This happens in just 15 minutes.� Frequently, without proper storage, within two hours the tooth is dead.� For the tooth to be successfully replanted, the periodontal ligament has to be kept alive.� This periodontal ligament is a thin layer of cells surrounding the tooth.

A device was developed by Dr Paul R. Krasner, a professor at Temple University School of Dentistry.� This patented 6-part system is a good way to keep the tooth alive during a knocked-out accident and during transportation from the accident venue to the dentist.� Dr Krasners system addresses the two primary causes of replanted tooth loss :

• tooth cell crushing (especially during transportation from accident venue to the dentist)�
• tooth cell dehydration

The system uses a scientifically engineered removable basket to suspend the tooth in a formulated pH balanced fluid.� It helps to keep the tooth in a save environment, which prevents additional trauma.� A tooth that has been out of a persons mouth, when placed in the solution within 2 hours can be preserved for up to four days.� This will give doctors time to utilize the tooth while repairing the external injury.

The system is called Save-A-Tooth.� It is recommended by Clinical Research Associates and the Emergency Research Council Institute and is endorsed by the American Dental Association.� It is also the only tooth preserving system that is approved by FDA.� In clinical studies, it has been shown to be 91% successful.

A company in Singapore, known as 2TH Gen (pronounced as Tooth Gen),� has comprehensively packed the Save-A-Tooth together with the necessary Wound Management products from brands like 3M, Smith & Nephew and London Healthcare Limited, as a quick-response one-stop preservation of the knocked-out tooth, on site.� This kit is known as the Knocked-Out Tooth Emergency First Aid Kit.

Original tooth is natures ideal implants.� By using the original tooth for replantation during a knocked-out also saves the patient money.� A prosthetic tooh can costs a few thousand dollars.� This, however will never compare to a real tooth.

Due to the cost to benefit ratio of the Knocked-Out Tooth Emergency First Aid Kit, it is a prudent addition to all first aid kits.

So please seriously consider keeping the Knocked-Out Tooth Emergency First Aid Kit handy.� Don not put your family at risk because accidents can happen at any time, anywhere and to anyone.

You may not be able to prevent accidents but you can definitely help to retain smiles.