The first thing you must do is draft a good business plan. This will be your guide during the building phase and is a great way to get funding from investors or lenders.

Next, the most important part of your business is your marketing plan. The Internet is great, but it’s not for everyone. I recommend low cost offline advertising like postcards. They will work great for your business.

Good Luck!

When preparing to sell a home, you may be dealing with a lot of mixed feelings for example, letting go of all the memories in the old house, yet looking forward to new and exciting adventures in a new one. It also is a very hectic time, especially if you moving out of the area. There will be the going-away parties with neighbors and at work, ensuring you have changed your address with everyone, and coordinating the sale of your home with the purchase of your new one.

Your realtor(s), both for selling the old home and for buying the new one, can be of great assistance to you in coordinating these transactions and avoiding the domino effect of the closing, moving and closing dates. Your realtor gets everyone to commit to a window of dates and also to stick to them. The realtor will get all agreements in writing and can place financial penalties on any party who fails to comply.

Curb Appeal

Your realtor is used to viewing home and property from the potential buyers perspective. He/she can be essential in assisting you to prepare your home with a strong curb appeal. It is important for your property to be visually appealing in order to attract more potential buyers and garnering a quicker sale.

The realtor will look at the exterior, which should be well maintained with trimmed trees and shrubs, nothing sitting around to detract from the property’s appeal, foundations without cracks, and well maintained and cleaned window casings, gutters, chimney, shutters, siding, doors and moldings. Anything that needs painting should be painted. If you are not sure, ask your realtor. Ensure the garage door always is closed when not in use.

Another area your realtor will review is the interior, where there are plenty of improvement areas that do not cost a lot to do but make a world of difference in buying appeal. Clean all the windows inside and out with no streaks. Make sure floors, tiles, tubs, showers and faucets sparkle. The same for kitchen appliances, especially ranges, ovens, refrigerator and freezer inside and out. Give the carpets a good cleaning, even if you recently did this. Ensure there are clean filters in the heating and air conditioner. Repair squeaky floors and oil squeaky doors. Ensure the faucets do not drip. Your realtor will advise you of many other inexpensive things that will add buyer appeal to your home.

Once your home is ready to show, your realtor will provide invaluable services to you. He/she will establish a fair asking price for your home, based on the location, economic conditions, supply-demand of the local market, seasonal influences, school availability in the area, the average home prices in the neighborhood, and the extra features and amenities of your home.

Next, your realtor will promote, advertise and market your home at no cost to you, using resources not available to homeowners who prefer to self-sell their homes.

Your realtor will schedule all showing appointments, negotiating times that are convenient for you without losing the potential buyers. The realtor will qualify interested buyers, weeding out those who cannot qualify for a mortgage; and then help you negotiate a sale price with the buyer.

Another service of your realtor is referrals for insurance, inspections, legal counsel and financing. Your realtor may even be able to refer you to a lender for a bridge loan, if you are forced to purchase a new home before you have sold your current one. A bridge loan helps, when you are forced to carry mortgages on two homes simultaneously over a short duration.

Rely on your realtor when selling your home. Experience in the industry gives the realtor a unique perspective that can only assist in a good sale for your home.

John Harris
http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/before-you-sell-let-your-realtor-help-you-to-prepare-70166.html

Many times cat owners are at a loss as to why their cat doesn’t
use their litter box. Here are some great tips that can help you
solve the problem.

The litter box is the first thing you should check. It should
be in a quiet, private area of the house. Many people put them
in their basements and leave the door open a little as this not
only creates a private environment but also keeps odors to a
minimum in the rest of the house.

Some use a closet but if you do this be sure and keep the box
clean to reduce odors in such a confined space and don’t forget
to leave the door open!

Another placement possibility is under a table. Many people
find a place without carpeting is best from a maintenance point
of view as tile or cement is a lot easier to clean.

Ask yourself if you changed the litter box in any way:

* Has the box been moved to a high traffic area recently? *
Does the box need cleaning? * Is a new litter being used or does
it have too heavy a scent (clumping and unscented is best). *
Has the depth of the litter in the box changed? Some cats like
their litter deep, others shallow. * Your cat has outgrown the
box and needs a larger one. * The box is too hard to enter and
exit. This can be an issue for older cats.

Do not put food and water near the litter box. Cats like these
two areas kept separate (don’t you?).

If your cat has picked out a particular room to soil try
closing the door to that room if you can or cover the target
area with furniture.

Put a bowl of food over the target area as cats like to keep
their eating area away from their “bathroom”.

Take your cat to the Vet on a regular basis.

If you have more than one cat get each one of them their own
litter box.

Have you recently moved? A cat might smell an area where the
previous owner’s cat urinated.

Let the cat alone while it goes so it can have some privacy.

If it is a new cat in your home it could take from three to
eight weeks to get adjusted to the new environment. Be patient!

Was there a recent addition or loss to the family? A new baby,
spouse? This is usually temporary until the cat adjusts to the
change in their environment.

A change in your schedule can throw off your cat’s schedule as
well and cause problems. Try and phase in major lifestyle
changes gradually.

NEVER EVER punish the cat by kicking, hitting, chasing,
screaming or rubbing their nose in their urine (remember the
smell doesn’t bother them). Cats cannot make the cause and
effect connection like we can so punishment after the fact is
useless and will only make matters worse.

Cats are naturally very clean animals and they know where they
are going. It is important to remember this and try and help
your cat overcome any stress or anxiety they might be having in
a caring and loving manner.

Click here for information on how to choose a cat
urine remover</a

Following is a list–a menu of options, if you will–of
strategies that will get you on the road to creating more in
less time and turbo-charging your productivity! I’ve often said
that there is no “one size fits all” recipe to life, but if you
try at least one strategy every three weeks, I promise you will
see huge improvements in the overall quality of your life after
the end of that third week. I picked a minimum of three weeks
because it typically takes at least 21 days to develop a new
habit. You can start with the one that jazzes you the most and
take it from there. No pressure! Find a buddy or an
accountability partner to try this with, or share it with your
coach if you have one so you’ll have more incentive to make
these positive steps forward. Are you ready? Here we go:

1. Manage your energy-this is a biggie!

I often get quizzical looks when I offer this suggestion without
any further explanation, but trust me. Once I explain the
process, it should make sense. There are four levels of energy
that need our attention: physical, emotional, mental, and
spiritual. You can manage your physical energy by eating
nutritious foods, exercising, and sleeping. You can manage your
emotional energy by paying attention to how you respond to
events and being aware of what you can and cannot control. Also,
spending time with positive, inspiring people can enhance your
emotional energy. You can manage your mental energy by reading,
expanding your knowledge base, and being curious. You can manage
your spiritual energy by meditation or prayer, and being
committed to a purpose in life that benefits all. Naturally,
when your energy levels are higher, your productivity increases
too.

I highly recommend the book, The Power of Full Engagement by Jim
Loehr and Tony Schwartz. They do an excellent job of going
in-depth on how you can manage each of these four energy levels.

2. Collaborate with others

This may be a stretch for people who are used to flying solo on
most things, but you might surprise yourself if you find someone
to work with that will result in an outcome beyond each of your
dreams. This strategy comes in handy when you have a big
project, or what James Collins and Jerry Porras call a “Big
Hairy Audacious Goal” (BHAG). You can find collaborators by
doing volunteer work in your community, networking, and taking
advantage of your center of influence both locally and in the
virtual world. It’s important that these potential partners
share similar values with you, and if you both have a common
vision, the sky can be the limit!

3. Pay attention to your body rhythms

In economics, we use a term called “decreasing marginal
productivity,” and in layman’s terms, it means that your
productivity levels tend to increase at a slower rate over time.
If you know when you work best, you can consciously know when
you’re maxing out and take a break when the time comes. Do you
work better in the morning? How about in the evening or
afternoon? If you have the opportunity to work when you’re the
most productive and efficient, and rest when you feel like it’s
starting to be a big effort, you’ll get more done. I realize
that if you have a full time job, that flexibility may not be
built in, but I strongly encourage it for those who do have a
flexible schedule.

4. Use your strengths and farm out the rest

Are you really saving money doing it all by yourself? Maybe not!
Weighing the costs of time versus money can be very revealing.
It’s usually best to focus on what you do best for better
productivity. Think about what you could farm out to someone
else. Think about your own worth per hour. Could you make more
money doing what you’re good at rather than save money by doing
something you should pay someone else to do?

If you can automate some of these processes (i.e., auto draft
for bill paying, online bill paying, or direct deposit, to name
a few), then all the better!

5. Recognize the cycle of chaos and order and use it to your
advantage

I quietly suffered in silence for years because I felt that my
life was a living paradox. But when someone I respected shared
that paradoxes were the norm in life, I breathed a big sigh of
relief! One of many paradoxes or dichotomies that come to mind
is the cycle of chaos and order. Did you know that creativity
can be a really messy process, and that it’s not necessarily a
bad thing? If you’re in the midst of brainstorming ideas, you’re
probably not be in linear mode. Your desk or work space may not
be tidy during this process either. Take it in stride. It’s
highly likely that if you don’t stress about the “mess”
(conceptually and literally) when in the midst of creative,
right brain activities, you’ll move through the process much
more quickly.

Oftentimes, the order naturally emerges during this process, and
usually what comes out on the other end is quite coherent and
delightful, whether it’s a work of art or a business plan. On
the other hand, order can also come in handy right from the very
beginning, especially when working on more linear processes like
paying bills, doing your financial forecasts, family routines,
and so on. The trick is to have a system in place that has some
structure with flexibility built in.

6. Use a balance of your natural personality plus a stretch
goal in order to grow

In my “Free Relationship with Time” e-course, I talk about three
basic personalities I’ve noticed over the years: the
“goal-oriented with optimistic ‘to-do’ lists” personality; the
“naturally schedule-oriented, planning your days to the minute
detail” personality; and the “hate routine and fly by the seat
of your pants, and maybe even thrive on it” personality. And
there are variations within each of these. They can even
overlap. There is no “right” way to be if it works for you
instead of against you.

For example, optimistic goals are great, but the key is not to
beat yourself up if you don’t reach all of them. Instead, think
of the journey you enjoyed trying to get there. You’re probably
further along than you would’ve been if you didn’t have any
goals.

Planning to the minute detail works well if you have realistic
expectations about your ‘to-do’ list. Some things you have to
do, and others you’d like to do. While you’re planning, you
might as well carve out some “fun time” for yourself and give
yourself more time than you think it might take to complete the
tasks. Committing an average of five to ten minutes a day to the
very big but lower priority tasks can go a long way. These baby
steps will definitely add up.

If you’re efficient and stress-free with flying by the seat of
your pants, then who am I to rock the boat? But if you find
yourself stressed physically or mentally as a result, I’d
suggest going outside your comfort zone gradually. I wouldn’t
spring a ‘to-do’ list on you right off the bat. That would
probably be a slow death to you! But if you could have someone
support you as the deadline looms, it will help. Also, try
putting a notepad or a piece of paper near your work station or
someplace where you’ll see it every day, and as a task you know
needs to be done occurs to you, write it down on the piece of
paper or notepad. If there’s an imposed due date, write that
down next to it. It will be there as a constant reminder, and
you may be inclined to complete it ahead of schedule rather than
in the knick of time, or not at all.

Procrastination can transcend the personality types mentioned
above, so think about why you procrastinate. Is it because it’s
a boring task? Is it a big scary task? Is it a task you don’t
see as a high priority? Naming it out loud and on paper is a
good start. Here’s a challenge for the chronic procrastinator.
Take out a piece of paper and draw two lines in a cross so that
you have four boxes. The idea would be to get in touch with your
rebel and write all the things on which you’ve procrastinated in
the top left box; in the top right box, your reasons for
procrastinating; in the bottom left box, the cost of not doing
them; then in the right bottom box, all the benefits of doing
those things you’ve procrastinated on. After you’ve done that,
share these with someone you know who wants you to succeed. In
fact, you can even email them to me at carolmanagingpersonalresources.com, and I will acknowledge you for
this step in the process.

7. Practice daily self-awareness

Another favorite activity of mine is what I call “Downloading my
brain to paper.” You wouldn’t believe the relief I feel after
journaling-especially after a stressful day. If you’re a
scheduler, carve out a certain time of day to do this. Or if
you’re like me, journal when the spirit hits you if scheduling
seems too restrictive. Write everything that is on your mind,
including items you know you need to be working on. These can
include areas of physical well being, relationships, or some
tolerations you’ve been avoiding like shampooing your carpets,
cleaning out a closet or desk drawer, and so on. Don’t edit
yourself. No one has to see what you wrote. Some of the greatest
ideas have been born in the journal. I always have more clarity
after journaling and my productivity goes through the roof as a
result.

Also, if you’re aware of some of the assessments out there such
as the MBTI® or the DiSC, knowing your personality type and
behavioral style can also help you use the most efficient
methods specific to you to get things done.

8. Make sure you schedule “you” time every day

I can already hear some of you screaming at me, “Carol, I don’t
have time to take time for myself, and you’re already giving me
these challenges that I don’t have time to do. And aerobic
exercise? Puh-leeze!” This is just another one of those
paradoxes. I promise you after taking down time for yourself–
even if it’s just 30 minutes to an hour a day, doing something
you absolutely love-you will be much more productive after
you’ve come back from that break. Remember, when your marginal
productivity decreases, you’re wasting time anyway.

Many of you who are moms may have heard the phrase, “If Mom’s
not happy, then no one in the house is happy!” But even if
you’re not a mom, and you live with others, this rule can apply.

Invitation: Take a moment to write down three rituals that you
know give you energy. Examples can include reading, exercise,
journaling, gardening, music, sports, sailing, tai chi, yoga, or
spending time in nature.

9. Employ some of the traditional ‘time management’ tips

Here are a couple of ideas to consider. Visit
http://www.power-edsolutionsinc.com/TimeTracker.pdf and download
the time log chart and print it out. Then try the following for
a week: Either the night before, or the following morning, make
a list on the left hand side of the grid of what you intend to
do that day. Then on the right side, at the end of the day, list
what you actually did. Evaluate how you did each day. Did you
meet your expectations, or did you schedule too much?

List all of the distractions that come up for you-the annoying
ones and those that you find enjoyable. I challenge you to use
those fun distractions as rewards after putting a dent in your
proverbial “to-do” list. If the phone rings, let it go to voice
mail. Turn off your instant messaging (if you have it). Tell
your friends not to come over unannounced unless it’s an
emergency or unless they want to help you with your tasks. And
prioritize, prioritize, prioritize!

Again, if you find that you don’t have the discipline,
inclination, motivation, or inspiration to do any of this, then
perhaps a friend, a coach, or someone you trust can serve as an
accountability partner to support you and keep you “honest”.

10. Create passive income

I’m just going to plant some seeds here, because the “how to” of
this process is a rather lengthy one, but well worth pursuing.
Why? Because when most of your money is working for you instead
of you working for most of your money, it gives you more time to
do the things you enjoy doing in life. You can do this by
receiving commission as an affiliate of other people’s products
sold, creating digital products of your own, investing (in the
market and certain forms of real estate, for example), and even
network marketing. There are so many options out there with many
moving parts, but if you choose and master just one source of
creating passive income for yourself, look out!

I realize that “life happens,” but as I said at the beginning of
this article, if you try just one of these strategies for three
weeks straight, watch those productivity floodgates open for
you. I invite you to email me and tell me how it went for you,
and I’ll congratulate you with a big grin on my face!

Carol Dickson-carr
http://www.articlesbase.com/motivational-articles/10-strategies-to-creating-more-in-less-time-2018.html

Carpet cleaning is something that is extremely important for the health and the long life of a carpet. But how often should you have it cleaned? Many people have no idea how often to clean their carpet. Read this article to learn about how frequently to clean a carpet.

The easy answer is every year but you actually might need to clean it more frequently or less frequently depending on your situations. If you have pets or children for example you should clean it once every 6 months at least. If you live in extremely dusty or damp conditions you will also need to clean it once every six months. Some conditions might also extend the time between cleanings. If you have a lot of hard surfaces throughout your home you might be able to go as long as 1 to 2 years. Likewise if you live alone in the home or never wear shoes in the house you might be able to longer. The truth is that there is no easy answer. Each home is different and requires a different cleaning schedule.  To figure out what works best for you start at one year and take off time for each risk factor or add time for each positive factor.

Hopefully this article has helped you in some way. Just remember that the more risk factors you have like kids, smokers, dust, etc the more often you should clean it. And cleaning it at the right frequency will greatly extend its life.

James C
http://www.articlesbase.com/remodeling-articles/how-often-to-clean-your-rugs-693843.html

Just as we have allergies, there are some breeds of dogs that are prone to this disease. Generally, Bishon firse, retrievers, terriers, setters, boxers and beagles are more prone to allergies. The reasons vary: smaller nasal passage, flea bites, own hair, dander, or digestive problems, normally associted with irritable stomachs. Most dogs have potential to have an allergy. Some are more prone, and some less.

Common allergies include raw skin, missing tufts of hair, hives, watery eyes, coughs and colds, chewing continously, vomit, diarrhea, constant licking paws, and fever or flu. These are few examples. You need to note the symptoms. Generally nature takes care, but it is better to see veterinian, and have it looked at properly.

To put even better, it is like a child having problems. Unable to express itself,it cries or refuses food, and is constantly restless, and finds some solace and comfort in the arms of an adult or sibling which it is used to. And we have various techniques to get a diagnosis for the child. Just the very same is true of your pet. You are its father and mother, and you have to take care of just you would the baby.

Just as we get irritable when we are sick, so too the dog. The same symptoms that we exhibit, of lethargy, swings in moods, angry, refusing to eat or drink water, moaning or keening. So does the dog. Just as we learn to control ourselves, dogs need the same treatment of love, affection, and a constant vigil to see what it is all about. Keeping a record helps the Vet in diagnosing the problem. If it is fleas, he may recommend a flea collar, and a flea shampoo which can be used. If it has raw skin or something is wrong with the skin tone and color, he may prescribe an ointment which needs to be applied. He may recommend a change in diet if there is constant irritable bowel syndrome, and sometimes drugs also to help the dog from suffering from nausea.

The Vet will also help you by giving tips on care of the dog. This would include bathing more regularly, using different sprays on the skin, etc. In smaller breeds, because of their smaller nasal passages, there can be respiratory problems due to dust or other allergens. They can be helped to some extent by installing air purifiers, maintaining regular cleaning schedule of their beds and surroundings. Exercise is necessary, but not for those who suffer from colds and coughs. You need to walk them around the house, or play inside the house.

If fleas have been detected, it may be necessary to have your house completely cleaned by a professional. You would also require to use a shampoo spray on the pet. But these should not be used on those who have exposed skin or skin inflammation.

Where your pet has developed allergy to its own skin, there is not much treatment available, except to reduce its impact by keeping your dog clean by regular baths, and brushing its hair regularly. The Vet is the best person to advise on what can be done to reduce its agony.

If you have children at home, try and keep them away from the sick dog. If however, they are attached to the dog, and vice versa, you should consult with your pediatrician or physician, and give to your children and yourself the appropriate drugs that is prescribed for the requisite period.

Regular medical check-ups, like we do for ourselves, is also necessary for your pet too.

Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/caring-for-hypoallergenic-dogs-how-to-look-after-dogs-with-such-allergies-753426.html

Even if you are on a budget, traveling is possible. Vacationing when your funds are limited can be a challenge, but there still many locations that you can visit. You do not have to sacrifice quality while on your vacation. Here are some tips to stretch your travel dollar:

Tip #1: Schedule your vacation during the off-season.

When is the off-season? That depends on your destination. For a ski resort, you can get a cheaper price if you travel there during the summer, while a beach house in New Jersey is usually cheaper during the winter months. Even tropical locations have off-seasons, which usually occur during rainy times of the year. When you travel during the off-season, you may have to deal with less than perfect weather, but that does not affect indoor activities like visiting museums and going to the spa, and you may end up saving hundreds of dollars.

Tip #2: Fly on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Even if you do not have flexibility with your month of travel, making it possible to travel during the off-season, try to have a little flexibility with your specific dates. Flights are always more expensive on weekends, because that is when most people want to travel. If you can switch your dates, you can save $50 to $100 on most tickets – and sometimes even more, depending on the airline.

Tip #3: Skip the car rental and purchase a bus pass.

In many cities and even on islands, there are very reliable public transportation systems, and most hotels are on bus routes. Some hotels even provide complementary buses to the most popular locations or are within walking distance to sites you may want to see. When planning your vacation, do a little research to avoid a rental car if possible. At the very least, pay a car service to take you from the airport to your hotel instead of renting a car for an entire week or two, which can cost hundreds of dollars.

Tip #4: Take advantage of age discounts.

Did you know that in many locations, kids get in free? Some airlines even provide children with free flights! There are many options available to save your family money, and you can find restaurants – especially buffets – that are extremely inexpensive and in some cases, free for children. Along with children, senior citizens can get discounts in many travel areas. Restaurants are not the only places that give seniors a price break.

Tip #5: Travel as a group.

If you are travelling with a large group, you can get group discounts on everything from hotel rooms to amusement park tickets to flights. If you organize a trip through a travel agency, you might even be able to travel for free or at a very low price. If you put in the time to plan everything, you can find a great price for your next vacation.

Tip #6: Participate in a home trading program.

Do you live in a place that is a desirable vacation spot or have a second vacation home? If you are willing to let other travelers stay in you home, they may let you stay in theirs. Trade your cabin in the mountains for a beach house or your New York City penthouse for an island property in the Caribbean. Even if you do not live in a popular location, you may be surprised at the amount of people interested in trading homes for a week.

Tip #7: Plan a “stay-cation”.

Who says you have to go somewhere to enjoy vacation time? Take some time off from work and enjoy local attractions. You do not have to travel or pay for a hotel, so you can save a lot of money. You can still enjoy near-by museums and restaurants that you would typically write off as too pricey and relaxing time at beaches or spas near your home. To make it seem special, hire a house cleaning service for the week so you will not have to worry about cleaning your home. If you are really on a budget, you can even forgo expensive activities and instead rent some movies, borrow some books from the library, or enjoy a dip in the local pool.

The point is that you do not have to spend a fortune to have a great vacation. With just a few hundred dollars, you can really enjoy some time off. The key is planning. Make sure you know exactly where every dollar is going and resist the urge to splurge on expensive meals, souvenirs, and other things you do not need. Just because you are on a budget does not mean that you and your family cannot enjoy traveling together, you just have to get a little creative so you can stretch your dollars.

Stephanie Larkin
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-tips-articles/how-to-stretch-your-travel-dollar-723207.html