10 Reasons Why You Should Manage Your Business Ethically

Why are ethics in business so important? Isn’t it enough to comply with the letter of the law and the rules of society? What’s in it for the business enterprise?

These are all interesting questions. Many business owners feel that maximizing profits is the chief obligation of the firm. Other owners feel that operating a business in a transparent, ethical manner is also important. Both business management and business ethics are about making the right decisions. Does one have to exist to the exclusion of the other?

I think not, and here are the reasons why managing a business ethically is important:

1. It sends the right message to customers and clients. With all the choices available nowadays, who wants to do business with a shady, ethically-challenged company?

2. It sets the right example for the firm’s employees. The temptation to cut corners or behave illegally, immorally, or unethically is reduced if employees are familiar with the firm’s code of ethical conduct and the certainty of its enforcement.

3. It can make the firm a desirable place to work. Recruiting, and then keeping, high-quality employees is far less costly than managing a turnstile where people come and go in bulk quantities.

4. It establishes a prism through which a company views not just normal business dealings, but the handling of extraordinary events or crises. When all options have been considered, asking „What is the right thing to do?“ ultimately becomes the basis for action.

5. It provides a clearer focus for the firm. That clear focus is found not just in the tactical day-to-day operations, but in the firm’s strategic planning, as well.

6. It helps protect the interests of the firm. Ethical behavior doesn’t always insulate a firm from lawsuits, bad publicity, or other such negative and costly conditions, but it can certainly reduce the probabilities or mitigate the damage.

7. It helps protect the interests of everyone with whom the firm comes into contact. Will suppliers become more reliable if they know they will get paid on time? Will regulatory agencies be more helpful and accommodating? Will clients be more trusting? There is an obvious higher likelihood of the foregoing answers becoming „Yes“ with a company who is seen as highly ethical, than with one who is not.

8. It promotes mutual respect and integrity. This can happen both within the company and from those whom the company deals with.

9. It promotes accountability. This can occur not just within the ranks of the employees, but with the top executives and owners, as well.

10. It can yield a reputation in the marketplace that can be beneficial and sustaining. Isn’t this a desirable condition for any company? If it isn’t, it certainly should be.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Hemingway Woods Subdivision – A Great Neighborhood In A Great Location

Filled with homes that are less than twenty years old and in good condition, the Hemingway Woods Subdivision located in Lake Orion, Michigan is a great place to live and raise a family.

The location of the Hemingway Woods Subdivision allows quick commute to many popular places inside and outside of Lake Orion. The subdivision is only ten minutes from The Palace of Auburn Hills, providing a short trip to Pistons games, concerts, and other activities. The Pine Knob Ski Resort is only fifteen minutes away from the subdivision, also providing an easy trip for some fun in the snow. Major roads such as West Clarkston Road, Joslyn Road, North and West Baldwin Roads, and South Lapper Road are just minutes from the Hemingway Woods Subdivision to provide quick access to many places.

Children living in the Hemingway Woods Subdivision can attend the neighborhood elementary school, Pine Tree elementary, or attend one of the three focus elementary schools: Carpenter Elementary, Stadium Elementary, or Orion Oaks Elementary. This gives the students and parents several options as to which school to attend. The neighborhood middle school for children in the Hemingway Woods Subdivision is Scripps Middle School, and for high school the children attend Lake Orion High School. All of these Lake Orion community schools have been praised for high achievement and fantastic opportunities.

The Hemingway Woods Subdivision is not only the location of some wonderful homes; it is also filled with wonderful people. The subdivision can be found on Facebook and on Twitter. Both of these resources make it easy for residents to keep in touch with the happenings of the subdivision.

So check out the Hemingway Woods Subdivision of Lake Orion, Michigan today to find nice homes, an overall great location, an honored school district, and wonderful people. It is a great place to live.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

3 Ways to Value Your Home

One of the worst mistakes sellers make is pricing their homes too high. Buyers are generally well educated and will not entertain an overpriced listing. After the property sits stagnant on the market, the seller will slowly wake up to reality and lower the asking price to a more realistic figure. The downside of this scenario is that, in the meantime, one has lost valuable marketing time.

The longer a listing sits on the market, the less attention it gets. The lesson here is – price your home accurately from the start! To help you determine that value, you can use one of three commonly used valuation methods: a Comparative Market Analysis or „CMA,“ a Broker Price Opinion or „BPO,“ also called a Broker Opinion of Value, and a Formal Appraisal, performed by a licensed and certified real estate appraiser.

Before we get into the details of each one of the valuation methods, let’s talk a little more about the different types of values.

Market Value

The Uniform Standard of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) defines market value as the most probable price that a property should sell for in a competitive and open market. This assumes all conditions for a fair sale are present and that the buyer and seller are of sound mind.

As-Is Value

Generally, the as-is value is defined as the value of the subject property as it presently exists without repairs or improvements. The as-is value should reflect the subject property’s current condition.

As-Repaired Value

Usually, the as-repaired value is defined as the value the subject property would sell for if the subject property is in move-in, ready condition, but not overly improved for the neighborhood.

Quick-Sale-Value

The quick-sale value is defined as the value the subject property would sell for under liquidation, or forced-sale type terms. The quick-sale value commonly assumes limited exposure to the open market, and restrictive conditions of sale.

1. Comparative Market Analysis CMA

A CMA is a comparison of the prices of similar houses in the same general geographical area, typically, a one mile radius. Usually, MLS data and tax records are used to conduct the research. It includes: 1) closed sales – properties that have sold and closed within the last 6 months, 2) active listings – properties currently for sale, 3) pending sales – listings that are under contract but have not yet closed, and, 4) expired listings – properties that did not sell during the marketing period. After thoroughly analyzing this information, a probable sale price is suggested.

Because the price derived from a CMA is somewhat subjective, the outcome generally results in a price range rather than a definite number. Most agents will conduct a CMA without physically visiting the property. In general, a CMA prepared by an experienced agent with good knowledge of the local market is right in line with your home’s appraised market value. A CMA can therefore be a very useful tool. Most agents offer this service free of charge as a promotional means to earn you business.

2. Broker Price Opinion BPO (also Broker Opinion of Value)

A Broker Price Opinion is when a real estate agent or broker will do a valuation on a property similar to an appraisal. There are two types of BPOs: an exterior or drive-by, and an interior or full BPO. For our purposes, I will focus on the interior or full BPO, since this is most comprehensive and most valuable to a seller.

The Broker Price Opinion has been a popular tool used by lenders and mortgage companies to value properties in situations where they believe the expense of an appraisal is not necessary. A BPO goes into much greater detail than a CMA; the specific purpose of the BPO as set forth by the client will dictate much of what the agent focuses on. In addition to the work performed in a CMA, the agent will generally conduct a full inspection of the property and make a list of defects and recommend any necessary repairs. A detailed commentary of any material matters will be included.

Photos of the interior and exterior are taken and included in the report. Three recently sold comparables and three active listings are used to determine the value of the subject property, adjustments are made if necessary. The cost of a full interior BPO ranges from $85.00 to $165.00, depending on the detail wanted by the client. Commonly, listings agents will charge for this service but in some cases, might credit the fee back to the client at a successful close of escrow.

3. Formal Appraisal

A formal appraisal is by far the most detailed valuation tool used to determine the value of a property. Appraisals are most often reported on a standardized form, and only licensed and certified real estate appraisers can perform an appraisal. Licensed appraisers are trained to be able to appraise real property in a variety of ways;

The sales Comparison Approach (same as a CMA or PBO) is by far the most common, where comparable properties are used to determine the subject’s value.

The Income Approach: this method is most commonly used to value income producing properties such as offices and apartment buildings. In some cases, depending on the client’s requirements and/or the specific type of property, appraisers may use a combination of both the sales comparison approach and income approach to determine value.

The Replacement Approach: this method is most commonly used on new-built homes, where there are no established comparables, on homes built with unique materials of which no comparables exist, or, in case of, let’s say, a fire, where there is nothing left to compare.

The cost of a formal residential appraisal usually ranges from $300.00 to $450.00.

4. Conclusion

The reason to hire a professional to value your property is to obtain accuracy. It is strongly advised to start out with a realistic price tag, and in order to do so, a seller needs to obtain an accurate estimate of what the subject property is worth. This will set the tone for a smooth and productive marketing and sales process.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

How to Sell Your House Yourself – Make Potential Buyer’s Remember You When it Comes to the Crunch!

So you want to know how to sell your house yourself? Firstly, you should know that you’re not alone. Literally millions of homeowners now decide to sell their homes without the aid of a realtor. I guess this is due to the financial crisis of the past few years and people wanting to save as much money as possible.

The one major thing you need to learn about selling your house yourself is that you need to „stand out from the crowd“! By that i mean if everything about your listing, the way you deal with buyers, your offer is the same as everyone else’s, you stand just as much chance as anyone else of selling their property. However, just by being different will get you far more attention.

I believe a great way to entice potential buyers is by making up and handing out information packs to everyone who comes for a viewing. So what should your information pack contain?

Firstly, have a copy of your appraisal. People will want to know the estimated value of the property, plus if there are any discrepancies or repairs needed they will be highlighted on your report, so this shows honesty. Next you should have information about the local area. Leisure facilities, local transport routes, schools and other amenities.

One of the main concerns of people moving to a new area will be some of the above points. If you have a young family looking to purchase your home, they will be interested in schools and possibly childcare for their children. People will have to travel to work, so will be interested in car routes and public transport. By adding a section about local gyms and your favourite restaurants or nearest nightspots can help to clinch the deal.

If you are trying to sell your house yourself, just remember by doing the same as everyone else and having an average approach, you should only expect average results. By going that extra mile, buyer’s will remember you and therefore are more likely to do business with you!

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Overcapitalisation – Why Cost Does Not Equal Value?

If you are unaware of the real estate terminologies then you might be wondering what overcapitalisation is. Basically, overcapitalisation refers to an overspend on construction or renovation costs which means the actual cost of a construction/renovation of the property is superior to its real market value. Overcapitalisation is also considered as asset inflation. Confused? Let’s make it simple. For instance, Mr A is planning to renovate his house by remodeling the bathrooms, basement and kitchen; upgrading the living room and bedrooms; adding a porch and swimming pool; installing vinyl siding, fencing front entrance and extending the garden. Mr A decides to use upper end expensive quality materials in the renovation. While doing so, he forgot to consider the real market value and quality of the houses in this area, which was lower than the value of his upgraded house. This is overcapitalisation.

Now the next question is what should be done to avoid overcapitalisation? Simple! When renovators and home builders are planning for home improvements, they must keep in mind some factors which have greater impact on the overall value of the property. For instance, evaluating neighbour’s housing style, demographics of neighbourhood, streetscape, design trends of neighbouring property, and recent resale prices of the homes in the area.

Although generally improvements and renovations add value to a property, it will be wrong to say they will ALWAYS increase its value. The reason is that if renovations and improvements are overdone, without keeping in view the real value of the area where your property is located, you might be overcapitalising your property. This means that your property cost will not equal its market value.

Hence, it is rational that a renovator or home builder is aware of overcapitalisation, and increases the value of the property only to an extent that it can cope up with. Remember, you’ve got to be really careful about overcapitalisation when upgrading or renovating your property.

Often overcapilisation occurs when people are not rational and business minded in their approach. Typically home owners will spend more on fixtures and fittings with the aim to live in the property.

Some cultures often prefer to live in larger homes as status symbols and will opt to spend more on improvements than is the norm in the locaility.

However if you are an investor or builder, it is important to get the mix right as this will result in higher profit margins. Getting it wrong can often mean longer selling periods and discounted prices. Do your due diligence to avoid disappointment.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Things You Must Remember When Choosing An Internet Provider

There are so many businesses and individuals today who rely on the internet fully for their day to day running. Without fast and reliable internet it can become very frustrating to get things done on time. Technology has taken over and with the right connectivity, everything works in harmony seamlessly. But then to enjoy this kind of running you must ensure that you have the best internet provider by your side. The providers increase by the day, but when you know what aspects matter most when it comes to internet connectivity, then you will be able to choose a provider who will never let you down or compromise your business for that matter.

Data caps – There are internet providers out there who may have caps when it comes to how much data you are allowed to download say on a monthly basis. They may not be the best, especially if you rely largely on internet because then there are things you may not be able to achieve. Be careful when choosing a provider so you do not end up with limits that do not work in your favor.

Speed – Downloading is inevitable and you want to make sure that you can do this fast. Find out what speeds the company offers and compare that to your immediate connection needs. The speeds can be over DSL or cable and each has its advantages and disadvantages; know your options so you can make the right decision you find most reliant on any given day and time.

Internet plans – Different internet users have different needs and a good internet provider will offer varying plans to match the needs of every kind of user. Of course the plan you choose can determine bandwidth size, hence it is important that you clearly know what your company or individual needs are so you can select a plan that serves you need effectively. Ensure also that you can easily upgrade to another plan as soon as the need arises without trouble.

The fees – Apart from prices per MBPS, find out what is required for you to have the internet installed because there are providers who give you the necessary equipment and other might require you to rent or buy a router or modem. Some have late payment fees and relocation fees while others don’t. It is important that you find out everything there is to the fees before signing your contract with the internet provider. It is better to pay with full knowledge than come to find out about hidden charges later which can be frustrating.

Add-ons – Add-ons like antivirus software can prove to be very helpful, but remember that some providers may end up charging you for them as well. Consider how important it is to have them and then check whether they are offered free with your plan or you have to pay for them. There is really no reason why you should pay for add-ons that you can find and enjoy free of charge.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

How to Make Money Online by Creating and Selling Short Reports

How to Make Money Online With Short Reports

Writing short reports and selling them for a low price is one of the most powerful ways of making money online fast. In this post we will see how to write a short report and set it on autopilot so that it makes money 24×7.

What to Write About?

Look around you. What inspires you the most? What are your passions, how do you spend most of your time, is it reading? fishing? cooking?

Are you an expert in anything? Do people ask you for suggestions about something? There are literally thousands of ways to find inspiration, if you want to!

A great way to write a report that sells is by concentrating on something that focuses on relieving pain or solving a problem, that kind of stuff.

But before you get all excited and start creating a report, just make sure that the topic you are going to write about is in demand. One way to do that is by using a keyword tool. There is a free keyword tool out there which is more than enough for this purpose. The tool is Google Keyword Planner. Using this tool you can easily estimate the number of people searching for a particular topic and keyword each month. If you want more professional insight and want to find highly profitable keyword ideas go for paid tools like LongTailPro or Market Samurai. LongTailPro is a professional keyword tool which gives you keyword ideas and its profitability scores. You can also use this tool for getting blog post ideas, research a profitable niche for your next site and much more.

How to Write the Report

You can easily create a report using free tools like OpenOffice suite or a paid one like Microsoft Office. Create a document in word format and then export it in PDF format when saving the document. That’s it. Your report is ready. Don’t forget to add pictures and media where necessary in your report.

How Many Pages?

When you are just beginning try to keep it short. Anything between 20-30 pages should do. Remember it’s about the quality, not quantity.

How to Price Your Report

For a 25-30 page report you can price anything between $5-10, considering you are an amateur and nobody in the industry knows your name. Once you become popular you can even charge $100 for a short report provided it is a high voltage content.

How to Sell Your Short Report

You can opt for a cheap web hosting account and register a domain name. Once you are done with that you can hire a designer to create a sales page for you (which is going to cost you heavily) or buy Optimizepress ($97 for 3 domains).

Optimizepress gives you flexibility and you can create as many landing pages and squeeze pages as you want. It is easy to design. Another option is Leadpages which costs $37/month.

Once your landing page is ready subscribe for e-junkie which costs you only $5/month for one item. It is a digital product delivery system which delivers your report to the customer’s email once the payment has been processed. Remember, e-junkie doesn’t process payments. For accepting payments use the PayPal business account which can be easily connected to e-junkie and which is free to get started. This is only a one time setup. Set it up and it will earn you money on autopilot. PayPal does take a commission for each transaction carried out, but it is definitely worth it.

Once you start making enough money with your first report you can make several similar type of reports in different niches. By this way you have got a decent online business for you which earns on autopilot and supplies you with a continuous stream of passive income.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

How to Sell a House Privately

Not so long ago selling a house was possible only through a real estate agent. This was mainly because there was no way for sellers and buyers to connect directly. And, the real estate agents would charge an exorbitant sum for providing their services in form of commission. But thanks to the internet, there are new ways of communication that have powered property sellers for selling a house privately.

What does selling a house on the internet imply?

These days we look towards the internet for all our needs. In the real estate sector, buyers no longer rely only on real estate agents to find a home for them. They search online for homes. The internet provides them the convenience of searching homes from the comfort of their home. They can also filter the listings according to their preferences such as the location, number of rooms, budget, etc. This helps them shortlist properties easily. They only need to visit properties that they have shortlisted. Therefore the entire process of finding a home saves their efforts, time and money.

If you are a seller and know that buyers are looking online to buy a property, then it definitely makes sense to channelize your efforts towards listing it on property portals. You can easily eliminate the agent from the process and sell it online.

While selling a house privately it is important to understand the role of a real estate agent. An agent essentially markets your property; arranges viewings of your property with potential buyers; negotiates the price and closes the deal.

The internet offers you a great platform to market your house.

All that you need to do to sell your property privately is:

• Price your house accurately. You can seek the services of a professional property appraiser for accurate pricing.

• Identify the property listing websites where you will list your house.

• List it on the site by uploading a description of your property.

• To give the potential buyers a clear idea of your house, upload attractive photographs.

• Uploading a virtual tour of the house is also beneficial.

• Once the potential buyers view the property online, they will directly connect with you.

• You can arrange the viewing of the house.

• Once a buyer is finalized, negotiate the price of the property.

• You can sell it without an agent easily.

Therefore, selling a house privately is not as complicated as it seems. It just requires some dedicated efforts. And, you will realize that a little bit of legwork does not hurt especially if there is so much to gain.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Important Tips to Consider When Selecting a Real Estate Agent

The ample amount of online information regarding how to hire a real estate agent can be helpful for homebuyers and sellers, but finding the right one can still be a challenge. Professional agents should have the necessary skills and expertise to help find exactly what the client desires. These four qualities can clue in buyers and sellers that a real estate agent is a great choice.

Suggests Realistic Prices

When planning to sell a house, it is recommended to get listing presentations from several agencies. They will provide the market prices of comparable homes, as well as the amount of time it usually takes to sell similar properties. Working with professionals to ensure that a home is priced appropriately will make the process less time consuming and stressful.

Works Full Time

Some real estate agents connect home buyers with sellers as a part-time job; however, it is wise to choose one who works in the industry full time to get the best results. Such professionals are in a better position to provide accurate recommendations and tips as they have more experience and a deeper understanding of the industry. A full-time agent will likely spend more time scouting for a home on various listings or showing prospective buyers the house to ensure that the clients acquire or sell a property quickly and at the right price.

Charges an Appropriate Commission

In most states, the commission ranges between five and seven percent and is split between the selling and buying agents. Ask agents about commission rates when putting a home on the market or beginning a new home search. This is an ideal method to ensure that all parties understand the agreement. Also, be sure to ask about any offered rate rebates, as some companies actually pass on a percentage of the commission to the seller or buyer.

Has Experience in the Area

A buyer who is interested in purchasing a full-time residence should pick an expert who specializes in selling such properties in the area. On the other hand, people who are looking for investment properties are better off working with someone who has been facilitating such deals with other investors for years. It is also important to note that most professionals in this industry have multiple specialties.

Even if a candidate meets these four qualities, organize a face-to-face meeting with the home expert to get a full picture of his or her skills and expertise. Most professionals are more than happy to speak with potential customers to answer questions. Finding a real estate agent by following these guidelines will make the entire process of buying or selling a home far simpler.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

Top 5 Best (And Worst) REALTOR Slogans

Let’s get right down to it, shall we:

Best REALTOR Slogans

#5. „My job is your future“– Good. So you understand how big of a deal a home purchase is for me.

#4. „Purveyor of fine homes to fine people“ – Not bad; a little boring, but you have a good command of the language and demonstrate strong commitment to a targeted market.

#3. „Sold in 100 days, or I’ll buy it“– Does this belong in the top 5? Yes – because you stand out, commit, and I know I’ll have a guaranteed sale within 4 months.

#2. „I Never Forget You Have a Choice“– That’s what I like to hear – you’ll always have the right motivations while we’re working together.

#1. „Anyone can sell your home. I can sell it for more.“ – Strong, assertive and straight to the point. Let me put you to the test.

Worst REALTOR Slogans

#5. „A Realtor You Can Trust“– Sounds like something your parole officer told you to say.

#4. „No Fancy Punchlines – Just Great Service“– Does this constitute an oxymoron? (Definitely a moron)

#3. „It’s the Energy!“– What does that even mean? I think your doctor over-prescribes stimulants… Out of curiosity, what’s his name (my friend wants to know…)?

#2. „Everything I Touch Turns to Sold!“ – Ha ha! It’s funny, I’ll give you that. But now that the joke’s over can you introduce me to a real REALTOR?

#1. „Spouses Selling Houses“ – Do you include domestic disputes with showings?

Conclusion

This was a tough article to write because there are at least 20 terrible catch phrases for every good one. Some rules of thumb:

  • Use common sense – No one wants to hear you state the obvious – and no one is interested in self-indulgence. There’s also not much room for humor (there are exceptions of course), so keep it professional.
  • If you say something bold in your slogan, make sure you’re willing to eat, sleep, and breathe by it.
  • If you can’t come up with anything good, don’t worry: Clients won’t notice that you don’t have a catch phrase, but you might lose clients if you have a bad one.

Immobilienmakler Heidelberg

Makler Heidelberg

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