A small investment returns a safer and healthier home

Posted on Jun 22, 2016

Almost every home in the U.S. has a smoke alarm, but most do not have enough. Fire experts recommend installing alarms on every floor and inside and outside of every sleeping area. A recent survey by Kelton Research found less than a quarter of homeowners have applied this rule. A fire can double in size every 30 seconds. The sooner you hear a smoke alarm, the more time you have to escape.

Also, 75 percent of homes have a potential source of carbon monoxide (CO), but only half of the homes have a working CO alarm, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Produced by fossil fuel-burning appliances and engines, CO can cause injury or death if it builds up in your home. A working CO alarm is the only safe way to detect this odorless and invisible gas.

Consider these questions from the experts at Kidde to determine if your home is safe from fire and CO dangers:

1. One in four older homes needs to update fire safety equipment. How old are your smoke and CO alarms? Replace your smoke alarms every 10 years and your CO alarms every seven to 10 years, based on the model you purchased. Consider purchasing an alarm with a sealed lithium battery, such as the Worry-Free smoke and CO alarms, which provide hassle-free protection for 10 years. No need to change a battery and no low battery chirps.

2. Seventy-five percent of homeowners don’t know where to install smoke alarms. Do you have enough? Place smoke alarms on every floor and inside/outside of all bedrooms. Place a CO alarm near sleeping areas and on each floor.

3. Do your alarms incorporate the newest features?

Sealed-in lithium battery – continuously powers alarm for 10 years and eliminates low battery chirps.

Digital display – shows the level of CO and updates the reading every 15 seconds.

Intelligent multi-sensor – responds faster to real fires & CO plus reduces nuisance alarms commonly caused by cooking.

4. Do you need other safety products? Do you have a fire extinguisher within reach in rooms where fires often begin: the kitchen, garage, bedroom and living areas. Place an escape ladder in second and third-floor rooms as an alternative escape route. And consider conducting a mold and radon test using a kit. A quick test shows levels of these environmental hazards that may be lurking in your home.

5. Have you developed a family escape plan? Be sure to make a plan for every room in the house and practice it regularly. Be familiar with two ways out of every room and who will assist children and those with mobility/health issues.

6. Do your children know their address and how to dial 911? Post your home address and emergency phone numbers on the refrigerator.

For a downloadable home safety checklist and other information, visit www.WorryFreeAlarm.com.

Emergency Preparedness

Accessorizing secrets for a beautiful home and a beautiful you

Posted on Jun 15, 2016

Fortunately, the fundamentals of good accessorizing are the same, regardless of whether you’re dressing up your house or spicing up your own look. Whether you have a knack for pulling together an outfit as easily as a room, or can’t quite seem to get it together, a few simple tips can help you enhance your style.

Pop that color – Neutrals make an awesome backdrop for pops of color. Whether it’s a neutral shade on the walls of your living room, or a classically cut skirt in a subtle hue, set off your neutral backdrop with brightly colored accessories. Pillows, plates, photo frames, candles and other colorful accessories create interest and depth in a room’s design. All kinds of small and decorative items can be colorful and inexpensive. You can find fashionable and fun items in shops that specialize in the unusual, such as Cracker Barrel Old Country Store (R). Explore the offbeat. For example, beautiful glass jars filled with pickles and canned veggies are not only a culinary treat, they can add zest to a room’s decor when used as a colorful display.

For you, adding a bold necklace, chunky bracelet, bright belt or scarf can layer your look with personality. As a bonus, if you find a look that fits your personal style, consider incorporating it into your home decor with accessories. For example, Cracker Barrel Old Country Store offers trendy coastal-themed jewelry – several pieces are less than $10 – and home decor items that echo the easy, relaxed style and sea-side colors of the shore.

Simple styling – One of the most challenging aspects of accessorizing can be settling on a style. The good news is, when you find one that works for you, you can apply it to both your personal style and your home decor. Does classic sophistication work for you? Subtle colors that convey classic styling in your wardrobe can make great hues for walls, carpeting and upholstered furnishings. Is quirky and unconventional -more your style? That tropical print you love on your bedroom drapes can add humor and excitement to your wardrobe when it shows up in an airy cotton scarf. That same color and pattern combination can make a statement when you use it as a runner on your dining room table.

Brimmed hats, earrings, bracelets, totes and flowing wraps all speak of summer vacation and fun – and the essence of easy style that works well in your home and in your closet.

You need to love your atmosphere – Whatever the purpose of a room or an outfit, you need to love the atmosphere it creates. Whether you’re designing a space for family fun or pulling together a knockout look for that special night out on the town, the colors and styles you choose will create a specific ambiance. It should be one that speaks to you and your personality.

For example, are summer gatherings with friends one of your favorites things to do? Salute the best of summer with colors that evoke summer holidays, such as a fun red picnic cup lighted garland (available at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store) and matching red picnic cup stemware. Keep the effect going by adding that shiny red hue to your wardrobe accessories with a belt or necklace. Have an affinity for the horsey set? “Stable” décor featuring riding-inspired accessories such as candleholders and canisters with whip stitched accents is popular and a horseshoe doubling as a tea light holder evokes the look beautifully.

Just keep a few secrets that apply to both home decor and wardrobe building in mind, then let your adventure begin.

Get biking to help stop diabetes

Posted on Jun 14, 2016

These qualities have made bicycling the second most popular outdoor activity in America, according to the 2011 Outdoor Recreation Participation Topline Report for the Outdoor Industry Association. In 2010, Americans went on 2.44 billion bicycling outings.

As the weather warms, make certain your biking equipment is ready for the season. Check brakes, grease the chain, and make certain helmets still fit properly on your children’s heads. Take a short ride around the neighborhood to ensure everything works and that the tires are sufficiently filled with air. If it’s been a couple of years since the bikes were purchased or cleaned, it might also be a good idea to take them into a pro shop to have all the gears and brakes inspected.

One fun way to get out with your family, friends or co-workers on your bicycles this summer is through the American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure, which has routes designed for all riders – from five-mile family rides to 100-mile century rides. It is a ride, not a race, so participants are encouraged to go at their own pace. Tours will take place in 44 states across the country to benefit the American Diabetes Association and its efforts to stop diabetes.

“Diabetes touches so many people’s lives. Exercise and nutrition are important components in managing diabetes,” says Chris Carmichael, national spokesperson for the Tour de Cure and founder and CEO of Carmichael Training Systems Inc. He was named the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Coach of the Year in 1999. “The American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure is a great combination of fun exercise and raising funds and awareness about diabetes and its impact on families.”

More than 60,000 cyclists are expected to participate in the Tour de Cure events this year. If you have diabetes, join the Red Riders. This special program recognizes riders who have diabetes the day of the ride with a red jersey. During the Tour, participants call out “Go Red Rider” to encourage and celebrate the Red Riders who are fighting to manage their diabetes and live a healthier life.

Take advantage of the biking opportunity the Tour de Cure provides, and get your family out for a 10 mile or even longer bike tour. For more information or to register for a local tour, visit www.diabetes.org/tour or call 888-DIABETES.

How you compete with a Hedge Fund

Posted on Jun 8, 2016

First: Appreciate their strengths but don’t fear them.

Hedge funds have a lot of capital and if they can show a model that produces a decent return of ONLY 7-9% they will get more capital to continue their acquisition spree.  In addition, hedge funds can leverage technology to the hilt, so they will have more applications and databases than you can shake a stick at, but remember bad data fast is still bad data.

Another reality of their size is their need to buy lots of property quickly.  When they move in for the kill they will buy large pools of properties in short periods.  However, as a small investor, I can focus on a single purchase to add to my portfolio instead of having to find 10, 20 or 50 properties to buy. I have no idea how these buyers can stay up to date with 50 escrows, repairs, and rentals, at one time.  In the end – appreciate their need and ability for frequent acquisition.

Second: Understand their purpose and goals. 

Hedge funds are great at taking advantage of market dislocations.  They use their tremendous capital base to buy distressed assets (of any kind) and then wait for markets to repair themselves and return to long run averages.  This means that most hedge fund buyers will have a clock on their capital and they will become sellers at some point.  The best part is that most hedge funds will likely become sellers, at the same time producing nice buying opportunities in the future – likely 5-10 years from now –  at much higher prices.

Finally: Understand where they are weak.

Most hedge fund buyers don’t live in the markets where they invest.  They may send out a team or two from New York or Boston to live in Atlanta, Southern California or Phoenix for a couple of years but these assignments are rarely given to locals. 

Why would they trust a local with their billions of dollars?

The first thing to do as a small investor is remember to build quality relationships as frequently as you can.  All real estate is local and most of it is sold by local resources, so if you can become the trusted buyer of many different agents and other investors, you will have the inside track to deals that a hedge fund never sees.  Most of my deals come from relationships that hedge funds would pay dearly to have.

Also never (and I mean NEVER) go straight at a bully [hedge fund].  Understand what their strength is and do something different.  In the early example I will admit the football player never saw me coming because he pushed me and just kept walking, as he never thought to make sure I wouldn’t respond.  I dropped everything, jumped on him, and got him on the ground where my speed was a huge advantage and his superior strength and reach was negated.  In short – I won and he lost because I did the unexpected!

When it comes to competing with a hedge fund that has access to millions or billions of dollars, don’t fight for the properties they want, it’s losing proposition.  Instead –  buy around them and let their efforts increase the value of your purchases.  If hedge funds want properties newer than 5 years, then buy the 10, 20 or 50 year old homes at which they refuse to look. If hedge funds want certain zip codes, buy the zip codes adjacent to their neighborhoods.  If hedge funds want single family –  buy multi family.  If Hedge Funds want to buy at the court house steps or want to buy foreclosures on the MLS, then buy short sales or probate deals.

I love to see hedge funds over pay in my market, as they are adding to my net worth by increasing market values across the portfolio. Regardless of their buying – my 10+ years of relationships allow me to find tremendous deals regularly.

In the end – don’t fear the bully; just out smart and out work them. They are 100% beatable.

Author: Michael Zuber

Michael’s Website: http://www.wealthbuildingpro.com

Tips to help kids stay dry and confident through overnight occasions

Posted on Jun 1, 2016

(BPT) – For the estimated 6 million-plus American children who experience bedwetting, sleepovers, sleep-away camp and vacation can trigger embarrassment, not to mention stress and worry for parents. Compounding the problem, many parents don’t understand that bedwetting is a developmental phase that occurs as a child grows, and few consult their pediatricians about their concerns. In fact, a survey conducted by Strategy One found that 43 percent of parents incorrectly believe they can train their kids out of bedwetting.

“Many parents are unaware that bedwetting is a developmental condition, and not something a child can be trained out of,” says pediatrician Dr. Wolffe Nadoolman. “Most children will stop wetting the bed on their own as they physically mature – until that happens, learning to manage bedwetting can cause stress between a parent and child, and ultimately impact the child’s self-esteem and confidence.”

It’s important for parents to find coping strategies, and consistently comfort and reassure their children. Dr. Nadoolman and mom blogger and author Meagan Francis offer guidance on how parents can handle bedwetting during common overnight occasions.

1. Slumber party success

If your child agrees, talk to the host parents. Make sure they understand your child’s bedwetting is a medical condition that he or she can’t control. Arrange a private place to store GoodNites Underwear and a private spot for your child to change into them. Stash a dark plastic bag in his backpack to make disposal easy and discreet. Avoid bed-sharing with family or friends. Instead, have your child bring a sleeping bag.

2. Camp confidence

Bedwetting is so common, there’s a good chance other kids at camp will also be managing the problem. Since camp is often the first time a child is away from home alone, talk to camp counselors and administrators ahead of time – with your child’s agreement, of course. Discuss what accommodations you can make to ensure your child’s GoodNites Underwear are stored and discarded privately and discreetly, and that your child has a secure place to change into them.

3. Family vacation fun

Compassion from the rest of the family will go a long way toward easing a child’s bedwetting stress on vacation. Remind siblings to treat each other with love and respect. Since vacation disrupts routines, plan itineraries that allow children plenty of time to settle in at night and stick as closely as possible to their regular sleep schedule.

4. Spending time with grandparents

Trust the special relationship between grandparents and grandchildren, and explain the situation to Grandma and Grandpa. Answer any questions they may have, and emphasize the need to be sensitive to your child’s feelings. Pack Bed Mats to ensure sheets stay dry, and consider leaving a package at Grandma’s house for future overnight visits.

5. Adventures in overnight babysitting

Overnight babysitters need to be especially responsible and compassionate when caring for children as they cope with bedwetting. If your child is comfortable with it, discuss his or her situation with the sitter ahead of time. Make sure the sitter understands that bedwetting is a common developmental condition, and not sign of your child acting out. If your child isn’t OK with the sitter knowing about his situation, make sure he understands how to change his own protective garments and PJs.

6. Less stress from out-of-town guests

Before guests arrive, make sure to prepare a sleeping place for them that is separate from your child’s. Keep your child’s nighttime routine and don’t let visitors hinder the process. Remind siblings to respect your child’s privacy and not discuss nighttime wetting in front of guests.

Though many parents fear their child will never outgrow bedwetting, the experts affirm that worrying is not the answer. It’s best to comfort and reassure kids after every incident and know that bedwetting is a developmental phase that most children will outgrow on their own.

“Your role as parent is simply to help your child manage the condition and let them know it is just a bump in the road,” Nadoolman says.

For more advice on bedwetting, visit www.GoodNites.com.

​Advice for small businesses poised to hire their first employee

Posted on May 25, 2016

From affirming that the person you hire has the credentials to do the job and is the right personality fit for your organization, to ensuring you don’t run afoul of payroll taxes, workers’ compensation and other legal requirements, making that first hire requires a lot of preparation. When you’re getting ready to make that first all-important hire, keep some guidelines in mind:

Understand costs

You hire a first employee to help your business grow, but the costs associated with that growth can be significant. It’s important to weigh carefully the benefits of hiring against the related costs. According to the Small Business Association, these can include:

* Wages and taxes, including unemployment, Medicare and Social Security taxes

* Workers compensation insurance

* Recruiting and training expenses

* Benefits

* Payroll management

* Equipment, including software licenses and data plans, to help an employee do his or her job

Seeking candidates

Finding the right employee for your small business can also be a challenge. While professional hiring services can do the legwork for you, most small-business owners manage the hiring process themselves. You’ll need to consider where to advertise for candidates, what professional requirements you’ll want them to meet, what wage you’ll offer and how you’ll handle the interview process.

“We work with thousands of entrepreneurs and how to set wages is a frequent topic of interest,” says Michael Alter, president and CEO of SurePayroll, Inc., a Paychex company. Alter co-founded SurePayroll, and since then it has grown from a small business of four people to a company that employs more than 200 people. “As payroll providers, we know that wages are set by the market, not the employer. Researching and offering a competitive wage will help you to attract and keep the right candidate.”

Another critical component to consider is fit. A comprehensive pre-employment screening can help you make better hiring decisions. In addition to reviewing candidates’ resumes and references, your screening may include a background check, drug screening, behavioral assessments and skills testing.

Prepare for payroll

No one works for love alone. Your new employee will expect to be paid on time each pay period with the appropriate amount of withholdings taken out of his or her check. Managing payroll, however, can be costly and time-consuming; a small business with 10 or fewer employees may spend up to $2,600 per year on direct labor for payroll, according to SurePayroll. What’s more, if you don’t know or understand tax laws and requirements, you could find your company facing IRS penalties.

In the past, outsourcing payroll wasn’t always a practical option for small businesses with just one or two employees. Today, an online service such as SurePayroll can help small business owners manage their own payroll affordably, accurately and efficiently by paying employees and paying and filing payroll taxes. These services handle all the calculations for paying employees; calculating, paying and filing federal, state and local payroll taxes anywhere in the country; and notifying tax authorities of new hires. Mobile payroll apps also allow owners to run payroll on the go anytime, anywhere. Visit www.SurePayroll.com to learn more.

Next steps after hiring

In addition to completing necessary payroll tax forms, benefit enrollment forms and employee information files, you’ll need to complete a New Hire Reporting form that helps state and federal agencies track down parents in regard to child support payments.

You’ll also need to set up a storage system; the IRS requires all companies keep employment tax records for at least four years. Additional post-hiring tasks will include:

* Verifying an employee’s eligibility to work. Federal law requires employers to verify that an employee can legally work in the U.S. You’ll need to complete and submit an Employment Eligibility Verification Form within three days of making a hire.

* Fulfill your obligations under your state’s new hire reporting program. Federal law requires all employers to report all new hires to the state within 20 days of hiring.

* Secure workers’ compensation insurance.

* Establish a bookkeeping system.

Hiring that first employee can be exciting and challenging. Fortunately, with some planning and the help of online tools, you can ensure the hiring process goes smoothly, and each worker who joins your team contributes to your business’ continued growth.