Kentucky Real Estate Business

Archive for February, 2010

At present Real Estate business is one of the fastest growing businesses. Day by day many people are experiencing success in this field. Have you ever thought of becoming a Real Estate Guru? If so, you can find many way’s to become a successful Real Estate guru. There are some basic strategies you have to learn if you are a newbie.If you want to develop your skills in this field, real estate seminars and courses are the best way. By participating in seminars you can surely become successful in this field by gaining some knowledge. So in this article we are going to discuss how to make use of these resources’ which are available for free.In order to succeed in Real Estate business you have to learn all the tactics associated with it. If you regularly participate in some seminars, you can get the idea on how you can become successful in this field. So let’s discuss some of benefits of Real Estate Seminars…With the help of Real Estate seminars and courses, you will be able to gain the complete knowledge on Real Estate business. There is no any difficulty in this field. All you have to do is completely understand the techniques which you have to use in order to succeed in your business. You can be your own boss once you learn all the tactics of this field.Real Estate industry is one of the fastest growing business in today’s world. Real estate gurus are professionals when it comes to networking with others. In order to ensure that you are consistently making money in real estate investing, you should make sure that you talk to people, read people, learn people, and focus on people.If you elect to pursue the real estate business, you will learn the importance of client relationships and social networking for your business. This can be really important when it comes to getting smart deals on property, and linking property types to prospects that are in the market for that type of purchase. In the end, you may find that the networking and client skills that you end up possessing are what truly keeps you on top of your financial prosperity.Real estate seminars is a fantastic way to gain the knowledge on property types, how to buy or sell houses and you can also you can learn how to multiply your earnings by selling those properties in a unique way.So with the help of Real Estate seminars and courses you are guaranteed to gain much knowledge about this niche. This will also help you to update yourself to the latest happenings in this industry, because this is one of the competitive business in today’s market.

The land of the Indians – that is Indiana. Indiana became the 15th state of America on December 11, 1816. It was once home to the mountain lions, bison, and elks. It was also here that great battles were waged over land disputes. The wars routed the native Indians. These wars fill up the history books of Indiana. The people of Indiana are called Hoosiers.
Geography and Demography
Indiana takes up 35,867 square miles (making it the 38th largest state). This is home to some 6.3 million people. Indiana is the smallest state west of the Appalachian Mountains (not counting Hawaii). Bordering Indiana on the north are Lake Michigan and Michigan State. On the south, is Kentucky, and Ohio lies on the eastern horizon. Illinois takes up the west border. Indiana has five urban areas and smaller industrial cities.
Industry
Indiana’s economic stability is founded on several industries:
Mining
Agricultural food processing
Meat packing plants
Textile mills
Farm equipment manufacturing
Transportation facilities
Furniture factories
Pharmaceuticals
Steel
Compact discs
Electrical appliances
Mobile homes
Festivals and sights
Hockey is to Minnesotans while basketball is to Indiana. Every year Indiana holds the Hoosier Hysteria where high schools compete for championship.
Another event that holds the breath of every Hoosier is the annual Indianapolis 500 American Automobile Race. This is held on the weekend of Memorial Day. Indy 500 as it is popularly called was first held in 1911. The race venue is always at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The event draws in thousands of people.
The Feast of the Hunters Moon (West Lafayette) recreates the yearly gathering of the French and native Americans. This is held early in autumn along the banks of the Wabash River. During the celebration, thousands of people hear the reports of rifles; smell wood smoke while they have fun watching the reenactment.
Strawberry Festival (Crawfordsville) is celebrated on the second week of June when strawberries abound. Various activities enliven up the festival – there are talent contests, food vendors, craft booths and live entertainment.
There are also different scarecrow festivals in Indiana. In Wanatah, the festival is held every September. Different booths are set up showcasing culinary displays and handicrafts.
Every July 7 and 8 the people of Delphi celebrate the Canal Days Festival. The festival is celebrated with a grand parade. Food, music, and displays are abundant.
In Winamac, Indiana antique tractors take the stage during the annual Antique Power Show. Held at the city park, people will be beholding antiques and other collectibles from tractors to the horse pull. This is held every July.
Little children enjoy the celebration of Swiss Days. The highlight of the celebration are plentiful children’s activities. Swiss foods are sold and sampled. Swiss Days are also celebrated every July.
The August Fun Fest by the River feature a 350 car cruise-in. Live bands spice up the celebration. Crafts and food are available for sale. Entertainment is available for everybody of all ages. The festival is held in the Victorian Village, North Manchester.
Indiana Real Estate
As mentioned above, Indiana has lots of interesting things going on. Aside from all these, the offered Indiana real estates are numerous. Many people have appreciated this opportunity to be part of the city and many are still clamoring to have a home in Indiana. The Indiana real estate industry is definitely a hit.

With large metro areas and small, country hometowns, the state of Tennessee is a favorite of many for full-time living or occasional vacations. Its southern location gives it fairly mild winters, comfortable summers and a natural beauty that’s hard to match. Locating Tennessee real estate to buy will depend a lot on what you’re looking for, where you want to live and the kind of housing you’re interested in.

Although Tennessee isn’t a huge state, it does have some distinct regions. The state borders Kentucky and Virginia on the north. To the south are North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi with North Carolina also on the east and Missouri and Arkansas on the west.

Boasting an overall length of 440 miles from east to west, the Volunteer State has six pretty distinct geographical regions, each with their own draws for living and/or vacationing. They are: the Appalachian Ridge and Valley Region, the Appalachian Plateau, the Highland Rim, the Nashville Basin, the Gulf Coastal Plain and the Blue Ridge.

The state is known for its beautiful mountain ranges and gorgeous valleys. But it is also known for the metropolitan areas of Nashville and Memphis. Small town or big city, the state is beautiful year-round.

Here’s what you’ll find in the different regions.

Blue Ridge: This region is on the eastern side of the state. It is known for its high mountain ranges, including the Great Smoky Mountains, and its average elevation is 5,000 feet. This location is ideal for vacation homes or year-round living for those with a love for the great outdoors.

Appalachian Ridge/Valley: This area is known for its valleys and heavily wooded areas. It runs west from the Blue Ridge.

Appalachian Plateau: This lies west of the Appalachian Ridge and is sometimes called the Cumberland Plateau. It is known for its rolling hill/mountainous terrain and valleys. This area is home to Lookout Mountain, which gives a view of seven states as once. Chattanooga is the main city in this region. The area is also known for its Civil War history.

The Highland Rim: This area is west of the plateau and it surrounds the Nashville Basin with a higher elevation.

The Basin: The Nashville area itself is a basin that’s known for its incredibly rich farmland in addition to its country music rocking big city action.

Gulf Coastal Plain: This area lies west of the Nashville area and is a continuation of a plain region that starts at the Gulf of Mexico and moves north into Illinois. It is characterized by rolling hills, rivers and more.

For those looking to buy real estate in Tennessee the state will prove itself one of many options. From new developments to stately old homes, the state has it all. Rivers, mountains, hills and valleys give the state some of the most spectacular views in the world. And although it’s known for its southern charm and small-town feel, Tennessee is home to some major cities as well. Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga and more all provide an urban taste in a state that’s home to country music’s greatest legends.

At some point during your real estate investing endeavors, you might consider turning your money maker into a business. Many investors start their own real estate investing business after they have experience in real estate investing.
There are several benefits to creating a real estate investing business rather than doing investing as an individual. These benefits can only be received after dodging the pitfalls that plague many a real estate investing business.
Once you start a real estate investing business, it will be important for you to focus on the business just as much as you focus on the investing itself.
Too many times investors think that because they have received the incorporation for their real estate investing business that there is nothing left for them to do. On the contrary, there is more work to do.
You make your business grow into something more than a day in, day out task, you need to invest some work into it. The marketing side is just as important as the real estate side of your business.
Don’t be to eager to take on a partner in your real estate investing business. Unless the two of you have been partners before the business, chances are it will be tough transitioning part of the work, responsibility, and equity to a person who hasn’t been working with you from the beginning. If you feel the need to take on a partner because there is too much work, consider hiring some other real estate investors to help you.
Sure, starting a real estate investing business is a good idea, but you must keep in mind that the idea does not make the business successful. Only you and your employees can do this. You must focus on making your business and its offering better to ultimately make your real estate investing business better.
Price should never be the reason that your real estate investing business is better than someone else’s. Too many other investing businesses have gone bankrupt because they tried to beat out the competition’s prices. You should instead focus on improving your profit margin by lowering the costs you incur. This is a much better method for your real estate investing business than operating on little to no profit.
Do not, repeat, do not, try to cut corners by hiring cheap labor for your real estate investing business. Keep in mind always that you get what you pay for. Don’t just hire the first person that comes along. Instead, interview a few people, and hire the person you feel is best suited for the job. You, and your real estate investing business, will appreciate it later.
Keep in mind that once you start a real estate business, there is more to focus on than finding and closing deals. You have to be concerned about the marketing, finances, administration, and operations components of your business equally. Paying too much attention to any one area can cause problems.
Starting a real estate business is not the easiest task to accomplish. Once you get over the hurdles that cause most start ups to fail, the task of running a business will become easier to accomplish.

Here’s how it went down. Last Sunday, my buddy Schultz was over at my apartment. He’s the type of guy that is highly intelligent, but has the common sense of a stapler. He got like a 1300 on his SAT, but can’t match his socks (and even forgets to put on shoes sometimes). Anyhow, he was telling me how pissed off he was that he leased with locator. She apparently kept urging him, with profound glory, to lease at this one particular community. Well, that placed turned out to be a grade ‘A’ dump.

I rolled my eyes because I remember him telling me, literally, the same thing last year, and the year before, and the year before that. Stubborn much? I guess he will never learn. It’s like a toddler’s beloved little puzzle box that has shaped pegs that go into shaped holes. Eventually you should learn that the round peg doesn’t go into the square hole.

Friends, please listen very closely. Here’s a quick thought about apartment hunting: Apartment Locators might seem like a good quick option in finding a place, but they may rush you into picking a certain apartment because they get fat cash when you sign that lease. That’s most of their single motivation—not your happiness. I highly recommend using our personality matching engine at http://www.apartmenthomeliving.com instead.

I want you to compare places, be happy, and actually find the home you want to live in. So, grab your square peg, get on our website, and we’ll help you find the square hole or the right apartment. I want you to be happy and not insane. If anything…I want you insanely happy!

Visit ApartmentHomeLiving.com for more information on apartments and living for fun!

An ancient human scourge has returned to cause panic among home and property owners, home buyers and realtors. Bed bugs have invaded every state in the U.S. and reports of infestations have increased exponentially nationwide over the past few years. In a national survey of pest control companies conducted by noted bed bug authority Michael Potter for Pest Management Professional, Potter found, “A whopping 91% of respondents reported their organizations had encountered bed bug infestations in the past two years. Only 37% said they encountered bed bugs more than 5 years ago.”

Until a few years ago, most pest control companies said it was unusual to receive even one or two calls a year about bed bugs. Since 2004, however, bed bug complaints have grown exponentially with pest control companies nationwide now averaging between 10 and 50 calls a week. In major metropolitan areas, some companies are fielding 100 or more bed bug complaints each week. Some experts are predicting that 2008 will be the Year of the Bed Bug. Cindy Mannes, spokesperson for the National Pest Management Association, said bed bugs have become a serious problem in every state, noting, “There are some who call it the pest of the 21st century.”

Bed bugs are an equal opportunity pest. Infestations have occurred across the country in the tony co-ops of the rich and famous, in fashionable condominiums, in luxury apartments and in upscale suburban homes. Contrary to popular belief, bed bugs are not caused by filth or dirt. Like lice and fleas, bed bugs are creatures of convenience. A nuisance insect, they are not known to carry disease, but they can cause considerable discomfort, both mental and physical.

All but eradicated in the U.S. following World War II, the banning of powerful DDT-based pesticides, coupled with increased international travel, has brought about a nationwide resurgence of the annoying insect. Potter, an urban entomologist at the University of Kentucky, calls bed bugs the pre-eminent household pest in the U.S., on a par with cockroaches and rats. “This is one serious issue,” he recently told the New York Times. “This will be the pest of the 21st century – no questions about it.”

If you’re buying a house or looking for a new condo or apartment, take to heart the old adage Buyer Beware. You may be moving into a home that has been invaded by bed bugs. Most states require home sellers to provide buyers with an accurate statement disclosing the property’s condition, including pest infestations. However, there are loopholes that should serve as a red flag to home buyers and their realtors.

Most real estate disclosure statements are fairly broad and do not specifically ask about bed bug infestations. If any pest disclosure is specified, it’s likely to be termites. Because bed bugs haven’t been a problem in the United States for so many decades, few current state or municipal codes address them specifically. In many states, sellers can choose not to fill out the disclosure statement and instead pay a penalty which is credited to the buyer. For sellers with a bed bug problem, a several hundred dollar penalty may seem an acceptable price for making the sale.

Buyers and realtors should be aware that real estate disclosure laws that apply to home sales often don’t apply to co-op and condo owners. Before you buy, check with the local building and health departments to find out what the regulations are in your area. Although some states are now considering adding specific bed bug regulations to their realty laws, at this point common law is generally on the side of the seller. As real estate attorney Edward Sumber of New York told the New York Times, “Under the doctrine of caveat emptor — let the buyer beware — the seller has no affirmative obligation to reveal circumstances about the apartment to the buyer.”

However, disclosure laws in most states require the seller to answer honestly if specifically asked whether his home or apartment has been infected by bed bugs or other pests.

Additionally, real estate brokers are usually obligated to reveal a bed bug problem to the buyer if they know about it. Unfortunately, in most states sellers are not required to tell their real estate brokers about bed bug problems. Essentially, that means buyers must rely on the integrity of sellers and landlords anxious to make a sale.

Many buyers shopping for a new home, apartment or condominium are now hiring a pest control company with an expertise in bed bug elimination to inspect the property before they buy. Some realtors are recommending that sellers have their homes inspected for bed bugs before putting them on the market as both a reassurance and inducement to buyers.

What are bed bugs?

Evolved from bird and bat nest parasites, Climex lectaularius, the common bed bug, is a tiny nocturnal insect that hides in dark crevices during the day and feeds on human blood during the night. Their oval bodies are flattened and wingless and a light to reddish-brown in color. Adult bed bugs are 1/4 to 3/8 inch long or about the size of an apple seed. Before feeding, the bed bugs are as flat as paper, becoming dark red and bloated with blood as they feed, much like a tick. As they puncture the skin to feed — usually for 3 to 10 minutes — they eject an anesthetic that can cause an allergic reaction and the symptomatic itchy, red welts that bedevil their hosts. However, welts may take a day or two to develop and not all bed bug sufferers react to their bites, which can delay detection.

A female bed bug can produce up to 500 eggs during its average one-year lifespan, laying about 5 eggs per day. Difficult to detect without magnification, the eggs are whitish, pear-shaped and about the size of a pinhead. The female lays her sticky eggs in bedding and carpets or cements them into cracks and crevices near the bed to ensure a food source when the nymphs hatch. Nymphs, which are lighter in color and look like slightly smaller adults, hatch in 4 to 12 days and begin to feed immediately. Bed bugs progress through five nymphal stages, molting after each stage. The whitish carapaces they shed are a telltale sign of bed bug infestation. It takes 5 to 8 weeks for nymphs to reach maturity. Since several generations of bed bugs can be produced in a year, all stages of growth can be found in an infested room.

Bed bugs feed every 3 to 5 days and must feed at least once to develop to the next stage and to reproduce. They often void while feeding, leaving telltale rusty or tarry spots on sheets and in hiding places. Bed bugs can survive for 1 to 7 months without a blood meal and have been known to live in an abandoned house for as long as a year. They give off a distinctive musty, sweet odor often likened to ripe red raspberries or coriander.

Bed bugs will readily travel 10 to 15 feet to feed but have been observed traveling more than 100 feet from their established harborage to feed on a host. Once established, infestations can spread rapidly to adjoining rooms or units through crawl spaces, wall voids and electrical and plumbing conduits. Adept hitchhikers, bed bugs can easily enter your home on clothing, bedding, luggage, used furniture, cardboard boxes, etc. They can be brought home from a hotel stay or by sitting in a car, cab, bus, train or plane recently inhabited by an infested person.

What to look for

Bed bugs may be tiny but they leave telltale traces. Look most closely near beds and in bedrooms where bed bugs feed. Look for these telltale signs of bed bug activity:

A heavily infested room may have a characteristic musty or sweet odor like the scent of fresh red raspberries or coriander; however, the odor may not be obvious.

Look for active, crawling bugs on bed linens, carpet and furniture near the bed.

Look for dark fecal and blood stains on bed linens; carpets and carpet welting; and in the seams, creases, tufts and folds of mattresses and box springs.

You should also look for fecal smears or pea-sized pearly egg deposits behind headboards; along baseboards and door and window casings; around electrical plates; in plaster cracks; and under loose wallpaper, paintings and posters.

Look for whitish nymph molts and old exoskeletons under area rugs, at the edges of carpets, and in under-the-bed storage containers.

Beware of bats in the attic or eaves. Quite often bed bugs feeding on bats in the attic of a house will migrate to the living area in search of an easier food source, humans.

Buyer beware!

Bites, odor and voiding smears are indicators of a bed bug problem. However, these insects often go undetected when symptoms are not obvious. Bed bugs are also easily confused with other nuisance bugs like carpet beetles, bird and rodent mites, shiny spider beetles, parasitic wasps, even lint by the more paranoid, making definitive diagnosis a job for bed bug experts.

Before you buy a new home, ask the owner if there has ever been a bed bug problem. In co-ops, condos, apartments and any multi-unit residence, ask the property owner whether bed bugs have been reported in any unit. Before they buy, many home buyers are now requiring a pest inspection by a bed bug expert in addition to the traditional home inspection. When it’s buyer beware, it makes sense to protect yourself.

After much anticipation, New Years Eve is finally here!!! Tomorrow begins the year 2008 and with the new year comes a whole slew of resolutions to improve yourself and those around you next year.

I can see it now…January 2nd…all of the gyms are suddenly overcrowded until…January 11th. Cigarette and liquor sales go down nearly 65 % for…oh…about….4 days. Your Credit Card payment nearly doubles for the month of January, but come Valentines day, you end up owing more than you did at the turn of the New Year.

Resolutions are meant to last the entire year, so this year I resolve to make it the whole year with my resolutions. I also resolve to help make not only myself better, but also those around me!

That being said, I want to help you make some resolutions that will rock for both you and your apartment with my Top 10 Apartmentite Resolutions for 2008.10. Rent On Time- Actually pay rent on the 1st every month! This will help avoid late fees! 9. Fugitive Pet No More- Stop [BREAK] hiding your animals from maintenance and cut corners to finally pay your pet deposit8. Won’t You Be My Neighbor- Meet at least one neighbor…take them a gift even. You may make a good friend…or at least a great pet sitter!7. Keep Things Clean- This may be difficult, but scrub-a-dub your apartment one day and then keep it clean all year! I tried it last year and made it about 3 months strong.6. Use Your Kitchen- Resolve to cook and eat in your apartment more often. You will end up saving hundreds, if not thousands of dollars by the end of the year. 5. Entertain!- Put the loud, obnoxious, stumbling around party days behind you and host one adult style dinner party this spring.4. Furniturize- Filter some of your extra income into furniture improvements. Stop using empty boxes as end tables and splurge a little on something nice!3. The Gym Is FREE- If your apartments have a gym, what is your excuse?!?! Spend three hours a week in the gym. Hit the elliptical on level 4 for 30 minutes and do some light free weight exercise for 30…Do that three days a week and you can guarantee to see a difference!2. Out with the Old- Dig through your attic and closet to find all of the old clothes, toys, and junk that you don’t need anymore, but someone else could get some use for and DONATE it! You’ll free up space and help people out!1. Make Hunting Easy- If you are apartment hunting this year or know anyone who is…use us! It will make your apartment hunt easier and fun! And you also may have the chance to win $102 if the community you sign with is participating in our program.

So there you have 10 great resolution for the New Years! I hope you have a very fun and SAFE night tonight and get to relax tomorrow because with the new year comes new responsibility, new adventure, and a whole rush of stuff to take care of!

For more info on apartments, check out: ApartmentHomeLiving.com

President Abraham Lincoln lived in Illinois for 17 years. He only left the place when he became the President of a country on the brink of the infamous civil war. Frances Elizabeth Willard of Illinois was also the prime mover for the women’s fight for the right of suffrage. Illinois (Springfield) was the site where U.S. Grant first gathered troops for the Civil War. A colorful history places Illinois among the places to see in America. For the kids and the not-so-young at heart, the home of Superman exists in Metropolis, Illinois.
Geography
Located along the north-central of the U.S. Illinois is bounded on the north by Wisconsin, Iowa and Missouri on the west. Kentucky takes up the southern border and Indiana in the east. The Mississippi River almost takes up the western boundary.
Industry
The ideal location of Illinois gave way to the installation of first rate transportation infrastructure and world class educational centers. Illinois promises to be a good place to do business. Illinois is into warehousing, manufacturing, agriculture, banking, food, and chemicals. Industries also concentrate on fabricated metals, computers, electronics, plastics and rubber. Transportation equipments are also manufactured in Illinois.
Technology and Infrastructure
144 university-based research centers
71 federal research centers
Argonne National Laboratory is a leading federal laboratory prioritizing in technology and biotechnology
Finance
Illinois leads in the financial industry. It is the site of over 2,300 commercial banks. It has 2,000 insurance carriers, and 175 insurance carriers. The state has the financial capability of providing capital funding for commercial and industrial development.
Agriculture
Corn is the major agricultural produce of the state. This is followed by soybeans and feed grains. Illinois is the top five producers of swine in America. Livestock, dairy and poultry are also major income generating resources.
Education
Illinois offers a choice of schools and universities. These offer varied programs from four-year programs to associate degrees. There are also online schools made available to interested students.
Sights to see
Donley’s Wild West Town (Addison) – a recreated mining operation where you can watch the shows and get a ride on the C.P. Huntington Locomotive
American Indian Burial Grounds (Albany) – The burial mounds are recognized as historic sites
Mississippi River (Albany) – The river made famous by Mark Twain. The river is one of America’s largest river systems
Alto Vineyards (Alto) – Red and white wines can be sampled on site
Snowstar Winter Sports Park (Andalusia) – Skiing pleasure and fun
Arlington Park (Arlington) – Thoroughbred racing
The Creole House (Prairie du Rucher) – See the French creole house built in 1800 and experience the lifestyle of the past
lllinois Waterway Visitor Center and Museum – Watch towboats along the Illinois River. The center provides learning tours about the locks and dams controlling the water flow along the Illinois & Michigan Canal.
Illinois Real Estate
An Illinois real estate is patronized by many. Of course the reason for this is obvious. And that is because an Illinois real estate is near to all the good things that can only be found in Illinois, such as tourists attractions, excellent education, agriculture, technological, and industrial facilities.

Living on the third floor at your apartment can at times be frustrating…especially when you are trying to lug groceries or furniture up three flights of stairs. However, as frustrating as it may be from time to time, there are some really great bonuses to living on the top floor. 1) No above neighbors- You will never have any upstairs neighbors pounding on the ground and bothering you with noise. If you start hearing noises above you, it could only be either thunder or some really big squirrels. You also don’t have to worry about an upstairs neighbor dumping liquid or a cooler full of ice over the balcony passed your balcony. 2) Best Views- Looking out of your windows or going out on your balcony from the third floor can provide you with some of the best views in the community. How can you beat that? 3) Further Away From Car Noise- Up high, you are further away from the parking lot and the cars passing back and forth. This helps you isolate yourself away from the noise as well and things are a little quieter.4) Harder For Crime- It may also be more difficult for a burglar to break in to your apartment through the windows on a higher floor unless they are good at scaling walls. They also would be less prone to take things out of your place because they would have so far to lug that stuff.5) Work Out- The best bright side of all is that you get a little more of a work out and burn more calories than you would in a downstairs apartment just by simply going to and from your place. (This is no way to get fully in shape, but every little bit helps)

So there you have the top 5 reasons that living on the top floor in your apartment building is a really awesome thing. Enjoy it! Relish it! Remember to live for fun!

Extra Tip: Keep a big brown box broken down in your trunk that you can put together and use to bring your groceries up in bulk and in one trip!

For more tips on apartment living and getting the most out of the apartment lifestyle, check out ApartmentHomeLiving.com

The real estate business has a lot of ins and outs that are fairly unique, and your company policy should be specific to those needs. Here is a list – by no means complete – that should be able to get you started in creating an effective policy manual.


Forms:

Your policy manual should include a form that your staff can read and sign acknowledging that they have read, understand, and will abide by the rules and policies that are included in the manual.

Basic Procedures:

Here is where you can get into the nitty-gritty,and set the standard for the future of how you would like to see your business operated. You can include policies on how offers are to be presented, how and when paperwork is to be delivered, as well as what your system is for managing lockboxes, keys, disclosure paperwork, and open houses. You can also include subsections on how performance reviews will be conducted, to what extent your sales force will be insured against liability, and set a policy for client and listing retention when sales people leave for other opportunities.

Communication:

Here you can set clear boundaries on how you, your agents, and you clients communicate. When it comes to email, you can make sure that all of your sales staff know what the rules and regulations are regarding spam and unsolicited telephone contact of potential clients, as well as how you would, and would not, like to see your company’s name and logo used. This would also be a good place to mandate certain aspects of computer security, both internet and interoffice.

Various Expenses:

Here is where you want to make clear whether it is you or your sales force who is responsible for various overhead expenses, including telephone bills, photocopying, and other related costs. You should also make clear in this section whose responsibility it is to pay dues, fees, and costs for evening education and seminars.

Commissions, Fees, and Legal Help:

Another place to get to the nitty-gritty in order to prevent future disputes. You should include bonuses, splits, referrals, and your plan for conflict resolution in the case of disputes. If your sales force is made up of independent contractors, here is where you clearly state that fact, including making it clear that they will be compensated solely via commissions, and that the contractor agrees to conduct business according to your company policies and also, of course, according to state and local laws. It might also be a good idea to have them sign a waiver protecting you from as much future litigation as is possible, as well as any other claims against them. In some cases you will, of course, make legal help available members of your sales force. Here is where you state how and to what extent.

Ethics and Complaints.

It would be a great idea to provide all of your staff with both a printed copy NAR’s code of ethics, as well as a link to the PDF version on their website. They should also have a clear and stated method of filing an ethics complaint without repercussions.

Spring is here in full swing and other than the allergies, everything should be rocking around your apartment. People are out walking their dogs, picnics and barbecues are starting to happen more frequently, and you will slowly see folks sunbathing at the community pool.

As we dive into spring with all of our might and head towards summer, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, you might have done a number of things around your apartment to get yourself braced for the cold of winter. The time has come to change things back to the way they were before that.Stop Using the Flannel Sheets- You can put away your flannel sheets, thick down comforter, and the extra blankets that you have had on top of the couch. Hopefully your apartment has a little extra storage either in your master, entry, or patio closet to store these things.Heater- Pop open the windows and let the fresh spring air in. Turn off the central heat and put away and store the space heaters. Make sure that you wipe all dust off of the space heaters before you store them in a clean DRY place off of the ground. Flowers- Spring not only brings showers, but it also brings flowers. Guys, whether it’s your girlfriend, wife, fiance, sister, mother, best friend, etc, be sure to take the ladies of your lives flowers to decorate their apartments. Ladies, I wouldn’t sit around waiting for guys to bring them, go out and pick some up and add a ton of color to your place with spring flowers. And guys, you could decorate with flowers too…It would impress the ladies and you’d look more sophisticated.Other Plants- If you had moved your plants inside during the winter, you can start taking them back out on the porch for some spring sun. They’ll enjoy it, but make sure to water them too. I neglected a small potted plant that I had on my desk at work once….I’ll never do it again…\Pool- The community pool may soon become bustling with activity. Remember to keep in mind that you are sharing this pool with other people and families so be respectful of others. Try not to splash the sunbathers and clean up after yourself.

So enjoy spring around your apartment. Get outside and soak up the sun.

Want to find a cool new apartment? Visit ApartmentHomeLiving.com