Appointments – Manage Your Time Better At Home to Be Effective

What would happen to you if your home life was more organized than it is right now? Can work-life balance be achieved? What are the tools at our disposal? Could scheduling appointments and keeping them at home help us save time and prioritize?

What is the challenge we face? I sometimes find that time spent at home can be the busiest time, especially in the times we live in. Imagine someone working from home, home-schooling children, and sometimes even doing a side hustle. Imagine also the full-time home-based entrepreneur. How do they manage to do all they need to do in a day?. We are living in a time when many entrepreneurs and even company employees have adopted work- at – home culture. This comes with its challenges as the lines become blurred between home and work. These blurred lines and constraints on the limited resource called time result in over-worked, under-rested, burnt-out individuals. Whilst good time management has been encouraged and indeed, embraced in the workplace, I believe more needs to be done in changing the mindset for the elusive work-life balance to be achieved.

What are the tools at our disposal? To manage time effectively at home, there are many interventions one can employ including setting goals for the day, prioritizing wisely, setting a time limit for every task, organizing oneself, and instituting the discipline of appointments. Yes, an appointment at home! We can spend time pontificating on the pros and cons of each intervention, however, I believe we need to focus on appointments and see how this can powerfully change the course of one’s day regardless of whether it’s a workday or weekend. Life is busy as it is without any intrusions. The question is how do you handle the one who announces that they are at the gate. These can be friends, neighbors, a salesman of some product you do not even need. I am not promoting regimentation here but rather a culture of filling your day with what’s important. Everything that we succeed at is because we carefully plan and execute it. I am a firm believer that you cannot manage time if you do not manage yourself thus I implore you to incorporate planning and appointments into your repertoire. I am not talking about something I do not do. I have to achieve many things in a day therefore I set appointments with my work, others, and myself.

Could scheduling appointments and keeping them on the home front help us save time and prioritize? Whereas we have established that it is a normal business practice to set appointments and keep them, we need to abandon the liberal open-door policy of allowing all and sundry to have access to us as and when they please on the home front. Please understand where I am coming from. We each have greatness within us but for us to achieve it we need to culture great habits. Employing the use of appointments at home and seeing only those people you had agreed to see removes non-essential encounters especially during the most productive hours. I know this will vary with culture, geographical region, or even level of affluence, whether you live in a low density or high-density residential area, but doesn’t negate the need to be organized and effective. Controlling access determines how organized you are and how well you will work and rest when the time for scheduled rest comes.

What do we need to do differently? We need to be disciplined and diligent, learn to say no, now is not a good time, let’s make an appointment for next week. What are the benefits of this approach? You are not always fire-fighting to meet deadlines, You are not always tired because you have not taken time out to rest. You have set aside enough time to spend with your loved ones or a loved one. If you are a busy person, I am sure you appreciate what I am saying. Whether it’s time to work uninterrupted, family time, or “me-time”, it takes some kind of order to enjoy it.

I am not saying that those that come unannounced are bad people. No, not at all, they probably are people you enjoy spending time with. Nevertheless, there must be prior communication so that you can attend to your visitor(s) when it is convenient for both you and them. It can be quite disrupting and a whole day can just pass by without achieving anything that you had planned to do.

As we grow older we begin to appreciate that rest and recovery need to be scheduled. The fact that I am relaxing doesn’t mean that I don’t have anything to do. One therefore cannot assume that just because you are at home you are available. Maybe you have scheduled that time to rest. That is important. You need to make an appointment with yourself, spouses need to also set aside time for each other. Parents need to schedule a time to spend with their children. When you have some sort of order in your life you determine who sees you and who you see. It also means that your relationships will be healthy and that makes you a happier person.

In conclusion, I believe that the work-life balance can be achieved. There are many tools at our disposal just like it is in the workplace.I believe we could do more and be happier if we are disciplined enough to make only the commitments we can keep.I am certain that setting appointments and keeping them at home help us save time and prioritize.

Real Estate Investment Clubs

The real estate investment clubs provide tremendous resources for both beginners and experienced real estate investors. The real estate investment club is a place to meet and network with other investors. Patient and skillful application of investment knowledge and information is required for a successful real estate investing. For success in real estate, there should be a combination of the power of investing knowledge and the power of market information. A real estate investment club through its thoroughly researched real estate investment ideas can arm you with all the necessary information to invest wisely in real estate.

As the competition in the field of real estate are high, Real estate investors need to keep themselves updated constantly on the new trends and developments in real estate investment. There can be new laws and taxes governing real estate. All this is hard to maintain if you are not a full time real estate investor. A real estate investment club is then the ideal place for you. All issues regarding real estate investment can be discussed and sorted out through the medium of real estate investment clubs. Being a part of an experienced and efficient real estate investment club in itself should form a part of the strategy to become a successful real estate investor.

Details regarding all other aspects of investments related to real estate like mortgage investments can be discussed in real estate investment clubs. The real estate club members bring out several publications to guide real estate and home buyers. Most real estate club members also provide information through Internet. Today, there are several different real estate software programs available in the market to help real estate investors. Before selecting software, you can discuss it with your real estate club members as some of them might have already used it and have opinions on it. A good real estate investment club can act as a good forum to clear all your doubts regarding real estate investment.

Will Serviced Apartments Become the Norm for the Businessmen and Travelling Families to Asia?

The concept of a furnished apartment with cleaning services is nothing new, but over the past decade or so the serviced apartment with its superior features and lower costs have become increasingly more luxurious and sophisticated, particularly in Asia.

The serviced apartment is definitely catching on as there are a wide range of luxury serviced apartments in Asia at discounted prices. You can easily browse the internet to compare room rates for a selection of the best locations.

Serviced Apartments are designed for short-, medium- and long-term stay residents, for the individual or family that want high quality of living, with the choice of rooms ranging from studio up to large 3-bedroom deluxe apartments.

Serviced Apartments are ideal for people who enjoy catering for themselves and having their own space.

Particularly in Bangkok, there is high proportion of expatriate personnel and the population is very transient. The demographics of this lends itself well to serviced apartments. Staying in a serviced apartment gives you total freedom to work, entertain, cook, sleep and relax as you would in your own home, without the feeling of being in a hotel room.

Choosing a serviced apartment allows you to easily choose a suitable location, in the heart of the major cities of Asia, with a broad range of services, such as broadband internet, fully-equipped kitchens, private parking, international cable and plasma screen televisions, maid service and room service, daily cleaning and linen services, international cuisine, a large pool, health club and lounge and much more, all within a relaxing and elegant environment.

One fine example is the The Ascott, a five-star serviced apartment in Sathorn, Bangkok’s central business district. Here they offer luxurious and spacious private apartments complemented with comprehensive services and facilities. This residence is Bangkok’s leading luxury serviced residence and is ideal for corporate housing with the convenience of being located in the capital’s business and commercial district.

In summary, demand for luxurious living is improving every year and is predicted to reach even higher growth in the years to come.

Lavishness Apartments in Hyderabad

These days Hyderabad housing real estate is recognized for its gigantic lavishness apartments. This city is thriving well with its prosperous financial system and attention of NRI. Property developers are set free innovative ideas and thoughts to build more luxury apartments in Hyderabad.

Hyderabad’s lavishness apartments are planned by notorious designers and architects. They go after some magnificent themes like Italian structural design or Spanish fashion apartments or something new which actually pull towards you to Hyderabad.  These apartments may be little more costly than other simple apartments. But if you are looking for something unique with much more luxury, then this plan is for you.

In the meantime the builders are send-off no stone turned to draw attention of HNI, and NRI investors engrossed in Hyderabad apartments. For an example, these are completely Vastu acquiescent lavishness apartments. These sumptuousness apartment houses in Hyderabad are premeditated with zero error so it can easily draw the attention of people.

For now, most of the real estate projects in Hyderabad are developing border areas such as Kompally and Kondapur. Developers are looking for that kind of area which has massive amount of land that is on hand in these areas and also the cost of land is much low than others.

It is the golden chance for you if you want a residential apartment in this area. If you are interested, then don’t delay as because of the low price which you will never get. As the demand will increase, the rate will also add to parallel. So, fix your mind and take the decision.

So, if you have money and you are thinking for a luxurious apartment, then why stop yourself. Because golden chance come once not often.

Loft Atlanta Apartments

Being one of the fastest growing cities in the United States, Atlanta has been witnessing a boom in the apartment community market. Several new apartments, condos, and lofts are coming up not only in the suburbs but in mid-town and downtown areas as well. Already, there are more than 1500 apartment complexes in Atlanta and this number keeps increasing virtually by the day.

Many of Atlanta’s lofts and condos are brand-new buildings, while others choose to embellish upon a historic industrial building. All of them are available with a package of attractive amenities, convenient locations, and breathtaking views of the city.

One of Atlanta’s well- known loft communities is in the downtown area. Fulton Cotton Mill Lofts is a nine-building complex that contains over 500 lofts, with over 60 floor plans. Lofts at Muses in the Fairlie-Poplar district contains seven buildings and 65 lofts. Kessler City Lofts and Renaissance Lofts are the other lofts quite well-known in this area. Most of these are rentals only with restrictions on pets.

In mid-town Atlanta, Glen Iris Lofts is a two-phase development that offers spacious floor plans and modern amenities. Containing 100 units, Ponce Springs Lofts is a new mixed-use development that includes an upscale restaurant called Repast.

In Buckhead, Buckhead Village Lofts offers a two-story lobby, speedy elevators, rooftop terrace, as well as a fitness center.

In-town Atlanta also features many housing options. Block Lofts rental units offer high ceilings, contemporary lighting, and more than ten spacious floor plans. Coming up soon is another one called Inman Park Village Lofts. Ice House Lofts, converted from the Atlantic Star Ice & Coal Company contains a great restaurant, Carpe Diem Cafe. Both Bass Lofts and Telephone Factory Lofts offer rentals only and provide various amenities like digital satellite television and T-1 Internet access.

The Booming Apartment Market

If you own apartment real estate in Dallas, then this is a great time for you. According to statistics, rental units are in incredibly high demand right now. In fact, research shows that the market looks better than it has in nearly a decade. The last time units were this full was 2000. This good news can’t come soon enough after the impressive hits to the real estate market caused by the recession in recent years. North Texas rentals showed a net decline for both 2008 and 2009, after all. Now, suddenly, they’ve recovered and even risen.

The Source of the Boom

Experts say that the foreclosure market is in large part responsible for this newly active rental market. People who were buying homes are no longer doing so and those who lost their homes to foreclosure are not in a position to buy new ones either. This leaves most people with the option of apartment rentals. These renters as a group represent an additional net demand for Dallas apartments. At last count, the market showed a ninety one percent total occupancy and even in the last quarter of 2010, an additional 470 Dallas apartments were rented to new tenants.

The Consequences of the Boom

This boom in the apartment market has had an important effect on the Dallas area. To begin with, it has revitalized interest in the sale and construction of apartment real estate. In the last year 10, 753 new apartment units were built. Insiders say that we can expect that number to rise in 2011. Of course this boom in rentals will also have an effect on potential renters themselves. You can see it already in statistics that show turnover rates are at historic lows. People do not want to give up their apartments without good reason. As the demand rises, so too will the difficulty involved in finding an appropriate unit.

Houston Commercial Real Estate

The real estate business is classified into two distinct categories, namely, residential and commercial real estate. Certain residential properties may not be the primary living quarters of owners and can be used to generate a source of regular income through rentals. Such property is referred to as investment property, but is primarily a residential complex. Houston commercial real estate revolves around the sale, purchase, lease, and rentals of property used for trade and business. This includes a wide range of business properties, such as shopping centers, gas stations, hotels, and office buildings.

The Houston commercial real estate market is enormous and enlists a wide range of feasible properties. Commercial properties acquire their title when they are used for business purposes. They include land as well as anything that is permanently built or fixed within the property, including cottages, buildings, and fences. Pipes, plumbing, heating devices and light fixtures, which are inbuilt or fixed on the exterior of buildings are taken into consideration during Houston commercial real estate appraisals. Houston commercial real estate dealings prove to be profitable for brokers and companies. This is because agents earn asset percentage of the deal proceedings as their service charges. Since commercial real estate provides a return on investment over a period of time and not instantaneously, clients need not rush into a deal. In order to guarantee profitability in the long run, it is advisable to find a Houston commercial real estate property that is feasible and boosts trade.

When considering Houston real estate property price points, clients are not likely to find consistent rates. This is because commercial real estate prices are dependent upon global recession, as well as on local factors and reigning price points of neighboring property. Localities that are reputed as “commercially profitable” are higher price commitments as compared to others located in developing areas.

Real Estate Investment Financing

Real estate investment financing is a better option than the traditional residential real estate mortgages. The financing in this sector is done mainly by borrowing money as it is more lucrative than investing one’s own money in a single real estate. Real estate investment is a great possibility for many people to gain equity and to generate cash flow and due to this, demand for commercial real estate investment financing is increasing day by day. The real estate investments include homebuilder stocks, real estate mutual funds and real estate investment trusts (REITs).

A real estate investor can get around 98 percent financing for his investments. Even, cent percent financing is available. Zero down real estate investment financing is a fully documented loan which is provided to a single family, townhouse, or condominium. The only requirement for this program is excellent credit. It is now available at reasonable rates. For investment properties, limited and no documentation loans are also available.

Many companies are providing financing for the real estate investments. Most of the business concerns are allowing a maximum of 5 to 6 new rental property mortgages yearly. These companies provide low interest rates and quick close available (48 hours) options to the investors. For a reliable and stable financing, short term and interim financing loans are available. It is hard for a person to get real estate investment financing for more than six properties in a single year. In this situation, sellers financing is the best alternative for achieving the maximum leverage of the investment.

There are various real estate investor financing books available in the market from where one gets rich information about the financing methods. Other means through which one gets ample information about the real estate investor financing are courses, books, tapes, software and services. Before trying a real estate investment financing, make sure that the banks are regulated by the federal government and are capable enough to underwrite conforming loans.

Large Dogs in Small Apartments

As the mom of a 75 lb Rhodesian Ridgeback mix, I’m constantly hearing about how big my dog is. To me, he’s just “Cooper,” a part of my family, and will be moving with me regardless of where I land. Then we moved from a town requiring a 45-minute commute to get work done (hello carbon emissions) to a swanky new apartment in an exciting suburban city, Birmingham, MI.

This meant our big space became a small (albeit gorgeous) space. With this move, Cooper’s backyard was nixed for a bit of a new lifestyle. I’ve compiled six must-do’s for keeping our big dogs happy and healthy even in the smallest abodes!

  1. Make the small walks with your dog count. Getting the mail is an opportunity to stretch. In fact, take the long route. Think of it the same way you might a store-park in the back and get the extra steps in.
  2. Give your dog (or her) his own space. Even his small bed is a place to call his own. It’ll make him feel more at home.
  3. Chose an apartment complex with a courtyard. City life doesn’t often offer a backyard or park across the street. Even if it did, you wouldn’t be as inclined to visit as you would if it were literally outside of your door. I chose an apartment complex with an almost completely enclosed courtyard, which allows Cooper running space to fetch a ball. (Thankfully Cooper’s recall trained. Never let an unleashed dog run without this critical skill.)
  4. Chose a first floor apartment. Early mornings are early. Don’t fool yourself. Keep slippers by the door and eliminate falling down stairs before breakfast.
  5. Play tug. Tug games don’t require much space and can wear your big dog out without giving you frostbite (or sunburn if you’re not here in the North).
  6. Keep chewies around. Though there’s some controversy regarding rawhides, makes sure to keep the chewable toys around for restless moments. You’ll avoid losing your favorite shoes and keep your dog-human relationship happier.

Denver Real Estate For Sale

Denver streets are lined with beautiful homes for sale. There are charming little retreats, family homes, vacation homes, vast country estates and small cabins. Whatever your preference, there’s Denver real estate property perfect for you and your family.

Denver communities

Denver Metro has about 42 municipalities and 7 counties with several neighboring mountain and valley districts. Each of these areas offers a unique living experience. The city of Denver has more than twenty exceptional neighborhoods. There are also beautiful real estate properties in the surrounding Englewood, Lakewood, Arvada, Broomfield, Greenwood Village, Centennial, Littleton, Highlands Ranch, Castle Rock, Parker, Thornton, Wheatridge, Aurora, Lafayette, Brighton, Boulder, Superior, Westminster, Northglenn, Golden, Cherry Hills Village and Evergreen to name just a few.

Denver’s population is very diverse, with a healthy mix of singles, families and senior citizens. This is why Denver has facilities for everybody – restaurants that cater to all ages and tastes, different churches representing different faiths and different recreational facilities. Denver also has a bustling nightlife and plenty of casinos. You’ll never run out of places to go to when you feel like having fun.

Remember that the cost comparisons, infrastructures, amenities and available properties vary in different areas, so do your research before deciding what area to buy real estate in.

New real estate projects across Denver

Real estate is booming in Denver, and more and more real estate developments are being built. Aside from the many existing properties in the Denver area, there is also a very active market for new properties. The population in Denver is ever-growing, so developers are offering new projects for all kinds of buyers. You can choose to have your home constructed instead of buying existing Denver real estate properties . This way, you can get involved in just about every aspect of your home’s look and feel.