What makes an opportunity P.E.R.F.E.C.T.? There are 7 key requirements for a home business to qualify as being “PERFECT”. Each letter in the word PERFECT stands for one of the 7 keys. In the first three articles in this series, we learned that the “P” in PERFECT stands for “Profitable”, that the first “E” in PERFECT means “Easy”, and that the “R” stands for “Real”.Key Number Four-The “F” in PERFECT stands for “Fits With Your Desired Lifestyle”. What lifestyle do you want to live? Many people who want to start a home business want “FREEDOM”. Freedom to do what they want, where they want, and when they want. Don’t start a business that fights head on with the lifestyle you desire. A PERFECT home based business will not only fit with your dream lifestyle, it will even help you achieve that lifestyle.”Fits With Your Desired Lifestyle” means:•Something that you love or are passionate about. Too many people do work they hate, just to make a living. You’ll have a much happier lifestyle if the core products and activities of your home business mesh with something you have a passion for and love. There’s that passion thing again:-).•Leverages your creativity. A PERFECT home based business allows you to do something once and get paid over and over again for the initial effort. Don’t exchange one hour of your time for one hour’s pay (don’t be a wage slave like just about everybody else).•Can be operated from anywhere in the world and from home. No more long commutes. Hey, my commute is 30 seconds…from my bedroom to my home office. Decide where you want to live and then work from there. All you need is electricity, a phone line or cell phone network, a computer and an internet connection.•No employees are required (but you could and should use independent contractors, or outsource some of the work). Avoid all the hassle of having employees. A PERFECT home based business can be run by just you, or you and your spouse if you would like.•Helps a lot of people. If this is not part of your desired lifestyle, it should be, because the more people you help, the more money you will make.•Time required to build the business to an acceptable profit potential is not long (less than 6 months desired).Who wants to work on their business for two or three years before it becomes profitable? Most people couldn’t afford to do that. Yes, it might take a year or more for your business to reach its full potential. But, there are tricks of the trade that can make it much more likely you will see an exciting level of profit within 6 months (you will not “get rich quick”; sorry, but that is reality…don’t quit your day job quite yet).•Low initial investment required (less than $1,000 preferred). Many people don’t have the $5,000, or $25,000, or more needed to start some home based businesses. There’s no need to sell your firstborn or mortgage your house to get your business started.•Product(s) that you have control of (you are the gate keeper, which means you created the product, or have the exclusive right to market it). If you control the product, you can build a sales force of hundreds or thousands of affiliates that will grow your business for you even while you’re on vacation. They will market your product for you for a share of the profits.Even if you don’t yet have your own product, you can get started quickly by selling other people’s products as an affiliate for them. But, it is still best to eventually create your own products.•Enables you to earn enough money to become financially free. Decide for yourself how much you need to be “financially free”. Whether that’s an extra $500 or $1,000 a month, or $100,000 per year or more, your business needs to have the potential to earn that.•Enables you to have free time because it requires less than 20 hours per week after the initial set up period. Spend your free time with your family, on your favorite activities, or use it to start and build another business.•The business is aligned with how I understand God would want it to be. This is a personal requirement for my business and lifestyle. It means that my business must provide real value, must benefit people, and must be legal, ethical and honest. If you make sure your home based business does this as well, whatever your views about God, you will be miles ahead of all the scams and quick buck artists that are all too common.It’s all starting to come together now. A PERFECT Home Based Business must FIT WITH YOUR DESIRED LIFESTYLE. And, it must be PROFITABLE, EASY, and REAL. Still with me? Good. More to come in the rest of this article series.Read the other articles in this series, or Click Here For Your Free Report: Discover The PERFECT Home Business.
Home Based Small Business: How to Start a Home Based Business
Home based small business is a nice idea especially if you do not want to work in a traditional office scenario. This type of business is also ideal for anyone who doesn’t have the capital to start a business. Most of the home based businesses have no startup costs. They offer you a flexible working environment while helping you achieve your dreams. Still, there are things you need to consider when planning to have a business right at the comfort of your home.Decide what business you would like to start. You can choose a business that sells a service or a business that sells a product. Each of these two has its pros and cons. Make sure that the home based small business that you choose fits your needs. Most of the time, service businesses don’t require start-up costs. These services will include graphic designing, computer programming, accounting, and copy writing. They are ideal if you do not have a college degree. But when selecting a business idea, you have to be creative. So, apart from putting up a daycare center or pet care service, you can also look for opportunities online. The opportunities offered over the Internet do not require a startup cost. As long as you have a decent Internet connection and your own computer, you will be ready to start your own home based small business online.Find resources you need. If you want an online business, then the things that you will need are computer and Internet connection. You may also need a desk where you can work on. You should also gather your friends and family and talk about your business. You can ask them to disseminate information about your business to their friends. In this way, you do not need to invest more money on advertising.Whatever type of home based small business you choose, you should always develop a regular work schedule. Although it offers flexible time, you still need to work hard to bring in more customers. Your workspace should also be a place where there are no distractions. Therefore, it is recommended that you come up with an organized workspace to help you think better while working at home.Having a business at home can be overwhelming at first. You may experience lack of organization and focus at times. However, if you have a designated workspace, your home based small business can be run in an organized manner and free from any distractions. You can have a sense of organization each day. Do not allow your family and friends to disturb you during your work hours. And do not be tempted to engage in activities that have nothing to do with your work.
Real Estate Auctions – The New Land Rush
On a sunny afternoon in Florida, an energetic crowd gathers on the lawn of a high end luxury estate. A loud and eager banter between an auctioneer, a group of bidders and bidder assistants fills the air. For several minutes the auctioneer asks for the next highest bid and the bidders respond. Suddenly the bidders grow silent. The high bidder holds his breath in anticipation of winning the auction. The auctioneer calls for one more bid. In a loud clear voice which rolls over the audience he says, “Fair warning, last chance” the auctioneer pauses, “SOLD!” And in less than 10 minutes another multimillion dollar estate has changed owners.
Successful real estate auctions like the one above are happening all over North America and the Caribbean. Recently real estate auctions have been on the rise, the increase in popularity is partly driven by growing inventories and fading buyer confidence. Properties that were selling in weeks using traditional methods are now languishing on the market unable to attract buyers even as seller’s lower prices. Many say the real estate boom is over but savvy buyers and sellers are profiting from real estate auctions.
Real Estate Auctions Work in Up or Down Markets.
Regardless of trends or market cycles, real estate auctions provide an open and transparent process for buyers and sellers. Properly conducted real estate auctions attract ready and willing buyers and motivate them to act now.
The auction method removes the “wait and see” attitude which serves to further depress real estate values. Buyers are always concerned about overpaying. Buyers gain confidence with their purchases at real estate auctions because they can see what others are willing to pay.
When market demand is high and inventories low, real estate auctions can deliver selling prices well above what a willing seller would have accepted in a negotiated private treaty sale. In good selling climates many property owners using traditional real estate methods; negotiating with one buyer at a time, leave thousands of dollars of equity on the table. During up markets real estate auctions are the best way to establish top market price.
Evaluating Your Real Estate for Auction
Not every property or seller for that matter makes a good candidate for auction. First of all sellers must be ready to sell now and for the current market value. Also a real estate auction will not fix problems caused by a downturn in market value of your property, if you owe more than a willing buyer will pay, be prepared to come to closing with your check book.
Properties that do well in real estate auctions have a high uniqueness factor. Ask your self, “What makes my property different from most others?” Maybe you own a resort property or high end luxury home, commercial properties and land do very well at auction. Real estate auctions thrive on uniqueness. If your property is like everyone else’s, the best thing you can do is offer the most competitive price.
Most importantly sellers must be reasonable about setting a minimum bid. A seller must look at the lowest, most current comps and price below that to generate the interest and urgency necessary for a successful real estate auction. Once the auction begins and qualified bidders start competing against one another you can watch the selling price increase.
Locate a Qualified Real Estate Auctioneer
Start by checking with the National Auctioneers Association, the best real estate auctioneers belong to this organization. These real estate auctioneers are well trained and adhere to a standard of practice and a code of ethics. Many attend the annual International Auctioneers Conference where the latest techniques and innovations in the real estate auction industry are presented.
Find out if the company you are interviewing is a full time real estate auction firm. Many real estate agents are getting auction licenses yet have no experience with the auction method of marketing. Conducting a successful real estate auction is nothing like (private treaty) traditional real estate sales. Go with a real estate auction pro.
You’re probably better of with an auction house that specializes in real estate auctions. There are many qualified auctioneers who have generations of experience selling personal property; furniture, dishes, lawn equipment and the occasional rare painting. Selling real estate at auction is a complex matter that should only be attempted by full time experienced real estate auction professionals.
Commissions and fees may vary, sellers must pay all marketing expenses up front and buyers typically pay 10% of the sales price to the auctioneer of which a share goes to participating real estate agents.
Types of Real Estate Auctions
Auctions are effective because they create a seller’s market. Professionally conducted real estate auctions create urgency, a reason to buy today and competition for the property. Terms and conditions of sale are established ahead of the auction. Real estate auctions will follow one of these three approaches:
Absolute Auction
The property is sold to the highest bidder regardless of price- using this process often returns the highest sale price.
Minimum Bid Auction
Seller agrees to sell at or above a published minimum bid price – this method is useful for internet auctions.
Seller Confirmation or Reserve Auction
With a reserve auction, the seller “reserves” the right to accept or decline any bids usually within 48 hours of the auction. Reserve auctions are used when there is a lien on the property from a lender or a court ordered sale with a minimum selling price.