Presenteeism: The Hidden Costs of Business

(prez.un.TEE.iz.um) n

Presenteeism, a relatively unknown concept, is the complement of Absenteeism. It is defined as the measure of lost productivity cost due to employees actually showing up for work, but not being fully engaged and productive mainly because of personal health and life issue distractions. Currently, Presenteeism is estimated to be up to 7 ½ times more costly to employers than absenteeism. (1)

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Statistically, Presenteeism rears its ugly head and shows itself for what it really is... a costly, somewhat unseen threat to employers. It is considered a threat because of its stealthy nature. The term itself is new, only recently added to our language. Considering the following alarming statistics, your business may be in danger.

Presenteeism: The Hidden Costs of Business

o Presenteeism accounts for 61% of an employees total lost productivity and medical costs. (4)

o Presenteeism costs employers an estimated 00/yr/employee. (10)

o Employees working at diminished capacity cost employers 0 Billion/yr. (8)

o 42% of employees anticipate elder care issues over the next five years. (2)

o 37% of employees with current elder care issues have lost work time per week, a total of (11) hours/wk spent. (2)

o On average, employees spent about 8 hours over the previous two-weeks off work, related to giving care. Some of that was paid, such as sick leave or vacation time, and some was unpaid. (5)

o One of the most commonly requested resources from EAP's are legal services to cover estate planning, family law, divorce, real estate, bankruptcy and other non-workplace issues, accounting for 60-70% of all EAP requests from employees. (2)

o 64% of unscheduled absences are due to family issues 22%, personal needs 18%, an entitlement mentality 13% and stress11%. (9)

o 30% of employees come to work at least 5 days when they are too distracted to be effective. 28% of workers took time off for care giving and 25% took at least 1 hour/day to deal with personal issues. (7)

o Costs of absenteeism have risen from 0/employee/year in 2000 to an average of 9 per employee in 2002. (6)

o Of all of the expenses related to absence, unscheduled time off has the biggest impact on productivity, profitability and morale. (9)

o 49% of employees lose productivity at a rate of 1 hour or more/day due to stress, 40% lose 1-2 days/yr, 37% lose 3-6 days/yr, and 23% lose more than 6 days/yr of productivity due to stress. 44% of employees come to work 1-4 days/yr when too stressed to be effective, 19% of employees come to work more than 6 days/yr when too stressed to be effective. (3)

o 68% of employees take frequent "stress breaks" at work to talk with others. (7)

So, what can be done? Some will argue "Do nothing" and it will work itself out, after all, these issues have been a part of employee/employer relations for years. While that may be somewhat true, the actual associated costs of Presenteeism are rising, usually without the conscious knowledge of the employer. Those "hide your head in the sand" approaches to business operation usually spell d-o-o-m. Ignorance concerning any threatening, growing, unrealized operational problem will indeed be costly.

Potential Solutions: Employers must begin to encourage sick or distraught workers to stay home and get appropriate medical or professional attention before returning to work. Consider funding or partially funding an on-site day-care facility. There are many successful models to emulate. Consider expanding or modifying personal leave policies to better aid employees. Expand EAP programs to offer additional employee assistance in a wide range of emotional and family issues. This also has the unseen benefit of enhancing goodwill and demonstrating to employees that their employer cares about their concerns. While these actions may appear to be costly, they are actually an investment in your business.

Awareness is the key, the origin, the beginning of finding solutions. Study your operations in light of the previous statistics. Take actions to prepare for these inevitable situations and build their associated costs into your business model, rather than being caught by surprise at the end of the fiscal year with drastically reduced profit margins without a reasonable explanation. Smart business persons will become aware of the costs of Presenteeism and take action up-front to protect their business.

Bibliography and References:

1999 study by The Employers Health Coalition of Tampa, FL Risk and Insurance, March, 2004 Business Legal Resources, April 24, 2003 New Cornell University study, published in April 2004 of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. A study of 375,000 employees over a 3-year period Recent BankOne survey of employees Dee W. Edington PhD, Director, Univ. of Michigan Health Mgmt Research Center Elevated Stress Levels Lead to Presenteeism, by Richard Chaifetz, CEO of ComPsych, provider of EAP programs Bulletin to Management, 12/5/2002, BNA Professional Information Center Braun Consulting News, 2003 CCH Unscheduled Absence, Business Insurance July, 2000, and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Cigna Behavioral Health, April 26, 2004

Presenteeism: The Hidden Costs of Business

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What Are Escrow Fees

Basics

The escrow company usually serves as a neutral intermediary between all the parties involved in a real estate or mortgage transaction.

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These parties can include:

What Are Escrow Fees

lendersbrokersinsurance agentsappraisersnotariesA mortgage loan usually involves a very large amount of paperwork. This is necessary to protect all the parties involved, including buyers, sellers, lenders, and others.

The escrow agent also handles the transfer of money between the parties. A lender will wire money into an escrow account. If it is a refinance to cash equity out the escrow agent will deduct the relevant fees owed to other parties and pay the remainder out to the borrower.

If the transaction is a real estate purchase the escrow agent will receive money from the lender, pay off any existing mortgages and closing costs, collect any buyer depsosit, and give the rest as sales proceeds to the lender.

After any transaction the relevant public records are updated to reflect the ownership of a property and the liens on it.

It is a crtitical job that requires meticulous record keeping.

How The Escrow Affects You

Escrow fees are usually around 0 - 00 depending on the loan size. The size of the escrow fee may change depending on the amount of the loan or transaction.

Shopping Around For Escrow Services

The escrow service is usually chosen by the realtors in the event of a real estate purchase and the lender or mortgage broker in the event of a refinance.

Professionals who have done lots of deals usually get a better per deal price from an escrow company which may in turn pass on the savings to you.

You can ask how the escrow agent is selected, and find out how their rates compare.

What Are Escrow Fees

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The Benefits of Using Telemarketing

Telemarketing, marketing in which sales people call potential customers by phone, is the second most common direct marketing method in the United States. Cold calling however is often not appreciated by the people who are called and so "Do not call" lists have been created in a number of areas.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Telemarketing

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Although cold calling is not popular with consumers, it is still very popular with marketers, why is this?

The Benefits of Using Telemarketing

Well, firstly, telemarketing is a form of direct marketing that is not only trackable in terms of positive response but also gets you an immediate response - people will either react positively or negatively when you call them and you don't need to wait to get their reactions.

The disadvantage is that telemarketing, and in particular cold calling, has a bad reputation with consumers who often link this to scams and illegal pyramid schemes. This means that people are often pre-disposed to give a negative response when they are contacted by telephone.

How to Use Telemarketing Effectively

If you are going to be using telemarketing to promote your business or products then it is important to do it correctly if you want the best results.

An excellent method when it comes to telemarketing is to do it in at least two calls - the first call to assess the potential customers needs and how your product may possibly be able to assist with meeting these needs (but no sales), and then the second or subsequent call to actually sell the product based on consumer needs.

You should also carefully consider where you get your telemarketing leads from. Try to get lists that are as targeted as possible and not simply every name in the phone book. The more targeted you can get with your lists, the better the response is likely to be.

Telemarketing is a form of marketing that can bring you immediate responses - either positive or negative. Unfortunately many people are already pre-disposed to give negative responses to cold calling and so it is important to go about telemarketing in the right way to get as many positive responses as possible.

The Benefits of Using Telemarketing

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Nice Faces

Hi nice looking girls with beautiful faces
Why all look upon you and enter the race?
Is the outer beauty main factor or only consideration?
Can you make frank admission or revelation?

You are in your lovely teens and hold the future key
You may soon be blossomed and grow up like tree
I not only see bright future but greatest assets too
I am hundred percent sure abut it and it is almost true

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You may soon gain womanhood and get ready for boom
You may not be restricted to only inn home or bed room
The nation has every right to deposit trust in you
You are the only ones who can make it to go through

Nice Faces

Basically women are tolerant and possess positive strength
They can accommodate every one and go to any length
They can prove able administrator, wife and responsible mother
Nobody on earth can compensate her loss and place can't be taken by others

I see in them future of the country with their lot of contribution
They are working solder to solder for equal distribution
They are proving valiant fighters and caring mother
Home can be is safe hand and no one needs to bother

All great leaders have taken birth from her holy womb
Their full history can be found in the inscription on tomb
Any history can't be rewritten without the mention of woman
Though they may not fall in same category to that of man

They are precious and very delicate to handle the matter
They are unique in their position and really trend setter
No where you may find their absence and happily feel
It is their all round show that compels us for good will

Girls you must steal the show and give the fine display
You must head the mission and show the way
It is really astonishing that you are still not in the forefront
You have the full capacity to bear the heavy brunt

You can win the whole world with beautiful smile
There is no deception but invitation to walk for while
Anybody may prefer your company to go for an extra mile
It is your simplicity and honesty and not completely the style

Work towards the healthy nation for future building
It may give fruit and definitely yielding
It is really great honor and matter of pride
Praise them openly with frankness and there is nothing to hide

Nice Faces

hasmukh amathalal

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Robert Burns Love Poem: "A Red, Red Rose"

Robert Burns, a poor man, an educated man, and a ladies' man, is representative of Scotland, much like whisky, haggis, bagpipes, and kilts. He lived a life shortened by rheumatic heart disease, 1759-1796, but his life journey through poverty, informal education, disappointed love, nationalism, and literary and financial success can be identified by all Scots and common men the world over. He has become almost a national symbol of all things Scottish. His life is like a love story with a happy ending.

The Poet, Robert Burns

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Robert Burns's family raised seven children on sparse, rented farmland on the west coast of Scotland. The family cottage still stands as a proud tourist attraction. The family farm was not successful and the family moved from farm to farm. Life on the farm in western Scotland was harsh and Robert worked long hours with his father.

Robert Burns Love Poem: "A Red, Red Rose"

Burn's father recognized the value of education and he managed to hire a local teacher to tutor Robert. He was an extremely bright student, mastering Shakespeare, current poets, French, Latin, philosophy, politics, geography, theology, and mathematics. His father read the Bible during the evenings around the cottage fireplace and Robert became an expert on the Bible and a devout Church member.

Robert Burns wrote his first poem at age 15. The poem was called "Handsome Nell" and was about his first love for a girl named Nellie Blair. Throughout his life, Burns was a charming and witty man, attracting the attention of numerous women. A dozen or more women can be identified as the inspiration for various poems. Burns wrote many famous love poems, including "A Red, Red Rose" and "One Fond Kiss."

Here's an excerpt from "Handsome Nell."

"O once I loved a bonnie lass,

Aye, and I love her still;

And whilst that virtue warms my breast,

I'll love my handsome Nell."

Burns, in a later comment on this poem, stated that he had "never had the least thought or inclination of turning poet till I got once heartily in love, and then rhyme and song were, in a manner, the spontaneous language of my heart."

The Turning Point

In 1786, at age 27, Robert Burns went through a major turning point in his life. He suffered a disappointing love affair with Jean Armour, who was pregnant with his twin sons. The local community and Armour's father were outraged by the affair and her father rejected Burns's offer of marriage.

Dejected and depressed, Burns made plans to leave Scotland and sail to Jamaica in the West Indies. To finance the trip, Burns submitted a volume of his poetry for publication.

The publication of 612 copies in a simple, unbound volume was called "Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect," also sometimes known as "The Kilmarnock Edition." The poems were well received in Edinburgh by socialites who were enchanted by the poems and amazed that a poor farmer could write so well.

So, instead of planning his escape to a new world, Burns planned a trip to Edinburgh. His confident manner, ingratiating style, and his obvious wit and intelligence brought Burns popularity and admiration. Soon, a second publication of his work was executed in Edinburgh.

The Growing Popularity

During his stay in Edinburgh, Robert Burns met printer James Johnson, who planned a project to print all of the folk songs in Scotland. This project enthralled Burns and embarked upon a journey throughout Scotland to collect as many folk songs as possible. Burns collected over 300 songs and wrote a few himself, including "A Red, Red Rose."

One of the results of his travels throughout Scotland was that Robert Burns ingratiated himself to everyone he met and he rose to national prominence and popularity.

The collected songs were published by Johnson in six volumes and by George Thomson in a five volume set.

Another happy outcome of this turning point in Robert Burns's life is that he was able to return home and marry his beloved Jean Armour, now with the blessing of her family.

Robert Burns continued to collect and write songs for The Scots Musical Museum, an anthology of traditional Scottish lyrical poems, until his untimely death from rheumatic heart disease in 1796.

Within a few years of his death groups of Robert Burns's friends and fans gathered to promote his memory and to celebrate his life. By 1801, five years after his death, groups met on the anniversary of his death, but later they began to meet on the anniversary of his birth, January 25. Now there are many Burns clubs and societies who celebrate his memory with dinners, including haggis, and readings of his works.

The Poem, "A Red, Red Rose"

One of the most famous songs that Robert Burns wrote for this project and first published in 1794 was "A Red, Red Rose." Burns wrote it as a traditional ballad, four verses of four lines each.

"A Red, Red Rose" begins with a quatrain containing two similes. Burns compares his love with a springtime blooming rose and then with a sweet melody. These are popular poetic images and this is the stanza most commonly quoted from the poem.

The second and third stanzas become increasingly complex, ending with the metaphor of the "sands of life," or hourglass. One the one hand we are given the image of his love lasting until the seas run dry and the rocks melt with the sun, wonderfully poetic images. On the other hand Burns reminds us of the passage of time and the changes that result. That recalls the first stanza and its image of a red rose, newly sprung in June, which we know from experience will change and decay with time. These are complex and competing images, typical of the more mature Robert Burns.

The final stanza wraps up the poem's complexity with a farewell and a promise of return.

"A Red, Red Rose" is written as a ballad with four stanzas of four lines each. Each stanza has alternating lines of four beats, or iambs, and three beats. The first and third lines have four iambs, consisting of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable, as in da-dah, da-dah, da-dah, da-dah. The second and fourth lines consist of three iambs. This form of verse is well adapted for singing or recitation and originated in the days when poetry existed in verbal rather than written form.

A Red, Red Rose

by Robert Burns

O my luve's like a red, red rose.

That's newly sprung in June;

O my luve's like a melodie

That's sweetly play'd in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,

So deep in luve am I;

And I will love thee still, my Dear,

Till a'the seas gang dry.

Till a' the seas gang dry, my Dear,

And the rocks melt wi' the sun:

I will luve thee still, my Dear,

While the sands o'life shall run.

And fare thee weel my only Luve!

And fare thee weel a while!

And I will come again, my Luve,

Tho' it were ten thousand mile!

Robert Burns Love Poem: "A Red, Red Rose"

*****************************

Garry Gamber is a public school teacher and entrepreneur. He writes articles about real estate, health and nutrition, and internet dating services. He is the owner of http://www.Anchorage-Homes.com and http://www.TheDatingAdvisor.com.

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Examples of Sustainable Development

Sustainable development was coined in 1987 by the Bruntland Commission where they defined it as, 'development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs'. Since then, sustainable development theory has been greatly expanded and these ideas have been utilised around the world. The need for development to become more sustainable is important, as many of the planet's ecosystems are degraded. Without the essential services provided by these natural systems, the planet cannot sustain life. For this reason, sustainability has been integrated into development at an ever-growing pace.

There are many different examples of development for sustainability around the world, with sustainable cities, eco-industrial parks, and corporations all moving towards greater sustainability. The following article will describe the above movements and provide examples of sustainable development.

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A sustainable city considers the natural environment in its design and aims to reduce the input of energy, water and other resources, as well as minimising the generation of waste and other environmental disturbances. Vitoria-Gasteiz in Spain is one example of a sustainable city or eco-city. It has implemented a policy of mixed land use and high density development along its major transport routes. An upgraded public transport system allows more residents to live there, while remaining green belts still provide habitat for wildlife and recreational areas for people.

Examples of Sustainable Development

Eco-industrial parks are areas where industries are placed together to co-operatively manage the use of resources and environmental impacts caused by their operations. By sharing resources they improve efficiency and create less waste. An eco-industrial park in Kalundborg, Denmark has a number of businesses that utilise the by-products of other manufacturers. The waste created by a power station in the park is used to make cement by another firm. Other businesses use heat generated by the power plant and cement factory for some of their processes.

Corporations are also recognising the importance of incorporating sustainable development principles into their operations. In America, Interface Inc., a major carpet tile producer has greatly improved its ecological footprint. By using recycled and more environmentally friendly products, and more efficient manufacturing processes, they have reduced their energy and water consumption. The levels of waste, particularly hazardous waste have also been greatly reduced.

By the adoption of sustainable development, all of these examples have improved their environmental performance. As more and more governments, industries and individuals incorporate sustainable development, the future of the planet will begin to look brighter.

Examples of Sustainable Development

FWR Group Pty Ltd provide our clients with sustainability consulting services for all facets of the emerging sustainable development sector, including technology, strategic planning, sustainable business and education/training industries. We can, for example, source, consult on, and manage all aspects of sustainable development, including sustainable housing and development. Our ongoing relationship to the sustainable development industry, including housing, education, community, and national/international sustainability networks, allows us to provide comprehensive solutions and initiatives for sustainable technologies and development needs.

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Famous Filibusters in Political History

The filibuster as a political delaying tactic has been a part of the American political process since the adoption of the U.S. Constitution. Though it was not used in the early years of the nation, the filibuster has been used hundreds of times since the 1840's. Here are a few of the famous filibusters from our political history.

The U.S. Constitution does not limit the length or nature of debate on the floors of the Senate or the House of Representatives. The House has since adopted rules which limit the length of debate since the House has a very large number of Representatives. But the smaller Senate has always upheld the right of a recognized Senator to debate an issue for as long as he or she wishes to hold the floor. Senate Rule 19 and Rule 22, the cloture rule adopted in 1917, create some guidelines for conducting a debate and for closing the debate when it becomes lengthy.

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Senator Henry Clay

Famous Filibusters in Political History

In 1841 Senator Henry Clay proposed a bank bill that was opposed by Senator John C. Calhoun who began a lengthy, seemingly unending, rebuttal. Calhoun basically created the modern filibuster. Clay threatened to change the Senate rules in order to close debate on the issue. Clay's colleague, Thomas Hart Benton, rebuked Clay and accused him of trying to stifle the Senate's right to unlimited debate.

Through the next few turbulent decades and into the 1960's the filibuster was used often by Southern Democrats to block civil rights legislation. The filibuster had been seen by the minority party as a tool to combat the potential "tyranny of the majority," but the frequent usage of the filibuster by the Southern Democrats became characterized as the "tyranny of the minority."

Senate Rule 22

President Woodrow Wilson suggested that some limits be placed on the unlimited debate concept. In 1917 the Senate adopted Senate Rule 22, now known as the "cloture" rule. The new Rule 22 provided the mechanism to close out debate on a legislative bill and bring the bill up for a vote if cloture was approved by 67% of the Senate. The 67% requirement remained in effect until 1975 when Rule 22 was amended to allow a 60% agreement to invoke cloture.

Cloture Rule 22 was tested in 1919 when the Senate was asked to ratify the Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I. The treaty was debated and filibustered, but a 67% majority voted to end the filibuster and to bring the treaty to a vote.

Senator Huey Long

Senator Huey Long, the fiery and colorful senator from Louisiana, made the filibuster famous between 1932 and 1935 when he utilized it several times to stall legislation that he considered unfair to the poor. Long frustrated his opponents and entertained the Senate gallery by reading Shakespeare, reciting shrimp and oyster recipes and talking about "pot-likkers." An amendment to Senate Rule 19 later required that debate on legislation be germane to the issue being debated.

On June 12, 1935, Senator Long engaged in his most famous filibuster. A bill was before the Senate to eliminate the provision for the Senate to confirm senior National Recovery Act employees. Senator Long opposed the bill because he didn't want his political adversaries in Louisiana to obtain lucrative N.R.A. jobs. Senator Long spoke for 15 hours and 30 minutes running well into the evening and early morning hours with senators dozing at their desks. Long read and analyzed each section of the Constitution, a document which he claimed had become "ancient and forgotten lore" under President Roosevelt's New Deal.

After the reading of the Constitution Senator Long offered to give advice to the remaining senators on any subject of their choosing. No senator took Long up on his offer but the gallery patrons began sending notes to the floor for Senator Long to extemporize on. That kept Long going into the early hours of the morning. At 4 a.m. Long yielded the floor in order to use the restroom and his proposal was defeated.

James Stewart brought more fame to the filibuster when he played the role of Senator Jefferson Smith in the 1939 film, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." Stewart's character launched into a filibuster in response to an attempt to ridicule him.

Senator Wayne Morse

Senator Wayne Morse from Oregon was called "The Tiger of the Senate" and served in the Senate under 5 Presidents. In 1952 Senator Morse left the Republican Party, claiming independent status, when he objected to sections of the party platform and Dwight Eisenhower's choice of Richard Nixon as his vice presidential running mate. Senator Morse claimed that the Republican Party had left him.

On April 24, 1953, Senator Morse began to filibuster against Tidelands Oil legislation. He kept the floor for 22 hours and 26 minutes, breaking the filibuster record of 18 hours held by his mentor, Wisconsin Senator Robert La Follette.

Senator Morse is remembered through numerous colorful stories. For example, Clare Booth Luce, former U.S. Senator and Ambassador to Italy had to resign her appointment when she made the insulting but funny remark that her problems with Senator Morse began when he was kicked in the head by a horse.

Senator Strom Thurmond

About 9 p.m. on August 28, 1957, Senator Strom Thurmond rose before the Senate and announced, "Mr. President, I rise to speak against the so-called voting rights bill, H.R. 6127." His own staff had not been informed about Senator Thurmond's intentions to filibuster the bill, but they knew something was up when they saw Thurmond gathering considerable reading material.

Senator Thurmond had prepared himself for a long filibuster on the Senate floor. Earlier in the day he had spent time in the Senate steam room, dehydrating himself so that he would absorb all the water he drank without having to visit the restroom. His wife packed a steak sandwich lunch for him and she stayed in the family gallery throughout the night. Thurmond brought a quantity of malted milk tablets and throat lozenges from his office.

Senator Thurmond began his filibuster by reading each state's election statutes. He later read and discussed an opinion by Chief Justice Taft. He also read and discussed the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and Washington's Farewell Address. His staff, concerned for Senator Thurmond's health, was finally successful in getting him to leave the floor.

After 24 hours and 18 minutes, a record that still stands, Senator Thurmond concluded his remarks with, "I expect to vote against the bill." The bill was defeated.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964

On June 10, 1964, Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia finished his address begun on the previous day, slightly more than 14 hours earlier. He filibustered against the Civil Rights Act of 1964, an act which was debated by Byrd and others for 57 working days, including 6 Saturdays.

Senate President Hubert Humphrey from Minnesota needed 67 votes to be able to carry the motion for cloture. Minority Leader Senator Everett Dirksen, the always eloquent senator from Illinois procured the Republican votes necessary to pass the cloture motion. "Stronger than all the armies is an idea whose time has come," he said. "The time has come for equality of opportunity in sharing in government, in education, and in employment. It will not be stayed or denied. It is here!"

The final roll call vote on cloture resulted in 71 votes in favor and 29 votes opposed. It was the first time in history that cloture had been invoked on civil rights legislation. The 1964 Civil Rights Act was the most sweeping of its kind in our history.

Justice Abe Fortas

In June of 1968 Chief Justice Earl Warren notified President Lyndon Johnson that he would be retiring from the Supreme Court. This move gave President Johnson time to nominate a successor since he was not planning to seek re-election as President. Johnson nominated Associate Justice Abe Fortas to replace Warren. At the same time Johnson nominated Texas Appeals Court Justice Homer Thornberry to replace Fortas, a move that was designed to satisfy southern senators.

President Johnson counted on Senators Everett Dirksen and Richard Russell for their support of the nomination. When Abe Fortas testified at his own confirmation hearing, an unprecedented occurrence, it was revealed that Fortas worked uncomfortably closely with the White House staff and the President. Later it was learned that Fortas was being paid a large sum, privately, to teach an American University summer course. At this point Dirksen, Russell, and other senators withdrew their support.

Though the committee recommended confirmation of Justice Abe Fortas, a filibuster ensued on the Senate floor to block his confirmation, the first filibuster in Senate history on a Supreme Court nomination. On October 1, 1968, the Senate was unable to tally the 67 votes needed to invoke cloture and President Johnson withdrew the nomination.

The use of the filibuster has increased from 16 filibusters in the 19th century to 66 in the first half of the 20th century to 195 in the period from 1970 to 1995. It is likely that the filibuster will continue to play an important role in the American political process.

Famous Filibusters in Political History

Garry Gamber is a public school teacher. He writes articles about politics, real estate, health and nutrition, and internet dating services. He is a founding member of http://www.GoodPoliticsRadio.com and the owner of http://www.TheDatingAdvisor.com

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Property Management Fees Explained

 When you hire a property management company to serve as the liaison between yourself and your tenants, you want to be sure you're getting the best possible property management services for the money. The services a property management company provides can range from ala carte to an all-in-one inclusive package. Along with that comes an array of fees for each. There is no set in stone fee structure we can provide you. But we can educate you on what common fees to expect and what each is commonly for. In the end it will be up to you to compare company fee structures and choose the best one that fits within your budget. Below are some of the most common fees and what service they provide.

Commission

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This is an ongoing monthly fee charged to the owner to compensate the property manager for the responsibilities of overseeing the management of their property. This fee can vary from as little as 3% to over 15% of the monthly gross rent. In place of a percentage some managers may charge a flat monthly amount which again can vary from to over 0 per month. All property management companies generally charge this fee.

Property Management Fees Explained

Lease-Up or Setup Fee

This fee is charged to the owner to compensate the property manager for their initial time invested and resources used in setting up an owners account; showing property and/or other activities resulting in tenant placement. I guess you could look at it as a "finders fee" for placing a tenant in your property. Once a tenant has been placed and first rent income comes in, the property manager will deduct this fee from the rent proceeds. Some property managers have been known to require this fee upfront prior to tenant procurement. Usually this fee is non-refundable once the property manager has started the process of tenant procurement or any legwork has been initiated with the property. This fee can vary from none to as much as the first months rent, and usually is a one-time fee per tenant.

Lease Renewal Fee

This fee is charged to the owner when a property manager renews a current tenants lease and covers the costs of initiating paperwork or communication involved in implementing the new lease document. A property manager may also justify this fee if they perform a year end inspection of property. This fee can vary from none to 0 or higher, and may be charged every time a lease renewal is implemented.

Advertising Costs

Depending upon the property management company's contract, either they will pay the advertising costs or the owner or they could split the costs. If the manager is willing to cover this cost, most likely they will charge the lease-up or setup fee as outline above. If the management company covers this cost make sure to find out what type advertising or marketing of your property is included. If it's placing your listing on their own web site and other free online classified sites you may not be getting your monies worth. They are many good rental or tenant resource online web sites that bring in qualified tenants for a reasonable fee and you will want to consider these. And don't forget about print media, yard signs, listing on the MLS or even an open house. Nothing is worst than having your property vacant, bringing in no money only because you or your property manager skimped on advertising.

Maintenance Mark-up Charges

This is one of those costs you may never really of known about or had it disclosed to you. A "Mark-up" is a charge over and beyond the final bill on maintenance and/or repair work done to your property initiated by your property management company when using their vendors or in-house maintenance staff. This should be disclosed in your Manager/Owner contract which usually will state the markup as a percentage above the final invoice from vendor. For example, your manager had to call a plumber to replace the dishwasher in your rental property. Total charges for completing the job: 0. If your property manager contract states you will incur a 10% markup on all maintenance work the actual cost to you will be 0. Just one of those things to be aware of as these all eat into your profits.

Early Cancellation Fee

The dreaded "3 months and no tenant". Your property manager insist he or she's doing everything they can to find you a tenant. But here it is 3 months and still no tenant; what do you do. Well, look at your Manager/Owner contract and that might be your deciding factor. I am not a fan of this fee, and believe it to be an unnecessary fee and for you manager out there this could be the deal breaker. I'll tell you why; if a property manager is doing their due diligence and keeping the owners in the loop as far as decision making, market conditions and communication lines open an owner will not be second guessing his property managers abilities. The odds of this scenario happening is unlikely but you must be prepared for it. A cancellation fee can range from none to over 0. To be fair, some managers legitimately deserve this fee especially if they have pocketed advertising costs, incurred lots of legwork and time invested in your property.

"You've Got To Be Kidding Me" Fees - These are ones I have personally had the pleasure of running into.
Your property is vacant, but we still will charge our monthly commission or a small flat fee. "A For-Rent Yard Sign Fee". I believe this was /mo. "Preventive Maintenance Fee". This was to cover the "just in case" and changing out A/C filters. If "just in case" never happens they still pocket the money. I believe this was /mo and I still was charged for filters.
In Summary

Read your Manager/Owner contract, understand what you are signing, ask lots of questions and know what the fees will buy you in services. A good real estate lawyer can help in negotiating the terms in a contract that suit both parties. These contracts are not set in stone. If your property manager will not negotiate, there are other property management companies that are eager to earn your business.

Property Management Fees Explained

Karen McDaniel
Principal/CEO
Property Management Profile LLC

Property Management Profile LLC is an interactive online search engine for finding all types of full service property management companies nationwide. For any property management company that is looking to gain national exposure by capturing the attention of out-of-state investors or be found by local clientele, http://www.PropertyManagementProfile.com is the place to showcase their business model and expertise to these prospective clients.

Property Management Profile offers the most up-to-date listing of full-service property management companies. We have created our site with the idea of making it simple yet detailed enough with the right information for the investors to make wise choices when looking for a property manager to manage their investment properties.

We offer an opportunity for all property management companies to list their company on our website, whether you specialize in residential, commercial, vacation or community association management. We accept small to corporate size management companies. We also offer a Free basic listing, so you have no excuse for not being listed.

Property Management Profile has become a wealth of information and resource for the first-time landlord as well as the seasoned investors. We should know what we're talking about, as owner and creator of Property Management Profile, Karen McDaniel, has owned and managed many of her own properties. Today, all are managed by professional property management companies, so she now has more time to continue her work educating and helping others make better choices when it comes to finding a qualified property management company.

Visit us today at http://www.propertymanagementprofile.com

How to Start a Foreclosure Cleanup Business "On the Cheap"

There are some definite costs to starting a foreclosure cleanup business. It's not one you can start with no money - and don't believe anyone who tells you otherwise. But, costs can be mitigated. Following are some concrete suggestions on how to start a foreclosure cleaning business "on the cheap."

3 Concrete Suggestions for How to Business Cleaning Foreclosures Cheaply

Realestage News

Rent Equipment: While it's ideal to have your own equipment when you own a foreclosure cleanup business, you can rent almost everything you need until you can afford to outright purchase it.

How to Start a Foreclosure Cleanup Business "On the Cheap"

For example, a trailer and a dumpster. Most jobs will require these, as you will have to clean and remove trash and debris from a property. But this equipment can be rented very reasonably.

Equipment Tip: Familiarize Yourself with Costs before You Start Marketing

To start to get an idea of the costs of things you will be renting often (eg, ladders, lawn equipment (in warm seasons); tools, etc., visit your local Home Depot or Lowe's. As these are built-in costs for your business, you should have an idea of how much it will cost to rent these things for your foreclosure clean out business until you can afford to buy them.

Subcontract: Another way to start a foreclosure cleanup business on the cheap is to subcontract out as much as you can. Cleaning, you can handle yourself. But, if there are jobs that you're not equipped to handle because you either don't know how, or don't have the proper tools, outsource - eg, painting, plumbing, electric, window repairs, etc.

Just build the cost of hiring contractors into your estimate.

Market Online: One of the biggest costs most new businesses face is marketing. Luckily, a foreclosure cleanup business is one where marketing can be done on the cheap. Why? Because your primary customer base (eg, realtors, bankers and investors) are all online.

And, they are easy to find. So use email marketing. It's free. Add a couple of vehicle signs to this (every foreclosure cleanup business should have vehicle signs) and this is all the marketing you'll need to do to get business flowing in initially.

While there are legitimate startup costs you can't get around when you start a foreclosure cleanup business (eg, insurance, vehicle, phone), everything else can be done "on the cheap" until you start bringing in business.

Learn more of what you need to know to start a successful foreclosure cleaning business.

How to Start a Foreclosure Cleanup Business "On the Cheap"

May be reprinted with the following, in full: Cleaning foreclosures is a sizzling business opportunity where excellent money can be made. Visit Start-a-Foreclosure-Cleanup-Business.com for 200 pages of info that tells you everything you need to know to start a business cleaning foreclosures. View the news video featuring the owner of a leading foreclosure company in Atlanta, GA on the site as well.

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Real Estate Transfer Taxes Overlooked Sale or Purchase Expense

A real estate transfer tax is a one-time tax paid at the closing of a property, and is considered a stream of revenue for state budgets. This transfer tax though, once collected is not generally used for housing-related purposes. The tax is based on the value of a property as agreed to by the parties in a real estate contract.

In the excitement of selling or buying a home, often the real estate transfer tax cost is overlooked. Depending on locale, either the buyer or seller pays the tax at closing or escrow, but beware in New Hampshire both the buyer and seller pay, half of 1.5%!. In some states it can be a formidable amount, you should be prepared for what the transfer taxes will be, and who pays them, before you start a home search or list your home for-sale.

Realestage News

The good news is, thirteen states don't have a real estate property tax. They are: Alaska, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.

Real Estate Transfer Taxes Overlooked Sale or Purchase Expense

The bad news is that the remaining thirty-seven states and The District of Columbia charge taxes on the transfer of a property. The tax is only levied once when a property is exchanged between parties, unlike general property taxes which are paid annually and are based on the assessed value. Real estate transfer taxes range from a low of .01% in Colorado to a high of 1.28% in Washington state.

Variations on transfer taxes include; in Arizona only charges a tax on deeds. However Alabama and Florida charge on deeds and mortgages. To avoid financial surprises, inquire early as to who pays (buyer or seller) and how much transfer taxes will be. Some states dictate who pays the tax, and some just want the tax paid. This cost can typically be negotiated between the parties. Consult an experienced real estate attorney.

A handy online link for transfer taxes for all fifty states.

[http://www.parealtor.org/content/AssetMgmt/Issues] Resource Center/Realty Transfer Tax/Transfer tax chart.pdf

Real Estate Transfer Taxes Overlooked Sale or Purchase Expense

Mark Nash, is a residential real estate author, broker, columnist and writer based in Chicago. His fourth book 1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home received eighteen five star reviews on Amazon.com. His latest book; Real Estate A-Z for Buying & Selling a Home will be published in December 2006. Mark publishes a free monthly ezine for real estate professionals. Agent to Agent features ten articles that offer free reprints for agents, home buyers and sellers through EzineArticles.com . Real estate news and book reviews, Celebrity Homestyles, Home selling and buying tips and advice, Joke-of-the-Month, Help this Agent, and agent marketing tips. Over 5000 subscribers in the U.S. & Canada. Subscribe at: [http://www.1001realestatetips.com/forrealestateagents.html]

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