Are You Thinking About Selling Your Own Home?

Posted by admin | Posted in Thinking | Posted on 25-01-2009

Are you thinking about selling your home? Would you like to sell
it by yourself instead of hiring a real estate agent? If so it
would be beneficial to review the pros and cons of selling your
home by yourself before hanging out the sign.

PROS

Selling your home without an agent means More Money. If that’s
not an incentive, what is? By selling it yourself you save the
fees or commissions (thousands of dollars) that you would have
to pay an agent.

You are able to decide the times for open houses and showings as
well as where you want to advertise. Because you are only
selling one home - unlike an agent who is working with many
buyers and sellers ? you will always be focused on the selling
of your home. You will have more interest in the sale than a
real estate agent who may be looking for bigger commissions
elsewhere.

CONS

Real estate agents are paid good money for a reason. Selling a
home takes a lot of time and energy. Open houses, dealing with
potential buyers, closing sales and dealing with the legal
issues are familiar turf for these people and their experience
can impact the sale.

Be realistic about what you are willing to do. Will you drop
everything to make a showing? Are you able to ‘close the deal’
and ask for an offer? It is not everyone who can take on such a
big project or can handle the tension of dealing with buyers.

However, if the challenge excites you and if you are ready for
hard work and willing to learn then it is not impossible for you
to manage alone. With a little know-how and a lot of energy, you
can sell your home without the help of a real estate agent and
reap the rewards!

Where do you begin?

Start with evaluating your home. How much can you ask? What work
needs to be done? How do you decide how much your house is worth
without asking too much and scaring buyers off or too little and
not making what you should?

How Do You Evaluate Your Home?

Choosing the right price for your home is crucial to making a
sale. You risk everything if your price is too far off the
current market. You don’t want to discourage buyers because you
are pricing too high and you don’t want to throw away equity
because of a low asking price.

Preparing Your Home for the Market

Now it’s time to look as objectively at your own home as you did
to other peoples’ homes.

Your prospective buyers will be scrutinizing your home; has it
been taken care of or neglected? Will there be expensive repairs
or are they hiding something? Taking the time to clean up and
make repairs will repay you with confident buyers anxious to
make an offer on a home that has been properly taken care of.

How to Advertise Your Home

Don’t worry. You’ve already done the hard work. Your research
has been conducted, your home has been cleaned and prepared and
you have all the vital information necessary to offer
prospective buyers. Now you need to get the word out!

How to Show and Sell Your Home

You’ve done your research. You’ve priced your home, cleaned and
freshened it up. Your sign is hung out and you’ve worked hard on
creating an intriguing ad. You told everyone you know that
you’re selling your home. Now you wait for the phone to ring.
How do you handle calls from buyers? What do you ask? How do you
get them to come visit?

Legal Issues

Selling and buying homes requires legal paperwork. Writing
contracts to sell your home is tricky business and you do need a
lawyer to help you. Find one by asking for recommendations from
family or friends or by looking for one in the phone book. Ask
for a consultation before deciding.

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Team Building Strategies: Top 7 Tips for Building Trust in Distant Teams

Posted by admin | Posted in Team Building | Posted on 25-01-2009

In the past, we developed teams by putting people together and letting them spend time learning about each other before we charged them with completing assignments. In spite of all our best effort, some teams were more successful than others.

In order to be honest and forthcoming with others, a level of trust must exist. The less we trust, the more guarded and self-protective we become. That’s one of many reasons it’s a challenge to work effectively in teams. The challenge increases tremendously when the people involved haven’t been given the opportunity to get to know each other personally.

Today’s workplace consists of people who have never met each other working on projects. Indeed many of them live in other countries. Those that might live close to their corporate headquarters often telecommute and are rarely available for face-to-face meetings.

In addition, the team is frequently led by a project manager – who has a dotted line relationship to the others and thus very little authoritative leverage. The project manager can only manage through persuasion and negotiation – two methods requiring a high level of trust.

Trust is not easy to develop in the best of circumstances – when working with distant teams the problems increase tremendously.

Professor Larry Leifer at Stanford University discovered that when he had students working in teams from different locations members, complained that they were doing more work than other teammates. When camcorders were placed in their cubicles so that they could see each other at work, the complaints diminished considerably. Apparently, the very act of seeing someone situated at their keyboard increased the belief that they were working hard.

Visual clues are critically important. The more contact we have with another human being (assuming that they are basically trustworthy), the easier it is to trust them. One could even hypothesize that at some unconscious level, our sense of smell plays a part in what has to be seen as primarily an emotionally (psychologically) based decision.

Sound or voice quality is less effective than visual clues. When we know someone only due to our telephone interaction with them, we develop less personal or positive feelings than when we actually sit across the table from them.

We also have the variable of “low-context” and “high-context” cultures. Low context cultures are those in which business is conducted without developing personal relationships. This is akin to our decision to buy something from a discount or big box store. High context cultures are those in which relationships are developed long before the business discussions commence. You might relate this to your decision to work with a consultant, or a decorator, or even shopping regularly in a small private boutique store. This adds another dimension to the problems of building trust between people here in the states and their counterparts in Asia or other parts of the world.

Given these problems, here are my top seven tips to developing trust in distant teams:

1. Allow members of the team to take the time to get to know each other on a somewhat personal level.

2. Have in-house discussions, at all locations, about what is proper to ask and discuss and what crosses the line into intrusive or inappropriate.

3. Share pictures – not only of the staff, but also of their families. Most people are family-oriented and grow to like (and trust) each other when they start to see pictures of their children and to hear stories about them.

4. Send your managers to the locations of their team members whenever possible. Although this is an expense, the potential value in developing trust, respect, and therefore greater levels of understanding and productivity is immeasurable.

5. Teach cultural diversity. Let the people in the various locations around the world learn as much as possible about the behaviors, customs, and expectations of those in other areas with whom they work.

6. If you have telecommuters who can be brought into the office once or twice a month, be sure to have as many face-to-face meetings as possible with them.

7. Use videoconferences and video-cams where feasible.

In other words, break some of the old rules that demand full focus on work related conversations only. Take the time and create the structure that enables people to develop relationships that lead to trust. This leads to cooperation, understanding, and higher productivity and creativity.

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You Can Get What you Want in your Relationships!

Posted by admin | Posted in Relationships | Posted on 25-01-2009

You Can Get What You Want in your relationships!

The key to getting what you want from others and creating a new life is to know a secret weapon that all the people who are beloved and very popular have. The secret weapon is CHARISMA. With charisma you can have the love life and friends you want.

You can get what you want!

The key to getting what you want from others and creating a new life is to know a secret weapon that all the people who are beloved and very popular have. The secret weapon is CHARISMA. With charisma you can have the love life and friends you want.

What is Charisma?

Charisma is a personal attractiveness that enables you to influence others and meet new friends and network with the right people. I strong suggest checking out this page if you want to meet more friends, have a better love life and jump start you way to achieving your dreams.

How do I get Charisma?

The first element of charisma is “presence. Presence is your quality of commanding respectful attention. Think of how you carry yourself. Presence is very important because it is the very first step to making good first impression. So this is how you create your presence. Remember that you looks are very important. As I talk about before in my appearance section appearance will determined how people will treat you so make sure to look at all the little thing about how you look.

* Try to dress fashionable. If you not sure how that’s down go to a local book store and check out the styles people are wearing in the major magazines. You want people feel that you care about your image. But also make sure not to do to much because this can make you look a little insecure or trying to cover up something. So just use moderation in everything that you do. Also try to be a little creative with you look. You don’t want to look exactly like everyone else. You want to stand out and be different in a positive way.

* Watch the way you walk, sit, and stand. Always have a posture that makes you appear to be confident and at ease with your surroundings. If you’re not at ease with your environment, fake it. People can not read you thoughts until you make it clear through your body actions. So make sure to watch you body actions

* Be very sincere in whatever you do. Also use a friendly smile at the right times. So over use the smile weapon, but bring it out at times to ease the mood or heighten a situation.

* Knowing when to speak, and what to say when you speak. People who don’t talk all the time and think before they speak have more powerful influence when they speak.

• Watch how your eyes follow the crowd. At all times try got give off a impression of disinterested because that will make others feel that their is nobody worthy of your attention. This connects with their subconious thoughts of status. Never be “star-struck” because you are the star. You’re a prestigious person accustomed to being in high social circles. Fake these actions until they become second nature. Also remember to never stare because it is rude and lowers your status.

Acting like a king or queen

In a world where most people lack a high level of self-respect, it is easy to stand out when you have it and it shows. And if you don’t have a high level of self-respect,then fake it. Take note - the trick to faking it is to fake it with sincerity. Also watch your attire because like a said it speaks volumes. Calvin Klien, Sean John, Ralph Lauren, DKNY are just a couple of the trendy designers that can make you really look good with their clothers on.

When creating an aura of charisma use human instinct to your advantage. If you look like a thug, you’ll be prejudged as probably being a thug. If you look like your gay, you’ll be prejudged as probably being geek. And if you look like a charismatic person used to respect and even admiration, you will be prejudged as a person who is probably charismatic and worthy of respect and even admiration. These are just keep thing just to keep in mind.

Once you’ve been prejudged, it’s that much easier to create the effect that you’re after.

*Another thing to keep in mind is that before speaking to a person, you should ask yourself: How is this person going to interpret my next few words? What kind of effect are they going to have? What effect is it that I’m going for? Will I sound like I know what I’m talking about? Or will I sound like a fool? Will I sound confident? Or will I sound cocky? Will I sound sincere, or will I sound fake? Will I come across as a good conversationalist, someone who listens more than he speaks? Or will I seem as though I talk too much and therefore am not a good conversationalist?

A charismatic persona is thought of as being a good conversationalist

As a rule of thumb make sure that you listen more than you talk to people. Show a true interest in what they are saying and you’ll be amazing at how much people will respect you and treat you with respect.

Smooth is how you want to act. Let no situation seem to bother you even if it really does. This is how you want to go about acting in front of people. Also some tips you want to keep in mind is to.

* Never seem to be in a

* Always seem patient

* Your actions must seem natural and done with ease

* Practice being subtle

Also using Diplomacy which is a Tact and skill in dealing with people; subtly skillful handling of a situation involving others is a great way to build charisma. Learn to become a master of social skilss. If you are stuggling with that there is a newsletter I offer which you can receive daily which can help you with develop these skills. Some skills you must adapt to come off a level of diplomacy is to …..

* Never joke about someone else’s appearances or taste, generally two highly sensitive areas.

* Give compliments. Look for one or two qualities about a woman that make her stand out.

* Be self-observant. Hold up a mirror to your words and actions. This can sometimes come from other people telling you what they see in you, but that’s not the most trustworthy method.

* Practice modesty.

* Master your emotions

* Learn to be sensitive to the other person, listening for what they’re really saying.

* Learn to make people feel good about themselves .

Better relationships is a powerful key to creating charm!

Also when building a more powerful personality some other things you should remember to better relationships.

• Don’t criticize, condemn or complain.

• Give honest and sincere appreciation.

• Arouse in the other person an eager want.

• Become genuinely interested in other people.

• Smile.

• Remember that a person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.

• Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves.

• Talk in terms of the other person’s interests.

• Make the other person feel important-and do it sincerely.

Influence people to see your views

When you are going after your dreams or learning how to have charisma sometimes you’ll find that you’ll need to convince people to see things the way you see it. Here are some rules to keep in mind when trying to do that.

• The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.

• Show respect for the other person’s opinions. Never say,

“You’re wrong.”

• If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically.

• Begin in a friendly way.

• Get the other person saying “yes, yes” immediately.

• Let the other person do a great deal of the talking.

• Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers.

• Try honestly to see things from the other person’s point of view.

• Be sympathetic with the other person’s ideas and

desires.

• Appeal to the nobler motives.

• Dramatize your ideas.

• Throw down a challenge.

Leadership

When you have charisma you’ll find that at times people will look to you for leadership because you start to give off a aura that makes you stand out and seem like someone who can lead them. You may not know this but you are a leader. People learn and respond from your actions. Everyone can make a person who can make a difference in someone’s life if you just believe and apply some the things listed below.

A leader’s job often includes changing your people’s attitudes and behavior. Some suggestions to accomplish this:

• Principle 1 - Begin with praise and honest appreciation.

• Principle 2 - Call attention to people’s mistakes indirectly.

• Principle 3 - Talk about your own mistakes before criticizing the other person.

• Principle 4 - Ask questions instead of giving direct orders.

• Principle 5 - Let the other person save face.

• Principle 6 - Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement. Be “hearty in your approbation and lavish in your praise.”

• Principle 7 - Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to.

• Principle 8 - Use encouragement. Make the fault seem easy to correct.

• Principle 9 - Make the other person happy about doing the thing you suggest.

The effective leader should keep the following guidelines in mind when it is necessary to change attitudes or behavior:

• 1. Be sincere. Do not promise anything that you cannot deliver.

Forget about the benefits to yourself and concentrate on the benefits

to the other person.

• 2. Know exactly what it is you want the other person to do.

• 3. Be empathetic. Ask yourself what t the other person really wants.

• 4. Consider the benefits that person will receive from doing what you suggest.

• 5. Match those benefits to the other person’s wants.

• 6. When you make your request, put it in a form that will convey to the other person the idea that he personally will benefit.

Learn how to lead by example and you’ll find that if you follow the steps above people will follow you.

When you improve you charisma you’ll find that that you life will start to have limitless potential. The people you meet and things you do will be funnier, more exciting, and start to push you towards the life that you want!

For more information please check out http://www.findyourinnergenius.com

For more information please check out http://www.findyourinnergenius.com

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Understanding Buyer Motivation

Posted by admin | Posted in Motivation | Posted on 25-01-2009

All meaningful actions are performed for some reason or purpose. This is commonly called “motivation”. Success in selling requires understanding these basics of motivation:

-Your motivation both as a person and as a salesperson

-The other person’s motivation both as a person and as a buyer

The most important fact to remember in influencing the behaviour and decisions of others is that “People do things for their reasons, not ours.”

Every successful sale, then, is made not so much because of the excellence of your product or of your sales pitch, but because, consciously or unconsciously, you have found the human reason why your prospect should buy. You have found the door to their motivation and have opened it. The more you understand the function of human motivation, the more successfully you will sell.

In its simplest form, motivation emerges as a cycle. It starts with a want or need, expressed or hidden. Inherent in this is a problem, a problem that must be overcome in order to satisfy the want, that must be solved. Once solved, the want can be satisfied and the cycle is completed.

In terms of personal development there are several levels of needs. You will no doubt be familiar with Maslow’s pyramid of need:

These needs are basic to everyone you sell to, live with, or encounter.

At the bottom of the pyramid are The Physiological Needs. These include food, shelter, warmth, sex and sleep. They are instinctive needs common to all living creatures. Until these needs are satisfied, the higher needs are purely academic.

Then comes Safety which is almost as basic. Security is another word for this need: security in one’s job, in one’s place in society…safety from unknown dangers…freedom from pain.

Love is a more sophisticated but no less essential need. Every human being wants others to care about them, to receive affection. They want to have the approval of others…to be understood…accepted…respected…to belong. And equally important, they have a need to be involved…to care about and give affection to others. The two are inseparable.

Self-esteem is equally essential. Every human being needs to feel that they are important in some sphere of life…that their presence on earth has meaning and significance. The mature person knows that this begins with self-respect. This need provides a tremendous motivational force.

Self-actualization is the highest need: for personal growth and achievement, for self-fulfilment, the best use of one’s capabilities, the fullest possible realisation of potential, within an honest understanding both of the limitations and scope of that potential.

People of course, are different. Their needs will vary in degree, in shape, and in the nature of their answers. But they are common to all. As you are alert to them, as you understand them, so will your success with others be measured.

How do people seek to satisfy their needs? Thorndike’s Law Of Effect supplies the answer:

People tend to behave in a way to gain rewards and avoid punishment.”

Again, this varies with different people. Generally, people can be classified into three dominant types:

The Achiever

The Seeker of Social Recognition(But no one is likely to be a “pure” type)

The Security-Minded

 

The Achiever is most likely to be oriented toward gaining rewards.

The Security-Minded is likely to be dominated by the desire to avoid punishment.

The Social Type stands somewhere between the two.

These are the dominating factors. But in varying degrees, each has a little of the other two in them.

In terms of selling, whatever the dominant drive of your prospect, they are above all, buying benefits. Benefits are best defined, in this context, as the results of the product, which enable them to gain rewards and/or avoid punishment.

In making their decision, the buyer uses the “Minimax” principle: To minimise their losses; to maximise their gains. This is true whatever the personality orientation. The emphasis depends again on their individual motivational drive.

The Law of Effect, then depending on specific motivation relates directly to the Pyramid of Human Needs, and expands in this manner:

The benefits you have to offer are both negative and positive. The right emphasis, directed in the right way, offering both to determine preference is your shortest way to your objective.

In summary, according to Russell: “The essence of motivation is finding meaning in what we are doing. Motivation is an inner control of the individual.” Only you can motivate yourself.

All these concepts apply to you in all phases of your life, and your work, as well as they apply to others. Finding the right meaning in what you do will be the great motivator for a more effective you.

Understanding the nature of what motivates each person you deal with will enable you to help them make a decision favourable to both of you.

Copyright © 2006 Jonathan Farrington. All rights reserved

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MSc Construction Management

Posted by admin | Posted in Management | Posted on 25-01-2009

The Master of Science or MSc Construction Management is a course or program that aims to produce postgraduates at the forefront of management of construction projects who recognized the complexity and systems nature of the construction industry. There are several universities offering this specific masters program like University of Plymouth, University of Bath, and many others.

The MSc Construction Management that you plan of taking must be accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors or RICS and the Chartered Institute of Building or CIOB. To be able to give full contribution, the construction professionals needs to recognize the potential offered by effective design coordination and modern sustainable materials. Through the knowledge and understanding of these issues, it is anticipated that a qualification would significantly improve the career prospects of ambitious, or shall I say goal-oriented, construction professionals. Additionally, it can also be perceived as a stepping stone for those considering PhD research.

A successful construction manager is someone who can determine, analyze, device, and organize resources required for a construction management. You should also know that management within the construction industry is a demanding, yet fulfilling job, operating within a rapidly changing environment, meeting the new challenges set by the use of original materials and advanced building designs. In relation to this, construction professionals have to continuously update their knowledge to keep the pace and this is where MSc Construction Management steps in.

Many successful organizations are eager to employ individuals who have put up on their undergraduate experience not only to intensify, but also to broaden their understanding of their subject. This is the reason why MSc Construction Management course exist. The MSc/MRes Construction Management masters degree is run over one year for full-time participants and MSc/ MRes Construction Management masters degree taken over two years, one day a week, for part-timers.

For part-timers case, it is likely that the reason they cannot commit to this program full-time is, probably, they are working full-time. Another option to study this program without affecting their current job is taking online courses that are also offered by selected universities. Yes, it is also offered online! You can work in your own pace. The idea of giving these options is great for working individuals who are still up to their ambitions whatever the situation is.

If you are interested in taking MSc Construction Management and looking for school to enroll to, University of Plymouth and University of Bath are just some of the universities that can help you with your goal for career advancement. When researching for this kind of program with other universities, make sure to check out for the availability of schedules and, most importantly, the course outline itself. For any inquiries about the school or program, just go to each of the universities website.

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