BEFORE YOU INVEST IN REAL ESTATE

Even though it is always tempting to rush into real estate investing as it is one of the safest forms of investment, you still must be able to fulfil some conditions. Generally, it is believed that most people can succeed in real estate investment, if they are willing to put in their best. Before you invest in real estate.

1. Determine whether real estate really interests you.

You must understand within yourself whether you are just after gain, or you really have the passion for it. It is not enough that you are curious about investing in real estate, but you must be convinced that you really want to. If you are not totally convinced, it wouldn't be advisable to venture into it. If the thought of it gives you peace, then do it, but if not, wait.

2. Be financially healthy.

It is important to understand your financial status before going into real estate. You must count your costs before embarking. If you are weighed down by consumer debts like mortgages, overdraft, car loan and others; then you should consider paying off your debts before investing.

Debts would be a barrier to smooth investing, so you have to do away with them. Also, knowing how to spend wisely will be a bonus. You mustn't be spending more than you are earning.

3. Be able to create sufficient time.

Real estate investment does not work on autopilot. You have to be able to put in a lot of work which consumes time. You have to be able to devote time to investigating the best deals, engaging competent property managers and resolving tenant issues. If you think you wouldn't be able to devote necessary time to real estate investing, then it may not be for you.

4. Determine whether you can handle challenges.

In real estate investment, challenging issues will always arise. The process of searching, negotiating and closing a deal can be full of stress. Even when you eventually own the property, day to day challenges would arise. If you can handle stress, challenges, and problems, then real estate is for you. If you cannot, then a property manager would reduce the trouble.

5. Will you be able to accept fluctuations?

There is no investment advisor than can really predict the future of investments. They can only advise, based on past and current trends. If real estate is booming, and suddenly, prices starts to fall, will you be able to weather the market fluctuations. If you can answer yes, then you would do well in real estate investment.

In conclusion, you should also know that real estate investment is one of the wisest investments for today. If you have enjoyed this post, please share. Thanks.

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU ADVERTISE

Having a great brand or service alone is not enough to sell that brand or service. Every manufacturer or service provider would want to make their brand or service widely known and accepted. This is where advertising comes in, and this has now become a business culture with billions of dollars spent yearly on it.

It might be true that you have a great brand or service, but just before you rush into advertising, critically consider these factors.

1. Perfect The Standard of Your Product or Service.

The aim of advertising is to get your product or service to a wider audience. This wider audience could be geographical or economical. A substandard product or service being advertised is only asking for disaster. It is better not to advertise a substandard product or  service than to do so and prematurely kill the potential of it.

Before advertising, be sure the product or service you offer is of high standard, and can compete with others in the same niche.

2. Do A Product Survey.

If you intend advertising a product, a product survey could give you an insight of what to expect when you advertise that product. A product survey will make you know whether users would accept your product or not. It is all about sending a sample product and a simple questionnaire to potential consumers. They would use the product and fill the questionnaire. The analysis and result of the questionnaire would determine how the product would be accepted if advertised.

3. Determine Why You Want To Advertise.

The general motive behind all advertising is to create more awareness for a product or service. Before advertising, you must know why you want to do it. Advertising without a motive is like eating without knowing why you are eating. You must determine whether you want to use advertising to reach more people or to educate them about the product.

A lot of self advertising products, especially consumer goods usually aim to sensitize people about promos and discounts with their advertising.

4. Plan Your Advertising Campaign.

No matter what form of advertisement you want to adopt, you must plan from the beginning the amount of money you are willing to spend, and for how long. There are so many advertising options today, and you must be able to choose the one's that best suit your product or service. For consumer goods, it is advisable to choose an advertisement that would appeal to the public's sense of sight.

The public are mostly influenced by what they can see. Also, by working with an advertisement agency, you would be able to benefit from their influence and experience.

5. Will You Be Able To Increase Or Maintain Standard Or Quality?

Before you advertise, you must be able to envisage a positive outcome from your advertising. Determine whether you would be able to maintain or increase your standard in the long run. Increased demand as a result of an advertising campaign could be a serious test to the quality of your product or service.

You will disappoint consumers or clients if the quality of your product or service is decreasing. You shouldn't aim to sell more products or service at the expense of quality. Why? Because your quality is what differentiates you from others.

6. Will You Be Able To Meet Up With Increased Demand?

Do you have the capacity or the flexibility to increase production or deliver service when demand increases? When you can't meet up with demand, you present yourself as unplanned and unprofessional to clients and customers. And when they have that impression, they tend to leave you for your competitor, even though you may have a better product or service delivery.

Advertising should not be rushed into without first knowing some important things. So before you advertise, make sure you have fulfilled these things to the best of your conscience. If you enjoyed this post, please share. Thanks.

INVESTING IN GOLD WITH REGAL ASSETS: how it works

Are you interested in investing in gold?, but don't know yet what company to do business with. Your search is over, because in this post, I am going to share with you reasons and benefits why your gold investment should be with Regal Assets. Whether you are planning on having a precious metals retirements account, or just diversifying your investments, they are the best in the industry.

* For a start, Regal Assets is currently the only precious metals firm holding an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and a AAA rating with the Business Consumer Alliance. They also have over 333+ 5 out of 5 star verified client reviews with TrustLink. Also, they have also been featured in major publications like Forbes, Smart Money and Inc. Magazine. Regal Assets has been rated #20 in the U.S for financial services by Inc. Magazine and has also been featured in the 2013 investment Guide for Forbes magazine.

* In the area of investing, including retirement accounts, they have one of the fastest shipping and delivers precious metals to clients within 7 business days of account funding. This is remarkable because it takes most competitors over 30 days to deliver and as long as 90 days for retirement accounts. Even if they miss the 7 business day deadline for shipping, Regal Assets would add a free 1 oz. Silver American Eagle to the client as compensation.

When items ship, the client is notified and receives a tracking number to be able to track the precious metals right to their front door. All precious metals are sent out discreetly and are fully insured. Regal Assets takes full responsibility for precious metals until they are signed and received by the client.

* When it comes to retirement accounts, Regal Assets are the industry leader providing the best storage and fee structure as well as the quickest processing time. They store their precious metal retirement accounts with Brinks and are the only precious metals company that has segregated storage with Brinks for a flat fee of $150.00 per year. Most of their competitors start at $225.00 per year for segregated storage and typically don't offer it.

Administration fees for the year on all retirement accounts are a flat $100.00 regardless of the increase in value of the account, but most Regal Assets competitors charge clients extra money for increase in value of the account.

* When it comes to processing times, regal assets is the only company that does everything electronically, and this means clients don't have to hand sign documents. Doing business electronically eliminates many issues that their competitors run into and also shortens the transfer process. Since everything is done electronically, Regal Assets can open a new IRA account within 24 business hours of receiving a signed application form.

Their competitors take up to 5 to 7 business days to open a new IRA account. Also, when it comes to transferring requested funds from a custodian, Regal Assets typically get it done within 48 business hours.

* Regal Assets covers all first year dues for client's retirement accounts which include setup fees, administration fees, storage fees and delivery of metals. This is a savings of over $700.00 which most of their competitors make their clients pay. All retirement accounts will not receive a bill until the second year at a flat bill of $250.00. After the client locks up precious metals prices and funds their precious metals accounts, Regal Assets will typically ship to Brinks within 7 business days, fully insuring the precious metals.

With all these numerous advantages and benefits, make a decision today and invest in gold and other precious metals with Regal Assets.

CLICK HERE TO INVEST WITH REGAL ASSETS

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AFRICA, OUR AFRICA

Africa is the home of the black people, but if the black people are becoming strangers in their own lands, then what can we do? I believe it is more harder to live in Africa than even in the middle east. The middle east may be one geographical boiling cauldron, but they still have countries that could be said to be very developed, like Israel.

Africa is different. Out of the over fifty countries making her up, there is none that can be said to be a first world nation like Germany in Europe or South Korea in Asia. You can talk of countries like South Africa or Botswana, but these countries are still farther away from the worst countries in Europe.

The average african deals with an inflation rate that makes big money small and small money like nothing. In Nigeria, the inflation rate is about 18 percent. When stuffs are scarce, their prices would be high. Even when stuffs are abundant, their prices may still be high.

The african deals with a currency that is almost useless in value compared to international standard. In Nigeria, a dollar is about 365 naira. This means that a dollar in the hands of an america will buy 300 naira worth of recharge card and there will still be change. No american sweats to get one dollar, but many africans don't even earn one dollar in a day. So pathetic.

The african deals with a system where there are almost no social palliatives. Even if there are palliatives, many africans still can't afford them. Many times, you find that it is the rich people or the friends of politicians who can even afford these palliatives. That is why in africa, you find so many big business thriving on the grounds of monopolistic concessions. The banks? They don't give loans to ordinary people. They never do that.

The african deals with governments that don't offer them anything. Truth is, it can't always be the faults of the politicians. Many of them are elected by the people. This makes me wonder where africans put their brains when they are voting. When people vote rightly, no election rigging would entrench unwanted people in leadership positions.

Many africans prefer to criticize politicians, but they themselves won't get involved in it, even if they believe they can make more difference. Many times in africa, elections are between bad choices. I mean all the contestants would be bad choices, but people still have to vote, so they vote for the lesser evil. Who then do we blame? The people or the politicians? We blame the people. Why? Simple. The politicians are not aliens and they come from the people.

Today, more africans are leaving africa than any continent in the world. They want to go to Canada and the USA, especially USA where they feel they can live better lives. Who can blame them? If africa is conducive, with a low inflation like G8 countries, better currency value and other good things, nobody would be wanting to run away. I use run away as many africans don't intend returning.

Many times, you would wish you were not african, but now that it can't be changed, we just have to keep hoping that our hope is not a waste of time. If you have enjoyed this article, please share. Thanks.

THE STAGES OF LIFE

Life as is known is not one stretch of living. Life is divided in phases and periods. One phase doesn't last forever and only leads to the next one. How well an individual maximize a stage may determine how well the next stage might be. These are the stages of life.

1. The Stage Of Fun.(Birth to about 29 years)

This is the period from childbirth to about the end of youth. This period is divided into childhood, teenage, and young adulthood. This is called the age of fun because the approach to life is always weak. Most times in this period, individuals live a life of freedom and may lack resposibility.

Decisions in this stage are made mainly without regard of the consequences. Actions are carried out without thinking of the outcomes or implications of the actions to family and society. Because of all these weak approaches to life, individuals may lack little or no power of deep reasoning. It is also important to note that lifelong mentalities and philosophies are usually formed at this stage. Also, careers are usually determined at this stage and talents and gifts are also discovered.

2. The Stage of Reason.(About 30-59 years)

This stage encompasses adulthood. At this stage, youthful exuberance would usually had worn away and the realities of life has set in. This is usually a time when individuals get married, start working and also raise children. There is usually a high sense of responsibility to family, society, work, and religion and the effects of decisions are considered before making and implementing them.

This is the stage when men usually achieve or don't achieve the dreams or goals they set during the age of fun. At this stage, old habits(usually bad habits) are dropped and replaced by new ones(usually good ones). Dreams, aspirations and goals are still vigorously pursued at this stage, and making or having more money is usually the top priority of individuals. In the stage of reason, individuals usually regret the mistakes they may have made in the stage of fun, and may wish there is opportunity to go back and live it right.

3. The Age of Reflection.(60 years till death)

This stage is more of reminiscing about the past than looking forward into the future. This is the time when most individuals retire from working and the power and strength to work has greatly diminished. The approach to life is usually balanced and loneliness and boredom are usually the biggest nightmares of this stage. Individuals reflect on the lives they had lived from birth to that time, drawing strength only from good memories.

At this stage, individuals usually talk more about their lives and want to know more about what is going on locally and globally. Also, individuals tend to think that this stage should be used to heal old wounds, forgive people who had offended them and seek for forgiveness from people they had offended in preparation for death.

Whatever stage of life you are, I hope I am close to the truth in describing it. If you have enjoyed this post, please share. Thanks.