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Keeping Yourself Safe: The Facts About Crime Rates in America

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With so many news stories out there about crime, it’s easy to feel like the area around you is incredibly dangerous. However, the truth of the matter may be more complicated than you might assume. If you’re wondering about the United States’ crime rates and your own safety in association, here are some important facts to keep in mind.

America's Changing Crime Rates

1. Crime Is on the Downturn

Even though you’re probably seeing more news about crimes in recent years, that doesn’t necessarily mean that crime is going up. Instead, it’s likely a reflection of the ease with which people can access information. According to the FBI, the national crime rate per 100,000 has been steadily declining since 2010:

2010: 3,350.4
2011: 3,292.5
2012: 3,255.8
2013: 3,112.4
2014: 2,971.8
2015: 2,859.6
2016: 2,837
2017: 2,745.1
2018: 2,568.4

Even when you narrow down the crime to exclusively violent crimes, the trend is still downward. There are more peaks, but overall, violent crime also appears to be trending downward.

2010: 404.5
2011: 387.1
2012: 387.8
2013: 379.1
2014: 375.7
2015: 372.6
2016: 386.3
2017: 382.9
2018: 368.9

Violent crime is nearly at its lowest point in three decades. Certain violent crimes also indicate this even more dramatically – the homicide rate in 2018, for example, was only half the homicide rate in 1991.

2. Socioeconomic Status Is Crucial

When you look at cities with higher rates of crime versus cities with lower rates of crime, one thing you notice is that socioeconomic status is a huge indication of safety. Consider, for example, the five safest cities in the United States in terms of violent crime per 100,000.

Hopkinton, Massachusetts: Nearly 0
Bridgefield, Connecticut: Nearly 0
Madison, Connecticut: Nearly 0
Harrison Town, New York: 3.5
Bernards Township, New Jersey: 3.7

While these cities may all share a very low violent crime rate, they also share another important feature: the cities have a median area income over $100,000 per year. On the other hand, the ten most dangerous cities in the United States have a poverty rate over 20%, nearly twice the national average.

3. Looking at Your Neighbors Is Most Important

One of the important things to remember is that you can’t just count on your state’s violent crime rate or even the city’s crime rate. You need to know what’s going on in your immediate area, not just what’s going on in the general vicinity.

This is why many people have started turning to public record search engines, which allows many individuals to search up their address and see more information on criminal problems in the area. If you’re interested in staying safe, your neighborhood should be the first thing you check.

Conclusion

When it comes to staying safe, you need to look at specific data, not just a general “feeling” of safety or danger. It’s also important to remember that the wealthier the area you live in, the safer you’re likely to be. For actual information, make sure you look at your neighbors, not just the nearby cities.

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3 Great Ideas for Your Expanding Business

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Are you thinking of different ways to scale your business? You may have a great product, good employee engagement, and achievable business goals. As you expand, you need to set new goals, improve efficiency, and grow your team. It can be challenging to do this and often too expensive for a small business.

Instead of waiting for your business to expand as customers grow, you need to make moves to push it along. A successful business is continually expanding, so make sure you focus on this right from the start. If you’re wondering how to do this with limited resources, here are some easy ways to start.

1. Consider a virtual CFO service.

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Even if your business is growing, you may not have the cash flow to hire an in-house CFO. It’s essential for expanding companies to have good accounting services and financials to help with cash flow management and meet all your accounting needs. A full-time CFO can manage this for you but can also be too expensive to hire if you’re a small business.

Instead of spending time and money to train team members to handle your business and finance solutions, consider a service that will do it for you. Several companies offer CFO services that do all of this and more at a fraction of the cost. Since you don’t have to spend time training someone, it’s also more efficient to use this option.

The best way to help your business is to hire a fractional CFO service. You can integrate several tasks, including those related to accounts, financials, and bookkeeping, into your organization without any hassle. Since it won’t affect your bottom line the same way a full-time CFO might, it gives your business a chance to be more profitable.

2. Invest in OKR systems.

How do you keep track of what your employees and team members are doing throughout the day? Do you have an easy way to track payroll, financial services, accounting services, and your customer service team? If you don’t already have a key performance indicator, consider investing in one for your company’s sake.

An OKR framework is an invaluable tool for any growing business, whether it’s a large company or a small business operation. If you’re not used to technological advancements finding their way into your business strategy, you may be wondering what is OKR? Known as objectives and key results software, it’s a program that helps you meet company objectives, personal goals, and to set goals for your employees.

Companies benefit from an OKR framework in many ways, especially now that everyone is working remotely. Since remote work options may be the future, it’s crucial to put OKR methodology in place now to ensure your company culture adjusts to it. It’s an excellent way to ensure high output management while getting measurable results and performing regular check-ins with your team.

3. Do your research online.

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One of the best ways to help your small business find a foothold is to research your competition. Knowing how your competitors do business will influence your strategic planning and help you stay ahead in the market. To do proper research, you have to know more than your competitor’s products and target audience.

You should also find out about their company strategy, their business goals, and any milestones they’ve achieved. It can be challenging to do this without the right tools. To compare and contrast one entire organization against another most effectively, it’s a good idea to use a researching platform. Several platforms offer an inside look into the advertising and marketing practices of successful companies.

Using a research platform is more efficient than having your team members spend valuable time trying to find financial reports or a way to determine what ambitious goals your competitors have met so far. You can either use their business goals in new ways or use your research to set new, ambitious goals for your own company.

How to Save Money on Back-to-School Shopping

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Families in the U.S. spend a significant amount every year on back-to-school supplies. It can be expensive to shop for stationery, textbooks, and accessories. And children often need a new wardrobe, too. However, there are several different ways to save money on this yearly expense.

You can check stores for discounts and coupons, or shop for refurbished or used items. Try making the most of refunds, free shipping, and limited warranty options. Moreover, don’t forget to plan and budget to cut out the possibility of any additional financial issues. If you’re trying to save but don’t know how to start, follow these tricks and tips.

Do your homework.

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Before you buy the items you need, do your research. What stores offer the best discounts and warranties, and where will you save the most money? Check the school website and make a list of stores where you can use student discounts. An excellent way to save on back-to-school shopping—especially on outfits for the new school year—is to shop online.

Websites and applications often list clothing items at a lower price than retail stores. Also, make smart choices when you buy clothing. Consider fabric that lasts longer or a piece of clothing with a reversible option. With reversible women’s clothing, you can have two skirts for the price of one. It will help you save money without compromising your desire to wear a variety of different outfits.

Buy used or refurbished items.

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You may need to spend on tablets, laptops, or a smartphone for the new school year. Combined with internet and data rates, it can add up to a significant amount of money. So, instead of buying full-price items at fancy stores, consider buying used or refurbished items.

Do you (or your kid) really need a new device? Or can you can get the same one at a discount if it’s a used item? You can get an iPhone, a laptop, or a tablet like an iPad at a used electronics store. Also, consider refurbished items that are sometimes a better option than used ones. Several online retailers offer refurbished cell phone deals, free shipping, and warranty options.

Get on a budget.

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The best way to save on shopping for the school year is to plan everything properly. Make a list of the different things you need, and set a budget for each one. Does your child need a new backpack in addition to school textbooks? What about a new wardrobe for the start of a new year? Set a strict budget for each item so that any additional cost issues don’t hit you during your shopping trips.

 

Sign up for store emails.

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It’s not easy to find the best prices for school items. An easy way to do this is to sign up for store emails. Most retail stores have back-to-school sales that offer discounts on a variety of products. Online stores sometimes have flash sales where products are cheaper for a few hours. Keep track so you can make the most of these deals and offers.

Shop at clearance stores.

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From a new cardigan to a school backpack, you can find the best deals for everything at clearance stores. Visit a dollar store to find affordable accessories and garments. Keep track of clearance sales at your favorite store or make the most of final sale purchases.

Don’t forget to use coupons.

You can add discount extensions to your browser to inform you of more significant savings on an outfit or accessory you’re looking at online. Check money-saving websites to see if you’re shopping at the right stores. Also, look for coupons and promotional offers in your local newspaper. You can get the best deal of full-price items if you start your shopping before the school term.

To read more on topics like this, check out the Finance category

What’s the Purpose of Communion

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Being a part of a religion and spiritual path can be a very rewarding experience. However, diving deep into its practices to understand the significance of what you’re celebrating and what certain rituals mean can serve to enhance what you’re already reaping from your chosen path. For example, if you’re Catholic, do you know what the purpose of communion is and why you regularly engage in the consumption of wine and wafers? If not, let’s take a closer look at this ritual and what it means for those in the Catholic faith.

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Communion and You

What is communion and what purpose does it serve?

Communion is something that many Christians and Catholics will partake in. But what exactly does it mean? The significance of communion can be traced back to the Last Supper in the Bible. Specifically, in Mattthew 26:26-28, Jesus says to his disciples: “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying:

“Take and eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”

Many see communion as a celebration of Jesus’s sacrifice and a reminder of the love and commitment that he had for those that he sacrificed himself for. By engaging in this practice, you’re showing your commitment to him in the process.

What supplies do you need for communion?

Hosting communion is easy. Although some people may be selective about what they use (for example, some may choose to use unleavened bread), you can easily take communion using wine from your local liquor store and any crackers or bread you may be able to find or goods that you already have on hand. If children are engaging in communion with you, you may wish to use grape juice instead (or provide the children with grape juice while the adults drink from a wine cup).

Beyond the two major ingredients involved in communion that represent the body and the blood of Christ, communion supplies will typically include special cups and bread trays for the wine and bread/crackers. Of course, we’re living in much different times, and the COVID-19 pandemic means that many are meeting from home. The good news? You can still get all of the supplies you need by purchasing a portable communion set that’ll provide you with special cups and trays for your rituals. This way, you can take communion from home safely!

Are there any specific guidelines for taking communion?

The answer to this question depends upon your faith. Some believe that are all worthy and welcome to engage in this practice. Others may follow stricter codes, such as that offered in Corinthians 11:27-32, which states:

“Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.”

If you want to partake in communion, you can either do it alone or ask your church how they engage in this practice (and whether or not there are things that you must do before you can take communion as well).

Certain practices within various religions can seem strange, but learning more about them can make engaging in these rituals that must better. If you regularly take communion and are curious to learn more, the guide above will help you dive deeper into communion, what you’ll need to follow through with this ritual, and who can take it!

To read more on topics like this, check out the Lifestyle category

5 Simple Ways to Get Your Confidence Back After a Divorce

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Nobody goes into a marriage wanting a divorce. When a person marries that special someone, the hope is that each person has found their soul mate. In some relationships though, that is not always the case. In 2020 39% of marriages are ending in divorce. This happens for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons include lack of commitment, too much arguing, infidelity, marrying too young, unrealistic expectations, lack of equality in the relationship, lack of preparation for marriage, and abuse (physical and mental).

This often leads to people seeking out legal resources to begin the divorce process. A lot of people give the reason for no longer being in love as a prime reason for divorce. Over time, the degree of love in a relationship changes, and in some cases people may feel that they have “fallen out of love.” If marriage counseling doesn’t help when this happens, then it’s best to consider separation for the sake of both parties.

Going through the process of divorce can be taxing, and a bit stressful. A person finds that they might have even lost a bit of confidence during the divorce. Once this process is over, and a person has accepted this new stage of their life, things will get better. To get to this point where confidence has been rebuilt, here are a few steps.

1. Begin listing your positive traits and accomplishments.

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Treating oneself as a decent human being is an essential quality for leading a healthy and productive life. After divorce, this becomes somewhat difficult. An air of negativity can cloud a person’s thinking, making them doubt that they are a good person. Once the divorce process is done, a bit of rebuilding is needed.

To start this rebuilding a person should try listing what is positive about themselves, in addition to highlighting what they have accomplished over the years. An individual can begin this process by focusing on the positive which they bought to the relationship. The need to rebuild the “positive frequency” in a person’s life is needed here. Once this positive frequency is rebuilt with bringing up past accomplishments, and positive traits, the confidence begins to be rebuilt.

2. Consider getting a makeover.

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One of the biggest hits that a person experience during a divorce is their confidence. Unless the divorce is amicable, and you leave a person on decent terms, a lot of hurtful things probably have been said by each party, including how a person looks. Some of these words might have been said out of spite to tear a person down.

In addition to this, a person might see their unattractiveness as being a reason why the relationship is ending. Whatever the reason, confidence about one’s physical appearance takes a big hit when divorce occurs. A way to tackle this is by getting a physical makeover.

Maybe this means doing physical activities like hitting the gym, walking around the neighborhood to get fit. A person might do things that are a bit more cosmetic, and on the surface. Buy a new wardrobe. Buy a set of faux mink lashes for a night out on the town. Get a nice-looking haircut. Treat oneself to a pedicure. Makeovers go a long way with raising a person’s confidence.

3. Document your journey.

Keeping a journal often helps with detangling a person’s thoughts and feelings. After going through a divorce, a journal is definitely needed, as a person finds that their minds are cluttered with everything this process brings. One way to not get lost in all of this mental debris is to write your own story. This allows a person an opportunity to get their thoughts out, in the hopes of making sense of it all.

This will allow a person to pinpoint what works and what doesn’t work for them in their goal of becoming a better person. A more confident person. When a person tells their own story, they can then focus on the good of their existence, versus what they perceive as just being wrong.

4. Look forward to the person you want to be.

The divorce has happened, a person is by themselves, and now they have to keep on living. Divorce is not the end of a person’s life. Though it might feel that way at this point, this is not the case.

Divorce doesn’t bring out the best in people, and while its happening things feel stagnant for the individuals involved. Once the process of divorce is over, then a person should begin looking forward to who they want to be. Future growth is essential so that a person can have the best life experience possible post-divorce.

5. Build a support system.

Friends can be extremely helpful in building one’s confidence. When a divorce occurs, it helps to have such a support system. Whether it’s a friend calling with a dumb joke or another friend who is just calling to check in, having a solid support system can help with rebuilding a person’s self-confidence.

To read more on topics like this, check out the Lifestyle category

Winter Safety Tips: How to Prepare Yourself Before the Cold Weather Hits

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Fall is right around the corner, and people’s thoughts are turning to pumpkin spice everything, cozy nights by the fire, and dressing up to head out and get candy on Halloween. There are many, many amazing things to love about the fall season, but it’s also important to remember that after the coziness of fall comes the cold of winter.

While you’re enjoying the brisk breezes and crisp falling leaves of fall, don’t forget to start preparing yourself and your home for the long winter months ahead. Below, you can find a few winter safety tips to help you get prepared before the cold weather hits.

Replenish your wardrobe.

While there are many of your autumn clothes that might work well for the first part of winter, as the season progresses you’re going to need everything from thick coats to snow boots and from winter pants to bulky sweaters and hoodies to get your through. One of the main articles of clothing you’ll need to replenish your winter wardrobe with is womens scarves.

Not only can a good women’s scarf help provide some added warmth, but they also are fashionable and can be worn with just about any outfit, whether it’s elegant, work attire, or casual wear. There are many uses for the winter scarves in your life, you just have to know how to use them.

Have your roof inspected.

A broken roof or clogged gutter can impact the curb appeal of your home and lead to expensive roof inspection costs for homeowners. The type of roof doesn’t matter, either. It could be a flat roof, tile roof, or a new roof with your conventional asphalt shingles. At the beginning of the fall season, go ahead and contact a reputable roof repair Pittsburgh service to come to inspect and repair your roof if needed. Roof contractors often provide a free estimate and will tell you if you’re looking at roof damage like a small leak or if you need an entire roof replacement or gutter installation.

Professionals will be looking for cracked caulking, rust spots on the flashing, shingles that are curling, buckling, or blistering, rubber boots around the vent pipes that are cracked and worn, and any signs of moss and lichen, which could be a symptom of decay.

Inspect your fireplace and chimney.

A visual inspection, both inside and outside of your home can ensure that your wood-burning fireplace is ready to burn this upcoming season. When inspecting the outside of the fireplace make sure that there are no tree limbs hanging above or near your chimney, as well as signs that birds have built nests near the cap.

You also want to ensure that the chimney cap is durable as well.

Once you’ve inspected the outside, inspect the inside by making sure your flue damper opens, closes, and is sealed properly. Don’t forget to check that there are no bird nests or other debris blocking your flue. You also want to clean your fireplace and the surrounding area, as well as making sure there are no cracked bricks or missing mortar.

Making sure that your fireplace and chimney are in great working order before you light that first fire of the season is essential to keeping your family warm and safe this winter.

 

Stay hydrated.

During the winter months, it’s much simpler to reach for hot cocoa, tea, and coffee than it is when it’s extremely hot outside. However, even though those drinks have water in them, they can’t replace drinking the required amount of water every day. You still need to carry that bottle of water around with you and even though you may not feel as thirsty as you do during the summer months, your body still needs that hydration to keep you healthy and your immune system going strong.

These are just a few of the best winter safety tips that you should follow this season. Winter can be fun, you just need to know how to stay healthy and safe while having it.

To read more on topics like this, check out the Lifestyle category

What Are You Really Paying for at College

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It’s no secret that college tuition has increased dramatically over the last few decades. People today pay far more for both public and private college than they did only a few decades ago, even accounting for inflation. However, even with the more public attention on college costs, it’s common for people not to really know what their money goes toward. When you pay for college, what does your tuition actually pay for? Here’s what you’ve been looking for.

What Does Your College Tuition Actually Pay For?

The Breakdown Per $100

Although colleges don’t usually give this information to students directly, they do still report it to the United States Department of Education. The Department of Education then makes that information public so people can analyze it and understand a little bit more about how these colleges work.

When you start to look through this information, you’ll be able to get a better understanding of the way this money works out. Here’s the breakdown in terms of how much colleges spend per $100.

For every $100 in tuition, on average $61.46 goes to expenses that more traditionally correspond to educational services. This is the breakdown of that $61.46:

$15.81 – Salaries
$11.47 – General Instruction Expenses
$9.61 – Auxiliary Student Enterprises
$8.26 – Academic Support
$8.15 – Institutional Support
$4.75 – Student Services
$3.41 – Grants and Financial Aid

This means, then, that on average $38.54 of every $100 goes toward elements of the collegiate experience that don’t necessarily contribute directly to college expenses. Here’s the breakdown of that number:

$15.58 – Hospitals and Healthcare
$11.66 – Research
$6.25 – Other, Including Taxes and Liabilities
$4.52 – Public Services
$0.53 – Independent Operations

Differences in Costs Between Private and Public Colleges

As you probably already knew, public and private colleges have vastly different prices. The College Board reported that for a full-time student to attend an in-state public school, it costs on average $21,950, room and board included. The same arrangement for a private college, however, is $49,870 on average.

You can see this reflected in the way the tuition costs break down. At a public college, about $5,987.96 of your overall tuition will go to salaries. At a private school, that figure nearly triples to $15,315.08. The differences are starkest in salaries, healthcare costs, institutional support, and research.

Tuition As Part of Operating Costs

Another interesting element of tuition has to do with the percentage of a budget that tuition makes up at a college. Colleges typically can’t cover all their expenses through tuition; public colleges usually get additional government grants, while private colleges often have endowments.

In 2000, on average, public higher education establishments covered around 29.2% of their costs with tuition. However, in 2018, tuition had increased by more than 25% and public higher education establishments covered on average around 46.6% of their costs with it.

Conclusion

There are a lot of interesting things to learn about how college works in the United States from this information. With more and more people campaigning for reduced tuition and many students openly expressing frustration at the situation, it could be that people are interested in changing things up. Maybe sometime within the next few years, college will be more affordable and available for everyone.

To read more on topics like this, check out the Finance category

4 Best Birthday Party Ideas for 2020

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Birthday parties are always an anticipated event in any household. There are so many fun things you can do, and every year there’s a new idea or theme to consider. Whether you prefer a more traditional approach to plan a party or would like to experiment with trendy themes, here’s our list of ideas that will make an upcoming birthday milestone an unforgettable event.

Go all out with a carnival-themed party

Fairground rides are always popular, especially with kids. If you’re thinking of planning something grand and big, why not hire rides and stalls that everyone will enjoy? Rental companies like https://www.wearetricycle.co.uk offer a range of packages depending on the size of the event. Also, you can choose rides that will fit your theme. For instance, if you anticipate mostly young kids, then it’s best to rent child-friendly rides and activity stalls. You can also rent food carts and booths, which means less work on your part when it comes to catering and food preparation.

Escape-room themed event

Escape rooms have been around for quite some time now, but we’ve yet to see it become the next big trend for birthday parties. It’s the perfect option for tweens and teens who are expecting something more exciting. Also, it’s a step away from the conventional party themes everyone has gotten used to throughout the years. However, if you’re planning to go to an escape room for a party, there’s only a maximum number of people you’ll be allowed to accommodate. An alternative would be to create your own escape room scenario at home or a rented venue. But, know that this will require more planning and a lot more work on your part.

A simple drive-by around the neighbourhood

For those looking for something simple yet still memorable, a drive-by might be the one for you. This idea is perfect for the current circumstances, especially since most large gatherings are discouraged due to the pandemic. Don’t worry, because, with a bit of creativity, you can make a drive-by birthday fun. For example, you can make a big streamer and put it outside your car. You can also add balloons and streamers while blasting fun tunes. If you’ve notified people about the party, they can simply drop-off presents at your door.

Virtual birthday party

Since the world is still in the middle of an ongoing pandemic, most families try to avoid holding big gatherings, even if it’s to celebrate a birthday. Fortunately, many have started experimenting with virtual parties using video-conferencing platforms. It’s a great idea because some of your relatives may still be on lock-down and can’t come over to visit. A virtual party held at home will allow you to invite as many people as possible. For kids, you can set up a simple birthday table with cake and balloons and have everyone log in at the same time to greet the celebrant a happy birthday. You can also play games online to make the event more exciting. When it comes to presents, guests can send them over by courier or mail to avoid unnecessary physical contact.

To read more on topics like this, check out the Family category

Learn To Play Online Games and Win Real Cash With Your Skills

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Online games have their different world. This is not only about those high intensive graphical games with a lot of action nor about those open world games that let you be simulated among their map but also about strategies and even real games. There are different types of strategy games that you can play with real people and make real money. These may include betting games too that you use to play in casino. There are different types of casino games available on the online platforms with the decent graphics as well as well coded mechanism that could give you just the real experience as you are playing in the real casino. There are tons of things that you can do if you don’t want to waste more money in travelling to casino.

Casinos are always going to give you a feel like you are inside the one but if you want to play these games being at your home and make more money with your prediction and experience, you can still play this from freespinsonelinecasinos.jp and make a lot of money. These are the real players you are playing with and they are also using the same gadget that you are using in order to play with you on the online platform. Moreover, there might be a lot of steps that you can learn if you also want to play these games like-

Steps to follow:

You need to choose the website that is providing you these games and their mechanism in order that you could make this personalized.

  1. Once, you visited on the website, you would be asked to register yourself and make yourself added as a member of that website.
  2. After successful registration, you can start playing games. You can also choose the events in you want to bet.
  3. You need sufficient account balance for that you can recharge your wallet and start betting the amount.
  4. You need to build the strategy that could let you win those games and can let you make more money.

Winning amounts in these games are not that tough but if you are including loss double investment or profit double investment method click here, you are really going to win every time. You just need to remember one thing like you need to have sufficient balance if you are using any of these methods because you can lose frequently and for that you need to have sufficient balance.

To read more on topics like this, check out the Technology category

Tips for Hiring a Experienced Real Estate Proessional

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Hiring an experienced, local, full-service real estate professional is of the utmost importance when selling your home. Your home is most likely one of the most important investments you’ve ever made. Protect your investment by hiring the best real estate broker to help you with the sale. Hire a broker who can get you the most money, with the least amount of stress and in the least amount of time.

Hire a Full-Service Real Estate Broker

It’s very important to hire a broker who offers full services and doesn’t just put your listing in the MLS. You want someone with a comprehensive marketing plan, who communicates and stays in touch with you and who will work with you every step of the way from before listing all the way through closing. Some sellers are just looking for brokers who charge low commission rates. It’s not just about the amount of commission a broker charges. Sometimes it can cost you a lot of money if you don’t hire a knowledgeable, full-service real estate broker.

Experience and Expertise are a Must

Be sure to hire a real estate broker who has lived and worked in your area for quite awhile. A local broker will have a lot of expertise in the area and will know the market best. Make sure you hire a real estate broker with experience and who has been in the business for years. For example, the best broker will have many years of real estate experience and will have worked in different markets, such as buyer’s markets and seller’s markets. He or she should also know current market trends and be able to give you a lot of advice to help you prepare your home for sale and through the entire selling process. Be sure your broker has negotiating experience will be able to manipulate the sale in your favor. Finally, be sure your broker has a problem-solver mindset and is attentive to detail, as this can cost you thousands of dollars if any mistakes are made.

Pre-Listing Services and Advice

Your real estate broker will perform many pre-listing services for you at your listing appointment and before you list your house. One such service may include providing you with a listing book with pricing strategies and their marketing program. They should also give you advice on anything your house needs before you list it such as repairs, updates and upgrades, staging and more.

1) A good real estate broker will prepare a comprehensive listing book with a comparative market analysis (CMA)in it and their pricing recommendations. The CMA will include comparable homes that have sold in the past six months or so, homes that are currently on the market and homes that are under contract and pending closing. They should give you pricing recommendations which should range from an aggressive listing price to a conservative listing price. The book should also include a net sheet or closing proceeds sheet that will spell out all of the approximate costs to sell your house including commission, title charges, city, state and county fees, attorney fees, survey cost and more. The book may include a legal listing agreement that you will sign with your broker. Your broker should also include their marketing program in the listing book so you know exactly what to expect from them and have it in writing.

2) Your broker should walk through the house with you and give you advice on any necessary repairs they see. If your broker can see any obvious defects or safety hazards, it’s best to get the issues repaired or replaced before listing. They will come up in the buyer’s home inspection anyhow, so it’s best to get them taken care of ahead of time. You will get a better offer and essentially more money for your home if there aren’t obvious problems that can be seen with the naked eye.

3) Your broker should give you recommendations on updating, upgrading and simple staging tips that will make your house more desirable to buyers. He will be able to advise you on the trending colors and materials that buyers are looking for. Listen to your broker if painting and replacing carpeting or flooring is recommended. Updating your kitchen and bathrooms will also help your sale. Your broker will probably tell you to de-clutter as much as possible. He should be able to give you simple staging advice or recommend a staging company. Today’s buyers are looking for move-in ready homes that don’t need much updating and work done after closing.

Their Marketing Program

Your real estate broker should have a comprehensive marketing program to expose your listing to as many people and potential buyers as possible.

1) The local multiple listing system

First and foremost they should be putting your listing into their local multiple listing system (MLS.) This will expose your listing to thousands of member brokers in the local MLS who may have a buyer for your home.

2) Professional quality listing photos

Your broker should have a professional real estate photographer take photos of your home. If your broker takes photos themselves, be sure they use a professional camera with a wide lens. Your listing photos will be used in all of the marketing so having high quality photos is very important. Some brokers will have drone photos and videos taken of the outside of your home, above and around your home. Virtual tour photos and videos are also advised. The more quality photos and videos buyers can see, the better chance they will want to come see your home in person.

3) A yard sign

Be sure your broker puts a “for sale” sign up in your yard. Some buyers like to drive through their desired neighborhoods to see what’s for sale. Also, some of your neighbors might know someone who wants to move into the neighborhood.

4) The internet

More than 90% of buyers look for homes on the internet before they have their real estate broker show them homes. Be sure your broker puts your listing on websites such as Realtor.com, Zillow.com, Trulia.com, Homes.com, Yahoo.com and more websites. Some buyers see homes they are interested in on social media. Ask your broker for a link to put on your social media and have family and friends share it.

5) Open houses

Some brokers still host open houses. A smaller percentage of homes are sold as a result of open houses since there are so many people who browse the internet instead of attending open houses. Many real estate professionals agree that internet photos and videos are the “new” open houses. Discuss whether or not an open house is important to you with your broker.

6) Print advertising and marketing

Most brokers don’t put ads in newspapers of real estate guides anymore. However, having printed flyers inside your home for buyers and their brokers to take is advisable. Some brokers will attach a box to your yard sign with flyers in it. Some brokers will mail out postcards to your neighborhood and surrounding neighborhoods to market your listing.

7) Email campaign

Some brokers email your listing to all brokers in the area. They may email it to their current and past clients to see if they are interested or know anyone who might be interested in your home. They may also email it to the well vetted contractors, mortgage brokers, home inspectors, moving companies, appraisers, home staging companies and more people in their network.

Having a good real estate professional really does matter when selling your home. You’ll sell your house faster and make more money having an experienced broker. If you are looking to sell your home in the Scottsdale, AZ market you need look no further than the Scottsdale realtor team The Kay-Grant Group.