Business : BDC Blog News

5 Best Ways To Close More Real Estate Syndication Deals In Less Time

Real estate syndication is the process of developing a pool of investors for funding a real estate project. So, technically, a syndicator needs to master the art of selling a concept, a real estate project that will bring profit shares to the investor’s accounts. However, closing real estate syndication deals

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The most popular pastime on a computer in the UK

Video games Creativity is sparked by playing video games. Adults, as much as children, need the ability to be creative. Do you realise just how much of our day-to-day activities and professional careers are reliant on our capacity for original thought?  Even the driest field in the world requires some

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Is It Hard To Build Your Own Home?

Most aspiring homeowners prefer buying already-built homes, while others prefer building one themselves.  The buying option is pretty straightforward; make a budget, get on the market for a home within your budget, buy, and the house is yours to live in. On the other hand, building a house is quite

Read More »

Manufactured Homes: Everything You Need to Know

Today, the options available when it comes to homeownership and property ownership are vast and varied. There’s something out there to suit any need, preference and purpose – from sweet, compact apartments for rental use to big, standalone homes for your family to live in. Manufactured homes are just one

Read More »

How X-Ray Inspections Improve Food Packaging Safety

When you’re in a food manufacturing setup, nothing is more significant than maintaining and keeping every food product safe for consumption. For this to be successful, you must implement the principles of food safety and sanitation in every process.  In a medium to large manufacturing setup, checking every product one

Read More »

Selco unveils new charity partner for 2022

Selco Builders Warehouse has announced Cancer Research UK as its new charity partner for 2022. The nationwide builders’ merchant will stage a range of fundraising events in support of Cancer Research UK, which funds doctors, nurses and scientists to carry out pioneering research to help provide a solution to defeating

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5 Things To Consider When Choosing A Commercial Overhead Door

Commercial overhead doors are essential across different industries and are used by retail stores, garages, and warehouses. But despite their importance, most business owners downplay their significance and instead only concentrate on other matters such as inventory, buying equipment, and creating a suitable interior décor. However, it would help if

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Latest Issue
Issue 323 : Dec 2024

Business : BDC Blog News

Legal Assistance Is Something We Love to Provide : Sit Down With Us!

Need legal assistance but don’t know how to start? You’re not alone. Many people find themselves in the same situation every day. The good news is that you can follow a few tips to make the process a little bit easier. We will discuss some of the best ways to get legal assistance without spending a fortune. 1. Talk to Family and Friends One of the best ways to get legal assistance is talking to your family and friends. They may know of a good lawyer who can help you with your case. Plus, they will be able to give you some helpful advice along the way. If you don’t have any family or friends who are lawyers, you can always search for one online. Many websites allow you to search for lawyers in your area. Just make sure you do your research before hiring anyone. 2. Ask Your Employer If you need legal assistance, your employer may be able to help. Many companies have lawyers on staff who can help their employees with various legal issues. It is an excellent option if you don’t know anyone else who can help you. Plus, it’s is likely to be free! All you have to do is ask. 3. Contact Your State’s Bar Association Contact your state’s bar association if you need legal assistance and don’t know where to start. They can help connect you with a suitable lawyer for your case. They may also be able to provide you with some helpful resources. 4. Use A Lawyer Referral Service If you don’t have any family or friends who are lawyers, you can always use a lawyer referral service. It is an excellent option if you need to find a lawyer quickly. Lawyer referral services will connect you with a suitable lawyer for your case. Just make sure you do your research before hiring anyone. 5. Contact A Legal Aid Society If you can’t afford to hire a lawyer, contact a legal aid society. They will connect you with a lawyer who is suitable for your case. Just make sure you meet the eligibility criteria. 6. Use A Pro Bono Service If you still can’t find a suitable lawyer for your case, consider using a pro bono service. Pro bono services are free legal services provided by lawyers willing to help people in need. Just make sure you meet the eligibility criteria. 7. Consult a Legal Expert Consult with a legal expert such as Parker Waichman LLP NY if you don’t know where to start. They can help connect you with the right resources and give you some helpful advice. Just make sure you do your research before hiring anyone. 8. Go to Court If all else fails, go to court. It is the last resort, but it may be the best option for you. Just make sure you have a lawyer who can help you with your case. 9. Consider Self-Representation If you can’t afford to hire a lawyer or don’t think it’s necessary, you may want to consider self-representation. It means representing yourself in court. While it can be tricky, many resources are available to help you. Just make sure you do your research before making any decisions. Conclusion Getting legal assistance can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. You can find the right lawyer for your case by following these tips. Just make sure you do your research before hiring anyone.

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5 Best Ways To Close More Real Estate Syndication Deals In Less Time

Real estate syndication is the process of developing a pool of investors for funding a real estate project. So, technically, a syndicator needs to master the art of selling a concept, a real estate project that will bring profit shares to the investor’s accounts. However, closing real estate syndication deals is not as simple as it seems. Most online courses and institutes may train aspiring syndicators in the paperwork involved. However, the ability to convince investors is the key to success in real estate syndication. There won’t be any paperwork possible without raising funds from potential investors. Then, how can syndicators close deals faster? Are there any special techniques to pitch real estate syndication deals? How to close real estate deals efficiently? To succeed in real estate syndication consistently, syndicators must apply some crucial strategies to attain better results. Here are the top 5 ways to do that: 1. Draw a Marketing Strategy To close more real estate syndication deals, you must keep working in multiple directions. Keep finding profitable deals, keep finding potential investors, attract the potential investors to your ongoing or upcoming deals, and manage current deals effectively.  Spread your marketing efforts to find real estate deals and investors across multiple channels. To succeed on all these fronts simultaneously, adopt the latest technology-driven solutions like real estate syndication software. The solution helps you bring all your operations to one single user-friendly dashboard. Make effective use of social media channels, forums, your network in the industry, and other sources to popularize the real estate deals. This multidimensional approach helps you get leads from various sources.  2. Listen To Them Carefully Every accredited or non-accredited investor would have their own goals and priorities. Make them express their goals and intentions beforehand. Understanding the needs of your investors should be your top priority.  This communication may occur through an email newsletter carrying a questionnaire, a face-to-face meeting, over a phone call, or over an online virtual session. You must be a good listener first. That helps you present your idea as a solution to their needs and wants.  Segregate your prospects based on their investment capacity, location, property class they are keen to invest in, and financial goals. 3. Pitch Your Project Aligning To Their Needs Usually, your project summary would be listed on the dashboard of the real estate syndication platform and other sales collateral you keep distributing to attract investors. Most importantly, along with the technical features, amenities, and further crucial details, your pitch must target the investment goals of your audience. If you are pitching the idea to a prospect, try keeping first things first. Let the potential investors know what they will gain, how the project is profitable, and what period. Sweeten your deal to make it an offer the prospect would never want to reject. Queries of accredited investors and non-accredited investors regarding the project might be entirely different. Try to include answers to common questions in your pitch itself. That helps you convince the investor and close deals faster. 4. Build Trust  Trust you develop among your pool of investors plays a crucial role in closing deals faster when the time comes. Following business ethics, best management practices effectively and consistently, and keeping your prospects updated about the real estate syndication deals should be integral parts of your work culture. These factors help you build your rapport with the prospects. At the same time, they would feel closely associated with you, as you would be reaching their inboxes very often.  So, as and when the real estate fundraising process starts, they would be prepared for that. Thus, effective communication and trust help you close deals faster in the long run. 5. Understand and Implement Closing Techniques Though closing real estate syndication deals is a process, you may get limited time to actually interact with your potential investors. Syndicators need to strategize your sales communication following some powerful closing techniques: Summarize Emphasize the plus points in your real estate deals assertively.  Sense of Urgency Sometimes, you may need to make it a now-or-never kind of an offer to close deals faster. You can compel (without being pushy) investors by asking them to grab the investment opportunity right away.  Ask the right questions. Analyze their goals and ask the right questions that help them decide to be a part of your real estate syndication. Wrap up the real estate syndication deals innovatively. Negotiate innovatively. Present your real estate syndication deals to create a win-win situation.  The Takeaway The article covers the 5 ways to close more real estate syndication deals. We hope that the techniques briefed here will help you generate more leads and quickly take the leads through the sales funnel to close deals faster. Adopt the best real estate syndication platform to automate your workflow and get better results as a real estate syndicator.

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The most popular pastime on a computer in the UK

Video games Creativity is sparked by playing video games. Adults, as much as children, need the ability to be creative. Do you realise just how much of our day-to-day activities and professional careers are reliant on our capacity for original thought?  Even the driest field in the world requires some inventiveness in order to function. The importance of creative playtime in the development of closeness in relationships cannot be overstated, and it can even help to avert criminal tendencies in some individuals.  When we talk about “thinking beyond the box” games, we’re not simply referring to role-playing simulations like The Sims or games where you can test your interior design skills. Similar to virtual escape rooms where you may play out riddles and logical mini-games in the comfort of your own home in a safe virtual setting. As a result, you’ll be more likely to come up with inventive solutions to real-world problems. The seeming lack of focus and short attention span of today’s youth is one of the most pressing concerns facing this age.  Everything we do is geared at satisfying our insatiable want for rapid fulfilment. Everything, except for games. One of the few remaining activities that need complete attention to the activity at hand is gaming. In order to really participate, you can’t be distracted by your phone or by half-paying attention. In order to answer the riddle, you must immerse yourself in the universe shown to you, and your brain must work to do so.   Online poker The United Kingdom has long been known as a nation that enjoys gambling. Even if you don’t care about sports or gambling, the Grand National is a good example of individuals who don’t even think about these things joining in the fun and betting on horses just because they like the name or the colour of their jockeys’ silks. Gambling should be enjoyable, and the people of the United Kingdom embody this ideal.  According to detailed research, it is important to find a reliable resource for finding the greatest providers for online poker games, it’s also worth remembering that the United Kingdom’s regulations played an important role in establishing online poker as the popular form of poker it is now. It has become widely available across many providers so it’s good for new players to properly examine each provider to see which one can suit them best. (Source: sportslens UK) Thanks to pioneering poker TV shows like Late Night Poker, we wouldn’t be here right now, enjoying the non-stop, 24-hour buffet of poker, where everyone who can play this fascinating game may win a life-changing sum of money in a matter of minutes. As bizarre as it may seem, this has been going on for millennia! In a world where online poker has become as ‘normal’ as the internet itself, many players who are reading this article are unaware that they were born at the same time as the global phenomenon of online poker, which was ignited by the likes of the late great, WSOP bracelet-winning, Poker Hall of Fame inductee David ‘Devilfish’ Ulliot and his peers. Online poker The United Kingdom has long been known as a nation that enjoys gambling. Even if you don’t care about sports or gambling, the Grand National is a good example of individuals who don’t even think about these things joining in the fun and betting on horses just because they like the name or the colour of their jockeys’ silks. Gambling should be enjoyable, and the people of the United Kingdom embody this ideal. Learn an instrument online If you want to learn an instrument but don’t want to spend a lot of money or time, consider starting with the ukulele. Practising for an hour a couple of times a week will yield quick results with one that is reasonably priced (around £20). The Ukulele Tricks YouTube channel is an excellent resource for learning the fundamentals of playing the ukulele. Learn how to create animation Animation is the process of adding movement to a still picture, photograph, or drawing. Making a motionless picture appear to move, such as by making it run, walk or leap is the art of illusionism.  On the right-hand corners of a flipbook, I would draw a sequence of pictures, or stick figures, each one somewhat different from the one that came before it. The stick guy appeared to be sprinting as the book was finished and swiftly glanced through. To a large extent, animation and cartoons are the same.  The act of rapidly displaying a series of pictures in order to give the impression that something is moving is known as animation. It’s a motion-based optical illusion that’s grown immensely in popularity over the years. Computer-aided animation has become a tremendously powerful tool for animators. There are many forms of animation to choose from.      

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Is It Hard To Build Your Own Home?

Most aspiring homeowners prefer buying already-built homes, while others prefer building one themselves.  The buying option is pretty straightforward; make a budget, get on the market for a home within your budget, buy, and the house is yours to live in. On the other hand, building a house is quite different and may not be as straightforward.  However, being complicated doesn’t mean it is not a viable option. If you are yet to decide on building or buying a home, this post can make your decision-making process easier. It Starts With the Design The best part of building a house as opposed to buying is that you have the privilege of choosing the design you want for a home. While you may also get your design through buying, you may not have the luxury of customizing your home to the last detail of your expectation. You may have an idea of the type of house you need, but bringing the concept to life may not be your thing, and it doesn’t have to. All you will need is to communicate your dream house’s mental picture to a home builder and designer, and they will help bring your mental picture to life. Cost of Building a Home The cost of building a house from scratch is dependent on the cost of land and construction.  Going by the data from UDIA, the cost of land and building a 222.5sqm was at $857,638.50 in 2019. During the same period, the cost of buying an already-built house sitting on was $1,134,809.50.  Going by these figures, Building is $277,171 cheaper than buying one. But the cost isn’t the only factor to consider when determining the complexity or simplicity of building a house. Other factors such as time, convenience, and access to funding are also important. Benefits of Building a Home You get what you want. If you have a design that you do not want to compromise on, getting a house to fit your exact need will be a challenge. You may find building a house easier than buying one from such a perspective. You can guarantee the condition of the home’s appliances and fittings. When moving into an old home, there is always a chance that some fittings and appliances such as the weather conditioning systems, pipes, and electrical fittings are old and require an overhaul, driving the expenses involved in acquiring a home even higher. Cons of Building a Home Getting funding for building a house can be more of a challenge than taking a loan to buy an already built house. This is because the lending company will need collateral. The home will be the collateral for the already built home, so the lender knows they can recover their money if you default on payments. If money is a challenge, you may see buying the home option as the easier one. Time. If you are looking to move in fast, building a house may not be an option. Signing contracts, having your plans approved and finishing the construction can be quite a process.  Building a home can easily overwhelm anybody. While most of the heavy lifting will be with your contractor, the burden of financing will be on your shoulders and can at times be more than anticipated, which can result in stressful situations. Final Words If the focus is entirely on the financial aspect, building a home is cheaper than buying one. Other factors also play a role when determining the complexity or the simplicity of building a home, so the choice will largely depend on what you want and when you want it.

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Manufactured Homes: Everything You Need to Know

Today, the options available when it comes to homeownership and property ownership are vast and varied. There’s something out there to suit any need, preference and purpose – from sweet, compact apartments for rental use to big, standalone homes for your family to live in. Manufactured homes are just one of the many options available to future homeowners in America. Scratch out the old-fashioned idea in your head that you may have about mobile homes. In 2022, this is a great housing option that shouldn’t be sneered at. If you’re unsure what manufactured homes are or what they might offer you as a homebuyer, here’s a quick guide to everything you need to know. What is a Manufactured Home? If you’re familiar with the concept of a mobile home, it’s easy to understand that manufactured homes are quite simply vastly improved versions of this type of accommodation. Manufactured homes are more strictly regulated, safer and more durably built, as well as more modern and aesthetically pleasing, whilst still being far more affordable than your traditional home built in the USA. Most manufactured homes today, which are built in sections and assembled on a selected plot of land, are beautifully designed and modern with a selection of different floor plans and finishings to choose from. How Do You Buy One? Some people are aware of the risks of investing in mobile home parks, but few recognise the massive benefits. Whether you’re buying manufactured homes to rent out or to live in yourself, they’re a great investment opportunity for any potential homeowner. Your options for buying a manufactured home are also wide. You could purchase (or rent) a home from an estate agent just like you would with any other home. However, you also have the option of buying your manufactured home from a retailer, and having it assembled and installed on a plot of land that you’ve rented or purchased yourself. Buying a manufactured home from a retailer will give you the option to look at different models, sizes and layouts and choose what best suits your needs. What is it Like to Live in One? Living in a manufactured home isn’t all that different from the traditional site-built house or apartment. In fact, they can even be considered quieter and more comfortable than your standard home. Since manufactured homes are typically placed within a community, the neighbourhoods are often very family-oriented and safe, with friendly neighbours. The homes are also often trendy and modern, making the living experience comfortable and pleasing to the eye, no matter what your personal style is. Your cost of living is also typically lower as a manufactured home resident, allowing for more space in your budget for other expenses you might need or want to enjoy. What Are the Advantages? Purchasing a manufactured home usually offers you a high level of personalisation and control over the final look and layout of your home, but with far less hassle and financial strain than building a traditional home from the ground up, since they’re much cheaper. Manufactured homes are also built and installed far quicker than the time it would take to design and build a traditional home. Since the home is built at a facility, it is controlled and regulated and the process won’t be interrupted by weather and other unplanned circumstances. This will allow you to have a clear and set date for when your home will be finished and ready for you. What Are the Disadvantages? Unfortunately, you might be faced with more limited financing options than with a traditionally built home. This comes down to the legal considerations of what constitutes ‘property’ and ‘real estate’. You’ll need to do some research in order to understand the finer details of this factor. Another disadvantage is that these homes seldom appreciate in value as a site-built home would do. This is due to the nature of the construction and could relate to the stigma that still exists surrounding mobile homes, despite the fact that manufactured homes are not technically mobile. Conclusion It’s important to consider all the pros and cons of such an investment, whilst also taking into account your personal plans and desired uses for the manufactured home. There are many considerations to make and various factors that should play a role in your decision. All in all, manufactured homes are definitely an affordable and exciting option for potential homeowners and investors looking to get into the property market.

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How X-Ray Inspections Improve Food Packaging Safety

When you’re in a food manufacturing setup, nothing is more significant than maintaining and keeping every food product safe for consumption. For this to be successful, you must implement the principles of food safety and sanitation in every process.  In a medium to large manufacturing setup, checking every product one by one is time-consuming, inefficient, and unproductive. So, it’s essential to adapt the application of advanced inspection systems you can find, specifically the use of X-rays. X-ray is one of the most efficient ways to implement food safety appropriately. A new era of food packaging and safety began when it was introduced. It significantly improved the quality of every product by thoroughly inspecting each product, boosting overall production, reducing company losses, and increasing market value and consumer trust. However, foreign materials still exist even with this technology. But there’s nothing to worry about as X-ray systems continue to evolve and develop over time. If you’re looking for an X-ray inspection system, you may visit tdipacksys.com/inspection-systems/x-ray or your local specialized and advanced equipment provider.  Furthermore, here are the ways X-rays improve food packaging safety:  Improves Contaminant Detection  Before X-ray solutions were introduced, most food companies implemented a stricter detection process. Each product passes through different professional inspectors, who used traditional screening methods back then. However, humans are prone to errors, which often result in recalls, affecting the company’s reputation and revenue.  But when X-ray inspection was introduced, contaminant detection was improved effectively and efficiently using the level of technology that previously wasn’t accessible. Also, it reduces product recalls almost to nothing due to the automated screening method. Thus, promoting a new level of security and safety to the food industry. Since X-ray inspection is based on the intensity of variations, it can detect more foreign objects from food than other equipment, such as metal detectors. It can detect various physical contaminants, such as metals, stones, bones, glass debris, rubber, and wood. Checks Item Count Per Box Before Distribution  Even in this advanced technology, many companies still use manual processes to put finished items in the box before distribution. Unfortunately, people may neglect to count the products in each box, especially if the conveyor line moves at speeds. So, there are chances that they may not notice if one of these lacks a piece.  X-ray inspections prevent this from happening. These ensure that all boxes contain the right amount of goods, depending on your clients’ orders. If it has missing pieces, there’s a chance that other products in the box bump on each other and cause leaks and damage, compromising food safety.  Monitors Fill Levels Of Every Product  In the automatic packaging line, not all products may be filled appropriately. There are instances when the system that controls and oversees the entire production process may fail. Unfortunately, humans can’t manage the whole packaging line looking for possible errors. X-ray inspections may help you prevent such cases from happening. They can be programmed to detect items that lack the appropriate amount or volume based on their appearance and weight. So, how can it affect the safety of the product?  Some products have added components to prolong and secure the shelf-life of the food. For example, a bag of potato chips is half-filled with nitrogen gas to maintain a stable shelf-life and prevent the growth of spoilage bacteria. If such items are released without thorough checking, people may consume defective products and may cause harm. Checks Damaged And Broken Goods Damaged goods are a big no-no in the food industry. It’s of the common causes of contamination that may affect other goods near them. For example, a slightly dented canned good may have a tiny leak that is not visible to the naked eye but is beneficial for germs to thrive and cause spoilage. Also, these small leaks may damage other canned goods and cause chemical reactions, such as rusting.  However, not all consumers are vigilant about what they see in the market. Many of them don’t even try to check the condition of what they purchase. If this happens, people might probably consume those that are already contaminated. If they got sick and found out its cause, they would likely file a lawsuit against your company, which is one of the things you’d want to avoid at all costs. Fortunately, an advanced X-ray inspection system can detect damaged and defective items. In addition, it can see even the most minor mishaps in your product and separate it from those in good condition. This will help you secure that all products you release in the market are safe for consumption and away from any possible causes of contamination.  Inspects Product Seal Product sealing in the food industry can be challenging in many different ways, especially if a product needs to undergo high pressure and temperature treatment. However, some products may not be adequately sealed, and the problem begins once they reach your customers.  Improper sealing is another common cause of contamination. It allows air from the outside to seep inside, contaminating the food. Therefore, it’s crucial to identify products that failed to seal correctly and prevent them from being distributed to other places. And the best way to achieve this is with the use of advanced X-ray solutions. X-ray inspections will help you detect products that are not appropriately sealed automatically. As mentioned before, X-ray inspection can see even minor details. So, even the tiny scratch and opening will be detected and removed from the line.  Final Words Packaging occurs in many phases in a food production system. So, it’s only essential to ensure that each process is done correctly based on many standards to be followed. To be successful, you might need an advanced X-ray inspection system. X-ray inspections help improve the safety of your packaging by detecting contaminants, ensuring product count, checking damaged and broken pieces, monitoring filling levels, and checking proper sealing. If this discussion opens up your mind and interest, contact the local specialty equipment provider in your area

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Selco unveils new charity partner for 2022

Selco Builders Warehouse has announced Cancer Research UK as its new charity partner for 2022. The nationwide builders’ merchant will stage a range of fundraising events in support of Cancer Research UK, which funds doctors, nurses and scientists to carry out pioneering research to help provide a solution to defeating cancer. Selco has a strong reputation for its fundraising exploits and, despite the pandemic, raised in excess of £100,000 for its previous charity partner Global’s Make Some Noise in each of the last two years. Selco’s charity coffers have already been boosted for Cancer Research UK with a donation of £5,861.78 being made from sales of carrier bags over recent months. Carine Jessamine, marketing director of Selco Builders Warehouse, said: “We are thrilled to be supporting Cancer Research UK in its fantastic work to try and find the answers to an illness which touches the lives of each and every one of us in some way. “Every pound we raise will help fund vital research and that will be the huge motivation behind our fundraising during what will be a busy year of charity activity. “Cancer Research UK was selected by a vote from our colleagues and we are excited by our new charity partnership. Along with the support from our generous customers and suppliers, we hope to raise a significant amount of money and play our part in supporting vital medical research.” Georgia McCormack, divisional manager at Cancer Research UK, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Selco staff for voting for us and helping achieve our ambition of seeing three in four people survive their cancer by 2034. “Our progress relies on the incredible dedication and commitment of volunteers and supporters like this – without whom we would not be able to fund our life-saving work. One in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime. All of us can support the research that will beat it.” With hundreds of trade brands always in stock, Selco’s 72 branches are firmly focused on helping tradespeople complete their jobs as quickly and effectively as possible. As well as offering trade services, Selco also has a strong digital presence including Click & Deliver, a Click & Collect services.

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Renovation Nation: UK Homeowners Spend £21 Billion On Renovations in 2021

Three-quarters (77%) of UK homeowners have invested in their property this year Over half (51%) of UK homeowners said COVID-19 has played a role their decision to invest in their property One in five UK homeowners have spent the majority of their home improvement money on their garden The annual Renovation Nation Report by the consumer spending experts at money.co.uk has found the average UK homeowner has spent £1,473 on home renovations, furnishing and DIY projects this year. What part of the home have UK homeowners spent the most money on? After almost a year of being confined to our homes, it’s perhaps unsurprising that one in five (20%) of UK homeowners have spent the majority of their home improvement money on their garden. Area of the home UK homeowners have spent the most money on Percentage Garden 20% Living room 17% Bedroom 14% Kitchen 14% Bathroom 9% Dining Room 3% Study/office 3% Roof 3% Conservatory 2% Garage/garage conversion 2% Loft/attic 2% Balcony 1% Basement 1% Annexe 1% Our love of gardening has blossomed during and following the pandemic. When asked what home projects they’d invest in if money were no object, a third (32%) of respondents said a garden summer house or work studio and almost a fifth (18%) said a greenhouse or vegetable patch. This green-fingered trend could be seen across the age groups, with the exception of Gen Z who claimed their kitchen was the room they’d spent the most on in 2021, and a home gym would be the top priority if money were no object. Which area of the home would Brits invest in if money were no object? If money was no object, which home projects would you consider investing in, as a direct result of the pandemic, if any?  Area of the home Percentage of respondents Garden summer house/work studio 31.62% Greenhouse/vegetable patch 17.86% Indoor gym 17.21% Leisure room 15.76% Office 12.52% Outdoor/indoor pub or bar 12.07% More walls/rooms for more privacy 8.28% Other, please specify 8.18% Bike storage 7.28% Classroom 3.39% Top home furnishing purchases in 2021 Furniture / Home Accessory Percentage of respondents Lamps/Lighting 41% Cushions 40% Curtains/Blinds 39% Mattress 30% Artwork 29% Sofa/Armchair 28% Bookcases/shelving 28% Bed 28% Vases 27% Clocks 26% Storage cabinet 26% Office chair 24% Top 5 retailers to purchase furniture in 2021 Retailer Percentage of respondents Ikea 27.03% Dunelm 27.03% Next 17.13% The Range 17.13% John Lewis 16.47% How have UK homeowners funded their renovation projects? The majority of UK homeowners have used some form of savings as a way of funding their home improvements, with 20% using money originally intended for holidays. Seven percent of UK homeowners have used funds originally intended to purchase a car, and 5% using cash originally intended for an engagement ring. Why are UK homeowners investing in their properties? While over half of UK homeowners may have cited the pandemic playing a significant role in their decision to dabble with DIY, money.co.uk were also interested in finding out the reason why so many of us are spending time and money on our homes in 2021. Over a quarter (27%) of those asked said that spending less money on going out had given them more money to spend on their homes and over a fifth (22%) cited wanting to increase the value of their home. Salman Haqqi, personal finance expert at money.co.uk comments on the study: “DIY and home renovations was a trend that boomed during the pandemic – a way for many of us to pass the time and spruce up the space we were living in when we were confined to our homes.  “Although restrictions have eased and normal life has almost fully resumed, our research shows that many UK homeowners are still continuing to renovate and invest in their properties. We found that despite a relatively rainy summer, gardens have taken the top spot on many people’s DIY to-do list – which is potentially a long-term knock-on effect of the months in lockdown. “While some renovations like a fresh coat of paint can be relatively cheap, some larger home makeover projects can cost several thousands of pounds. One potential way to finance your home renovation project is by securing a loan. However, it’s important to consider if you can afford the loan, how you intend to repay it and the implications on your credit score if you can’t keep up the repayments.”

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5 Things To Consider When Choosing A Commercial Overhead Door

Commercial overhead doors are essential across different industries and are used by retail stores, garages, and warehouses. But despite their importance, most business owners downplay their significance and instead only concentrate on other matters such as inventory, buying equipment, and creating a suitable interior décor. However, it would help if you never did this, or else you risk compromising certain aspects of your business, such as security, convenience, and workflow.   For that reason, identifying the perfect commercial overhead door takes time, extensive research, and patience. This makes this process a lot more exhausting for you, as the business owner, due to the many factors you need to consider. To help ease this process, find more here on the vital things that’ll help you pick out a suitable commercial overhead door.   1. Usage  It would be best to start by first understanding your business needs to know which commercial overhead door to buy. This means examining your company’s traffic to identify the best commercial overhead door depending on your needs. For instance, if you run a warehouse or body shop, you’ll only need to open the door several times during the day. A heavy-duty commercial overhead door is an excellent pick in such a case.  In contrast, you should get a lighter commercial overhead door ideally made from aluminum if it’s to be placed in a high-traffic area such as the security gate. With this in mind, it’s always best to examine the commercial overhead door’s operational frequency to determine which model best suits your business needs.   2. Security Features   The last thing you want a business owner is a fragile door, as this compromises the safety of your company’s equipment and inventory. After all, losing such inventory and equipment can result in a significant financial loss for your business, and recovering from such a setback can be a challenge. This is why you need to invest in a commercial overhead door with a robust build quality to be able to capably withstand any attempts by burglars to break into your business. Moreover, this is crucial because this door will be exposed to your company’s outside.   Besides robust build quality, the commercial overhead door should also incorporate other safety features to enhance security further, and this includes;  Automatic deadlocks  Inclusion of outdoor and indoor locks  Coded keypads  Preprogrammed mechanisms  With all these security features, you’ll enjoy peace of mind knowing that your commercial overhead door can capably withstand any breaking in attempts.   3. Materials  Another thing you must consider is the choice of material for your commercial overhead door. After all, you want your entry to be robust and resilient enough to withstand daily usage, as well as guarantee the safety of your valuables inside. The choice of material also impacts your company’s exterior aesthetics, with the most common picks being aluminum, steel, and vinyl.  If you want a commercial overhead door that’ll last for an extended period, steel and aluminum are the perfect picks. This is because steel’s robust nature makes it resistant to dents and corrosion. You can also customize it depending on your unique preferences. In contrast, aluminum is equally resistant to corrosion but is softer than steel, thus dents easily but lightweight making it easy to open and close.      4. Insulation  You want all your employees and customers to feel comfortable during the day while inside your business premises. This is why you should invest in an insulated commercial overhead door that boosts the energy efficiency inside the building. As a result, you’ll manage to keep winter cold and summer heat, thus creating a more energy-efficient environment.   When shopping for an insulated overhead door, it’s best to choose one with a higher R-value rating. In the long run, this will help you lower your energy consumption, hence cutting down your business expenses. An insulated overhead door will also help protect your business premises from extreme weather elements such as snow, ice, wind, and rain.  5. Fire Safety  Many business facilities have possible fire hazards due to open flames or chemicals, materials, or commercial infrastructure that can quickly catch fire. Because of this, it’s best to take preventive fire safety measures to guarantee everyone’s safety in the event fire breaks out in the business facility. One such preventive measure is installing a fire-resistant commercial overhead door to enhance fire safety.  Takeaway  A highly functional commercial overhead door is crucial in promoting operational flow, ensuring productivity, and safeguarding all your company’s assets. But identifying the right commercial overhead door for your needs due to the many options makes it challenging to determine which one best satisfies your business needs. This shouldn’t be an issue anymore after this guide has detailed insights on the things to look for to help you pick the best commercial overhead door. 

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Choosing Between the Architecture and Construction Professions

There are millions of different jobs from which you can choose and thousands of industries or niches. Some people seem to know from a very young age what they want to do when they grow up. Others get to adulthood and still have no clue what they want to do for money. If you are close to the time when you have to choose a career, you’ll need to think about whether you have an aptitude or skill set that qualifies you for a particular profession. You must also consider whether you’re able or willing to go to school to get a degree from an accredited university. You need a college degree, at a minimum, if you want an entry-level position in certain industries. Today, we’ll talk about two industries, architecture and construction. They’re related in some ways, but there are also distinct differences between them. Consider Safety Safety is one of the first things you’ll probably want to consider if you’re looking into either construction or architecture as possible career fields. There’s no denying that, on the whole, architecture is safer than construction work. OSHA says that in 2019, 5,333 on-the-job deaths occurred. It probably will not surprise you all that much to hear that construction workers made up one out of every five of these deaths.   If you think about what you do on a construction site, it makes sense that injuries and deaths should result at a much higher rate than lots of other professions. If you’re working construction, you might be up on the high steel if you’re erecting a building. If you’re not careful, you can fall. You might have to work with open flames on construction sites if you’re welding something. You can burn yourself. You might hit someone when you’re driving a construction vehicle if you did not receive the proper training. Crushing injuries can occur if a vehicle smashes someone between it and a building or another hard object. If you get into construction, you need to have your head on a swivel at all times to watch for danger. If you work as an architect, you’re probably spending most of your time drawing up plans in an office environment. You might have to visit a job site occasionally to check on a building’s progress, but that’s about it. Additional Schooling Most individuals who get into construction do so without going to college. Some of them might go to a trade school instead, though some get into the profession without even doing that. That might appeal to you if you never liked school very much. You can often start construction jobs right after high school, though going to a trade school will look better on an application. At least that way, you can point to formal training you received that should better prepare you for construction-related tasks. Architects need to go to school to study architecture. That includes theory as well as modern industry practices. If you have the money to do this, architecture becomes a viable option. If you don’t have the money to pay for it yourself, and you don’t have relatives who might help you, you will probably have to look into student loans. The Money It is also true that, on average, if you go to school and study architecture, you can make more money than if you get into construction. There are always exceptions to that rule. You can get a Master’s degree in a construction-related field. For instance, you might become an engineer and work overseeing a construction company or crew. Most architects, though, make more money than someone in construction who’s low on a company’s totem pole. An architect can easily make six figures or more, especially if they rise quickly within the industry and become a respected name. Architects are superstars if they get plum jobs like designing football stadiums, opera halls, museums, hospitals, and so forth. You command respect as an architect because most people feel that it’s a white-collar job. Construction is a blue-collar job. Fair or not, people might look at you differently if you say you work in construction or if you say you’re an architect. It’s a Different Lifestyle Ultimately, if you want to choose between these two professions, you should look at how much money you can spend on your education or how much you’ll likely make while on the job. You might choose between them based on how you think people will perceive you. All of that matters, but you should also think about how you like to spend your days. A working architect sometimes works long hours, but they do so from an office. If you work construction, it’s a hands-on industry, with you driving vehicles around a construction site, putting your sweat and muscle into hauling materials around, etc. These two professions seem like they would attract two different types of people. If you really enjoy working with your hands and seeing a building come up because you helped to do it, construction might seem like the best profession for you. Also, construction work seems like a legacy job in a lot of instances. If you have family members who work construction, you might feel like you want to get into it for that reason. Architects also help erect buildings, but they do it in an entirely different way. They might envision how something will look: a shopping mall, a restaurant, or a medical facility. They can figure out where windows and doors should go, how to add ramps for disabled individuals, or a dining hall or classroom’s location. They will never physically help erect any of it, though. That’s the fundamental difference between the two industries. They connect with each other, but they often seem to attract different personality types. One is no better than the other. The average architect and construction worker simply want to spend their time doing different things, even if their goals essentially coincide. 

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