Business : Testing, Certification & Business Tools News

How to be more sustainable with your energy usage as a business

If you’ve already made steps towards becoming more sustainable as a business by going paperless or recycling more, you might be wondering what more you can do. One of the most important areas to focus on is energy usage, as this can significantly increase your carbon footprint if you’re not

Read More »

Handling a dispute with your contractor

When you hire a London, Ontario home builder, or a home builder anywhere for that matter, it can be stressful and overwhelming. You are taking a leap to build a custom home, and with that, you probably have some pretty big expectations. That’s normal and expected any time you’re dealing

Read More »

Expanding Your Business and Making An Impact In the Environment

Businesses are always looking for ways to grow and expand, but sometimes they don’t think about the impact their growth could have on the environment. It is important for businesses to be conscious of their environmental impact and find ways to reduce it as much as possible. This blog post

Read More »

How to Start an Online T-Shirt Business

Assuming that you’ve been thinking about starting your own web-based T-shirt business, you must be mindful that it’s a competitive field in online business. If you want to succeed, you’ll have to ensure that your store stands out from the rest. To guarantee this, it’s important that you source top-notch

Read More »

How Your Construction Company Can Improve Its Image

Image is really important in business, and in the construction industry in particular. No one is going to spend huge sums of money employing a company that has a poor image, and they will probably be wary of employing a construction company that has little to no public image at

Read More »

4 Reasons to Upgrade Your IT

When you are running a business, you need to make sure that you have everything running smoothly. One of the worst things to happen to a business is slow or low productivity. That’s not just in your people, but in your systems, your software and in the way your business

Read More »

Things You Should Look at Before Starting a Construction Project

As a construction manager, you must ensure that all the construction-related responsibilities are taken care of. Here, you are the one to plan, oversee, and organize the project team, control limited resources, manage client expectations, allocate resources, and ensure that the project is well delivered on time.  The good thing

Read More »

How to Become an Effective Leader at a New Workplace

A superior job role isn’t the only sign of a leader. Any member of a team can show the attributes that a good leader needs. First impressions count for any kind of job, but displaying a continued effort throughout your career is a way to become a true giant in

Read More »

Best Property Management Companies in Modesto

Property management in the United States grew by more than 4% in the last few years. It’s a service that bridges the gap between investors and renters, whether you’re dealing with residential or commercial properties. As an investor, you’ll be able to get a return on investment (ROI) from a

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5 Reasons To Start Investing In Real Estate Syndication

Real estate investors are often restricted by the hefty property costs, primarily for commercial and rental assets. As the industry continues to evolve, so are the investment schemes in the real estate sector. These days, capitalists who can’t afford to purchase commercial properties on their own can turn to real

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Latest Issue
Issue 331 : Aug 2025

Business : Testing, Certification & Business Tools News

How to be more sustainable with your energy usage as a business

If you’ve already made steps towards becoming more sustainable as a business by going paperless or recycling more, you might be wondering what more you can do. One of the most important areas to focus on is energy usage, as this can significantly increase your carbon footprint if you’re not careful. But because energy is taken for granted, it can be hard to be mindful of the way we use it. This blog has some great tips on how you can change your business’s relationship with energy for good. Invest in renewable energy Investing in renewable energy will not only help the planet, but your finances as well. Whether you decide to install solar panels on the roof of your office or set up your very own wind turbine, the energy these greener alternatives produce will definitely lower your energy bills. If you don’t want to install your own solar panels, you may be able to benefit financially from a PPA or power purchase agreement. PPAs in renewable energy projects may mean that you’ll receive your green energy at a lower rate for a fixed amount of time. Be open to remote working Businesses with large offices consume a lot of energy. Allowing your staff to work from home some of the time or even all of the time can reduce your energy consumption a lot. While it’s true that employees will still be using energy at home, this is likely to be a lot less depending on the size of your office and how full it is. Heating a small room at home uses a lot less energy than a huge space. Just think about all those corridors and store rooms you may be heating when nobody even uses them. If a completely remote setup isn’t for you, consider downsizing your office if it isn’t even half full most of the time. Unplug and turn off Appliances use a lot of energy when they’re on standby. Go around your office and make sure equipment like printers and photocopiers are switched off and unplugged before leaving for the night or closing up for the weekend. You could also leave lights on a timer or have a sensor installed so that you’re not using energy when there’s nobody in the room. Busy employees often forget to turn off the lights, which could result in higher energy bills and a larger carbon footprint. Conduct an energy audit Sometimes it can be really hard to judge where you’re using the most energy and assumptions can easily land you in hot water. While you might think making the switch to LED bulbs will solve all your problems, you could have a very inefficient coffee maker or be using a lot more heating than is strictly necessary. Hiring a specialist to conduct your energy audit can help you to find sore spots more quickly. Becoming more sustainable with your energy won’t happen overnight, but you can make a commitment to change right now.

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Handling a dispute with your contractor

When you hire a London, Ontario home builder, or a home builder anywhere for that matter, it can be stressful and overwhelming. You are taking a leap to build a custom home, and with that, you probably have some pretty big expectations. That’s normal and expected any time you’re dealing with something as important as where you’re going to live with your family.  There are, at times, disputes that can arise with your contractor, however. This is often a normal part of the process, and it can be because of miscommunication or simply because your contractor doesn’t see the same vision as you.  It’s not necessarily that you should aim to avoid all disputes when you’re building a home because that may not be realistic. What’s more important is how you handle disputes if they do arise.  With that in mind, the following are tips and things to know if you find yourself in a disagreement and you aren’t sure what steps to take.  1. Take a Few Deep Breaths Building a home is stressful and expensive, and that can bring out the worst in homeowners. If you feel your temperature rising with your contractor, before you do anything else, take a step back and give yourself some time for a few deep breaths.  If you respond right away with anger, it can end up creating delays in your project. It can damage your relationship with your contractor going forward, and there may be better solutions that are available.  If you have to step away before you talk to your contractor, do so. It’s never productive to enter into a conversation at the height of your anger.  2. Read Your Contract Once you’ve taken a step back, it’s time to assess the situation. Sometimes, you may be dealing with a contractor who actually is the problem, but there are also situations where there are misunderstandings, and no one is necessarily the “bad guy.”  Before you say anything, go over your contract. Your contract should address all the various aspects of the job. It should include details on the scope of work, the timeline, and the expected completion date, and it should also include a section on the procedure for dealing with disputes.  Keep in mind that even with the best contractors, there are often changes that come up in the middle of the project. This is the nature of construction.  As you’re reading the contract and thinking about what your issue is, you have to ask yourself whether or not it’s something that was unavoidable.  3. Define What Your Issue Is, Specifically Once you’ve gone over your contract, you’ll probably have a better idea of specifically what your issue is and potentially how your contractor has veered away from what you expected.  At this point, think about the issue that you have in specific terms, and write it down. Before you talk to your contractor, you want to be clear with yourself about where you feel like your project went wrong.  If you’ve had previous conflicts with your contractor, don’t bring them up in this conversation. You want to keep things clear and on track.  When you’re writing down your issue, jot down some of the facts of the situation as well.  4. Have a Conversation with Cooperation In Mind When you have a clear head, you can ask your contractor to have a conversation with you.  You want to sit down with just them. You don’t want to get into an argument in front of other people, including their subcontractors and people who work for them.  You want to keep things professional and non-confrontational.  You may find that if you have a conversation, you’re able to work things out with your contractor and come to an agreement or a place of understanding.  A simple conversation can resolve a lot more than you might initially think, especially when miscommunication is involved.  The earlier on you can have an amicable conversation, the better.  It’s very often the case that your contractor is completely unaware that there’s a problem at all.  When you have a conversation, avoid placing blame and make sure that you’re listening. Too often, when we’re frustrated, we’re just waiting for the other person to stop talking without actually listening, so we can jump right back into the conversation and disagree.  Be polite and try to hear what your contractor is saying because you might learn what actually went wrong and be better prepared to come up with ways to fix the issue.  If you can come up with a plan during this conversation, put it in writing. Email a copy of the plan to your contractor and yourself.  5. Out-of-Court Options The hope is that by the time you reach this point, you’ve worked things out with your contractor.  If not, there are still things you can do.  One is hiring a mediator. There are companies that specialize in construction mediation if you feel like things have gone too far, or you’re not going to be able to see eye-to-eye with your contractor.  During mediation, a neutral third party steps in to try and help you reach a resolution.  The downside of mediation is that it’s not binding, so you don’t have to accept the proposed settlement. There’s another option which is binding arbitration.  The last resort should always be court. This will be the most stressful and expensive for everyone involved.  You also have to remember, if you haven’t hired a contractor yet, that if you do your due diligence, you can avoid the risks of working with a bad apple. Most contractors are highly professional and take their work seriously. Do the legwork early on in the hiring process. Check reviews and references and look at the past work of a contractor before making a hiring decision.  Make sure you’re choosing someone who represents themselves professionally, and you’re less likely to find yourself in a situation where they truly aren’t doing what they’re supposed to. 

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Expanding Your Business and Making An Impact In the Environment

Businesses are always looking for ways to grow and expand, but sometimes they don’t think about the impact their growth could have on the environment. It is important for businesses to be conscious of their environmental impact and find ways to reduce it as much as possible. This blog post will discuss how businesses can expand while still being environmentally friendly and also talk about how businesses can make an even bigger impact on the environment by implementing sustainable practices. 1) When businesses expand, they often use more resources which can have a negative impact on the environment; Businesses should try to find ways to expand without using more resources or look for ways to offset their increased resource use. One way to do this is by investing in renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. Another way businesses can reduce their environmental impact is by implementing sustainable practices into their operations. This could mean anything from using recycled materials to composting food waste to installing energy-efficient lighting. By doing this, businesses will not only be helping the environment but also saving money in the long run. 2) Businesses can make an even bigger impact on the environment by implementing sustainable practices; Businesses should try to find ways to expand without using more resources or look for ways to offset their increased resource use. One way to do this is by investing in renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. Another way businesses can reduce their environmental impact is by implementing sustainable practices into their operations. This could mean anything from using recycled materials to composting food waste to installing energy-efficient lighting. By doing this, businesses will not only be helping the environment but also saving money in the long run. Sustainable practices are not only good for the environment, but they can also be good for business. By investing in sustainable practices, businesses can save money, attract customers, and positively impact the world. 3) Sustainable practices are not only good for the environment, but they can also be good for business; Sustainable practices are not only good for the environment, but they can also be good for business. By investing in sustainable practices, businesses can save money, attract customers, and positively impact the world. Some sustainable practices that businesses can invest in include using recycled materials, composting food waste, and installing energy-efficient lighting. These practices will help businesses save money, attract customers, and positively impact the world. Businesses should try to find ways to expand without using more resources or harming the environment. Implementing sustainable practices is one way to do this. Sustainable practices are not only good for the environment, but they can also be good for business. By investing in sustainable practices, businesses can save money, attract customers, and positively impact the world. 4) Implementing sustainable practices is one-way businesses can expand without harming the environment; Implementing sustainable practices is one-way businesses can expand without harming the environment. Sustainable practices are not only good for the environment, but they can also be good for business. By investing in sustainable practices, businesses can save money, attract customers, and positively impact the world. Some sustainable practices businesses can invest in include using recycled materials, composting food waste, installing energy-efficient lighting, and using commercial waste disposal.  These practices will help businesses save money, attract customers, and positively impact the world. In conclusion, businesses should try to find ways to expand without using more resources or harming the environment. Implementing sustainable practices is one way to do this. Sustainable practices are not only good for the environment, but they can also be good for business. By investing in sustainable practices, businesses can save money, attract customers, and positively impact the world.

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How to Start an Online T-Shirt Business

Assuming that you’ve been thinking about starting your own web-based T-shirt business, you must be mindful that it’s a competitive field in online business. If you want to succeed, you’ll have to ensure that your store stands out from the rest. To guarantee this, it’s important that you source top-notch products, have your T-shirt designs, and figure out how to brand them. Moreover, one of the best textile wholesaler is the Wordans that can assist you in starting your own t-shirt business. You can also look for fruit of the loom t shirts wordans. 1. Find a Specialty for Your Internet-based T-Shirt Business As an online business entrepreneur who is hoping to start a fruitful web-based T-shirt business, it might be valuable to track down a specialty for your store. Assuming you create a truly novel T-shirt store, either in terms of brand picture or the products that are accessible, your opportunities for progress will be significantly higher. Take your time, and properly investigate things if you choose to create a specialty store. Glance through other internet-based stores that you like, and use them to brainstorm T-shirt thoughts for your own business. Jot down anything that you think is great, and afterward take a time to think about how you can make your web-based T-shirt business surprisingly better. Ultimately, you can target any specialty that interests you. Assuming you think that there is an untapped market, take advantage of it. It’s more straightforward to stand out when there’s little competition, and it’ll be a lot less expensive, too! 2. Design Your T-Shirt While you’re trying to send off an effective web-based T-shirt business, your design thoughts are critical. If your T-shirts have great designs, you’re as of now on the ball. Your products will act as a strong foundation for your store’s prosperity. It’s a lot simpler to market great products, so try to nail this part. Be creative. Don’t fear thinking outside the case. Try out different T-shirt design thoughts that relate to your brand, and see which ones fit best with your crowd. To try making your T-shirt designs, there are many design websites out there. We investigate a portion of these in our T-shirt templates for your web-based store article. If you don’t feel confident in your ability to design great products for your web-based T-shirt business, look for help from others. You can contact neighborhood designers for their administrations. You can likewise take advantage of online independent platforms, such as Upwork and Fiverr, that you can use to liaise with independent designers. There are a variety of ways that you can source great design work at a reasonable price tag. 3. Validate Your T-Shirt Designs Whenever you’ve collected a couple of strong design thoughts for your web-based T-shirt business, you’ll have to look for validation from others. You might think that the designs that you’ve concocted are prepared for printing, but others might point out a few vital improvements that will help your products over the long haul. It’s likewise important that the input you get for your designs is fair. You can accomplish this by posting your designs on certain discussions (ensure that you watermark your designs so it’s not possible for anyone to steal them). You can likewise get some expert criticism by getting in contact with a few neighborhood consultants – they will furnish you with proficient, unprejudiced suppositions. Online conversation platforms, such as Reddit, can end up being a vital tool while you’re checking the outcome of your T-shirt business’ designs. You can create T-shirt mockups and post your prospective designs onto the relevant subreddits, and you’ll get honest criticism from individuals who are interested in your products. Assuming that you get positive reactions from your post, you’ve proactively equipped yourself with a few potential customers who you can contact when you send off your products. 5. Print Your Designs Having great prints on your products is essential for an effective internet-based T-shirt business. On the off chance that your customers observe that your designs are breaking or blurring after a couple of washes, this will have them with a terrible impression of your business. You can take advantage of different options to print your designs. Direct-to-film (DTF) printing, especially with the Prestige L2 DTF printer, offers vibrant and durable results. Other methods, like screen printing for bulk orders, direct-to-garment (DTG) for detailed designs, and sublimation for polyester fabrics, also provide excellent options depending on your specific needs. You can get in contact with nearby printing businesses, which will permit you to check the quality of your prints before you transport them to customers. In any case, this might be a costly cycle, particularly when your internet business develops, and the interest for additional print increments. 6. Set a Cost Another important aspect of starting a t-shirt business is determining the value of your products. You’ll have to factor in your price tag in addition to the cost you cause in printing the designs. Expecting you want to sell at a half-edge, you can multiply the general cost by 2 to determine your unit cost. Let’s say you purchase 50 t-shirts for $300, and it costs $500 to print a one-variety design. For this situation, you paid $6 for one shirt and $10 to get the design printed on it. Your per-unit cost would be $16 ($10+$6). So it would be ideal to sell the t-shirt at $32 (16×2). You might charge $5-$10 more if you’re selling a retail quality t-shirt (individuals are often able to pay something else for better-fitting and soft material). 7. Pick Your Business Model On the off chance that utilizing a nearby printing business is too costly, outsourcing could be your solution. It’s straightforward and modest, and you can run it from any place on the planet. Connect an application like Modalyst with your Shopify store to import products, communicate with providers to print your T-shirt designs, and start outsourcing easily. Allude to our Shopify outsourcing

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How Your Construction Company Can Improve Its Image

Image is really important in business, and in the construction industry in particular. No one is going to spend huge sums of money employing a company that has a poor image, and they will probably be wary of employing a construction company that has little to no public image at all too. Customers want a sure thing; they want a company they can trust to handle their construction projects, so if you cannot offer them that, chances are you will not get as much work as you would like. The good news is, there are lots of things you can do to either establish your image as a construction company, or clean it up if things have gone wrong, and most of them are pretty simple, as you will see below. Start right and do a good job It’s pretty obvious, but if you want to improve your construction company’s image, then the first thing you need to do is ensure that all of your working practices are kosher and that you and your team are doing the best possible job you can on every job you do. Yes, there are many things you can do to firefight a poor reputation, but it is far easier not to build a poor reputation in the first place. Respond to complaints (and do so calmly) If you do get a complaint from a customer who is perhaps not entirely satisfied with the work you have done, it can be all too easy to get offended and start arguing the toss with them on social media or in reviews, but this is only going to make you and your company look worse. It is far better to deal with complaints calmly, put your idea across factually if you think that the review has been unfair, and ask what you can do to come to a mutually acceptable conclusion. Even if you do get a bad review, if other people see that you have engaged with it, kept your cool, and acted reasonably, they will be more likely to look favourably on your business than if you act like a lunatic. Oh, and if you have made a mistake, owing in up to it right away and offering to put it right will help a lot because everyone knows mistakes do happen, and if they can see you are willing to own them and put them right, they will be more inclined to giver you a chance than someone who goes into denial. Collect testimonials One thing that can massively help to improve your image as a construction company is positive testimonials. So many people are unwilling to hire a contractor unless they can see that they have done good work for lots of other people in the past. So, a portfolio of your previous works, along with testimonials from satisfied clients, that you can produce when asked, or have readily available on your website, will definitely help you to give your image a positive boost when you need it. Turning up when you say you will Most people, when they hire a contractor, do not expect them to show up when they say they do due to bitter past experiences. It can be really annoying when a construction company tells you that they will start work at 9 a.m on Monday but you don’t so much glimpse them until the Thursday of that week. So, one way you can really set yourself apart and ensure that you have a good reputation is by turning up when you say you will, and furthermore, not promising things you can’t keep. If you will not be able to complete digging the foundations until Friday, don’t tell them it will be done by Wednesday to keep them pacated. Be open, be honest and do what you say you will and your reviews will be glowing compared to the next construction company in your town’s. Offer free quotes Another easy win is to offer free no obligation quotes that are really free and where no hard sell takes place. For one thing, customers love freebies, from promotional USB drives and totes, right down to free quotes, and for another, they hate feeling like they are being pressured into going with a particular company. So, if you offer them a free quote, and you don’t lean on them to go with you, they will almost certainly have a more positive impression of you than many other competing construction companies in the area, and that will position you as the number one choice of many, all other things being more or less equal. Treat people’s homes with respect As a construction company, you are often trusted to enter people’s homes to carry out work, often when they are not there. When doing this, if you want to improve your image, it is important that you treat their homes with respect, making every effort not to knock things over or drag huge amounts of mud in from outside on your shoes, for example. Letting them know that you respect them and their things and will take every care to do the job on time with as little impact to them as possible is only ever going to result in positive reviews and a much more favourable first impression from many., and all it takes is a little extra thought and effort to achieve. Design a new logo Of course, often it is the small things that can improve your reputation, and a case in point is doing something as simple as redesigning your logo so that it is more modern, more up-to-date and more eye-catching. People often make snap decisions, so if your logo is dull o there is a spelling error or anything doesn’t look quite right, they will dismiss your construction company as an option. Make sure this doesn’t happen by having a professional graphic designer create a modern design that is appealing to your target audience. Treat

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4 Reasons to Upgrade Your IT

When you are running a business, you need to make sure that you have everything running smoothly. One of the worst things to happen to a business is slow or low productivity. That’s not just in your people, but in your systems, your software and in the way your business is run. If things aren’t running correctly or smoothly, you will find yourself finding it much harder to get your business going.  You might also find that business interruption is something that cannot be avoided and it’s these interruptions that are going to cause your business to fail. Instead of worrying about your business failing, you can assure you implement IT support along the way. They will have to be the ones to tell you when your IT needs an upgrade, and I don’t just mean your hardware or your computer systems, but your software, too. With this in mind we have great reasons to upgrade your IT now.  Your warranties are about to expire. It’s nice to hang onto computers until they fall apart but when you do this you can end up voiding your insurance. Having very old systems and hardware in your business can mean that you have let your warranties run out a long time ago so when they break down you have to pay for them out of pocket to be repaired. Old systems often mean you have a lack of vendor support who are still around that makes the type of computer that you have. Whilst an outsourced IT team may have some knowledge of your specific hardware that doesn’t mean to be able to help. That’s the functionality. There is a reason that people will queue up for hours looking for the new Apple software or Samsung phone. If the functionality that has been approved. If you want to have new, and expanded functionality then you need to be able to upgrade your IT systems. Technology advances so much faster than you think and there’s so many new and innovative functions that can help you to deliver added business to your customers. You could start accepting payments online compared to what you did before the pandemic, and that can allow people to work from home. It’s the little things that can improve.  Security becomes easier. When you upgrade your IT security is much more controlled and ensures that you are able to keep your business and data safe. The rate of cyber attacks is going up right now, and you can avoid this by ensuring that your equipment is secure. Upgrades can help you to do this. You can increase the efficiency. If you want your business picked to be something that people see is productive then you need to work on efficiency. That means looking at ways that you can improve the way that your business is running and a good IT upgrade will help you to do that with ease. Don’t be afraid to get started

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Things You Should Look at Before Starting a Construction Project

As a construction manager, you must ensure that all the construction-related responsibilities are taken care of. Here, you are the one to plan, oversee, and organize the project team, control limited resources, manage client expectations, allocate resources, and ensure that the project is well delivered on time.  The good thing is that with the right amount of planning and research, use of the right resources, allocation of enough time on the project, and a strong team, there is no doubt that your project will turn out a success. Have you been looking forward to starting a construction project? Here are crucial things that you should consider looking at first. Have a Detailed Plan As they all say, failure to plan is planning to fail. Here, you need to ensure that you allocate your time well. Know when, where, and how you are going to work. Also, it would be best if you took breaks to help increase your productivity. There are a lot of exciting things you can do. For example, you can choose to go for a walk, play exciting online casino uk games, read a novel or listen to music. Every construction project needs to have a well-detailed plan if success is needed. You need to note that certain things are needed before your plan is confirmed to be great. For example, your plan should clearly show everything needed for the project to be carefully completed. This is from site analysis to the creation of a realistic budget. Have a Budget The truth is that money is an essential factor that you should consider looking at. You must figure out how much money you are ready to spend on the project. This calls for you to create a flexible budget. What is your budget? How much are you willing to spend on the project? These are the types of questions you need to find answers to.  Note that having a budget keeps you from overspending and lets you spend only on the project’s priority. Know Your Tax Requirements The fact is that different construction projects are subject to different tax consequences. This makes it necessary for you to go out of your way and understand the tax requirements you will be liable to once you start your construction project.  To ensure that you have a clear view of the matter, you should consider seeking help from tax advisors, accountants, and planners in the construction industry. This way, you are always going to be on the safer side. For example, your books will be in order if an audit is ever needed. Get Insured Before you start working on your construction project, you need to understand how important insurance is. You need to ensure that you place insurance coverage against risks, accidents, and damages that may happen during construction.  Note that insurance varies based on the contract signed. This is why you should consider consulting insurance agents to help determine the best insurance cover you should take for your project.

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How to Become an Effective Leader at a New Workplace

A superior job role isn’t the only sign of a leader. Any member of a team can show the attributes that a good leader needs. First impressions count for any kind of job, but displaying a continued effort throughout your career is a way to become a true giant in any industry. Focus on Yourself Leadership at work begins with an individual’s actions. It is only your actions that are truly under your control in your life. First, look at yourself before you ask for a promotion or search for a management position. Are you displaying the traits and skills that make a good leader? Is it possible to develop them if you don’t already have them? Keep improving your current skills as well as learning new tools with CANI – a continuous and never-ending improvement process. Additionally, you can also take an online leadership training course. Doing so should give you the basic skills that you need to improve yourself as a leader. Develop Value Focus on the skills that will add the most value to your company when thinking about which ones to learn. What certifications or software knowledge do you need for your company? How effective would it be for you if you improved your email writing skills or became a great public speaker? As soon as promotion time comes, you’ll be noticed for exceeding expectations and demonstrating your potential. Embrace continuous learning and if you have the chance, complete an online MBA course to boost your hiring chance. Work on Emotional Fitness There is a certainty that can be brought into uncertain environments by extraordinary leaders. There aren’t all the answers, but you are confident you’ll find them and move forward. The key to emotional fitness is being ready for anything. People naturally turn to you in stressful situations when they see your creativity, humor, and curiosity. Practice Self-Awareness It isn’t just the business you work for that has a brand identity. Every employee represents themselves in a way that shows a brand of strengths and weaknesses that contributes to the company. It is vital that you are aware of your own brand to develop your leadership skills at work. The best leaders are self-aware and critical. Ask questions about your own performance and take personal feedback very seriously. A great way for self-assessment is talking to colleagues and managers around you to see what they have noticed about the way you work and what you can do to improve. Adopt a Growth Mindset The self-awareness that true leaders use adds a constant challenge to help personal growth. Criticisms and setbacks should not be viewed as an attack or something negative; they should be seen as a way to look back and see where you can improve in the future. Your skills should never be thought of as being the best or perfect. Improvement is always there to be had as your team and working environments change and develop with you. This kind of behavior is known as a growth mindset and is right up there with becoming a leader in the workplace. Support Others Being a true leader means you will support and facilitate the people around you. Encourage people to voice their opinions and feelings. Make it known to them and others when people are doing a good job. Look for greatness in your employees, encourage them when you notice hard work, and be prepared to listen rather than constantly voicing your own opinion. Disagreeing with your team is common as everyone will not have the same view, but if disagreements come, there should be no sign of dismissal. Being a true leader is an appraisal of people’s good work while also honoring a drive for people to become better. Be Resourceful A good leader will think strategically in achieving personal goals and the team’s goals that have been set. Having personal goals does not mean you should be doing more or less. Think resourcefully and try to be as goal-orientated as it’s possible to be. Recognize the potential in yourself and the people around you while also delivering the determination to achieve those goals. Delegation of strengths is a key aspect of thinking strategically. Adding value to your organization through planning and innovative thinking is one of the ultimate signs of leadership. Use Innovation Innovation is a hallmark of successful companies. Any organization that finds a way to differentiate itself with fresh ideas will succeed, regardless of whether it’s a tech startup or a pizza restaurant. You don’t need to look further than your own imagination to become a leader at work. By pushing the envelope, you can contribute creative ideas that raise your company’s bottom line. Take on More Responsibility When you have developed the skills mentioned above, such as communication, delegation, strategic thinking, and innovation, it is time to step your game up. If your team is working at the best of their ability with ultimate efficiency, you will have created more time for yourself to take on more responsibility. The sky’s the limit from here on in, and there is no place where your leadership skills cannot take you.

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Best Property Management Companies in Modesto

Property management in the United States grew by more than 4% in the last few years. It’s a service that bridges the gap between investors and renters, whether you’re dealing with residential or commercial properties. As an investor, you’ll be able to get a return on investment (ROI) from a property without having to be as hands-on.  If you’re a Modesto investor looking to beef up your portfolio, it pays to learn which pros are the best around. We’re happy to help.  Keep reading to learn all about the most skilled property management Modesto can offer.  G3 Real Estate G3 Real Estate is a family-owned property management business that serves the Modesto area. They have more than five decades of logistics experience, and also specialize in real estate matters of all kinds.  The company regularly updates its property listings to help people find the best opportunities on the market. When managing property, they handle matters like office spaces, warehouses, retail, raw land, and agriculture. It’s a customer-focused company that values agility, teamwork, and trustworthiness.  Ziprent When you need property management in Modesto, Ziprent is another excellent option. The company was founded in 2018, and already has nearly 2,000 properties that they manage.  They are an excellent resource if you’re thinking of getting into rental property investments and need a quality manager. Aside from the fact that they manage property in Modesto, Ziprent also serves more than 230 other cities. Because of this, you can count on their wide range of experience, and the fact that they have seen a little bit of everything that the industry brings.  Countryside Property Management This is yet another Modesto property management company that you can lean on. The company has more than a decade of experience serving clients and provides full service to the central valley area.  Some of the services that Countryside Property Management provides include: Repair and maintenance for rental properties Advertising vacant rental properties In-depth financial reporting for rentals Inspections for move-ins and move-outs Executing rental agreements and collecting rent They have strong leadership and can provide the branding and presence that you need for your rental properties.   Valley Oak Property Management Finally, Valley Oak has some of the best Modesto property managers that you’ll find. This is a company that stresses trust for its client, and they offer a wide range of services that can help you out.  They have plenty of experience helping clients in the local area and are skilled, knowledgeable, and available. You can conduct business using their 24-hour online portal and can count on quick replies for all of your needs and concerns.   The Best Property Management Modesto Has to Offer If you’re looking into the best property management Modesto can provide, the four above offer an excellent starting point. You’ll feel cared for knowing that you have a top-notch company watching your back, and your tenants will also be in good hands.  G3 Real Estate would be happy to hear from you! Use our website to get in touch or call 800-321-8747.

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5 Reasons To Start Investing In Real Estate Syndication

Real estate investors are often restricted by the hefty property costs, primarily for commercial and rental assets. As the industry continues to evolve, so are the investment schemes in the real estate sector. These days, capitalists who can’t afford to purchase commercial properties on their own can turn to real estate syndication.    As an investor, it pays to do your homework and find out the what, hows, and whys of real estate syndication before diving in. With that being said, we’ve created this article to answer your burning questions.  What Is Real Estate Syndication? Real estate syndication is a model where investors pool their resources together to purchase large-scale properties. In essence, it works like crowdfunding, but for real estate projects. If you want to know more about this model, click here for in-depth discussions about real estate syndication.  Additionally, this investment scheme has two significant players: the syndicator or sponsor and the investor. A syndicator will perform the heavy lifting, from selecting a potentially lucrative project to identifying potential investors and ensuring that the property stays profitable. Usually, the sponsor likewise hires property managers and establishes smooth investor relations.  On the other hand, investors provide the equity and receive specific and predetermined return rates. There’s no one-size-fits-all distribution rate for revenue sharing, but it’s common for investors to receive 75% of the share and syndicators to earn 25% for doing most of the work.  Why Invest In Real Estate Syndication  By being one of the syndication partners, you can start investing in profitable assets at affordable costs, even if you’re a newbie. These are the most compelling reasons to invest in syndication.  Less Capital for Large-Scale Projects In the past, investors couldn’t purchase a commercial asset without owning several million for capital money. However, syndication investors don’t need to shell out this insane amount of cash to start earning. That’s because they can pool their resources alongside other partners.  For instance, a five-million-dollar property may accommodate several syndication partners willing to invest USD$50,000 at the minimum. That said, syndication makes it easier for prospects to set aside investment costs for lucrative properties such as malls, hotels, condominiums, and other commercial assets.  Enjoy Robust Returns   While investments by nature carry certain risks, commercial and rental properties have shown consistently robust performance for many years, driven by huge demand. According to the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT), current rent growth rates for apartments, industrial and retail spaces are at their highest since the pandemic. Conversely, office rental growth rates have yet to recover from their pre-pandemic levels.       While returns from these types of assets vary widely depending on the market movements, property type, and location, industry estimates place investment returns at around 6 to 12% yearly. Nevertheless, it’s safe to say that putting your money on commercial real estate properties, whether through syndication or traditional methods, is a wise move.   Diversifying Your Portfolio   Beginners and seasoned investors must ensure they’re not ‘putting all the eggs in one basket.’ This means investors ought to diversify their portfolios to minimize the risks involved in investing. For instance, if you’ve placed all your money on the stock market and it crashed, there’s nothing to cushion you from the losses.   Because you don’t need millions to start investing in syndication, you have other investment opportunities elsewhere. For instance, if you managed to set aside USD$200,000 as capital, you can invest in one commercial asset and look for other similarly profitable opportunities. Additionally, you may consider taking on multiple real estate syndication offers to spread your revenues.     It’s A Great Inflation Hedge   Commercial real estate investments or CRE is a good hedge against inflation. To the uninitiated, an inflation hedge is an investment that safeguards against a currency’s decreased purchasing power due to inflation. Research done by real estate services company Cushman & Wakefield has revealed that real estate investors’ returns increase by 1.1% for every one percent hike in inflation.   Since these property assets are meant to increase or maintain their value over time and typically increase during economic downturns, your syndication investment is protected from losses. According to the National Association of Realtors, the average annual growth rate of the real estate sector has steadied at six percent since 1968, despite several economic disruptions.   A Perfect Way To Earn Passive Income Because the sponsor or syndicator does the heavy work, investors don’t have to do anything after signing the syndication agreement. Unlike stock investing, you don’t have to monitor and be updated on the latest market movements and fluctuations in asset values. Of course, this doesn’t relieve potential equity finders of exercising due diligence, such as inspecting the asset, checking the sponsor’s background, and ensuring that the papers are in order before injecting capital.    Conclusion  Real estate investments are generally considered profitable investments, especially commercial assets. With the current housing and accommodation deficiencies worldwide, rental properties offer the best solution to having a roof on one’s head, resulting in a steady and high demand.  As an investor, you can turn to real estate syndication to minimize investment risks while enjoying robust benefits, as discussed above.  

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