How to Start A House Cleaning Business In 7 Simple Steps

One of the main reasons people start businesses is to make money. For some it's a blessing to make money doing something they love. I'm not saying that you have to love house cleaning in order to have a successful house cleaning business; however it would be a good idea if you didn't hate it.

How much money you make depends on how big you want your business to be. It could be a one person operation where you set up at home and service areas close to home, or you could set up a commercial office and hire people to work for you.

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Here are 7 simple steps to get you started on your own house cleaning business.

1) Decide exactly what kind of house cleaning services you will offer.

Here you decided what cleaning you will do, like making beds, vacuuming, mopping and waxing floors, dusting and so on. Also note what you won't do, e.g. laundry. You can also decide to specialize, e.g. by cleaning carpets only, or cleaning suspended ceilings only.

2) Pricing your housecleaning service.

To have an idea of how to charge for your housecleaning service, use your competition. Check your telephone directory and the classified ads section in your local newspapers for cleaning businesses, call them up (pretend to be a prospective client) and find out exactly what cleaning services they offer and how much they charge. With this information gathered decide the best price to charge for your cleaning service.

3) Workout startup costs.

For this you need to consider, tools, material, transport, advertising, insurance etc. Write down a list all the tools and material you need, like cleaners, sponges, mops, carpet cleaning equipment etc. Next find out the cost of each item on the list and write it down next to the item.

Transport: you will have to estimate your costs here. You see it depends on where your client is located and your means of transportation to get to your client. (Having your own vehicle would be to your advantage).

Advertising: You can use free advertising (word of mouth) and paid advertising (classifieds, telephone directory ads etc). Phone calls to your local newspaper and the telephone company who publish your telephone directory will tell you the cost of placing ads.

Once you've gathered all this information, calculate your total startup costs.

4) Name your business.

Choosing an appropriate name for your house cleaning business is important. Here are a few examples I got of the internet, 'Maid Brigade', 'All Shine Cleaning', 'White Glove Cleaning Service'. Please avoid using 'Your Name Cleaning Services'. Using your own name as part of your business name is over done by many house cleaning businesses. Brainstorm and come up with a name that helps you stand out of the crowd.

5) Learn the zoning regulations of your community.

Check the city clerk's Office or your local library for a copy for a copy of the zoning laws governing your community. Your reason for doing this is that some zoning regulations prohibit home businesses in a community.

6) Do a few free cleaning jobs.

Well you're not actually doing them for free. You're doing them in exchange for references (these add to your credibility for future paying clients and are invaluable). You can offer these free cleaning jobs to friends, non profit organizations in your communities etc.

7) Get your first paying client then get another and another and another and so on.

Tell everyone you know that you've started a cleaning business and place ads in the local newspapers. In the beginning you need to spend most of your time and money getting paying clients. However, the more clients you get the less time and money you spend on marketing and more time you spend on cleaning and making your clients happy.

This is just the beginning. Once you start making money take a house cleaning business course to help you better manage your business in terms of growth, accounting, taxes, insurance better marketing strategies and more.

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You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated. fayolap@yahoo.com

How to Start A House Cleaning Business In 7 Simple Steps

Fayola Peters is the webmaster of housecleaning-tips.com. To find more information about a house business cleaning course check out her website at http://www.housecleaning-tips.com.

fayolap@yahoo.com

Homemade Dog House Building Guide

So, you've made the decision to try your hand at dog house building, but you're a bit unsure about the right way to go from here, right? Don't worry, it's a lot easier to build a great dog house than what you think! This article is a general guide to building a dog house.

Choose The Right Size

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First things first, you need to decide on the size and design of your homemade dog house. You may think you already know how big it needs to be, but many people don't realise all the great options available.

There are 3 main designs:

- A medium dog house for small and mid-sized dogs, such as Dachshunds and Bull Terriers.

- A large, premium dog house for big dogs like German Shepherds and Golden Retrievers.

- A duplex dog house, so 2 or more of the little guys can sleep snuggled up together!

Even if you currently only have one small dog, consider building a kennel that is bigger than you require. You never know when you might get another dog!

Dog House Design Tips

If you really love your dog, there are a few small things you should do to ensure s/he is comfortable and happy inside her/his new home.

Here are a few tips:

- Make sure the floor is raised a few inches from the ground so ensure good air circulations. Dogs are particularly sensitive to heat.

- The floor should also be slanted slightly towards to door so that any water that might get in with quickly run out.

- Consider building an overhanging roof so that your dog is protected from strong winds and heavy rains.

- Build the roof with some hinges on the edges to make it easier to clean! Genius!

Dog House Plans Download

There are a whole heap of places on the internet that will let you download building plans. Unfortunately, not all plans are created equal, and most sites only provide basic, boring plans.

Homemade Dog House Building Guide

To download some great homemade dog house building plans, check out this Easy Build Dog House Plans website now.

Home Building Software Can Be a Great Help

Designing a home can actually be quite a difficult and technical thing, there are always certain things that people don't feel comfortable doing by themselves and so would always want to leave in the capable hands of a professional. Most people do not bother designing their home renovation project, instead they will get a professional to help them out.

Lots of people simply don't realize that they could do all of this planning by themselves and fairly easily too, you can do this using computer software. This doesn't only help with planning but will also help you understand certain aspects of the interior design process.

Home

There are many different types of home design software which is available, you do not actually need to choose the most advanced piece of software. You should choose carefully depending on what you want and expect from interior design software.

Walls

The best lesson that you will learn from any home design software is about walls. This software should show you how you need to place walls so that things don't just fall down. It's very important to understand load bearing walls and the dimensions of the walls. These things may all seem very easy, however they are very important things to know. You not only use home design software to learn how to build a home, but also to see how it will look when it's completed down to the country curtains covering the windows.

It might not be possible to create a wall at a particular angle for a number of reasons. This design software will help you to understand the reasons behind this and why it's just not possible. You might also discover that some seemingly simple elements of design are extremely complex, home design software can make it much easier for you to know these things. This software can also give you a better understanding of how different elements of home design work together.

Studying Things

A house needs to have protection to make sure that the rain and elements do not damage your house. To understand this protection you need to know about water tables, and how they affect the building. You will be able to learn plenty of information about water tables using this home design software. Few people are able to understand how they should design the outside of their homes to prevent water getting inside. It's very important to thoroughly understand how to weatherproof your home

Building a home is quite complicated, there's a lot that you need to learn about. Using design software is a fantastic way to learn about this complicated project. You will no doubt be surprised just how much you can learn from this valuable piece of software.

Home design software can make a complicated task much simpler and more enjoyable. Spend time choosing the right piece of software and you won't go far wrong.

Home Building Software Can Be a Great Help

The essayist Ken Morris is particularly passionate about news associated to country ruffled curtains. His observations on country curtains are published on his webpage as well as various other online sites.

Estate Planning - The Life Estate

The life estate is something every first year law student learns about when they study the arcane and often bizarre history of property law that harkens back to the days of English knights, lords and serfs, and the transfer of property through the ceremonial throwing of dirt clods with oaths of duty to accompany. The life estate is about as old as they come as instruments of wealth transfer go and students love it, because it is relatively easy to understand. Apart from what students love and what is easy to remember, however, the life estate still has practical value today in your estate planning and assets management schemes.

The basic idea of the life estate is that a person can be left a piece of property for life, and upon their passing, the property in question can go to whoever is designated to receive that property afterward. The individual or group who receives the property after the life-tenant passes is called the remainderman or remaindermen, which is useful only in that it helps one to remember that the person who remains gets the property. If, for example, one wants to leave a family estate that has been with the family for many generations to their spouse and then have it immediately pass on to their children or another relative who will maintain the estate for the generation to come, then a life estate might be the perfect vehicle to do so. Another example is the same family estate, left to a surviving spouse until the surviving spouse either dies or remarries. Again, the aim is to ensure that the estate stays in family, a contingency which is threatened by the remarriage because that creates a new marital joint-tenancy, absent any other provision. Often the life-estate was used to keep assets, like the family home, headed down a single line of familial ownership.

Estate

However, the life estate has other uses, for example, it can leave an asset to be owned by one person until the death of third person. If an older relative has become incapacitated, such that it is difficult for them to make decisions for themselves, then the asset can be left in the care of another for the incapacitated person's lifetime. An example might be, that Blackacre (the fictitious name for a piece of property used in law schools everywhere) is left in the care of cousin Tilly, until great aunt Nelly's death. Thus, Tilly is allowed to make Nelly comfortable at Blackacre (the family home) until Nelly passes on. In this instance, Nelly's life is what is called, the measuring life of the life estate, and Tilly's ownership ends when Nelly is gone.

On the whole, the life estate may be falling out of use for a number of reasons and being replaced by the much more fluid instrument of the trust. But, the life estate still captures, from time to time, our instincts regarding how property is to pass from one generation to another and that is why it is still relevant even for an estate planner who uses it very rarely. It helps us to ask and to get the answer to very difficult questions, which is part of the act of estate planning. Both the client and the attorney must face tough questions, and the life estate (even if it is sometimes regarded as a legal relic of the past) tells us how people used to answer questions of intra-generational wealth transfer and why. We may use different instruments to bring about our legal ends (or we may not), but even if we do, the life-estate still has relevance in helping us think about the questions that underlie the choices to be made in estate planning.

Estate Planning - The Life Estate

Ronald Hudkins is an advocate for consumer awareness. He has noted that more than 70% of the American public fails to make appropriate estate plans prior to death or incapacitation and as such; authored an Ebook "Asset Protection and Estate Planning for All Ages" It is available for free download at [http://stores.lulu.com/rhudkins]

Home Made Detox Recipes For Cleansing

Detoxification refers to the process of removing toxic substances from the body. For most people, this means the residue of all of the undigested unhealthy foods that we spend so much time consuming. Benefits of using detox a recipe includes that you will both bring your body to a healthier level, and help you with weight loss.

A detox recipe may include a diversity of ingredients, depending on which area of your body you want to cleanse, as well as what your personal tastes and preferences are. The goal is to detoxify your body with healing foods that will revive your body from within, and increase your energy and overall well being.

Home

Lemon Detox Diet Recipe

One of the easiest detox recipes to make is a lemon drink for replacement of all solid foods for a period of up to a week or even two. You could also simply substitute a meal or two each day with the lemon beverage if you prefer. This drink is created by adding two tablespoons of brown rice syrup along with two tablespoons of fresh lemon juice to a glass full of water. You may add a dash of fresh grated ginger for taste and to help your digestive system function. Use in place of solid food whenever hunger strikes.

Fresh Fruit Detox Recipes

Fresh fruit like bananas, apples and strawberries can be used to whip up satisfying detox salads. You can use strawberries, lemon zest, extra soft tofu, and honey to make a delightful dessert.

The apple detox diet advises three days of eating only apples and applesauce, and drinking apple juice and cider. Fruit is a great way of cleansing the body and bringing wellness and vitality to your life.

Prior to having a new detox recipe, you should spend, at the minimum, seven days eating a light nutritional fare for cleansing your colon and readying your body for the more dynamic detox recipes. This includes avoiding junk foods, and maintaining the healthy diet for a full week. Look for detox recipes which include only wholesome ingredients like fresh fruits and vegetables, extra-virgin olive oil, unsalted nuts and seeds, and herbal teas.

Home Made Detox Recipes For Cleansing

Searching for a way to cleanse your body and bring it to a healthier level, why not try a detox recipe? Visit http://www.fountia.com for info on colon detox and detox centers.

Sinus Pressure and the House Dust Factor

Under the microscope they would appear to be creatures from another planet. To the naked eye they do not exist. But to millions who are very susceptible to their "legacy" they are responsible for a great deal of discomfort or just plain misery: meet the house dust mite.

The mighty mite

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The sinus pressure sufferer should know, however, that the mite is not itself the problem, but the legacy--their droppings, also microscopic, to which many of us can be very allergic. They are the root cause of some types of sinus pressure. Dust mites thrive in an environment having these three elements: moisture, warmth and food: tiny dead skin particles shed by humans--as the body rubs against the mattress; or the ones shed while dressing, drying the body with a towel, combing the hair, walking around the house, etc. No wonder the invisible nuisance proliferates in abundance in mattresses and carpets. And what is most fastidious about them is our inability to be able to "teach them a lesson" with regular insecticides. In fact, they cannot be killed by the latter.

House dust and sinus pressue

The major component of house dust is the accumulation of those of dead skin particles just described, which can also contain large amounts of the mites' droppings. The latter are inhaled with the dust causing in some cases serious irritation on the sinus membranes. The mucus produced by the latter to wash off the irritant can be so profuse that the cilia lining the membranes cannot dispose of it fast enough. Or the ostia--the tiny holes at the end of the sinuses to drain them--are blocked by the swollen membranes. Under these conditions the mucus can accumulate and create sinus pressure. If this is not promptly corrected the sinus can easily become a breeding ground for bacteria and a sinus infection can easily follow.

The mite and sinus pressure solution

So, what is the solution? There are several things those afflicted with sinus pressure caused by house dust can do to elude the mighty effect dust mite droppings can have on their sinuses:

  1. Vacuum often to curb their breeding cycle and lift both mites and droppings
  2. Incase your mattress in a heavy plastic mattress bag
  3. Use "one way linen" especially designed to keep dust mites from coming through the linen
  4. Wash linen often
  5. Make the bedroom a dust free zone
  6. Should all of the above fail to control the breeding mites and their effects, then consider desensitizing therapy against their droppings

For sinus pressure caused by the house dust main allergen producer--the dust mite droppings--the best approach can be a combination of some of the above factors, with a lot of common sense to go along with it.

Sinus Pressure and the House Dust Factor

Paul Sanchez teaches and interacts with people on how to care for their sinuses and related issues at: http://www.mysinustory.com and http://www.mysinustory.com/points.html. He had suffered from sinus problems for many years. Experimenting with alternative solutions he found permanent relief through a simple combination of healing techniques, which he now shares at those websites, besides giving assistance, help and support.

Feng Shui House Numbers - What is Your House Telling You?

Feng shui house numbers, like all numbers in feng shui, carry significance. Numbers can enhance the characteristics of a space. Because feng shui deals with single digits only, the easiest way to determine your feng shui house number is to add the numbers together.

Let's say your address is '1257 Elm St' Simply add 1+2+5+7 = 15. Then add 1+6 (the numbers in 15) to get 6. Take that number and refer to the meanings below.

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Or you can take this one step further and assign a number value to each letter in your street name, and add that as well. This is an even better indicator. Here the cipher for that:

A=1, B=2, C=3, D=4, E=5, F=6, G=7, H=8, I=9, J=1, K=2, L=3, M=4, N=5, O=6, P=7, Q=8, R=9, S=1, T=2, U=3, W=4, X=5, Y=6, Z=7.

Finishing the example above, the math would look like: 1+2+5 + 7 = 15, 1+5 = 6, then E (first letter of Elm) =5, L=3, and M=4. Add 6 (the number already derived) to your house name numbers: 6+5+3+4 = 18, 1+8 = 9. In this case your feng shui house number would be 9.

What Those Numbers Mean

One: Independence, new beginnings, oneness with life, self-development, individuality,progress and creativity

Two: Duality, balance of yin and yang, polarities, attraction,good for couples, balance and marriage of opposites.

Three: Mind, Body and Spirit; the Trinity; expression; communication; fun; optimistic; expansive; and creative

Four: Foundation building, security, the elements of the four directions, discipline, organization, productivity; work, service

Five: Freedom, change, passion, curiosity, excitement, fun, adventurous, impulsive

Six: Love, home, beauty and the arts, generous, caring and nurturing, children

Seven: The inner life, mysticism. The seven chakras, religion, spiritual ritual and ceremony, the path of solitude; contemplation, meditation

Eight: Power on the physical plane, material prosperity, abundance, leadership

Nine: Completion, humanitarianism, selflessness, wisdom, compassion

Feng Shui House Numbers - What is Your House Telling You?

Anezka Drazil is a 20-year feng shui consultant and director of the Portland Feng Shui Insititute in Portland, Ore. She has studied under feng shui notables Marie Diamond of The Secret video fame and Denise Linn, author of Sacred Spaces and Feng Shui for the Soul. Anezka and her husband, James Reyes, a financial analyst, have co-authored a feng shui career tips ebook [http://www.accessfengshui.com/feng-shui-career-tips.html], Power Your Career with Feng Shui. Anezka's writing can also be found at an online community for women.

7 Tips to Real Estate Agents' Success

With over 2 million real estate agents according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), becoming a successful real estate agent takes more than just a license and a knowledge of current laws and regulations.The first year drop out range estimated to be from 40% to 80% demonstrates that many real estate agents are not as successful as they could be and research suggests that 90% give up after 3 years. The following 7 tips may help you avoid becoming one of these statistics.

  1. First and Foremost YOU are a business. Real estate agents work for a broker, but are independent, commissioned sales people. This means that you are a small business and must run your practice as a business. Again, remember you are a small business owner.
  2. Embrace a Planning Attitude. If you don't have a plan, then you are on some else's plan - usually the successful real estate agent's. During the last 10 years, what I have learned as a performance improvement consultant or coach is that most people place more value in planning a trip to the grocery store or a vacation than planning their lives either professionally or personally.
  3. Research Your Market Plan. Since you, as the real estate agent, are responsible for your own expenses, do your research specific to your marketing plan within your strategic plan. Time spent in constructing your marketing plan is definitely well spent. NOTE: Remember a business plan usually is data driven, while a strategic plan identifies who does what by when.
  4. Establish Sales Goals. Using your strategic action plan, establish sales goals. If you are new to this industry, it may take 6 months before the first sale. HINT: Use the W.H.Y. S.M.A.R.T. criteria for goal setting.
  5. Create a Financial Budget. Budgeting is critical given the up and down of this volatile market place. Your financial budget should plan for your marketing costs, any additional costs such as education and your forecasted income.
  6. Make Managing Yourself a Priority. Building a business is not easy. You must learn how to manage yourself especially in the area of time management, ongoing real estate business training coaching continuing education units, and personal life balance. Real estate is said to be a 24/7 business much like any small business. However, it is important not to lose sight of your personal life including family, friends, physical health, etc.
  7. Find a Mentor or a Real Estate Coach. Going it alone is not easy. Take the time to find a mentor who can help you steer through some of the known obstacles and help you during the "peaks and valleys." If you have the resources, you may wish to hire a real estate coach or an executive coach who specializes in small business help and sales.

\"real Estate\"

Being an incredible sales person and entering the real estate market does not guarantee similar sales success. However, these 7 tips may help you avoid many of the pitfalls by not being one of the four real estate agents who quit within one year or one of the nine who give up after 3 years.

7 Tips to Real Estate Agents' Success

Want to learn how to increase sales? Sign up to receive notification of Leanne's forthcoming sales coaching book to help you become the Red Jacket in the Sea of Gray Suits.

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You probably do not want to be uncomfortable. Who does? Yet, you want to increase sales and to stop all those sleepless nights right before sales figures are due. Now is the time to give Leanne a call at 219.759.5601 to schedule a free business coaching training or sales coaching strategy session. Experience how being uncomfortable can help you increase sales.

Six Rules When Buying an Investment Property

Investing in properties is a good way to make money and build up your net worth. It is a very safe option of getting rich over the long term, as real estate values generally increase over time. However, returns are not very fast and you have to wait for considerable time before you make substantial money from real estate. To make the most of your investment into real estate, follow the six simple rules below.

1. Use Your Expertise and Knowledge

Property

When purchasing investment property, look into your areas expertise and knowledge. Do you know about vacation homes, single-family homes, multi-family buildings, or commercial properties? You should know how and when to sell the property to earn the highest returns. If you are unaware of all rules and regulations relating to that property type, you may not be able to sell the property at a high profit.

2. Study Your Options

It is not essential to sell an investment property immediately after purchase. You can hold on to your investment until real estate values increase and then sell the property. Sometimes, it is best to bide your time and wait for real estate booms to sell and earn good profits on your investment. Another opportunity is to make suitable renovations and sell the property at an escalated price to earn very good returns. Property values increase over time and net worth of your investment increases. You can invest in real estate to receive a regular income from rent while you are waiting for property values to rise.

3. Consider the Benefits of the Location

Purchase your investment property in an area experiencing higher growth than other local areas. Inspect properties in different areas and choose those that satisfy necessary requirements. If you plan to invest in the property for several years, look into how the area will develop in the next few years and whether you can receive desired returns. You should have sufficient foresight and knowledge of the area.

Visit local councils and research what developments are happening in the vicinity in the near future. Drive around and scout for development and other area investments. Check the property is located near essential amenities like schools, hospitals, banks, transport, and supermarkets.

4. Reflect on Rental Demand

Your investment property yields good returns if there is sufficient rental demand for the property. Renters should be interested in renting the property. Normally, rental demand is high in densely populated areas like cities. Countryside locations do not have high demand and rental income could be substantially less.

5. Buy Property for Less than the Current Value

If you want to make money from real estate investing, choose properties that are being sold for less than the current market value. These properties may not be in the best shape and condition, so plan to incur repair and renovation costs. Before buying, hire a renovation consultant or home inspector to evaluate the cost of all repairs and renovations. Decide on the purchase price after deducting all additional costs. Ensure you can make a good profit when you sell the property after the renovation is complete.

6. Gather Financial Support

Investment property purchase requires strong financing. You may not be able to pool the entire cost, so consider the options for property loans. Assess all your mortgage options, so that you do not have excessive burden of repayments. If you are renting the property, apply the rent directly to the mortgage. Select a mortgage that can be repaid from the sale of property without additional fees or penalties for early repayment, especially if you plan to resell the property quickly.

Real estate investing for profit is a good option to earn money if you are an educated real estate investor. Investing in real estate is wise and can give even conservative investors high returns in the long-term. Renting the property while waiting for the best time to sell will increase your current income and cover the mortgage repayment costs.

Six Rules When Buying an Investment Property

Real estate is a complicated market. Even more so thanks to economic slips and slides. The best way to survive it is to save thousands buying a home. We've got the ultimate inside scoop on [http://www.EdmontonHomesBlog.com].

Home Remedy For Sinus Infection

Sinus infections are one of the most common infections across the world. Sinus attacks are caused by an infection in the sinuses or cavities that are present in the bones near the nose. When there is any swelling in these sinuses because of some infection, breathing becomes difficult, resulting in fever, headaches, and other discomforts. This is known as sinusitis.

Each sinus or cavity in the skull has an opening that allows free exchange of mucus and air. Each sinus is joined to the other by a mucous membrane lining. When there is an infection like hay fever or a disease like asthma, these sinuses and the lining become inflamed, causing air and mucus to be blocked inside or a vacuum to be created. This can cause pressure on the sinus walls, causing severe pain. Millions of dollars are spent for sinus medications and sinus research.

Home

Sinus infections can cause a lot of pain and discomfort. Sometimes, the infection may also lead to some brain infections or other chronic problems. Though there is no effective remedy for sinus infections, a lot of comfort can be gained by treating the sinus symptoms like headaches, nasal discharge, nasal blocking, runny nose, ear/neck/cheek/jaw pain, swelling of eyelids, etc. However, acute or chronic sinus infections require prolonged treatments, comprised of antibiotics or therapies like saline nasal rinses, topical/oral decongestants, antihistamines, mucolytic agents, and intranasal corticosteroids.

Sinus infections can also be treated by some home remedies. A lot of relief can be obtained by inhaling steam from a vaporizer or a bowl of hot water. Applying a hot or a cold compress over the inflamed area would also provide relief. A decoction of mustard seed powder and water, instilled in the nostrils; eating jalapeno peppers; drinking juice of ripe grapes; applying a paste of cinnamon and water on the forehead; applying paste of ginger and water/milk on the forehead; applying paste of basil leaves, cloves, and dried ginger on the forehead; inhaling steam of eucalyptus oil; and drinking warm tea are all found to be effective in providing some relief. Drinking a lot of water and other fluids would also help. A great deal of rest is also required. However, it is better to consult a specialist if the infection persists.

Home Remedy For Sinus Infection

Sinus Infections [http://www.e-SinusInfections.com] provides detailed information about sinus infections, sinus infection symptoms, sinus infection treatment, home remedy for sinus infection and more. Sinus Infections is the sister site of Topical Vitamin C.