Bettina Settles, your Indiana Connection

I have written one post about what a leader is and here is part II about what a manager is.

A manager performs an organizational function and it does not mean managing of people, it can also mean managing materials. The manager is here to make sure they do what they suppose to do.

The efficient manager makes effective use of material and resources given to them.

Here are some trades a good manager will have

Planning

• Plan the day, week, month
• Put the right people in the right place to be more efficient
• Look at all the probable scenarios
• Figure out the worst possible scenario
• Looking at available resources
• Compare strengths and weaknesses of individuals

Organized

• Prepared the group and make them part of the plan
• Is everybody trained?
• Are the other departments ready
• Is the work force motivated?
• Is the right material ordered?
• Is the equipment ready?
• Are spare parts available for the equipment?
• Does everybody understand their roll?

Direct the teams

Monitor the output

• Watch and make certain everything goes to plan
• Direct and organize people when something is out of sync
• Be aware of outside forces that might will influence the plan's outcome

What is the difference between a Leader and a Manager?

A leader can be a manager, but not every manager is a good leader (don't ask me where I read this)

A manager monitors the output and the productivity of the team there are responsible for. Most of the time a manager was given their position by promotion a leader's position was given through trust.

Executive Office Furniture Auction

Thursday, May 21st, 2009

10:00am

301 S.LaSalle St.

Indianapolis, IN 46201

For the full color auction brochure click on the link below:

http://www.clofa.net/pdf/auction-052109-update.pdf

Please email or call 317-632-8040 if you have any questions.

www.CLofA.net ; carolyn@CLofA.net

I ran across the AP Economic Stress Index Map and it shows the financial strain by county.

It has the combined bankruptcy, foreclosure, and unemployment to measure the stress for each State.

It shows in color what county is under the highest stress and where there is minimal stress.

Personal thought is the high stress areas might rebound back quicker then the other areas. Under the motion: They have been there longer and should recover sooner.

1. Don't buy if you can't stay put.

If you can't commit to remaining in one place for at least a few years, then owning is probably not for you, at least not yet. With the transaction costs of buying and selling a home, you may end up losing money if you sell any sooner.

2. Start by shoring up your credit.

Since you most likely will need to get a mortgage to buy a house, you must make sure your credit history is as clean as possible. A few months before you start house hunting, get copies of your credit report. Make sure the facts are correct, and fix any problems you discover.

3. Aim for a home you can really afford.

The rule of thumb is that you can buy housing that runs about two-and-one-half times your annual salary. But you'll do better to use one of many calculators available online to get a better handle on how your income, debts, and expenses affect what you can afford.

4. Don't worry if you can't put down the usual 20 percent.

There are a variety of public and private lenders who, if you qualify, offer low-interest mortgages that require a down payment as small as 3 percent of the purchase price.

5. Buy in a district with good schools.

In most areas, this advice applies even if you don't have school-age children. Reason: When it comes time to sell, you'll learn that strong school districts are a top priority for many home buyers, thus helping to boost property values.

6. Get professional help.

Even though the Internet gives buyers unprecedented access to home listings, it's still a good idea to use an agent. Look for an exclusive buyer agent, if possible, who will have your interests at heart and can help you with strategies during the bidding process.

7. Choose carefully between points and rate.

When picking a mortgage, you usually have the option of paying additional points -- a portion of the interest that you pay at closing -- in exchange for a lower interest rate. If you stay in the house for a long time -- say five to seven years or more -- it's usually a better deal to take the points. The lower interest rate will save you more in the long run.

8. Before house hunting, get pre-approved.

Getting pre-approved will you save yourself the grief of looking at houses you can't afford and put you in a better position to make a serious offer when you do find the right house. Not to be confused with pre-qualification, which is based on a cursory review of your finances, pre-approval from a lender is based on your actual income, debt and credit history.

9. Do your homework before bidding.

Your opening bid should be based on the sales trend of similar homes in the neighborhood. So before making it, consider sales of similar homes in the last three months. If homes have recently sold at 5 percent less than the asking price, you should make a bid that's about eight to 10 percent lower than what the seller is asking.

10. Hire a home inspector.

Sure, your lender will require a home appraisal anyway. But that's just the bank's way of determining whether the house is worth the price you've agreed to pay. Separately, you should hire your own home inspector, preferably an engineer with experience in doing home surveys in the area where you are buying. His or her job will be to point out potential problems that could require costly repairs down the road.

written by Bettina Settles Monday, November 20, 2006 ©

Buying a home is a major investment for most homeowners it's the most costly investment they will ever make. It is even more costly for some because they fall into the traps and mistakes such as; paying more than they should for a home, missing out on the home of their dreams, buying a home that doesn't fit their needs. By watching out for the 7 costly mistakes you can take proper action to avoid them.

1.Real Estate Agent - your Buyer Agent should have in place a "VIP Buyer program", "house-hunting service" or "buyer profile system". These systems will match your criteria with all the available homes on the market and send you daily or weekly emails with complete descriptions and photos. This system can save weeks and months of home searching. If your Buyer Agent is not internet savvy and not incorporating one of these into their business you should move on to another agent who works in this century.

2.Paying Too Much - not knowing the market could cause you to fall for an over priced home. You should research the local market to determine the values that comparable homes have sold for, and make your offer based on that information. A professional Buyer Agent will help you with the comparables from the MLS and prepare a CMA (comparable market analysis) on the home before you make an offer.

3.Which House is Right for You - finding a home is simple, finding the right home is a lot of work. Determine your needs, schools, drive to work, shopping, recreation, neighborhood, home fix ups and maintenance. Putting in writing your needs and desires will help you and your Buyer Agent weed through the thousands of choices you will be making in your home purchase.

4.Mortgage Pre-Approval - mortgage pre-approval can be completed over the phone or online in 20 to 30 minutes it's fast and easy. With a pre approval you know what you are working with you now have the freedom of not second guessing if you can afford a particular home. Being pre-approved when making an offer gives the seller more confidence that the loan will close.

5.Legal Issues - can delay a closing if not identified early in the process. An accurate and up to date survey is not required by some lenders or title companies but it is the way to guarantee the boundary's of the property and will identify any encroachments that will affect your ownership. Title report will identify any past ownership issues of your property such as tax liens, undisclosed owners, easements, leases and such that could affect your ownership. Mortgage lenders require a lenders title policy to protect their interest it is well worth the cost to buy an owners policy for yourself as well.

6.Undisclosed Repairs - a professional Buyer Agent will help you hire a licensed home inspector to thoroughly review the condition of your home inside and outside. They will inspect and test all mechanical systems (plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, and electrical) and provide you with a written detailed list with photos of all their findings. This inspection report will at the least help you make an informed decision whether to complete the home purchase. All items agreed to by the owner must be inspected to insure the work was complete. You and your inspector should do a final walk through before closing.

7.Closing Table Hidden Costs - there will be costs from the mortgage company, attorney, Title Company, insurance, survey, utility connections, home inspectors, pest control, taxes, escrows and possibly some old payoffs required by your lender. All of these can add up to a considerable amount. You must know in advance what these costs are and be prepared to pay them at or before closing. Review your HUD-1 statement and mortgage with your Buyer Agent before closing to insure that you know and understand all these associated costs and that they are correct.

These are some of the major issues that will affect your home buying process. Working with a professional Buyer Agent who will help you identify the traps and how to avoid them is one of the more important choices you have.

Buying a home is a major investment for most homeowners it's the most costly investment they will ever make. It is even more costly for some because they fall into the traps and mistakes such as; paying more than they should for a home, missing out on the home of their dreams, buying a home that doesn't fit their needs. By watching out for the 7 costly mistakes you can take proper action to avoid them.

written by Bettina Settles Monday, November 20, 2006 ©