29 Critical Questions to Ask a Realtor Before You List

Because Finding the Right Real Estate Agent Can Make All the Difference in the Success or Failure of Your Home Sale

Selling a home involves many critical and personal decisions. However, one of the most important decisions is the first decision you need to make—a decision that impacts your entire home sale:

Which real estate agent should you work with?

Unfortunately, many people make this decision based on the idea that all real estate agents are basically the same. They sign with the first agent to come along, only to realize too late that they should have shopped around.

This article is designed to help you avoid that mistake by equipping you with what to look for in selecting your agent.

Start by asking your friends and family for the names of agents they know. Look around your neighborhood for the signs, ads and marketing materials of active agents in the neighborhood. Once you’ve compiled a list of several names, use this guide to help you determine which agent is best for you.

Here are the questions you should ask each agent:

Question 1

"Could you send me some information about yourself?"

You can often get a good idea of which agents are most professional and most committed by looking at their personal marketing materials—brochures, direct mail, listing presentation book, etc.

Call each name on your list and ask them to send out any information they can before you actually meet with them for a listing presentation. When you get the personal brochure or other materials, look them over and determine your initial impression of this person.

Are the materials they presented professional?

If not, you might ask yourself,

"If they don’t have the wherewithal to properly market themselves, how will they market my home?"

Also, keep track of how quickly and efficiently they respond to your request for information. Are they friendly and helpful? Or just pushy and hungry for a listing?

Does this seem like someone you’d be interested in talking with? If they aren’t organized and professional enough to respond promptly to your first request to find out more about them, they’ll probably handle potential buyers for your home the same way.

If you like the way they respond to you and are impressed with the information they supply, call them and invite them to make a listing presentation to you.

It’s always a good practice to meet with more than one potential agent before making a final decision—usually three to five for sellers.

Just make sure that you don’t meet with more than one from the same company. This could cause internal strife which would be counterproductive in marketing your home.

Question 2

"How do you approach your work?"

What you should be looking for, first and foremost, is an honest and knowledgeable individual, who works full-time, represents a solid and reputable real estate agency, and will treat your best interests as paramount. Length of time in the business, track record of success, previous experience, expertise in and knowledge of the local real estate market—all of these are factors to consider.

While the right agent to market your home may not be number one in every aspect, you want to make sure that the person you hire is a well-rounded individual whom you can trust and respect as a professional.

Question 3

"How many homes have you listed in the past six months?"

Look for an agent who is active in your area and has experience dealing with homes and situations like yours. This is especially critical if your home or transaction has special features or terms that may make it more challenging than the typical home sale.

Question 4

"How many homes have you sold in the last six months?"

Beware of agents who simply gather listings and let them sit and wait for someone else to sell them.

Your agent should have a good track record getting homes sold, which is, after all, your ultimate goal.

Question 5

"What is the average length of time your listings are on the market?"

You may automatically assume the shorter time on the market, the better. But take note:

If an average length of time on the market is significantly faster than the average for homes in the area, is it because this agent is more effective or because he or she likes to low-ball the asking price in order to get homes sold more quickly?

Also, take a look at what the original asking prices are for homes the agent lists versus what the homes finally sell for. This "swing" number will tell you how effective the agent is at helping clients determine the right asking price and doing what it takes to help them get it.

Question 6

"How long have you been in the business?"

Depending on the agent’s background and track record, there is no hard and fast rule for what to look for here.

An agent may have been a licensed real estate professional for 15 years, but only selling part-time and never really an active seller—maybe only handling one or two transactions per year.

Whereas another agent may have only just become licensed one or two years ago, but has a background in real estate finance, worked in real estate law for a number of years or has been a private real estate investor and has bought and sold more than 20 homes himself in the last 10 years.

Either way, you need to find someone who has an in-depth knowledge of the legal ins and outs of the business as well as the characteristics of the local market, and has demonstrated competence and professionalism in getting homes sold.

Question 7

"What professional organizations do you belong to?"

The minimum here should be a fully licensed professional who’s a member of the local real estate board and multiple listing service as well as the state and National Association of Realtors.®

Local community groups and business associations may also be pluses in terms of networking and insight into the community

However, make sure your agent is focused on what’s important—selling your home.

Question 8

"Do you have a personal assistant or other

support staff working for you?"

Some agents employ an assistant or staff. This doesn’t necessarily mean better service, but it can be an indicator that the agent treats selling real estate as a business.

By employing someone to handle the small details, he or she can devote more time to serving your needs.

However, be sure you know up front how much involvement you can expect directly from your agent, and how much is usually handled by someone else. It may be fine that most of your interaction after the listing is with an assistant or other staff member as long as you don’t feel passed off onto someone else and you are kept informed of exactly what the agent is doing to get your home sold.

Question 9

"Do you have any questions for me?"

In the interview, look for an agent who asks pointed, specific questions, not someone who’s just filling in blanks on a form.

That’s the sign of someone who is already thinking about your situation and is creating a plan of action specifically for you rather than just using a cookie-cutter approach for every client.

Make sure you feel comfortable being around this person—you will be relying on his or her expertise.

Question 10

"What marketing approach will you use for my home?"

Despite having the same basic marketing tools at their disposal—Multiple Listing Service, company tours, Board of Realtors® tours, fliers and brochures, for sale signs, MLS lock boxes, public open houses, advertising, direct mail and personal networking—every real estate professional has a different marketing strategy.

Learn each agent’s marketing philosophy, and determine what will work for you.

Make sure the agent you choose doesn’t rely on the same marketing tool for every sale. What worked for yesterday’s seller may not get the results you want. The key is to find an agent who will use all the tools available to your best advantage.

Question 11

"Will you produce a flier or brochure for my home and what will it look like?"

Take a careful look at the materials the agent has produced to market their current listings. Do the quality, design and wording of the materials seem to present each home in the best light?

Put yourself in a potential buyer’s shoes: Would you be interested in the homes after seeing these materials?

Question 12

"How often will you hold open houses? Will they be public, broker-only or ‘by appointment only?’ How do you feel open houses will work best for my home?"

Simply putting a sign on your lawn and holding an open house every Sunday afternoon will not get your home sold.

In addition, a house held open too frequently can begin to look like a loser, making it a prime target for low-ball bidders.

Your agent should have a carefully-planned rationale for each open house and it should be just one facet of a complete marketing plan.

Question 13

"What is your advertising plan for my home?"

Most people believe that advertising a home in the newspaper is the way a home gets sold. Unfortunately, this is simply not the case. The truth is: Good real estate agents sell homes. And they do this through their own personal advertising, networking, skill, and creative advertising methods like the Internet, toll-free hotlines and fax marketing that give potential buyers 24-hour access to information about your home.

Don’t be concerned with traditional methods of advertising houses. Make sure your agent uses innovative, cutting edge methods that make your home stand out from the rest.

Question 14

"How else will the property be exposed to other agents?"

Exposure is the key to any home sale. In many cases your home will be sold because another agent knows a buyer who is looking for a home like yours.

Beyond simply listing your home in the MLS, your agent should be using a wide variety of techniques to let those other agents know about your home and keep them aware of it until it is sold.

Question 15

"Are you going to help me in staging my home?"

Preparing a property for sale, or "staging" it, is very important in maximizing the value and minimizing the time on the market.

If a prospective agent does not mention this aspect of the sale on his own during the listing presentation, he probably has no plan to offer this service to you.

Or he may be afraid of bringing it up for fear of offending you by telling you about negative aspects of your home that should be changed—or positives that need to be highlighted—to increase its appeal to potential buyers.

A confident and competent agent will find ways of broaching the subject and let you know of specific ideas—beyond baking bread and putting out fresh flowers for open houses—to make your home more salable.

Question 16

"What will you do to keep me informed?"

Do you want weekly, daily or hourly reports from your agent? Are you comfortable with letters, phone calls, or do you want to discuss matters in person?

Determine how much communication you want, then find an agent who will give you the attention and time you deserve.

Question 17

"What listing price do you recommend for my home and what is that price based on?"

Pricing your home is the most critical step to selling it, and you should choose a Realtor® who has the knowledge to price your home wisely.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

Don’t go with a "yes man" who will promise a high price in order to get your listing—your home may languish on the market.

Don’t let an agent talk you into an artificially low price designed simply to sell as fast as possible.

Do have each agent justify the price through comparable properties and facts about the market.

The selling price should attract prospective buyers to your home, get you top dollar in the current market and reflect the condition of your house.

Be realistic. A good Realtor® will be honest with you about the value of your home and have the cold, hard facts to justify that value—both to you and to prospective buyers.

Question 18

"Can you provide me with further resources that I may need?"

Most agents work with a team of professionals in many fields, including title, escrow, mortgage, home inspection, pest control, carpet cleaning, etc. While you are not obligated to work with an agent’s team, often you may find it is the optimum way to go.

The best agents have built strong relationships with their "teams," and can often get expedient service or be able to "cash in a favor" for your transaction should a crunch or problem arise.

Question 19

"Can you give me some references from other clients you have worked with?"

Don’t be afraid to ask for references. This is not confidential information, even though many sellers would never think to ask for it.

Real estate transactions are a matter of public record, and if you want to take the time to go down to the courthouse, you could compile your own list.

However, any agent who provides good service and is proud of his or her work will be happy to provide references.

If possible, contact a few of these references directly. Check to see how well the situations described by these previous clients fit your situation, particularly if you have a complex transaction or special circumstance that requires specific expertise.

Question 20

"What does the listing agreement entail?"

Have the agent go over every detail of the listing agreement with you before you ever sign it.

This is a legally binding document and your agent should be open and up front with you about exactly what you’re signing.

Ask to know exactly what each portion means and be aware of what the contract will legally obligate you and the agent to do.

Question 21

"What are the beginning and expiration dates of the listing agreement?"

This information should be included on the agreement itself and, should a dispute arise later, could be crucial in determining commission payments.

Beware of agents who want you to agree to a very long listing period.

Unless they can provide compelling reasons why your sale should take longer, generally three months is a good amount of time for a listing agreement.

Also remember that the listing agreement is designed to protect not just you but the agent as well.

Good agents work hard for their commissions and deserve just as much open communication and straightforward dealings as you do.

Question 22

"What are the amount of brokerage fees I will be paying?"

The customary fee generally ranges between five and seven percent although brokerage fees are not fixed by law and are negotiable.

However, whether you pay a fee that is higher or lower, you generally get what you pay for.

Especially beware of agents who are willing up front to take a reduction in their commission. It may well mean that they never intend to spend much time, effort or money in selling your home to begin with.

Question 23

"What other fees or charges do need to be aware of?"

Title insurance, escrow charges, closing costs and prorated insurance, taxes, rent, home owner’s association dues, etc.—the individual circumstances of your transaction and the needs of your buyer will all impact your final financial obligation.

Be sure your agent goes over all the costs that may be incurred so that you’ll be prepared.

Question 24

"What disclosure laws or special zones apply to me and what do I need to provide?"

You and your agent will both need to provide specific disclosure forms regarding your transaction and your property. Also, if you live in an earthquake-, flood- or other disaster-prone area, special statements—or special study zones reports—may be required.

Your agent should be able to help you locate professional inspectors for the various mandatory home inspections.

Most agents will help you organize a home marketing file—including a property fact sheet, a property transfer disclosure statement, pest control report, applicable C.C. & R.s, applicable special study zones report, available soils or structural engineering report, property profile from the title company, applicable plans for alterations or additions, any home warranty plan offered and applicable special equipment report for pools, spas, sprinkler and alarm systems, etc.

Question 25

"What is a home protection plan and should consider purchasing one to facilitate my sale?"

There are many ways to enhance the salability of your home and sweeten the deal for prospective buyers. You may not need them, but you should know what they are and how they may or may not benefit you.

Question 26

"How will you determine the qualification of potential buyers?"

Ask what procedures the agent will use to make sure that you don’t waste any time dealing with dead-end offers or escrows that can’t be closed.

Question 27

"What happens if my home doesn’t sell in the allotted time or if I decide not to sell my home?"

Much of the answer to this question should be spelled out in the listing agreement. Make sure your agent goes over every part of it with you.

Be sure to find out whether your contract contains a "liquidated damages" clause.

These are designed to specify a dollar amount you would be liable for should you decide to take your house off the market before the expiration date of the agreement.

Question 28

"What’s the best way for me to get in touch with you?"

In this age of expanding technology and instant communication, most agents have pagers, voice mail and voice messaging services.

You should know exactly how to get through to your agent, his or her assistant, or a messaging service in case of an emergency 24 hours a day.

Your agent should not only provide you with prompt responses to your calls, but also should have a step-by-step plan regarding how he or she will keep you informed about the status of your home sale, including daily, weekly or monthly written reports on the actions that have been taken to sell your home and the resulting response from prospective buyers and other agents.

Question 29

"How would you like for me to give you feedback?"

As important as it is for your agent to keep you up to date, you should give regular feedback to your agent as to how satisfied you are with his or her service.

The best agent is one who makes it easy for you to communicate your satisfaction as well as the things you would like to see changed about the way he or she is handling your transaction.

Perhaps all you need is an explanation of why things are going the way they are or why your agent is handling things a certain way, but the more you can get all of these feelings out in the open, the better the two of you can communicate and work to change things if need be.

An organized professional will provide you with service questionnaires both at the beginning of the relationship so you can outline your expectations and at the end of the transaction so you can let him or her know how well those expectations were met, as well as regularly during the course of the sale so you can deal with any positives or negatives that occur along the way.

Sean L. Spencer, Realtor

[http://www.SeanLSpencer.com]

10 Questions To Ask Your OB-Gyn When You Are Trying To Conceive

When you and your partner make the decision that you are ready to start your family it can be a very exciting time in your life. First of all, you get to use baby-making as an excuse to rekindle some romance that may have slipped away with the daily routines of your lives. Second, the anticipation of a little one running around, while a bit scary, is invigorating. Finally, you're ready to join the mommy club.

You and your partner try month after month with no success. You're not worried yet because it has only been a few months. More than six months pass and you still are not pregnant. You start to become a little flustered. What do you do now? If you are under the age of 35, most doctors will tell you to try another six months before you consider alternative methods. Instead of just "trying" for twelve months, which can seem like forever when you want to conceive, I recommend talking with your doctor about some inexpensive initial fertility testing to rule out common problems, such as ovulation irregularities. However, if you are over age 35, then my advice is to talk with your doctor about fertility treatment options and the possibility of a referral to a Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE).

If you are new to the topic of infertility, you are probably not sure what to ask your doctor or where to look for resources or information. Below are ten important questions to ask your Ob/Gyn:

1. Do they take a reproductive history to determine if you have any infertility risks such as endometriosis, fibroids, recurrent miscarriages, etc.?

2. If your doctor hasn't done preliminary fertility blood testing, ask for a full-range of tests to determine if you have any infertility risks. It is important to be aware that some of these tests must be done at certain times in your menstrual cycle. Ask your doctor to explain why she is doing the tests when she is, so that you can be certain that your doctor is performing the test at the appropriate time.

3. Do they perform a semen analysis on your husband/boyfriend/partner? For example, if your spouse has sperm issues there would be no reason for your Ob/Gyn to prescribe Clomid (a common drug to stimulate ovulation). The goal is to minimize the drugs to which your body is exposed, the expense, and the emotional ups and downs you may experience.

4. What advice does your doctor offer for life style changes? For example, dietary changes can help increase your fertility as can regular exercise. However, sometimes even diet and exercise are not enough to resolve your medical issues.

5. What medications do they recommend or procedures do they offer for your condition(s)?

6. How much experience does he/she have with helping patients overcome their fertility issues? This is an extremely important question, as you do not want to stay with an Ob/Gyn who "dabbles" in fertility treatments because it could cost you time as well as money.

7. Who within their office can help you understand your health insurance benefits so that you can maximize your coverage for the fertility testing and treatments?

8. If they suggest Clomid, how many cycles will they recommend before considering additional testing or more advanced medications or treatments?

9. If they offer artificial insemination, known as intra-uterine insemination (IUI), do they monitor the number of follicles you produce via ultrasound before the insemination procedure takes place? Monitoring the number of follicles will alert them/you of the risk of twins or a high-order (three or more babies) multiple pregnancy.

10. Which REs do they recommend if advanced procedures are required?

There are four main organizations dedicated to helping the infertile community gather information as well as provide support either through articles, chat groups, or peer-lead support groups. RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association was founded in 1974 and advocates for the community in many ways, including mandated insurance coverage initiatives (see RESOLVE's website for information on the Family Building Act of 2007). INCIID, the InterNational Council on Infertility Information Dissemination, Inc., was founded in 1995 to provide infertility information and support. INCIID hosts discussion forums on its website. The American Fertility Association was founded in 1999 and offers easy to read informational and educational content on their website. Finally, Fertility LifeLines is a new educational resource for the community and offers discount coupons for certain medications.

Two of the most effective methods for surviving your fertility journey are to gather information and ask questions. For most of you, your Ob/Gyn will be your first step in the information gathering process. I urge you not to waste the opportunity to both gain as much knowledge as possible from your Ob/Gyn and to know when it is time to move on and seek the assistant of a fertility specialist.

Kelly Damron is the mother of twin girls conceived via IVF. She lives in Phoenix, AZ with her husband, Dave, and their daughters. She is an active volunteer with the March of Dimes and RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association. Her book Tiny Toes: A Couple's Journey Through Infertility, Prematurity, and Depression is available at http://www.TinyToesBook.com or Amazon.com. Read her blog at http://www.twinpeas.com/wordpress/

Holiday Candles - Questions and Answers - Part 2

We will address more of the Holiday Candles - Questions and Answers - on how to safely remove candle wax from our carpeting, chemical reactions while burning our candles, types of wicks and other general questions.

How do I remove wax from carpeting or fabric?

When the candle wax has hardened, gently remove the larger pieces of candle wax. After you have removed the larger pieces of wax, get a clean paper towel and place it over the wax spill. Warm the paper towel by using an iron on the lowest setting or a blow dryer on its lowest heat setting. The wax under the towel will begin to melt and soak up into the towel. Blot the wax and repeat as necessary until the wax is removed.

Another way is to use brown paper bags from the grocery store. Open up the bag, lay it across the wax, turn the iron setting to high, iron across the brown paper bag and the brown paper bag will absorb the wax. This tip is for a large area of wax on your carpeting. You will need many brown paper bags opened in order to help absorb the candle wax from a large candle wax spill.

It is highly recommend that you consult your fabric or carpet manufacturer's instructions before trying either of these methods. Should the wax still be present after using either one or both of these methods, please consult your home owners insurance to see if your carpet can be replaced.

Personally, I consulted my carpeting manufacturer's instructions, called a carpeting house, checked our home owners' insurance policy and used the internet to see what other options I had when my huge 3 wick Holiday Candle blew out its side and red wax melted onto a large area of my carpeting. After removing 95% of the wax, the wax residue and the red coloring made a huge mess on 5 feet of my carpeting. Our home owners insurance did pay to replace my carpeting.

How do I remove wax from wood surfaces?

You can place a bag of ice over the hot candle wax so the candle wax can harden, then use a dull object to help remove the larger pieces of wax. Be sure to use a dull object on your wood furniture when removing the larger chips of wax so you won't ruin your wood finish. Should any wax spots be left on your furniture, place several sheets of paper towel over the wax spill, set your iron to a warm setting and iron over the paper toweling and try not to iron your wood furniture.

After you have done all of the above suggestions and there still is a residue of wax left, take mayonnaise, smear it over the surface with the wax residue and just wipe away the wax from the surface. This will also clean your wood surface.

How do I get all of the wax out of my candle holder?

Allow your candle holder to cool, place it in the freezer for approximately 10-15 minutes to allow the wax to harden, take it out of the freezer and hit it against the palm of your hand. The wax should pop out into your hand. If this does not work, use hot water to dissolve the wax. Be sure to dry your holder before using it for another candle.

You can also remove the wax from your container by using a hair dryer. When all the wax is melted, wipe away the melted wax with a clean cloth. Be careful. The container can get very hot when you hold the blow dryer close to your container for a a few minutes, especially if it is metal.

Do candles contain lead?

There is no lead in the candle wax and no member of the National Candle Association (NCA), which accounts for 90% of all candles made in the USA, uses lead wicks. NCA members voluntarily agreed more than 25 years ago not to use lead wicks. Although some candles, primarily imports, reportedly contain lead wicks, the majority of wicks manufactured in the USA are made of 100% cotton or cotton-paper combinations. Some USA made candles do contain metal wicks. These are typically zinc or tin wicks which are known to be safe and non-toxic.

What sort of chemical reaction is created by burning a candle?

When your candle burns, the flame consumes the wax to produce water vapor and carbon dioxide, the same harmless byproducts humans produce when exhaling. This is true for all types of candle waxes.

Are certain candle waxes better than others?

No. All types of quality candle waxes perform well, burn cleanly and safely when formulated and used properly. Candle manufacturers select waxes or blends of waxes based on their characteristics and their suitability for specific types of candles.

Tobey Anne Craft, of Tobey's Enterprises LLC, is the creator and owner of Tobey's candles. To find more information about candle tips visit [http://tobeyscandles.com] and you also will find Scented Candles [http://www.tobeyscandles.com/statusrock.html], Unscented Candles [http://www.tobeyscandles.com/rosefloatingunscented.html], Aromatherapy Gift Sets and much more.

Answering Your Semi Trailers Questions

From coast to coast in the United States, and even all over the world, millions of pounds of produce, goods and necessities are being trucked to places that distribute them. Without the semi trailer and its operator, many areas would find themselves in a severe shortage of the necessities of life.

Though they go by many names and are found in most countries, many people are truly in the dark when it comes to understanding the unique and rich part the semi trailer plays in history. It may have started off small but it has grown into a huge commercial business. And though you may see them on the interstates and roads every day, you may have some questions about what semi trailers truly are and what they are used for. This article can help answer some of those questions.

What is semi trailers used for?

Semi trailers in many forms are designed with one purpose, to move freight. Most road borne cargo transported today, whether palletized, liquid or in bulk, travels on or in a semi trailer of some form. The detachable nature allows filled containers to be taken to their destination and dropped off, allowing the tractor truck to transport another load without waiting for the container to be unloaded. This ability to run multiple trailers with a single tractor allows transportation companies to utilize a single tractor to effectively make two runs.

What type of freight is often found in semi trailers?

Semi trailers come in a number of configurations to suit a variety of tasks. As such, there are a wide variety of trailers to match the different types of cargo transported. The most common trailer found is the enclosed box trailer, often used to carry palletized items and goods. A reefer, or refrigerated trailer, is selected when transporting perishable produce or temperature sensitive goods. A tanker trailer is utilized for liquid loads, such as oil, gasoline, water or milk. A flatbed trailer consists of a flat load bed which can haul practically anything that can be strapped down. Other trailers are available for transport specialized loads.

What is the weight and size limit of semi trailers in the United States?

The Surface Transportation Act of 1982 establishes limitations on the length and width of semi-trailers when operated upon the United States National Network of highways. Maximum width of a commercial vehicle has been set at 102 inches, or 8 ½ feet. Maximum length of the combined tractor and semi-trailer has been established at 65 feet. Weight limitations for tractor trailer combinations have been set at 80,000 pounds. For loads exceeding these regulations, each state has the ability to issue oversize or overweight permits to vehicles operating with their boundaries.

Are there separate laws that govern the pulling and transporting of semi trailers?

While commercial vehicles often seem to operate under rules of their own, they are required to follow additional laws in addition to those followed by private motorists. The United States Department of Transportation provides regulations governing drivers, vehicles and cargo transportation to insure safe operation on National highways. Vehicle and cargo documentation and weight limitations are routinely monitored by means of on highway inspection or weigh stations. Driver's logs are inspected to insure that drivers do not spend more than the allotted amount of time behind the wheel each day.

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Questions to Ask When Choosing a Courier Delivery Service

A courier service is a company that supplies door to door shipping and delivery of packages, letters, and other shipments. Courier services can be local, national, and international. Courier services among companies vary so when selecting the right service that meets your needs, it is important to ask the right questions.

Do you offer on-time delivery?

Most couriers offer guaranteed on-time delivery. This is normally available for standard shipping service, express shipping, same day delivery, and overnight shipping.

Do you have a solid reputation?

The success of a courier depends a lot on if they fulfill their shipping obligations, Couriers should have a list of customers who are happy with their services. They should have a reputation of handling packages with the best care and do not have a record of damage or loss of items.

What is the cost of the courier services?

Cost of shipping items can vary among couriers. It is important that you are getting the best value for your money. Ask if they offer discounts on bulk items. Find out what the exact services are for each shipping service. The lowest price is not always the best service.

What does the insurance cover?

Ask if the insurance covers the full value of the item being shipped and if it covers stolen, lost, and damaged items. You want an insurance guarantee on your item in writing. Producing a Certificate of Insurance should not be a hassle for an insured courier. Every courier company should have a minimum of one million dollars worth of general liability insurance

What are your delivery hours?

Some couriers work all hours and days. Some do not work on holidays. You may have to pay an additional feel for a specific delivery time.

What is your State Permit number?

Each state issues a permit to motorized transporters of freight. You should not use a courier who does not have the proper permit.

Are you bonded?

Bonding is insurance against a crime committed by an employee of the courier company. For instance, if a computer shipped an expensive item that was stolen by an employee, bonding would cover the customer for their financial loss.

How much will my shipment cost?

Cost of shipment will depend on the size and weight of the package. Many couriers have online calculators to determine shipment costs.

Are there items that the courier will not ship?

There are items that couriers are prohibited from transporting. Examples include livestock, liquids, perishable goods, glass, gases, pyrotechnics, arms and ammunition, corrosive..etc.

What information do you need when I book a courier?

Couriers usually need to know the type of item, size and weight of the item, destination address, what type of service is needed..etc.

When you enlist the services of a courier, they are obligated to answer your questions. Couriers are now an essential part of transporting items nationally and internationally. Knowing what questions to ask will go a long way to ensure your shipment arrives safe and sound.

Looking for cross border shipping? Get an international shipping quote from Canada's largest courier delivery service company. Provides same day shipping, overnight shipping, international shipping and offers a range of choices to help meet all your shipping needs.

Questions to Consider When Procuring Professional Security Services

Why contract out security services?

I can immediately think of four reasons. First is the increased value an outsourced company brings to the table because of its professional staff and experience in the security industry. This depth and breadth of experience and knowledge is offered because of relationships with other clients that have faced the same or different challenges. The second reason is the cost. Simply put, because of the expertise and experience that the vendor brings, the financial weight of training, recruiting, hiring and providing benefits for the employees is considerably less to the client than administering these programs in-house. Third is the transfer of liability from the client to the security company. The security company bears the legal load and ramifications of particular incidents that could occur on your property. Lastly, and in my opinion, most importantly is the peace of mind an effective security company can provide so you the client can focus on the everyday business that defines you as a company.

Why Change Security Vendors?

Change vendors when the value is gone, plain and simple, but you have to know what's valuable to you as an individual client. If you have a small budget and need a low bill rate, know that's what you value. If it's superior management and executive accessibility, than know that's what you value. If it's a vendor that can accommodate a client on a national basis, than know that's what you value. When value isn't there anymore and when your vendor's program no longer represents you as a client anymore, it's time to change vendors. However, certain values have repercussions. Low bill rates will produce low wages. National vendors might not give you specific attention on a local level. And having a phenomenal program with high-end personnel combined with strong management will cost you more. You just have to know what you value the most and work off of that.

What are important things to include in an RFP?

First things first, an RFP must be designed to allow you to compare "apples to apples". This is especially important when it comes to the financial proposal from each potential vendor. To achieve this, the pricing structure must include the itemized list of costs to include wages, bill rate, necessary insurance coverage, employee benefits costs, as well as vendor overhead and supervision structure. A well defined scope of work included in the RFP will allow the vendor to completely understand the "job" requirements and price accordingly. When preparing the RFP, remember the more you specify; the more accurate and comparable the respective bids will be.

What comprises the cost of security services?

The cost of security is found in the difference between the client's hourly bill rate and the guard's hourly pay rate. That difference between bill rate and pay rate is the result of an equation based on the value of particular line items, which vary company to company. Examples of these variable items are liability insurance because it fluctuates due to claims against the individual company. Another is worker's compensation insurance which fluctuates in suit. Corporate and branch salaries, marketing, cost of bidding projects, and rent are examples of general administrative expenses that differ. Paid holidays, paid sick time, medical and dental benefits, and more are also factors. Therefore, it's important to know what the benefits are and how much they cost per individual per month in order for you to make a fair comparison of one company to another. Lastly is profit which will vary depending on the company's prerogative. Whether it's low, high or normal, it is a direct example of their business model. Security is an industry where the quality of service should dictate the cost of the program. Never should the cost of security dictate the quality of service.

What are good questions to ask security companies and why?

Four questions that quickly come to mind are the following: First, Who are your competitors? This is important because you want to know what niche a company serves. This will help you gauge whether they are the correct fit for you and your property. Second, what are the responsibilities of the salesman and his guidelines for selling work? This is important because it will reveal management structure and should address a well designed business model. You want to be treated as an appreciated client and not as a number of hours. Third, how many hours are assigned to the area manager? This question will give you an idea of attention you'll be receiving and how loud you'll have to shout to be heard. Finally, how many accounts has a company lost in the past year? This general question might be the tip of the iceberg in regards to attrition rates, wages, performance, and client satisfaction. The commitment to understanding your needs, defining them in the RFP, and asking quality questions of your vendor to produce a perfect fit is the difference between a long term value-based relationship and starting the process over and over again.

By Nick Sapia

The Guardian Force, Inc.

http://www.tgfinc.com

Nick Sapia is the Director of Business Development and an Operations Manager for The Guardian Force, Inc., a private security and concierge provider in Boston, MA.

A graduate of Northeastern Univerisity, Nick Sapia has previously worked for the Executive Office of Public Safety for Massachusetts, top law firms, and presidential campaigns. He can be contacted via email at nsapia@tgfinc.com or nsapia@sapiacorp.com

Top Self Employed Tax Questions

What is Business Turnover? Sales turnover is the total amount of income a business earns before deducting business expenses. Turnover includes receipts of any kind for goods sold or work done such as commission, tips, payments in kind, fees and insurance proceeds. Include sales turnover in your financial accounts at the date it was invoiced or earned and not the date received.

What is excluded from Business Turnover? Sales turnover excludes sales of fixed assets such as premises, vehicles and plant and equipment. Also exclude business start up allowances which are entered separately on the self assessment tax return. Money introduced to the business is excluded being capital introduced and not sales turnover.

What business expenses are allowable? All running costs incurred solely for the purpose of the business may be deducted as allowable business expenses including goods bought for resale, employee wages, premises rent and overheads, administration costs, vehicle running costs. Interest on loans and overdrafts can be claimed as business expenses excluding the capital element of repayments. Higher business expense levels accurately recorded can keep taxable profit below the higher tax rate.

Can the cost of buying and repairing plant and machinery be claimed? Repairs and maintenance costs are allowable business expenses. The purchase cost including improvements and replacement costs are not allowable business expenses, these costs being subject instead to capital allowances. Depreciation is not allowed and replaced by Capital Allowances for the purposes of calculating the tax payable.

What are Capital Allowances? Capital allowances are designed to write off the cost of purchasing a fixed asset over the life of the asset rather than in the financial year in which it was purchased. Capital allowances on the majority of assets are based upon a higher rate of allowance in the year of purchase, First Year Allowance with the balance of the cost being written off at a lower rate, Writing Down Allowance. The full cost of any asset may be claimed as an expense in the year it is sold or scrapped less the total of accumulated capital allowances that have been claimed against taxable profits. Any sales proceeds over and above the written down value after Capital Allowances is added back to net profits and becomes taxable. Cars are subject to writing down allowances but not First Year Allowances unless they are classed as commercial vehicles. DIY Accounting produce comprehensive accounting software templates on excel spreadsheets to automate the accounting functions including capital allowances.

Is expenditure used for both personal and business reasons claimable? No. HMRC only allow such expenses if the business expenses element of the cost can be separated from the personal element. If you claim the travelling expenses to buy business goods they can be claimed for tax purposes but would be disallowed if you also showed evidence of personal items being purchased on the same journey. Using your home phone is an allowable business expense if you claim specific identified business calls in which case you would also be able to claim a similar proportion of the rental cost.

Can vehicle costs be claimed when that vehicle is also used for personal use? Vehicle running costs and expenses such as fuel, excise duty, insurance, repairs and breakdown membership may be claimed as business expenses if the vehicle is used solely for business purposes. Travel from home to work is not business use and disallowed. Vehicle running costs, and capital allowances on vehicles, are split between claimable costs and a disallowed cost depending on the proportion the vehicle is used for business and personal use. Parking fees for business purposes may be claimed, parking fines and penalties for motoring expenses are not claimable as business expenses for tax purposes. Instead of vehicle running costs which for tax purposes would include capital tax allowances on vehicles, mileage allowances of 40p per mile for the first 10,000 miles and 25p per mile thereafter can be claimed in each tax year.

Can Business trips be claimed? Travelling expenses and modest lunch expenses may be claimed. Hotel and reasonable costs of subsistence may also be claimed. If the overnight residence happens to be with friends or family then a subsistence allowance can be claimed as an alternative to the hotel bill. The cost of lunch may not be allowed when staying away overnight. Lunch with clients is regarded as entertainment and is not allowed. If you are accompanied on a business trip by family only your cost is allowable and specifically only if the trip was purely for business purposes. Expenses on combined business and personal trips are not allowed to be deducted as business expenses on tax returns.

Can home costs be claimed? If part of your home is identifiable as solely for business purposes then running costs can be claimed. The cost allowed is the proportion of the total area of the home the business area occupies. For example, excluding shared facilities of kitchen and toilet if the home has three bedrooms, living and dining room and one bedroom is used solely as an office then 1/5 of home costs could be claimed. The costs to claim would be heat and light, insurance, general and water rates and mortgage interest excluding repayment amounts. Where mortgage interest is claimed the revenue might also claim as a capital gain the increase in value of that proportion of the home, such Capital Gains Tax being subject to tapering relief over time.

Should business goods taken for my own use be included? Any business goods taken for personal use should be added to sales at normal selling prices including items supplied to family and friends at less than normal prices. He cost of providing services for family and friends is not allowable as a business expense.

Can I deduct my salary or drawings as a business expense? You cannot deduct your own wages, personal national insurance or drawings from the business as a business expense as these are distributions of the business income after net taxable profit has been calculated and not allowable expenses before tax..

Can I deduct my partner's wages? Yes partner's wages can be deducted as a business expense although there are rules which would be applied in such circumstances to ensure the amount paid is both real and reasonable. The business would need to operate a PAYE scheme for that employee, deducting income tax and national insurance, the work carried out must be real not invented and the rate paid reasonable for the nature of the work and the time spent. Evidence may also be required that the amounts were actually physically paid to that partner, for example in the form of a cheque.

Should Tax Credits be included? No these are excluded from business profits although the level of credit received may subsequently be changed in the light of the actual business profit earned compared with the amount declared when the Tax Credit was applied for. HMRC do check that the net taxable profit shown on the tax return is the same as that declared when the Tax Credit was claimed.

Can I claim expenditure incurred prior to trading commencing? Yes business expenses incurred up to seven years prior to trading commencing can be claimed. The actual date of the expenditure should be recorded although all pre-trading expenditure is treated as having been incurred on the first day of trading.

Are pool cars taxable? Company cars are taxable as a taxable benefit while pool cars are not taxable. To qualify as a pool car, private use should be incidental to business use, the vehicle should not normally be kept at the employee's home and the vehicle must be available and used by more than one employee.

Terry Cartwright is a qualified accountant in the UK and provides through his website DIY Accounting a full range of Accounting Software and Payroll Software for both small limited companies in the UK that produce a final set of accounts and all Self-employed business fully automated on excel spreadsheets to automatically produce the self assessment tax return.