Article Time

We all know that marketing a book is a process. But sometimes the process takes longer than we`d anticipated. That`s why it`s nice every now and again to hop aboard the publicity jet and get a look-see at what you`ve been doing from the thirty-thousand foot level. Why? Well, first off this birds-eye view will reveal to you areas you might be overlooking or other options for marketing you hadn`t considered.

To accomplish this bird-eye view you`ll want to get yourself a big white board, or something else big enough to chart your flight plan on. Then, once you`ve gotten that start charting the course you`ve taken so far. Don`t leave a single thing out; it doesn`t matter what it is. What you want to end up with is a serious list of everything you`ve done from the time you held your first proof book in your hands.

One of the things this type of a project will do is give you a new perspective on what you`re doing. It will show you areas that you`ve possibly been spending too much time on or potential holes in your campaign. Sketching out your marketing campaign will also give you a chance to see what`s been leveraging you results and what hasn`t. Keep in mind that some things like bulk sales and national media might take longer than other items so you`ll want to keep putting forth effort toward those long-term goals. But let`s say you`ve been spending tons of time doing radio but nothing really seems to be happening in that area. You then look over to your speaking engagement section and realize you haven`t done a lot with that recently. Perhaps it`s time to pull back on radio and start pushing speaking events.

Once you`ve spent a good long time in this birds-eye view mode, start developing a to-do list of items or add to an existing list to help reinvigorate your campaign. One of the many things you`ll learn from doing this thirty-thousand foot perspective is that we often become myopic in our campaigns, focusing too hard in one area and not hard enough in another. Stepping back from your work will allow you the breathing room you need to regroup and reset your goals. Then you can focus in on particular areas or tasks that might need a boost.

It`s been said that a plane flying from Hawaii to Los Angeles is always off by three percent. If left to fly without any adjustments to the course, however slight, the plane would land up in Seattle instead (a difference of almost 1,200 miles!). But through corrections and readjustments the pilot eventually reaches his destination. As you pilot your own campaign, remember: don`t leave your marketing on autopilot. Realign, readjust, and refocus and eventually you too will reach your destination, wherever that might be.

Happy flying!

Penny C. Sansevieri:
The Cliffhanger was published in June of 2000. After a strategic marketing campaign it quickly climbed the ranks at Amazon.com to the #1 best selling book in San Diego. Her most recent book: From Book to Bestseller was released in 2005 to rave reviews and is being called the “roadmap to publishing success.” Penny is a book marketing and media relations specialist. She also coaches authors on projects, manuscripts and marketing plans and instructs a variety of coursing on publishing and promotion. To learn more about her books or her promotional services, you can visit her web site at http://www.amarketingexpert.com

THIRTY-MINUTE MARKETS
by Pamela White

Between jobs, family and life in general, it can be difficult to
both find new markets for our writing, and the time to write. As a
mother of three, who works two part-time jobs, writes weekly
columns and publishes her own writing newsletter, I feel your
pain.

I have also worked out my own “Thirty-Minute Markets” plan to
submit and earn more despite my constant time crunch.

One month when our two cars broke down, and the temperature stayed
30 degrees below zero for weeks (the heating bills, oy), I felt
the pressure to bring in some cash quickly. I began brainstorming
for solutions when I remembered an online newsletter that had
accepted one of my food articles, published it and paid me, all
within one week`s time. Scanning my recipes, I found a fast,
healthy meal for families, wrote up how I developed the recipe and
sent it in. A friend had e-mailed me about another website that
needed stories about writing. I dashed off another article about
starting my newsletter. I then visited a forum on a writers site
that listed calls for submissions. Back to my laptop, armed with
possible markets, I wrote out an article on unusual ways to find
new writing markets and one with home-made facial recipes.

In less than two hours, I uncovered the markets, and wrote and
submitted four new articles. All were eventually accepted; I was
quickly paid $105 for two hours of work.

How did I do it? The markets I chose needed articles on topics
that I either specialize in or know well.

How did I know my work would get accepted? I didn`t, but I did
felt confident based on over ten years experience researching and
writing articles. I provide clean copy and have a list of
published credits that help get me noticed, especially at smaller
periodicals.

Last question: where did I find these markets? I network with
other writers, editors and publishers online, sharing advice and
gratefully accepting tips on new paying markets.

Looking to build your writing credits and bank account, despite
your other commitments? Compile your own list of markets that you
can write for in thirty minutes and you`ll find that within a
month or two, you`ll have added ten published articles to you
credit.

This is one time you might want to stick to writing about what you
already know. Think about your hobbies, interests, and writing
niche. Toss in the things your friends and family know after all
a five minute phone interview is still easy research for a piece
and you`ll have the topics to look for in a thirty-minute market.

Other advantages to finding and selling to thirty -minute markets:
- You won`t feel abused by the low pay, usually $10 to $50, if
you are writing on a topic you know intimately, and can produce a
quality piece in a half hour.
- Many are online and publish, and pay, quickly. It`s fun to
submit an article on healthy eating and have it appear on a
website within 72 hours, or arrive in your e-mail box as part of a
newsletter, within one short week.
- It`s easy to find these markets by searching online, and by
keeping up-to-date on messages posted to your online writing
groups.
- Experienced writers often pass over the lower paying markets
which gives writers with even a little expertise a better chance
at having their work accepted.

Keep updating your list of the thirty-minute markets you find. If
you find a travel writer newsletter that pays $30 for 500 words,
only add that to you list if you can quickly write an article from
your personal knowledge, or with minimal research. Add any market
that might take articles from your area of expertise. For me it`s
writing, food, home and garden, parenting, and country living.
Find your own areas of expertise and start digging for thirty
minute markets to fatten your bank account and round out your
writing credits.

bio:
Pamela White is editor of “Food Writing” (www.food-writing.com) and
the marketing/promotions director for FUTURES MYSTERIOUS ANTHOLOGY
MAGAZINE (www.fmam.biz) .

Copyright 2006 Suzanne Falter-Barns

If you`ve got a dream you`re intent on pursuing, chances are you`re going to bog down at some point. That`s just the way dreams are. In fact, there`s a little known rule about this called the Second Rule of Thermodynamics, which states that sooner or later everything returns to chaos.

In other words, expect your dream to come crashing down around your ears periodically.

Yet, no need to despair; such meltdowns are actually good for your dream, because they force you to stop and rethink your approach if you want to continue. That`s the only way you can find the footing to continue, and in that process, you`re forced to learn and grow. This is when I always pull out my trusty guided visualizations.

Nothing, but nothing, can turn your mind around quite as effectively as a good guided visualization. It can create hope where there was none, clarity in a space of confusion, and immeasurable inspiration. If you subscribe to the same notion that I do ? that all of our ideas and instincts around our dream are guided ? then this is where you`ll find the mother lode of such information. A good guided visualization will connect you with deep inner truths that most of us simply can`t tap into consciously.

So basically, you, too, can be a Ghandi or a Nelson Mandela or a Thich Nacht Hahn ? if you dig deep enough and surrender fully enough. (Those enlightened souls have taught us that such round-the-clock access to the spiritual goods requires one heck of a lot of meditation, not to mention a saintly obfuscation of the ego.) In the meanwhile, the next best thing is to turn on the guided visualizations.

By guided visualization, I mean a recording of someone leading you through a meditation. First they relax you; then they help you imagine yourself in a particular place, or having a certain experience. A great guided visualization will lead you into situations where anything can happen and anyone can show up. You simply sit back and observe as helpers show up, insights are gained, and instructions are received.

Sometimes the path you see is a familiar one you`ve imagined often with your conscious mind, and the meditation serves as a wonderful confirmation of your plan. Yet, other times it can be strange and dark, making no sense whatsoever. My own students have come to me with alarm when they saw a picture of chaos, or violence and degradation. And yet, in talking it over later, they usually recognize a deeper meaning to the picture. Over time, if they repeat the process, they are often left with a greater insight than they anticipated.

For instance, Rosemary was a frustrated writer who hated her daytime job, and was given to fits of gallows humor about it. When she first did my Discover Your Soul Purpose meditation, she uncovered a chaotic back alley, full of lurking, menacing figures. She did the meditation several more times and the situation only marginally improved. Yet, what Rosemary took away from the experience was that her life was out of balance, and filled with dark, negative energy. She quit her job, attended to her failing health, and re-approached the meditation some months later. Now the scene was remarkably different, a sunny courtyard in which she could see herself as a writer for the first time.

In fact, Rosemary had not `done the meditation wrong`, as she`d been quick to assume. (”I must be the only person who didn`t do this thing right!”) Instead, her soul was giving her a direct signal that she was tangled up in life circumstances that were obscuring her dream. The meditation, for all of its supposed lack of clarity, had really been clear as a bell.

The only real way to interpret the images we get in these visualizations is to check in with our gut. There may be age-old gypsy wisdom that water means good luck, or that a duck is an omen of impending death ? but I say that`s all poppycock. The only person who knows what your visualization means is you; your gut is the only thing that should ever guide your interpretation. What is it telling you about what you saw — that you need balance, like the confused Rosemary? Or that you need courage? Could it be that you simply don`t want to admit that what you saw is actually true?

Often we get images of ourselves leading such a life of power and abundance that we can barely stand it. It brings tears to our eyes as we acknowledge that we really can do that thing we sorely wish to begin. In that instant, we see how small and constrained we`ve allowed ourselves to become; yet, we also see how much impact we could have, if only we could choose the right path.

Above all, guided visualizations give us permission to dream. They allow us to see ourselves graphically living a different life, feeling the feelings, smelling the smells, and owning the power. We see a higher, truer aspect of ourselves, and in that instant, understand how unstoppable we really can be.

This is the biggest reason I rely on guided visualizations in my work ? because they take you beyond the sugary platitudes about `going for it` and `reaching for the stars`. Instead, they deliver you smack into your dream for a moment, so you can see the impact and importance of what you`re here to do.

Once you really know the true rightness of what that feels like, down deep in your gut, nothing can keep from making that vision a reality. Even if the images you see are more fleeting or obscure, they will leave you brushed with truth. This is the wisdom that lurks in our bones; wisdom we can access simply by taking the time to turn on a visualization.

——

For information on how to find the time, energy, money to live your purpose in life, download Suzanne`s free workbook, The Living Your Joy Companion Workbook And get a daily blast of joyful tips from the Blast o` Joy blog at http://www.blastojoy.com . To reprint this article, please use with this bio box intact. Thanks!

Vibration Eleven, Twenty-Two and Thirty-Three v By Joseph Ghabi

Here is the next set of vibrations. In my previous articles we
looked at Vibration One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight
and Nine for those whose life path happened to be one of those
numbers.

If your date of birth adds up to 11/2, 22/4 or 33/6, here is some
explanation of your destiny. You need to remember that before your
final vibration there are two numbers that determined your Life
Path. In our case here we do have a double digit 11, 22 and 33.
Review well 1, 2 and 3 because of their importance in your life.
Those two numbers are very important to consider in order to bring
yourself in alignment and to prepare for you being on this plane, at
this particular point in time. Your life path can be either a high
vibration or a low vibration life path. You cannot be 11 before
understanding well its lower vibration 2(1+1). The same goes for 22
or 4(2+2) and 33 or 6(3+3).

Let`s take someone who is born on:
October 27 1985 = 1 + 0 + 2 + 7 + 1 + 9 + 8 + 5 = 33/6

As you will see 33/6, you need to really understand 3 and 6 in this
case. The two numbers before our life path are really important and
are your early experiences and lessons in life. These numbers are
only the preparation for your life Path. In the case of Master
numbers we only have one number to deal with.

If a Master Number is in your life path, it did not happen by
chance. Your soul is looking forward to it, for what it can bring to
the growth required for the soul evolution. Sometimes these energies
are very strong for people to handle. We can always start to work
with their lower vibrations respectively. People with these numbers
in many cases find themselves not understood by their family and
friends. They feel lonely and weird. Many can attempt suicide at
certain points in their lives as life moves too fast for them.
Master Numbers are after making worldwide changes and elevating
other souls.

Review these numbers from previous articles or visit my website.

11
The Intuitive Eleven v Practical Visionary

Eleven possesses the qualities of intuition, patience, honesty,
sensitivity, and spirituality, and is idealistic. You are a great
leader. You can/could be a very good minister or religious leader.
Eleven vibration means: you are an idealist, a dreamer, and
sometimes a mystic. Having much vision, you should be an inspiration
to others. People enjoy being in your surroundings for your
inspiration and support. You can open doors and help others reach
greater achievements. Being psychic, you should follow your hunches.
You belong on a platform giving speeches or sermons, for people like
to listen to you. You must learn to be practical and carry out your
plans. Otherwise, you are apt to live in the clouds and accomplish
nothing. You must learn to keep appointments, and be on time for
them. Others turn to people who are Eleven for teaching and
inspiration, and are usually uplifted by the experience. You should
think of others first, by serving mankind, instead of concentrating
on affairs that will yield well only for yourself.

It is necessary for people who are Eleven to avoid the negatives of
being, stubborn, inflexible, unrealistic and temperamental. You
should avoid projecting your own faults onto others, or imposing
standards on others that are too high for them to be realistically
attained.

Eleven lives in two worlds. On practical days, it vibrates with the
Two. If you feel you are still in your Two vibration, consult our
previous article on that vibration. On days that it senses its full
nature, it is of an energy that translates from a world beyond.
Therefore, Number Eleven`s energy is:

= Awareness
= Six-senses
= Creative
= Sensitive
= Dreamy
= Inspiring
= Illumination
= Leadership

22
The Improving Twenty-Two v Practical Optimism

Twenty-Two possesses the qualities of imagination, loyalty, secrecy,
optimism, and heightened perception. Twenty-Two vibration means: you
are a practical idealist. You not only have visions, but you can see
things on a large scale and are able to carry out your plans to
achieve your goal. You heard in your surroundings an Eleven
discussions by some inspiring people but you are determined to take
their message further. You are a master builder, bringing order to
the world. You always have things in good order in presentation to
the world around you. You are an internationalist. Your power and
influence can be far reaching. You should launch projects for the
benefit of humanity. You are able to deal with groups effectively.
You are hard working, consistent, well organized and tolerant, and
can be a very generous supporter. You aim to leave the world in a
better state than the one in which you found it. Much is expected of
you, for Twenty-Two is very high number. Many of these expectations
are coming from you, because you are aware of your own vibration and
the energy around you. If you do not live up to your
responsibilities, you may revert to living as a Four.

It is necessary for people who are Twenty-Two to avoid the negatives
of being pessimistic, cynical, selfish, manipulative, or of
developing an inferiority complex. In the extreme, you could become
malicious and dictatorial.

If we build upon a foundation of precision and balance, we will have
a master plan. On a practical day, the Twenty-Two becomes the Four.
When Twenty-Two senses its full capacity, it can achieve what is
barely imaginable. The qualities the Number Twenty-Two embraces are:

= Mastery of vast co-creative projects
= Great Achievement
= Ingenuity
= Idealism
= Pace setter
= High Energy
= Master Builder

33
The Burdened Thirty-Three v Worldly Farsighted

Thirty-Three is the most difficult number of all to bear, as it is
the number representing martyrdom and unconditional love. Many of
Thirty-Three are on this plane at this time to bring new
transformation and bring new consciousness to this planet. Thirty-
Three vibration means: you are too powerful and advanced a number
for many individuals to handle at this time. You are spaced out most
of the time. People do not understand you easily at the moment, but
will remember your words later on. When Thirty-Three has been
calculated as the total of a name or destiny of a person, they are
greatly advanced spiritually. Thirty-Three combines the imaginative
self-expression of the `Three` with the ability of the Six to
respond and nurture. You are a master teacher who could guide the
inquiring student into all areas of the known and unknown fields of
knowledge and human experience. You are the teacher of all teachers.

You are a great healer. People are attracted to your energy at all
time. Once your vibration opens to its full potential you become
very charismatic and magnetic. The fully developed Thirty-Three
would be a master performer, enchanting an audience while
communicating or indoctrinating the listeners into whatever area the
Thirty-Three chooses to guide the contender. The Number Thirty-Three
possesses the qualities of healing, spiritual warmth, and caring,
fighting for the oppressed, and taking on the worries of the world.
Others, particularly children, are drawn to people who are Thirty-
Three by their love. Much is expected of you, for a Thirty-Three is
the highest master number possible. If you do not live up to your
responsibilities, you may revert to living as a Six. It is necessary
for people who are Thirty-Three to avoid the negatives of being
interfering and afraid to heal themselves and others. `Thirty-
Threes` can also wallow in self-pity, even when it is unnecessary,
always becoming the martyr. This can attract others who would take
advantage of the negatives of Thirty-Three.

Within the essence lies enormous potential for Thirty-Three. On a
practical day, Thirty-Three becomes Six. When it senses its full
capacity as teacher of all teachers, Thirty-Three plays a role that
will help make the big changes needed to the world. The qualities
the Number Thirty-Three embraces are:

= Master Teacher
= Worldly success
= Perfection
= Compassion
= Skill and Fame
= Wisdom
= Unconditional Love

This is the end of this series.

About the Author:

At the age of eight Joseph discovered his clairvoyance. Joseph is
natural medium presently teaching meditation, numerology, and
provides numerology consultation and healing consultation.
Joseph started the `Free Spirit Centre` website at
http://www.freespiritcentre.info. A community web based centre
dedicated to personal growth, soul growth, eating disorders,
relationships, healing and human issues. E-mail:
josephghabi@…

There has been a lot of work to do around here lately, so last night it was time to relax a bit. Emily and I decided to rent a movie. The mood struck me for some reason to go old-school and I suggested “Roman Holiday”, which seemed a solid choice because 1) We`d been to Rome on our honeymoon last month, 2) Audrey Hepburn looks more like Emily`s sister than Emily`s sister does (which isn`t a bad thing) and 3) unthinkably, neither one of us had never seen this movie before (a first).

So “Roman Holiday” it was. Now I famously can`t sit through “chick flicks”, even though my own personal “swipe file” of solid dating strategy gleaned from movies is considerable. My silver bullet there, you see, is to watch OLD MOVIES. A major difference between modern “romantic comedies” and the old-school movies is that REAL MEN are portrayed. And these REAL MEN are typically attracting REAL WOMEN. All the low-end prurient stuff is absent as is any hint of cultural “feminization”, and for some reason this enhances the demonstration of pure ATTRACTION SKILLS at work. All of this, of course, is highly valuable study material when learning how to attract the highest level of woman imaginable. And best of all, nobody seems to be watching these movies nowadays so doing so is like gaining an unfair advantage.

Now I could go on about the several different ways in which this movie is a gold mine, and I plan on doing just that in the February Power Session. But today we`re going to focus on one key, often underestimated and little-understood factor that leading man Gregory Peck is the MASTER of in this particular movie. His character delivers on this principle better perhaps than even Sean Connery`s James Bond himself.

I call it “The Most Critical Thirty Minutes In Dating”. Whether you are a man or a woman, what you do with these thirty minutes will make or break the future of your relationship with whomever you are relating to.

These thirty minutes begin ticking, of course, at the very moment one realizes that his or her date is sexually attracted. And the difference maker is how exactly one reacts to this development.

Women stereotypically have a firm grasp on this concept, as men are similarly stereotyped as telegraphing sexual attraction all too blatantly. Many women instinctively sense just how profound the power is that they hold in such a case, and use it effectively to quite literally cast a spell upon a man and put him under her full control.

Us guys, unfortunately, often have no idea how powerful it is not to be needy when it comes to sexual attention. And worse, once we sense that a woman is “feeling it”, we proceed to blow all screaming potential to smithereens.

Why?

Simple. We put too much focus on sex as a “prize”, and we forget about the woman. We talked all about that concept in the last article.

But not Gregory Peck`s character in “Roman Holiday”. When he encounters a presumably “drunk” Audrey Hepburn late at night on a park bench, he RELUCTANTLY ends up taking her back to his place. Whether Audrey is really so “disoriented” or not is left to the imagination, but she announces that she plans to undress and go to sleep whether Gregory Peck is standing there or not.

Now at this point, do I need to tell you how most sex-starved guys would act?

Meanwhile, Greg (not yet realizing that Audrey`s character is really a princess from a foreign country) furrows his eyebrows at her brattiness and throws a pair of mens pajamas at her. He tells her that he`s going to “get coffee” and will be back in five minutes�and that she`d better not even think about taking the bed.

Audrey is left thinking, “Who is this guy?” She`s intrigued by his utter lack of sexual neediness. Here, obviously, is a man who is very picky about his women and all about making sexual decisions on his own terms.

In the morning, Audrey wakes up and Greg is the image of coolness. With her senses back in order, she soon discovers on her own that he had not “taken advantage” of her. She`s intrigued.

In an ironic twist, Greg actually lets her leave his apartment�passing what Emily and I agree was a test by Audrey`s character to see if he really was man enough to let her go.

Of course, in the midst of other plot complications incidental to the point at hand, he doesn`t really let her get away. And as soon as he sees her again, it`s very obvious that Audrey is digging him. Still, Greg plays it cool. His paws aren`t all over her and he`s probably still not even convinced for himself. He refuses to “chase” her.

Greg has succeeded wildly at the “Big Four”. He is masculine, his intrigue interests her, he is CONFIDENT, and-importantly-he INSPIRES CONFIDENCE in her that she is safe in his presence.

So the thirty minutes begin ticking.

Make no mistake, he may have been able to steal a kiss and start having his fun with her right then and there. But watching the movie, you can`t imagine Greg blowing his high-end persona and being such a shortsighted bonehead. Nope, this guy is for real.

And, sure enough�about a half an hour later he is rewarded by Audrey`s show of affection toward him. And let`s not overlook the fact that Audrey knew exactly what was going on there and responded with the awe-inspiring manner of feminine charm and class which defined her entire acting career.

By the time night falls upon 1953 Rome, having spent the day with Audrey-and having withstood the tests posed by the interest of other men-he reaps the benefits of being a man who deserves. A princess has fallen in love with him.

Now listen, I fully get that if two people realize that sexual chemistry is “on” there`s no logical reason to wait around. But the sheer confidence and prowess associated with escalating sexual tension is what separates the needy and the sex-focused also-rans from the true champions at enjoying a passion-filled life. The patience of a man who knows the raw power of sexual tension contributes to his ability to deserve a princess. And he tends to settle for nothing less, does he not?

Yeah, but we`re discussing a fifty-four year old work of fiction here. Or are we?

——

Scot McKay`s dating strategies for those who refuse to settle for anything less than the ULTIMATE relationship are found at: http://www.relationship-advice.us/. Stop by right now and grab a FREE e-book ($20 value) when you sign up for the X & Y Communications Newsletter, which is always packed with unique and practical dating tips.

Finding a good property manager is like any other vendor search – it’s worth your time up front to make the best possible choice. That’s because a bad manager can cost you a lot of money, up to the entire value of your rental property investment. Consider:

• Your property manager will be receiving rent and fees on your behalf. A crooked manager could steal you blind.
• Your manager will be in charge of finding new tenants. A naïve or slipshod manager could bring in bad tenants who trash your building.
• Your manager will handle maintenance. A greedy manager could charge a fortune for simple repair jobs.

Here’s a thirty-question checklist for interviewing prospective property managers. The answers you get will provide a very solid understanding of each manager’s qualifications. You can also get an impression of a prospective manager from other cues – I’ll explain those at the end.

Finally, remember that you have to compare managers to others within an area. It’s possible that none of the prospective managers in one city will match the high standard of your terrific manager in another. On the other hand, if you can’t find a good manager in a city where you plan to invest in real estate, maybe you shouldn’t invest there.

The first questions have to do with finding good tenants, which I think is the key to a happy building. A building with good tenants tends to have fewer maintenance and other issues.

• How many vacancies do you have right now? Out of how many total units that you manage?
• What is the average length of time it takes to fill a vacancy?
• Is that average time getting longer or shorter?
• How do you market your rental units?
• Do you require an exclusive arrangement for marketing to new tenants?
• How does your web site look?
• What factors would make you reject a prospect?
• Would you accept a tenant who met your qualifications in some areas, but not others? Which qualifications are most important to you?
• What screening methods do you use?

You want a manager who finds good tenants reasonably quickly. He should use a variety of methods to find prospective tenants, such as a web site, Craigslist postings, newspaper ads, signs, flyers and more. Your manager should follow an extensive screening process, but be willing to accept a “maybe” tenant if the situation is right. You want a look at the web site to make sure that is inviting to prospective tenants, and constantly updated.

As for the exclusive arrangement, property managers never mind when you or somebody else finds prospects for them. However, in almost all cases, they will still want a rental fee for moving the prospect into your rental unit. Make sure you have a clause that if the unit hasn’t been rented for some time, and you or someone else you find brings in a new tenant, the rental fee is cut in half. You don’t want it cut to $0 because the manager will still have to screen prospects.

The next questions relate to tenant management. It’s just as important to keep good tenants as it is to find them.

• What does your lease look like?
• What is your late rent policy?
• What other rules do you set for tenants?
• What percentage of tenants do you have to evict?
• How does the eviction process work here?
• How do your tenants contact you?

I recommend sticking with the manager’s preferred lease, late rent policy, and rules unless you have a really major objection. If the manager is really experienced, chances are they’ve developed smart rules and policies over time. Tenants should be able to contact the manager through a variety of ways during the day, and have an emergency number for off hours. If the manager is always evicting tenants, he’s bringing in bad tenants.

The next questions relate to maintenance.

• Which kinds of maintenance jobs are handled in-house?
• Which ones do you use an outside handyman for?
• Which ones do you use professional contractors for?
• How many quotes do you get for jobs?
• How expensive does a job have to be for you to contact me before doing it?
• What are your rules for contractors being inside occupied rental units?
• Who are your preferred contractors?

Managers should have a well-thought-out system for assigning jobs to different parties – in-house employees, handyman and professional contractors. Almost any plumbing, heating, or electrical job should be handled by a professional. Other jobs, such as paving a parking lot, require special equipment that usually only professionals have. But most small jobs can be done by handymen who will cost you less.

You want multiple quotes for major jobs – say, anything over $500. You should also have a rule that contractors can never enter an occupied unit –even if the tenant is not home at the time – without a manager’s representative being there. Finally, you want the names of preferred contractors so you can run a quick check on them.

The last group of questions relates to experience. You want managers to know the local real estate world inside and out.

• How long have you been a property manager?
• How long have you been a manager in this area?
• Can I see some of the other properties you manage?
• Do you personally invest in real estate in this area?

Finally, you need to understand your arrangement with the property manager.

• What is your fee structure?
• How will I get reports?
• Do you require an exclusive arrangement to broker the property?
• How much notice will you give before terminating a contract?

The manager’s fees aren’t really important unless they are much higher than everybody else’s, or are so high that you really can’t afford them. Reports are very important because they are your only window into how your investments are performing. The best way is to get them on your own computer, on your time – as may be the case if they use on-line property management software.

You should not accept any exclusive arrangement to broker properties unless they have a limited term. In other words, if the properties don’t sell after a certain time, you can re-list with a different broker for no penalty.

Also, you should require good notice for the contract to be terminated – at least 30 days. That gives you time to find another manager.

Here are some other things to watch out for:

• A manager with a messy office or personal appearance. Chances are he doesn’t much care about the condition of the properties either.
• A manager you have a hard time reaching by phone or email. If he won’t return your messages now when he’s trying to get your business, what are the chances that he’ll do better later?
• A manager whom you sense is trying to intimidate you with knowledge. The “don’t ask stupid questions, I know all about this” approach is often a cover for not really knowing much at all.

Brendan O`Brien is the developer of Property Master rental property management software. Our landlord software runs on any Web-connected computer with full accounting, alerts, nearly 50 reports, and many other great features. Check out our e-book for more great tips at pcpropertymaster.com.

Vinegar: it flavours food, can help you lose weight, it can clean kitchen surfaces brighter than bright, in fact vinegar has many many uses which few people realise. Here are just 35 ideas for getting the most out of a bottle of vinegar ….

* Add a cupful of apple cider vinegar to bathwater to soothe tired muscles and relieve dry itchy skin and sunburn.

* The tell-tale aroma of fish and onions on the hands can be removed by rubbing in neat vinegar before rinsing thoroughly in warm water.

* Treat greasy hair after washing to a few cupfuls of neat vinegar added to the final rinse.

* Make your own mint by gathering and stripping leaves from the stalks when dry. Tear into tiny pieces and spread evenly in a shallow dish. Cover with vinegar and leave for two or three hours before straining and pressing leaves lightly in a screw-top jar. Store in a cool, dry place.

* Make your own playdough by mixing two cupfuls of flour with one cupful of salt, one-half cupful of water and one teaspoonful of vinegar. Mix the flour and salt first then slowly add water and vinegar, stirring all the time until the mixture is stiff. Use your hands to kneed the dough. You`ve now got playdough that is ready to use. You can brighten up your playdough with the addition of a little food colouring.

* Add a few drops of vinegar to shop-bought polish to improve the shine on wooden furniture.

* Half a pint of paraffin mixed with half a pint of vinegar makes a great cleaner and polisher for most kinds of furniture and can also be used on lino, kitchen and bathroom tiles, marble and paintwork.

* Keep colours fast on striped towels by washing in hot, soapy water mixed with a cupful of vinegar.

* Make a cleaner for brass and copper by mixing equal parts of lemon juice and vinegar which should be applied carefully and left to stand for several minutes. Polish off with a fluff-free cloth.

* Remove heavy dirt stains from children`s toys and baby hardware, tiles and other heavy duty surfaces by using a cloth wrung out of lukewarm water to which a little vinegar has been added. Leave to dry before buffing with a clean fluff-free cloth.

* Clean windows with a solution of two teaspoonfuls of vinegar to one pint of warm water.

* Clean and polish stainless steel pans and other kitchen utensils using bicarbonate of soda on a cloth moistened with vinegar.

* Make your own fabric softener by mixing bicarbonate of soda, vinegar and water (parts: 2-2-4). Add a quarter cupful of the mixture to the final rinse for hand or machine washing.

* Add a teaspoonful of vinegar to water when boiling fish to keep it firm and white.

* Add a little vinegar to water used to clean leafy vegetables. You`ll find insects and caterpillars will float to the surface and make cleaning easier.

* To prevent cheese becoming mouldy, wrap it in a piece of muslin which has been wrung out in vinegar. If you don`t have muslin try a piece of closely woven net instead.

* To help tenderise inexpensive joints of meat, pour on a little vinegar before cooking in a very slow oven.

* Make your own red food colouring by mixing one cupful of beetroot juice (tinned or fresh) and two tablespoonfuls of vinegar and water to your desired colour. Bottle and leave in a cool place.

* Make your own yellow colouring by placing the dark outer skins of five onions in a saucepan with one cupful of water and half a cupful of vinegar. Allow to boil for 10 minutes. Strain and bottle the juice and leave to stand in a cool place.

* Add a teaspoonful of white vinegar to egg whites used to make meringue. Leave to stand for 30 seconds before whipping in the usual way. The vinegar increases stiffness and makes meringues brilliantly white. If you run out of eggs, replace them with one tablespoonful of white wine vinegar per egg, as long as the recipe includes another rising agent such as self-raising flour.

* Use hot vinegar compresses to relieve pain from injury or arthritis and rheumatism. The lotion also benefits common sprains and strains.

* Mix together equal amounts of cider vinegar and cold water to produce a toner for greasy and combination skin. The mixture can also be used as a soothing wash for tired puffy eyes.

* In folk medicine vinegar is considered an elixir for a long healthy life and is recommended for internal and external use. Make a daily drink from one tablespoonful of apple cider vinegar to a cupful of warm or cold water, according to preference. The practice is believed to benefit the memory and to help the body fight many diseases of advancing years.

* Lighten age spots with a daily application of pure apple cider vinegar.

* If linen is badly scorched take a cupful of vinegar to which is added half an ounce of soap, two ounces of fuller`s earth and the juice of one lemon. Boil well and spread over the damaged parts. Leave to dry and wash the linen. You`ll find the stain has completely disappeared!

* Remove mineral deposits from a steam iron by filling it with equal parts of white vinegar and water. Let it steam until dry before rinsing thoroughly with clean water.

* Make your own airspray by mixing two cupfuls of white vinegar with one cupful of crushed herbs, choosing from rosemary, lavender, cloves, thyme or pine needles. Place the ingredients in a saucepan and boil gently for 10 minutes then leave to cool. Pour into a large jar with a close-fitting lid. Leave to stand for three or four weeks. Strain and add the mixture to a spray container or atomiser. Use in the same way as commercial air sprays.

* When a dishcloth or face flannel gets slimy and starts to smell, immerse it in a solution of water and vinegar in equal parts. Leave to stand overnight and in the morning rinse thoroughly with clean water.

* Ink stains can be removed by soaking the fabric in vinegar for an hour or two before washing in the usual way.

* Hot vinegar quickly removes whitewash and distemper splashes from most surfaces, including fabrics.

* Remove even stubborn stains from the inside of tea and coffee pots using a mixture of equal parts of white vinegar and water. Fill the pot and leave to stand for 30 minutes before rinsing thoroughly.

* Stickers and their gooey remains can be removed by soaking the article in vinegar until the pieces float free.

* Remove salt stains from shoes in winter by wiping them with a cloth wrung out in a mixture of one tablespoonful of vinegar to a cupful of water.

* Remove grime from collars and cuffs by rubbing with a thick paste of baking soda and vinegar in equal parts. Leave to stand for half an hour before washing in the usual way.

* Remove rust from bolts and other small metal objects by immersing in neat vinegar until the residue dissolves.

Avril Harper is an author of several books and articles about vinegar of – read more at www.vinegar-uses.com. She has produced several guides to various subjects which you can download with other freely distributable reports and ebooks at www.toppco.com

I imagine the average person buys about twenty gifts in a year. Oh, the kids are easy; one stop at the toy store and you have the right gift. However, when it comes to quality gifts for adult family and friends, gift giving gets a little more complicated. You want to appear generous, interested in the personality and interests of the recipient, and you want to give something truly appreciated.

Good news, the search is easy. Just peruse Excalibur Cutlery and Gifts for your next gift giving occasion. Excalibur has been serving the Pacific Northwest for 30 years, providing an amazing array of gifts online and in retail stores.

Is there a wedding on your calendar? Simple, Excalibur has an assortment of products for any budget. The first on any newlywed’s wish list is a quality cutlery set. A complete set of Henckels or Wusthof knives is a superb gift to give and to receive. Buy a whole knife set or individual pieces to complete a kitchen cutlery set. Remember the groomsmen, and the fathers of the bride and groom. Excalibur has a variety of gifts for men. These gifts can be engraved with the special date.

Your favorite man can be so difficult to buy for. At Excalibur, it is easy to find the perfect gift. Excalibur has a great selection of personal care items, such as manicure or shaving set. Desk accessories make an excellent gift for your boss. Check out the variety of hip and pocket flasks. Excalibur has a wide variety of pocket knives, flashlights, binoculars and multi-use tools.

This is the place to fine the perfect corporate gift. Have your business name or message engraved for a gift that will make people remember you and your company. Excalibur also gift wraps.

The women in your life will appreciate a Rubis personal care kit for home or travel. Any foodie loves kitchen gadgets and accessories. A seamstress will love to receive a quality pair of shears or scissors.

There are also gifts for the collector, check out the selection online. Excalibur has just launched a new website, and there you will find over 1000 new products you will be proud to give. In addition, you receive free shipping on all orders over $30. Take advantage and shop for your twenty or so gifts at one time and be set for the year.

Excalibur Cutlery and Gifts New Website where you will find gifts for all occasions. Manicure Kits and Shaving Sets make greats for dads and grads.

I am like most other people, trying to find new ways to stretch my dollars. Today I discovered a way to find excellent bargains. I almost turned every dollar I spent into three dollars. The savings were so substantial that I wanted to share this valuable information with you.
Everyday most people like myself drive by these stores that have incredible bargains, but many of us never stop to investigate. Today I got curious and decided to pull into the parking lot and see what was behind the dusty windows.
As I walked through the isles with my wife I found myself amazed at the bargains. I was consumed with the savings and tried to look at everything they had to offer. I couldn’t believe I was driving by these dramatic savings everyday.
I found Visine that normally sells for over $5.00 for only $1.49. I bought a name brand $3.00 bottle of maple syrup for $1.49. The wet swiffer sweeper pads I normally pay over $8.00 were only listed at $4.00. A whole end cap was filled with every type of salad dressing you could want and were all available for only 49 cents each. Bacon that I normally pay $3.00 for was only $1.79 a packet. A $2.00 cake mix was only 79 cents. In the end I walked out of that store with three full plastic bags of groceries for only $23.00. I normally pay about that much for one full plastic bag at a regular grocery store.
After we got home my wife scanned the items and noticed some of the products had expired according to their expiration dates. I informed her there was no such thing as an expiration date, and began eating our delicious discount groceries. So if you are finicky about what you eat, you may want to eyeball the expiration dates before you buy the products.
Where do you get these outstanding bargains? You probably drive by them everyday just as I used to. Your local bent and dent store can stretch your dollars. The items for sale almost looked perfect and were all sealed properly.
I wondered how they could afford to sell these items so cheap. As I looked around I noticed all of the employees were dressed alike, very conservative with knit caps on. So I assumed they didn’t buy these items as damaged – the items were donated to their church. So no matter what price they put on the items, it is 100% profit for their organization.
Over the last few months my food bill has almost doubled. Inflation is getting outrageous paying almost $2.00 each for an apple or a tomato. As the economy worsens these food prices may continue higher. I’m scrambling for every way I can find to cut costs and you should too. You can shop at Walmart if you want to; I’ll be at the local bent and dent or dollar store hunting for my food.

You have to be a leader in network marketing if you want to be a success. People look up to leaders and listen to what they have to say. Here is a path to a thirty day plan for becoming a leader in your MLM business.

Week One: Create your network marketing blog

Don’t assume that the blogging world is too saturated with content. If you are publishing your thoughts and insights online, you are still ahead of most of the world’s population who has never been published beyond a few school papers.

Find yourself a blog template or theme that is professional and kind on the eyes. Don’t choose crazy fonts or obnoxious colors because you think they look fun or eye-catching. You want to promote your words as a professional authority.

Set a goal to gather content and post several times a week on your blog. The worst thing is to have a blog without any content. Consider outsourcing some or all of your writing if this is too daunting of a task.

Week Two: Write ten articles about your network marketing industry

Now that you have a working blog, you need to work on a portfolio of articles for submission across the internet. Articles showcase your leadership and your business, and a good portfolio will showcase your work. Again, consider outsourcing your writing needs if you are not confident of your writing abilities.

Week Three: Submit your articles to directories with a link to your blog and your company website.

Choose several article directories and submit your work to those websites on a daily basis. You want steady submissions in order to maximize your brand awareness, and to make sure you are represented across the market. The links will redirect traffic to your blog and your company website.

Week Four: Email newsletters to your prospects about your articles

Once you have sent out your web content and are bringing in the blog traffic, connect with your subscriber base to show them your reach on the internet. This will help them build a community around your product and your business, and you can stay in touch with them for relationship building purposes.

After thirty days, this plan will give you an internet presence that will increase your lead database and increase your profits, as well.

Jaz Lai is a home business network marketing expert. Download your free white paper and audio on how to use the internet to Double or Triple your organization within the next 30 days. Available for the next 24 hours only, click below for instant access :