Corporate systems necessarily attract busier lines and more concentrated activity between customers and company extensions. The movement of information between corporate clients and company executives and call centers is the lynchpin of company profitability.

Reliable technology is at the forefront of the telephone communications industry, and far from being just a phone attached to a small switchboard, today’s systems incorporate mass call centers, computer compatibility, and a multitude of features to ensure that large companies operate in the best possible way.

Companies that provide sophisticated telephone systems to the market have considerable influence in the telecommunications industry and now offer attractive calling rates to their customers by using their trading platform to negotiate calling packages on behalf of their customers. This is an almost irresistible sales incentive and one that large corporations are taking full advantage of when considering buying a new system or upgrading an existing installation. Such systems usually come with a convenient payment package and can save large companies a small fortune.

Corporate requirements are always carefully evaluated to ensure the right system is offered at the right price, which typically includes a maintenance program and an option to upgrade at a later date with some features re-installed to allow for future expansion.

Since large corporations tend to operate on a 24/7 basis, ‘after hours’ facilities can be arranged to avoid business interruption. Staff training programs are conducted prior to installation to ensure a smooth transition. Support training is also provided to ensure staff are up to speed and using the features of your new phone system to maximum benefit. Some companies buy a larger system than is necessary, but use it only up to a certain capacity. In these cases, the negotiation is carried out to pay only for the requirement and have a greater capacity available when the company requires it.

Warranties are implemented on new business phone systems this large and always include parts replacement and a money back scheme in case things don’t go as planned. Even phones are covered, so the company risks little damage or repair costs on its investment.

In some cases, large corporations prefer to lease a system rather than buy it. In either case, a helpful support service is available to help staff learn the ropes, ensuring higher profits and minimal communications downtime.

The telephone system is the center of any large corporation and the means by which communication is carried out, either internally or with customers through external lines. It must be fast, accurate and efficiently maintained if it is to be an asset the company can be proud of.

On March 27, 2020, the President signed into law the next phase of action the federal government is taking to provide financial relief to American individuals and businesses in response to the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. . This “third phase” law is called Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

One of the centerpieces of the CARES Act is the provision of $349 billion to small businesses through federally backed loans under a modified and expanded 7(a) loan guarantee program of the Small Business Administration ( SBA) called Paycheck Protection Program. Congress has designed the program to make funds quickly available to qualifying businesses through approved banks and non-bank lenders.

KEY POINTS:

Under the CARES Act, qualifying businesses include businesses with up to 500 employees or that meet the applicable size standard for the industry as provided by existing SBA regulations. Most small businesses will qualify.

Loans will be made through banks, credit unions, and some SBA- and Treasury-approved non-bank lenders.

Borrowers can borrow 2.5 times their monthly payroll expenses (during the 1-year period before the loan is made (see page 18)), up to $10 million.

· Applicable uses for loan proceeds include: (1) qualified payroll costs; (2) rent; (3) public services; (4) mortgage interest and other debt obligations; (5) group health care benefits, including health insurance premiums; (6) interest on any other debt obligation incurred before the period covered (February 15, 2020 and ending June 30, 2020). (see page 10 re. period covered)

· Loan forgiveness is available for funds used to pay 8 weeks of payroll and other qualified expenses.

What businesses qualify for the Paycheck Protection Program?

In general, any business in operation on February 1, 2020 with fewer than 500 employees is eligible.

What is the Maximum Loan Amount a Business Can Receive Through the Paycheck Program?

Each business can receive the lesser of $10 million or the sum of 2.5 times the average total monthly payroll costs of the previous year.

What can a business use program funds for?

Businesses can use Program loan proceeds to cover expenses, including:

Payroll costs, including employee compensation which would include severance pay, payments required for group health care benefits (including insurance premiums), retirement benefits, and state and local employment taxes.

Interest payments on any mortgage or other debt obligations incurred before February 15, 2020 (but no principal payments or prepayments).

· Rent.

· Utilities.

However, the money cannot be used for compensation of individual employees, independent contractors, or sole proprietors that exceed an annual salary of $100,000; compensation of employees with a principal place of residence outside the US; or leave wages covered by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (HR 6201) which has already been passed and will take effect on April 1, 2020.

How are loans made under this program different from traditional 7(a) loans?

Unlike traditional SBA 7(a) loans, no personal guarantee will be required to receive funds and no collateral is required. Similarly, the CARES Act waives the requirement that a business show that it cannot obtain credit elsewhere. In lieu of these requirements, borrowers must certify that the loan is necessary due to the uncertainty of current economic conditions; that they will use the funds to retain workers, maintain payroll, or make lease, mortgage, and utility payments; and that they are not receiving duplicate funds from another lender for the same uses.

Principal, interest and installment payments will be deferred for at least 6 months, but not more than 1 year. Interest rates are capped at 4%. The SBA will not charge any annual or guarantee fees for the loan, and all prepayment penalties will be waived.

The SBA has no recourse against any borrower for nonpayment of the loan, except where the borrower has used the loan proceeds for unauthorized purposes.

What are the loan forgiveness requirements?

Borrowers are eligible for loan forgiveness for 8 weeks from loan origination date for payroll costs equal to the cost of maintaining payroll continuity during the covered period; (Note: Eligible payroll costs do not include annual compensation greater than $100,000 for individual employees); mortgage interest payment: rent; and utilities.

The loan forgiveness amount may be reduced if the employer reduces the number of employees compared to the previous year, or if the employer reduces the salary of any employee by more than 25% as of the last calendar quarter. Employers who reinstate workers previously laid off as a result of the COVID-19 crisis will not be penalized for having a reduced payroll from February 15, 2020 to June 30, 2020).

Borrowers must request loan forgiveness from their lenders by submitting the required documentation and will receive a decision within 15 days. If a balance remains after the borrower receives loan forgiveness, the outstanding loan will have a maximum maturity date of 10 years after the loan forgiveness request.

How does a business apply for a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program?

We look forward to additional guidance from the SBA on applying for Program loans, including additional resources on the SBA website on finding a qualified lender. Borrowers who have existing relationships with banking institutions may wish to contact these individuals to inquire about applying for loans under the Program.

Does the CARE Act affect other loans available to small businesses?

Yes. The maximum loan amount for an Express Loan is increased from $350,000 to $1 million.

The CARE Act also expands eligibility for borrowers applying for a Emergency Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Grant. Economic Injury Disaster Emergency Loans are available to most small businesses, sole proprietors, or independent contractors. In addition, the Act waives the requirements that (1) the borrower provide a personal guarantee for loans up to $200,000, (2) that the eligible business must have been in operation for one year prior to the disaster, and (3) that the borrower not You can get credit elsewhere. The SBA also has the authority to approve small loan applicants solely on the basis of their credit score or “appropriate alternative methods of determining the applicant’s ability to pay.”

What are the terms of an EIDL?

up to $2 million

Interest Rates: Fixed at 3.75% for small businesses

Term: Term loans of up to 30 years, structured with a principal of 12 months and deferred interest

No prepayment penalty

Collateral: Required if the loan is over $25,000. Real estate is preferred, but a loan will not be turned down for lack of collateral. However, all available collateral will be required.

How do you apply for an EIDL?

EIDLs are handled directly by the SBA. The business can submit an application on paper or online. The online application can be submitted at the following website: https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela.

In addition, the business can call the SBA Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 or email [email protected] for more information about the program or for details on how to submit an application at paper.

Most importantly, for borrowers seeking an immediate inflow of funds, borrowers can receive an emergency advance of $10,000 within three days of applying for an EIDL grant. If the application is denied, the applicant is not required to repay the $10,000 advance. Emergency cash advance funds can be used to pay payroll costs, increase material costs, pay rent or mortgage, or to pay obligations that cannot be met due to loss of income.

Borrowers may apply for an EIDL grant in addition to a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program, as long as the loans are not used for the same purpose.

Is relief available for businesses with a pre-existing SBA loan?

Yes. The SBA will pay the principal, interest and associated fees on certain pre-existing SBA loans for 6 months.

Conclution

There are many moving parts to the CARES Act and its SBA disaster relief programs that will continue to evolve more clearly over time. Talk has already begun about Phase IV of the stimulus relief due to COVID-19.

Effective Crowdfunding Campaign

Crowdfunding is a new way to fund your business venture. It allows you to get the cash you need quickly and securely, without the hassle of going through traditional avenues. In addition to providing you with funds, crowdfunding can also give you useful information about your target market.

For instance, you may be able to learn a lot about what type of products your target customers would buy, and what you need to do to reach them. You can even find out how much of a certain product they are willing to pay for.

As with any crowdfunding websites marketing effort, your campaign should be well thought out. The main goal is to encourage potential backers to support your project, and that means attracting the right crowd. While you’re at it, you should consider the best ways to get your name out there, and the costs associated with running a successful crowdfunding campaign.

What is an Effective Crowdfunding Campaign?

Ideally, you want to have a plan in place before you launch your campaign. Once you have the basics down, you can begin promoting it through social media, email newsletters, and other online marketing tactics. But before you do that, you’ll need to figure out how much you’re going to need to raise, and how much you can afford to spend on the campaign. This will help you decide how long you should run your campaign, and whether or not you can afford to make a profit.

One of the most interesting parts of a crowdfunding campaign is the opportunity to connect with investors. This can be a great way to get feedback, and it may help you decide whether or not your project is worth pursuing in the future.

Another important step is to create a detailed budget for your project. A budget will show you how much you need, and what you can afford to spend on it. Even if you have a small amount, you should still set aside some money to cover any unforeseen expenses.

Keeping your campaign active during its duration is also a good idea. After all, if you aren’t actively promoting your campaign during the fundraising period, you’ll be losing out on valuable exposure.

As with any other crowdfunding websites campaign, it’s wise to have a good quality video. The better the video, the more likely you are to see a higher level of support from your crowd. Additionally, make sure the audio quality is up to par.

It’s also a good idea to research your competitors. Find out which ones are the most successful, and keep tabs on them to see what they are doing. This will give you a head start, and ensure your campaign will stand out from the pack.

The Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and LendingClub platforms are all examples of popular crowdfunding sites. Each site has its own set of guidelines, so make sure you read them carefully.

There are a number of ways to promote your crowdfunding campaign, from posting content on social media to pitching your idea to local news outlets. Make sure to include the most important aspects of your campaign, and you’ll be on your way to getting the funding you need.

One of the most important components of buying online is the shipping address. Dropshipping companies need to know the customer’s shipping address so that the items are delivered to the right place.

Shipping addresses can be your home, office, etc. and is usually where you want the items delivered.

The billing address is quite different from the shipping address and all dropshipping companies need to take these differences into account. The billing address is the address found on your credit card statements. It is important that the company knows the billing address, as they can keep track of who the item was sold to.

Also, these companies can get your money once this billing address is verified. Only after verifying the billing address on the credit card, and then the company ships the item to the shipping address.

If you have purchased items and products through an online merchant, one thing that is quite noticeable is the payment option.

What most of us would like to know is if the payment and billing option is different from the very well known and widely used PayPal address. There are generally two types of payments we use online, credit card payments or payments through online banking systems such as PayPal.

Although choosing any of them is a matter of convenience, there is a slight difference between the payment billing address and the address you find in PayPal.

Usually, when you buy an item from an online store, you need to verify the amount, credit card number, and even the billing address.

Once you do that, your shopping spree is complete and you can leave the page. Once the merchant contacts your credit card bank, which is instant, they send a verification to check if the details entered on the page are valid and the same as the credit card company. your credit card.

Once this is confirmed, the company acknowledges the payment and the items are instantly shipped to you via the drop shipping company to your shipping address. The main advantage of this system is that you can use several credit cards registered to the same billing address.

Paying through the online payment mode that is PayPal is another option that is soon gaining popularity. There are several who receive payments online and PayPal acts as their online bank.

PayPal payment methods can be any currency, for example, if you are purchasing items from the US and are required to pay in USD, you can pay using your PayPal account.

This gives you a lot of flexibility and you also know how to use it to your advantage. PayPal needs a billing address, which is usually the same as the one on your credit or debit card.

When signing up for a PayPal account, you are asked to provide the same address as your credit or debit card address, as it is linked to your bank account. Instantly withdraws money from your account, after which it is sent to your place.

Do you have what it takes to be a successful investor? Here are the three must have attributes of a successful investor, patience, optimism and education. Without these three attributes you are doomed to fail.

1. Patience

In the short term, stock prices go up and down. In the long run, stock prices rise and dividends increase. Recessions come and go, nothing lasts forever. We may have a small slump in the economy that lasts a few months to a recession that could last a year or two. As an investor, you must have patience to ride out the downturn. You have to have the patience to stay invested even when the media tells you to sell. Selling when prices are low is exactly the wrong time to sell; this only solidifies your losses. Be patient to ride out any dips, and be prepared to reap the rewards when stock prices rise.

2.Optimism

A successful investor is an optimistic investor. He must believe and have faith that the world is getting better and the economy will get better. Otherwise, there’s no point in investing if he thinks the world is headed for a recession, a depression, or just down the toilet. If he thinks things will continue to get worse, he better put his money under the mattress. Believe that things will get better, be optimistic about the future, and invest for yourself. How do I know things will get better? I can’t predict the future, but I know that the economy has survived recessions, depressions, wars, natural disasters, the tech bubble, the credit crunch, the national debt, and the oil shocks in the past. After each disaster, the world has continued to move forward, the economy has continued to grow. Be optimistic that the economy will continue to thrive in the long run, and you too will thrive along with it.

3. Education

A successful investor is an educated investor. No one cares more about your money than you do, so you owe it to yourself to learn how to invest responsibly. Learn to minimize your risk and learn to maximize your profit. Without investing knowledge, you are just guessing and speculating, you better buy a lottery ticket. It’s easy to sit back and do nothing, relax, and let the “experts” handle your money. But living easy will actually lose you money in fees and missed opportunities. Learning to invest is not difficult, it just requires you to take the first step and start your journey to success.

My last post, Service Animals/Emotional Support Animals: What You Need to Know, discussed the fact that if you own rental properties, you need to be aware of the laws around service and emotional support animals. We cover the rules set forth by the ADA, but there are 2 agencies that create regulations regarding these animals:

1. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
2. The Fair Housing Act (FHA)

Here we will discuss the additional laws established by the FHA. Please note that ADA covers commercial areas where FHA covers residential areas. Also, the ADA does not cover emotional support animals, but the FHA does.

The Fair Housing Act – protects tenants from landlord discrimination. Prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, or persons with disabilities.

Fair Housing Amendments Act (FHAA) of 1988:

• Assistance Animal: An animal that works, provides assistance, or performs tasks on behalf of a person with a disability or provides emotional support that alleviates one or more symptoms or effects of a person’s disability.
• a service animal does not have to be individually trained or certified
• once a service animal is approved, the landlord cannot collect any fees or deposits associated with the pet
• the landlord may not impose breed or weight restrictions on an assistance animal

What you may require:

• the prospect or resident must have a disability within the meaning of the Fair Housing Act
• there must be a need related to the animal’s disability

Allowed problems:

• Is the disability apparent or known?
• Is the need related to the animal’s disability apparent or known?
• If both the disability and the disability-related need of the animal are apparent and known, you may not ask any further questions and may not require any additional verification or documentation.
• If the disability is not apparent or known, you may request reliable documentation of the disability and disability-related need for the service animal.

For emotional support animals, you may request documentation from a physician, psychiatrist, social worker, or other mental health professional that the animal provides emotional support that alleviates one or more of the identified symptoms or effects of an existing disability.

You may deny an accommodation request when:

• would cause undue financial hardship to the property
• would create an administrative burden on the property
• the specific animal would be a direct threat to the property or would cause substantial physical damage to the property
• if there is insufficient verification when the disability is not apparent

The potential client/tenant can request your animal from you in almost any way, even something as simple as writing their request on a sticky note. There is no formal application form and you cannot require them to use one that you create.

Your next step is to request that the doctor or medical provider provide written verification. Again, you don’t have to be on a specific form. You must accept third-party verification that the applicant has a disability within the reliable meaning of the Fair Housing Act and that there is a disability-related need for the animal.

Without sufficient verification, the applicant may be denied. And, be warned, there are many sites online that provide certifications without requiring any disability verification.

How the ADA and FHAA are different:

• The ADA applies to areas of public accommodation. It does not apply to areas of the property that are not open to the general public. (ie, service animals must be allowed into the leasing office).
• FHAA applies to the entire property. (Qualified service and emotional support animals must be allowed to live in your rental property.)

Most of your concern as a landlord will relate to the regulations set forth by the FHAA.

Wow, there’s a lot in those 2 messages. What has been your experience with service animals?

As I mentioned in the last post, this topic was discussed at our HOA Meeting. If you have any further questions or need legal assistance on this matter, please contact our speaker, Attorney Sean Doyle, [email protected], 919-256-4295.

I really want you to read this article to the end, whether you already own an online business or are planning to start one. These secrets that I will show you in this article will make any website idea make money online, including yours. , very successful. And imagine one day you wake up, go to the kitchen, make a cup of coffee or tea, and then check your ClickBank or PayPal account and YES, you have thousands of dollars added to your pocket. Just imagine what would make you happy. Of course I would, even now I can see you’re smiling, just for an idea.

Okay, I can see that you’re already excited, so let’s move on to the main topic of this article.

The #1 secret that will turn any website idea that makes money online into a million dollar business.

After reading some books on personal development and motivation, after reading several books written by successful people, after noticing that my own business is growing day by day, I have come to a conclusion: any type of business or idea will not successful. if you do nothing In fact, I believe that any idea can become a million dollar business if you start taking action for your success on a day-to-day basis. Just develop this habit in yourself and you will notice that every day your business will become more and more successful.

The number 2 secret that will turn any website idea that makes money online into a million dollar business.

There are no limits to what you can achieve in your life. Remember that the Bible says that you are created in the image of God. So your inner power is unlimited, start thinking globally from today. Think about who you would like to partner with to make your business more popular. Think about what you can do for them to get them to accept you in their successful company. And in the end start acting and never give up and you will see millions in your hands.

The number 3 secret that will turn any website idea that makes money online into a million dollar business.

“Seeing is believing” – forget about this saying in your life. Start believing in yourself from today and you will start to see changes in your life. Start believing from today that you are the most successful, intelligent, intelligent, happy and rich person in the world. And you will see that everything will start to change for you and your business.

Preamble

Gender roles and family relationships in Haiti are rooted in the diverse cultural backgrounds of the population. Generally speaking, the two main cultural influences are African and French. At one extreme is the African heritage. Among the Afro-Haitians who occupy the three lowest classes of Haitian society, the middle class, the urban lower class, and the rural peasantry, the African cultural heritage remains very strong. This is particularly evident in the areas of marital relationships, defined gender roles before and after marriage, types of marriages, and the extended family system. At the other extreme are Franco-Haitians, or mulattoes, who have embraced the French heritage wholesale, and who occupy the upper-class elite of Haitian society.

rural haiti

Rural Haiti is where the vast majority of Haitians live and the majority of the people are Afro-Haitian. In these parts of Haiti, the twin influences of their African heritage and the people’s experience of slavery have combined to define their family and marital relationships and the roles of the two genders (male and female) in these relationships. The main economic activities in rural Haiti are centered on agriculture. The people, both men and women, are essentially farmers.

For couples who are married or in a marriage arrangement, their main economic and financial activities, which center around farming food crops, is a cooperative effort between a man and his wife. The rural culture of Haiti values ​​the economic contribution of women to the farm; in which all income generated through agricultural production belongs to both husband and wife. Farm work is organized in such a way that the wife’s activities complement those of the husband. While the man does all the hard work in preparing the land for cultivation, clearing the bushes, tilling and hoeing; the wife does the complementary work of weeding, pruning, and harvesting.

As a follow-up to the harvest, the wife processes the product to sell it in the market.

Crops such as cassava tubers are processed into cassava flour and starch by the women before taking them to market for sale. The woman is solely responsible for marketing the harvest from her farm. Proceeds from sales are used to meet the needs of the entire family. For couples who have a ‘plasach’ or concubinage marriage arrangement, financial security arrangements are made for the woman. The husband, in addition to providing a house for the wife, who is likely to be a second wife, must also cultivate a plot of land for the wife’s farm.

Rural women, who are full-time market traders, often achieve economic independence. These women are not bound by tradition to share their income with their husbands. However, some help increase family income by voluntarily contributing income from their trade and other off-farm activities. Among peasants in rural Haiti, there are various types of marriage arrangements between men and women. You have the monogamous marriage between a man and a woman. Marriage could be contracted under the traditional system. In this arrangement, the man pays the bride price to the woman’s family.

Polygamy is still practiced in rural Haiti. The first wife is the only one generally recognized by the government as a legitimate wife, while other ‘plasach’ wives are considered concubines of the man. Due to the great love of Haitian parents for children, children are accepted, whether they are born in or out of wedlock. The extended family system or ‘Lakou’ is still very much alive and well in rural Haiti. Members of a ‘Lakou’ work cooperatively on each other’s farms and provide each other with financial support in times of need. It is worth noting that most of the traditional practices of rural Haiti are a faithful transfer from the original traditions of their African ancestors. Some of these traditional practices, such as polygamous marriages, cooperative farm labor, and couples living in extended family compounds, still exist today in rural African societies.

UrbanHaiti

The migration of Afro-Haitians from rural communities to urban centers has resulted in the modification of some of the traditional practices of their ancestors and the complete elimination of others. Among lower-class urban communities in Haiti today, the most common marriage arrangement remains the ‘plasaj,’ or concubinage. Due to the high cost of formal marriage ceremonies, couples coexist as husband and wife until they can financially legitimize their marriages in a Christian religious ceremony or in a court of competent jurisdiction. Husbands and wives from lower-class urban families share the cost of maintaining the home. The husbands have paid employment while the wives are engaged in petty trade or the operation of small restaurants and breweries. Lower-class urban husbands also help with heavy housework, such as collecting firewood for cooking, while the wives do the cooking, along with their other housework and childcare.

Among middle-class Haitians who live mainly in urban areas, formal monogamous marital relationships are the norm. Middle-class marriages generally take the form of church wedding ceremonies or legal exchange of vows in a court of competent jurisdiction. Husbands typically help their wives with childcare and other household chores, particularly when both husband and wife are in gainful employment. Since their arrival in Haiti in the second half of the 20th century, Protestant churches have encouraged legal unions between urban lower and middle-class couples, providing affordable church weddings for members of these churches.

Haiti’s upper-class elite, who are mostly mulattoes, have imitated the French way of doing things for hundreds of years. They live like the French, they speak the French language at home and in the workplace; and of course, they have adopted French marital customs and practices. Civil and religious marriages were the norm, and the “best” families could trace legally married ancestors back to the 19th century and beyond. Courtships between spinsters and eligible bachelors were usually arranged by the “best” families. Hence it was not uncommon for elite mulatto families to be interrelated, with cousins ​​marrying each other. The husband would go out to work for someone else or the family business, leaving the wife in charge of the front of the house, surrounded by servants. With immigration from Europe and changing economic conditions in Haiti, things are changing for the upper-class elite as well. It is now quite common for elite wives to take paid employment, while husbands share running the household.

Finding and maintaining the correct property and liability insurance for your vacation rental can be challenging. Most vacation rental properties are located in high-risk areas, such as low-lying coastal towns or in national forests, and that alone can make it difficult to find insurance. Add to the equation that the property will be rented part time and things can get very complicated. Here are some basic rules to follow to help protect you and your property from insurance nightmares.

Rule one: honesty is the best policy

It is imperative that you be completely honest with your insurance agent about your intent to rent your property on short notice. If a guest staying at your property causes damage or files a lawsuit against you, your insurance agent will learn about your rental activity. If you have not disclosed that your property is a vacation rental, your insurance policy may be voided and you will be completely exposed. Be honest from the start. Sure, it will mean a higher premium, but it’s not worth risking your life savings.

Rule two: If at first you don’t succeed, try again

When shopping for insurance, start with the companies that carry your current auto and homeowners policies. It is always cheaper to cover your coverage with a single company. But don’t be surprised if they reject you. Vacation rental insurance is a niche market and most traditional companies will not have what you are looking for.

Ask your agent for a reference and check with other rental owners in your area. They will probably have several recommendations between them and one of the companies will be a good fit for what you need.

Rule three: ask the right questions, give the right answers

It is important to use the correct language and ask the right questions when speaking with an insurance agent. Never tell your agent that your property will be vacant. The correct term to use is “vacated”. A vacant property is a red flag that will scare off most insurance companies.

Vacation rental insurance generally falls under the “surplus lines” category. Companies that specialize in this type of insurance are Lloyd’s of London, AIG, Lexington and Allied Insurance. If your current insurer can’t cover your rental property, ask them for a surplus lines reference.

Ask your insurance agent how much liability coverage you should have. The minimum is usually about $1,000,000, but the amount can change depending on your financial situation. It’s just common sense, if you have more to lose you’ll want more liability coverage.

You will be asked for the name of your property manager and you should be prepared. If you are a “rental by owner” and are asked who manages your property, please provide the name of your housekeeper or handyman. The insurance company will want to know that someone is available in an emergency. If you don’t have a third-party contact set up, it could raise another red flag.

Rule Four: Check Your Insurance Company’s Financial Status

There are hundreds of insurance companies trying to get your business. If you come across a company with too-good-to-be-true rates and terms, be very careful. There really are insurance companies that “fly at night” and if there is a flood or an earthquake, they could be wiped out financially.

The place to check an insurance company’s financial statement is www.ambest.com. Type in the name of the insurance company and you’ll be able to get a little history of that insurance company, how long they’ve been in business, and what their financial status is. What you’re really looking for is an A-rated company. Don’t go back to grade school and think B and C are good. You really want an A-rated insurance company.

Insurance is one area of ​​vacation rental management where you can’t afford to cut corners. There are just too many things that can go wrong and the term “better safe than sorry” is the most important rule of the insurance game.

Renewable energy is a wonderful asset in today’s society, which unfortunately can be guilty of overconsumption and waste. It is an innovative method of producing energy without burning fossil fuels whose emissions pollute the environment. It is energy provided by a resource that is naturally replenished within a human time scale. There are several types of renewable energy, including plants, wind, rain, sun, tides, and more. But when it comes to today’s advanced uses of renewable energy for the home or office, solar, geothermal, wind, and hydropower are the four most common sources. Read on to learn about these categories of renewable energy and how they can be applied in the home.

wind power

Our atmosphere swirls and churns powerfully above us without fail, so it’s no surprise that we’ve become interested in learning how to harness that energy for ourselves. Wind power is extraordinary because it carries an abundant amount of power, power that can be used to power our homes and offices. The instrument used to take advantage of the wind is called a wind turbine. Wind turbines are usually white and stand tall with large, defined blades. They generate power as their speedy blades spin in the wind. The rotating blades send power to a generator, which then produces electricity for a house.

Hydroelectric power

Hydropower works much like wind power, minus the wind. Instead, it uses the force of moving water to produce and harness energy. To use hydropower, you must have access to a running water source. Ideally this would be a dam or river, but it can come in other forms as well. You must also have permission from local authorities to install hydroelectric renewable energy operations, such as a micro-hydroelectric system.

Geothermal energy

Although it is a rare source of renewable energy, geothermal energy can still be harnessed and used to produce power for the home. It uses internal heat from the soil below, which interestingly enough remains a constant 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit all year long. A geothermal heat pump is the device used to harness internal ground heat as a means of heating and cooling a property. It circulates the fluid in a loop, through a system of underground pipes, then to the house’s heat exchanger where heat is extracted from the fluid and used to heat (or cool) the interior. This process is simply reversed for cooling purposes.

Solar energy

There are several ways to use renewable solar energy at home. For example, water heaters now come with solar-powered models. These units use energy from the sun to heat water in a storage tank, allowing the unit to supply hot water on demand. Additionally, rooftop solar panels are a common renewable energy asset for homeowners. When exposed to sunlight, solar panels use the photovoltaic effect (solar cells that convert sunlight into energy) to produce electricity for a home. A few years ago, it was a larger initial investment that paid off over time, but today, the price of solar panels has dropped substantially, so anyone can afford them!