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Here’s a list to help you prepare, whether you’re heading off to basic training for the Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, or Marine Corps.</p>\n<p><b>Enlisted</b><b>:</b></p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Army: </b>E-1 Private, E-2 Private, E-3 Private First Class, E-4 Corporal/Specialist, E-5 Sergeant, E-6 Staff Sergeant, E-7 Sergeant First Class, E-8 Master Sergeant/First Sergeant, E-9 Sergeant Major</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Air Force:</b> E-1 Airman Basic, E-2 Airman, E-3 Airman First Class, E-4 Senior Airman, E-5 Staff Sergeant, E-6 Technical Sergeant, E-7 Master Sergeant, E-8 Senior Master Sergeant E-9 Chief Master Sergeant (<i>Note:</i> Air Force First Sergeants can be in the pay grades of E-7, E-8, or E-9)</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Navy/Coast Guard:</b> E-1 Seaman Recruit, E-2 Seaman Apprentice, E-3 Seaman, E-4 Petty Officer Third Class, E-5 Petty Officer Second Class, E-6 Petty Officer First Class, E-7 Chief Petty Officer, E-8 Senior Chief Petty Officer, E-9 Master Chief Petty Officer</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Marine Corps: </b>E-1 Private, E-2 Private First Class, E-3 Lance Corporal, E-4 Corporal, E-5 Sergeant, E-6 Staff Sergeant, E-7 Gunnery Sergeant, E-8 Master Sergeant/First Sergeant, E-9 Master Gunnery Sergeant/Sergeant Major</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<p><b>Warrant Officers (</b><b>all branches except the </b><b>Air Force)</b><b>:</b></p>\n<p>W-1 Warrant Officer, W-2 Chief Warrant Officer Two, W-3 Chief Warrant Officer Three, W-4 Chief Warrant Officer Four, W-5 Master Chief Warrant Officer Five</p>\n<p><b>Commissioned Officers</b><b>:</b></p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Army/Air Force/Marine Corps:</b> O-1 Second Lieutenant, O-2 First Lieutenant, O-3 Captain, O-4 Major, O-5 Lieutenant Colonel, O-6 Colonel, O-7 Brigadier General, O-8 Major General, O-9 Lieutenant General, O-10 General</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Navy/Coast Guard:</b> O-1 Ensign, O-2 Lieutenant (Junior Grade), O-3 Lieutenant, O-4 Lieutenant Commander, O-5 Commander, O-6 Captain, O-7 Rear Admiral (lower half), O-8 Rear Admiral (Upper half), O-9 Vice Admiral, O-10 Admiral</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"The chain of command","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>In the military, you need to know who is in charge — in essence, the military chain of command. You should always go directly to your superior (and not your superior’s superior!). This handy guide lets you know who reports to whom.</p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th>Branch</th>\n<th>Chain of Command</th>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Army</td>\n<td>Recruit, Drill Sergeant, Platoon Leader, Company Commander,<br />\nBattalion Commander, Brigade Commander, Division Commander, Corps<br />\nCommander, Army Chief of Staff, Secretary of the Army, Secretary of<br />\nDefense, Commander-in-Chief (President)</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Air Force</td>\n<td>Recruit, Training Instructor, Flight Chief, Squadron Commander,<br />\nGroup Commander, Wing Commander, AETC Commander, Air Force Chief of<br />\nStaff, Secretary of the Air Force, Secretary of Defense,<br />\nCommander-in-Chief (President)</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Navy</td>\n<td>Recruit, Company Commander, Division Leading Chief Petty<br />\nOfficer, Division Officer, Military Training Assistant, Military<br />\nTraining Officer, Executive Officer, Commanding Officer, Chief of<br />\nNaval Education and Training, Chief of Naval Operations, Secretary<br />\nof the Navy, Secretary of Defense, Commander-in-Chief<br />\n(President)</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Marine Corps</td>\n<td>Recruit, Drill Instructor, Company Commander, Battalion<br />\nCommander, Regimental Commander, Division Commander, Chief of Naval<br />\nEducation and Training, Commandant of the Marine Corps, Secretary<br />\nof the Navy, Secretary of Defense, Commander-in-Chief<br />\n(President)</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Coast Guard</td>\n<td>Recruit, Company Commander, Lead Company Commander, Section<br />\nCommander, Battalion Commander, Battalion Officer, Regimental<br />\nOfficer, Training Officer, Executive Officer, Commanding Officer,<br />\nCoast Guard Commandant, Secretary of Homeland Security,<br />\nCommander-in-Chief (President)</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\n"},{"title":"Rules of the sentry","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>When you’re sentry in the Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, or Marine Corps, it’s important to take your responsibility seriously. Follow these 11 rules, no matter which military branch you’re in, and you’ll never go wrong!</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Take charge of this post and all government property in view.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert, and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Repeat all calls from posts more distant from the guard house than my own.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Quit my post only when properly relieved.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Receive, obey and pass on to the sentry who relieves me, all orders from the Commanding Officer, Command Duty Officer, Officer of the Deck, and Officers and Petty Officers of the Watch only.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Talk to no one except in the line of duty.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Give the alarm in case of fire or disorder.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Call the Officer of the Deck in any case not covered by instructions.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Salute all officers and all colors and standards not cased.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Be especially watchful at night, and, during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post and to allow no one to pass without proper authority.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Learn military time","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>The military is all about being on time. Of course, when you arrive at basic training, you need to learn to tell time in a whole new way — the military way! Master this list, and you’ll have no reason to ever be late!</p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th>Time</th>\n<th>Military Time Equivalent</th>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Midnight (12 a.m.)</td>\n<td>0000 hrs</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 a.m.</td>\n<td>0100 hrs</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2 a.m.</td>\n<td>0200 hrs</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>3 a.m.</td>\n<td>0300 hrs</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>4 a.m.</td>\n<td>0400 hrs</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>5 a.m.</td>\n<td>0500 hrs</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>6 a.m.</td>\n<td>0600 hrs</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>7 a.m.</td>\n<td>0700 hrs</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>8 a.m.</td>\n<td>0800 hrs</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>9 a.m.</td>\n<td>0900 hrs</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>10 a.m.</td>\n<td>1000 hrs</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>11 a.m.</td>\n<td>1100 hrs</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>12 p.m.</td>\n<td>1200 hrs</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>1 p.m.</td>\n<td>1300 hrs</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2 p.m.</td>\n<td>1400 hrs</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>3 p.m.</td>\n<td>1500 hrs</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>4 p.m.</td>\n<td>1600 hrs</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>5 p.m.</td>\n<td>1700 hrs</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>6 p.m.</td>\n<td>1800 hrs</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>7 p.m.</td>\n<td>1900 hrs</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>8 p.m.</td>\n<td>2000 hrs</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>9 p.m.</td>\n<td>2100 hrs</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>10 p.m.</td>\n<td>2200 hrs</td>\n</tr>\n<tr>\n<td>11 p.m.</td>\n<td>2300 hrs</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody>\n</table>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Advance","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-04-25T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":208540},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T16:57:53+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-04-20T19:37:48+00:00","timestamp":"2022-04-21T00:01:04+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Business, Careers, & Money","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34224"},"slug":"business-careers-money","categoryId":34224},{"name":"Careers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34256"},"slug":"careers","categoryId":34256},{"name":"Hospitality Careers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34263"},"slug":"hospitality-careers","categoryId":34263}],"title":"Running a Bed and Breakfast For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"running a bed and breakfast for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"running-a-bed-breakfast-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Learn some of the essentials of opening a bed and breakfast, including both the business and hospitality sides of the venture.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"To run a bed and breakfast (B&B) inn, you need to take care of business issues first, then go about the business of caring for your guests.\r\n\r\nTo make sure guests get the best impression of your B&B, train everyone who answers the phone, get rooms ready the right way, and do the prep work for the \"breakfast\" part of the service. You also need to keep important phone numbers handy for those unexpected but inevitable problems.","description":"To run a bed and breakfast (B&B) inn, you need to take care of business issues first, then go about the business of caring for your guests.\r\n\r\nTo make sure guests get the best impression of your B&B, train everyone who answers the phone, get rooms ready the right way, and do the prep work for the \"breakfast\" part of the service. You also need to keep important phone numbers handy for those unexpected but inevitable problems.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":10529,"name":"Mary White","slug":"mary-white","description":"Mary White is the go-to source in the bed and breakfast industry for opinions and advice. A noted expert on B&B travel, she has been involved in promoting and marketing B&Bs on the web for more than a decade and has appeared in dozens of media outlets. Her site, BnBFinder.com, is hailed by professionals and consumers alike as the most informative B&B site.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10529"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":34263,"title":"Hospitality Careers","slug":"hospitality-careers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34263"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":194779,"title":"Important Phone Numbers to Keep Handy for Your Bed & Breakfast","slug":"important-phone-numbers-to-keep-handy-for-your-bed-breakfast","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","hospitality-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194779"}},{"articleId":194777,"title":"Readying Guest Rooms in Your Bed & Breakfast","slug":"readying-guest-rooms-in-your-bed-breakfast","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","hospitality-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194777"}},{"articleId":194767,"title":"How to Take Complete Reservations for Your Bed & Breakfast","slug":"how-to-take-complete-reservations-for-your-bed-breakfast","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","hospitality-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194767"}},{"articleId":194768,"title":"Business to Take Care of before You Open Your Bed & Breakfast","slug":"business-to-take-care-of-before-you-open-your-bed-breakfast","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","hospitality-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194768"}},{"articleId":194769,"title":"Breakfast Prep to Do before Bed for Your Bed & Breakfast","slug":"breakfast-prep-to-do-before-bed-for-your-bed-breakfast","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","hospitality-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194769"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":230176,"title":"Establish Email Lists to Promote Special Deals for Your Food Truck","slug":"establish-email-lists-promote-special-deals-food-truck","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","hospitality-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/230176"}},{"articleId":230173,"title":"Set and Exceed Expectations to Pull Ahead in the Food Truck Business","slug":"set-exceed-expectations-pull-ahead-food-truck-business","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","hospitality-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/230173"}},{"articleId":230170,"title":"Attract More Business for Your Food Truck with an Instagram Account","slug":"attract-business-food-truck-instagram-account","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","hospitality-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/230170"}},{"articleId":230167,"title":"SEO Tips for Your Food Truck’s Website","slug":"seo-tips-food-trucks-website","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","hospitality-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/230167"}},{"articleId":230163,"title":"Tips for Putting Together Press Releases for Your Food Truck Business","slug":"tips-putting-together-press-releases-food-truck-business","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","hospitality-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/230163"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282546,"slug":"running-a-bed-and-breakfast-for-dummies","isbn":"9780470426821","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","hospitality-careers"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0470426829/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/0470426829/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/0470426829-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0470426829/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/0470426829/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/running-a-bed-and-breakfast-for-dummies-cover-9780470426821-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Running a Bed and Breakfast For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"\n <p><b data-author-id=\"10529\">Mary White</b> is the go-to source in the bed and breakfast industry for opinions and advice. A noted expert on B&B travel, she has been involved in promoting and marketing B&Bs on the web for more than a decade and has appeared in dozens of media outlets. Her site, BnBFinder.com, is hailed by professionals and consumers alike as the most informative B&B site.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":10529,"name":"Mary White","slug":"mary-white","description":"Mary White is the go-to source in the bed and breakfast industry for opinions and advice. A noted expert on B&B travel, she has been involved in promoting and marketing B&Bs on the web for more than a decade and has appeared in dozens of media outlets. Her site, BnBFinder.com, is hailed by professionals and consumers alike as the most informative B&B site.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/10529"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;business-careers-money&quot;,&quot;careers&quot;,&quot;hospitality-careers&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9780470426821&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62609ec016c76\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;business-careers-money&quot;,&quot;careers&quot;,&quot;hospitality-careers&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9780470426821&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-62609ec017607\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":194768,"title":"Business to Take Care of before You Open Your Bed & Breakfast","slug":"business-to-take-care-of-before-you-open-your-bed-breakfast","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","hospitality-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194768"}},{"articleId":194777,"title":"Readying Guest Rooms in Your Bed & Breakfast","slug":"readying-guest-rooms-in-your-bed-breakfast","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","hospitality-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194777"}},{"articleId":194767,"title":"How to Take Complete Reservations for Your Bed & Breakfast","slug":"how-to-take-complete-reservations-for-your-bed-breakfast","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","hospitality-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194767"}},{"articleId":194779,"title":"Important Phone Numbers to Keep Handy for Your Bed & Breakfast","slug":"important-phone-numbers-to-keep-handy-for-your-bed-breakfast","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","hospitality-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194779"}},{"articleId":194769,"title":"Breakfast Prep to Do before Bed for Your Bed & Breakfast","slug":"breakfast-prep-to-do-before-bed-for-your-bed-breakfast","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","hospitality-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/194769"}}],"content":[{"title":"Business to take care of before you open your bed and breakfast","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p class=\"SortTitle\">Your bed and breakfast is a business, so you need to get your ducks in a row and necessary forms filled out and filed before you open your doors to guests.</p>\n<p class=\"SortTitle\">Use the following list (and the help of your accountant, lawyer, consultant, and/or broker) to ensure you have the accounts and paperwork you need before opening day (then mark renewal dates on your calendar). These include:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Conditional use and sign permits (if required)</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Business license</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Business name and/or DBA registration</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Certificate of occupancy</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Account for transient/lodging taxes</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Sales tax account (seller’s permit)</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Federal and State Tax ID</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Business checking credit accounts</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Merchant account (to process credit cards)</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">ServSafe food certification (if required)</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Health Department inspection</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Fire Department inspection</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Liquor license, if applicable</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Insurance (business, liability, property, and liquor liability if applicable)</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Property management/reservation and accounting software</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Readying guest rooms","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p class=\"SortTitle\">You want to give your guests the best possible experience in your B&amp;B inn. Use the following checklist to make sure your guest rooms make a good first impression:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Clean guest bedroom:</b> dust; vacuum; change sheets; make bed; empty trash cans; check under beds, in drawers, and behind curtains for anything left by previous guests; note anything broken; reset thermostat</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Check guest bedroom amenities:</b> fresh glassware and beverage coasters, TV and DVD remotes on night stand, guest welcome letter, and so on</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Stock guest bedroom closet:</b> fresh robes hanging and arranged properly with belts tied, luggage rack open, wooden hangers (10 men’s/10 women’s), extra pillows and blankets</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Add the finishing guest bedroom touches:</b> check clock radio to be sure the time is set correctly and the alarm is turned off, adjust all blinds to the same level, display current magazines, add fresh candy to a dish, stage guest book with pen, and so on</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Clean guest bathroom:</b> dust; vacuum; mop; clean shower, toilet, mirrors, and vanity; empty trash cans</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Check guest bathroom amenities:</b> replace bath, hand, and face towels; replace bathmat; stock basics such as soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toilet paper, tissue, and fresh glassware</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Add the finishing guest bathroom touches:</b> add bath gel, mouthwash, makeup remover pads, hair dryer, deodorizer, and so on</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"How to take complete reservations","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p class=\"SortTitle\">You need to gather essential information when taking guest reservations for your bed &amp; breakfast by phone, and you’d be surprised how easy it is to forget the basics. To cover all the bases, begin by taking down the following information:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Date reservation taken and who took the reservation</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Guest name(s), address, telephone (day, evening, cell), and e-mail</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Arrival and departure dates (confirm number of nights)</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Room selected and special add-ons</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Reason for visiting the area and whether this is a special occasion</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Referral source (how they originally found you)</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Credit card number, expiration, 3 digits on back (4 digits on front of AMEX)</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n<p>Wrap things up by</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Confirming the rate plus tax and any additional charges</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Reviewing policies (especially deposit and cancellation policies) and check-in time (ask for approximate arrival time)</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Noting any dietary restrictions or allergies</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Offering to make reservations for dining, events, tours, and so on</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">* Telling guest the next step such as a follow-up confirmation by e-mail</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Important phone numbers to keep handy","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p class=\"SortTitle\">Even the best-run bed &amp; breakfast suffers an occasional crisis, and the time to search for a drain-cleaning service is not when you have guests waiting for breakfast. Record telephone numbers for the following services and keep the list on hand for quick fixes to ensure your guests’ comfort, enjoyment, and safety:</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Plumbing &amp; drain cleaning service</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Heat/AC equipment person</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Electrician</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Carpenter/Contractor</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Roofer</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Septic tank info</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Propane gas supplier</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Cable provider</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Internet provider</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Power company</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Phone service provider</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Hot tub repair</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Appliance repair</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Snow removal service</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Landscaper/tree removal service</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Breakfast prep to do before bedtime","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p class=\"SortTitle\">Mornings at a bed and breakfast are a scramble, and not just of eggs. Breakfast at a B&amp;B is part of the attraction, so although you’ll get used to serving it, you may want to use the following checklist to have breakfast practically ready before you go to bed.</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Review menu choices</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Check guest register for dietary restrictions and guest allergies</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Check for all ingredients; decide on quick substitutions if necessary</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Set out all cooking utensils by recipe</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Set out serving dishes and utensils</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Measure all dry and nonperishable ingredients</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Take frozen items out of the freezer to defrost</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Set breakfast table(s)</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Set up early departure “to go” bags</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\">Set up early morning coffee and tea service</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Advance","lifeExpectancy":"Two years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-02-10T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":209341},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2020-08-30T02:29:50+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-04-08T20:45:20+00:00","timestamp":"2022-04-09T00:01:07+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Business, Careers, & Money","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34224"},"slug":"business-careers-money","categoryId":34224},{"name":"Careers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34256"},"slug":"careers","categoryId":34256},{"name":"General (Careers)","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34272"},"slug":"general-careers","categoryId":34272}],"title":"Working From Home For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"working from home for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"working-from-home-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"As you jump into working from home, be sure to follow a few pieces of important advice, as well as some virtual meeting etiquette.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"The secret is out: Working from home can be a sustainable, successful option for professionals in today’s global economy. As you jump into <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/business/management/is-working-virtually-right-for-you/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">working from home</a>, be sure to follow a few pieces of important advice, as well as some virtual meeting etiquette.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_273005\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"556\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-273005\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/working-home.jpg\" alt=\"working from home\" width=\"556\" height=\"371\" /> © LightField Studios/Shutterstock.com[/caption]","description":"The secret is out: Working from home can be a sustainable, successful option for professionals in today’s global economy. As you jump into <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/business/management/is-working-virtually-right-for-you/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">working from home</a>, be sure to follow a few pieces of important advice, as well as some virtual meeting etiquette.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_273005\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"556\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-273005\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/working-home.jpg\" alt=\"working from home\" width=\"556\" height=\"371\" /> © LightField Studios/Shutterstock.com[/caption]","blurb":"","authors":[],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":34272,"title":"General (Careers)","slug":"general-careers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34272"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":273721,"title":"How to Manage Virtual Teams","slug":"how-to-manage-virtual-teams","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/273721"}},{"articleId":273709,"title":"How to Create a New Zoom Account","slug":"how-to-create-a-new-zoom-account","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/273709"}},{"articleId":273704,"title":"Text-Only Communication in the Virtual Workplace","slug":"text-only-communication-in-the-virtual-workplace","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/273704"}},{"articleId":273697,"title":"Working from Home: Setting Healthy Boundaries","slug":"working-from-home-setting-healthy-boundaries","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/273697"}},{"articleId":273692,"title":"How to Build a Connection Culture When Working from Home","slug":"how-to-build-a-connection-culture-when-working-from-home","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/273692"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":273721,"title":"How to Manage Virtual Teams","slug":"how-to-manage-virtual-teams","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/273721"}},{"articleId":273709,"title":"How to Create a New Zoom Account","slug":"how-to-create-a-new-zoom-account","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/273709"}},{"articleId":273704,"title":"Text-Only Communication in the Virtual Workplace","slug":"text-only-communication-in-the-virtual-workplace","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/273704"}},{"articleId":273697,"title":"Working from Home: Setting Healthy Boundaries","slug":"working-from-home-setting-healthy-boundaries","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/273697"}},{"articleId":273692,"title":"How to Build a Connection Culture When Working from Home","slug":"how-to-build-a-connection-culture-when-working-from-home","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/273692"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282677,"slug":"working-from-home-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119748496","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119748496/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119748496/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119748496-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119748496/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119748496/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/working-from-home-for-dummies-cover-9781119748496-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Working From Home For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"\n <p>A 20-year talent development professional, <b data-author-id=\"11352\">Tara Powers</b>, MS, is an international best-selling author, award-winning leadership expert, and sought-after keynote speaker. She's worked with more than 200 companies and 15,000 leaders worldwide, building and launching talent initiatives that deliver impact for her clients. She's an expert in the virtual workplace.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":11352,"name":"Tara Powers","slug":"tara-powers","description":"A 20-year talent development professional, Tara Powers, MS, is an international best-selling author, award-winning leadership expert, and sought-after keynote speaker. She's worked with more than 200 companies and 15,000 leaders worldwide, building and launching talent initiatives that deliver impact for her clients. She's an expert in the virtual workplace.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/11352"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;business-careers-money&quot;,&quot;careers&quot;,&quot;general-careers&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119748496&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-6250ccc34aba9\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;business-careers-money&quot;,&quot;careers&quot;,&quot;general-careers&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119748496&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-6250ccc34b0dc\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":0,"title":"","slug":null,"categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/"}}],"content":[{"title":"Advice to Consider Before You Work at Home","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>If you’re considering working from home, take into account several important considerations. Many of them require a shift in your mindset and habits, a focus on emotional and social intelligence, and strong communication skills. Be mindful about these areas if you truly want to have success in working from home:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Having the right environment:</strong> Ensuring you have the right work environment if you’re planning on working from home is extremely important. If your workspace isn’t set up for you to be successful, you’ll quickly become frustrated and potentially disconnected from your team.</li>\n<li><strong>Maintaining balance and focus:</strong> Working virtually takes a heavy dose of discipline and organization to balance work with the constant demands of life happening all around you when you’re working from home. If you struggle with self-discipline, working virtually may be an area of difficulty for you, so make sure you set up clear guidelines and expectations for yourself ahead of time.</li>\n<li><strong>Building community:</strong> When working from home, be prepared to build a sense of community by connecting with your team members and your manager regularly, both for work and to get to know each other personally. If working side-by-side with your coworkers in person is extremely fulfilling for you, then consider that working remotely 100 percent of the time may not be the best idea for you. You may want to consider a part-time telecommuting arrangement or perhaps a flex job where you work remotely a few days a week and a part-time job in an office a few days per week.</li>\n<li><strong>Connecting using collaborative technology:</strong> When you work from home, you generally lose face-to-face, in-person interaction, and people working remotely have different levels of comfort and acceptance using collaborative technology such as Zoom to personally connect. Many companies don’t require virtual teams to turn on video when communicating or having a meeting, which is a mistake. If you desire to work virtually, it’s up to you to build relationships and trust, which you rarely can achieve over the phone or via text. Turning on your camera so you can connect personally with your team members is an important part of building connection.</li>\n<li><strong>Appreciating team culture:</strong> Your virtual team can include people from other towns in your city, your country, or the world. Maybe your team members don’t have English as their first language, or maybe their culture and way of life is completely foreign to you. Make sure you consider who is going to be on your team and ideally meet team members as part of the interviewing process.</li>\n<li><strong>Practicing emotional intelligence:</strong> Working from home requires a willingness to go the extra mile to develop strong team relationships by being emotionally aware and tuned in to what’s happening with other team members. The key to emotional intelligence is recognizing what you and other team members are feeling and then knowing what to do to manage those emotions or reactions. Doing so requires attention, savviness, and vulnerability.</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Virtual Meeting Etiquette: Minding Your Meeting Manners Even When You Work from Home","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Just because you work from home doesn’t mean you can slack on professionalism. You can easily fall into a too-casual trap when your commute is a short walk from your kitchen to your home office. Keep these videoconference etiquette tips in mind as you work from home:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Beware of your background.</strong> Your coworkers won’t take you seriously if you have a pile of dirty clothes or an unmade bed in the corner behind you. Make sure your background is professional, free of distractions, and work appropriate. Pay attention to the lighting, too.</li>\n<li><strong>Make sure you’re screen ready.</strong> One of the best things about working remotely is the freedom to wear anything to work. However, when you’re in a virtual video meeting, your coworkers don’t need to see your sweats and bedhead. Put on a clean shirt, brush your hair, and set up your webcam at eye level.</li>\n<li><strong>Minimize distractions.</strong> Video meetings have enough background noise, so don’t add to it. Make sure you’re in a quiet room; turn off music, cell phones, and TVs; relocate pets; and ensure that the kiddos are settled somewhere. Also, minimize use of your keyboard — the sound is distracting.</li>\n<li><strong>Speak clearly, concisely, and slowly, and don’t interrupt.</strong> Videoconferencing technology has improved greatly, but speaking clearly, concisely, and slowly is still smart. If you have a decent mic, you don’t need to yell. Your normal speaking volume should be fine.</li>\n<li><strong>Make eye contact.</strong> During your video call, your screen probably has the presentation open, a window in which you can type comments, and multiple video screens with your colleagues’ faces. When it’s your turn to speak, be sure to look into your camera, not at the multiple distractions on your computer screen. It takes a while to grasp this, but it looks more natural and connects to people much more effectively.</li>\n<li><strong>Don’t eat.</strong> Even if the meeting falls during your normal mealtime, don’t eat during your video call. Just because people can’t smell it doesn’t mean they can’t hear or see you chewing. No one wants to see you stuff your face while discussing important business matters.</li>\n<li><strong>Don’t multitask.</strong> According to a survey by Raindance Communications, 70 percent of people do unrelated work, 50 percent read or send emails, and 36 percent mute the call to talk to someone else while on a video call. All of these behaviors are no-no’s. Give the meeting your full attention. It’s more productive and more respectful.</li>\n<li><strong>Keep the mute button handy.</strong> Nothing is more frustrating than hearing that alien echo noise or high-pitch screech from conflicting microphones. If you’re working in a noisy cafe, an airport, or anywhere that has a lot of background noise, make sure to keep your mic muted when you’re not speaking. It gives everyone else the ability to chime in without distraction.</li>\n<li><strong>Be patient.</strong> If someone doesn’t respond immediately, give him a few seconds. The slow response may be an audio delay or people may be desperately trying to unmute themselves.</li>\n</ul>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Advance","lifeExpectancy":"One year","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-04-08T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":273004},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-27T16:46:47+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-04-07T16:26:35+00:00","timestamp":"2022-04-07T18:01:04+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Business, Careers, & Money","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34224"},"slug":"business-careers-money","categoryId":34224},{"name":"Careers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34256"},"slug":"careers","categoryId":34256},{"name":"General (Careers)","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34272"},"slug":"general-careers","categoryId":34272}],"title":"Productivity For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"productivity for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"productivity-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Boost your productivity with some simple daily habits, a bit of positivity, and some well-reasoned planning.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Wouldn’t it be nice to boost your productivity and performance at work without having to put in extra hours or break your back in the meantime? Being effective at what you do takes a little bit of planning, some basic tools, and a lot of positivity.","description":"Wouldn’t it be nice to boost your productivity and performance at work without having to put in extra hours or break your back in the meantime? Being effective at what you do takes a little bit of planning, some basic tools, and a lot of positivity.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9021,"name":"Ciara Conlon","slug":"ciara-conlon","description":"Ciara Conlon is an author, speaker, and productive and leadership coach.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9021"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":34272,"title":"General (Careers)","slug":"general-careers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34272"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":139329,"title":"The Secrets of Productive Leaders","slug":"the-secrets-of-productive-leaders","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/139329"}},{"articleId":139330,"title":"How Music Can Help You Focus and Increase Productivity","slug":"how-music-can-help-you-focus-and-increase-productivity","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/139330"}},{"articleId":139321,"title":"5 Steps to Organise Your Workspace for Productivity","slug":"5-steps-to-organise-your-workspace-for-productivity","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/139321"}},{"articleId":139324,"title":"10 Top-Notch Productivity Apps","slug":"10-top-notch-productivity-apps","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/139324"}},{"articleId":139297,"title":"Boosting Performance at Work","slug":"boosting-performance-at-work","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/139297"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":273721,"title":"How to Manage Virtual Teams","slug":"how-to-manage-virtual-teams","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/273721"}},{"articleId":273709,"title":"How to Create a New Zoom Account","slug":"how-to-create-a-new-zoom-account","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/273709"}},{"articleId":273704,"title":"Text-Only Communication in the Virtual Workplace","slug":"text-only-communication-in-the-virtual-workplace","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/273704"}},{"articleId":273697,"title":"Working from Home: Setting Healthy Boundaries","slug":"working-from-home-setting-healthy-boundaries","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/273697"}},{"articleId":273692,"title":"How to Build a Connection Culture When Working from Home","slug":"how-to-build-a-connection-culture-when-working-from-home","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/273692"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":281596,"slug":"productivity-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119099529","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119099528/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119099528/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119099528-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119099528/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119099528/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/productivity-for-dummies-cover-9781119099529-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Productivity For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":"\n <p><b data-author-id=\"9021\">Ciara Conlon</b> is a productivity coach, keynote speaker and author. She helps organisations get better results by establishing space for more creativity and innovation. She helps people get better results by adopting effective habits and focusing on the right stuff at the right time. </p>","authors":[{"authorId":9021,"name":"Ciara Conlon","slug":"ciara-conlon","description":"Ciara Conlon is an author, speaker, and productive and leadership coach.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9021"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;business-careers-money&quot;,&quot;careers&quot;,&quot;general-careers&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119099529&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-624f26e054d5d\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;business-careers-money&quot;,&quot;careers&quot;,&quot;general-careers&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119099529&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-624f26e0555b9\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":139297,"title":"Boosting Performance at Work","slug":"boosting-performance-at-work","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/139297"}},{"articleId":139295,"title":"The Essential Kit for a Budding Productivity Geek","slug":"the-essential-kit-for-a-budding-productivity-geek","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/139295"}},{"articleId":139296,"title":"Daily Habits for Powerful Productivity","slug":"daily-habits-for-powerful-productivity","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/139296"}}],"content":[{"title":"Boosting performance at work","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>If you want to be productive and boost your performance at work, take a look at these three simple things below that you can focus on. Paying attention to these three areas will have a big impact on your effectiveness in the workplace</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Focus on the goals.</b> Many people at work have trouble with prioritization. But the solution is pretty simple: Be clear about your goals, and your priorities will be evident. Plan your day according to your goals. Ask yourself which tasks will get you closer to your goals, and focus on them. When you spend your day working on these tasks, you’ll know you’ve been productive.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Take control of your inbox. </b>Email can take over your day if you allow it to. Start your day in your calendar with what you have planned for the day, not with what others want you to do for them. Take control of your workday by planning your day in advance. After you’ve looked at your calendar, you can either start work straightaway or open your inbox to see whether you have any urgent requests that will take priority over what you’ve already scheduled.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Stay positive at all times.</b> Having all the techniques and tools in place to be productive will only go so far if you don’t have the right attitude. Having a positive, can-do attitude is the most significant contributor to enhancing performance. If you’re positive, no task is too difficult and no problem can’t be overcome. With a positive attitude, you’ll develop better and stronger relationships with your team. Positive attitudes breed more positive attitudes, and if you can create a pleasant work environment that is optimistic and empowered, there is little you can’t achieve.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"The essential kit for a budding productivity geek","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>If you’re serious about getting organized, you will need to invest in some basics tools for your productivity toolkit. Your productivity toolkit consists of all the things that you will use daily to keep your work space ordered, structured and clutter free.</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>A calendar:</b> Whether paper or electronic, you need a calendar to track your appointments and meetings and plan time for your work to do.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>A task management app: </b>A task management app is great for storing all your tasks to do. Choose an app that allows you to categorise your tasks into different projects.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>An in-tray:</b> Use your in-tray to put all your unprocessed work. Anything that you haven’t defined exactly what needs to be done with should go in the in-tray.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>A filing tray:</b> Use a filing tray(s) to separate paperwork that needs to be filed from actionable work.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Manila folders:</b> To keep your paperwork organized, you need a bunch of manila tabbed folders. Create a folder for each project.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>A labeller:</b> A labeller helps keep your files looking pretty and also makes them easy to find.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>A step file organizer:</b> A step file organizer is ideal for your work in progress. Use it to house your current files and paperwork on your desk. Add labelled manila folders, and you’ll always have the file you need at hand.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>A notebook:</b> You can’t beat pen and paper. Sometimes it’s best to pick up a pen and jot down your good ideas, your plans, or the things you don’t want to forget about.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Daily habits for powerful productivity","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>You may think that the daily habits for powerful productivity are all about scheduling and to-do lists. You may be surprised to know that some of the things that will have the biggest impact on your performance and productivity are the things you do outside the office!</p>\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Exercise:</b> Exercises gives you energy, improves your mood, and helps you to focus. There are so many benefits to exercise it’s a wonder TV was ever invented! If you introduce the habit of exercise to your daily life, you’ll get way more done.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Rising early:</b> The habit of rising early is a habit of most successful people. Rising early enables you to fit it all in. It’s a great time of the day to exercise, to write, or to meditate.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Meditation:</b> Meditation is no longer just for monks; it has become a widely accepted habit in the workplace. Many organizations have become aware of the many benefits of meditation and recommend it to their employees. Meditation provides a calmer mind, greater focus, and reduced stress.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Positivity:</b> Success begins with positivity. Having a positive attitude and a belief in yourself and your ideas are crucial for success. Believe in your ability to get things done and you will succeed. A positive attitude at work will improve your relationships and performance.</p>\n</li>\n<li>\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Scheduling:</b> What gets scheduled gets done. Planning your work in advance is a primary habit for productivity. It will help you beat procrastination and help you get it all done. Take some time each week to plan the week ahead. Schedule time for all the projects you need to get done.</p>\n</li>\n</ul>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Advance","lifeExpectancy":"Two years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-04-07T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":207417},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2019-08-26T18:15:32+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-04-05T18:46:50+00:00","timestamp":"2022-04-06T00:01:10+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Business, Careers, & Money","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34224"},"slug":"business-careers-money","categoryId":34224},{"name":"Careers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34256"},"slug":"careers","categoryId":34256},{"name":"Political Careers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34267"},"slug":"political-careers","categoryId":34267}],"title":"Running for Local Office For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"running for local office for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"running-for-local-office-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Learn what you need to start working on before you launch your run for any political office from this Dummies.com Cheat Sheet.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"You want to ensure that your run for office is successful. This Cheat Sheet provides some tips on campaigning, including preparing for a local political campaign by working on your name recognition, public reputation, and campaign finances. You also need to make sure that you have some important assets in place, like a campaign manager, volunteers, and voter lists.","description":"You want to ensure that your run for office is successful. This Cheat Sheet provides some tips on campaigning, including preparing for a local political campaign by working on your name recognition, public reputation, and campaign finances. You also need to make sure that you have some important assets in place, like a campaign manager, volunteers, and voter lists.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9003,"name":"Dan Gookin","slug":"dan-gookin","description":"Dan Gookin has been an author, editor, ghostwriter, and a public official. He's written more than a dozen Dummies books on technology, with a special focus on PCs, the Android operating system, and Microsoft products. And in 1991, he was the author of the very first Dummies book, DOS For Dummies, which started the whole enterprise.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9003"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":34267,"title":"Political Careers","slug":"political-careers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34267"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":264171,"title":"Negative Campaigning for Local Office","slug":"negative-campaigning-for-local-office","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","political-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/264171"}},{"articleId":264166,"title":"Yard Signs for Your Local Political Campaign","slug":"yard-signs-for-your-local-political-campaign","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","political-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/264166"}},{"articleId":264156,"title":"How to Build a Brand for Your Local Political Campaign","slug":"how-to-build-a-brand-for-your-local-political-campaign","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","political-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/264156"}},{"articleId":264017,"title":"Political Debates and Forums on the Local Level","slug":"political-debates-and-forums-on-the-local-level","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","political-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/264017"}},{"articleId":264012,"title":"Tips for Managing Campaign Finances","slug":"tips-for-managing-campaign-finances","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","political-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/264012"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":264171,"title":"Negative Campaigning for Local Office","slug":"negative-campaigning-for-local-office","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","political-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/264171"}},{"articleId":264166,"title":"Yard Signs for Your Local Political Campaign","slug":"yard-signs-for-your-local-political-campaign","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","political-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/264166"}},{"articleId":264156,"title":"How to Build a Brand for Your Local Political Campaign","slug":"how-to-build-a-brand-for-your-local-political-campaign","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","political-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/264156"}},{"articleId":264017,"title":"Political Debates and Forums on the Local Level","slug":"political-debates-and-forums-on-the-local-level","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","political-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/264017"}},{"articleId":264012,"title":"Tips for Managing Campaign Finances","slug":"tips-for-managing-campaign-finances","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","political-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/264012"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282551,"slug":"running-for-local-office-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119588177","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","political-careers"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119588170/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119588170/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119588170-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119588170/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119588170/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/running-for-local-office-for-dummies-cover-9781119588177-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Running For Local Office For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"\n <p><b data-author-id=\"9003\">Dan Gookin</b> has been an author, editor, ghostwriter, and a public official. He's written more than a dozen Dummies books on technology, with a special focus on PCs, the Android operating system, and Microsoft products. And in 1991, he was the author of the very first Dummies book, DOS For Dummies, which started the whole enterprise.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":9003,"name":"Dan Gookin","slug":"dan-gookin","description":"Dan Gookin has been an author, editor, ghostwriter, and a public official. He's written more than a dozen Dummies books on technology, with a special focus on PCs, the Android operating system, and Microsoft products. And in 1991, he was the author of the very first Dummies book, DOS For Dummies, which started the whole enterprise.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9003"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;business-careers-money&quot;,&quot;careers&quot;,&quot;political-careers&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119588177&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-624cd8467a3e2\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;business-careers-money&quot;,&quot;careers&quot;,&quot;political-careers&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119588177&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-624cd8467a95d\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":263528,"title":"How to Prepare for a Run for Office","slug":"","categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/263528"}},{"articleId":263523,"title":"Important Campaigning Assets","slug":"","categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/263523"}},{"articleId":263519,"title":"How to Prepare Voter Lists","slug":"","categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/263519"}}],"content":[{"title":"How to prepare to run for office","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>To get ready for your run at public office, ensure that you have some important items well before you file the paperwork and officially start your local political campaign. To best achieve your goal, start working on these items months, if not years, in advance.</p>\n<div class=\"figure-container\"><figure id=\"attachment_263529\" aria-labelledby=\"figcaption_attachment_263529\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"width: 545px\"><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-263529 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/running-for-office.jpg\" alt=\"campaign button\" width=\"535\" height=\"535\" /><figcaption id=\"figcaption_attachment_263529\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">©By iQoncept/Shutterstock.com</figcaption></figure></div><div class=\"clearfix\"></div>\n<h3>Name recognition</h3>\n<p>The most important part of a political campaign is name recognition. The candidate’s name appears on flyers and yard signs and all campaign material. Connecting with the voter is key, and name recognition is the driver that gets voters to check your box come election day.</p>\n<ul>\n<li>Work on establishing your name recognition well before you start your run for office. Get your name in the paper, show up to meetings to let your voice be heard, volunteer, and put in the effort to get your name out there.</li>\n<li>People vote for names they know.</li>\n<li>Name recognition also runs in the other direction: You must know the names of key players in town. After all, it’s your desire to become one of them.</li>\n</ul>\n<h3>Public reputation</h3>\n<p>Along with your name comes your reputation as a public figure. You want people to not only recognize your name but also associate it with positive characteristics — or at least ones they can admire. Your desire is for people to hear your name and recall the things you’ve done for the community and the efforts you’ve made to make things better.</p>\n<ul>\n<li>Volunteer your time and effort at service organizations and nonprofits. Prove to be a capable worker. Your actions not only help build your public reputation but also assure the public that you’ll have the same attitude in public office.</li>\n<li>You need not sacrifice your integrity to build a public reputation. Communities have their cheerleaders, but you can also establish a reputation by publicly opposing a corrupt, entrenched status quo. The key is to remain positive, offer solutions, and stand your ground.</li>\n</ul>\n<h3>Government research</h3>\n<p>Some people run for public office on a lark. Successful candidates, however, know the position well. They’ve researched the political division where they seek office. They know the staff and other key people. They’ve studied the issues. When asked, they share a knowledge of the organization beyond the superficial.</p>\n<ul>\n<li>Start your government research early. Attend meetings. Review agendas and minutes.</li>\n<li>Know who’s who within the organization. Be able to identify key staff members and understand their roles.</li>\n</ul>\n<h3>Campaign finances</h3>\n<p>Money is the grease the turns the wheels of politics. Your successful campaign for office needs funding. For a large district with high voter turnout, raising money is a priority. Your funding goal is to help boost your name recognition and get out your message. You want the public to know who you are and to be happy to cast their vote in your favor.</p>\n<ul>\n<li>Invest only a modicum of self-funding for your campaign, seed money, or quick loan (which you don’t expect to be paid back). Avoid fully self-funding your campaign: Only by obtaining contributions from individuals and organizations can you show wide support.</li>\n<li>The candidate (that’s you) is responsible for fundraising efforts. You must make the calls. You must ask for money.</li>\n<li>People donate money because you ask.</li>\n<li>Start your fundraising efforts as early as possible. Keep in mind that many states require you to file some sort of declaration before you can <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/education/politics-government/what-are-the-limits-on-contributions-to-political-campaigns/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">legally raise money for a political campaign</a>.</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Important campaigning assets","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>A campaign asset is something you need to help you make a successful run for office. Believe it or not, money isn’t the only — nor is it the most important — asset.</p>\n<p>Here are some important campaign assets:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Volunteers:</strong> Count among these people your close friends, advisors, and gurus and the hordes of people who you know are willing to support your run for office. Volunteers are more valuable than money. They can help you make a literature drop, stuff envelopes, attend functions, call voters, and so on.</li>\n<li><strong>Campaign manager:</strong> This person acts as your campaign advisor. A good manager knows how to run a campaign, track important looming deadlines, prioritize your time, and offer insight into what’s a good move and how to stay ahead in the game. A good manager also knows how when to spend money and what to spend it on.</li>\n<li><strong>Marketing person:</strong> A good marketing person knows design and can help you create a brand to help sell your name and ideas. Marketing people have connections with printers and bulk mailers and can get special rates that are lower than what you’d find on your own.</li>\n<li><strong>Your message:</strong> To best communicate your intentions with the voter, you need a solid message. It says who you are and what you plan on doing in office. A marketing person can help you hone your message, making it precise, and bundle it as part of your campaign brand.</li>\n<li><strong>Voter lists:</strong> From the election authority, obtain a list of voters specific to the district in which you’re running. Ensure that the list has a voter history so that you can separate frequent voters (those who vote in every election) from those who seldom or never vote. Craft voter lists for walking door-to-door, sending out mailings, and contacting absentee voters.</li>\n<li><strong>Time:</strong> Be prepared for your campaign to consume your time from the end of the candidate filing period up to election day. It’s your full-time job. You must devote yourself to the campaign. Don’t try to take a break. Don’t make excuses for missing an event. If you’re serious about becoming an elected official, you must make the time.</li>\n<li><strong>Money:</strong> Campaign funding is indeed an asset. Its primary purpose for a local race is to help get out your message. You spend money to communicate with potential voters. The more money you raise, the more communications can take place.</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"How to prepare voter lists","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>You can’t connect with voters when campaigning if you don’t know who they are. Further, you don’t want to contact everyone living in the district, because many people aren’t registered to vote and even those who are don’t always vote.</p>\n<p>To create the best voter lists possible, contact the election authority for your district. Obtain from them a list of registered voters. Ask that the list include only voters for your specific district. You also want a history for each voter so that the data shows in which elections they participated. If possible, get the list in Excel format. The election authority may charge you for this request, though often the information is available for free or even online.</p>\n<p>After you obtain the list, your job is to massage it or to have one of your campaign volunteers who is adept at using Excel work the magic for you. Here are my recommended steps:</p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong> Ensure that you work on a backup copy of the list.<br />\n</strong>Keep the original file untouched. You may need this file if you work with a direct mail outfit. They prefer to use the original, which their software can manipulate efficiently.</li>\n<li><strong> Purge the list.<br />\n</strong>From the list of all registered voters in your district, remove anyone who hasn’t voted in the past few elections. Further, remove your opponents from the list as well as any of their known supporters. You need not contact those people, so off the list they go.</li>\n<li><strong> Create a custom list for frequent voters, a chronic-voter list.<br />\n</strong>From the list, prioritize those voters who show up for all elections. These are your <em>chronic</em> voters — people who will cast a ballot in your election and with whom you must connect.<br />\nAlso retain those who voted in the district’s last election or any special elections held by the district.</li>\n<li><strong> Create a list of those who vote early.<br />\n</strong>If the voter list shows those who prefer to vote absentee or by mail, pull out those people’s names and create a special list for them. These are the people you must contact first. Prepare a special mailing for them so that they know about your campaign before they receive their early ballots.</li>\n<li><strong> Create custom lists for specific areas.<br />\n</strong>If your district has wards or precincts that have specific issues, pull out those voters to create a custom list. You can send targeted mailings to those voters, informing them how you can help after you win the election.</li>\n<li><strong> Create walking lists.<br />\n</strong>The voter database is designed for mailing, but you can work some Excel magic to create walking lists. Your goal is to knock on doors behind which you find an active voter.<br />\nOrganize the walking list by neighborhood. Sort it by street. Your desire is to have a list you can use to effectively walk the area, one you use yourself or can hand to volunteers to help canvas voters.</li>\n</ol>\n<p>Voter lists are an important campaign asset. They help you effectively run your campaign by connecting with active voters. And if you have the funding, you can widen the list to include infrequent voters. The goal is to make the connection without wasting your campaign funding.</p>\n<p class=\"article-tips remember\">Voter lists are temporary. If you run again, you must create new lists. Old voter lists have no value.</p>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Advance","lifeExpectancy":"Two years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-04-05T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":263532},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T07:41:29+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-03-30T19:43:04+00:00","timestamp":"2022-03-31T00:01:05+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Business, Careers, & Money","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34224"},"slug":"business-careers-money","categoryId":34224},{"name":"Careers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34256"},"slug":"careers","categoryId":34256},{"name":"Real Estate Careers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34268"},"slug":"real-estate-careers","categoryId":34268},{"name":"Flipping Houses","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34269"},"slug":"flipping-houses","categoryId":34269}],"title":"Flipping Homes: 11 Ways to Cut Renovation Costs","strippedTitle":"flipping homes: 11 ways to cut renovation costs","slug":"flipping-homes-11-ways-to-cut-renovation-costs","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Flipping homes can get expensive! Check out some ways to cut costs, including buying overstocked material or scheduling work off-season.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"When renovating a property that you intend to flip, don't get carried away. Some home flippers hire top-of-the-scale contractors and insist on the highest-quality building materials from the nearest suppliers. To help you avoid that trap, here are 11 secrets that can slash your cash outlays and boost your bottom line.\r\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width: 500px;\">\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"500\"]<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/479673.image0.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" /> © iStockphoto.com/brett_land[/caption]\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Get free advice and planning tools.</b> You don't have to hire a professional interior designer to draw up plans for remodeling a kitchen or bathroom. Most home-improvement stores have their own designers on staff to assist you. If you purchase the materials from the store, the store frequently throws in the design consultation for free. And who can say no to free?</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para Tip\">You can often find additional planning tools and calculators online. Large home-improvement stores and manufacturers typically feature cost estimators, material lists, and installation instructions and tips on their websites. For some excellent online resources for planning your projects, check out <a href=\"http://www.lowes.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lowe's</a>, <a href=\"http://www.homedepot.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Home Depot</a>, and <a href=\"http://www.bobvila.com/DesignTools/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bob Vila Design Tools</a>.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Hire moonlighters.</b> Large construction companies often have large overhead costs, so they have to charge more for their work. A roofing company, for example, needs to purchase and maintain its trucks, pay rent on office space, and cover payroll expenses and insurance for its workers. To earn an extra buck on the side, the employees of many of these companies <i>moonlight,</i> which means they provide the same high-quality service on the side for a fraction of the cost.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">You can often locate prospective moonlighters by visiting worksites in your neighborhood. Ask to see the boss, and if he's not around, pitch your proposal to the workers. If the boss is around, you can ask him for an estimate without blowing your cover.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para Warning\">Hiring moonlighters is a great idea, but make sure they have health insurance with accident coverage. If your workers don't have proper insurance and one of them gets hurt working on your house, your cost savings could quickly be sapped away by losses. If the moonlighters don't have insurance, buy an insurance policy that includes accident coverage for workers.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Hire students over the summer.</b> When school's out, college and high-school students flock to area businesses to secure summer employment, and they're often turned away because so many people are looking for jobs. That's where you come in. Post an ad in the local newspaper or contact high schools and colleges in your area to let them know you're looking for summer laborers.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Students are eager and well-qualified to perform the following renovation chores:</p>\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"level-two\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Mowing, weeding, trimming bushes and trees, and planting flowers</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Patching and sealing driveways and walks</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">De-cluttering garages, basements, and attics</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Vacuuming, window washing, and other cleaning</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Demolishing old storage sheds</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Tearing out old carpeting</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Patching and painting inside and out</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Refinishing decks</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Buy overstocked or discontinued building materials.</b> When you wander the aisles at your local hardware or building-supply store, find what you want and then ask about any overstocked or discontinued materials that are similar in appearance. Talk to the manager, who most likely wants to clear the old, overstocked items from inventory to make room for the new merchandise that's in greater demand. You can often purchase overstocked or discontinued merchandise for a fraction of the cost.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Buy builder's-grade materials.</b> When shopping for building materials, ask the salesperson to direct you to the builder's-grade materials — the more affordable options, such as prefab cabinets and low-grade carpeting. If installed and maintained properly, these materials are perfectly suitable for most markets. If you're flipping on the ritzy side of town, however, you may need to buy the good stuff.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para Tip\">Gauge your selection of materials by the visibility and importance of the rooms. Consider using higher-quality materials for the kitchen, main bathroom, and master bedroom and a lesser quality for the other bedrooms and the second and third bathrooms.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Use remnant material to trim your costs.</b> Carpeting stores, countertop manufacturers, and other suppliers often have remnants in the back that may be sufficient for completing small jobs. Picky customers often return items that have tiny scratches or dents as well as materials that they cut a little too short. These gently used materials may be just what you need, and you can pick them up for pennies on the dollar.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Buy time-saving power tools.</b> When you hire a contractor, you indirectly pay for the tools that make the job much easier. When you rent a tool, you have to return it. When you buy your own tools, however, you have them for as long as they work, and you can spread the cost over several flips. If you're a do-it-yourselfer, buy the tools that make it easier for you to do a professional job.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">In addition to the standard hammers, pliers, wrenches, screwdrivers, tape measures, paint scrapers, and paintbrushes, almost every house flipper can simplify do-it-yourself jobs with the following power tools:</p>\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"level-two\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Heat gun</b> for stripping wallpaper and paint</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Power washer</b> to clean everything from decks to siding</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Power roller</b> for painting inside walls and ceilings</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Cordless drill</b> with a well-stocked drill-bit case</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Screw gun</b> with Phillips and flat-head screw bits</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Circular saw</b> for decks and other woodworking projects</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Reciprocating saw</b> for cutting anything you can't cut with a circular saw</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Nail gun</b> for quick and easy single-handed nail driving</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Vibrating sander,</b> or belt sander, for sanding out scratches and gouges in wood surfaces</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Charge purchases on a rewards-back credit card.</b> Credit-card companies offer some pretty sweet deals to reward customers for using their cards, and as long as you pay the balance in full when you receive the bill, you're not socked with high interest charges. If your building supplier offers its own credit card, you may get a discount on all purchases. If not, shop around for other cards. Companies offer everything from cash-back deals to frequent-flyer miles, free merchandise, free groceries, 0 percent interest for a specific period of time, and other attractive benefits. Take full advantage of these perks.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Schedule work off-season. </b>During the off-season, larger companies have to keep their employees busy in order to pay them and finance their benefits. Use this as a bargaining chip when negotiating the cost of repairs and renovations. However, don't delay a project that needs to be done just to save a few bucks — holding costs (the cost of maintaining a flip) can outstrip any savings.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para Tip\">You reap two additional benefits by scheduling work off-season. The contractor is more likely to complete the job on schedule and is generally more responsive when you need her services in season.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Pool your projects.</b> Most skilled laborers charge a minimum for just showing up. You pay for their time and travel expenses no matter how small the job. To save money, pool your projects. You can draw up a list of projects for the plumber, a list for the carpenter, and another list for the electrician. Have them complete all the projects in one trip. Better yet, if you have several houses going at one time, ask the contractor whether she'll consider giving you a discount if you guarantee that she can work on all your properties. Talk with your neighbors. If they're having the same work done on their homes, you may be able to negotiate a better price for multiple jobs.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Rent a large Dumpster (a.k.a. skip) for all the tear-out and construction debris so all your contractors have one place to dump rubbish from your flip.</b> By supplying the Dumpster, you can tell your contractors to remove the cost of waste removal from their estimates.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>","description":"When renovating a property that you intend to flip, don't get carried away. Some home flippers hire top-of-the-scale contractors and insist on the highest-quality building materials from the nearest suppliers. To help you avoid that trap, here are 11 secrets that can slash your cash outlays and boost your bottom line.\r\n<div class=\"imageBlock\" style=\"width: 500px;\">\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"500\"]<img src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/479673.image0.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"332\" /> © iStockphoto.com/brett_land[/caption]\r\n\r\n</div>\r\n<ul class=\"level-one\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Get free advice and planning tools.</b> You don't have to hire a professional interior designer to draw up plans for remodeling a kitchen or bathroom. Most home-improvement stores have their own designers on staff to assist you. If you purchase the materials from the store, the store frequently throws in the design consultation for free. And who can say no to free?</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para Tip\">You can often find additional planning tools and calculators online. Large home-improvement stores and manufacturers typically feature cost estimators, material lists, and installation instructions and tips on their websites. For some excellent online resources for planning your projects, check out <a href=\"http://www.lowes.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lowe's</a>, <a href=\"http://www.homedepot.com/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Home Depot</a>, and <a href=\"http://www.bobvila.com/DesignTools/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bob Vila Design Tools</a>.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Hire moonlighters.</b> Large construction companies often have large overhead costs, so they have to charge more for their work. A roofing company, for example, needs to purchase and maintain its trucks, pay rent on office space, and cover payroll expenses and insurance for its workers. To earn an extra buck on the side, the employees of many of these companies <i>moonlight,</i> which means they provide the same high-quality service on the side for a fraction of the cost.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">You can often locate prospective moonlighters by visiting worksites in your neighborhood. Ask to see the boss, and if he's not around, pitch your proposal to the workers. If the boss is around, you can ask him for an estimate without blowing your cover.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para Warning\">Hiring moonlighters is a great idea, but make sure they have health insurance with accident coverage. If your workers don't have proper insurance and one of them gets hurt working on your house, your cost savings could quickly be sapped away by losses. If the moonlighters don't have insurance, buy an insurance policy that includes accident coverage for workers.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Hire students over the summer.</b> When school's out, college and high-school students flock to area businesses to secure summer employment, and they're often turned away because so many people are looking for jobs. That's where you come in. Post an ad in the local newspaper or contact high schools and colleges in your area to let them know you're looking for summer laborers.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">Students are eager and well-qualified to perform the following renovation chores:</p>\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"level-two\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Mowing, weeding, trimming bushes and trees, and planting flowers</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Patching and sealing driveways and walks</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">De-cluttering garages, basements, and attics</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Vacuuming, window washing, and other cleaning</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Demolishing old storage sheds</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Tearing out old carpeting</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Patching and painting inside and out</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\">Refinishing decks</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Buy overstocked or discontinued building materials.</b> When you wander the aisles at your local hardware or building-supply store, find what you want and then ask about any overstocked or discontinued materials that are similar in appearance. Talk to the manager, who most likely wants to clear the old, overstocked items from inventory to make room for the new merchandise that's in greater demand. You can often purchase overstocked or discontinued merchandise for a fraction of the cost.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Buy builder's-grade materials.</b> When shopping for building materials, ask the salesperson to direct you to the builder's-grade materials — the more affordable options, such as prefab cabinets and low-grade carpeting. If installed and maintained properly, these materials are perfectly suitable for most markets. If you're flipping on the ritzy side of town, however, you may need to buy the good stuff.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para Tip\">Gauge your selection of materials by the visibility and importance of the rooms. Consider using higher-quality materials for the kitchen, main bathroom, and master bedroom and a lesser quality for the other bedrooms and the second and third bathrooms.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Use remnant material to trim your costs.</b> Carpeting stores, countertop manufacturers, and other suppliers often have remnants in the back that may be sufficient for completing small jobs. Picky customers often return items that have tiny scratches or dents as well as materials that they cut a little too short. These gently used materials may be just what you need, and you can pick them up for pennies on the dollar.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Buy time-saving power tools.</b> When you hire a contractor, you indirectly pay for the tools that make the job much easier. When you rent a tool, you have to return it. When you buy your own tools, however, you have them for as long as they work, and you can spread the cost over several flips. If you're a do-it-yourselfer, buy the tools that make it easier for you to do a professional job.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para\">In addition to the standard hammers, pliers, wrenches, screwdrivers, tape measures, paint scrapers, and paintbrushes, almost every house flipper can simplify do-it-yourself jobs with the following power tools:</p>\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"level-two\">\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Heat gun</b> for stripping wallpaper and paint</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Power washer</b> to clean everything from decks to siding</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Power roller</b> for painting inside walls and ceilings</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Cordless drill</b> with a well-stocked drill-bit case</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Screw gun</b> with Phillips and flat-head screw bits</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Circular saw</b> for decks and other woodworking projects</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Reciprocating saw</b> for cutting anything you can't cut with a circular saw</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Nail gun</b> for quick and easy single-handed nail driving</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Vibrating sander,</b> or belt sander, for sanding out scratches and gouges in wood surfaces</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Charge purchases on a rewards-back credit card.</b> Credit-card companies offer some pretty sweet deals to reward customers for using their cards, and as long as you pay the balance in full when you receive the bill, you're not socked with high interest charges. If your building supplier offers its own credit card, you may get a discount on all purchases. If not, shop around for other cards. Companies offer everything from cash-back deals to frequent-flyer miles, free merchandise, free groceries, 0 percent interest for a specific period of time, and other attractive benefits. Take full advantage of these perks.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Schedule work off-season. </b>During the off-season, larger companies have to keep their employees busy in order to pay them and finance their benefits. Use this as a bargaining chip when negotiating the cost of repairs and renovations. However, don't delay a project that needs to be done just to save a few bucks — holding costs (the cost of maintaining a flip) can outstrip any savings.</p>\r\n<p class=\"child-para Tip\">You reap two additional benefits by scheduling work off-season. The contractor is more likely to complete the job on schedule and is generally more responsive when you need her services in season.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Pool your projects.</b> Most skilled laborers charge a minimum for just showing up. You pay for their time and travel expenses no matter how small the job. To save money, pool your projects. You can draw up a list of projects for the plumber, a list for the carpenter, and another list for the electrician. Have them complete all the projects in one trip. Better yet, if you have several houses going at one time, ask the contractor whether she'll consider giving you a discount if you guarantee that she can work on all your properties. Talk with your neighbors. If they're having the same work done on their homes, you may be able to negotiate a better price for multiple jobs.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n \t<li>\r\n<p class=\"first-para\"><b>Rent a large Dumpster (a.k.a. skip) for all the tear-out and construction debris so all your contractors have one place to dump rubbish from your flip.</b> By supplying the Dumpster, you can tell your contractors to remove the cost of waste removal from their estimates.</p>\r\n</li>\r\n</ul>","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9133,"name":"Ralph R. Roberts","slug":"ralph-r-roberts","description":"Ralph R. Roberts is a master at flipping houses, earning a profit even in the deeply depressed real estate market in Metro Detroit, Michigan. He is the award-winning author of several books, including Foreclosure Investing For Dummies.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9133"}},{"authorId":8993,"name":"Joseph Kraynak","slug":"joseph-kraynak","description":"Joseph Kraynak is a writer who's contributed to several Dummies books, including Flipping Houses For Dummies, Oceans For Dummies, and Selling on Amazon For Dummies.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/8993"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":34269,"title":"Flipping Houses","slug":"flipping-houses","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34269"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":255157,"title":"How to Read a Property Listing with Flipping in Mind","slug":"how-to-read-a-property-listing-with-flipping-in-mind","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","real-estate-careers","flipping-houses"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/255157"}},{"articleId":253699,"title":"10 House Flipping Blunders","slug":"10-house-flipping-blunders","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","real-estate-careers","flipping-houses"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/253699"}},{"articleId":235550,"title":"Doing a Quick House Flip","slug":"quick-house-flip","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","real-estate-careers","flipping-houses"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/235550"}},{"articleId":235545,"title":"Deciding How Much to Pay for a House to Flip","slug":"deciding-much-pay-house-flip","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","real-estate-careers","flipping-houses"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/235545"}},{"articleId":235542,"title":"Finding Houses to Flip","slug":"finding-houses-flip","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","real-estate-careers","flipping-houses"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/235542"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":255157,"title":"How to Read a Property Listing with Flipping in Mind","slug":"how-to-read-a-property-listing-with-flipping-in-mind","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","real-estate-careers","flipping-houses"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/255157"}},{"articleId":253699,"title":"10 House Flipping Blunders","slug":"10-house-flipping-blunders","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","real-estate-careers","flipping-houses"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/253699"}},{"articleId":235550,"title":"Doing a Quick House Flip","slug":"quick-house-flip","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","real-estate-careers","flipping-houses"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/235550"}},{"articleId":235545,"title":"Deciding How Much to Pay for a House to Flip","slug":"deciding-much-pay-house-flip","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","real-estate-careers","flipping-houses"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/235545"}},{"articleId":235542,"title":"Finding Houses to Flip","slug":"finding-houses-flip","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","real-estate-careers","flipping-houses"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/235542"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282203,"slug":"flipping-houses-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119861010","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","real-estate-careers","flipping-houses"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119861012/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119861012/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119861012-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119861012/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119861012/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/flipping-houses-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Flipping Houses For Dummies, 4th Edition","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"\n <p><b data-author-id=\"9133\">Ralph R. Roberts</b> is a master at flipping houses, earning a profit even in the deeply depressed real estate market in Metro Detroit, Michigan. He is the award-winning author of several books, including Foreclosure Investing For Dummies. <b data-author-id=\"8993\">Joseph Kraynak</b> is a writer who's contributed to several Dummies books, including Flipping Houses For Dummies, Oceans For Dummies, and Selling on Amazon For Dummies.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":9133,"name":"Ralph R. Roberts","slug":"ralph-r-roberts","description":"Ralph R. Roberts is a master at flipping houses, earning a profit even in the deeply depressed real estate market in Metro Detroit, Michigan. 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Read up on info on how to find suitable houses, financing, and how to make a profit.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"\"Flipping houses\" sounds as easy as 1-2-3: 1) Buy a house significantly below market value, 2) fix it up, and 3) sell it. However, when you actually try to flip a house, you soon realize that it's tougher than it sounds. The beginner faces several hurdles, not the least of which is tracking down properties with potential and buying them for cheap.\r\n\r\nThis Cheat Sheet brings you up to speed in a hurry on house flipping basics and helps you clear the most common hurdles.","description":"\"Flipping houses\" sounds as easy as 1-2-3: 1) Buy a house significantly below market value, 2) fix it up, and 3) sell it. However, when you actually try to flip a house, you soon realize that it's tougher than it sounds. 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Roberts</b> is a master at flipping houses, earning a profit even in the deeply depressed real estate market in Metro Detroit, Michigan. He is the award-winning author of several books, including Foreclosure Investing For Dummies. <b data-author-id=\"8993\">Joseph Kraynak</b> is a writer who's contributed to several Dummies books, including Flipping Houses For Dummies, Oceans For Dummies, and Selling on Amazon For Dummies.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":9133,"name":"Ralph R. Roberts","slug":"ralph-r-roberts","description":"Ralph R. Roberts is a master at flipping houses, earning a profit even in the deeply depressed real estate market in Metro Detroit, Michigan. 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The goal is to find a property you know you can sell for significantly more than it costs you to buy it, fix it up, and sell it. Here’s how you achieve that goal:</p>\n<ol>\n<li>Estimate the market value of the property after it’s all fixed up. Estimates are typically based on the market value of comparable properties in the same area that have sold recently, the asking prices of comparable homes currently listed in the area, and the direction the market is headed — whether property values are increasing or decreasing and how fast.</li>\n<li>Subtract your total estimated costs, which will probably include\n<ol>\n<li>Purchase price</li>\n<li>Cost of repairs and renovations</li>\n<li>Any back taxes due on the property</li>\n<li>Holding costs (property taxes, utilities, insurance, interest payments, homeowner association fees, and so on for the time you expect it will take to buy, fix, and sell the house)</li>\n<li>Any agent commissions and closing costs when selling the house</li>\n</ol>\n</li>\n<li>Decide whether your projected profit is worth it to you. Is it worth the time, effort, and risk?</li>\n</ol>\n<p class=\"article-tips tip\">Generally, when you’re first getting started, aim to earn at least a 20 percent profit after subtracting all costs. A 20 percent projected profit gives you a good buffer to protect against unexpected costs.</p>\n"},{"title":"Financing your flips","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Where do you find the money to finance your flips? Here are a few sources to consider:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>Your own savings</li>\n<li>Home equity loan or line of credit (on your current home)</li>\n<li>Bank loan (you’ll need cash for a down payment)</li>\n<li>Personal loans (from friends or family members)</li>\n<li>Government loan (if you’re buying from a government program)</li>\n<li>Hard money loans (from investors)</li>\n</ul>\n<p>Whenever possible, use other people’s money (OPM) and put up the investment property as collateral to secure the loan. This approach gives you more leverage to invest in properties you otherwise couldn’t afford, and it helps to shield your assets (such as the home you live in and your retirement savings) from loss.</p>\n<p class=\"article-tips tip\">After you purchase a property, you may be able to finance the repairs and renovations by refinancing to pull the equity out of the property.</p>\n"},{"title":"Start with a relatively easy project","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>When you’re just getting started, it&#8217;s best to pick an easy property to flip — a great house that’s cosmetically challenged. Then, make the following improvements (also referred to as <em>white-boxing</em>):</p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fix or replace whatever’s broken</li>\n<li>Clean everything thoroughly</li>\n<li>Repaint the interior walls, all white</li>\n<li>Install new wall-to-wall carpeting where it makes sense to carpet</li>\n<li>Replace all light switch and outlet covers</li>\n<li>Replace all register covers if they look worn</li>\n<li>Spruce up the landscaping</li>\n</ul>\n<p>The idea is to freshen up the house to give it a nice, clean, manicured appearance. You want the house to be in “move-in condition” and up to market standards.</p>\n<p class=\"article-tips warning\">Don’t waste money over-improving a property — a common mistake. Invest only enough money to bring the property up to market standards. Investing $100,000 in a property where homes sell for $150,000 won’t make that property worth any more than $150,000. Homebuyers who are in the market for a half-million-dollar home will shop in areas where homes are selling for a half million dollars or more.</p>\n"},{"title":"How to read a property listing with flipping in mind","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>A property listing typically contains a ton of details, all of which can be very helpful in your search for a flippable house. Some of these details, however, are more useful than others. Focus your search on the following golden nuggets:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>List price:</strong> Limit your search to listings of only those homes in your price range. Examine the list price and compare it to that of other comparable houses in the same area. An inordinately low price can signal a buying opportunity, or it can raise a red flag, making you (and others) wonder, “What’s wrong with this one?” As a house flipper, these are the properties you’re looking for.</li>\n<li><strong>List date or time on the market:</strong> How long has the home been on the market? You typically find your best opportunities in homes that have recently been listed (in the past couple of days) or in homes that have been on the market for a couple of months. A home that’s not selling may be overpriced for the current market.</li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"article-tips remember\">In many cases, the longer the seller holds out, the harder the home is to sell, and the more desperate the seller becomes. This cycle can signal a buying opportunity now or in the near future. Your agent can tell you the average time a home is on the market in any given neighborhood so you can properly gauge what’s considered “a long time.”</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Remarks:</strong> Near the bottom of every multiple listing service (MLS) listing is a Remarks or Property Description section that offers additional bits of information. Look for key terms, such as “sold as is,” “handyman’s special,” “in need of a little TLC,” or “needs work.” These phrases translate to “You’ll get the house for less because the current owner doesn’t want to clean, paint, or re-carpet.”\n<p>Agents may also be able to download the seller’s residential disclosure, which contains additional details on what works and what doesn’t, whether the property has ever had biological contaminates (such as mold), how old the roof is, and so forth.</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"10 common house-flipping blunders","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Many eager, ill-informed investors become overenthusiastic about the big picture and lose sight of the critical details that can make or break a deal. They pay too much for a property, underestimate the cost of repairs and renovations, fail to inspect a property or research the title, or enter into contracts they don’t fully understand.</p>\n<p>Check out these ten common house-flipping blunders to help you avoid costly mistakes and maximize your profits from the start.</p>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc91687160\"></a>Falling for a scam</h3>\n<p>Money attracts entrepreneurs, but it also attracts thieves. When you flip a house, you stand to earn tens of thousands of dollars on a single transaction. But being successful requires determination, diligence, and hard work ― don’t let anyone convince you otherwise. Don’t be a sucker. Be on guard for the following threats:</p>\n<ul>\n<li>Get-rich-quick schemes, cash-back-at-closing schemes, no-money-down deals, and anything else that sounds too good to be true</li>\n<li>Partnerships, especially those that require you to take on all the risk, supply most of the money, or do most of the work</li>\n<li>Anyone who offers to “take care of everything for you”</li>\n</ul>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc91687161\"></a>Speculating on the housing market</h3>\n<p>Like the stock market, the housing market has its ups and downs. In a hot market, investors often become infected with irrational exuberance — the belief that current appreciation rates are an accurate representation of future rates. They overpay for properties, expecting them to appreciate, and when the market flattens or takes a dive, they’re stuck with a property they need to sell at a price no buyer is willing to pay.</p>\n<p>Don’t bank on double-digit increases in housing values, and be prepared with a Plan B, such as holding a property and leasing it out to tenants until the market recovers.</p>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc91687162\"></a>Waffling on an obviously good deal</h3>\n<p>Some investors experience <em>paralysis by analysis:</em> They overanalyze a great deal and can even talk themselves out of it, or else they waffle until another investor shows interest — and then it’s often too late.</p>\n<p>When you see a good deal, act quickly. You don’t necessarily need to buy the property right away, but by making an offer on the property, you can tie it up for several days so that you can research the title and inspect the property.</p>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc91687163\"></a>Backing yourself into a contractual corner</h3>\n<p>Rarely do people hand you contracts to sign that protect <em>your</em> rights or interests. Instead, they hand you contracts that protect <em>their</em> rights and interests. Before you sign a contract or purchase agreement, read it carefully and make sure that it has a <em>weasel clause</em> — a legal back door through which you can make a graceful exit.</p>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc91687164\"></a>Failing to inspect the property before closing on it</h3>\n<p>Don’t rely on the seller’s claims and disclosures. The real estate community has a saying: “Buyers are liars, and sellers are worse, and sellers by owner eat their young.” Have the house inspected.</p>\n<p>A city inspection is best because it provides you with an inspection team consisting of a professional plumber, an electrician, a heating and air-conditioning specialist, and a builder (for structural features). In some areas, however, city inspections are unavailable or are performed only on new construction; if that’s the case, have a trusted contractor inspect the property with you.</p>\n<p>If you’re buying a house at a foreclosure sale, obtaining a thorough home inspection before handing over the cash may not be an option, but you should inspect the home yourself as thoroughly as possible. Drive by the house, inspect the outside, and do what you can to get inside to take a look around. The less you know about a property, the higher you should set your margin to cover unexpected costs.</p>\n<p class=\"article-tips tip\">Complete a final walk-through a half-hour before closing to make sure the house is still in the same condition as when you last saw it and that whatever you’re expecting to be included in the sale is still on the property. I’ve walked through homes before closing to discover that the seller took all the appliances when those items were supposed to remain in the house. Work to resolve any issues before you close — you have no recourse after that.</p>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc91687165\"></a>Assuming that the title is clear</h3>\n<p>Anyone can sell a property. Even people who don’t own a property can sell it. Some con artists wait until the owner takes an extended vacation. They move into the house, pose as the owner, print out a fake title, and sell it to an eager but clueless buyer. Sometimes, they sell the house to several buyers!</p>\n<p>Another possibility is that a homeowner may try to sell you a house without telling you that the property has multiple liens against it. Unless you research the title and have the title company perform a title search, you can’t be sure the title is clear or even valid or that the person selling the house legally owns it. And, if you’re not 100 percent certain, don’t buy the property.</p>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc91687166\"></a>Underestimating the cost of repairs and renovations</h3>\n<p>Beginning investors often experience sticker shock when they hire contractors to perform repairs and renovations. Just make sure you have your sticker shock <em>before</em> you buy a property, not after you own it — when it’s too late to do anything about it.</p>\n<p>For necessary repairs and renovations, you should have an accurate estimate of all costs before you buy a property. You can jot down notes while you’re inspecting it and then consult repair and renovation services to obtain estimates.</p>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc91687167\"></a>Doing shoddy work to save money</h3>\n<p>Sellers have all sorts of tactics to cover defects in a home. They may carpet over a floor that has extensive water or termite damage, pump out a septic tank that’s gone bad so that the toilets keep flushing for a couple more months, or install wood paneling in the basement to hide defects in the foundation.</p>\n<p class=\"article-tips remember\">As an investor who wants to remain in business, you should treat these tactics as taboo. Don’t sell your soul for a few thousand dollars.</p>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc91687168\"></a>Over-improving a property</h3>\n<p>Transforming a bungalow into the Taj Mahal may be a noble vision, but it ultimately lands you in the poorhouse. Know the housing market in your area, and routinely visit open houses to remain abreast of current trends and market demands. Gauge repairs and renovations to meet or slightly exceed what’s currently selling in your area. Your renovated home should be more appealing than comparable homes in the area, but not excessively more appealing.</p>\n<h3><a name=\"_Toc91687169\"></a>Forgetting to pay the taxes</h3>\n<p>In the flurry of flipping, taxes are easy to overlook, especially property taxes. Forgetting to pay your taxes, however, can further complicate your flipping operation, and back taxes and penalties can take a big chunk of your future profits.</p>\n<p>Set aside a certain percentage of your profit from each flip in a separate account, and pay your taxes out of that account. This separate account reduces the temptation to spend the money owed to the government. If you fall behind on taxes, catching up can be tough.</p>\n<p>&nbsp;</p>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Advance","lifeExpectancy":"Two years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-02-04T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":207782},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2016-03-26T22:47:14+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-03-30T19:22:45+00:00","timestamp":"2022-03-31T00:01:04+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Business, Careers, & Money","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34224"},"slug":"business-careers-money","categoryId":34224},{"name":"Careers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34256"},"slug":"careers","categoryId":34256},{"name":"Real Estate Careers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34268"},"slug":"real-estate-careers","categoryId":34268},{"name":"Flipping Houses","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34269"},"slug":"flipping-houses","categoryId":34269}],"title":"Flipping Strategy: Buying into a Hot Market","strippedTitle":"flipping strategy: buying into a hot market","slug":"flipping-strategy-buying-into-a-hot-market","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"There's more to flipping houses than buying cheap, fixing it up, and selling high. Learn the right questions to ask and risks to consider.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"When most people think of flipping houses, they immediately envision a process of buying a ramshackle house on the cheap, fixing it up, and then reselling it for more than they've invested in it. That's certainly the underlying theme, but the actual process of flipping houses spawns a tool shed full of choices and questions, including the following:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Are you going to live in the house while fixing it up?</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>How long can you afford to hold the house before selling it?</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>How extensive are the renovations you're willing and able to perform?</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nBefore you even consider making an offer on a house, know how you're going to profit from it. Are you going to buy it at a bargain and resell it immediately at market value, do a quick makeup job and resell it, perform some major renovations, or fix it up and use it as a rental? Each of these strategies has benefits and drawbacks, but each strategy is a perfectly legitimate way to turn a profit flipping property.\r\n\r\nWhen developing a game plan, you want to maximize your strengths, minimize your weaknesses, and fully exploit the opportunities that surround you. Many a flipper have already developed their own strategies that achieve those three goals. By becoming more aware of these existing strategies, you can choose the one that fits you best and perhaps even improvise to invent your own strategy.\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">Always buy low. If you can't get a house for 25 to 30 percent or more below what you estimate to be its market value, keep looking.</p>\r\nIn a sizzling real estate market, you can turn a profit fairly quickly by buying a house, moving in, and then sitting back and watching the real estate values soar. This approach works only if you have time on your hands, are speculative by nature, and have a knack for purchasing houses in a hot market at just the right time. This strategy offers several benefits:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>If the market remains strong, your property value rises without your having to lift a finger.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Your equity in the property rises, boosting your borrowing power for other investments.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>By living in the home for two years or more, up to $250,000 of your profit ($500,000 for a couple), is tax free, at least according to the tax laws as of late 2006.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"Warning\">Buying into a hot market also carries some significant risks:</p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>In areas where property values are soaring, the housing bubble may burst, leaving you with a home that is worth less than what you paid for it.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Stuff happens. You can have a great house at a great price in a hot market with the top agent working to sell it, and the house still may not sell. Prepare yourself for all possibilities.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">What goes up sometimes comes down — sometimes very quickly — but all markets can be good for investing as long as you recognize the conditions and opportunities and react appropriately.</p>","description":"When most people think of flipping houses, they immediately envision a process of buying a ramshackle house on the cheap, fixing it up, and then reselling it for more than they've invested in it. That's certainly the underlying theme, but the actual process of flipping houses spawns a tool shed full of choices and questions, including the following:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Are you going to live in the house while fixing it up?</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>How long can you afford to hold the house before selling it?</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>How extensive are the renovations you're willing and able to perform?</li>\r\n</ul>\r\nBefore you even consider making an offer on a house, know how you're going to profit from it. Are you going to buy it at a bargain and resell it immediately at market value, do a quick makeup job and resell it, perform some major renovations, or fix it up and use it as a rental? Each of these strategies has benefits and drawbacks, but each strategy is a perfectly legitimate way to turn a profit flipping property.\r\n\r\nWhen developing a game plan, you want to maximize your strengths, minimize your weaknesses, and fully exploit the opportunities that surround you. Many a flipper have already developed their own strategies that achieve those three goals. By becoming more aware of these existing strategies, you can choose the one that fits you best and perhaps even improvise to invent your own strategy.\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">Always buy low. If you can't get a house for 25 to 30 percent or more below what you estimate to be its market value, keep looking.</p>\r\nIn a sizzling real estate market, you can turn a profit fairly quickly by buying a house, moving in, and then sitting back and watching the real estate values soar. This approach works only if you have time on your hands, are speculative by nature, and have a knack for purchasing houses in a hot market at just the right time. This strategy offers several benefits:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>If the market remains strong, your property value rises without your having to lift a finger.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Your equity in the property rises, boosting your borrowing power for other investments.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>By living in the home for two years or more, up to $250,000 of your profit ($500,000 for a couple), is tax free, at least according to the tax laws as of late 2006.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"Warning\">Buying into a hot market also carries some significant risks:</p>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>In areas where property values are soaring, the housing bubble may burst, leaving you with a home that is worth less than what you paid for it.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Stuff happens. You can have a great house at a great price in a hot market with the top agent working to sell it, and the house still may not sell. Prepare yourself for all possibilities.</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p class=\"Remember\">What goes up sometimes comes down — sometimes very quickly — but all markets can be good for investing as long as you recognize the conditions and opportunities and react appropriately.</p>","blurb":"","authors":[],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":34269,"title":"Flipping Houses","slug":"flipping-houses","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34269"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":255157,"title":"How to Read a Property Listing with Flipping in Mind","slug":"how-to-read-a-property-listing-with-flipping-in-mind","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","real-estate-careers","flipping-houses"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/255157"}},{"articleId":253699,"title":"10 House Flipping Blunders","slug":"10-house-flipping-blunders","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","real-estate-careers","flipping-houses"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/253699"}},{"articleId":235550,"title":"Doing a Quick House Flip","slug":"quick-house-flip","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","real-estate-careers","flipping-houses"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/235550"}},{"articleId":235545,"title":"Deciding How Much to Pay for a House to Flip","slug":"deciding-much-pay-house-flip","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","real-estate-careers","flipping-houses"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/235545"}},{"articleId":235542,"title":"Finding Houses to Flip","slug":"finding-houses-flip","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","real-estate-careers","flipping-houses"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/235542"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":255157,"title":"How to Read a Property Listing with Flipping in Mind","slug":"how-to-read-a-property-listing-with-flipping-in-mind","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","real-estate-careers","flipping-houses"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/255157"}},{"articleId":253699,"title":"10 House Flipping Blunders","slug":"10-house-flipping-blunders","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","real-estate-careers","flipping-houses"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/253699"}},{"articleId":235550,"title":"Doing a Quick House Flip","slug":"quick-house-flip","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","real-estate-careers","flipping-houses"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/235550"}},{"articleId":235545,"title":"Deciding How Much to Pay for a House to Flip","slug":"deciding-much-pay-house-flip","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","real-estate-careers","flipping-houses"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/235545"}},{"articleId":235542,"title":"Finding Houses to Flip","slug":"finding-houses-flip","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","real-estate-careers","flipping-houses"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/235542"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282203,"slug":"flipping-houses-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119861010","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","real-estate-careers","flipping-houses"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119861012/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119861012/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119861012-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119861012/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119861012/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/flipping-houses-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Flipping Houses For Dummies, 4th Edition","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":true,"authorsInfo":"\n <p><b data-author-id=\"9133\">Ralph R. Roberts</b> is a master at flipping houses, earning a profit even in the deeply depressed real estate market in Metro Detroit, Michigan. He is the award-winning author of several books, including Foreclosure Investing For Dummies. <b data-author-id=\"8993\">Joseph Kraynak</b> is a writer who's contributed to several Dummies books, including Flipping Houses For Dummies, Oceans For Dummies, and Selling on Amazon For Dummies.</p>","authors":[{"authorId":9133,"name":"Ralph R. Roberts","slug":"ralph-r-roberts","description":"Ralph R. Roberts is a master at flipping houses, earning a profit even in the deeply depressed real estate market in Metro Detroit, Michigan. He is the award-winning author of several books, including Foreclosure Investing For Dummies.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9133"}},{"authorId":8993,"name":"Joseph Kraynak","slug":"joseph-kraynak","description":"Joseph Kraynak is a writer who's contributed to several Dummies books, including Flipping Houses For Dummies, Oceans For Dummies, and Selling on Amazon For Dummies.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/8993"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[{"title":"Rent, Rehab, and More","slug":"rent-rehab-and-more","collectionId":291883}],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;business-careers-money&quot;,&quot;careers&quot;,&quot;real-estate-careers&quot;,&quot;flipping-houses&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119861010&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-6244ef40a79e1\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;business-careers-money&quot;,&quot;careers&quot;,&quot;real-estate-careers&quot;,&quot;flipping-houses&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119861010&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-6244ef40a83d2\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Articles","articleList":null,"content":null,"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Advance","lifeExpectancy":"Two years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-03-30T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":200088},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2019-05-31T02:39:21+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-03-25T18:20:29+00:00","timestamp":"2022-03-26T00:01:03+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Business, Careers, & Money","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34224"},"slug":"business-careers-money","categoryId":34224},{"name":"Careers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34256"},"slug":"careers","categoryId":34256},{"name":"General (Careers)","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34272"},"slug":"general-careers","categoryId":34272}],"title":"Success Habits For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"success habits for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"success-habits-for-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Learn about creating habits for success by starting with four basic steps. Also, learn how to avoid time-wasting activities.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Whether you want to know how to succeed in life or how to succeed in business, you need to create habits for success. Success, or excellence, is always created by establishing positive, repetitive habits. Unfortunately, almost anything we do repeatedly can lose its luster, passion, and energy. Without doing something repeatedly, you won’t establish it as a habit. When you focus on repeating the actions that lead to success, you create habits. So, repeating and success are like peas and carrots: They go together.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_261913\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"535\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-261913\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/success-habits.jpg\" alt=\"success habits\" width=\"535\" height=\"428\" /> © Millena / Shutterstock[/caption]","description":"Whether you want to know how to succeed in life or how to succeed in business, you need to create habits for success. Success, or excellence, is always created by establishing positive, repetitive habits. Unfortunately, almost anything we do repeatedly can lose its luster, passion, and energy. Without doing something repeatedly, you won’t establish it as a habit. When you focus on repeating the actions that lead to success, you create habits. So, repeating and success are like peas and carrots: They go together.\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_261913\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"535\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-261913\" src=\"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/success-habits.jpg\" alt=\"success habits\" width=\"535\" height=\"428\" /> © Millena / Shutterstock[/caption]","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":9228,"name":"Dirk Zeller","slug":"dirk-zeller","description":"Dirk Zeller has been a real estate agent, investor, coach, and speaker for more than 25 years. He helps others improve their time management and sales techniques to reach peak performance. He's authored ten books, including several Dummies books.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9228"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":34272,"title":"General (Careers)","slug":"general-careers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34272"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":34051,"title":"Willpower","slug":"willpower","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34051"}},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":262830,"title":"How to Guarantee Your Retirement Success with a Wealth Plan","slug":"how-to-guarantee-your-retirement-success-with-a-wealth-plan","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/262830"}},{"articleId":262825,"title":"The First Step Toward Financial Success: Define Your Wealth Number","slug":"the-first-step-toward-financial-success-define-your-wealth-number","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/262825"}},{"articleId":262820,"title":"How to Set Your Top 50 Life Goals","slug":"how-to-set-your-top-50-life-goals","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/262820"}},{"articleId":262814,"title":"Goal Setting: Categorize and Prioritize Your Life Goals","slug":"goal-setting-categorize-and-prioritize-your-life-goals","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/262814"}},{"articleId":262811,"title":"How to Build Customer and Client Relationships","slug":"how-to-build-customer-and-client-relationships","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/262811"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":273721,"title":"How to Manage Virtual Teams","slug":"how-to-manage-virtual-teams","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/273721"}},{"articleId":273709,"title":"How to Create a New Zoom Account","slug":"how-to-create-a-new-zoom-account","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/273709"}},{"articleId":273704,"title":"Text-Only Communication in the Virtual Workplace","slug":"text-only-communication-in-the-virtual-workplace","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/273704"}},{"articleId":273697,"title":"Working from Home: Setting Healthy Boundaries","slug":"working-from-home-setting-healthy-boundaries","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/273697"}},{"articleId":273692,"title":"How to Build a Connection Culture When Working from Home","slug":"how-to-build-a-connection-culture-when-working-from-home","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/273692"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":282617,"slug":"success-habits-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119508847","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","general-careers"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119508843/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119508843/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119508843-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119508843/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119508843/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/success-habits-for-dummies-cover-9781119508847-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Success Habits For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":"\n <p><b data-author-id=\"9228\">Dirk Zeller</b> is recognized internationally as one of the premier speakers and coaches on sales, success, time management, and peak performance. Dirk's proven systems and strategies take ordinary performers and transforms them into extraordinary performers. Zeller's strategies on wealth and success enable anyone to achieve financial independence in their life. </p>","authors":[{"authorId":9228,"name":"Dirk Zeller","slug":"dirk-zeller","description":"Dirk Zeller has been a real estate agent, investor, coach, and speaker for more than 25 years. He helps others improve their time management and sales techniques to reach peak performance. He's authored ten books, including several Dummies books.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/9228"}}],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/books/"}},"collections":[],"articleAds":{"footerAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_adhesion_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;business-careers-money&quot;,&quot;careers&quot;,&quot;general-careers&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119508847&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-623e57bff3d32\"></div></div>","rightAd":"<div class=\"du-ad-region row\" id=\"article_page_right_ad\"><div class=\"du-ad-unit col-md-12\" data-slot-id=\"article_page_right_ad\" data-refreshed=\"false\" \r\n data-target = \"[{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;cat&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;business-careers-money&quot;,&quot;careers&quot;,&quot;general-careers&quot;]},{&quot;key&quot;:&quot;isbn&quot;,&quot;values&quot;:[&quot;9781119508847&quot;]}]\" id=\"du-slot-623e57c00046f\"></div></div>"},"articleType":{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","articleList":[{"articleId":261906,"title":"Daily Habits for Success","slug":"","categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/261906"}},{"articleId":261909,"title":"Time-Wasting Behaviors That Lead You Away from Success","slug":"","categoryList":[],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/261909"}}],"content":[{"title":"Daily habits for success","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Success is created through consistency turned into repetition. A singular morning routine is not habit, nor is it repetition. A morning routine executed a single time is an act. An act by itself will not determine success or failure. It must be linked together in succession and consistency to create success.</p>\n<p>You can create new habits for success, have them take hold, and apply commitment to continue in a day or even a week. It takes weeks of repeating that act to establish and cement it as a habit in your routine of success.</p>\n<p>Here are a few basic things to do daily to increase your chances of being successful in whatever endeavors you choose to pursue in life.</p>\n<h2>Step 1: Get up early</h2>\n<p>Not all of us are morning people, but most early risers tend to compact more work and productivity in their day. If you get up one hour earlier than you’re doing presently, if you use it to make more sales calls or complete more reports, if you use that hour to work on self-improvement through reading and studying, then that one hour each work day equates to 30 extra full work days in a year. It’s like having 13 months in a year to achieve your goals. You won’t miss the hour of sleep.</p>\n<h2>Step 2: Invest at least an hour a day learning</h2>\n<p>Renowned investor Warren Buffett spends more than 80 percent of his day reading. He reads five newspapers per day, each day. You don’t have to read newspapers or books; you can listen to podcasts or attend classes or take online courses. And with audio books, you can even use your drive time in the car to educate yourself. Whatever knowledge has brought you to the level of success you are enjoying, it will not be enough knowledge to keep you there.</p>\n<h2>Step 3: Move your body each day</h2>\n<p>Don’t neglect the temple in which you live. There is a direct connection between physical health, mental health, and wealth. Becoming successful takes energy and stamina. It’s hard to take charge, go against the herd, “stand your ground,” and delay gratification of now when you’re tired and not physically ready. In the competitive world we live in, you need physical stamina and energy to build your business or brand to attract customers and client.</p>\n<h2>Step 4: Rest</h2>\n<p>High achievers are frequently poor at rest, but your body and mind requires downtime to operate well. You need fun, recreation, and friendships to be able to achieve a fulfilled life of success. And your body requires enough sleep nightly to be prepared for a new day of challenges and opportunities ahead.</p>\n"},{"title":"Time-wasting behaviors that lead you away from success","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>If creating habits for success is your goal, you probably need to figure out how to stop <a href=\"https://www.dummies.com/business/human-resources/employee-relations/10-timeefficient-habits/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">wasting time</a>. With all the things you have to accomplish in a given day, wouldn’t it be nice if the day were just a bit longer?</p>\n<p>Before you start thinking of ways to slow the rotation of the Earth, try to cut out some serious time-wasters — or at least reduce the amount of time you devote to them. It’ll seem like you’re gaining a few hours in your day to invest in activities and success habits that are important to you.</p>\n<p>What follows are some of the most voracious devourers of your precious time.</p>\n<h2>Avoid Being Sucked into Social Media</h2>\n<p>As a business tool, if you are trying to deepen your relationship with prospects, customers, and clients, there are many effective ways to monetize your relationships through Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. There are also opportunities to waste so much time through any social media platform that you may suddenly realize you&#8217;ve been on Facebook for the last few hours. Where did those few hours go? Here are some strategies to successfully protect you from having social media overtake your afternoon.</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Set specific times that you check your social media platforms. </strong>Don’t be checking every few minutes, but scheduled times.</li>\n<li><strong>Turn off notifications that pop up on the screen, chime or ding, or inform you of a post or comment.</strong> This applies to all social media platforms. If you are a regular contributor to the social media world, following tweets, or reading posts from a number of friends or even celebrities, your phone could be blowing up all day long. You are bound to be frequently distracted and less productive.</li>\n</ul>\n<p>If you want to really stand out from the other employees in the company you work for, put your phone in your backpack, purse, or locker until your break or lunch hour.</p>\n<h2>Limit Time Surfing the Web</h2>\n<p>Nothing is wrong with hanging ten on the Internet — as long as the <em>ten </em>isn’t ten hours. The Internet is incredibly valuable as a time-saving tool. Just think how much faster pulling data and tracking down information is than in the past. But the web is a storehouse of <em>useless </em>information as well. You can spend hours sifting through waves of data in search of what you really want to know.</p>\n<p>When using the Internet for research or information-gathering, it pays to stay focused on your mission: What are you in search of? The annual report from a company you’re pursuing as a client? The best bed-and-breakfasts available in St. Thomas in May? Don’t get sidetracked by related information that steers you off-course. Put specific phrases in quotation marks to get exact matches, or use the advanced search features to avoid certain words or limit your search to .org, .com, .gov, or .edu sites as needed. Bookmark sites you find especially useful or copy and paste important info into a separate document, along with the URL where you found it, for later reference.</p>\n<h2>Don&#8217;t Stay Glued to the Tube</h2>\n<p>According to the Nielsen Company, the average person in the United States watches more than 33 hours of TV per week. Think about it: If you could eliminate that much viewing time, it’d be like having an eight-day week. Just think of all you could do with 33 extra hours: read a good book, spend time with your family, take a class, start working out — and even get a good night’s sleep!</p>\n<p>If you’re a committed TV watcher, kicking the habit cold turkey probably isn’t realistic. Here are some ways to wean yourself off evenings and weekends glued to the couch:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Leave the TV off if you’re not watching it. </strong>Some folks like to have the tube on for company, but it’s too tempting to wander over and plop yourself down if the tribe is about to cast another member off the island.</li>\n<li><strong>Preplan your TV schedule. </strong>Decide what’s really important for you to watch. On Tuesday evening, if it’s the 9 p.m. crime investigation series, so be it. But don’t turn on the TV until it starts and turn it off immediately upon seeing the closing credits.</li>\n<li><strong>Schedule no-watch zones throughout your week. </strong>Maybe set aside a specific weeknight or weekend day when all household TVs remain off.</li>\n<li><strong>Reduce the number of TVs in your home. </strong>Keep the TV out of the kitchen and bedroom, especially. Just as diet experts advise weight watchers to eat only in certain places in their houses, limiting the number of TVs helps keep the habit under control.</li>\n<li><strong>Prerecord what you want to watch and view it on your own schedule. </strong>The added bonus? You get to skip over all the commercials, which reduces your viewing time by about one-third!</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>Don&#8217;t Fail to Stop and Think</h2>\n<p>When you spend too little time in preparation, you’re forced to spend too much time in execution. The time you invest in collecting, compiling, and organizing your thoughts before you begin a project pays off in time savings and in the quality of the outcome.</p>\n<p>Not only does planning ahead eliminate problems before you start, but it also helps you imagine how you’ll perform the task. When you address the situation in advance, you feed your subconscious with the tools and information it needs to work on the problems, often without your awareness. That’s kind of like sticking bread dough in a warm space and letting it rise overnight. Just consider your planning efforts to be the yeast that causes your projects to rise to their full potential.</p>\n<p>Preparation is valuable in efforts big and small. Even ten minutes at the end of a day to review your schedule and set out the materials you’ll need is sure to increase your productivity and effectiveness the next day.</p>\n<h2>Don&#8217;t Work without Breaks</h2>\n<p>There’s a point of diminishing return where your focus and concentration start to fall dramatically. Too many people grind through, skip breaks, and cross that threshold. They sit and read the same paragraph over and over again because they’re tired and out of focus. They review the same report again without realizing it until they’re halfway through it.</p>\n<p>Everyone needs breaks from routine and the tasks at hand. You should take frequent breaks but for very short durations. If you’re given two 15-minute breaks a day plus your lunch hour, ask your boss if it would be acceptable to instead take three 10-minute breaks or two 5-minute breaks and two 10-minute breaks for the day. That way, you&#8217;re using the same amount of allotted break time to more effectively regain your focus and energy.</p>\n<h2>Stop Believing in the Myth of Multitasking</h2>\n<p>The scientific evidence overwhelmingly suggests that <em>multitasking </em>— switching back and forth between two or more tasks — is an extremely ineffective way to get things done. Researchers say that when you multitask, you’re making your brain take time to switch to a different skill set and a different memory experience.</p>\n<p>For those projects and tasks that require your best effort, you’re better off to focus on one at a time. Here’s how to keep yourself focused on the task at hand:</p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Turn off your cellphone or forward your phone to go directly to voicemail. </strong>Even if you intend not to answer a call, the notification halts your attention and slows your progress.</li>\n<li><strong>If working on the computer or a tablet, set your e-mail program so you’re not notified every time you receive a new message. </strong>You may check your e-mail at certain time intervals or even arrange to check and respond to e-mail in your time-block schedule.</li>\n<li><strong>If you’re working on a report, article, or some project that demands a lot of concentration, set aside at least one hour of uninterrupted time</strong>. You may not be able to finish it in that hour, but you’ll get a good jump on it. An hour of focus is about all most people can do on an intense project without some type of break to get a cup of coffee or visit the restroom or just do a stretch.</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>Stop Demanding Perfection</h2>\n<p>If you’re expecting perfection out of yourself or others, you’re wasting your time. Letting imperfection keep you from pursuing recreational interests or your career goals can end up limiting your fulfillment in life.</p>\n<p>The amount of time, effort, energy, and emotion required to achieve perfection dramatically reduce production. You may invest as much time and energy to move from a 95 percent performance score to the 100-percent mark as you do to go from 0 to 95 percent. You’re much better off investing your energy in starting something new than focusing on perfection.</p>\n<h2>Avoid Spending Time with Negative People</h2>\n<p>Success takes hard work. When your desire is to be more successful, you will encounter people in life that don’t share your desire, your attitude of positivity and success. One way to bring down your energy level, reduce your enthusiasm, darken your outlook, slow your productivity, and drain your glass from half-full to almost-empty is to invest your time in negative people. The more you reduce the influence they have on your life, the happier and more productive you can be.</p>\n<p>Do your best to minimize the time you spend in the company of curmudgeons and contrarians. Not only do you take back valuable time to direct toward positive endeavors, but their absence also breaks the dark spell over your optimistic outlook.</p>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Advance","lifeExpectancy":"Five years","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-03-25T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":261912},{"headers":{"creationTime":"2018-01-26T03:55:28+00:00","modifiedTime":"2022-03-23T20:45:01+00:00","timestamp":"2022-03-24T00:01:09+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Business, Careers, & Money","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34224"},"slug":"business-careers-money","categoryId":34224},{"name":"Careers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34256"},"slug":"careers","categoryId":34256},{"name":"Trades, Tech, & Engineering Careers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34271"},"slug":"trades-tech-engineering-careers","categoryId":34271}],"title":"Machining For Dummies Cheat Sheet","strippedTitle":"machining for dummies cheat sheet","slug":"machining-dummies-cheat-sheet","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"Without machined parts, there'd be no cars, airplanes, or — gasp! — cappuccino machines. Explore this important field here.","noIndex":0,"noFollow":0},"content":"Machining was the basis by which the first industrial revolution began, and is just as important a factor to the fourth industrial revolution currently underway. Without machined parts, there'd be no cars or airplanes for a quick trip to visit Aunt Mary. There'd be no cappuccino machines, no Large Hadron Collider, no late-night talk shows, no replacements for your tired knee and hip joints. Scholars rightly claim that manufacturing is the foundation of modern society, but ask anyone who's spent a few years on the shop floor and they'll tell you: Machining is the cornerstone that holds it all together.","description":"Machining was the basis by which the first industrial revolution began, and is just as important a factor to the fourth industrial revolution currently underway. Without machined parts, there'd be no cars or airplanes for a quick trip to visit Aunt Mary. There'd be no cappuccino machines, no Large Hadron Collider, no late-night talk shows, no replacements for your tired knee and hip joints. Scholars rightly claim that manufacturing is the foundation of modern society, but ask anyone who's spent a few years on the shop floor and they'll tell you: Machining is the cornerstone that holds it all together.","blurb":"","authors":[{"authorId":11270,"name":"Kip Hanson","slug":"kip-hanson","description":"Kip Hanson is a full-time manufacturing writer and consultant. He has more than 500 published articles, including dozens of case studies and technical pieces on fabricating.","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/authors/11270"}}],"primaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":34271,"title":"Trades, Tech, & Engineering Careers","slug":"trades-tech-engineering-careers","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34271"}},"secondaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"tertiaryCategoryTaxonomy":{"categoryId":0,"title":null,"slug":null,"_links":null},"trendingArticles":null,"inThisArticle":[],"relatedArticles":{"fromBook":[{"articleId":249236,"title":"Finding (and Keeping) New Machine Shop Customers","slug":"finding-keeping-new-machine-shop-customers","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","trades-tech-engineering-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/249236"}},{"articleId":249234,"title":"Checklist for a Well-Tooled Shop","slug":"checklist-well-tooled-shop","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","trades-tech-engineering-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/249234"}},{"articleId":249232,"title":"Why Manufacturing Is So Cool","slug":"why-manufacturing-is-so-cool","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","trades-tech-engineering-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/249232"}},{"articleId":249230,"title":"A Cutting Tool Primer","slug":"cutting-tool-primer","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","trades-tech-engineering-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/249230"}},{"articleId":248957,"title":"Lose the Paper Trail in Your Machine Shop","slug":"lose-paper-trail-machine-shop","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","trades-tech-engineering-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/248957"}}],"fromCategory":[{"articleId":266512,"title":"Uncovering Company Concerns and Showcasing Your Strengths in a Programming Interview","slug":"uncovering-company-concerns-and-showcasing-your-strengths-in-a-programming-interview","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","trades-tech-engineering-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/266512"}},{"articleId":266506,"title":"How to Prep for Programming Interview Questions","slug":"how-to-prep-for-programming-interview-questions","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","trades-tech-engineering-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/266506"}},{"articleId":266487,"title":"10 Useful Websites for Programming Interview Prep","slug":"10-useful-websites-for-programming-interview-prep","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","trades-tech-engineering-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/266487"}},{"articleId":266446,"title":"Negotiating Your Programming Job Offer","slug":"negotiating-your-programming-job-offer","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","trades-tech-engineering-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/266446"}},{"articleId":266439,"title":"10 Non-Technical Questions You May Be Asked in a Programming Interview","slug":"10-non-technical-questions-you-may-be-asked-in-a-programming-interview","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","trades-tech-engineering-careers"],"_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/articles/266439"}}]},"hasRelatedBookFromSearch":false,"relatedBook":{"bookId":281762,"slug":"machining-for-dummies","isbn":"9781119426134","categoryList":["business-careers-money","careers","trades-tech-engineering-careers"],"amazon":{"default":"https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1119426138/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","ca":"https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1119426138/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","indigo_ca":"http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-9208661-13710633?url=https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/product/1119426138-item.html&cjsku=978111945484","gb":"https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1119426138/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20","de":"https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/1119426138/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wiley01-20"},"image":{"src":"https://www.dummies.com/wp-content/uploads/machining-for-dummies-cover-9781119426134-203x255.jpg","width":203,"height":255},"title":"Machining For Dummies","testBankPinActivationLink":"","bookOutOfPrint":false,"authorsInfo":"\n <p><b data-author-id=\"11270\">Kip Hanson</b> finished school in 1979 and got a job at a small machine shop in Minneapolis. Over the next thirty years, he worked his way up and eventually moved into manufacturing consulting and freelance writing. Today he has nearly 600 published articles across dozens of magazines and websites, covering everything from machinery and tooling to metrology and 3D printing. </p>","authors":[{"authorId":11270,"name":"Kip Hanson","slug":"kip-hanson","description":"Kip Hanson is a full-time manufacturing writer and consultant. 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But like a car without tires, it would be naught but a big expensive paperweight (albeit with flashy lights and an advanced computer) without cutting tools.</p>\n<ul>\n<li>The cutting tools used on CNC lathes are generally &#8220;stationary,&#8221; meaning the tool holds still while the workpiece rotates beneath it. Machining centers, on the other hand, use cutting tools that are held in a rotating spindle.</li>\n<li>The centuries-old distinction between stationary and rotary tools and the machine tools they are used on is beginning to blur as multitasking and turn-mill centers grow in popularity.</li>\n<li>High-speed steel (HSS) was the first big advancement in cutting-tool technology, but has largely been replaced by tool bits made of tungsten carbide and other super-hard materials. HSS is still widely used, however, for drill bits, saw blades, and other cutting tools where a tough, wear-resistant, and low-cost metal is needed.</li>\n<li>One of the super-hard materials just mentioned is polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN), which is able to efficiently machine hardened steel, and in some cases, has eliminated secondary grinding operations.</li>\n<li>Most types of cutting tools, including drills, end mills, turning tools, and boring bars, are available in a solid, single-piece construction (the most expensive but also high-performance option) or with indexable &#8220;inserts&#8221; with multiple cutting edges, designed to be used up and recycled.</li>\n<li>Holemaking is the most common of all metalworking operations. Drilling, reaming, boring, trepanning—these are just a few of the dozen or so ways to either make holes or to improve their accuracy and surface finish.</li>\n<li>The majority of cutting tools today are coated with hard, lubricious materials applied in special vacuum chambers. Some examples include titanium aluminum nitride (TiAlN), zirconium nitride (ZrN), titanium carbon nitride (TiCN), and many others. All improve wear resistance and tool life.</li>\n<li>With the thousands of available cutting-tool styles, geometries, coatings, and brands, it&#8217;s important to develop a sound policy on their use, testing, and procurement, else &#8220;tool crib bloat&#8221; is sure to occur.</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Why manufacturing is so cool","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Whether it was Tinkertoys or mud pies, papier-mâché or a fort in the woods, all of us made things as kids. Somewhere along the way, most of us turned to less tangible pastimes and vocations, but think back wistfully now and then to the rocket you built with your brother, the triple-decker card house you and sis made over summer vacation.</p>\n<p>Machinists, however, are lucky—they get to keep making things, all day every day, until the last day when they hang up their shop coats and spend what&#8217;s left of their time boring their grandkids with stories about lathes and mills and drill presses. Hopefully, these grandchildren listen, because there&#8217;s some really neat manufacturing technology coming down the pike, and all of us will depend on smart, qualified people to leverage it.</p>\n<ul>\n<li>Additive manufacturing (you probably know it as 3D printing) has been around for three decades, but it&#8217;s going through some dramatic changes right now. Chances are good that we will soon have the ability to print whatever we want, whenever we want, and in many cases cost-effectively and accurately enough to compete with traditional manufacturing methods.</li>\n<li>If you&#8217;re wondering why you should open a shop or pursue a career in manufacturing when we&#8217;ll soon be able to just print everything, don&#8217;t worry about it. Even while additive manufacturing grows more capable, so too does subtractive manufacturing (that is, machining). Machine tools get smarter, faster, and more accurate every year. They&#8217;re not going anywhere, at least not in our lifetime.</li>\n<li>As machine tools become more capable, the technologies that support and enhance them grow increasingly relevant. Robots are getting smarter and less expensive, freeing humans to do more important tasks than put chunks of metal into a machine all day. Cloud-based software tools help us humans manage the awesome complexity of our manufacturing processes and avoid expensive mistakes. And the Internet of Things—the same technology that gave us smart thermostats and (soon) self-driving cars—is playing a big role on the factory floor, spotting trends to help us improve our manufacturing processes and allowing us to go home at night while our smart systems keep an eye on things.</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Checklist for a well-tooled shop","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>Good toolholders, workholding, and accessories are just as important as good machinery, but many shops invest heavily in their CNC machine tools only to skimp on the tooling. Doing so means losing out on the benefits of new technology and not taking full advantage of your machine potential.</p>\n<ul>\n<li>Setup time is a killer and quick-change tooling is one of the best ways to avoid it. This begins with an organized approach to workholding, using zero-point or ball-lock clamping systems, or a quick-change chuck on a lathe.</li>\n<li>Quick-change toolholders are also important, especially on CNC lathes, where easily five minutes per turret position can be spent changing tools. Quick-change holders turn minutes into seconds.</li>\n<li>Another way to reduce setup time and in-process disruption due to tool replacement is with offline presetting. Break out your crystal ball and be sure to purchase a system that addresses future needs as well as the current ones.</li>\n<li>Shrink-fit tooling is one of the best ways to hold solid carbide drills and end mills.</li>\n<li>Hydraulic toolholders and mechanical milling chucks are a good alternative to shrink fit, but are somewhat less &#8220;balanceable&#8221; than shrink fit.</li>\n<li>Did someone mention balance? Balanced toolholders aren&#8217;t just for high-speed machining. In fact, most industry experts suggest spindle speeds greater than 8,000 rpm require balancing the entire toolholder assembly.</li>\n<li>Never buy bargain toolholders, and always go for the best retention knobs you can find.</li>\n<li>If the majority of your turned parts are under a couple inches in diameter and can fit through the lathe spindle, invest in a bar feeder. If you routinely have thousands of these parts to make, invest in a magazine-style bar feeder.</li>\n<li>Robots are good for lots more than deep space navigation on starships. They&#8217;re also great at loading and unloading parts from machine tools.</li>\n<li>As with a bar-fed lathe, a palletized machining center suffers less downtime and is far more flexible than the traditional, &#8220;two-vises bolted to the table&#8221; approach taken in many shops.</li>\n<li>The next time your tooling rep buddy drops in with some carbide inserts or a new toolholder for you to try, consider how these additions will fit into your overall tooling strategy. Standardization is key to a manageable tool crib.</li>\n<li>Don&#8217;t have a tool crib? Better set one up. Tooling is expensive and downtime even more so, and without an establish tool crib and tooling policy, you&#8217;re wasting money.</li>\n<li>Now that your tool crib is in place, it&#8217;s time for a maintenance plan. Tooling should be routinely disassembled, cleaned, and checked for wear.</li>\n</ul>\n"},{"title":"Finding (and keeping) new machine shop customers","thumb":null,"image":null,"content":"<p>As with many businesses, one of the most challenging aspects to launching a machine shop is finding enough work to stay afloat. Making your customers happy will keep them coming back, but it&#8217;s important to maintain a disparate customer base to get you through the lean times and grow the company when times are good. Here are a few ideas to point you in the right direction.</p>\n<ul>\n<li>If you can run a computer numerical control (CNC) machine, you can set up a corporate website. And if you&#8217;re too busy making parts to do so, then hire someone to take care of it for you. Even a single web page telling potential customers what you do and how to find you is a good start.</li>\n<li>Similarly, Facebook is becoming a great way to share photos of your shop and its employees and get the word out about the vibrant, customer-focused company you&#8217;re operating.</li>\n<li>If a trade magazine calls and wants to write a profile on your business, or asks you to participate in a case study, by all means say &#8220;Yes, how can we help?&#8221;</li>\n<li>Do you, a family member, or one of your employees like to write? Start a blog as part of your website. It&#8217;s a great way to boast about your machining capabilities and get others interested in what you do there.</li>\n<li>YouTube videos are also a necessary part of social media. Showing off your new CNC lathe installation or recording a part being machined using a special cutter (or maybe even starting your own YouTube channel) is an increasingly popular way to share information.</li>\n<li>Make sure you and your business are on LinkedIn, then connect with customers and suppliers.</li>\n<li>Too busy to take on more work? It&#8217;s tough to say no to customers, especially when you&#8217;re just getting started. Be prepared for some long nights. If you decide to subcontract some of your work, that&#8217;s fine, but be sure your supplier has been well-vetted and can deliver as promised.</li>\n<li>A number of online part brokers and manufacturer representatives are out there and capable of bringing in all the work you can handle. Tread carefully so that you don&#8217;t take on so much that your existing customers suffer.</li>\n<li>One of the cardinal sins in any manufacturing business is becoming married to a single customer. It&#8217;s really easy to take the ball and run with your first big-break aerospace or medical company and let them become your sole source of work. Don&#8217;t be a captive supplier, or risk going out of business when your customer is acquired by a giant European conglomerate.</li>\n</ul>\n"}],"videoInfo":{"videoId":null,"name":null,"accountId":null,"playerId":null,"thumbnailUrl":null,"description":null,"uploadDate":null}},"sponsorship":{"sponsorshipPage":false,"backgroundImage":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0},"brandingLine":"","brandingLink":"","brandingLogo":{"src":null,"width":0,"height":0}},"primaryLearningPath":"Advance","lifeExpectancy":"One year","lifeExpectancySetFrom":"2022-03-23T00:00:00+00:00","dummiesForKids":"no","sponsoredContent":"no","adInfo":"","adPairKey":[]},"status":"publish","visibility":"public","articleId":249238}],"_links":{"self":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34256/categoryArticles?sortField=time&sortOrder=1&size=10&offset=0"},"next":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34256/categoryArticles?sortField=time&sortOrder=1&size=10&offset=10"},"last":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/34256/categoryArticles?sortField=time&sortOrder=1&size=10&offset=1123"}}},"objectTitle":"","status":"success","pageType":"article-category","objectId":"34256","page":1,"sortField":"time","sortOrder":1,"categoriesIds":[],"articleTypes":[],"filterData":{"categoriesFilter":[{"itemId":0,"itemName":"All Categories","count":1133},{"itemId":34257,"itemName":"Banking Careers","count":6},{"itemId":34372,"itemName":"Child Care Careers","count":2},{"itemId":34258,"itemName":"Consulting","count":10},{"itemId":34259,"itemName":"Financial Careers","count":16},{"itemId":34260,"itemName":"Fitness Careers","count":7},{"itemId":34261,"itemName":"Franchise Management","count":41},{"itemId":34272,"itemName":"General (Careers)","count":200},{"itemId":34263,"itemName":"Hospitality Careers","count":138},{"itemId":34264,"itemName":"Job Searches","count":405},{"itemId":34265,"itemName":"Legal Careers","count":9},{"itemId":34266,"itemName":"Military Careers","count":11},{"itemId":34267,"itemName":"Political Careers","count":11},{"itemId":34268,"itemName":"Real Estate Careers","count":141},{"itemId":34368,"itemName":"Science Careers","count":4},{"itemId":34271,"itemName":"Trades, Tech, & Engineering Careers","count":132}],"articleTypeFilter":[{"articleType":"All Types","count":1133},{"articleType":"Articles","count":1080},{"articleType":"Cheat Sheet","count":42},{"articleType":"Step by Step","count":8},{"articleType":"Videos","count":3}]},"filterDataLoadedStatus":"success","pageSize":10},"adsState":{"pageScripts":{"headers":{"timestamp":"2022-05-16T12:59:10+00:00"},"adsId":0,"data":{"scripts":[{"pages":["all"],"location":"header","script":"<!--Optimizely Script-->\r\n<script src=\"https://cdn.optimizely.com/js/10563184655.js\"></script>","enabled":false},{"pages":["all"],"location":"header","script":"<!-- comScore Tag -->\r\n<script>var _comscore = _comscore || [];_comscore.push({ c1: \"2\", c2: \"15097263\" });(function() {var s = document.createElement(\"script\"), el = document.getElementsByTagName(\"script\")[0]; s.async = true;s.src = (document.location.protocol == \"https:\" ? 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Military Careers Basic Training For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 04-25-2022

Before you head off to basic training, you should be familiar with a few basic items, such as military ranks, chain of command, and military time. You also want to make sure that you know the rules of being sentry.

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Hospitality Careers Running a Bed and Breakfast For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 04-20-2022

To run a bed and breakfast (B&B) inn, you need to take care of business issues first, then go about the business of caring for your guests. To make sure guests get the best impression of your B&B, train everyone who answers the phone, get rooms ready the right way, and do the prep work for the "breakfast" part of the service. You also need to keep important phone numbers handy for those unexpected but inevitable problems.

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General (Careers) Working From Home For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 04-08-2022

The secret is out: Working from home can be a sustainable, successful option for professionals in today’s global economy. As you jump into working from home, be sure to follow a few pieces of important advice, as well as some virtual meeting etiquette.

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General (Careers) Productivity For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 04-07-2022

Wouldn’t it be nice to boost your productivity and performance at work without having to put in extra hours or break your back in the meantime? Being effective at what you do takes a little bit of planning, some basic tools, and a lot of positivity.

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Political Careers Running for Local Office For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 04-05-2022

You want to ensure that your run for office is successful. This Cheat Sheet provides some tips on campaigning, including preparing for a local political campaign by working on your name recognition, public reputation, and campaign finances. You also need to make sure that you have some important assets in place, like a campaign manager, volunteers, and voter lists.

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Flipping Houses Flipping Homes: 11 Ways to Cut Renovation Costs

Article / Updated 03-30-2022

When renovating a property that you intend to flip, don't get carried away. Some home flippers hire top-of-the-scale contractors and insist on the highest-quality building materials from the nearest suppliers. To help you avoid that trap, here are 11 secrets that can slash your cash outlays and boost your bottom line. Get free advice and planning tools. You don't have to hire a professional interior designer to draw up plans for remodeling a kitchen or bathroom. Most home-improvement stores have their own designers on staff to assist you. If you purchase the materials from the store, the store frequently throws in the design consultation for free. And who can say no to free? You can often find additional planning tools and calculators online. Large home-improvement stores and manufacturers typically feature cost estimators, material lists, and installation instructions and tips on their websites. For some excellent online resources for planning your projects, check out Lowe's, Home Depot, and Bob Vila Design Tools. Hire moonlighters. Large construction companies often have large overhead costs, so they have to charge more for their work. A roofing company, for example, needs to purchase and maintain its trucks, pay rent on office space, and cover payroll expenses and insurance for its workers. To earn an extra buck on the side, the employees of many of these companies moonlight, which means they provide the same high-quality service on the side for a fraction of the cost. You can often locate prospective moonlighters by visiting worksites in your neighborhood. Ask to see the boss, and if he's not around, pitch your proposal to the workers. If the boss is around, you can ask him for an estimate without blowing your cover. Hiring moonlighters is a great idea, but make sure they have health insurance with accident coverage. If your workers don't have proper insurance and one of them gets hurt working on your house, your cost savings could quickly be sapped away by losses. If the moonlighters don't have insurance, buy an insurance policy that includes accident coverage for workers. Hire students over the summer. When school's out, college and high-school students flock to area businesses to secure summer employment, and they're often turned away because so many people are looking for jobs. That's where you come in. Post an ad in the local newspaper or contact high schools and colleges in your area to let them know you're looking for summer laborers. Students are eager and well-qualified to perform the following renovation chores: Mowing, weeding, trimming bushes and trees, and planting flowers Patching and sealing driveways and walks De-cluttering garages, basements, and attics Vacuuming, window washing, and other cleaning Demolishing old storage sheds Tearing out old carpeting Patching and painting inside and out Refinishing decks Buy overstocked or discontinued building materials. When you wander the aisles at your local hardware or building-supply store, find what you want and then ask about any overstocked or discontinued materials that are similar in appearance. Talk to the manager, who most likely wants to clear the old, overstocked items from inventory to make room for the new merchandise that's in greater demand. You can often purchase overstocked or discontinued merchandise for a fraction of the cost. Buy builder's-grade materials. When shopping for building materials, ask the salesperson to direct you to the builder's-grade materials — the more affordable options, such as prefab cabinets and low-grade carpeting. If installed and maintained properly, these materials are perfectly suitable for most markets. If you're flipping on the ritzy side of town, however, you may need to buy the good stuff. Gauge your selection of materials by the visibility and importance of the rooms. Consider using higher-quality materials for the kitchen, main bathroom, and master bedroom and a lesser quality for the other bedrooms and the second and third bathrooms. Use remnant material to trim your costs. Carpeting stores, countertop manufacturers, and other suppliers often have remnants in the back that may be sufficient for completing small jobs. Picky customers often return items that have tiny scratches or dents as well as materials that they cut a little too short. These gently used materials may be just what you need, and you can pick them up for pennies on the dollar. Buy time-saving power tools. When you hire a contractor, you indirectly pay for the tools that make the job much easier. When you rent a tool, you have to return it. When you buy your own tools, however, you have them for as long as they work, and you can spread the cost over several flips. If you're a do-it-yourselfer, buy the tools that make it easier for you to do a professional job. In addition to the standard hammers, pliers, wrenches, screwdrivers, tape measures, paint scrapers, and paintbrushes, almost every house flipper can simplify do-it-yourself jobs with the following power tools: Heat gun for stripping wallpaper and paint Power washer to clean everything from decks to siding Power roller for painting inside walls and ceilings Cordless drill with a well-stocked drill-bit case Screw gun with Phillips and flat-head screw bits Circular saw for decks and other woodworking projects Reciprocating saw for cutting anything you can't cut with a circular saw Nail gun for quick and easy single-handed nail driving Vibrating sander, or belt sander, for sanding out scratches and gouges in wood surfaces Charge purchases on a rewards-back credit card. Credit-card companies offer some pretty sweet deals to reward customers for using their cards, and as long as you pay the balance in full when you receive the bill, you're not socked with high interest charges. If your building supplier offers its own credit card, you may get a discount on all purchases. If not, shop around for other cards. Companies offer everything from cash-back deals to frequent-flyer miles, free merchandise, free groceries, 0 percent interest for a specific period of time, and other attractive benefits. Take full advantage of these perks. Schedule work off-season. During the off-season, larger companies have to keep their employees busy in order to pay them and finance their benefits. Use this as a bargaining chip when negotiating the cost of repairs and renovations. However, don't delay a project that needs to be done just to save a few bucks — holding costs (the cost of maintaining a flip) can outstrip any savings. You reap two additional benefits by scheduling work off-season. The contractor is more likely to complete the job on schedule and is generally more responsive when you need her services in season. Pool your projects. Most skilled laborers charge a minimum for just showing up. You pay for their time and travel expenses no matter how small the job. To save money, pool your projects. You can draw up a list of projects for the plumber, a list for the carpenter, and another list for the electrician. Have them complete all the projects in one trip. Better yet, if you have several houses going at one time, ask the contractor whether she'll consider giving you a discount if you guarantee that she can work on all your properties. Talk with your neighbors. If they're having the same work done on their homes, you may be able to negotiate a better price for multiple jobs. Rent a large Dumpster (a.k.a. skip) for all the tear-out and construction debris so all your contractors have one place to dump rubbish from your flip. By supplying the Dumpster, you can tell your contractors to remove the cost of waste removal from their estimates.

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Flipping Houses Flipping Houses For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-30-2022

"Flipping houses" sounds as easy as 1-2-3: 1) Buy a house significantly below market value, 2) fix it up, and 3) sell it. However, when you actually try to flip a house, you soon realize that it's tougher than it sounds. The beginner faces several hurdles, not the least of which is tracking down properties with potential and buying them for cheap. This Cheat Sheet brings you up to speed in a hurry on house flipping basics and helps you clear the most common hurdles.

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Flipping Houses Flipping Strategy: Buying into a Hot Market

Article / Updated 03-30-2022

When most people think of flipping houses, they immediately envision a process of buying a ramshackle house on the cheap, fixing it up, and then reselling it for more than they've invested in it. That's certainly the underlying theme, but the actual process of flipping houses spawns a tool shed full of choices and questions, including the following: Are you going to live in the house while fixing it up? How long can you afford to hold the house before selling it? How extensive are the renovations you're willing and able to perform? Before you even consider making an offer on a house, know how you're going to profit from it. Are you going to buy it at a bargain and resell it immediately at market value, do a quick makeup job and resell it, perform some major renovations, or fix it up and use it as a rental? Each of these strategies has benefits and drawbacks, but each strategy is a perfectly legitimate way to turn a profit flipping property. When developing a game plan, you want to maximize your strengths, minimize your weaknesses, and fully exploit the opportunities that surround you. Many a flipper have already developed their own strategies that achieve those three goals. By becoming more aware of these existing strategies, you can choose the one that fits you best and perhaps even improvise to invent your own strategy. Always buy low. If you can't get a house for 25 to 30 percent or more below what you estimate to be its market value, keep looking. In a sizzling real estate market, you can turn a profit fairly quickly by buying a house, moving in, and then sitting back and watching the real estate values soar. This approach works only if you have time on your hands, are speculative by nature, and have a knack for purchasing houses in a hot market at just the right time. This strategy offers several benefits: If the market remains strong, your property value rises without your having to lift a finger. Your equity in the property rises, boosting your borrowing power for other investments. By living in the home for two years or more, up to $250,000 of your profit ($500,000 for a couple), is tax free, at least according to the tax laws as of late 2006. Buying into a hot market also carries some significant risks: In areas where property values are soaring, the housing bubble may burst, leaving you with a home that is worth less than what you paid for it. Stuff happens. You can have a great house at a great price in a hot market with the top agent working to sell it, and the house still may not sell. Prepare yourself for all possibilities. What goes up sometimes comes down — sometimes very quickly — but all markets can be good for investing as long as you recognize the conditions and opportunities and react appropriately.

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General (Careers) Success Habits For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-25-2022

Whether you want to know how to succeed in life or how to succeed in business, you need to create habits for success. Success, or excellence, is always created by establishing positive, repetitive habits. Unfortunately, almost anything we do repeatedly can lose its luster, passion, and energy. Without doing something repeatedly, you won’t establish it as a habit. When you focus on repeating the actions that lead to success, you create habits. So, repeating and success are like peas and carrots: They go together.

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Trades, Tech, & Engineering Careers Machining For Dummies Cheat Sheet

Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-23-2022

Machining was the basis by which the first industrial revolution began, and is just as important a factor to the fourth industrial revolution currently underway. Without machined parts, there'd be no cars or airplanes for a quick trip to visit Aunt Mary. There'd be no cappuccino machines, no Large Hadron Collider, no late-night talk shows, no replacements for your tired knee and hip joints. Scholars rightly claim that manufacturing is the foundation of modern society, but ask anyone who's spent a few years on the shop floor and they'll tell you: Machining is the cornerstone that holds it all together.

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