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Regardless of your age or your employment status, life insurance can be an integral part of your overall financial planning. Why? The proceeds that are received from life insurance, which beneficiaries can obtain free of income taxes, can be used for a multitude of purposes:  the payoff of debts, the supplementing of income for ongoing expenses, or for ensuring that other promises are kept, such as paying for the future college education of a child or a grandchild.

When you are in the process of purchasing life insurance, there are several things to keep in mind. These include making sure that you have the proper type and amount of insurance coverage. It is also essential that you review the carrier you are considering purchasing your coverage through, to determine whether it is secure and stable financially. 

The History of Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Company

Guarantee Trust Life has been in the business of offering its products and services to individuals, families, and businesses for more than 80 years. During that time, the company has grown and expanded.

Today, Guarantee Trust Life offers a broad range of products that can help its customers to build and protect wealth. 

For over eight decades, the Holston family has directed the operations of Guarantee Trust Life. The company believes in integrity. Guarantee Trust has a consistent track record of success, and in maintaining the confidence that its employees and policy holders place in it.

Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Review

Guarantee Trust Life posted record operating gains in the year 2016, making the company’s overall financial condition the strongest that it has ever had in its 80+ year history. The company grew surplus by 10% and assets by 11%, while increasing its reserves by 12 percent, and achieving net premium of approximately $219 million.

At the end of 2016, Guarantee Trust Life held more than $500 million in assets, of which $523 million is invested. The company has $445 million in total reserve for insurance policies and contracts.

The company also holds more than $77 million in net surplus – making it a prime candidate for being able to pay out its current and future policy holder claims. Guarantee Trust Life offers its products to 49 of the U.S. states, as well as in the District of Columbia. The primary headquarters of Guarantee Trust is in Glenview, Illinois.

Insurer Ratings and Better Business Bureau Grade

Due to its stable financial footing, Guarantee Trust Life has been rated as a B++ (Very Good) by A.M. Best Company. Also, even though Guarantee Trust is not an accredited company via the Better Business Bureau (BBB), the company has been given a grade of A+ by the BBB. This is on an overall grade scale of A+ to F.

Over the last three years, Guarantee Trust Life has closed out 19 customer complaints – of which three were closed out within the previous 12 months. Of the total 19 customer complaints, 11 had to do with problems with the company’s products/services, four had to do with advertising/sales issues, two were related to billing/collection issues, and another two had to do with delivery problems.

Life Insurance Coverage Offered Through Guarantee Trust

Guarantee Trust Life provides a variety of different life insurance coverage options. Unlike many other insurers that provide essential, individual term and/or permanent coverage, Guarantee Trust offers some other types of niche life insurance coverage alternatives. These include:

  • Critical Provider
  • Juvenile Life
  • MultiLife – Group Term Life Insurance

With the critical provider coverage, policy holders have the option of obtaining a ten or a twenty-year level, renewable term life insurance policy, along with a critical illness accelerated benefit rider. These plans offer death benefit coverage only, with no cash value build up – which can help to ensure that the premium is kept affordable. This is particularly the case when the insured is in good health at the time of policy application. The critical provider plan can be issued to qualifying individuals who are between the ages of 0 and 60.

These policies will pay a benefit upon the death of the insured or will pay out a “living benefit” if the insured is diagnosed with a covered health condition while his or her policy is still in force. If this is the case, the critical provider plan will pay out a lump sum benefit directly to the insured. These funds may be used to cover direct and/or indirect costs that are associated with the insured’s condition, as well as any other needs that the insured sees fit. The money that is received can help to replace lost income, to pay bills that are not covered by one’s health insurance plan, and/or even to take a recuperative vacation.

The critical provider plans also can be converted over to a permanent form of life insurance. This means that there will be both death benefit protection, as well as cash value build up. There will also no longer be a “time limit” on the coverage, provided that the premium continues to be paid.

The cash that is in the cash value component of a permanent life insurance policy can grow tax deferred, meaning that there is no tax due on the gain of these funds unless or until it is withdrawn.

Guarantee Trust Life also offers the Great Start juvenile life insurance plan. While nobody ever wants to think about the passing of a child, the reality is that unanticipated illnesses and injuries can and do occur. If this is the case, having the financial protection that is needed can be helpful, and it can provide one less thing to worry about at an already stressful time in life.

The Great Start life insurance policy offers life insurance that can grow with a child over time. This modified premium whole life insurance policy offers not only death benefit protection but also a cash value that builds up money on a tax deferred basis over time. These funds can be used by the child in the future for things such as the down payment on a home, funding the cost of college education, purchasing a new vehicle, or any other want to need.

Also, because this is a whole life policy, the amount of the premium will be locked in – guaranteed never to increase, even as the child becomes older (and even if he or she were to contract an adverse health issue).

With the Great Start plan, life insurance coverage may be attained for $5,000, $10,000, or even $20,000. There is no medical exam as a part of the approval process, and there is no waiting period before coverage begins. There are only three simple health questions on the application for coverage – and, all children who are under the age of 25 have just one set premium. When the child / insured turns age 31, 34, and 37, they will have the option to increase the amount of their coverage. The Great Start plan can offer an excellent opportunity to lock in a low rate of premium now, and to make sure that a child has the life insurance coverage that he or she needs – no matter what.

There is also a MultiLife group term life insurance plan that is offered via Guarantee Trust Life. This plan covers two people, and it provides death benefit amounts that are as high as $500,000. If both insureds should die within a period of each other, the death benefit can help family members with the financial needs that they may have.

The MultiLife group term is an all-risk coverage, which means that the benefit is paid out by the insurance carrier for any cause of death – including illness or accident – with only just a few exceptions. The interval periods (i.e., the amount of time in which both insureds on the policy must pass away for the death benefit to be paid out) include 30, 180, and 365 days.

There is also a single life benefit of $15,000 that can be added to this plan for helping to cover the cost of a funeral and other final expenses if one of the insureds on the policy dies before the other.

The MultiLife plan can help with providing affordable life insurance coverage that can help with protecting loved ones who may depend on one or both insureds for their financial support.

The Advantages of Guaranteed Issue Products

Typically, when you apply, you’ll have to wait to schedule the medical exam, wait for the paramedic, wait for the results, then wait for them to go through the underwriting. The process can take several weeks. With the guaranteed issue plans, you can get life insurance coverage in a fraction of the time. With some policies, it could be a matter of 24 hours.

Another advantage is that these plans can give life insurance coverage to applicants that wouldn’t be able to be accepted otherwise. A lot of people can’t get coverage before of their health or some pre-existing conditions such as severe diabetes. This is where no exam coverage can be beneficial.

Cost of Guaranteed Trust Life Products

Guaranteed Trust Life is a great company for those that have some sort of high risk addition and can’t get approved for traditional underwriting.  Without having to take a medical exam and essentially getting approved with no medical exam whatsoever, makes the cost of these products that much higher.

It is clear that shopping for life insurance may not be pleasant.  However Guaranteed Trust Life will make it easy for you.  If you are chronically ill you may want to look at a Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance or Guaranteed Acceptance Life Insurance policy.  These plans will help you to manage these expenses without burdening your loved ones.

Other Products and Services Available

In addition to life insurance coverage, Guarantee Trust Life also offers an extensive list of other goods and services from which to choose. These include the following:

  • Hospital Compensation
  • Critical Disease
  • Cancer, Heart Attack, & Stroke
  • Short Term Care
  • Accident Coverage
  • Group Gap
  • Association Gap
  • Group Accident
  • College and University Sports Coverage
  • College and University Accident Coverage
  • K – 12 Student Accident, Sickness, and Athlete
  • Child Care Facility Accident Coverage

How to Get the Best Premium Rates on Life Insurance with Guarantee Trust

If you are in the process of looking for life insurance coverage through Guarantee Trust Life – or from any other insurer – it will be helpful to work in conjunction with an independent insurance agent or broker. That way, you can compare the available policies and premium prices more carefully. Once you have located a price point, you can settle on which one will be perfect for you.

When you’re ready to see which life insurance policies and premium rates are open to you, we want to assist you. We are an independent life insurance brokerage, and we can help you with finding all the essential details that you need for making a wise buying decision. We will do this for you very promptly and smoothly – all directly from your computer. Therefore, if you are able to get started, all you need to do now is just merely click here and fill out the quote.

We know that buying life insurance coverage can be stressful. There are so many different plans and companies to choose from – and of course you want to move in the right direction. This can be done much easier if you have someone like us to help you. So, reach out to us – we’re ready to support you.

Source: goodfinancialcents.com

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Protecting the people and the things that are important to you is an indispensable part of your overall financial planning. One way to lock in financial protection for those who you are about is through life insurance.

The funds from life insurance are received income tax free by beneficiaries, and the funds can be used for mostly any need that the individual(s) sees fit, such as the payoff of massive debts (including a mortgage balance), the payment of everyday living expenses, and/or to ensure that a child or a grandchild will have the money they need for their future college education.

Before committing to purchase life insurance, it is vital to make sure you are going with the right type and amount of protection. It is also essential to review the insurance company that you are planning to purchase the coverage through so that you can ensure that it is secure and steady from a financial standpoint and that it has a good, positive name for paying out its policy holders’ claims. One of the insurance companies that meets these criteria is Esurance – an Allstate company.

The History of Esurance Life Insurance

Esurance was initially founded in 1999 – and it is one of the very first companies to offer insurance policies to consumers via the Internet, rather than requiring in person meetings or phone calls with an insurance agent.

Over time, the company has been acquired more than once – first by Folksamerica Holding Company (a subsidiary of While Mountains Insurance Group) in 2000, and then again in 2011 by Allstate.

Esurance is owned by Allstate Insurance Company – which is the oldest publicly held personal lines insurance carrier in the United States. Allstate has more than 80 years of experience in working with policy holders to protect assets, wealth, and other things of importance. Allstate is a Fortune 100 company, and it holds assets that exceed $130 billion. (Allstate is headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois).

While Esurance is part of a large company, this entity of Allstate can offer more of a small company feel – which includes more personalized customer service. Esurance also offers reliable insurance products that are combined with smart, cutting edge tools that can help its policy holders with managing their insurance whenever, wherever, and how ever they wish. The company’s primary headquarters is in San Francisco, California.

Esurance Life Insurance Review

Today, Esurance has more than 3,000 associates across the United States, with 17 offices around the country. The company offers its products in 43 of the 50 U.S. states – and to date, the company has more than 5.2 million vehicles insured.

The company participates in a vast amount of consumer advertising, as well as in the sponsorship of sporting and other events. For example, its tagline is “Insurance for the Modern World,” with its primary target being families and professionals who are in the 25 to 49 age group. Just some of the sports teams and events where Esurance can be found as a sponsor include the U.S. Open tennis tournament, as well as with the San Francisco Giants, and the Golden State Warriors. In the spring of 2015, Esurance also announced a multi-year sponsorship with Major League Baseball, where Esurance will be the exclusive auto insurance partner for the MLB.

Esurance prides itself on its customer service – which includes the timely payment of its policy holder claims. The company offers 24 / seven claims service from dedicated reps, and in most cases, it takes ten days or less to settle vehicle damage claims.

Over the years, the company has earned numerous awards and accolades, including:

  • PR Daily’s Video Awards in 2015
  • Bay Area’s Healthiest Employers in 2015
  • 2015 InformationWeek Elite 100
  • NJBIZ Best Places to Work in New Jersey (in 2015)
  • J.D. Power award for Highest Customer Satisfaction Among Auto Insurers in California

Insurer Ratings and Better Business Bureau Grade

Due to the company’s financial strength and its ability to pay out claims, Esurance has earned high ratings from the insurer rating agencies. This includes the receipt of an A+ from A.M. Best Company.

Allstate, the parent company of Esurance, is rated as an AA- from Standard & Poor’s (which is the fourth highest rating out of a total of 22 categories), as an A+ by A.M. Best Company (which is the second largest out of 16 total categories) and as an Aa3 from Moody’s Investor Services (which is the fourth highest rating out of a total of 21 possible types).

Also, while Esurance is not an accredited business through the Better Business Bureau (BBB), the BBB has provided Esurance with a grade of A+ – which is on an overall grade scale of A+ to F. In the previous three years, Esurance has wrapped up a total of 362 customer complaints – of which 33 were closed out within the last 12 months.

Of the over-all 362 customer complaints, 197 had to do with problems with the company’s products/services. 69 were related to billing/collection issues, 61 regarding advertising/sales issues, 26 were about delivery issues, and regarded guarantee/warranty issues.

Likewise, Allstate has been given the grade of A- from the Better Business Bureau, and this company has closed out a total of 1,519 customer complaints within the past three years (with 138 being closed out within the previous 12 months).

Of these 1,519 complaints, 900 had to do with problems with the company’s products and/or services, 320 were related to billing and/or collection issues, 144 were related to delivery issues, 137 had to do with advertising and/or sales issues, and 18 were referred to guarantee / warranty issues.

Life Insurance Coverage Offered Through Esurance

While Esurance is primarily known for offering auto and other types of vehicle insurance coverage, including some of the best insurance for young drivers, the company also provides the ability for consumers to purchase life insurance. Esurance offers quotes on term life insurance coverage – which provides death benefit only protection, with no cash value or savings build up. Because term life insurance is the purest, a basic form of life insurance coverage can often be quite affordable – especially if the insured is young and in relatively good health at the time of policy application.

With term insurance, as its name suggests, coverage can be purchased for a set time – or term – which can typically be anywhere between one and 30 years (depending on the plan). In most cases, the amount of the term life insurance coverage – as well as the sum of the premium that is due – will remain level during the allotted time frame.

In some cases, a term life insurance policy that is purchased via Esurance can be converted over to a permanent form of life insurance coverage. This can allow the insured to obtain life insurance for the remainder of his or her lifetime (provided that the premiums are paid). It can also provide the ability to build up cash value in the cash component of the insurance policy.

With permanent life insurance, the cash value can grow and compound over time on a tax deferred basis. This means that there is no tax due on the increase in the contract until the money is withdrawn. Funds that are in a permanent life insurance policy’s cash value can be either borrowed or removed by the policy holder for any purpose, such as supplementing retirement income, paying off debt (typically higher interest debt such as credit card balances), purchasing a new vehicle, paying for a child or grandchild’s college education, or for going on a long-awaited vacation.

While the funds that are borrowed from a permanent life insurance policy do not typically have to be repaid, if they are not, the shortfall – plus interest – will be charged against the amount of the death benefit that is ultimately paid out to the policy’s beneficiary. (If the policy is canceled before the insured’s death, then the amount of the un-repaid cash value can be considered as a taxable distribution, and then taxed accordingly by the IRS).

Esurance offers its life insurance quotes directly online, which can be very convenient for consumers. The company provides these quotes via Efinancial. The life insurance coverage is not underwritten directly by Esurance, but rather by other insurance carriers in the market place, such as:

  • Prudential
  • AIG
  • Transamerica
  • Fidelity Life
  • Protective
  • Legal & General of America / Banner William Penn
  • North American Company

Because the life insurance that is offered through Esurance is done so by various insurance carriers, the products, rates, and the time that is required to purchase a policy (such as underwriting procedures) can vary from one company to another.

To obtain renters insurance quote, or any quote for that matter, a consumer must provide the following information via the Esurance website:

  • Name
  • Date of Birth
  • Gender
  • Height
  • Weight
  • Zip Code
  • Primary Phone Number
  • Email Address
  • The answer to whether they have been treated for any significant medical conditions (and if yes, provide additional details)
  • The answer to whether they have used tobacco products within the past 12 months (and if yes, provide further details)

If a consumer finds a policy that they are interested in pursuing, then it is possible to apply directly for this policy on the Esurance website.

Other Products and Services Available

In addition to life insurance coverage, Esurance offers an extensive list of other products and services, including the following:

  • Health Insurance
  • Pet Insurance
  • Cell Phone Insurance
  • Home Owners Insurance
  • Renters Insurance
  • Condo Insurance
  • Flood Insurance
  • Umbrella Insurance
  • Car Insurance
  • Motorcycle Insurance
  • Boat Insurance
  • PWC (Power Water Craft) Insurance
  • RV (Recreational Vehicle) Insurance
  • Travel Trailer Insurance
  • Snowmobile Insurance
  • Classic Vehicle Insurance
  • Commercial Auto Insurance
  • Scooter Insurance
  • Segway Insurance
  • Golf Cart Insurance

How to Get the Best Life Insurance Premium Rates on Coverage with Esurance

If you are seeking the best life insurance premium rates on coverage through Esurance – or any other provider of life insurance – then it may be to your advantage to work with an independent life insurance agency or brokerage. That way, you can compare, side-by-side, life insurance policies and prices, and from there you can determine which one may be the best for you.

When you are ready to see which life insurance plan(s) you may qualify for – as well as the premium rates – we can help. We are an independent life insurance brokerage, and we work with many of the top life insurance carriers in the industry today. We can offer you this information swiftly, simply, and expediently – all directly from your home computer. We also have experts available who can answer any of the additional questions or concerns regarding life insurance that you may have. If you are ready to proceed, then all you should do is just simply fill out our quote form.

We know that the purchase of life insurance may seem a bit overwhelming. There are many variables that you need to consider. However, this process can be made so much easier when you are working with an ally on your side. So, contact us today – we’re here to help.

Source: goodfinancialcents.com

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Ideal Decorating co-owners Jon Scherbring (left), Beth Gudenkauf (center) and Kelly Milbert sit in their home decor store in Solon last Wednesday. Kelly Milbert took over her parents’ furniture and decor store in Dyersville, opening another store in Guttenberg and now in Solon. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Lamps with warm lighting are displayed at Ideal Decorating in Solon. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

SOLON — If you’re looking for a design solution, whether that’s furniture, décor or flooring, the team at Ideal Decorating may be able to help out.

With the flagship store and warehouse for Ideal Decorating is in Dyersville, the business offers everything from mattresses and bedding to area rugs, furniture, artwork, lighting, and flooring, for both residential and commercial spaces.

The team also offers home consultations and free delivery within a 60-mile radius of Dyersville. And it’s just opened a new retail store in downtown Solon.

A living room is staged at Ideal Decorating in Solon. The store also sells fabric and swatches at the store at 310 E. Main St. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Beth Gudenkauf, 31, is one of the owners, along with Tommy Dee, Jon Scherbring and Kelly Milbert, whose parents ran the Dyersville business for more than a decade before she took it over in 2014.

The business partnership among the four has grown over the last decade.

“We’ve built a company that we are really proud of,” Gudenkauf said. “We cherish the fact that we are continuing the legacy in a way that I know our previous owners would be really proud of, too.

“I think what sets us apart from the rest is our outstanding customer service,” she said. “We build relationships with our customers and love to see the final outcome of their projects, whether it’s big or small.”

It also has helped the business grow. Just two years into taking over the business, they opened a second location in Guttenberg, along the Mississippi River in Clayton County.

This is one of the displays at Ideal Decorating in Solon. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Gudenkauf describes her role as operating manager of the Solon store, which opened March 10.

“I’ll help with anything from office work — flooring blueprints, sales, orders, and inventory — to scheduling flooring installs and managing employees,” she said. “I’ll spend days getting caught up on orders, flooring estimates, scheduling jobs/deliveries, work on some social media, all while also helping customers as they come in.”

Scherbring also does a little bit of everything, she said.

“He’ll help with the overall design and look of the three locations,” she said. “He’s great at helping customers pick out furniture and decor and isn’t afraid to go a little out of the box with his designs. You’ll see him at every furniture and decor market, checking out the new trends and bringing them to life in our stores.”

Milbert handles the finances and will help on the sales floor when needed, Gudenkauf added.

And Dee, she said, “was a big influence in coordinating the Solon project but has also helped with our build-outs at the other locations. He is an owner that will continue to help with the growth in Solon.”

Fabric swatches are displayed at Ideal Decorating in Solon. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Gudenkauf said when Ideal Decorating was at a point where it wanted to expand, it landed on Solon.

“We saw the growing demographics in that area,” she said. “We also saw a lot of similarities between Solon and Dyersville, which made us believe it was a good fit for us.”

Gudenkauf said she is thankful for the teamwork of the owners, eight full-time employees and a few part-time high school students who help with their schedules allow.

“Every day is different,” she said. “One day I might need to help with a delivery or unloading a truck and the next day I might spend the entire day at my desk.”

A staged living room is shown at Ideal Decorating in Solon. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

That variety is a perk of the job, Gudenkauf said.

“Every customer is different,” she said. “We’ll have customers that still have a very traditional style and we’ll cater to that and the next one that walks in the door wants a very modern look. We’re very accommodating to all the styles that are presented to us.

“You can walk into our locations and get the urban industrial vignettes, as well as a farmhouse vignette right next to it. We have a very collective design group and use that to our advantage when ordering for our showrooms.”

Know a business that should be considered for a “My Biz” feature? Let us know by emailing [email protected].

Ideal Decorating

Owners: Tommy Dee, Beth Gudenkauf, Kelly Milbert and Jon Scherbring

Address: 310 E. Main St., Solon

Phone: (319) 624-2030

Website: theidhome.com

A bedroom setup is displayed at Ideal Decorating in Solon, which opened in March. The owners frequently change the staging of displays to highlight different pieces. (Savannah Blake/The Gazette)

Source: thegazette.com

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When purchasing a house, it is almost an automatic reaction for many of us to purchase home insurance.

Indeed, home insurance is considered to be so vital that many mortgage providers will require you to have it prior to lending.

These policies help protect your home against incidents such as theft or damage from natural disasters such as fires or floods.

While home insurance is a useful and valuable benefit, it has its share of drawbacks, namely, the fact that it does nothing to protect the valuable items inside your home.

Your systems, such as heating and air conditioning, and appliances, such as washers and stoves, can add up to a hefty sum when considered collectively. If only there were a home insurance policy available to cover these needs.

Luckily, there is! Welcome to the world of home warranty plans. Below, we’ll look at America’s First Choice to determine whether or not it should make your short list of home warranty providers.

America’s 1st Choice Home Warranty: How It Works

If you have purchased a television, oven, or refrigerator, chances are it came with a standard manufacturer’s warranty of at least one year.

This protects you in the event that the product breaks or malfunctions. Home warranties are usually purchased through monthly installments to ensure continuous coverage.

If the item in question does fail, the policy provider is promising to repair or replace it to the original condition, meaning you are left satisfied that your investment is fully protected.

A home warranty plan works in precisely the same way, but covers appliances and systems existing within your home.

America’s First Choice proudly offers qualified technicians, quick repairs, and guaranteed replacements on everything from garbage disposals to water heaters in return for a small monthly payment.

There are different levels of membership available at different costs, depending on your specific budget, needs, and lifestyle. Policies are flexible and versatile, with the opportunity to add on specific features to further customize your plan. 

American’s First Choice is one of our favorite home warranty providers.

Here’s why.

How Do Plans Work?

A plan from America’s First Choice aims to make your life easier. When you need to make a claim, call the company’s direct number to connect with a customer service agent.

They will then schedule a licensed technician to visit you, diagnose the problem, and decide whether a repair or a replacement is the best solution.

A service fee of $60 will be required for the technician to visit your home, which is a competitive rate compared to other warranty plans of the same standard.

What Plans Are Offered?

America’s First Choice offers three main tiers of policies, with an additional option covering systems within your home.

Platinum

The top tier is the most comprehensive option, offering coverage for a variety of appliances:

  • Oven/range
  • Stove/cooktop

  • Clothes dryer and clothes washer
  • Gas or electric water heater
  • Refrigerator with ice maker
  • Garbage disposal
  • Garage door opener
  • Air conditioning or cooler
  • Built-in microwave
  • Heating system or built-in wall unit
  • Plumbing system
  • Electrical system
  • Faucets
  • Plumbing stoppages
  • Ductwork

As the premium option, the price is higher for the platinum policy. Any interested parties can call for a free quote, which may be adjusted depending on changes made to the plan and the items covered.

Gold

The medium option, gold, is very similar to the platinum policy, with a few distinct exceptions. In general, it will not cover any extras, such as ice makers or plumbing stoppages.

Items included in this plan are:

  • Clothes dryer and clothes washer
  • Oven/range
  • Stove/cooktop
  • Refrigerator
  • Gas or electric water heater
  • Garage door opener
  • Garbage disposal
  • Air conditioning or cooler
  • Heating system or built-in wall unit
  • Plumbing system
  • Electrical system
  • Ductwork

As a result of the less comprehensive coverage, this is generally a cheaper option for customers. 

Silver

Again, the Silver policy covers fewer items and systems and is an ideal option for those on a tight budget but still requiring some protection.

Coverage is included on the following:

  • Oven/range
  • Stove/cooktop
  • Clothes dryers and washer
  • Gas or electric water heater
  • Garage door opener
  • Garbage disposal
  • Dishwasher
  • Refrigerator

The Silver plan covers all the key essentials and is the most affordable of the three policy options.

Systems Only

In addition to the central three policies, America’s First Choice also offers a ‘systems only’ plan, which allows the homeowner to simply protect crucial systems in their home. These systems can be very expensive to repair individually.

This policy includes protection for the following:

  • Plumbing system
  • Electrical system
  • Heating systems
  • One unit of air conditioning or cooler systems
  • Gas or electric water heaters

If you are looking for the very basics to be protected, this is an ideal option.

The versatility and diversity of America’s First Choice make their policies popular and appealing. There is an option only to cover exactly what you want, or to go all out for total protection.

Exclusions

It is important to note that America’s First Choice plans do not currently cover any pre-existing conditions, whether these are known or unknown at the time of activation.

All items must be in good working condition in order to qualify for coverage.

Alternatives to America’s First Choice

America’s First Choice is a great option for your home warranty, but if you’re looking to shop around, there are multiple options that are worth your consideration.

You can get a quote in minutes to help inform your decision.

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The Pros and Cons

As with any policy, there are positives and negatives to take into account to help you make a balanced and informed purchasing decision.

Pros

  • Technician Flexibility: Policyholders can use any technician – unlike some other plans, homeowners are not required to use technicians endorsed and supplied by America’s First Choice, but may select someone of their choosing. The only requirement is that all technicians must be licensed, bonded, and fully insured.
  • Convenient Claim Filing: Claims can be filed in the 30-day waiting period, though the maximum payout will be limited to $150.
  • Affordable Service Rate: There’s a standard, flat service rate of $60 – helps homeowners to budget and be prepared in the event of a claim.
  • Guaranteed Coverage: A home warranty policy gives you peace of mind in exchange for a simple monthly payment.

Cons

  • Policy Exclusions: There are some well-hidden exclusions and exceptions to be aware of. Make sure to read your policy carefully so you understand what you’re signing up for.
  • Pre-Existing Exclusions: Any pre-existing conditions or issues will not be covered, whether you are aware of them or not at the time of taking out the policy. This means some essential items could be excluded from coverage.

Final Thoughts

America’s First Choice offers a clear, easy-to-use option for your home warranty. They offer three plan options, allowing you to select the one that will prove most beneficial to your home, needs, and lifestyle.

In addition, there is an option to purchase a plan to cover the systems in your home only—the ultimate budget option which still provides needed protection.

A home warranty plan can be a sensible, more affordable solution that keeps your home running smoothly.

Individual repairs and replacements can be pricey, involving a great deal of time and effort trying to find the best but most affordable solutions.

Replacing an appliance, such as an oven or refrigerator, can be expensive and even out of reach for those adhering to strict budgets.

A home warranty plan transforms this process into a single, affordable payment, meaning you will not have to spend vast amounts of money at short notice.

A warranty plan from America’s First Choice gives you the flexibility to choose what is right for you while also providing invaluable peace of mind and security.

Source: goodfinancialcents.com

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Miami has it all. Sunshine, pristine beaches and apartment spas that will make you wonder why anyone would ever leave.

Known internationally as one of the most scenic and exciting cities in the world, Miami is an iconic beachside metropolis filled with iconic people. With all that prestige comes some of the most over-the-top apartment amenities you’re ever going to find. From nail salons to steam rooms to serene bathrooms, these apartments have the spa style many Miami locals are looking for.

Listed below are 10 apartments with some of the best spa-style amenities in The Magic City. Whether you’re looking for personal pampering or the opportunity to unplug, unwind and let the stress melt away, there’s an apartment on this list that has the amenities you need to properly decompress.

Source: Rent. / Flamingo Point

Good luck finding a spa and nail salon with a better view than the one at Flamingo Point. Located in Central City, Miami Beach, this 614-unit complex sets the standard for spa-style apartment amenities and is the envy of renters all throughout South Beach and the rest of southern Florida.

With an in-house nail salon that looks like something out of a magazine and a massage room with muted colors and designer lighting, there really is no comparison to what Flamingo Point can offer in terms of relaxation-focused amenities. From a deep tissue massage to trying out that new nail style taking over TikTok, the spa facilities at Flamingo Point are the perfect place to get the job done.

Source: Rent. / Blue Lagoon 7

The spa facilities at Blue Lagoon 7 go well beyond its beautiful lakeside jacuzzi. The team behind Blue Lagoon 7 designed the complex with overall health, wellness and relaxation as their guiding principles. Boasting a steam room and a sauna, dry and wet heat preferences are both respected equally at this stellar apartment spa setup.

This Flagami apartment complex also provides residents with other relaxing amenities, like outdoor hammocks right on the lakeshore, and a yoga room that is separate from the gym so you can enjoy some peace and quiet while you get a good stretch in and meditate on the events of the day.

Source: Rent. / Gables Columbus Center

When your apartment bathroom is as luxurious as the picture above, it almost eliminates the desire to go to the spa entirely. With large soaking tubs, custom cabinetry and plenty of privacy and space to do what you please without self-consciousness stepping in the way, total relaxation is always only steps away from your bed when you call Gables Columbus Center home.

The spa-like qualities at Gables Columbus Center don’t stop at the apartment restrooms, either. This Coral Gables complex also boasts a resort-style pool and multiple luxuriously adorned communal lounge areas. These places are ideal as an end-of-the-day retreat to escape the stresses of the day before you retire to your apartment for the night.

Source: Rent. / Watermarc at Biscayne Bay

In the heart of Edgewater, 28 floors up, sits the stunning spa-like pool area of Watermarc at Biscayne Bay. High enough off the street to eliminate the noise pollution that comes with city living, this elevated oasis undoubtedly puts many of the nearby upscale spas and resorts to shame.

Shaded cabanas line the crystal-clear water and provide the type of unencumbered views you often have to pay a premium to enjoy. The spa-style doesn’t stop at the pool in this apartment complex, either. The apartment bathrooms at Watermarc at Biscayne Bay are truly second to none. A serene space for residents to start and end their day, these restrooms emphasize the “rest” half of the word and provide a relaxing respite from daily stress for the people lucky enough to call this gorgeous upscale apartment complex home.

Source: Rent. / Sanctuary at Doral

Sanctuary at Doral boasts a large steam room that sets the standard for apartments. A rare amenity already, the designers of these upscale Doral apartments went all out and super-sized the steam room so residents never have to wait to maintain their overall wellness.

Renowned for their ability to improve circulation, increase immune response and ease muscle pain, the benefits of hitting the steam room regularly go far beyond sweating out the demons the previous week. Not to mention the professional massage room right next to the steam room is always there for you. This is the perfect place to work out any knots that the steam isn’t able to melt away.

Source: Rent. / Gables Ponce

Gables Ponce is a great place for relaxation-minded people to call home. Packed with the type of luxurious amenities that make a busy life easier to deal with, Gables Ponce is not just an apartment complex, it’s a community that prioritizes mental and physical well-being above all else. With a fully-equipped massage room on-site, relief is never more than a few steps away from your front door.

In addition to the well-equipped massage room, this Coral Gables apartment complex also boasts a dry sauna, steam room and a cabana-lined heated saltwater pool. This shallow pool has submerged lounge chairs and is an ideal spot to kick back and catch some rays or enjoy a book without all the wayward splashing that often comes with a communal pool.

Source: Rent. / Brickell 1st Apartments

The outdoor spa area at Brickell 1st Apartments is a serene sunkissed area that encourages unplugging and facilitates relaxation of all kinds. Whether you’re soaking away the soreness of an especially tough workout in the large hot tub, kicking back under a sunshade with a good book, or anything in between, opportunities for relaxation abound at this beautiful apartment complex.

Brickell 1st Apartments also boasts a separate stretching, bodyweight workout and meditation area complete with stability balls, designer lighting, leather loungers and hanging bubble chairs to choose from. Whether you’re stretching out the tightness that often accompanies long days behind a desk or taking a moment to clear your mind after a long week, good luck finding a better place in Brickell to unwind.

Source: Rent. / Waterways Village Apartments

One of the difficult things about living in an apartment can be the lack of a backyard. Residents of Waterways Village Apartments are lucky enough to not face that issue thanks to its stunning communal courtyard. Situated under long strands of string lights and shaded by mature palm trees, this is the perfect place to decompress at the end of a long day while soaking in the warm Aventura air.

Waterways Village Apartments also boasts a large resort-style pool, waterfront views and lounge chairs peppered throughout the property to provide all of the residents of this 180-unit property enough room to relax in peace and quiet on their own.

Source: Rent. / Avalon Bonterra

Fountains, luxurious caban-style loungers and fully grown palm trees all line the pristine pool at Avalon Bonterra, one of Hialeah’s most highly sought-after apartment complexes. Just off the pool, there’s also an outdoor lounge, complete with comfortable couches and a gas grill. Sound like a good place to unwind on a Saturday?

Beyond all that, Avalon Bonterra also boasts a private beach area complete with rope hammocks and concrete tables shaded by large traditional palapas. With all these options for relaxation right outside your door, the amenities here render the need for a spa completely obsolete.

Source: Rent. / The Atlantic Doral

Situated right next to Merlin Lake, The Atlantic Doral looks a whole lot more like a luxury resort than it does an apartment complex. The main attraction of these spa-style amenities is the jacuzzi that looks like it was imported from an Italian villa or a Spanish royal’s palace.

This Doral area apartment complex is also complete with a resort-style pool surrounded by lounge chairs and shaded by palm trees. With so many opportunities to soak up the sun and let the stress slip away, it’s easy to see that life is good when you call The Atlantic Doral home.

Kick back and relax in Miami

People don’t move to Miami to live a more stressful life. Miami is all about living life to the fullest, working hard when you have to, and enjoying the good life when you have the chance.

The apartments mentioned on this list are the best of the best when it comes to giving residents the opportunity to get a massage, enjoy a steam session or soak their problems away without leaving the apartment complex. That sounds like the Miami way if you ask us.

Featured image source: Rent. / Flamingo Point

Source: rent.com

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Gov. Brian P. Kemp has announced that Creative Home Ideas, a YMF Company and design-house focused on home fashion, will create 70 new jobs and invest more than $15 million in a new distribution and light manufacturing facility in Liberty County.

“Last year, 85% of jobs created through economic development projects were located outside metro Atlanta, and we’re proud to welcome even more opportunity to rural areas like Liberty County,” Gov. Kemp said. “Through our reliable infrastructure, growing broadband connections, and world-class workforce development programs, the Peach State is attracting unprecedented levels of job creation. This is just the latest example of that success, and we’re thankful that Creative Home Ideas had Georgia on their minds when they made this choice.”

Started in 1981, Creative Home Ideas is a family-owned business with expertise in designing, manufacturing, and distributing fresh and innovative home decor. The company’s collections include bedding, bath, kitchen, window treatments, decorative pillows, throw blankets, and rugs.

“YMF Carpets is very excited to be expanding our operations into the South,” said Yaron Shemesh, CEO of YMF Carpets, Inc. “The facility we are planning will include light manufacturing which will allow us to grow our business and reach company goals while taking advantage of the proximity to the port of Savannah. We have enjoyed working with Liberty County and are looking forward to establishing a long relationship with the Georgia Ports Authority as well as the Midway community.”

Operations are expected to begin in 2024. The company will be hiring for light manufacturing, warehouse, shipping, customer service, and back office personnel. Interested individuals can learn more about working at Creative Home Ideas at Creative_ Home Ideas_Sunsbury_ [email protected].

“We are pleased and excited that Creative Home Ideas, a company with a reputation for innovation and growth, has selected Tradeport East Business Center as the best location to make a substantial investment for its future growth,” said Liberty County Development Authority Chairman Allen Brown. “Like the other corporations that have preceded them in selecting and investing in Tradeport East, we are confident that Creative Home Ideas will also find that Liberty County is a prime location to Come Grow Globally.”

Creative Home Ideas’ new facility will be located at 1962 Sunbury Road.

“We’re happy to welcome New Jersey-based Creative Home Ideas to Coastal Georgia,” said Executive Director of the Georgia Ports Authority Griff Lynch. “Its new distribution center will not only boost the local economy, it will set the company at the center of a logistics hub that puts global and domestic markets within easy reach.”

Senior Project Manager Adela Kelley represented the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) Global Commerce team on this competitive project in partnership with Liberty County Development Authority, the Georgia Ports Authority, and Georgia Power.

“Creative Home Ideas is a great addition to Georgia’s community of home-improvement companies, bringing with it many iconic brands,” said GDEcD Commissioner Pat Wilson. “By working with Georgia Ports Authority, Liberty County has created a successful environment for companies to grow by connecting them to domestic and international markets. Port activity supports one in nine jobs across the state, and that impact continues to grow as Georgia solidifies its position as a global business and logistics hub. We’re thankful for the dedication of partners like Liberty County and the ports, and congratulations to Creative Home Ideas.

Source: coastalcourier.com

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Last Updated on August 22, 2019 by Mark Ferguson

You can make a lot of money as a real estate agent but it takes some time to become on. You must take classes, pass a test, and hang your license with a broker. Having a real estate license can also help your real estate investing if you do a lot of deals. Real Estate Express is a real estate school that provides online classes in many states. Multiple agents in my office have taken online classes from Real Estate Express and have some great feedback on the program. I also took my real estate classes online back in 2001, but I did not use Real Estate Express. I used Vaned to get my license and that was so long ago, I barely remember anything about the classes except they were very boring!

Visit Real Estate Express

There are many other online companies that offer real estate licenses. You will find that many of those companies have very bad reviews and people tend to have bad experiences with them. Why is that? Because taking a real estate class online is one of the most boring things you can ever do. It is hours and hours of staring at a computer screen trying to comprehend information that you will most likely never need after you pass the test.

Many people think the courses are bad because of the material, but that is what the companies have to teach. They don’t decide what to teach, the real estate commissions for each state do that. You have your choice of taking classes online or in person in most states. I think you might learn more by taking classes in person, but the classes can be taken much faster online. 

Why should you take real estate classes online?

Potential agents need to ask themselves if an online environment is right for them when getting their real estate license. If you are an investor who only wants to use your license on your own deals, online is a great choice. If you want to make a career out of being a real estate agent, and you have a lot of free time, you may want to think about getting your license in an actual classroom. Being in a classroom is a better learning environment because you have an actual teacher, guest speakers, and can network with other people in the business. The downside is that it takes a lot of hours to get your license in a classroom. 

In Colorado, you need 168 hours of education before you can take the test to get your license. The amount of hours you need does not change whether you take the class online or in person, but some people can work faster online than others. You may be able to get through the material much faster online than you can in person. You are also able to work on the classes whenever you want when you take the online version. I have to take continuing education to keep my license every year. I prefer to take my classes online because I can get them done a little faster.  

Some people also learn better with different teaching techniques. Reading is a great way for some to learn, while others need an instructor. The online classes have videos and different types of teaching, but there is still a lot of reading. There is a lot of reading when you take in-person classes as well, but the instructor can help supplement that more than an online course. 

Is it hard to learn on a computer?

Before I get into the pros and cons of Real Estate Express, I want to talk about online classes in general. If you decide to take online classes, be prepared to be in front of a computer a lot! Most states have much fewer hours required than Colorado, but wherever you get your license it takes a lot of hours staring at a computer.

When you take classes online it can be very hard to motivate yourself and you have to set your own schedule. I know it was tough for me to go through the real estate material and I had been around real estate most of my life (my dad was an agent). The real estate classes are not meant to teach agents how to sell houses and make money, they are meant to teach you the laws and regulations. The laws and regulations are very important, but also very boring.

If you are taking real estate license classes to learn how to sell houses or how to invest in real estate, look somewhere else. You will need a supplemental training program to learn the ins and outs of investing or selling real estate.

I have seen a lot of complaints about Real Estate Express and most of those stem from the material. Real Estate Express does not choose the material they teach, the state licensing board does. It is important to remember the classes are meant to help you stay out of jail, not teach you how to sell houses. 

What are the real estate licensing requirements in all 50 states?

What real estate school did my agents choose?

When I got my license in 2001 there were very few choices for real estate schools. I choose Vaned.com because it was one of the few choices I had and somewhat affordable. It was a decent course and they are still around today. There are many more online schools now and prices have dropped as competition has increased.

The primary reason my agents choose Real Estate Express was they were the most affordable choice and they have a very high success rate for agents passing the test. My agents also had schedules or jobs that did not allow them to take their classes in a classroom environment. I think that most people find it is tough to take 168 hours of classes in a classroom when you have a job or a family. If you have to work around that schedule it can take forever to get through the classes. 

Reviews from my agents

From Justin:

“I earned my real estate license while at a full-time job, so knew I needed to do it online. I shopped all of the top options and did demos of each. The delivery was fairly similar across the board, so I chose Real Estate Express due to its better price point.

Doing hours and hours of online education is never easy, but I got through the material fairly quickly.

Out of everything, the biggest value was the test prep portion. Once your educational hours are complete, you still need to take state and national licensing exams at testing centers. Real Estate Express had modules specifically to prepare me for these. I really enjoyed these modules and most importantly…I passed the test on my first try. Many people I know had to take the exams 2 or 3 times before passing.

Based on all of this, I have recommended Real Estate Express to several people.”

From David

“I was able to get through the material rapidly while working a full-time job. I needed the flexibility online courses offer. Real Estate Express was inexpensive and has all the features I wanted.

As I shopped options, I saw that Real Estate Express had chat and phone support for people to reach. The money-back guarantee was good to see too.

During exam prep, when I went through the test questions the system gave immediate feedback on the question. This is called a coaching module. It lets you know why you got a question right or wrong as you test, which has helped my learning tremendously.”

From Michael

“I quit my job in order to get my real estate license as quickly as possible. After looking at various options, it seemed I could get through fastest by using an online option. Real Estate Express had what I needed and it was recommended to me by two people.

I did have some technical issues with my computer, so I had to use their support several times. They responded quickly and resolved my issues. It was good to have nice human support throughout the process.

I also had questions with the licensing process, which they helped me with as well.”

Real Estate Express advantages

When I got my license many years ago, I did not pass the test on my first try. Most of this was my fault because I thought I knew everything about real estate and did not need to study very much. The real estate test is not easy to pass. I passed the next try after studying more and taking my time prepping for the test. I had to take the test again on very short notice a few years later to become a broker for my sister’s company for a short period of time. I passed the test with three days of studying on my first try thanks to a test prep course. 

Test Preparation

One of the toughest parts of passing the real estate licensing tests is understanding the questions. The real estate licensing boards tend to use double and triple negatives to trip you up. The wording is very confusing and it is easy to fail even if you know the material well. I think the test prep is one of the most important features of any school because you need to get used to how the questions are asked on the test.

I have heard people complain about the poor wording of quizzes and questions in the real estate classes. It is true that they are worded poorly, but that is to prepare you for the state test. Here are some other advantages that I have seen from Real Estate Express:

Live support 

I have heard from numerous people about the life support Real Estate Express offers and how helpful it can be. They are very quick to respond to questions online or on the phone.

A+ BBB rating

They have a great rating with the BBB and respond to any complaints with logic ad solutions.

Affordable

Real Estate Express is Cheaper than most other real estate schools. They are the largest online real estate school in the country and that allows them to be able to charge less than the other schools. Their low prices are also why they have become the largest real estate school in the country. 

Courses in most states

Real Estate Express offers courses in 27 states. They are continually adding more states as they are approved to offer courses for real estate licenses. Some states require in-person classes while others do not. 

Real Estate Express disadvantages

There are some cons to Real Estate Express, but they will come with almost any online school.

The online structure is boring

When you take classes online it is really boring going through the material and hard to motivate yourself.

Fewer networking opportunities

When you take classes in person you meet the instructor, other classmates, and guest speakers. You miss that with online classes.

Less support with online classes

Even though most schools offer some type of support, you don’t have a live teacher you can ask questions to immediately.

No time table to complete the course

When you take classes in person you know exactly when the classes are and when they will be completed. When you take classes online it is all up to you to complete the work. There is no schedule and you must be self-motivated. 

Conclusion

If you are thinking of getting your license I recommend Real Estate Express if you go the online route. you can make a lot of money as a real estate agent, but remember the real estate classes will not teach you how to make money. The classes teach you the laws and regulations of being a real estate agent. If you want to learn to make money as an agent I would suggest choosing a broker who offers training and support for new agents.

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Source: investfourmore.com

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By Peter Anderson 6 Comments – The content of this website often contains affiliate links and I may be compensated if you buy through those links (at no cost to you!). Learn more about how we make money. Last edited January 21, 2019.

One thing that always amazes me is how people waste so much money every year, just through lack of caring or wanting to make the slightest effort in order to save.

They leave the low hanging fruit, for no other reason than they just don’t care, or they just aren’t aware of how easy it is to save.

If you do some due diligence before you buy something, you can save a ton of money.

In today’s post I thought I’d take a look at some extremely easy ways to find the best deals, and then to find additional savings on the things you buy.

Search For The Lowest Price On Things You’re Buying

When buying products, tickets or other items it’s important to do some research to make sure you’re getting the best deal.  Here are some easy ways to do just that.

  • Invisible Hand Browser Add-on:  This tool has quickly become my go-to tool because it just saves me a ton of time, and almost always finds me the best possible price for an item.  Basically the tool is a browser add-on (IE, Chrome, Safari, Firefox) that will show you the lowest prices on items when you’re on an e-commerce site.  So if I’m on Amazon looking for a wi-fi router and find one I like, it will tell me if there is a lower price elsewhere on the same router.  If it’s the lowest price, it will tell you that as well.  If I could choose only one price compare tool, this would be it.  This tool also allows you to find the best airfare deal as well, although I haven’t used that functionality yet.
  • Google Products Search:  A quick place you can go and search for a product name, and then find listings of the price of that item at a variety of different stores.
  • Honey: Honey is an automated coupon plugin for your browser that will find the best coupon code for your purchase and apply it automatically for you.  Find out more in our review.
  • Home Improvement Coupons: Looking for a coupon for a home improvement store like Home Depot or Lowe’s? Check out OneProjectCloser’s page.
  • PriceGrabber: Another price comparison site that will help you to track down the best deals on whatever item you’re looking for.

These are only a few of the useful sites you can use to find the best price on an item that you’re buying.   At the very least I’d suggest installing the browser add-on tool because it really makes saving money a no-brainer.

Search Google For Discounts On The Things You’re Buying

Once you’ve found the best possible deal on something that you’re buying, the next step is to find additional discounts if you can.   How do you do that? Simple, you search for them using Google.

As mentioned in the video, finding discounts online is as easy as this process:

  • Go to Google.com
  • Search for the store name or attraction plus the words “coupon code”, “discount”,”savings”  or other words you can think of that denote additional savings.
  • Comb through the results to find the best possible discount or coupon.  Best results aren’t always on the first page.
  • I’d say about half to 3/4 of the time you’ll find a coupon code you can use.

Savings In Action

The photo above shows an actual search that we used to find additional savings on our tickets to a local aquarium here in Minnesota, The Sea Life Aquarium at the Mall of America.  The tickets were originally about $20 per adult, more than we wanted to pay.

A quick search on google for “sea life aquarium mn coupon code”  brought up several sites with working coupon codes on the first page of the results.  Those codes on the first page would have saved us about $5-6.  Instead of stopping there we dug through a couple more pages of results and found a special discount code for a local trade group – that anyone could use – that ended up saving us $6 on each ticket – so $12 off.  Just that extra 5 minutes saved us an additional $6.

Sites To Find Discount And Coupon Codes

If you’re not finding much in the Google search you tried above, often you can just find a coupon code or discount by checking out a coupon aggregator site, or coupon forum.  Here are a couple of my favorite places to find coupons.

  • RetailMeNot.com: This site is by far my favorite because they always just seem to have a coupon code for just about everything.  I was purchasing my hosting plan a while back, and ended up finding a coupon code here that saved my 20% on the life of my hosting plan!  Just go to the site, and search for the online store or retailer you’re looking to purchase from, and a list of tickets will come up, in order of how effective they’ve been for other people.
  • Ebay.com:  This one place you may not think of to find a coupon code, but often it’s a great place to find additional discounts. For example, when I was buying a laptop a while back I bought a coupon code for a dollar or two on Ebay that ended up saving me 15% off of the price of my laptop.  While sometimes you can be a bit unsure if the code will work, the return for a dollar or two can be quite a bit.
  • Honey: Honey is an automated coupon plugin for your browser that will find the best coupon code for your purchase and apply it automatically for you.  Find out more in our review.

When No Discounts Are To Be Found? Just Wait.

Sometimes no matter how hard you try you might not be able to find a discount or a good price on an item that you want. In those cases quite often your best option is to just wait.  If something isn’t on sale now, it will be in a month or two.  If there isn’t a coupon code now, they may be running a promotion a week from now.  Save up your money in an interest bearing account and eventually you’ll find the deal you’re looking for.

In cases where you absolutely have to buy something that day, you may be out of luck. For example, if we hadn’t found a discount on our aquarium trip, we most likely would have gone anyway.  The key is to just give it a shot. It hurts nothing to do a little bit of research because in the end it could end up saving you quite a bit of money.

What smart shopping tips can you give us that can help us to save on the things we buy? Tell us in the comments!

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Source: biblemoneymatters.com

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Last Updated on March 29, 2023 by Mark Ferguson

Every year, I write a post detailing my goals for the next year and reviewing how I did with the previous year’s goals. I have written articles over the last three years that included some huge goals. I achieved many of these goals, and many of them I did not. I actually am just fine not accomplishing all of my goals because that keeps me working hard throughout the year. The point of a goal is not to accomplish it but to get as much out of yourself as possible. If you make your goals too easy to accomplish, they do not do you much good. I made a goal to flip 30 houses in 2017, which I did not reach, but I came close. That does not mean I am going to make my goal smaller this year; in fact I will make it even bigger!

My goal articles for other years

Why are goals important to our success?

When I was younger, I thought I could do everything myself without any help and without any goals or direction. I was wrong, and I was not very successful for many years. As soon as I started to set goals, I started to see success, and I felt better about myself and my life. Goals give you a direction, a path to follow, and instructions on what success is. The most important part of setting goals is you tell yourself what you actually want in life. If you have no idea what you want, it will be impossible to get it.

When you set goals, you need to be as specific as possible. You have to set goals that can be measured as well. A goal to learn about real estate is not a real goal. A real goal would be: I will buy a rental property in 2018. An even better goal would be: I will buy a rental property that cash flows $300 per month by October 1st, 2018. The more specific, the better. For more information on setting goals, check out the article below.

One problem with setting goals or New Years’ resolutions is we forget about them about a month after we set them. One reason I love this blog is that it holds me accountable. Thousands of people read my goals and see how well I did. This keeps me on my toes and motivates me to review my goals often. If you are setting goals, make sure you have a way or a partner to keep you on track (this assumes you do not have a blog).

What were my goals in 2017?

In 2017, I made some really big goals. I accomplished some of these, others I did not, and some I will accomplish in the beginning of 2018. 2017 was a great year, but there is always room for improvement. Part of the fun in life and business is figuring out better ways to do things and seeing those new practices pay off. Here is what I wanted to accomplish in 2017:

  • I wanted to buy a 50,000-square-foot or larger commercial building.
  • I wanted to flip 30 houses, which would have been 12 more than what I flipped in 2016.
  • I wanted to sell 200 houses as a real estate team. This has been my goal for many years, but I keep coming up short.
  • I wanted to publish 2 new books from my blog and hire more help for the website.
  • I do not discuss all of my goals publicly, but I did mention the possibility of buying a Lamborghini Countach or Aston Martin in 2017. I did not make it a goal and really did a poor job with this last year!

How did I do with my 2017 goals?

On the surface, it may look like I failed at achieving many of my goals, but I am really happy with how the year went. You cannot get upset or mad when you do not accomplish goals. If you accomplish everything, your goals were not big enough.

  • I did not buy a 50,000-square-foot building. However, I had one under contract that fell apart due to circumstances beyond my control. I also have another 70,000-square-foot building that is under contract and set to close by the end of January.
  • I sold 26 flips and bought 27 flips. I was really close to 30 but did not quite get there. I thought I would sell 30 flips with a few months to go, but delays on multiple projects set me back, which always seems to happen.
  • We sold 96 houses as a real estate team. I was not close to selling 200, but our average price increased quite a bit. I have thought about re-wording my goals to dollar volume instead of a number of sales.
  • I did publish two new books and hired multiple new people to help with the blog. Most of those people did not work out, but I have found a couple of great resources.

I also accomplished some things this last year that I was not expecting and were not goals.

  • I bought a 1998 Lotus Esprit V8 twin-turbo. I was not planning to buy this car, but I have always loved the Esprit. One came up for sale on eBay that was a great deal and the perfect color.

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  • I bought four rental properties in 2017! I was not planning to buy any—except for one large property—but I found a niche I like in the area. I bought four commercial properties that are all rented out and cash flowing better than residential properties in the area.
  • I bought a small commercial shop to store materials for my flips and rentals as well as have a place to store a couple of cars.

I ended up buying 31 properties in 2017, which is an awesome accomplishment for me. I was hoping to buy 30 flips, but I am really excited that I was able to buy rentals as well. For 2018, I plan to change up my goals a little bit.

What are my goals for 2018 in real estate?

I have been thinking about and working on my goals for 2018. I try to spend quality time on them and not just throw them together. The better my goals are, the more successful and happier I will be. Here is what I have planned for this year:

  • I want to make $100,000 per month flipping houses. My goal last year was to flip 30 houses, but I could have done that and made no money at all…or even lost money. That is not a very good goal. I averaged about $32,000 in profit on each flip last year, which means if I flip 3 houses per month, I will come close to making $100,000 each month. With this goal, I have to think about profit margins and not just how many houses I am buying. I have three houses set to close in January of 2018 and many more listed or ready to list the start of the year. I also have 3 flips under contract to buy. You can see all the properties and numbers here: https://investfourmore.com/flips/
  • I want to add $6,000 per month in passive income. Instead of creating a number of properties I want to buy, I decided to create a passive-income number since I think that is more important. With the large building I am buying in January, I should create about half of that number. I figure I would need to buy about 6 smaller properties to get the total to $6,000 per month. This is not in line with my plan to buy 100 properties, but I do still have that major goal I want to accomplish.
  • I want to start my own real estate office. Part of my plan to buy a large building is to start a new office in that building. I never wanted to start an office before because many of my REO and HUD accounts were tied to my current office. There was no guarantee that those accounts would move with me if I moved. I have decided I like flipping much more than being an REO agent, which works out great since there are almost no foreclosures in Colorado. By starting my own office, I will save a ton of money on expenses and have my own space I can do whatever I want with. I will use this as my real estate team goal this year instead of setting a sales number goal.
  • I will buy an Aston Martin V8 or Lamborghini Countach this year. In fact, I am already working on this goal, and it is close to being accomplished.
  • I have more personal goals this year and goals for this blog as well. However, I am basing the blog goals around income so it is more measurable. I have decided not to disclose that goal publicly, but if you really want to know, you can email me. [email protected] If you think you have ideas for the blog, you are welcome to let me know as well. However, I get tons of emails from people who want to do guest blogs or help me with SEO. That is not what I am looking for.

These goals are more specific than they have been in the past, which should help me know exactly what I need to do. I can also break down these goals into smaller tasks to figure out exactly how to accomplish them. With the flipping goal, I know I need to sell three flips per month with a profit margin of $33,333.

Conclusion

I really like writing these posts because it makes me set goals and really think about what I want to do each year. It is also good to have both longer- and shorter-term goals. It might be smart for me to rethink my plan to buy 100 properties into a plan to create a certain amount of passive income. Buying the large commercial property will be like buying 6 really good residential rentals as far as the cash flow that will be generated. I also want to make sure I have these goals at the front of my mind and am constantly thinking of them. It does no good to set goals and never look at them again until December 31st.

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Source: investfourmore.com