My First Home

This is a great time to buy a home if you are in the market. The Housing market is down, interest rates are at an all time low, and you might just be able to afford that dream house you’ve been wanting for so long; but before you jump in, there are resources that are available to you that you might want to seek out.

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website at www.hud.gov have a wide array of topics pertinent to buying a home and will answer many of the common questions new home buyers have.

They go through the steps to be taken on making such a large commitment.

Here are some of the points they cover:

a) How much can you afford
b) House shopping
c) Home buying programs
d) Your rights
e) Shopping for a loan
f) Home inspection
g) Making an offer
h) Homeowners insurance
i) Signing papers

Remember you can't have too much information to assist you in making an informed decision. Happy shopping.

New Year's Resolution

So here we are at the end of 2009, staring into the eyes of 2010 and wondering yet again what happened, how did time go by so quickly….. still so many plans yet undone. If you are one of the many that fell short on your resolution to purchase a home in 2009, there’s still a chance to make up and take advantage of the Homebuyer’s Credit which was extended and expanded in November 2009 to April 2010.

What is a Homebuyer’s Credit? Well, it is a tax incentive given by the government to individuals or families purchasing their principal home, provided the purchase occurred in 2008, 2009 and now into 2010.

In order to be eligible, Buyers must enter into a binding contract to purchase a principal residence, not a rental or a vacation home, no later than April 2010 and must close on the purchase before July 1, 2010. The credit is in the amount of up to $8,000.00. As always there are additional eligibility requirements which are available from your Real Estate professional or visit: www.irs.gov for further details.

Christmas Traditions

Oh it is Christmas! I can hear the Christmas carols and the old familiar tunes ringing in my ears. The malls of America are packed with shoppers, shopping; the smell of cinnamon buns, favorite holiday scents and spices in the air; the Salvation Army bells are ringing (with a credit card machine hanging from the kettle)...oh yes, it is Christmas alright....

This has been a tough year for many and with unemployment at an all time high Christmas traditions as we know it will not be the same for many, but thanks to the extension of the unemployment benefits, there will be turkey on the table for some.

What can we do:
Check on our neighbors and take them some shopping;
Donate a Turkey;
Volunteer at a pantry or a soup kitchen;
Donate to Toys for Tots or your favorite charity; and
Give someone a hug.

So let's try and do all we can this holiday season to help the less fortunate. Have a safe and happy holidays.

Are we There Yet?

In one of my previous blogs I mentioned that this is "cherry picking season" for employers and time has proven me right. With unemployment on the rise, job seekers many with years of experience in their specialized fields, are daily facing uphill challenges to obtain lucrative work. Often the biggest challenge facing these job seekers is not their suitability or qualifications to fill the offered positions, but rather the paltry compensation offered.

Employers are now taking advantage of the vast reservoir of available skilled workers by offering only entry level salaries. You might ask, "can they?" The answer is yes, and they are. Employers are looking for the best but at bargain basement pricing and they are loving every minute of it, they know there is plenty to choose from - many are at a point of desperation that will not allow them say NO.

Are You Getting Your Money's Worth?

I have been thinking; with the unemployment rate at an all time high are employers really getting their money's worth?

Looking through the classifieds and speaking to professionals one is left to wonder are employers choosing wisely? I can understand that some employers might see this as a great time for filling positions due to the economic downturn and the sea of choices available, but are they filling those positions with quality professionals or are they being filled by those with less to offer an employer as they are too distracted looking for a bargain?

I was speaking to a former colleague with tons of experience in her field, she was expressing how frustrating it was going to interviews only to be low-balled and told, "we have a lot to choose from."

When I started Bee Bolder I was asked the question... "How can you compete with those offering their services for dirt cheap?" My answer to that was, "I do not see them as my competition because sooner rather than later they'll get what they pay for." So this is where we are today with the economy in the tank, employers are thinking that "Yes, I can get away with filling vacant positions by paying well below market" but experience shows there is no credible substitute for experience and quality.

Do not get caught in this trap of substituting what you know is right. Let me share an experience with you. I was told there was a great new grocery store that just opened and the prices were just unbelievable so I went to check it out.

I picked up some everyday items that I thought would be okay to try for quality (yes, I am always thinking about quality) granola bars, yogurt, and dried prunes were just some of the items I picked out. I got home unpacked my bags and was ready to relax so I grabbed one of the granola bars from the packet of 6 only to bite into a stale and awful tasting granola; the yogurt was no better, it tasted like glue, I thought this could not possibly be happening so I went to grab my box of prunes; oh those prunes, what could go wrong....I reached for them and my son yelled "hold up mom! the sell by date has passed." What! is this for real.

I can tell you that in this case a penny saved was not a penny earned. That was my last visit.

So for employers out there thinking that they are getting those positions filled at a bargain, think clearly and wisely. You cannot substitute quality.

Give us a call today and let us help you. Remember, no overheads, no payroll taxes, no long term contracts and you get quality professionals with experience.

Why substitute?

Do You Truly Want To Be Organized?

The question most asked by our clients is, can you get me organized? I do not seem to be able to find anything. As a Virtual Assistant at Bee Bolder we understand the need to be organized.

Self employed and going on vacation? You need continuity, you need to make sure that your clients are taken care of; your bills paid; I can tell you first hand that there is always a fear from those asking the question because they work in what appears to be clutter and they already know where everything is, they are just not sure that by clearing clutter i.e. getting documents filed appropriately, making use of electronic calendars and scheduling, that they will have the same control. Our job is then to re-assure and break them in gently.

Employers Hit The Jackpot

If you are a business owner, this could be the best time for your business when it comes to hiring employees. With so many skilled workers looking for employment, this could definitely be “cherry picking” season.

As the recession deepens more employers are forced to implement cost shedding exercises with staff cutbacks in many cases at the top of the list. Ironically, this very step of cutting what in many cases are critical technical and professional skills can leave businesses vulnerable and can even hasten their demise.

Many savvy employers however, are discovering opportunities to find the professional and skilled employees at a fraction of their usual costs. So if you are one of those business owners with your back against the wall, this might well be where your "opportunity knocks".

The Virtual Assistant concept has now gone main stream and businesses in the know are reaping the benefits and in some cases, the value derived from this type of service is turning out to be more of a jackpot for employers.

Some of the benefits for employers include increased productivity with mega savings on costs associated with traditional employment contracts. With no long term contracts, no payroll costs, no additional office space or equipment and quality professionals eager to practice their crafts, businesses are assured of more productivity allowing small business owners in particular more time for both business development and leisure.

Known for their courteous and professional approach to business, Bee Bolder Administrate Services in Kissimmee, Florida is on the forefront of the Virtual Assistant revolution. Businesses of various sizes are benefiting from their over 30 years of accumulated experience in providing quality service to Legal and Real Estate professionals throughout South and Central Florida areas. Most recently, Bee Bolder has eliminated many service boundaries and can now retain clients worldwide.

You can get more information about Bee Bolder by visiting their website at www.beebolder.com

Bee Bolder is Going Virtual

Things are constantly changing in the way we all do business in this the 21st Century. No longer are we forced to be tied to that desk 9-5: No longer must our support be tied to that desk in our office either. Nor, is there a need anymore to pay for down time, office space, equipment, utilities and rent.

New technology and, or improvement in some older applications are revolutionizing the way business is conducted today. One of the greatest developments in this arena, is the expansion of "Virtual Assistant" services. The traditional telecommuting concept has expanded and evolved a stunning industry advantaging both the hirer as well as the professional virtual assistant practitioners.

Bee Bolder is happy to embrace the virtual assistant concept into it's operations.

Yes, we are going Virtual and the Virtual Assistant is right there with you to get:

• That presentation done
• The travel arrangements taken care of
• The dictation transcribed
• The marketing brochure done and out the door
• That conference call set up
• The PowerPoint presentation done and ready to be presented
• Follow up with clients and new leads
• Appointments set
• Mailing lists compiled
• Database created
• Clients correspondence done

All this through your Virtual Assistant and better yet:

• No long term contracts
• No office space required
• No Need to buy office equipment
• No payroll or payroll taxes
• No retirement plan
• No commute
• You pay only for the time used and nothing more.

What do you have to gain with your Virtual Assistant?

• More time to generate new business
• Increased productivity
• More time to spend with family
• Take that well deserved vacation

Visit us at www.Beebolder.com. Now, sit back and relax and your Virtual Assistant at Bee Bolder will have you organized in no time.

Keep Moving, Keep Creating, Keep Reinventing….

The recession has set a lot of us a few steps backward, but should we give up and give in? No. Let's use our skills and our wit and keep moving, keep creating, keep giving, keep getting paid. After all, this is the land of opportunity, where the impossible happens.

I am one of those that received the dreaded pink slip this year, going through classifieds, signing up with agencies, online job searches, referrals, you name it, I did it.

It took just a little while for one of those so powerful ha...ha moments to hit me. After all, I still have the skills and surely there's someone still needing my skills out there, so I decided to put those very skills to work and market them.

I now market my services to companies on a contract basis. The good thing about what I do is, the same companies that are downsizing are looking for people like us that offer our services on a contract basis.

There are no long term contracts; work is done on an as needed basis and for some I do not have to travel to their offices.

Now, they have the benefit of a professional on an as needed basis, and they do not have to compromise on quality. Talk about a win...win.

Things have changed

I was pitching Bee Bolder to this office manager today when she told me in all her 20 years at the firm they never had to use an administrative assistant on contract. Yeah!! 20 years.... look around us, things have changed.

This is not the end - Just Get On With It!!!

When I came up with the name "Bee Bolder" I was at a point in my life where I thought that I needed to be BOLDER in every sense of the word. I wanted more out of life but never found the time to pursue what I really wanted. I started reading more and found the joy of discovery, the excitement of wanting to know more and the thirst for knowledge as I read.

So here comes the recession, people are losing their jobs, homes, families breaking up and life for a lot of us as we knew it, has changed forever. Businesses are closing because costs are high, and many of those that remain are forced to make drastic cut backs. So as a people/nation, what do we do? Give up? Get depressed? Or find that dormant lion that's lying deep within us and fight for the opportunity to rise above it all!

So what have I done!!! Start a new business, pretty brave huh... For some, they would say not a good idea, but you know what? Businesses are still opened and they need our services. So check us out at www.Beebolder.com and let us help you build your business.