Is it really Thanksgiving in 2 weeks?

The holidays are coming up! Are you one who can’t wait for the festivities, or are panicking just thinking about it? Thanksgiving is 2 weeks away! When somebody told me this yesterday I was shocked that it snuck up so fast…and I am hosting Thanksgiving dinner at my house! Talk about unprepared! I realized I needed to get my ducks in a row and start working on my holiday plans. 

The first thing I did was verify my guest list. I can’t purchase the right amount of food it I don’t know who is coming. I asked everybody to bring something small so it doesn’t all fall on me. I recommend deciding in advance if you want to delegate some of your tasks, or if you are happy to take it all on. If you are going to somebody else’s house for Thanksgiving dinner, it would be a nice gesture to offer to bring something. Plan your grocery list before you go to the store so you can make your trip as painless as possible. If you are watching your budget, shop around the ads for the best deals on your major items, and coupons can be a great help when hosting. 

If Thanksgiving is only 2 weeks away, Christmas isn’t far behind. If you haven’t started your Christmas shopping, now is the time! If you are working on hand crafted gifts, you need to get these started in advance. I like to sit down before the season really sets in and make a list of things going on in the area for Christmas. I go through the newspaper and look online to get my list. Then I get out my calendar and start thinking about which things we really want to do and pencil those in. I make a side note in my calendar with all of the activities that I would like to do if there is time so I know exactly where it is. This plan has proven successful for the past 2 years to keep my holiday season stress free. 

If you have family over or are going to somebody’s house for Christmas, make sure you have everything prepared for that. Make lists of what you need and cross it off as you go. When you have everything listed and checked off, it is much easier to relax and enjoy the holiday.

How do you prepare for the holidays? Do you have any great tips? If you need help with any of your business needs, give us a call at 202-469-6774. You can also visit our website at http://www.bizebeeconsulting.com. We can be your Business Professionals.

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Halloween Safety

Halloween is quickly approaching. It is time to start thinking about safety for Halloween. On this holiday it will be dark, sometimes scary, and a lot of fun. It is important to be prepared.

First thing is first: Costumes! I am sure you and your kids are searching for or designing the perfect costume! While you are doing this, consider a few things. Will you be able to see clearly through the mask if there is one? Does the costume have things sticking off of it that can be caught in trees or bushes? Are there parts of the costume dragging on the ground? Costumes can be dangerous if you don’t know what to look out for.

The next thing is your Trick-or-Treat route. Are you familiar with where you will be walking? Make sure that you know where the stop signs are and any busy roads. Going to an unknown neighborhood or area can be dangerous, so stick to where you know your way around.

While you are walking around it is vital to be alert to your surroundings. Stay off of your phone and keep your eyes on the sidewalk, road, and your children. It is very easy to lose track of your kids when they are very excited and running from house to house. Wear glow in the dark items and make sure your kids do too. This way you can find each other even if there aren’t any street lights on. Also watch the driveways for cars backing out. It is easier for you to spot the car than it is for the person driving the car to see kids dressed in dark costumes. 

If you will be driving during the hours where kids will be out and about on the roads, make sure to stay alert. As you should not be texting while driving at all, I cannot stress how important it is to avoid it during this time. Even talk-texting is a distraction. Keep your phone put away while you are driving. It only takes 1 second for a child to excitedly run into the road to go to the next house while you glance at your phone. Look around carefully before backing out of your driveway and before turning. Drive safely!

Please stay safe for Halloween! Do you have any tips to add? Our goal is to help you reach your goals while freeing up your time for things you really want to do. If you are interested in more information, or for a FREE Business Analysis, call us at 202-469-6774 or visit our website at www.bizebeeconsulting.com.

What Can a Virtual Assistant Do?

If you are reading this you probably know how much virtual assisting has grown over the recent years, and are wondering what exactly can a VA (virtual assistant) do? It really depends on what you need from a VA.

Every VA has a different skill set to bring to the table. There are general virtual assistants who can do basic computer work, scheduling, and even help you get organized with your computer files. They may even offer to do your email correspondence for you. This would be somebody who would have the same general tasks as an in-office assistant without actually being in office. 

You can hire a VA to do your graphic design, website, and digital marketing for you also. Graphic design, website creation and management, and digital marketing can get tricky. If this is something that is beyond you, why not hire somebody who knows what they are doing?

Another thing that you may not know how to do is SEO. This is Search Engine Optimization. This determines how many people see your website when they do a search on sites such as Google. There are ways to create a bigger online presence, and there are VAs who know how to do that. 

You may know how to use your social media sites, but it also may be something that you dread doing. A VA can use all of your social media sites for you, network for you, and get your more business in less time than you can. If this is their specialty, they can get your business thriving. Why do something you don’t enjoy? 

 A lot of virtual assistants also create great content for your website or blog. Some are great writers and can use SEO and topics to drive new customers to your site. Blogging weekly is a must in most businesses, so why not add that to your business plan and have a VA take it off of your plate?

No matter the business you are in, a virtual assistant can help you! Before hiring a virtual assistant determine which tasks you are looking to have done for you. This can help you decide if you should go with an individual with one skill set or a company like BizEBee who has a team of virtual assistants. If you need help, give us a call at 202-469-6774. You can also visit our website at http://www.bizebeerealestate.com. We can be your Business Professionals.

Sell Homes in the Fall

It is getting cooler, and in some areas leaves are already falling! You may have clients who are hesitant to sell in the fall or winter. You can prepare and reassure them that it is an ok time to sell, and here are some tips on how to be successful.

1. If possible, take pictures of the home before the leaves start falling. Spring and summer pictures of the home always look the best.

1. Make sure your clients know the importance of maintaining their curb appeal. Keep the leaves raked, the sidewalk clear, etc. 

1. Do an appliance check before it is too cold. If your heater isn’t working correctly, you don’t want it having issues during a showing.

1. Open curtains and blinds and let the light in. Also have the home’s lights turned on during a showing.

1. Inform your clients that there will be less showings, but the showings the happen will be good quality showings.

1. Let your client know that the offers that come in won’t be as competitive as they may see in the summer months. Some may be really low, while others will be good offers, but won’t go over the asking price. Don’t expect a bidding war unless your market calls for it.

1. With it being the time for holidays, it is good to decorate for the holidays, but not to go overboard. If your client normally has a haunted house in their home, maybe they should skip that this year.

1. With it being cooler out, show off the home’s good fall/winter qualities. Light the fire, bake some cookies, and accentuate what the homeowner loves about their home in the winter. 

Selling a home in the fall and winter can offer new challenges, but there are still plenty of buyers looking for homes! If you need help, give us a call at 202-469-6774. You can also visit our website at http://www.bizebeerealestate.com. We can be your Real Estate Professionals.

How Much is it Worth to You?

As you look around your office you may think for a minute you need help. You don’t need help every day, or maybe you do but you don’t really want to hire an in-house assistant that you have to manage every day. So you start researching people who can do what you need. You may find a virtual assistant who can write blogs, and another who can build a website, and maybe even another who can do transaction coordination. You may even find ones on Fiverr who will do it really cheap! And you will find companies that offer all of those services under one “roof.” 

In your mind you start thinking about how much time and money you can save by using multiple different virtual assistants who have one skill set each. So you sign up and start sending out tasks to these random virtual assistants because they are cheaper. What it a success? Did you hear from them in a timely manner? Was their work above par? How difficult was it to manage multiple people? Was it worth the money that you saved by using them? These are all questions you will ask yourself after your first transaction. And these are questions you need to ask. If you had a great experience and are ok with managing multiple people, then this is your path. 

If your experience wasn’t as good as expected, maybe it is time to look into spending a little more money on quality over quantity. When you are considering hiring any company to help with your marketing, your transactions, or even your database, think about what it is worth to you. Will the transaction coordinator make or break the deal? If they break it, how much will you lose? If your blog isn’t really representing who you are and what you do, how successful will it be? Having consistency and experience is key when outsourcing. 

You just need to think about how much is it worth to you to get new business, keep the past clients you have, and get their referrals. When you are ready to talk about keeping it all under one “roof,” give us a call at 202-469-6774. You can also visit our website at http://www.bizebeerealestate.com. We can be your Real Estate Professionals.

3 Step to Back to School Prep!

Whether your kids go to public school, private school, college, or homeschool, it is coming upon time for the back to school routine. Are you ready? I have some tips on how to get ready, organized, and excited about back to school!

1. First thing is first, get out your planner. Start by writing down everything that you know will be happening weekly. This includes any extra items such as soccer practice and games. Next mark off any days that the kids do not have school for holidays and teacher work days. Make sure you pencil in who will be taking care of them or if somebody will be taking off work as needed. Verify any days that you need to visit the school before school starts for meeting teachers and touring. Write these in and determine who will be attending. Now that your planner is all set, it is time for supplies.

2. You can get school supplies practically anywhere. Get your school list and go to your favorite place to shop. If you are short on time, Amazon is a great place to get things fairly quickly. If you have one going into college, make sure you have what you need for the dorm. There are different specifications for every dorm. Make it a one day shop if possible. This way it is completely done and you can put it out of your mind.

3. The next thing is prepping for food for the school year. This includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner. If both parents work in your household, being prepared in this area is a must! Start brainstorming good and wholesome breakfast ideas. Pinterest can be a great resource for food ideas! If you will be packing lunches every day, be prepared with a weekly plan. Dinners can be easy if you use a crockpot and prepare in advance. Meal planning is not a simple thing. It is best to start with recipes that you know and are familiar with and then add in extras as you feel more confident. 

These are the main things you need to cover for back to school prep. If these things are complete, you can be confident that your school year will start out great! You can visit our website at http://www.bizebeerealestate.com. Let us be your busy bee! If you are interested in more information, or for a FREE Business Analysis, call us at 202-469-6774.

Outsourcing IS Ok!

Owning your own company or being an independent contractor can mean that you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. You feel that you have built your world from the ground up, and nobody else can do it like you can. While that might be true, some things can be outsourced. To be successful and work smarter, not harder, you may need to expand your horizons and put trust into others.

There are some things you need to understand before you outsource any of your tasks. The first and most important thing is that nobody will do the job exactly like you, and there will be a learning curve for both sides. If you outsource to a virtual assistant or another company they will have to learn about you, your company, and what you like. It is different than hiring somebody in-house because you will not see this person every day. You may not even hear from this person daily. They are still doing the work you need them to. It is hard to trust in the unknown, but after the learning curve is over, you will be grateful that you continued.

The next thing is that there are some things you just shouldn’t outsource. This will depend on you. If it is something that you want done in a specific way only, this should not be outsourced. If you get anxious even considering giving somebody else access to this information, it should not be outsourced. Only you can decide what you definitely do not want to outsource. 

Another thing is that no one person can do all things. If you decide to outsource be sure to find out exactly what that person or company is capable of. You don’t want to get into a situation where you hire a virtual assistant to do a job, then realize that their skill set doesn’t cover an area that you would like covered. Know what you are looking for when you outsource, and you won’t be disappointed. 

The last thing is to outsource things that bog you down or you don’t know how to do. If you have a hard time keeping up with your marketing, social media, or blogging, those should be the first to outsource. If you don’t know how to create graphics or logos, that should be the next thing to outsource.

Once you get into a rhythm with whoever you outsource to, you will feel a weight lifted and your time will be freed up for you to do the things you really like. You can visit our website at http://www.bizebeerealestate.com. Let us be your busy bee! If you are interested in more information, or for a FREE Business Analysis, call us at 202-469-6774.

Free Summer Fun

Summer is in full swing and I am sure you are trying to think of fun things that everybody can enjoy. The great part about summer is that almost everything can be free, or very close to it! I have gathered some ideas of things you can do for free. Some may not be available to you depending on where you live, but others might so don’t give up! Free summer fun is right around the corner!

Go to the beach! If you live anywhere near a beach you can probably access it for free. Pack a cooler and spend the day in the sun!

Go to your neighborhood pool. If you have a neighborhood pool, you probably have a free membership with it. Use it and take advantage of the nice cool water.

Go for a bike ride. Bike rides can be a fun adventure! Take the whole family and ride to the nearest playground, play for a bit, then head home. It is an activity that is sure to wear everybody out.

If you have any sort of nature area around you, go for a hike. It doesn’t have to be a long, strenuous hike. Just take a nice stroll through the nearest hiking paths if you like the more leisurely walks. 

If it is just too hot outside, go to a local, free museum and enjoy the art. Or you can go to the nearest mall and browse the stores to keep cool. 

Check your local area for any free outdoor concerts. Most of these take place at public areas and you can pack a picnic dinner! Same goes for an outdoor movie. 

These are only a few ideas of what fun you can have for free this summer! What summer fun have you been having? You can visit our website at http://www.bizebeerealestate.com. Our goal is to help you reach your goals while freeing up your time for things you really want to do. Let us be your busy bee! If you are interested in more information, or for a FREE Business Analysis, call us at 202-469-6774.

Face Your Fear

When you think about different opportunities in your life, do you let fear take over? Are a few of the thoughts that run through your mind, “Will I do enough?,” “What if it doesn’t work out?,” or even “What if I lose money instead of make money?.” Sometimes our fears can prevent us from taking a leap and making possibly the best decision in our lives. So how can you keep your fears at bay and focus on the good possibilities? 

The first thing to do is to make a list of pros and cons. If you have a great idea, or something that could be a great idea, make a list of everything that can go right. On this side of your list write down the main reason you want to pursue this idea. Next, think of the things that are not good that could possibly happen, and where those things would put you. For example, let’s say you were looking to try a new marketing technique and it cost a certain amount of money to do. Your pro would be new clients and your con would be possibly not getting new clients and losing the money invested. Would the loss of the money you invested be detrimental, or can it be chalked up to a bad decision and move on? You need to determine if your idea is worth the risk. Once that is decided, you can go at it full speed ahead with no fears. 

“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.” —Rosa Parks

If you have gone through the pros and cons already but are still not ready to take the next step, determine why. Consider your confidence level. Are you confident in yourself? Do you have a reason to doubt that you will succeed? Are you scared of getting told no? Are you worried that you will sink instead of float? As Babe Ruth said “Never let the fear of striking out get in your way.” If you have a decent track record of making good decisions, there is nothing to fear.

How do you face your fears? You can visit our website at http://www.bizebeerealestate.com. Our goal is to help you reach your goals while freeing up your time for things you really want to do. If you are interested in more information, or for a FREE Business Analysis, call us at 202-469-6774.

The Magic of Tidying Up

If you are like most people, keeping your house in order, along with papers and clothes, is not an easy task. The other day my sister called me and said “This book I am reading is changing my life!”  She was so excited about it that I just had to see for myself. So what book was it? 

The book she was reading was “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.” So I checked it out from the library and got down to business. This book is based on the Japanese art of decluttering and organizing, and is really inspirational as you read it. The beginning is mainly an introduction about how people remain cluttered no matter what they do and how normally “organizing” isn’t the best way. By the time I hit Chapter 2 I was hooked!

The first section is about your clothes and how to go through them and effectively keep what you want. The next section goes through how to manage your book collection and determine which books really make you happy. Then it goes on to go through a variety of other topics. It covers everything from paper to miscellaneous items that you have tucked away in random drawers and baskets. 

This book is amazing for teaching the way to find the perfect amount of items that should be in your home. I highly recommend it for anybody looking to live a life with only the things that make them happy surrounding them. This would be great for anybody selling their home to get the decluttering process started, as well as for anybody getting ready to move into a new home and get a fresh start.

Have you ever read this book? What did you think of it? You can visit our website at http://www.bizebeerealestate.com. Our goal is to help you reach your goals while freeing up your time for things you really want to do. If you are interested in more information, or for a FREE Business Analysis, call us at 202-469-6774.

The Meaning of Memorial Day

Memorial Day is celebrated all across the United States every year at the end of May. A lot of people have cookouts, some set off fireworks, and some celebrate with family. Do you know what you are really celebrating? 

Memorial day is a celebration of honor for those who all of those who have died in America’s wars. It also honors Veterans and current members of the military. This holiday was first celebrated in 1868 in regards to the Civil War. 

It was declared a national holiday in 1971 and is always celebrated on the last Monday of May. President Ronald Reagan gave a famous speech at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day 1986, which reminded the United States of what Memorial Day is really about. You can find his speech Here.

While you are celebrating Memorial Day this weekend, remember the real reason you are celebrating. Honor those who have made sacrifices for our country. A few ways to celebrate can be sending a note of thanks to a Veteran or visit a local cemetery and place flowers on the graves of those who fell in battle. If you know somebody who has lost a loved one, visit them or offer support in some way.

What are you doing to celebrate Memorial Day? You can visit our website at http://www.bizebeerealestate.com. Our goal is to help you reach your goals while freeing up your time for things you really want to do. If you are interested in more information, or for a FREE Business Analysis, call us at 202-469-6774.

Social Media Tips

If you are like most people, social media is a way to keep in touch with people, see what is going on in other’s lives, and share what is going on in your life. But what about for your business? Do you use your social media to help you build and grow your business? If not, you should! 

But where do you start?

The first thing you need to do is figure out what your goal is. Are you looking to gain followers? Is your goal to give information to your current followers? Or are you looking to do it all? One thing you need to understand about social media is that it is NOT a once and done thing. You need to be consistent with your posts as well as your content. 

Once you decide on your goal, it is time to figure out your content. Providing relevant and interesting information is a must. You can’t add a ton of random pictures and expect to gain followers. They need to be getting something out of your posts. For example, if you are in real estate and you post a link to an article about first-time homebuyer steps, first-time homebuyers will be curious and want to find out what else you have to say. 

You need to make sure all of your social media sites are consistent. You don’t want to have one logo on Facebook, and a completely different one on Twitter. You want to be recognized on all platforms without them having to figure out if you are the same person. 

Once you have content goals and everything is organized, it is time to work on consistency. Posting frequently is vital to the success of your page. It can be a daunting task so using a website or program can help you post frequently by scheduling your posts in advance. 

If you are offering relevant, helpful, and entertaining information, you should have no problems building your social media following. If you aren’t sure what to do, we can help! Visit our Website. Our goal is to free up your time for things you really want to do. If you are interested in more information, or for a FREE Business Analysis, call us at 202-469-6774.

Organize Your Papers

I don’t know about you, but it always seems like papers are everywhere. Once you clear off the papers, there is little left to be organized. So how do you eliminate and organize these papers? There are some tips and tricks you can do to help make it more manageable.

The first thing you need to do is go through your mail immediately. Don’t set it on the counter for later, don’t put it in a mail bin for later, go through it right away. Put bills wherever they go, put coupons where they go, and anything else that needs put away do it right away.

The next thing is to get a filing system in order. This one can be tricky depending on your needs. If you are just organizing household items, it may only require a small filing cabinet with a basic system. If you are filing items for work, it could require a larger or multiple filing cabinets. If you have items you file and use on a regular basis, keep a small file box or expandable file folder on your desk so you can immediately put it away. Don’t create so many categories that you can’t keep track of them, but make sure you have all of your basics covered. You can always add more as needed.

If it is affordable for you, invest in a document scanner. Most of them can easily organize your documents onto your computer and then you can throw them away! Wouldn’t it be nice to have minimal documents to file and organize?

The last tip I have is to stay on top of it! This is the biggest one. It only takes 1 to 2 days to fall off track and have a huge pileup of papers. Just take the 5 minutes and file it all away where it goes.

Do you have any good paper organizing tips? You can visit our website at http://www.bizebeerealestate.com. Our goal is to help you reach your goals while freeing up your time for things you really want to do. If you are interested in more information, or for a FREE Business Analysis, call us at 202-469-6774.

Mother's Day

Mother’s Day is coming up next weekend. Are you a mom who just wants a little bit of a break? Do you just want to have some special family time? Do you have a mom that you want to make feel special? I have ideas for these situations!

First, let’s cover the fact the moms wear many hats. Moms are referees, doctors, negotiators, chefs, taxis, and more. Most moms hold the weight of the household on their shoulders. Some moms hold more than that. Being a mom is a great responsibility, and moms deserve something special, especially on Mother’s Day!

If you are a mom yourself, you may feel you need a break. We all need a break some time. You can even get one if you don’t have anybody to assist you with the kids, or any money to go treat yourself. One great way to get a break is to put on a movie night with the kids. Turn the lights down, make some popcorn, and get ready to relax.

Another option is to stay up later after the kids are in bed and do something you love. This can be taking a hot bubble bath, drinking a glass of wine, or even just watching a TV show you don’t normally have time for. The point is to enjoy something, by yourself!

On the flip side of needing a break, maybe you would rather spend extra special time with your kids because between work and school, there just is never enough time. The movie night will work in this instance also. If there is a local park near you, you can take a nice family walk and enjoy each other’s company. If you live near the beach, that may be just what you need. Whatever you decide to do, make sure it is fun for everybody.

If you are looking to treat your mom to something special, sometimes all your mom wants is special time with you. Consider something she likes to do. Possibly go to a “paint night” where you will both have a painting to remember it by. Maybe just a night out to dinner. If you know she likes to receive gifts, put extra thought and effort into what you get her this year. Whatever you decide to do, make sure it is something that will be special to her.

I hope these ideas have helped and you have a wonderful Mother’s Day! You can visit our website at http://www.bizebeerealestate.com. Our goal is to help you reach your goals while freeing up your time for things you really want to do. If you are interested in more information, or for a FREE Business Analysis, call us at 202-469-6774.