The key to good construction communication starts with Letter Etiquette. Writing a business letter is not simply a matter of expressing your position clearly. The manner you write in, letter layout and the etiquette you employ may all have a significant impact on the success or failure of a construction business.
The first step is to Standardize the layout of your Letterheads. It is surprising to receive letters from different individuals from the same company with different colours, stretched logo’s, company information and general layout. You do not want contrasting marketing messages every time your company communicates with a potential customer. Build a brand or recognizable identity for your construction company. A good letter becomes a key element of overall branding.
Letters should be responded to promptly or within 7 working days. If this is not possible then an acknowledgement should be sent either by letter, fax, phone or e-mail. Always use reference numbers or clearly state the purpose of the letter at the top, for example, ‘Re: Project Name – Quotation’. This allows the receiver to trace correspondence and immediately set your letter within a context.
Always make sure you have spelt the recipient’s name correctly. It may sound simple, but you would be surprised at how many people fail to do so. The recipient’s name should include titles, honours or qualifications if deemed necessary.
When replying to points or questions the proper etiquette is to respond in the same order as they were asked. Try to keep all business letters formal in style even when the receiver is familiar to you. Refrain from using emotional words such as I and you and rather replace these with “We” or “your business name” and the other party’s business name.
Letters should be signed personally. It is unprofessional and disrespectful if a letter is left unsigned. However, having a secretary or a PA sign on behalf of you is not considered a breach of business etiquette.
Online-templatestore provides a good standard letterhead example with guidelines for any business.
Construction Business Letter Fundamentals
September 2nd, 2010Key Shifts In San Diego County Demographic Patterns – Real Estate Implications
September 2nd, 2010On August 15, 2006, the US Census Bureau released its annual statistics for various communities. The data for San Diego County revealed some significant shifts from 2000 to 2005 in terms of the total population in San Diego, the percentage of males to females, percentage of people at various ages, and the racial composition of the County.
POPULATION SHIFTS
Total Population = 2,813,833 (CY 2000) vs. 2,824,259 (CY 2005) = 0.4% increase
Of the total population, there were shifts in the percentage of males to females.
Males = 1,415,097 (CY 2000) vs. 1,400,199 (CY 2005) = 1.1% decline.
Females = 1,398,736 (CY 2000) vs. 1,424,060 (CY 2005) = 1.8% increase.
AGE CHANGES
The percentage of people at various age also changed during this time period.
Median Age = 33.2 years (CY 2000) vs. 34.4 years (CY 2005) = 3.6% increase.
Population Under 5 Years of Age = 198,621 (CY 2000) vs. 221,575 (CY 2005) = 11.6% increase.
Population Under 18 Years of Age = 2,090,172 (CY 2000) vs. 2,067,282 (CY 2005) = 1.1% decline.
Population 65 or Older = 313,750 (CY 2000) vs. 310,836 (CY 2005) = 0.9% decline.
RACIAL COMPOSITION
Of individuals who defined themselves as belonging to one-race, the following statistics were provided:
Total Number of “One-Race” Individuals = 2,681,866 (CY 2000) vs. 2,730,721 (CY 2005) = 1.8% increase.
Individuals who defined themselves as belonging to one-race, were further categorized as follows:
White = 1,871,839 (CY 2000) vs. 1,927,166 (CY 2005) = 3% increase.
Black or African American = 161,480 (CY 2000) vs. 140,181 (CY 2005) = 13.2% decrease.
American Indian and Alaska Native = 24,337 (CY 2000) vs. 19,902 (CY 2005) = 18.2% decrease
Asian = 249,802 (CY 2000) vs. 295,926 (CY 2005) = 18.5% increase
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander = 13,561 (CY 2000) vs. 12,704 (CY 2005) = 6.3% decline.
Other Race = 360,847 (CY 2000) vs. 334,842 (CY 2005) = 7.2% decline.
Of those individuals who defined themselves as belonging to “two-races”, the following statistics were provided:
Total, Two -Race Individuals = 131,967 (CY 2000) vs. 93,538 (CY 2005) = 29.1% decline.
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) = 750,965 (CY 2000) vs. 843,901 (CY 2005) = 12.4% increase.
SHIFTS IN HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS
Total Household Population = 2,716,820 (CY 2000) vs. 2,824,259 (CY 2005) = 4% increase.
Average Household Size = 2.73 (CY 2000) vs. 2.71 (CY 2005) = 0.7% decrease.
Average family size = 3.29 (CY 2000) vs. 3.33 (CY 2005) = 1.2% increase.
IMPLICATIONS FOR SAN DIEGO REAL ESTATE
If you are interested in buying San Diego real estate, homes, condos or townhouses for sale, then the above information may be useful to you. The information above can help you understand demographic and population shifts that impact supply, demand, and price of real estate and homes for sale in San Diego.
San Diego is one of the most popular areas in the Country because of its moderate climate. In fact, the year-around average weather in San Diego is around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
San Diego real estate is also popular because of its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, mountains and the US-Mexico border. Bordered by Orange County and Riverside County to the north, and the Mexico to the south, San Diego real estate has hundreds of beachfront properties for sale.
San Diego is the sixth most populated County in the Nation. With this many people, buying real estate in San Diego can be a competitive process depending on the supply and demand of real estate and homes for sale at a particular time.
While interest rates are still relatively low and supply relatively high, buyers at this time may find San Diego real estate a good value.
Those who purchase San Diego real estate enjoy year-around perfect weather, easy access to the Mexico border, a thriving job market, and the pleasures of living close to an ocean.
Whether you are interested in boating, fishing, golfing, tennis or other hobbies, residents and visitors who own San Diego real estate have access to all these activities and more.
Please visit the Census Bureau’s web site for detailed demographic information about San Diego County. The Census Bureau provides key statistics for various communities in its annual American Community Survey (ACS) report.
Vacation Rental Home Security Systems
September 2nd, 2010Vacation home security is now more important than ever. With rising unemployment, vandalism due to high scrap prices for copper, metals and aluminum, and longer times between visits due to high gas prices or airline fees.
While foreclosure rates remain high, even for vacation homes or second homes, criminals will be seeking crimes of opportunity.
Some of us turn to time-share properties as a more affordable alternative. Each of these two forms of vacation home ownership present unique home security issues.
If you own your own vacation home and live there either seasonally or on a weekend basis, you’re leaving your second home unoccupied for significant periods of time. You’re also establishing a pattern of occupancy that any savvy intruder can soon learn and use to his advantage. If you own a time-share property, you own a percentage of a vacation home. You’re sharing it with complete strangers who may or may not adhere to the same standards of security that you do. And, of course, you trust your time-share company to properly maintain and secure the property during those periods when nobody is staying there.
You may believe that merely applying the same safety practices you follow in your primary residence should be enough to protect your vacation home. But in fact, you need to go above and beyond the rituals of safety you’d observe in a home you live in on a more frequent basis. Homes that look unoccupied are easy targets. You’ve seen those homes with newspapers piled up outside or that appears pitch black at night when the rest of the neighborhood is lit. Consider the following guidelines for protecting your vacation home year-round:
Consider a GE Home Security System from your local Fortune Hi Tech Marketing representative. With FHTM and GE Home Security, it is now easier than ever to protect what means most to you. With customizable systems to meet your specific needs, keep your family, possessions and investments safe. GE is continually advancing new technologies that help homeowners monitor their properties, make schools safer, improve airline security, and more. Plus GE can integrate new security technologies with existing equipment and IT systems. Whether you need an entire system, or individual products, GE has the right technology to keep you safe.
Introduce yourself to your neighbors – particularly those who reside in your neighborhood year-round. Tell them what your schedule is, and ask them to keep an eye on things while you’re away. That doesn’t mean handing them a key, although you may wish to do so if you know and trust your neighbors well enough. And watching over your home doesn’t have to be a job to which you burden your neighbors; simply ask them to remain alert to your home’s appearance. Leave with your neighbors all of your contact numbers at your primary residence, so that they may contact you immediately in the event they spot suspicious activity. Give them verbal approval to contact the local police department in your absence, particularly if they spot suspicious activity and can’t reach you by phone.
Consider the personal items you’re leaving in your vacation home when it’s unoccupied. Anything expensive – including cars, computers, televisions, DVD players and stereo equipment – should be stored under lock and key while you’re away. Take photographs of all of your possessions in your second home, and store them in a safe at your primary residence for insurance purposes. Engrave your name on the back of your expensive electronic equipment.
If you own a timeshare property, find out from the management company exactly what kinds of security measures they have in place. This includes the policies to which maintenance staff are required to adhere. Find out if the management company replaces the locks on doors in the event that tenants lose a key.
For most homeowners, the acquisition of a vacation home is the culmination of years of hard work. That’s why you owe it to yourself and your family to obtain for your vacation home the most stringent standards of safety within your means.
With the GE Home Security lifetime replacement of parts warranty and state of the art UL listed technology, you can rest easy. The highest quality products, competitive pricing and up to 20% off of homeowner and vacation home insurance makes GE Home Security the leader in the industry. One button arming, pager features, door chimes and a 24 hour emergency button make around the clock peace of mind a reality. Let FHTM and GE Home Security give you the power to protect your family and your home.
Here are just a few of the reasons to trust your security with a GE Wireless Home Security System:
One Button Arming: You arm your wireless home security system by pushing a single button.
The Peacekeeper® wireless home security system comes with entry/exit delays at the doors you select, and you can also put these same doors and windows on instant alert with the push of a single button.
Pager Feature: The wireless home security system has a pager feature. Should your child not return from school at the proper time and turn off the system, the system can be programmed to page you.
24-hour Emergency Button: You have access to an emergency panic button that allows you to summon help 24 hours a day.
Battery Back-up: In the event of a power failure, your Command Station will automatically convert from AC to DC.
Door Chime: The wireless home security system will, at your request, act as a door chime. Should your child try to slip out a door unattended, the system will notify you?
Your security and the security of your guests is the most important concern, if you are considering a home or vacation home monitoring system, please contact your local Fortune Hi Tech Marketing Representative, a GE authorized dealer or visit this link to find a representative near you http://fhtmus.com/monaview.
Your Travel Buddy uses and recommends GE Home Security by Fortune HI Tech Marketing. Your Travel Buddy (http://www.ytbvacationrentals.com) is a free vacation rental listing services and publishes vacation rental marketing and cost savings articles for the vacation home or vacation rental owner.