Technology

How Technology Has Altered Your Work-Life Balance

If you work 48 weeks in the year and spend a conservative 5 hours per week commuting to and from work, you are spending 240 hours per year driving. This takes time away from family, hobbies, friends, and much more. How can technology be used to recover that time?

Until the last few years, the only option for working was to physically go to an office to spend 40-50 hour weeks behind a stuffy desk surrounded by people you may or may not enjoy working with. As technology has evolved, so has the flexibility to work in the office, at home, on the beach, or elsewhere.

While technology makes it easier for employers to allow telecommuting, there is still a trust factor that comes into play. There are ways that each employer can measure productivity differently, but some employers are simply more comfortable knowing for sure that their employee is at their desk during a specific time each day. Another consideration for employers is the morale of employees who are not work from home while someone else is allowed that luxury. Should they have 1 happy employee and 10 unhappy employees or 10 happy employees and 1 unhappy employee? Instead of looking at the struggles of employers facing this decision, let’s look at the technologies that make working from home a reality much more often than it was 20 or 30 years ago.

If an employer decides to allow telecommuting, there are several tools on the market that safeguard your investment.

· Worksnaps: This tool allows an employer to monitor how productive the employee working from home has been throughout the day. There are less detailed tools available, but this one doesn’t leave much room for the employee to work. Beyond monitoring time spent in productive programs (Facebook isn’t one of them), the tool takes screenshots of the worker’s computer screen throughout the day to make sure the employee is productive while displaying the activity on your computer. They will even count the number of mouse and keyboard clicks.

Internet: This is pretty obvious but probably the most important tool. The Internet allows you to communicate with your team members, your company, and any external customers. Many companies have web-based products that they use to host databases or other tools that are essential to their employees’ job tasks.

Google Docs: This is free for anyone with a Gmail account. It provides Microsoft-based tools to people no matter where they are in the world. Google documents can be accessed for document sharing, either for informational purposes or for each member of a team to edit the document. If you don’t have Microsoft programs on your home computer, this is a great way to use them. They don’t have the latest benefits of current programs, but they’ll work in a pinch.

Trello – This is a popular tool that enables project management across your team no matter where everyone is located. This can be used for people to organize to-do lists or monitor projects, so everyone knows where the team stands. The program allows you to divide the project into segments that can be taken a closer look at as the project progresses.

· Zoho – This is another project management tool, but it seems to have a lot of features, including the overlapping features I’ve already discussed. There’s the ability to track time spent on projects, bid charts and written documentation of the progress of specific projects the team is working on, a calendar the whole team can contribute to and view, document sharing capabilities, notes area to record obstacles or errors that need to be resolved. This is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the capabilities of this tool. The cost is relatively inexpensive, ranging from $0 for limited access to $100/month/employee for full access.

Yammer: This is described as a Facebook for work. This platform allows an employer to send only relevant information to employees. Employees can then communicate within their specific teams to achieve goals.

Skype: This is a free service that allows face-to-face communication between employees. The tool is internet based and allows you to bring multiple people into the conversation/collaboration.

GoTo Meeting – This is a great tool for webinars as it will allow you to broadcast to hundreds of people joining. Also, for those who cannot attend the meeting or want to watch the meeting a second time, the meetings can be recorded. You can share your screen with those who registered for the meeting, allowing for collaboration on projects or even training.

· Viewflux: There are several sites aimed at designers, viewflux being one of them. These sites allow you to share your designs with a group of people. Those people can specify the changes they want made by bookmarking the page. Have you ever wanted someone to change something about a graph and try to describe in several words what only a few words and an arrow could describe? These sites make a world of difference to designers and their clients and team members.

· Dropbox: If you have files larger than can fit in your Google Drive, Dropbox is an option for sharing files with your team. According to Dropbox, this is a safe way to share files.

Nimble – This is a great tool for marketers and people with large networks to stay organized. This tool combines your social media and email contacts into one customer relationship management (CRM) solution. The tool even links the conversations you’ve had with these contacts, so you can remember the contact in that specific context.

These are just some of the tools that people can use when working from home or even in the office. The potential for collaboration with tools can simplify processes that are long overdue for change. In addition, the telecommuter can easily connect and contribute to projects being worked on in the office. Without these connections, the telecommuter could quickly be dismissed as part of the dynamics of the department they once worked with in person.

While some may argue that society is more disconnected than ever, please consider that technology is not an obstacle to our communication efforts, but an asset. I would maintain that society is communicating more efficiently, more frequently, and more effectively than ever before thanks to technology.

Imagine being able to work from 7:00 to 4:00 and being able to start dinner at 4:05 instead of 5:05. You now have time to patiently help the kids with their homework, easily pick up the kids from soccer practice, spend time focusing on your spouse. The pressure to get things done can decrease as the level of technology increases if we take advantage of both. What would the possibility of teleworking mean for your life? Do you currently? What have you found to be beneficial in this regard?

Business

Illinois Payroll, Unique Aspects of Illinois Payroll Law and Practice

The Illinois State Agency that oversees the collection and reporting of state income taxes deducted from payroll checks is:

revenue Department

101 W.Jefferson St.

post office box 19022

Springfield, IL 62794-9022

(217) 785-0970

(800) 732-8866 (in-state)

http://www.revenue.state.il.us

Illinois requires that you use the Illinois form “IL-W-4, Illinois Employee Withholding Allowance Certificate” instead of a federal form W-4 for Illinois state income tax withholding.

Not all states allow wage reductions made under Section 125 or 401(k) cafeteria plans to be treated in the same manner as the IRS code allows. In Illinois, cafeteria plans: are not taxed for income tax purposes; not taxable for unemployment insurance purposes if used to purchase medical life insurance. 401(k) plan deferrals are: not subject to income tax; taxable for unemployment purposes.

In Illinois, supplemental wages are taxed at a flat rate of 3.0%.

You must file your Illinois State W-2s by magnetic media if you have at least 250 employees and you must file your Federal W-2s by magnetic media.

The Illinois State Unemployment Insurance Agency is:

Labor Safety Department

401 S. State St.

Chicago, IL 60605-1289

(312) 793-5700

http://www.ides.state.il.us/

The state of Illinois taxable wage base for unemployment purposes is wages up to $9,800.00.

Illinois requires quarterly wage report magnetic media to be reported if the employer has at least 250 employees reporting that quarter.

Unemployment records must be kept in Illinois for a minimum period of five years. This information generally includes: name; Social Security number; hire, retirement and termination dates; salaries per period; payroll periods and pay dates; date and circumstances of termination.

The Illinois State Agency charged with enforcing state wage and hour laws is:

work Department

Labor Law Compliance

160 North LaSalle, Ste. C1300

Chicago, IL 60601

(312) 793-2800

[http://www.state.il.us/agency/idol/]

The minimum wage in Illinois is $6.50 per hour.

The general provision in Illinois regarding overtime pay at a non-FLSA covered employer is one and one-half times the regular rate after a 40-hour week.

The State of Illinois new hire reporting requirements are that every employer must report every new hire and rehire. The employer must report the elements required by the federal government of:

  • Name of the employee
  • employee address
  • Employee Social Security Number
  • Name of the employee
  • employee address
  • Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) of the employer

This information must be reported within 20 days of hiring or rehiring.
Information can be submitted as a W4 or equivalent by mail, fax, or electronically.
There is a $15,$500 fine for a late report in Illinois.

You can contact the Illinois New Hire Reporting Agency by calling 800-327-4473 or on the web at [http://www.ides.state.il.us/employer/newhire/general.htm]

Illinois does not allow mandatory direct deposit

Illinois requires the following information on an employee’s pay stub:

  • deductions per item
  • Illinois requires that the employee be paid no less frequently than twice a month; monthly for FLSA-exempt employees; union contract can provide different intervals.

    Illinois requires that the time lapse between the end of the pay period and the payment of wages to the employee shall not exceed 13 biweekly days; weekly-7 days; monthly-21 days; daily-1 day.

    Illinois payroll law requires that involuntarily terminated employees be paid their final pay immediately if possible, otherwise by the next regular payday; next regular payday if furloughed due to labor dispute or laid off and voluntarily laid off employees should be paid immediately if possible; otherwise, by the next regular payday.

    The deceased employee’s unpaid wages must be paid when normally owed to the person owed for funeral expenses, spouse, or child after a small inheritance affidavit; Inheritance not greater than $15,000.

    Rollback laws in Illinois require that unclaimed wages be paid to the state after five years.

    In addition, Illinois requires the employer to keep a record of wages abandoned and turned over to the state for a period of 5 years.

    Illinois payroll law requires that no more than 40% of the minimum wage may be used as a tip credit.

    In Illinois, payroll laws covering mandatory breaks or meal breaks state that employees must have 20 minutes during the first 5 hours of a 7 1/2 hour shift.

    Alabama statute requires wage and hour records to be maintained for a period of not less than five years. These records will normally consist of at least the information required under the FLSA.

    The Illinois agency charged with enforcing child support laws and orders is:

    Child Support Enforcement Division

    Department of Public Aid

    509 S. 6th Street

    Springfield, IL 62701

    (800) 447-4278

    [http://ilchildsupport-employer.com/Default.aspx]

    Illinois has the following provisions for child support deductions:

    • When to start retention? 14 business days after the withholding order is sent to the employer.
    • When to send the payment? Within 7 days of payment day.
    • When to send a termination notice? “Promptly.”
    • Maximum administrative fee? $5 per payment.
    • Withholding limits? Federal Rules under CCPA.

    Please note that this article is not updated for changes that can and will occur from time to time.

    Home Kitchen

    The dimensions of an average kitchen

    all about cooking

    The kitchen is basically that part of the house where that favorite thing of almost everyone on the planet is prepared: food! In the kitchen, the dishes are prepared, cooked, plated and then served in the dining room or area.

    In order for a kitchen to truly fulfill its intended purpose, it must have the right dimensions. When we say dimensions, we basically refer to the size, that is, the width, the length and the diameter, and the composition or components of the kitchen. The kitchen should also have adequate space so that people can move faster and easier.

    About average kitchen dimensions

    The average kitchen in a residential home is typically around 300 square feet, or a room or space that is 30 feet by 10 feet in dimension. It is also possible for this space to have equal measurements on all sides, giving us a kitchen that is 15 feet long and the same width as well. These measurements would be enough to keep things moving quickly and smoothly in a kitchen.

    In the meantime, if you don’t secure a room to use as a kitchen, you could go for more innovative and space-saving solutions like kitchen layouts. Kitchen designs are basically what one opts for when the kitchen area i.e. the place where one prepares and cooks food will also be placed right in the dining area. That said, we could say here that the kitchen and dining room would be sharing the same space.

    There are five types of kitchen layouts that a homeowner might use. These are the single file, double file, block or island, L-shaped and U-shaped kitchen designs. The single-row kitchen, also known as the one-way galley kitchen, is basically one area of kitchen that is aligned against a wall. Double stock kitchen, on the other hand, is also called a two-way galley kitchen in which the kitchen elements are divided into two rows. Typically, this is the layout used if the dining room table is placed smack dab in the center of the room. The block or island kitchen, on the other hand, is a variation of the single-row kitchen, in which all the kitchen elements are in one line, but they are not placed against the wall but in the center of the area. This is generally employed when there is not much space in the residential area and it is only a small apartment or condominium unit.

    L-shaped and U-shaped kitchens, on the other hand, are said to be the most innovative and space-efficient solution, as the workflow tends to be smooth here.

    Digital Marketing

    Taking the sting out of waiting on Drive-Thru Lane

    There’s a reason so many QSR customers prefer to order food from their cars and not get out of their vehicles to eat, and that reason is that they’re in a hurry. But in the same way, they are not willing to sacrifice getting exactly the food they want for the sake of speed. Technology is the driving force behind making everything in our world faster and easier. Unfortunately, with features updating so quickly and people’s available time seemingly at zero, it makes it hard to keep up. Combine that with less conventional items like digital menu boards and in-car communications. So one of your top priorities as a QSR manager is to ensure the best possible communication between your clients and your staff.

    It won’t be easy to establish great communication between the customer in your car and the person taking the order in your kitchen. You know the stress your staff experience inside the kitchen, and you can well imagine your customer’s world, with a car full of noisy, hungry children and a million other things to attend to as you try to figure out what everyone wants and then deliver. the results to your order taker. That’s why an electronic communication system with echo cancellation and noise cancellation is a must, as well as full duplex, so both ends can talk and listen at the same time. This is not a place to skimp! No self-service menu board is complete without your communication system. Make sure that you and your customer can be easily heard. Remember that the typical QSR makes more than two-thirds of their income in the ever-critical shortcut lane.

    Accuracy may be even more important than speed, according to most of the major recent market research studies in this field. In fact, it’s a common customer perception that part of the cause of his waiting in line is the belief, correct or not, that his burger or burrito is being made from scratch for him. The inference here is that if a customer is going to have to wait, the majority of the waiting period should occur after placing their order, not before.

    And, of course, nothing takes the pain out of waiting quite like some entertaining entertainment, which is easy to provide if you’re using direct-access digital menu boards. With a modern system, it’s easy to reserve some of the blackboard real estate for cartoons, local sports, or whatever else to keep your hungry customers busy for just a few minutes, until the whole gang joins in.

    Relationship

    Bead kits are safe for children

    The discovery of poisonous ‘pearls’ in a highly publicized and popular new toy being sold in Australia until recently alarmed people with children of all ages.

    I can hear you say, “No more accounts in this house!”

    But wait a minute, not so fast… normal pearls are NOT poisonous! Here in Australia, there are high quality, safe and fun bead kits created and manufactured for children of all ages and abilities.

    The beads in these kids’ beading kits have holes for stringing onto elastic, wire, or string. The carefully created bead patterns are made to be very easy to follow with you and your child in mind, although your younger child will definitely need your help with reading and comprehension. An incidental opportunity to spend quality time with your child.

    There are beading kits for kids made with wire to create a crocodile, spider, swan, clowns, angels, fairies and scorpions, as well as Christmas decorations… the list goes on. Other kid beading kits include nylon thread and some include needle and thread for the right-handed older child who is up for that challenge.

    Bead making can be part of children’s party themes, used as children’s party activities, or bead kits can be tucked into kids’ party bags. They can also be stocking stuffers or Christmas decorations for the tree, something special for the child.

    There are several easy beaded decorations in the category of Christmas decorations.

    The bead kits are designed for both boys and girls, teenagers and also for 3-4 year olds. Lots of exciting projects for those busy fingers and inquisitive minds!

    So next time you’re looking for a small, quality, and interesting craft idea for kids, remember not to put all the “beads” in one “poison” basket.

    Bead kits for children are safe. They give hours of fun. Your children will not only be busy, but also safe and happy.

    Look out for a children’s beading kit made here in Australia. Your kids and teens will love you for it!

    Health Fitness

    The 5 Best Ski Snacks

    Skiing is well regarded as one of the most challenging and demanding sports out there. When testing a person’s stamina and ability to withstand varying body temperatures, it’s very important to consider which snacks to take to the slopes. While most tracks have cafes where you can buy food along the way, preparing some energy-boosting snacks to sustain you through your session will keep spirits up so you and your family can keep carving.

    Here are some examples of high-energy foods suitable for both you and the kids during your time on the snow.

    apples

    While bananas are considered the big energy-intensive fruit, they tend to get damaged in transit. To avoid giving the kids a squashed snack that leaves a lot to be desired, opt for a tasty apple instead. They are high in fiber and nutrients and you can even cut them up for easy eating when you’re on the slopes. The browning that may occur won’t do any harm, but if kids are particular about their fruit, you can try soaking them in lemon juice to prevent this from happening.

    Granola bars

    While there isn’t a lot of moisture in granola bars, they pack a great punch of energy and are popular with all ages. Nature Valley produces a nice variety of flavors so everyone can have their favorite flavor as a handy snack on the go. The main selling point for granola bars is that they are small, making them easy to pack in a day bag for skiing and eating on the go. If your kids aren’t big fans, you can go for flapjacks, which are also high in fiber.

    Chocolate

    It’s not the healthiest snack, but considering the number of calories burned skiing (about 400 per hour), chocolate is the tasty, energy-replenishing snack that’s popular with just about everyone. Dark chocolate packs more antioxidants for the more health conscious among you, and its sugar content, while it doesn’t last long, can provide a quick pick-me-up on a long day.

    walnuts

    Walnuts are packed with energy, making them a great choice for the slopes. With the many varieties to choose from, there is sure to be a favorite for every member of the family. Although they can be difficult to eat while on the go, keeping them in a small container or bag can make them the perfect snack.

    Dried fruit

    The sugar content in dried fruits makes them a great option for an extra boost of energy and their carbohydrate content makes them particularly good for skiing. Dried fruit is also small and light to transport, so you can pack enough to go around.

    Legal Law

    Getting around Bangkok

    First of all, it is good to know what kind of transportation you can get in Bangkok. There are numerous types of public transportation, but the average visitor or resident uses only 7 of these, metered taxis, tuk tuks, buses, boats, river taxis, motorcycles, and taxis (non-metered).

    Let’s start with Tuk Tuks. Aren’t those little three-wheeled taxis cute, painted in bright colors and featured so much in anything to do with Thailand? They are very cute until you get stuck in traffic, behind the number 36 bus at about 2pm and they inhale more smoke in 10 minutes than the average smoker in a lifetime… ho ho ho you will say for the kids Isn’t it fun… while your kids bury their heads in their daddy’s armpit because it smells fresh compared to the air around them? It’s ok Try a Tuku Tuk once, don’t go too far and then leave them as a bad idea. Outside of Bangkok they are much more fun. You have to haggle with the Tuk Tuk drivers, the price is set beforehand and they will generally always rip you off, take a taxi.

    Taxis (with 4 wheels) come in two types, metered and non-metered, although some non-metered actually have a meter hidden behind a panel in the dash below the radio… Taxis are great, sit in the air-conditioned luxury and watch the Smiths die of carbon monoxide poisoning in a Tuk Tuk. If a taxi driver refuses to use his meter, tell him to take a walk, get out, don’t be fooled. Check where you are standing, if it is outside a nice big hotel, then walk down the street a bit and hail a taxi. Unlike US or European taxi drivers, they do NOT have to pass TESTS to become a taxi driver, within days of being in Bangkok you will know Bangkok better than many taxi drivers…again if the driver doesn’t seem to know where it is you go, get out… another thing, make sure you know where you are going and have a rough idea of ​​the route, otherwise a less honest taxi driver will take you on a tour of the back roads “the shortcuts”. If you are going a long way, take the toll, it costs 20-40 baht (you pay) and will save you hours of travel. Calling a taxi by phone costs an additional 20 baht, airport taxis cost an additional 50 baht. And yes, there is a REGULATED taxi rank at the airport outside the main assembly area. Don’t get suckered in by the taxi and limo salesmen. Oh yeah, then there are the taxis without a meter… well if you want to use one, feel free… it will cost you the same as a Tuk Tuk, but at least you will have air conditioning… .possibly.

    The buses, there were once red buses, blue buses, green buses and Air Con buses, then micro buses and then deregulation and now there are so many buses that I really don’t know what they all are… anyway, yeah going to use a bus, GET A BUS MAP. Then always use the Air Con buses, unless the place you’re going to isn’t on one of their routes or you’re on such a tight budget that 8-15 baht per person might mean you have to run out of food. Other buses range from 3 Baht to 20 Baht. Don’t bother asking the driver where you want to get off, to them you are a lower life form (all passengers are), ask another passenger. A word about getting on and off the buses. Do it FAST, buses sometimes don’t stop at the bus stop, they “slow down” in the middle of the road and let out a stream of potential hit-and-runs in the middle of traffic, okay, I’m exaggerating a bit, but when you have its stop, make sure you are already close to the door and you can run towards it. Don’t expect the people who get on to open the way for you, that kind of common sense often fails people who use the buses, their goal is to get on quickly and get a seat before everyone else… which brings seats… don’t be fooled into thinking that being a “gentleman” will thank you… oh no, you’ll see pregnant women standing around while snotty youngsters from school take the seats, you’ll see old women laden with groceries standing while sweaty teenagers hoard the seats…its a dog eat dog first come first serve world on the buses and if you take one of the non air conditioned buses you will eventually see a poor person pass out…then they get a seat.

    Motorcycles. Yes… I want to get somewhere fast, take a motorcycle taxi, get married and have children… buy life insurance and a good helmet. Most MB taxi drivers will do their sole intent to scare you to death, to see if they can fit your bike through a gap that is obviously closing faster than they are moving and to see how fast they can go. in an open space. stretch of road…they have no fear (or sanity)…your life is in their hands and soon you will wish it wasn’t. It is the law in Thailand that all cyclists MUST wear a protective helmet… some of the helmets you see would not project a small child falling out of a 3 wheeler. Thai law says you have to wear a helmet, but as far as the law goes…it can be done with paper…if you intend to use MB Taxis a lot then get a helmet…I did, I It saved face when the inevitable finally happened and I skidded across the road after being run over by a pick-up truck… if you can avoid MB taxis then do so. If you’re in Bangkok long enough, you’ll eventually be able to learn which MB taxi teams (yes, they work as a team) are safer than others (or luckier than others). Take a look at the motorcycles they drive, a scratched accident will be a good indication that the driver has kissed the asphalt several times, a new motorcycle, a green horn that is still waiting for its first brush with death… if you go in a motorbike and the driver drives like crazy, tell him to stop and get off.

    I have to admit I have very little experience with boat transport in Bangkok, but from what I’ve been told, if you can get a canal or river taxi then go for it, they are fast, generally clean, less polluting and of course Of course, there are fewer vehicles to hit. Prices vary depending on how far you go.

    In summary, I would suggest that if you plan to travel to Bangkok: – get a map, take metered taxis, always know the general route and even the price range to your destination… oh, and don’t travel between 8am and 9am , or 3 pm and 4 pm, or 7 pm and 8 pm… you won’t get anywhere very, very slowly.

    Lifestyle Fashion

    How to find the right financial advisor for you

    Finding the right financial advisor for you can be a difficult task. After all, how the hell do you know who to trust? And just because someone can be trusted, do they really have all the answers to the questions you need help with? What level of experience do they have? And more importantly, are they really operating in your best interest or are they just looking out for themselves? As if these weren’t enough concerns, you also have to worry about the ethics of your adviser. You don’t want to find yourself working with the next Bernie Madoff who runs off with all your money or is using his valuable assets to finance his next big Ponzi scheme. So how do you sort through all the options and find the right advisor for you?

    Let’s look at 3 things to look out for when selecting the right financial advisor for you and your family. First, how do you know they are legitimate? Second, how do you know they care about you? and third, how do you know they will be right for you? Let’s explore these three questions in some detail to help you get the help you need.

    So how do you do your due diligence and ensure that an adviser you’re considering working with is actually a legitimate financial adviser with verifiable experience and up-to-date licenses? The first place you might want to check is a website called Broker Check. You can simply search for Broker Check to find the official website. This website has a free tool to research the background and experience of brokers, advisers and financial companies. Broker Check can tell you instantly if a person is registered as required by law to sell securities, provide investment advice, or both. Broker Check also gives you a snapshot of an Advisor’s employment history, information on licensing and regulatory actions, arbitrations and complaints. Wouldn’t this information be helpful before entering into a relationship with a consultant?

    Next, it is important to discern whether or not an Advisor cares about you. One way to help you figure this out is to ask your advisor if he or she is acting as a trustee. I know it’s a three dollar word, but all it means is that they are legally required to put their interests before their own and disclose any conflicts of interest that may interfere with that goal up front. For example, if a trustee is going to be paid a commission for a product that she is recommending to him, he is required to tell her before she buys it. Another useful thing to keep in mind is looking for an advisor who will ask to see more than her financial statements. Before they start working with you, they should ask to see your tax returns, legal documents, and insurance contracts. If all they want to see or talk about is your investment statements, how can they really take your entire situation into account when making recommendations?

    Finally, you should never feel any sales pressure to move on or make a hasty decision. A professional advisor will not use old-school sales tactics to win you over as a client. You may need to meet with more than one advisor and see how you feel at each meeting. If you feel pressured or uncomfortable in any way, this may not be the right counselor for you. You should get the feeling that the advisor in question is asking good questions with the goal of helping you make an informed decision about your money that feels right to you. If you’re getting any kind of feedback that he/she is more interested in making a sale than doing the right thing, you should probably pass it on to someone else.

    Certainly, there are likely other factors you could consider, such as the specialty of the advisors and even proximity to your hometown. However, if you start with the basics of doing your due diligence, making sure they care about putting your interests first, and deciding if you have a good feeling about him/her, then you’ll be off to a great start in finding the right financier. Advisor for you. Happy hunting!

    Real Estate

    The Rise of Online Auctions in the Real Estate Industry

    Over the past few years, there has been substantial growth in the number of auctions held and the value of real estate sold at auction. According to the National Association of Realtors, real estate auctions currently account for 21.5% of the total auction market. During 2010, one in three properties is expected to be sold through an auction model. The trend is increasing for online auctions and is likely to continue in the future. Online auctions were not viable in the past due to the lack of availability of the right technology, as there was no specific platform dedicated to real estate. Recently some companies have developed proprietary platforms and are using them to run their own auction business. Until now, traditional real estate brokerage firms had little to no access to technology.

    The traditional method of selling real estate has less transparency. Buyers never knew what the other offers were, so they didn’t know what they were competing against. The sellers didn’t know if they were getting a good price for the house because there was very little competition among the buyers. Sellers generally want to sell a home quickly for multiple reasons, including a new job, family, etc. but they often have to put their lives on hold because it usually takes a long time to sell your house. There was no pressure on buyers to make an offer in a timely manner, so the houses were on the market for much longer periods of time. For real estate agents, if they take more time to move inventory around the house, it takes longer to earn commissions and slows the growth rate of their business. They were also unable to leverage technology to offer value-added services to their customers in the past.

    Currently, there is such a huge supply of foreclosed homes that banks are trying to sell their shares using auction companies that have live and online auction platforms. According to RealtyTrac, a record 2.8 million homes were threatened with foreclosure last year and the number is expected to rise to over 3 million homes in 2010. New companies are springing up looking to specialize in selling these homes. REO through the auction process. These new entrants may also seek to gain a slice of the traditional real estate market in competition with existing brokerage firms. Brokerage firms can get into the online auction business early by using an auction platform to keep the field open to competition from new entrants. With auction technology, real estate agents can offer new value-added services by leveraging Internet technology, grow their business and generate additional revenue streams.

    Shopping Product Reviews

    How to burn Xbox 360 gameplay using ImgBurn

    imgBurn is a free tool that allows you to burn all kinds of CDs, DVDs, and Blu-Ray discs. It works for PC CDs, music CDs, and even Xbox 360 games, and here’s how to burn your 360 games with it.

    Before you can burn any Xbox 360 game, you must first obtain the ISO and DVD files that will be used to burn the disc. These files are crucial and can be extracted from the game CD or downloaded from the Internet. Once you have the ISO and .DVD file for the game you want to burn, you need to install imgBurn on your system. This is quite simple and the software can be downloaded from imgburn.com.

    Once you have installed the software, you need to open the .dvd file for your game. There, there will be a LAYER BREAK number, which you need to copy to your clipboard with CRTL + C. Copy it and then open imgBurn and find the “options” panel at the top of the screen. Open the options window, and then find the “layer break” setting, where you’ll need to paste that number with CRTL + V.

    After you have pasted the skip layer number into the settings, you can close them and return to the main imgburn screen (the skip layer is where the burner stops burning one layer and goes to the next layer of the dual layer DVD). . On the main screen, you need to click on the “Burn from image” button, which will then open a new screen, which will ask you to open an ISO file. Open the game file you have and then proceed to change the ‘write speed’ of the program to 4X. This will give you the highest success rate. After that, you just need to click on the big button at the bottom left of the screen to make it burn.

    Most computers will take around 40 minutes to save the game, but if you’ve done it right, it should finish and be successful. This means that you now have an Xbox game burned to a blank DVD, congratulations! However, in order to play the game, you need to do other things on your PC and console which are not many, but crucial.