Golden Realty Blog

Many more people are working at home than in the past, either starting their own businesses or on work-at-home contracts with their employers.

But while the idea of commuting 10 feet to your office in your pajamas sounds wonderful, there are some things to bear in mind in order to make the experience successful.

Office Space

It’s important to divide your working space from the rest of your home as much as possible. Ideally, you will have an office in a separate room, but if that’s not possible, try to dedicate within a room a space that’s just for business, perhaps using a screen or divider to separate your desk from the rest of the room.

If you live in a noisy house, try to find somewhere quiet where you can talk on the phone, otherwise you will find it difficult to project a professional image.

Office Hours

Schedule and maintain specific office hours rather than let your work time overflow into your personal time. Doing this will help present a professional image to your clients or employer and also stop your workplace stresses from interfering with your private life. Imagine ’shutting the door’ on work at the end of the day and not going back until you are due to start again.

Family and Friends

Sometimes, people believe that if you’re working at home, they can interrupt you whenever they like. Tell your loved ones that even though you are at home, you are working and that they should not disturb you.

Limit Input

Minimize the amount of exterior stimuli including outside calls, email and even music when working from home.

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Are you one of the millions of last minute tax payers? Don’t worry, you are not alone. If you feel the stress and need a break here are a few tax related quotes to help put that smile back on your face:

Isn’t it appropriate that the month of the tax begins with April Fool’s Day and ends with cries of ‘May Day’!? ~ Rob Knauerhase

Taxes, after all, are dues that we pay for the privileges of membership in an organized society.  ~Franklin D. Roosevelt

Did you ever notice that when you put the words “The” and “IRS” together, it spells “THEIRS?”  ~Author Unknown

Taxes grow without rain.  ~Jewish Proverb

A person doesn’t know how much he has to be thankful for until he has to pay taxes on it.  ~Author Unknown

Taxes…of life’s two certainties, the only one for which you can get an automatic extension. ~Anonymous

People who complain about paying their income tax can be divided into two types: men and women. ~Anonymous

The only thing worse than paying income tax, is not paying income tax. ~ Donald Macleod

Intaxication (n.):  Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with.

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Designated as a Green Realtor, I have learned that the term Green is way overused and is often times regarded as an elitist mind set. Unfortunately, the typical US home is where the majority of energy, and therefore money is wasted. There is no doubt that “Going Green” encompasses a plethora of choices and options that can help save money and energy. But the key to achieving savings is to start by making small changes.

Here are few simple tips that will let the savings begin:

• Air dry dishes instead of using the dishwasher’s drying cycle.
• Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.
• Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120 degrees.
• Take short showers instead of baths.
• Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.
• Clean the lint out of your dryer after every load to improve air circulation.
• Install a programmable thermostat.

Energy efficient home improvements can not only make your home more comfortable, but yield long term financial rewards as well.

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