Mohit Tater's Blog, page 709

Is There An Increase in Property Demand in Gurgaon and Noida?

The Delhi-NCR region is one of the most popular real estate investment areas in India. The area saw rapid development in 2012 to 2013 and buyer flocked to the area to invest in real estate. To cater to the incoming businesses and migrating workforce, the local government and Central government worked together to improve local infrastructure like roads, electricity, water, power-backups, etc.

However, land rates were so high that most properties in the area were too expensive for India’s middle class. Buyers moved in but too slowly and absorption levels were very low. Properties stagnated and by early 2014, sales tapered. One of the reasons for this is that election season was scheduled for January 2014. Buyers cancelled financial transactions until the new central government was in place and the new annual budget was announced.

Times Have Changed Post-Election

Yes, the election and the new budget have generated considerable interest in the real estate market. The Narendra Modi-led government is considered a progressive government that is more interested in pulling India and its economy into the future. The Central Government has also announced several interesting real estate policies that should make real estate investment profitable for investors, states Moneycontrol. A few of the most interesting moves by the government that should directly influence an increase in property demand in Gurgaon and Noida are as follows:

The Modi Government is committed to the infrastructural development of India. As a result, prestigious but vital projects like the DMIC (Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor) and the DFC (Dedicated -Freight Corridor) will be pushed through and they will immediately improve the Gurgaon-Noida area.
The investment-savvy government could also lower lending rates for home loans. This could help first-time buyers invest in developing cities around Gurgaon and Noida.
Developers are also hoping that the Central Government will streamline and expedite the approvals granting process. This will speed up projects and put them on the market for sale much more quickly.
By opening up the investment market, builders and developers are expecting an increased availability of funds to start new projects. This will definitely revitalize the market and increase sales.
Modi has also announced a new affordable housing policy for every Indian citizen by 2025 and this means a $150 billion business opportunity for builders and homeowners.
The Modi-led government also opened alternative methods of funding for builders like REITs and these are expected to boost the real estate market considerably.

Builders and investors are also looking forward to the real estate market being granted “industry” status, states Myrealestate. This will ease fund flows for the builders and open up the range of properties available for first time private buyers and real estate investment firms states NDTV.

Investors Looking To Gurgaon and Noida Again

Yes, not surprisingly, interest has picked up in Gurgaon and Noida again as prime areas for investment. With great real estate policies in place, national and international investors are actively thinking about entering the Indian real estate market. In fact, Donald Trump has already entered the market by tying up with a Mumbai-based real estate firm. Industry watchers are expecting other international firms to follow him into India. Considering its proximity to Delhi, the country’s political capital, most international firms will prefer to invest in Gurgaon and Noida.

Investing in Gurgaon: Gurgaon is already seeing a demand for new homes even though there were very few new project launches in 2014. However, the lower inventory and increased investor interest has led to prices strengthening and stabilizing in the third quarter of 2014. Real estate biggies like the Unitech Group have already amped up their advertising and media drives to display their existing properties to investors and private buyers. According to the Bank of America, Gurgaon will continue to flourish as existing inventory and new launches are sold out to interested buyers.

Investing in Noida: Noida is not different says Economictimes. The city had experienced a slowdown in property sales due to the shaky economy. New projects launches have slowed down to the existing surplus properties available for sale. The good news is that property rates decreased due to the huge inventory of existing properties. For small buyers or first-time buyers, Noida is a great place to buy their first home or first property. However, for large investors who are looking for a rapidly developing local market, Gurgaon is far better as an investment option.

For First-Time Buyers

For small buyers, this is a good market, as there are now thousands of affordable properties available for sale in Gurgaon and Noida, states Economictimes. With an improving economy, government assistance, and better infrastructure, first-time buyers are assured of affordable property (that will increase in value) in the rapidly developing, central and popular areas of Gurgaon and Noida.

Can Outsourcing Work be Effective?

As a business owner, outsourcing administrative duties as a way of improving your work processes and making them more effective may seem like a very attractive option; however, you might also be unsure about how best to go about it. Keeping up to date with the administrative aspects of a business can be extremely challenging, and this can be particularly true for the self-employed or for those working as a contractor, especially if they are operating a one-person enterprise where time is at a premium.

The problem of paperwork

In many cases, the administrative duties associated with a business take up so much time that small business owners often find themselves unable to adequately cope with all the work that needs to be done to keep things organized and current. While the energy that goes into keeping on top of administrative tasks can be considerable, at the same time those duties – dealing with bills, regulatory requirements, taxes, invoices, and accounts payable and receivable – are essential to the smooth operation of the business. Without effective administration, a business will simply not function, no matter how talented the business owner is at what they sell – be it a product or service.

A cost effective solution

One potential solution for business owners who find it difficult to keep up with the administrative end of their business is to outsource these duties to what is known as an umbrella company. Particularly for a self-employed person or contractor, an arrangement with an umbrella company can often make excellent financial sense.

If you take one administrative duty – self-employment PAYE – as an example, the benefits of using the services of an umbrella company become clear. An umbrella company takes on the responsibility of an employer for agency contractors who have taken on a contract for a fixed-term, typically through a recruitment agency. The umbrella company forwards invoices to the recruitment agency or, alternatively, to the client the contractor is working on behalf of, and after the invoice has been paid the company will generally issue payment to the contractor using the PAYE system. The umbrella company will also deduct any claimed expenses, such as travel and meals.

Working with an umbrella company gives a contractor the flexibility required to move from one contract to another while, at the same time, a single employer assumes responsibility for processing taxes, freeing the contractor to focus on the work they have to do for clients. If you are a contractor, you will understand the importance of being able to focus on the work you have been contracted to do and how this helps you to build a reputation for reliability and effectiveness.

Making the right decision for your business

In order to better gauge whether your business would benefit from outsourcing its administrative tasks, weigh up all the potential advantages and disadvantages to determine if such outsourcing would improve the functioning of the business. If your company has multiple employees, it will also be helpful to discuss whether outsourcing might be advantageous to them or at the very least seek their input. If you are operating a business on your own, seek the advice of a family member or friend who is familiar with running a business to see whether they think you would benefit from outsourcing administrative tasks.

Running a small business in today’s economy is challenging enough without having to spend time and energy you often don’t have keeping the books up to date and ensuring that bills, taxes, and vendors are paid on time. Outsourcing these and other administrative duties to an umbrella company will free you up to concentrate on growing your business and delivering the best product or service to your customers.

Ultrabooks Vs Tablets

Credit: Pierre Lecourt

Ever since the release of the iPad in 2010, tablets have exploded in popularity and what was once considered to be a very niche product is now competing with mobile phones and PCs as one of the most popular consumer products on the market.

A knock-on effect of tablets becoming so popular in the last few years is the ever-increasing number of Ultrabooks that are available.   ‘Ultrabooks’ was a term coined by Intel and whilst the definition of what classifies a laptop as an Ultrabook is not set in stone, they’re generally high-performance machines that are long-lasting and have good battery life. Due to the high performance and convenience that tablets offer consumers, laptops have had to work to close the gap as much as possible. So which to go for – Ultrabook or tablet?

Factors to consider

Because both Ultrabooks and tablets have their own unique advantages and disadvantages, it’s important to think carefully before deciding where to invest your money. When deciding on which to purchase, there are certain key questions you should ask yourself. Some good questions to consider are:

What do you need it for? This is one of the biggest questions to ask yourself when deciding which device you’re going to purchase. In most cases, the device won’t just be used for one thing but if you’re going to be using it for a lot of work-related tasks and word processing then an Ultrabook would certainly be the preferred option. A big strength of Ultrabooks is that they offer the best of both worlds when it comes to entertainment and the ability to do work tasks.
What models are available? – This is another key consideration. After all it’s not just the device itself that’s going to determine how much you enjoy using it, but the model of Ultrabook or tablet that you purchase. For tablets there are a number of excellent models available such as the ever-popular iPad by Apple as well as the Samsung’s Galaxy series. As for Ultrabooks, the Toshiba Kira is one of the leading models currently available on the market and features an extremely high resolution touchscreen display amongst other features.
What is your available budget? – The budget you have available is always going to play a big role when making any major purchase. Whilst Ultrabooks are typically more expensive than tablets, the range of features they offer justifies the extra price. If you’re on a limited budget then a tablet might be the better option

For more factors to consider when deciding on whether to purchase an ultrabook or a tablet, check out this comprehensive article published by Information Week.

The best way to ensure you make the right decision when choosing between an Ultrabook or tablet is to do as much research as possible. Make a shortlist of models that you’re interested in and compare features side by side. It’s also useful to watch videos on YouTube to see how different devices perform in the real world. With so many models to choose from, you certainly won’t be stuck for choice.

How to Choose a Reliable Email Security Provider

Email has emerged as the number one means of communication for many businesses today. It is, therefore, important to safeguard your biggest correspondence channel with stringent security measures. But with so many companies offering email security, how can you be sure which one is right for your business?

Fortunately, by doing your homework and satisfying a few basic criteria, you can ensure that your business is thoroughly protected going forward- especially when it comes to email communications.

Here are our top 5 factors to consider when choosing a reliable email security provider:

Ensure your needs are addressed

Often, businesses go in search of a new solutions provider without first assessing their own needs. And while many reputable firms will offer advice on the best technologies available, it is much better to be in a position to dictate your requirements.

Therefore, before you even consider looking for a security provider you have to carry out an in-house analysis to ultimately define what your fundamental business needs are. Only then can you begin to search the market for a suitable partner.

Think about any regulatory or compliance requirements you might have in terms of financial information, client protection or general stability. Furthermore, consider is whether you should opt for a provider who uses more traditional physical servers or a more robust cloud solution such as Mimecast cloud email security.

Reputation

It may sound obvious, but you want to ensure that any security provider you’re considering has a solid reputation in their field. After all, it would be a disastrous waste of time and money if you chose a provider who ceased to exist a few months down the line.

Check out what each company has to offer and look at who they boast are their ‘happy clients’. You can even take this a step further and contact their existing clients (if appropriate) to see exactly what they think of the service they are receiving.

Professional service level agreements

Service level agreements or SLAs are designed to protect both your business and your new security partner. They outline every aspect of the contract that you’ll have inevitably signed and can be referred to in the event of a discrepancy. Moreover, SLAs stipulate the response times you can expect to see from your provider and the intended service restoration times in the event that you experience an outage for whatever reason.

Accurate and real-time reporting

Security providers who can supply you with reporting that is both accurate and real-time are worth their weight in gold. In today’s fast-paced business environment, the ability to produce real-time reports is an absolute necessity.

Detailed reports not only show how your provider is doing in terms of your service contract but they are also essential for highlighting to senior executives the ROI of their latest investment. Be sure that any security provider you are considering has the ability to produce reports that are accurate and real-time.

Scalability

Your company’s needs in five years’ time are almost certainly not going to be the same as they are today. Therefore, it is important to ensure that your chosen security provider offers a scalable service that you can increase/decrease in the future.

Fortunately, most providers who leverage cloud technology provide this as standard, but you should still check beforehand to be absolutely sure as scalability is something that every business stands to benefit from.

How to Write the Perfect Essay for Your B-School Application

Credit: Oliver Quinlan

B-school essays are exceptionally important element of the application process. Top business school’s admissions boards want to know the real person behind the resume. They want to know the motivations of that individual, their dreams, what makes them outstanding from others, and what that individual wants to become in terms of their career goals and how they would like to achieve those goals.

With this understanding, it is important, therefore for the person writing the application essay to first conduct a self-reflection of themselves by focusing on their strengths, weaknesses career goals etc. They should take an objective reflection of what they will be bringing in the B-school and how they would like the school to improve them. Secondly, just like in a job interview, it is important to have a background information about all that the B-school is offering. Browsing through Android and iOS apps can help students to get that information. Equipped with this information, the individual can then start to write the application essay.

Several tips can help students pitch an effective essay that will secure a spot at the top in the admission’s board list. First, it is important for the applicant to think carefully through the topic. The applicant should then outline the issues that he or she would want to discuss on the essay and write a draft. The person should then write the essay and proofread through it to ensure that it has no grammatical errors, sentences are flowing and the overall essay is interesting and lively. They should give someone to proofread the essay as well and counter check whether the essay has perfectly addressed what was asked.

In conclusion, the applicant should be real in his or her paper writing and approach the essays with a high level of sincerity, integrity and professionalism. The essay should consistently sending the right message about the candidacy of the applicant and pass important points.

Five Essential Tools Every Start-Up Business Should Use

Perfecting the product/service and securing sufficient funding are just two of the jobs needed to make sure a start-up business is a success. Consumers have more options available to them than ever before, so it is important all aspects of your business are given sufficient focus to help your services stand out. Here are five important essentials all businesses need to take seriously.

Get the Right Help

From building a website to designing a logo, there are an incredible range of jobs which need completing at a professional standard to help make a start-up business a success. Many of these skills may be out of your skillset and comfort zone, so it is important to seek the help of talented professionals in these disciplines. Finding a freelancer in these disciplines can help you maintain professional standards without the costs attached to hiring a full-time employee.

If you are looking for a full time employee without high wages costs, the Government’s apprenticeship scheme can reward businesses which take on apprentices. Businesses taking on an apprentice may be entitled to a grant of £1,500 – helping to pay the apprentice’s wages for the first few months of their employment.

Be Available and Personable

If you are competing with big businesses, one of the benefits small companies and start-ups can offer customers and clients is personable and passionate service. Whether your business is B2B or B2C, make yourself available to the people paying your bills. If you have a website, include a personal bio and leave a professional number with a direct line to yourself or another trusted person within the business. This helps to cultivate an atmosphere of trust between yourself and the customer/client.

Where possible, invite clients and customers to add you on Skype. This gives them the opportunity to converse directly with you, helping them understand how much you care about the business and the products/services.

Cut Courier Costs

This tip is particularly pertinent for e-commerce start-ups where one of the major overheads will be delivery and courier costs. By minimising courier costs, you can either pass savings onto the customer, making the company more attractive, or increase those profit margins.

Rapid Parcel is a courier comparison service which compares the costs across different courier services. The simple tool allows you to input the delivery details (size, weight, delivery address) and will determine the costs across the major courier services in the UK, allowing you to choose the service which makes the most business sense.

Go Remote

For many start-ups, one of the biggest costs is office space. Whilst it can be gratifying to move into a professional-looking office with branded adornments and flourishes – it can be a waste of funds which could channelled far more effectively. Working out of existing properties, whether it be your home or a public space, can cut those initial costs.

There are a range of tools which make remote working far simpler than ever, as demonstrated by record numbers working from home. Free cloud storage tool, Dropbox, makes it simple to access all your files and documents wherever you are by storing them remotely. This tool makes it plausible for numerous members of the team to work on the same project, whilst physically removed from one another.

Google your Business

Make it simpler for potential customers and clients to find your business with Google My Business. This helpful tool gives your business a comprehensive profile, showcased on Google when relevant search terms are entered. Visitors can view contact details, vital information and customer reviews of your business. Linking with a Google+ account, Google My Business helps make your online presence better integrated, symbiotic and easier to control.

SIP Trunking Solutions

Credit: cizake

Amcom offer unified communications to customers via SIP Trunking. The main purpose of employing this service is to utilize video, voice, web conferencing and desktop sharing apps. With the growing needs of the corporate world, you need to have a media service that connects you with your clients and staff. Most of the businesses have their branches countrywide or if you have a global business, it becomes all the more important to communicate with your employees. SIP Trunking service lets you have video and voice chatting with the managers and clients through private branch exchange.

Centralization of services through this media service makes it possible to have voice and video quality. Businesses that are online and have customer support systems can use these solutions most expediently since you can cut costs on using multiple phone lines. Within an organization sharing data and streaming media apps get quite troubling, you ought to have an efficient mode of data organization and systemizing media applications; SIP Trunking service has it all. It allocates you enough space for storing data whether it is your demand list, product launch or jobs to be assigned; you get a structured overview of all the important tasks.

Unlike other networking systems that require loads of wires and multiple devices, SIP Trunking involves fewer connection portals; hence you get a variety of media apps without having to place a lot of equipment.

IP Conferencing through this service is quicker and disruption free, you can connect to multiple locations with SIP Trunking without compromising on the image/sound quality. Availing this service through a creditable service provider makes it inexpensive; converting your desktops into videoconferencing devices is also managed by the service provider. Whether you own a private business or work for a non-government organization, IP conferencing is an essential technology these days for getting your voice heard across multiple platforms, getting this tech through SIP Trunking ensures you consistent communication.

Amcom is a one pit stop for all your networking needs. The intelligent network of Amcom offers latest telecom solutions to all sorts of enterprises. For SIP trunking solutions visit Amcom.

SIP Trunking solutions by Amcom empower you with integrated telephone services and hosted VoIP service offerings. The cost and maintenance charges are nothing as compared to the advantages of this innovative service.

The intense competition amongst the IT companies has resulted in the development of software and apps that are versatile and performance based. Case studies that are conducted on the perks of SIP Trunking for unified communications has proved its far-reaching results; not only businesses with multiple franchises but research centers and hospitals are benefiting from it.

If you live in Australia and want super-efficient telecom services, for SIP trunking solutions visit Amcom.

 

 

5 Things To Consider Before Starting A Business

Credit: notnyt

Being your own boss is a lot of people’s dream, but it’s important to make sure a solid foundation is laid before you start trying to live that dream. When it comes to starting a business there are some simple but still quite necessary steps that you’re simply going to need to take in order to succeed.

#1: Familiarize Yourself With The Business

It seems like common sense but if you’re going to open a bakery specializing in cupcakes, it’s a good idea for you to know what goes into making and presenting those delectable desserts. A business isn’t a fun experiment or an excursion, and treating it like one will make it harder to succeed. Whether it’s a bakery or a consignment shop, an art gallery or a cell phone store you need to be familiar enough with the business to run it yourself. That means understanding the product, how to handle customers, what the costs of operation are going to be, and all of the finer points that go into keeping a business up and running.

#2: Create A Budget. And Stick to it.

Budgeting isn’t just for your home life; it’s a necessity for a successful business too. You need to know how much you pay for new product, what your operating costs are, how much your bills are going to be, what you need to pay your employees, and how much upkeeping your licenses and repairs are going to cost. Once you know how much your business is going to cost you then know how much money you have to make at a bare minimum just to cover your expenses.

#3: Understand How Much You Need To Live On

It isn’t enough just to keep your business afloat; you have to make a living too. So once you know how much money you have to make just to keep your doors open you then need to look at your own life and ask how much money you need to make in order to live comfortably. Once you figure out what you need to make in a year, complete with taxes, savings, and costs like health care, then you’ll know what your business will have to grow into in order to keep you comfortable.

#4: Networking is Key

Networking is always listed as a key to business success, but that doesn’t mean you need to wait until your business is up and running before you do it. Before you even think about starting your business you should check and see who would be interested in investing, who has expertise to offer, and who can help you get an advantage over the competition. Clients, investors, employees, partners, all of those come about because of good networking.

#5: Insurance

Accidents happen, and if you don’t plan for them then something simple can take a successful business and wipe it out. A theft, a natural disaster, or any of a dozen other problems can all plague an otherwise healthy and virile business concept. That’s why it’s important to seek out a provider like Cavendish Munro and find out what it will cost to insure your business before you even think about opening your doors.

How to Start A Property Business

Credit: Michael P

Starting a property business is a solid way to create either a small or large income stream. Whether someone has dozens of properties or just one, it’s important to know what’s required before becoming a landlord. After all it takes more than just putting out a “for rent” sign and waiting for someone to move in.

Step One: Get Your Building Up to Code

Before you can ask people to move in and start paying rent you have to make sure that the property is up to code. This means it has to be solid, all repairs have to be made, and it has to pass muster for a residential living space (or an office space if you’re renting office space instead of living space). In addition to making sure the building is ready for people to move into though you also need to be sure that it conforms to all local laws for rental properties. You may need to get inspections performed, licenses issued, or zoning changed in order to be a commercial location, which all needs to be squared away before you even think about letting someone sign a rental contract.

Step Two: Draw Up Your Papers

A rental property is only as strong as its contracts, which is why it’s imperative to hire a representative and to draw up papers for your future renters. A contract needs to lay out your renters’ responsibilities, what you will and won’t cover, and every detail of the rental agreement. This includes everything from fees and rent to which problems will be fixed by property maintenance and which ones will be charged to the renter. These contracts need to be above board as far as the law is concerned, and they need to be tight so that you don’t leave anything gray or unclear when your renters should be given details.

Step Three: Get Insured

There’s one more thing to do before you open your doors and start renting out your properties, and that’s make sure you get insurance for your budding property business venture. While it might not sound like a necessity insurance can often be the difference between recovering from problems and having your business ruined by a few bad tenants. Insurance offered by companies like CIA insurance allows landlords to cover unpaid rent (which can put a significant strain on the property), property damage, and other unforeseen circumstances. Whether you have one property or a hundred it’s important that they’re all covered in the event that something goes truly wrong.

Step Four: Start Renting

Once you have all of the basics taken care of the next step is to start renting your properties. This means advertising, setting up viewings and appointments, and in some occasions negotiating with potential tenants regarding their demands. Once tenants shake on the terms and sign on the dotted line though you’ll see your income from the properties begin to rise. After you’ve started down the path all you have to do is keep the property cared for, make sure rental spaces are filled, and handle complaints in a quick, efficient manner in order to keep your property business running smoothly.

How to Get the Ball Rolling on Your Invention

Credit: Chuck Coker

It’s happened: you have a brilliant idea for an invention and you know it’s destined to sell. One of the hardest parts of the invention process is coming up with a killer concept, however the next step is almost as challenging: getting the proverbial ball rolling! If feeling stuck, check out a few tips for starting the invention design process:

Document. Everything.

Before telling anyone about your idea, document it! Dedicate a notebook exclusively to your invention and write out everything having to do with it: how it works, what materials it requires, how it benefits the consumer, etc. Keep original copies of all drawings, diary entries, receipts for materials, and photographs. Take photos of your progress and be sure to date every “invention diary” entry. You can never have enough invention documentation!

Ensure It’s Original

Perform a search on the United States Patent and Trademark Office official website to make certain your idea is original. While doing a Google search is also helpful, the patent office provides information on new inventions that have patents but aren’t commercially available. So if you have an idea for a product you know hasn’t hit the market yet, you’ll still need to discover if it’s similar to a patented item.

Obtain a Patent

While you don’t have to patent your invention, industry experts generally agree it’s a good call! Keep in mind the U.S. Patent Office does not patent ideas, so creating a prototype, however amateur, is necessary. Three types of patent applications are available: utility, design and plant. A design patent is granted to someone “who invents a new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture,” and is likely the option you need.

Work With an Invention Help Company

Working with the right invent help company makes the invention design process a lot easier, as you’ll have access to experienced engineers creating amazing prototypes. An invention help company such as Idea Design Studio provides discounts on patents among many other services, and since patents aren’t exactly cheap, it’s a good idea to have an invent help company in your corner!