Sunday, September 9, 2012

Effective Role Played By Inventory Clerks In Business

If a company has inventories, the need for inventory clerks will definitely be felt as their responsibility includes tracking all the products including finished products, semi-finished products, stock kept as reserve for future use and scrap. Every product the company sells, every consumable item related to the manufacturing of the product and other office supplies are tracked by the inventory clerks.
Duties of inventory clerks
The responsibilities of inventory clerks include receiving inventories, maintaining records, keeping track of the demands and inventories in excess and many more. They play an effective role in the execution of orders and ensure a smooth production process.
  • Receiving inventories that come in is one of the important duties of inventory clerks. They need to have details regarding shipment of products ordered and once the shipment arrives, they need to ensure that they are properly stored.

  • Classification of inventories received is essential so that everything is in check. Once the material arrives, it has to be unpacked and labeled and in the process, damaged inventories could be identified.

  • Maintaining an inventory list is a very strenuous process as it has to have a complete detail of all the products in the company whether finished or unfinished, whether in good condition or a scrap. It is the responsibility of the clerks in the inventor's department to create and update inventory list.

  • With the advancement of technology, maintaining records has been made easier with computer software programs. However, physical count is essential to ensure that there is no room for mistakes. Apart from maintaining records in the computer, the clerks also physically count the stock and base their reports only after double verification.

  • By keeping track of inventories available, the clerks are in a position to know about the availability of a particular product. This helps them to order necessary by products and consumables to ensure uninterrupted production of goods.

  • Auditing is a very important quality of inventory clerks. Incoming inventory and outgoing inventory are to be audited by the clerks. Periodical analysis and comparative study of the inventories will greatly help to identify if the orders for products are in line with the demands.

  • In the companies that use inventory clerks at their effective best, have them in customer service as well. To satisfy their customers and honor their needs, these clerks interact with the clients to let them know about the products in stock and handle exchanges of items when the need arises.
Establish your name with inventory management
A business needs every aspect to be covered to ensure smooth functioning and inventory management as we saw, plays a crucial role. While hiring the services of clerks for maintaining your inventory, it is necessary to trust the job with safe hands. Your choice should be based on the type of inventories your business deals with and hence you could discuss in detail about your expectations and demands and hire a person who can quickly judge your market and your competitor's market. Unless one has the ability to make a comparative study, it would not be possible to identify the right path towards proper inventory management.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Hire An Asbestos Removal Company To Inspect Your Property

Take the time to learn about how exposure to asbestos can be hazardous to your health. You should also learn how to recognize the signs that you may need to have an asbestos removal service come and clean your home. The longer you are exposed, the higher the risk of you or someone you love developing mesothelioma, lung cancer, or some other serious medical condition. Even though many newly constructed buildings and homes are constructed with materials other than this harmful substance, there are still many buildings that were built with asbestos.
Many people tend to think that this substance was only used in ceilings. At one point in time, this material was used in the majority of construction materials. Flooring can contain this harmful product as well. If you live in an older home that was built before 1981, you need to have an asbestos removal service come out and inspect your home to rule out contamination. Certain flooring products such as vinyl, rubber and asphalt can contain the substance and pose a health hazard to anyone who is exposed. Certain flooring adhesives were manufactured with the substance and if you happen to notice black adhesive on your tiles and floors, you may want to have the floors checked out.
This fibrous material can also be found in insulation materials that were manufactured prior to 1981. When fibers deteriorate, the materials become hazardous. The particles can become airborne and if they are inhaled on a long-term basis, serious health issues can arise. You need to be on the lookout for deteriorating insulation materials so you can get the insulation replaced if it is deemed to be hazardous. You should also be on the lookout for paint that is peeling or chipped. Any wall surfaces that appear to be damaged also pose a threat. Dust that accumulates near insulation and exposed areas in the walls is often an indicator of a threat. Wherever there are signs of an asbestos problem, exposure is often unavoidable if the building is occupied. In order to increase the health of everyone who comes in contact with that environment and the safety of the building in question, an asbestos removal company needs to be contacted as soon as possible to alleviate the threat and minimize the risk of contamination and exposure.
If you or someone you know has been exposed to this substance, you may not notice any symptoms until many years after the time of initial exposure. There are some symptoms that can develop in the short term that can also alert you to the possible presence of this substance. If you start to experience sudden shortness of breath, coughing with a pattern, difficulty and pain swallowing, and pain in the chest, you need to be seen and treated by a medical doctor right away. Keep in mind that some of those symptoms can also signal there are other health concerns; however, getting diagnosed is the only way to know for sure whether or not you have ever been exposed. It is a good idea to have any building or home you are purchasing inspected by an asbestos removal company before you sign the papers.

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Why People Prefer to Invest in Pakistan Real Estate?

Pakistan has a vibrant real estate sector offering excellent prospects to locals and foreign property investors. Due to regional unrest in several countries of the world, foreigners consider Pakistan real estate a safer investment than their local property markets. Moreover, the opportunity to earn huge bucks and minimal restrictions for purchasing also make the evident reasons why people are always keen to invest in Pakistan property.
Many first class housing societies are being launched in Pakistan to guarantee comfortable, affordable, convenient and modern lifestyle for people living there. Societies like Bahria Town Lahore, Valencia Town, Central Park and Sukh Chain Gardens in Lahore make the top most examples in this regard. The quality lifestyles offered by these societies also lure people to invest in Pakistan property. Some other reasons include the following:
Slow but Steady Returns!
History shows real estate sector in Pakistan is recession proof, since it is one of those sectors which tremendously absorbed the effects of global financial crises and managed to offer stable returns even during bad times. Unfortunately after fast growth of the sector from 2001-2004, the property prices have been improving slowly over the last few years. This does not discourage investors because they know though the returns on realty investment are slow but quite safe and steady in Pakistan.
Hedge against Inflation!
Normally if rise in value of investment is less than the rise in the rate of inflation, it means your investment is losing value. The return on saving or fixed accounts is quite less in Pakistan as compared to the cost of inflation which people had to pay. They believe gold provides the best hedge against inflation but only a few know that property in Pakistan does the job better. There is nothing that fights inflation better than real estate. The all time high returns offset the effect of inflation and lead the investment towards growth.
'HALAL' Source of Income!
According to estimates, around 97% of the population in Pakistan is Muslim. In Islam income earned as an interest is 'haram'. The returns earned from saving accounts, fixed accounts and profits from stock trading are forbidden sources of income. A lot of investors, owing to their religious beliefs, are hesitant to earn income from forbidden sources and prefer investing in real estate. This is because rental returns from Pakistan property and capital gains on its sales make one of the purest forms of 'halal' source of income.
High Investment Liquidity!
Liquidity is the ability of investment as to how quickly it converts into cash. According to a report of the World Bank, Pakistan is facing a serious housing shortage. The annual unmet demand remains around 1.5 million for housing units and average occupancy rate per house is around six. This is why demand of property especially in posh housing schemes like DHA and Bahria Town Lahore remains all-time high. Investors know they can liquefy their investment anytime when they need cash since the realty market remains crowded with property buyers in Pakistan.
Property Tax Exemptions!
The favourable property tax policy in Pakistan also encourages investors to invest in Pakistan realty sector. Capital gains or losses on sale of property are tax free but subject to tax if sale and purchase is carried out as a business activity. Rental income is taxable but tax brackets are quite favourable. Rental income tax is applied to gross value of rent and tax brackets are subject to change from time to time according to policy of government. Moreover, on inherited property there is no tax.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Things to Look for in Student Apartments

Are you getting ready for the school year to start? Is moving day right around the corner? If so, you are probably busy looking through listing after listing for student apartments. As a college attendee, it can be difficult to find housing that meets your needs. There are several considerations that go into finding the right accommodations for your college experience, and by looking for some of the following features you will be much more likely to find a unit that meets your needs.
Low Rent
The first thing you should look for in student apartments is affordable rent. In most cases, students pay for their housing by using money from their loans. This being the case, it is important to find a unit that will require you to borrow less money. Loans can be a large burden on an individual after he or she graduates. Therefore, if you are able to make it through college without borrowing more than is necessary for housing, you will be setting yourself up for success after graduation.
Short Commute
Another important feature to look for in student apartments is location. Ideally, you want to find a place that has a short commute to the campus. Your best bet will be to find a unit that is within walking distance from your primary academic building. This will make your mornings much easier, and you will be much more likely to attend classes successfully if you are able to get to them easily. If, however, you are not able to find a unit within walking distance of campus, then it you should look for a place that has convenient access to public transportation. In either case, though, it is important not to have a long commute to school. You will thank yourself later.
Safe Neighborhood
Finally, and for obvious reasons, it is important when looking for student apartments to know which neighborhoods are safest. College kids tend to be easy targets for criminals, and, as a result, robberies are not uncommon in areas surrounding college campuses. Therefore, it is important to find a place that is in a safe neighborhood where crimes like these are uncommon. You will be glad for the security, and your parents will rest comfortably knowing that you are safe.
All in all, there are a number of things to look for when trying to find student apartments. You should look for a place that has low rent, is within a reasonable commute to campus, and is in a safe neighborhood. If you do these things, you will be sure to be satisfied with your housing choice.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Why Central Park Is the Premium Investment Choice for Average Income People?

The yearly economic stats findings reveal that after agriculture, real estate is the most vibrant and thriving sector in Pakistan. Investment in Pakistan real estate is a lucrative opportunity to earn handsome profit on sale and steady income in the form of rent. Property prices are gradually going up and that discourages savvy investors to buy properties in Pakistan yet a number of serious buyers are looking to invest in this sector.
Experts favour investing in Pakistan properties because it offers slow but upward growth and steady returns on investment, good quality properties in good housing societies always remain in demand and several new high end residential housing schemes keep on springing up. Lahore real estate is one of the prime investment choices because it is home to the new and ever growing housing schemes springing up on the outskirts of the city.
One such housing scheme that is considered an attractive investment spot for both local and overseas Pakistani investors is Central Park Lahore. Let's reveal why it has become a premium choice for investors in a short period of time.
Central Park is a premium choice!
Central Park Lahore is a well-established and a well-planned housing society and a project of Urban Developers that has a long successful history in terms of delivering the best housing projects throughout Pakistan. It is a fine blend of elegance and style and offers one of the best amenities to the residents. The society is located on Ferozepur Road, 22 kilometres away from Kalma Chowk towards Kasur. Central Park is a wide spread housing society stretched over approximately 10,000 kanal (1250 acres) of land.
General amenities: Almost all of the modern housing projects in Lahore launched by developers target upper class but this self-contained society is an attempt in the real terms to provide affordable residential, commercial, recreational, educational and health facilities to the middle or average income group people. To meet the growing housing needs of local people, new projects are continuously launched but not all meet the high living standards. Several societies do not focus on providing lush green parks and landscaped gardens to the inhabitants but this project is planned to keep the true spirit of healthy living alive by designing 500 kanal a lush green amusement park. To complement urban living, all contemporary facilities are provided within the vicinity.
High quality of life:The developer has not just focused on providing plots of different sizes but also has included several top notch factors to ensure high quality of life for the residents. Along with an amusement park, the residents can also find 24 hours public transport facility, hospital and medical college, filtration plant for safe drinking water supply, functional sewerage system, provision of natural gas throughout the year, underground electrical system, carpet roads, community centre, mosque, schools, college and a cash & carry system.
Affordable & secure:The plots are available in Central Park Lahore at affordable rates so that middle and average income group people can easily buy plots. Initially plots were offered at affordable instalments as well. To ensure foolproof security of the residents, Central Park stickers are introduced for the society dwellers to keep foreign vehicles away. Also one entry and one exit point are functional and alert security guards are deployed at the main entrance.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Understanding Homeowner's Insurance

What is the difference between Reconstruction and Replacement Cost Coverage? - It is important to understand that the reconstruction cost (replacement value) is the amount that the insurance company estimates it will cost to completely rebuild the property from the 'ground up' with like-kind materials at the current labor rate and materials cost for the geographic area in which the property is located. This amount also includes often disregarded or forgotten 'soft costs' such as architectural fees, permitting fees, and the cost of demolishing and/or removing the damaged structure prior to rebuilding. From a strictly insurance-based perspective, the reconstruction cost of a home has absolutely no relation whatsoever to the property's purchase price, the mortgage loan amount, appraisal value, or market value. In other words, the reconstruction cost is a completely independent value with no correlation at all to any other property-related value. For example, you may have purchased a property that appraised at a market value of $230,000, but because of the seller's personal situation you were able to negotiate terms and purchase it for $180,000. After providing a 20% down payment of $36,000, your mortgage loan balance is only $154,000. Although there are several different values associated with this property, none of them have anything at all to do with what it may actually cost to completely rebuild it after a loss.
How Are Reconstruction Costs Determined? - Another common area of misinformation for property owners is regarding how a property's reconstruction cost is actually determined by the insurance carrier. As opposed to common belief, this is not simply a 'blind guess' as to the cost of replacing the property. This formula is a little complex and it may vary somewhat from company to company depending upon the data points used, but the process (which is simplified below) is generally the same. Most companies in the United States pay an enormous amount of money each year in order to have full access to the Marshall & Swift/Boeck (MSB) construction database. This is an experienced and well-respected third-party company that maintains accurate construction costs (materials and labor) for every single zip code in every county in the United States. This database is updated every 90 days and it is usually very accurate. When requesting a new quote for property insurance, you agent may ask you many questions regarding the property's physical features, such as the square footage, number of stories, construction type, roof material, exterior walls material, what floor coverings are used, etc. The purpose of these questions is to understand exactly how your property is built so that this information can be input into the carrier's reconstruction cost software. Once this data has been obtained and input into the system, the software works with the MSB database to compare labor and material costs for the area and determine a fairly accurate amount of what it is expected to cost to rebuild the property at current labor and material rates. The reason that two different companies may have two completely different reconstruction costs even when using the same data has to do with how the company calculates its own internal cost estimate, not with the MSB database. For instance, company 'A' may develop a reconstruction cost of $100,000, but within their internal calculations, they may add an additional 20% for labor costs, 5% for 'soft costs', and 22% for materials while company 'B' uses only the hard costs provided by Marshall & Swift/Boeck. The purpose of this is to err on the side of caution and attempt to include an additional margin in order to offset any unforeseen fluctuations in actual costs after a loss. Each company's reconstruction cost formula is proprietary and agents have no idea exactly how each company calculates the end cost or what margins are included. All agents have access to is the final estimated cost of replacement.
Can Two Properties Built Exactly Alike Have Different Reconstruction Costs? Absolutely! Labor and material costs can vary a great deal from one geographic area to another. For example, here in Texas a home in El Paso may have a reconstruction or replacement cost of $150,000; however, that same house with the exact same size and physical features, may have a reconstruction or replacement cost of $210,000 in Houston. The reason for this, as has already been mentioned, is due to the local building codes, labor rates, materials costs, and other such issues.
Why Are Reconstruction Costs for New Properties More Than the Builder's Sales Price? - One common point of disagreement between an insured property owner and his or her insurance company is that of the reconstruction cost of a property being a great deal more than the actual purchase price of a new home that was only recently built. From the customer's perspective, he or she may have only paid $200,000 for the property, which includes the builder's construction cost as well as the equity, land and everything else involved, but the insurance company determines that the replacement cost is actually $225,000. The customer often can't understand why the reconstruction cost for the insurance company is so much more than for the builder and he or she often argues that the property is being over insured. This is a logical point of view; however, it is simply not the case. When a tract builder constructs a new home, their cost of construction is far less than that of a custom builder. The reason for this is simple. When a tract builder constructs a new home, he or she is usually building a great many more at the same time and in the same subdivision or geographic area. This means that the builder is often purchasing millions, if not tens of millions of dollars, of supplies and materials in bulk. This allows the builder to obtain huge volume discounts on pricing which greatly reduces his or her construction overhead. In addition, the builder may use the same labor crews for framing, concrete work, and all other phases of construction. Because the builder is supplying a steady flow of repeatable work to his subcontractors and these subcontractors are working for extended periods of time in the same areas, the labor rate is also greatly reduced. This is not the case with regard to custom builders. Rebuilding a property is always more expensive than first-time new construction. If your two-year home that you purchased from the original builder for $200,000 is destroyed in a fire, the contractor or builder that you hire to rebuild the home will not have the same deep discounts on his labor and material costs. In addition, he will have the added expense of obtaining new blueprints, architectural and permitting fees, debris removal, etc. which the original builder either did not have or which was also greatly reduced. This means that your $200,000 home may cost $250,000 to rebuild.
Why Do Older Properties Often Cost More To Rebuild - It is also important to understand that older properties may cost even more to rebuild. In addition to all of the other aspects already described, older properties may have unique architectural features that are difficult to replicate with today's codes and materials and some of this work may require craftsman specializing in such things as tin ceilings, ornate molding, and similar work; all of which increases the construction cost.
Are Reconstruction Costs Automatically Updated When My Insurance Policy Renews? Yes and no, it depends upon the company issuing the policy. Most standard companies automatically re-process the reconstruction cost when a policy renews using the information previously provided. This is why property owners may see both their premiums and reconstruction costs increase on an annual basis. However, if there have been any improvements or alterations made to the property, such as room additions, elevation changes, interior remodels, or other such changes, the reconstruction or replacement cost listed on the policy will be inaccurate as it does not include these new modifications unless the insurance company is notified and this new data is included. This is why you should always contact your agent any time you make changes to your home or property that may affect what it ultimately costs to rebuild.

Friday, August 17, 2012

Student Apartments Off Campus Are Often Better

Student apartments need to meet the study and comfort needs of the individual. While dorms on campus may seem like the normal option, they can be one of the more expensive choices. More so, they often lack the qualities and features that parents want their kids to have, not to mention the amenities the kids themselves want to have access to. For those who are planning out where they will live this coming year, look off campus, too. You may find some key advantages of living here are just too good to pass up.
Cost Savings
One of the biggest reasons to select student apartments is the ability to reduce costs. Reducing the cost of tuition sometimes by hundreds of dollars, these properties can offer a great deal of savings. Because there is a limit to the number of dorms available on campus, most colleges charge a premium cost for them. Even though the cost can be rolled into the student loans, it is still a price that is often too high to pay, especially when there are great options off campus.
Amenities and Features
Another key reason to use an off campus apartment is the significant set of advantages provided. Some facilities have full amenities onsite including laundry facilities, pools, workout spaces, study areas and community areas. They offer security, too, something that is often lacking in other locations. Add to this the amount of room necessary to spread out, and there is no doubt that students will appreciate the features of these facilities.
Prior to Choosing a Location
Before you select a facility, it is a good idea to learn as much as you can about it. Not all facilities are the same. Be sure to choose a location that is near to the campus, especially if the student needs to walk to and from classes or needs to use a bus. Additionally, consider those facilities that provide ample security that provides protection throughout the day and night. You may also want to consider the features and amenities offered and compare options carefully between buildings. Do not settle for paying for a location that is just okay. Rather, look for one that offers exactly what you need or simply pass it up.
As you are considering the student apartments in any area, it is a good idea to focus on the overall cost as a secondary factor to the features and security the location offers. Sometimes, the best options are those communities dedicated to providing students with an outstanding experience living near the campus. They save money while still providing virtually every feature necessary to make college living exceptional. Check out the options available to you to find out what you can expect.