Eight Tips for Getting Started in Real Estate Investing

Introduction

This article is just the basics for getting started in real estate investing. This is not a how to article but an article that gives you some information about things to do to get started. Everything in this article is tools that can be applied to helping anyone get started in real estate investing. I am going to give you my eight keys to getting started. Nothing is right or wrong but reflects the point of view of the author. Laws and legal practices vary from state to state, and laws can change over time. The author does not vouch for the legality of his opinions, nor is there any intent to supply legal advice. The author strongly encourages the reader to consult with professionals and an attorney prior to entering in any real estate transaction or contract. The author is not a writer but he is a real estate investor. There will be grammar mistakes and errors, so don’t be too critical of the grammar but focus your energy on what is being said. With that said prepare yourself to think a little differently and expand your mind. Let’s get started on an amazing adventure.

The Eight Tips are as follows

1. Desire
2. Goal Setting
3. Learning What To Do
4. Attending a Real Estate Investing Seminar
5. The Billings Montana Market
6. Finding a Mentor
7. Your Real Estate Team
8. Just Do IT

1. Desire

Before we get in to the bolts and nails of real estate investing in I want to talk to you about desire. If you are going to be successful at anything in life including real estate investing you have to have the desire to do it. Desire is defined as longing or craving, as for something that brings satisfaction or enjoyment. Desire stresses the strength of feeling and often implies strong intention or aim. In real estate investing if you don’t have a desire to learn and grow as a human being and really get satisfaction out of it, then real estate investing is going to be hard to do. When I go out and look at a property it brings me a lot of enjoyment. Every aspect brings me joy from talking to home owners, figuring out how I can make a deal work, to buying the house and to finding a good homeowner or tenant for the house. Real estate investing may not be for everyone but real estate investing can offer anyone the financial freedom we all crave for. If you do not have the desire for real estate investing that is ok, it can still help you to live your dreams and help you to get where you want to go in the future.

Why is real estate investing an amazing avenue for anyone to live out all of their dreams? Let me ask you a few questions. Do you have enough money to do anything you want? Do you have everything you want? No debt? A nice house? Great Marriage? The freedom to do anything regardless of how much it costs and the time it takes? If you have all of these things then you are one of the few people in America who does. Most people may be working fifty hours a week and making just enough to pay their bills. In today’s day and age most people are living pay check to pay check never really knowing if they will make enough to pay the bills that just keep piling up. If you cannot keep up with your monthly bills how are you going to plan for retirement or send your kids to college or have time to enjoy life. The answer to all of these questions is becoming financially free. Now it’s not going to be easy everyone will have to get off the couch and out of their comfort zone. Real estate is proven to be one of the fastest ways to get your out of the rat race of the nine to five and begin living the life you deserve to live. Everyone wants something different out of their life. Some dream of traveling the world, spending more time with family, volunteering, golfing, laying on a beach, giving back to the community, or anything that will make them happy. There are thousands of things that make people happy.

Making it in real estate takes a person who has a strong desire to change their lives for the better and think big. Anyone can become a great real estate investor. It is going to take a lot of work and can be a struggle at times but in the end it will be the most amazing feeling ever. The people that make it in real estate investing all have a few things in common. First they run their real estate investing business like any other business out there. Second they get out there and network with anyone and everyone. Some people might be like me and have a hard time talking to other people. If you are that is ok, anyone can learn how to become a people person, it just takes hard daily work. You have to push yourself past your comfort zone. The third thing is that you cannot be afraid to fail. Everyone has failed at something but the most successful people out their learn from their failures. The fourth thing is that you have to put a good team together. I will go into putting a team together in a later chapter. The concept of putting a team together is so that when you don’t know something you have team members that know what to do and can help you with questions. The can also make sure that you are not working yourself to death. You do not want to be the person doing everything in your business. Doing everything is a receipt for failure. You have to put together good people who you can trust and rely on. The fifth thing is that you need a mentor. Sixth and final is the desire to do it. No one can become successful at something if they don’t want to do it and don’t get satisfaction out of what they are doing.

2. Setting Goals

Having goals is one of the most important aspects of achieving what you want in life. You don’t want to just have your goals up in your head you want to write them down and past what you have wrote on the wall somewhere or in the bathroom mirror. You want to review your goals daily and read them out loud to yourself. This way you remind yourself everyday why you are building your business.

How should you start to write down you goals? First off you should think big, and by big I mean HUGE. If your goals are too small you will easily achieve them and have nothing else to look forward too. You should start off by asking yourself the question if I had all the money and time in the world what would I do, what would I buy, how would I spend my time, and how would I spend my energy. Are you starting to write these down? Well you should be. Think about what you want, spending time with family, traveling the world, the best cars, a castle, owning a small country, running for president, having the biggest real estate investing business in your area or in the country. Whatever your dreams and what you want out of your life, write it down. Some of my goals are becoming free, traveling the world, having a Ferrari, having 10 vacation homes all over the world. Right now I am just trying to get you out of your comfort zone of thinking and let your imagination run.

There are several ways to set goals. I have learned a lot of ways you can set you goals and there is no right or wrong way. The best ways that I have found to set your goals is to break them up into two categories. First your short term goals. This should be goals from a month out to around a year. The second is your long term goals these goals are you think big goals and what you see for your future.

For year one I like to first make a list of what I want to achieve this year and I will give you an example of how to do that. For year one you want to be very specific first you want to list what you want your income to be at the end of the year, next how much cash in the bank you want (this is money in your checking account, not assets). Next you want to list how much you are going to give. Giving is a very important, this can be giving to charity, giving of gifts to friends and family, giving to your school or anything you can dream of. As long as what you give brings joy to others who need it more than you. Next list what bad habits you have that you want to eliminate. Weather is be quitting smoking, spending too much on junk, drinking too much, working too much, not spending enough time with family, too much TV, not exercising and many more. We all have bad habits that need to be changed in order for use to grow as human beings. Under each of these bad habits list out some steps that you can take in order to quit them. If you bad habit is being lazy and not exercising enough what can you do to change that. Well you can get a gym membership or a home work out program. Commit yourself you following through with a plan to work out 3-5 days a week. For you to change these bad habits you have to be totally committed and follow through with a detailed plan you set for yourself. After you have your plans in place you should start listing several things you want to achieve or do in the next year. This can be start a successful business, spend time with family, travel to 2-5 places and so on. Now under each of these you should also write a detailed plan on what you need and what you need to do in order to achieve these goals. Finally you should take all of this information you have a write on page on what you see your life being over the next year. Doing this is a great exercise to really see what you want out of life.

The best investment guide would cover investment options and investment strategy. This investment guide would be complete and start with basic financial concepts and expand to include the entire universe of investments. That’s a tall order, so let’s just start with a simple version, and talk about all of the investments in the world in plain English.

Your best investment is a good, complete investment guide. I’ve been tuned in to the world of investing for 35 years and have read over 100 books on investments and investing. Most of them center on the stock market or some form of investment technique or get-rich-quick scheme. Many are time sensitive and out of date by the time you read them. Many tell you how to invest money like the author did when he made his millions.

What you seldom get with an investment guide or book is an understanding of investment basics and a simplified blueprint of your many investment options. So, here’s your simplest and free best investment guide to all of the investments in the world. There are only 4 different investments or asset classes out there depending on how you categorize things. Once you bring it down to this level you have a basic framework to work with.

CASH EQUIVALENTS and other safe investments pay interest. Either your principal or rate of interest is fixed for a period of time. Examples include U.S. Treasury bills, money market mutual funds and bank savings accounts. Advantages include high liquidity (access to your money) and safety, low risk.

BONDS are long-term debt instruments and they pay more interest income than the above. Examples include U.S. Treasury bonds, corporate bonds and bond funds of various types. Advantages include relatively high interest income with a moderate level of risk.

EQUITIES or STOCKS represent ownership in a corporation. Examples include blue chip stocks, growth stocks and equity funds. Advantages include ample liquidity, growth and some income in the form of dividends. Risk is significant and profit potential is high.

ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENTS is our final category. Examples include real estate, gold, and foreign investments. Advantages include high profit potential and an alternative to stocks when they are out of favor. Risk can be significant here as well.

That’s about as simple as an investment guide can get. All investment options can be fit into one of these asset classes. The important thing is that you have a perspective, and that you understand the investment characteristics of any investment before you invest money. For example, someone pitches an investment to you. Where does it fit in our above format?

How does it rate in terms of: safety, liquidity, growth and profit potential, income provided and risk? All investment options can be and should be rated in terms of the above to assure that they fit your needs and risk profile.

If you learn how to invest you’ll have a means of supporting yourself for the rest of your life. Once you have a sound understanding of investment basics you’ve built a great foundation for learning how to invest. The best investment guide would cover both.

A retired financial planner, James Leitz has an MBA (finance) and 35 years of investing experience. For 20 years he advised individual investors, working directly with them helping them to reach their financial goals.

Learn how to invest money and prosper; or don’t learn how to invest and continue to invest and lose money. It’s fun to invest money when you are winning. Get a financial education and see for yourself. You will NEVER feel left out once you know how to invest with a sound investment strategy. Let’s start that financial education now.

INVESTMENT BASICS

You can not put together a complete investment strategy without an understanding of the investments that are included in the package. Nor can you build your own house without knowledge of the pieces, parts, and tools required. Concentrate on investment basics before you decide on what plan to go with, or you may not be able to finish the job successfully. This means that you need to understand the investment characteristics of stocks and bonds, and how they compare to each other and to other investment alternatives.

Only then can you learn how to invest and put together a complete investment strategy. Like I said, it’s fun to invest when you’re making money; but you’ve got to start with the investment basics. Most people don’t know stocks from bonds. Start by reading articles or other publications that get down to the basics. For example: what are stocks, what are their risks and potential rewards, and how do they compare to bonds and other investment alternatives.

Now you are ready to learn about mutual funds, which are the investment of choice for most average investors. For most people they are the easiest and best way to invest in stocks and bonds, plus other asset classes. Mutual funds are simply investment packages that are professionally managed for you. To pick the right funds you’ll need to understand the asset class they invest in: stocks, bonds, money market or specialty (other).

HOW TO INVEST

Now you’re ready to learn how to invest and put the pieces together with a sound investment strategy. ASSET ALLOCATION is a crucial part of your investing and financial education, because how you allocate your money to the various asset classes will determine your success or failure… more than anything else. Simply put, how much should you invest in stocks vs. bonds vs. other investments? This is also called your asset mix. It’s much more important than what specific investments or funds you pick.

Once you’ve put a balanced portfolio of investments together you’ve got a great foundation. But if you want to continue to build and prosper you’ll need an ongoing investment strategy to make additions and changes over time as necessary. Read articles on investment strategy, asset allocation, and how to invest. It will all come together for you if you start at the beginning and build a step at a time.

Learn to invest like your financial future depends on it. With Uncle Sam in debt up to his eyeballs and employers fighting to survive, it does.

A retired financial planner, James Leitz has an MBA (finance) and 35 years of investing experience. For 20 years he advised individual investors, working directly with them helping them to reach their financial goals.

One of the most important things to take care during the wedding planning, you should always consider all aspects of an enjoyable wedding party.

Since you will be spending this not just with your soon to be lifetime partner, but with your closest friends and family as well, you have to think of the most unique wedding party ideas there is available.

The wedding parties get to be more memorable because of the souvenirs that your guests get to take home after the momentous event.

Hence, here are some unique wedding party ideas that you can apply in your own wedding to make things more impressive and interesting to everyone.

Idea # 1 – Food:

If both of you are food enthusiasts, then you can send out adorned, printed out files wherein the recipes of the menu served during the party is laid out, to all of your guests so that they can try it on their own.

Idea # 2 – Wine:

Encourage everyone to start their wine cellar by giving away bottles of wine as souvenirs.

You can even hold a contest for those who would be able to tell an interesting story that brings back wonderful memories about the wine.

Idea # 3 – Advice:

Set a sort of open forum during the wedding party, wherein you would give a chance for everyone to give their own advices to you and your partner to be able to live a lasting marriage after the wedding.

Gather up delightful stories that others can say about you and your partner with the help of a friend who has the time to go around and meet your friends and special loved ones.

Idea # 4 – Community Bonding:

This could also somehow serve as a pre-wedding party wherein you would take your other couple friends out and play sports together like bowling, golf, tree adventure, etc.

Have an enjoyable meal with your family and friends and talk about topics that would help improve your relationships.

Keep it in your mind that these unique wedding party ideas are not just meant to make the wedding couple alone to be happy, but also to add entertainment and enjoyment to beloved guests.

The bride and the groom should take this opportunity to value these people as their future relationship supporters and advisers as the couple would embark on a whole new journey of their lives.

There are some more options that you can find over the net to find some unique wedding party ideas.

There is certain etiquette when it comes to planning a wedding party (or wedding shower). The established guidelines are not laws that must be followed (or suffer the consequences). They are just a set of helpful considerations one can contemplate during the planning stages of a wedding party.

Here are some helpful tips to guide you through your planning:

DON’T: Wait for one of the bridesmaids to get a party together.
DO: Host it if you want to.

If you really want to throw a party for the future bride and groom, go right ahead. There is a common misconception about the bridesmaids being the ones who should host the party. Any friends of the bride or groom are more than welcome to host the party.

DON’T: Schedule the party to take place within a month of the wedding.
DO: Schedule it to take place two to three months before the wedding.

The reason for this is pretty obvious. This is a courtesy to the bride and groom. They both (let’s be honest, it’s mostly the bride we’re talking about) have a lot to take care of in that last month before the wedding. They probably won’t be able to enjoy themselves as much when they’re thinking of everything they need to get done before their big day.

DON’T: Invite anyone and everyone to the party.
DO: Invite anyone who’s on the wedding guest list.

A word of caution, it’s okay to invite anyone you’d like off of the list of those invited to the wedding, but don’t invite everyone from it. Try to keep it to the bride and groom’s closest friends. If you invite everyone, it might seem like some sort of gift receiving power struggle.

DON’T: Wait until the last minute to send out the invitations.
DO: Send out your invitations at least a month before the party.

If you wait until the last minute to get this step taken care of, chances are there will be problems. Mainly, people won’t be able to attend the party because you didn’t give them enough time to make sure their schedules were clear. Waiting too long also gives them that much more time to plan something else for that day. Get your invitation to them early enough so they can reserve that spot for your party.

This wedding party planning etiquette won’t ensure that absolutely nothing will go wrong, but keeping these do’s and don’ts in the forefront of your mind will give you a great chance of throwing a nearly perfect wedding party that the bride, groom, and friends will remember fondly.

A wedding party is the event where your friends and family all gather together to celebrate the newly weds and have fun and pleasure. Pitting down hair and throwing away your tie is what usually happens during the party, and there is nothing more pleasurable than this moment. However you will need to make sure that all these things go well and smoothly prior to the party taking place, therefore carefully considered party planning is very important. Planning a wedding party is unlike planning any others. The amount of time taken into consideration and carefully chosen details are the core factors that will decide the quality of party after all.

You need to consider a few things that go into party planning to celebrate a wedding. First of all, think of how many and what kind of people will attend. The group of people after the ceremony will most likely be divided into several different groups, such as older people, young generations, men of 20s and women alike. Also bride and groom can have fun time with their own friends group separately. But you can mix any group in the party until a certain time when older folks can be free to leave if they want. Considering who will be belonging to which group is vital to planning ahead, thus providing them more comfortable and cozy environment while enjoying the entire party.

The best wedding party would be that everyone feels they are considered, well taken care of and finally they had wonderful time. Another thing to be considered is the venue. Depending on the weather condition, and the time and the season of the year, you can either go outside or have it indoors. If it’s outdoors then make sure the weather condition and prepare shelters for unforeseen circumstances. Compared to it, indoors party is easier as it is not mainly dependent on the weather that much. Also the place of venues should be attractive one where people can feel comfortable and relaxed. When there are alcohol beverages involved in the party, make sure underage children’s permission and restriction. It is important that the entire environment is conductive all the people at the party regardless of their ages.

Arrange a live band who can drop a great music tunes on the dance floor as all the people would want to have fun all night. In addition to the entertainment, the food would be another factor that people are seeking. Just getting enough cakes is the best way to go. Also don’t forget to prepare best soft drinks and champagne as the party won’t be ever complete without a toast from friends wishing the newly married couple. If anyone wants to speak and congratulate in public, give them a chance and it will become unforgettable moment for all.

All credit cards offer many benefits and features. Some come with a few disadvantages. To convey my point I will leave the disadvantages for others to write about. All credit cards are good in their own way for their own purpose and for that specific applicant. There are many credit cards for applicants with good credit, bad credit or with no credit at all. There are the so called “bad credit cards” and the “good credit cards.” Bad credit cards fit consumers looking to build “good credit.” Good credit cards fit consumers with good credit looking to take advantage of benefits that suit their daily lives. So are all credit cards good? Yes, because in some cases you have to start somewhere and sometimes, it comes at a price.

Consumers with good credit attract the credit cards that would better suit their income, credit history, spending habits and paying habits. Many credit cards that approach consumers with good credit tend to offer great transfer rates and lower interest rates on future purchases as long as the consumer’s credit doesn’t change in the wrong direction. Everyone has their individual needs and perceptions of their credit. So the only challenging factor for someone with good credit is to maintain the good credit status and keep a close eye on your credit limit to credit debt ratio. In my opinion, your ratio should be at around 25% to 40% because it is a responsible level to be proactive in managing your credit cards. A 25% credit limit to credit debt ratio would be $250.00 balance on a $1,000.00 credit limit. Investing in a credit monitoring service also helps to keep a third eye on your credit so you can focus on your busy life.

Consumers with bad credit attract the credit cards that seem to be outrageous because of interest rate, credit line or terms of the agreement such as annual fees and processing fees. In my opinion, their is no such thing as a bad credit card as long as they report the account to Experian, Transunion and Equifax (CSC Credit Service). Instead of them being called bad credit cards they should be called credit building cards. If you cannot get over yourself by accepting a credit building card, maybe a secured credit card from your bank would be the best choice as long as they report to the credit bureau. Never think bad credit is forever or that it can’t ever improve, it can with responsible steps. If you get a so called bad credit card then make sure you fulfill your end of the agreement, and don’t make excuses for not paying on time or letting it charge off because it was only $300.00. I think one factor that makes that type of card good is that the credit lines are usually no more than $500.00. That low of a credit line is a good thing because worst case scenario your minimum payment is between $15.00 – $25.00. Not bad for establishing a credit line that will be worth dividends in the long run. Yes, it will benefit you as time is established behind the credit card. Credit building cards are only short term because once you have began to establish yourself with 2 – 3 credit building cards your score will reflect the responsible habits and your score will begin to rise. So are bad credit cards good, of course they are.

Whether you have good or bad credit cards the responsibility is the same. Make your payments on time and watch your credit limit to credit debt ratio. These two simple steps, if followed consistently, will keep your credit cards as the good benchmark for your credit score to be based from. I have only referenced your credit cards that allow minimum payments and not any other types of credit cards or other credit lines on your credit report. I have also not referenced the impact of derogatory items on your credit report that would affect the establishing of your credit. All cards have benefits and features that are advantageous to consumers or contain hidden value, even if the card does not seem very desirable. When you decide to get any credit card base it on your own financial need and on the advantages that will benefit you and your credit profile. Credit is life and life is credit, understand it wisely.

Bad credit credit cards are offered by many banks as financial tools to help people establish or re-establish their good credit rating. Bad credit credit cards are primarily intended to make it easier to obtain and re-build credit, which is good for consumers and merchants as well. For all practical purposes, bad credit credit cards are just like regular credit cards, but they are specifically for high risk cardholders. If you have arrears, defaults and general bad credit score or bad credit rating, you may find that bad credit credit cards are available to you. Bad credit credit cards are considered the best choice for credit card deals if your credit score is below 550.

If you find that there are problems in approval of a traditional credit card then you can apply for other options like prepaid debit card, First Premiere Bank Cards and Orchard Cards and secured credit cards. Applying for these cards is exactly like applying for a standard credit card, with applications available on paper and online. Bad credit credit cards typically have a higher interest rate and lower credit limit than standard credit cards, but the issuers are more lenient when looking at past credit history. The fact that bad credit credit cards carry a high interest rate (most likely 20% or more) shouldn’t prevent you from getting one in an effort to get your credit back on track. Still, it is true that bad credit credit cards must be used responsibly, or your situation will just worsen.

From astronomically-high interest rates to ridiculously-exorbitant fees, erroneous information abounds. When it comes to bad credit credit cards, the myths definitely abound. In fact, bad credit credit cards are some of the most misunderstood financial tools of all time. Fortunately, the myths are oftentimes unfounded and bad credit credit cards are no longer the stigma they used to be. You might be relieved to find out that bad credit credit cards can actually have pretty decent interest rates. With so many credit card companies and so many different offers, it’s easier than ever for consumers to take advantage of reward programs. However, you must consider the factors such as financing fees, annual fees, introductory offers, credit requirements, availability of online banking, and others.

In spite of the additional fees bad credit credit cards are an excellent method for the people with bad or no credit, to improve their credit rating and to enjoy the benefits of credit cards. There are many other benefits to consider, which might be more valuable than a low rate. By paying off the monthly balance and avoiding high interest rates, you steer clear of more debt and show yourself to be a lower risk borrower over time. However, as you maintain regular payments, the creditor may gradually increase the spending limit. If you use a bad credit credit card for small purchases for a year or two and consistently pay the entire balance every month, not only will you not be charged interest, but you will rebuild your credit and be able to get lower rate loans in the future.

As you can see, bad credit credit cards are unique cards geared towards people who have had trouble getting approved for a standard unsecured credit card. However even with bad credit, its still possible to find a credit card for you, even if it means that you have to pay a slightly higher rate of interest. So if you are trying to rebuild your credit don’t think about it to much because bad credit credit cards when used properly are a cheap way to rebuild your credit.

Credit Card companies have introduced a lot of specific cards based up on the customers satisfaction and their current necessities. The severe competition led the worldwide banks and credit card companies to introduce numerous card products and numerous offers been introduced and its still continuing. Lets see some details behind this. Every surfer possibly came across hundreds of affiliate sites and the worldwide banks own websites promoting number of products. But, what’s the catch? and where to find the exact details?. Every one trying to market their products in numerous ways like text ads, RSS feeds, niche websites, pay-per-click and article marketing. But it’s very easy to hide the traps by using some exclusive attractive content.

Important and Informative: The FICO score normally known as “Credit Score” is become an unavoidable thing for people in america. This credit score determines the person’s benefits with the banks and other financial institutions. Lower credit score makes the banks to reject one’s application for any financial approach. But a lot of new credit cards have been introduced and named as Bad Credit Credit Cards and Guaranteed Approval Credit Cards helping the people with bad credit. Also “youdeservecredit.org” provides a reliable solution for people with bad credit to obtain loans and recommendable credit cards. It’s always important to read the term and conditions of a credit card, before applying for a credit card. Always try to make the payment in time, or apply for a credit card which provides the option to pay overtime.There are some specific offers available, which allow its card members to pay the amount in overtime. Cards like Platinum Business FreedomPass Credit Card from OPEN(sm) the small business team and Bank of America Rewards(TM) American Express® Card provides the flexibility to its card holders to pay in over time.

Total Protection: It’s a more important thing to consider about the security provided for the card holders. Because we cannot see the Total security Protection with every offers, only some specific offers provides this facility to ensure its card members safety. It’s very important to ensure that the card provides 0% fraud liability. There should be absolute fraud protection against unauthorized use, online and offline. Some recommendable offers on these categories are BoatU.S.(TM) Platinum Plus® Visa® Card and Financial Rewards® Visa® Platinum Plus® Card are considerable products, but there are still more products offering this security services available in U.S market.

Fee and Interest Rates: This is the most important thing to keep in mind before applying for a credit card. because it has been estimated that more than 100 million americans carrying monthly credit card debt. There are possibilities that even if you make the payment on time, the credit card companies might charge you. So, the card holders must watch out for carrying balances. Also the fixed rates are not constant, the credit card companies may increase the interest rates by informing you, 15 days prior to change. Mostly this communication happen through your monthly credit card statement. So, spend some considerable time and go through your monthly statements. So one should be careful before applying for a credit card. Should read the user agreement thoroughly and also it is must to enquire about the conditions apply section. There are lot of cards have been introduced as low interest credit cards, no annual fee credit cards etc.. some specific offers are Discover® More Clear Card and Chase Freedom Cash are recommendable offers but there are still more offers to go.

Reward points: The credit card companies compete against each other with attractive incentives such as cash back, points reward schemes and balance transfer offers at zero percent. There are lot of new offers have been introduced in U.S by worldwide banks. but please think twice because, no one will offer anything in real life just to make others to enjoy benefits. The most gentle offers will carry this exact proportion (profit 50% plus customer satisfaction 50%). The Discover® Motiva Card and Blue from American Express® are good based on its card members opinion.

Some Useful Tips: Ask yourself these questions that do you need the card?, can you afford a credit card? and will you be able to pay the monthly balances each month?. Think twice before purchasing anything. Because, chances are there that you won’t be able to pay, when the credit card bill comes in. As a credit card consumer, you can request and obtain a free credit report once in every twelve months. You can obtain your credit report from the three major credit reporting companies 1.Equifax, 2. Experian and 3.TransUnion. Be smart when using your credit card at overseas. Because a lot of complaints filed with credit card companies that the consumers have been charged extra amount. Don’t use your credit cards at less reputable places.

Complaints and suggestions: If you would like to file a complaint about any credit card issue, go with the reliable organization. As far as i know the bbb.org is one of the best at its services and they are well experienced to handle all the issues. The comptroller of currency and the Federal Reserve Board are also best places to go for the solution. Before filing a complaint, please discuss with the same credit card company regarding your issue. Because every organisation have their own concern about their customers.

I will also recommend to read a lot of articles about credit cards, because every article has its own opinions and advantages, that’ll let you know the exact details about every new credit card offers. Please use the credit cards based on your convenience and not for luxury. Because having your own money in your wallet will be more comfortable and safe. Even there are a lot of debit cards have the same advantages like credit cards. But as you know, these new debit card offers are based on your own amount and there’s not even a single dime comes as credit.

Jagan babu vasudevan is a Financial Functional Expert, researching about credit cards for more than 7 years. Conducting surveys about credit cards. And researching how to make credit cards work for the card holders.

In 1984 Dave Anderson and his dad, Al, founded A&H Turf & Specialties just a stone’s throw from where the main building stands today. As the name implies, the business originally centered on irrigation supplies and equipment. Along with sprinkler heads, fittings, and pipe, A&H sold a few related hardware items, such as shovels, fasteners, and sandpaper.

By 1988, the business had expanded into power tools and hand tools. In the years since, A&H has expanded to stock and supply full lines of tools, hardware items and equipment representing at least 475 major manufacturing firms around the world. But rather than concentrating on how many products they can cram into the warehouse, showroom and surrounding acres, A&H has always focused on supplying quality products from industry leaders.

Quality Sells

A glance at the many shelves and displays in the main store says it all. Respected names, like Blum, Festool, 3M, Accuride, Rain Bird, DeWalt, Freud, Stanley, Amerock, Belwith Keeler, Schlage, Baldwin, Emtek, Schaub & Company make up the A&H inventory line. What you won’t see are the inferior quality tools usually found at famous discount centers.

Dave Anderson explains why: “We’re simply not interested in carrying the low-end imported hardware or supplies. It doesn’t last.” Tools and hardware that last and that get the job done has proven to be a good market, so far.

Blum hardware is a good example of the quality products A&H is proud to carry. Made in Austria, Blum hardware is very high end, world famous for its quality. Dave says that A&H Turf and Specialties has been seriously involved with Blum since the beginning. In fact, A&H sold the first Blum hardware and machinery available west of the Mississippi.

And it’s not just about selling products. Today, A&H continues to provide continuing education training from Blum to employees in contact with hardware buyers and installers. They can readily assist contractors and homeowners with the specs and tolerances required for proper hinge applications and installation.

Hardware in the Blood

Dave and his dad both had a good deal of previous hardware experience before starting A&H Turf & Specialties. Dave says, “I’ve been in the hardware business all my life, since I was 12. I’ve got 37 years experience in functional, building, and irrigation hardware.” And he’s not just blowing smoke.

Dave worked his way through college installing irrigation and sprinkler systems, having learned the trade at a previous job with a Billings hardware company. His dad, Al, was the general manager of Winter Hardware when Dave got out of college. They worked there together for a while before deciding to start A&H Turf & Specialties. The new company opened its doors in a rented building just about a block from where the business now stands.

Survival in those early days was not without hard work. Dave says that the product lines were developed one at a time, selling face to face, with many miles spent on Montana and Wyoming roads. Within a few years though, A&H was able to buy the land it sits on today. The first new building gave the business 15,000 sqft to work with. Expansion continued as sales improved and more products were added, until now A&H fills over 40,000 sqft inside space, plus the uncovered storage outside.

Good Stuff, Low Prices

Part of the success has been the A&H policy of selling at genuine high quality products at wholesale prices. American consumers are accustomed to either getting one or the other: high quality at high prices or low quality at low prices. Very rarely do you see exceptional high quality products at low, wholesale prices. That means a narrower profit margin for A&H, but the volume of sales makes it possible.

Lawn and turf supplies are still central to A&H Turf and Specialties. A&H is a major distributor for Rain Bird and Master Turf products. Rain Bird is the leading manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services in the world, and one out of every one hundred customers, globally, is now buying from A&H Turf.

Cabinetry and home construction is also a big part of what A&H is all about. For example, more than 125 species (well over $1 million worth) of hardwood lumber is kept in inventory, including hard-to-find exotics from all over the world. Dave is considering offering some of the wood products over the Internet soon. In the mean time, you can always call for information on wood species and moldings.

Woodworking equipment, tools, and supplies have long been a major part of the picture. A&H has continually increased its inventory of large woodworking tools and equipment in the last 15 years. Performax, Jet, Powermatic, Porter-Cable, Festool, Bosch, DeWalt, and other quality brands of tools are stocked, sold and supported at A&H Turf. And here again, not only are the products made available, helpful information about proper applications and use is also offered by knowledgeable staff.

Cabinetmakers’ Computer Hotline

Also in the works is a special online “Cabinetmakers” program, where professional cabinet builders can log on and receive additional discounts and special offers over the Internet. Already, architects, construction contractors, homebuilders, cabinet maker’s and other professionals in the region look to A&H as a major supplier for their hardware materials, tools and equipment. The huge 1500-page A&H Catalog goes out to construction professionals all over Montana and Wyoming.

Big Work of Big Business

Business is good and that creates its own set of challenges. Customer response to the high level of quality and honest service offered by A&H has been increasingly enthusiastic, adding to the company’s rapid growth in popularity and sales volume. This success forces Dave and his staff to work hard to make sure that everything offered on the web, in the catalog and in ads is available in stock. And that can be a big job in itself.

Decorative cabinet hardware is a good example. With approximately 115,000 individual hardware items in stock, customers are able choose from a wide variety any day of the week. Currently, A&H offers about 20,000 products on their website. And the rest of the inventory is just a phone call away.

These products move fast since they are very popular, high quality brands — Amerock, Emtek, Belwith Keeler, Schaub & Company, Ashley Norton, Acorn, and Sierra Lifestyles — and they’re being offered at wholesale prices. A&H is now one of the top ten sellers for Belwith Keeler, and among the top 3 U.S. distributors for Amerock. The A&H website (www.ahturf.com) is the world’s largest online distributor of Accuride Precision Slides. Keeping these and the many other product lines in stock and ready to ship is a full time job for A&H employees.

The World Shops Here

A&H has a worldwide online customer base that includes homeowners, remodelers, designers, developers, contractors, and property managers. Sales have been made to every state (including Alaska and Hawaii) as well as Central and South America, Africa, Lebanon, England, Germany, Switzerland, and other nations around the world. Thousands of orders come in every month, and the online business is still growing.

Quality products, fairness and honesty in business, and hard work have helped to make A&H Turf & Specialties successful. But Dave says that it takes more than happy customers to make a successful business. Wise investments in people’s lives are also important.

Giving Back

That philosophy begins with company employees. “For me it’s a moral commitment. If people work hard and make the business prosper, it’s only right that we should also take care of them.” Dave says. “Good pay and benefits, paid vacations and sick leave are all part of taking care of the people who take care of our business,”

The policy seems to pay off for the business. Employee turn-over at A&H is very low, and the quality of personnel is very high. “We have good, intelligent and responsible people working here,” Dave says of the 30-plus employees.

A&H is also generous to the community. The business regularly contributes to Billings Deaconess Foundation, a major healthcare organization in the community. The company actively sponsors just about every local sports team that asks them for help, and also participates in the Messiah Festival, an annual local event that raises funds and awareness for cancer research.

What started out as an idea about 20 years ago has proven to be a very good idea, indeed. Dave and Al have proven that selling the very best quality hardware at unusually low prices, and treating everyone fairly really is good business. It works for everyone.

Dave and Al still work every day to sell hardware to the people who need it. Now they have a crew of good people who work with them to help see that the job gets done. They also have a large and satisfied customer base that shows their appreciation every day by doing business with A&H Turf, and by telling their friends that they should do the same.