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Should I Hire A Real Estate Agent To Help Me Buy A Home?

My husband and I have bought two homes now and both times we hired a real estate agent to help us. Many people know that a real estate agent can help you to sell your home, but not everyone knows that real estate agents also offer the service of helping you to find your home as well.  When an agent helps you buy a home, they are considered a “Buyer’s Agent”.

Below are three reasons why I recommend that you hire a Buyer’s Agent to help you while looking for a new home:

1.  Agents do all the leg work

They will help you find the home you want.  They have access to MLS and other listings and can provide you with indepth details on the homes you are looking at.  A thorough agent will also research homes that were sold in that area in the past, so you have a good idea as to what homes are worth in the specific area that you are interested in.

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October 31, 2012
General

What You Should Know About Great West Life

My husband and I have had nothing but grief when dealing with the insurance company Great West Life.  I don’t usually write about specific companies, but in this case, I thought it might be useful for others who have the same grievances.  Below are just a few reasons why I would NOT recommend Great West Life to any employers who are currently seeking a Group Benefits provider.

Their Customer Service is TERRIBLE.

For a while, both my husband and I had coverage under Great West Life through our employers.  We found that the customer service was terrible any time that we had to call to inquire about our claims.   In fact, at one point, my husband had asked to speak to a contact centre agent’s supervisor, and the agent put my husband on hold for approximately 38 minutes. So, while holding with the agent, my husband called and spoke with another agent and was finally able to speak to a supervisor.  It was only after speaking with a supervisor that his dental claim was finally paid, after about a month and a half of senseless waiting.

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October 22, 2012
General

What To Do If You Cannot Work Due To An Injury

In troubled economic times, anything that stops you from being able to work can be incredibly inconvenient. Not being able to earn money could prove to be extremely damaging to your personal finances, and it may seem that there’s very little that can be done about such a situation. If you have to leave work because of long-term injury, there’s only so much finance you may have to rely on, especially if you leave your job permanently. When you have to leave, at best, you’ll receive statutory pay from your employer, which will only cover so much.

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October 16, 2012
General

The Importance Of Having Contents Insurance For Your Home

Do you have ceramic hobs (in fixed appliances), sanitary ware and fixed glass in your home? Learn how to take care of them and make sure they’re covered by home insurance.

When people think about taking out contents insurance, it’s mainly for the things they value most. After all, they want to protect their jewellery, electrical items and, of course, all 236 episodes in their Friends DVD box set.

Joking aside, if you’ve been looking into buildings insurance quotes, it’s a good idea to make sure you cover the things you might otherwise take for granted – such as the ceramic hobs on your cooker, and even your bathroom sink. If they accidentally get broken or damaged, they can be expensive to fix or replace.

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October 2, 2012
General

Believe it or Not, Background Checks Save Business Owners Money

As any small business owner or entrepreneur will tell you, creating and running a company is no cheap venture. There are overhead costs to consider, operation expenses, rent and much more all weighing on your organization’s likely modest budget, so if an opportunity arises to save a few bucks, you should jump at it.

Well, one unlikely way for business owners and operators to scale back and save actually requires a little upfront expense, but is so worth it. What I’m talking about is conducting appropriate, thorough background checks, including but not limited to a criminal background check, on your potential staff.

Now, I’m sure many of you might be wondering how in the world paying for an employee screening can actually save you money, but to understand you must think LONGTERM. Below are just a few reasons why background checks are a wise investment for any new company.

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September 3, 2012