Timber Decking: Uniting Indoor Comfort with Outdoor Splendour

Timber decking excels at naturally extending the comfort of indoor living to outdoor spaces, transforming gardens, patios, and balconies into integral extensions of the home. It brings a warm, natural charm, creating a serene, entertaining, and rejuvenating outdoor area that seamlessly integrates with its environment.

Set against a backdrop of lush greenery, urban settings, or serene water features, timber decking adds a touch of elegance, offering homeowners a flexible platform for crafting their own outdoor haven.

Eco-Friendly Selections for Sustainable Living

Timber decking is not just visually pleasing; it deepens the connection with nature and enriches the outdoor tactile experience. The sensation of its warm wooden texture underfoot fosters a sense of grounding, enhancing one’s bond with the environment. Opting for timber sourced from responsibly Managed forests emphasises its sustainable aspect, resonating with eco-conscious practices and those keen on reducing their environmental footprint.

A Spectrum of Design Possibilities

Timber decking presents a wealth of design opportunities, accommodating a range of aesthetic preferences and spatial requirements. Its adaptability permits everything from simple designs to intricate multi-tiered constructions that may include seating, shaded areas, or even outdoor kitchens. The choice of timber types, from the deep tones of redwood to the timeless beauty of teak, allows homeowners to tailor their decking to reflect their individual style.

Blending Indoor Elegance with Outdoor Serenity

Timber decking creates a fluid transition between indoor and outdoor areas, enhancing the overall living experience. It’s an ideal outdoor setting for Social gatherings, relaxed dining, or simply basking in the sunshine. Complementing the area with comfortable outdoor furnishings and accessories mirrors indoor comfort. Thoughtful lighting adds safety and creates an enchanting ambience, perfect for peaceful evenings under the stars.

Timber decking is the perfect combination of practicality and aesthetic appeal. It harmonises with nature, offers ample design versatility, and smoothly connects indoor with outdoor living, capturing the essence of modern residential living. For those seeking to enjoy the outdoors without compromising on luxury, timber decking is an outstanding option.

Discover the transformative power of timber decking, where indoor comfort meets outdoor elegance. For more insights, please visit International Timber

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Land Loans: Everything You Need To KnowLand Loans: Everything You Need To Know

What is a Land Loan? 

A land loan, also known as a plot or lot loan, is a Financial option allowing individuals to purchase a piece of land using credit. This type of loan is suitable for those who intend to acquire land without immediate construction plans. It’s important to note that land loans differ from home loans or construction loans. It can be used for both residential and business purposes.

Types of Land Loans 

Land loans can be categorized based on the level of land development. Each type of land loan necessitates distinct preparations to convince lenders to provide financing. Let’s explore the different types:

  • LOAN FOR UNDEVELOPED LAND (RAW LAND LOAN) 
    • Undeveloped land refers to properties without road access, water supply, electricity, or sewer lines, rendering the land unsuitable for immediate construction. While raw land is the most economical option for purchase, it also requires higher down payments and interest rates to secure a loan. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) sets a minimum down payment of 35% for undeveloped land. Additionally, to obtain a raw land loan, you’ll need a well-structured and detailed plan for the land’s development to convince lenders that it represents a calculated risk.
  • LOAN FOR SEMI-DEVELOPED LAND (UNIMPROVED LAND LOAN) 
    • Semi-developed or unimproved land typically possesses some basic infrastructure, although it may need more amenities such as phone boxes, natural gas, or electric meters. Financing a loan for unimproved land is less risky than undeveloped land but still requires a rigorous process. The FDIC’s minimum down payment standard for unimproved land is 25%.
  • LOAN FOR DEVELOPED LAND (IMPROVED LAND LOAN) 
    • Developed lands, often called lots, come with access roads and all the necessary utilities for residential construction. Although improved lots are more expensive, they tend to have comparatively lower land loan interest rates. Lenders are also more inclined to finance this type of loan, with the FDIC setting the minimum down payment for improved land loans at 15%.

image of draft of a house on raw land purchased with a raw land loan

Advantages of Taking a Land Loan 

Land loans offer several advantages for individuals who need more time to build on their purchased land. These advantages include:

  1. Flexibility: Land loans provide the flexibility to secure land for its potential, such as in areas with upcoming business opportunities or future development. You can hold the land until the timing is right for your construction project.
  2. “Blank Canvas”: Acquiring land before any construction allows you to start with a “blank canvas.” You can envision and create your dream home or commercial space according to your preferences and needs.
  3. Transition to Construction Loan: When you’re ready to build, your land loan can be seamlessly integrated with a construction loan to finance the land purchase and construction costs. Ultimately, this can transform your land loan into a standard mortgage when you’re ready to move in.

Disadvantages of Taking a Land Loan 

Despite the advantages, land loans come with certain disadvantages, mainly due to the higher risks involved:

  1. Limited Lender Options: Lenders for land loans can be limited in number due to the inherent risks, which may limit your choices when selecting a lender.
  2. Stricter Qualifications: To secure a land loan, you must meet more stringent qualifications than a standard mortgage.
  3. Higher Down Payments and Interest Rates: Land loans have higher down payment and interest rates than traditional mortgages. These additional costs are a result of the higher risks faced by lenders.

To mitigate these disadvantages, having a well-defined construction plan, including a set timeline and cost estimates, can increase your loan approval chances, is essential.

Land Loan vs. Other Land-Buying Options 

If you encounter difficulties meeting land loan qualifications, alternative methods exist to finance your land purchase. Some options cater to home-building purposes, while others are designed for commercial space.

  • SELLER-FINANCING 
    • Seller financing is where the seller acts as your lender in a land contract. This arrangement can be more flexible and suitable for those who may not meet traditional bank loan requirements. It’s essential, however, to engage an attorney to review the land contract to ensure clarity and prevent potential gray areas or loopholes.
  • HOME EQUITY LOAN 
    • Another method for purchasing land is through a home equity loan, where you receive a lower interest rate against your home’s equity. It’s important to note that defaulting on this type of loan could lead to the risk of losing your home.
  • HOME EQUITY LINES OF CREDIT
    • Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOCs) provide a flexible way to access funds over a specified timeframe using your home’s equity. You can use a HELOC as a down payment for a land loan and repay the HELOC amount and interest.
  • USDA LOAN 
    • The USDA offers a land and construction loan designed for low to moderate-income families planning to build a home in a qualified rural area. This option can particularly benefit those seeking a more affordable land and home construction path.
  • SBA LOAN 
    • Small Business Administration (SBA) loans are available to assist small business owners in financing raw land and construction costs for commercial buildings. The SBA 504 loan program provides fixed-rate financing with a 10% down payment, 40% loan financing through the Certified Development Loan, and 50% provided by a bank or credit union.
  • PERSONAL LOAN 
    • A personal loan can also finance your land purchase. While this approach can offer flexibility, it can have higher interest rates. You may also need to compare its shorter repayment periods with the rest.

Looking for a Land Loan? 

Securing a land loan can be more challenging than obtaining a standard mortgage. However, you can increase your chances of approval with proper preparation. A credit union consultant specializing in land financing can provide significant assistance in navigating the process and ensuring your specific needs are met when purchasing land. Explore your options and receive expert guidance by scheduling an appointment with us today.

Canopy Credit Union

Xerox Cloud Services Accenture Cloud ComputingXerox Cloud Services Accenture Cloud Computing

This company is transitioning away from copier business and into higher-growth areas like digital document storage and IT services, and recently won a contract to process Medicaid documents for New York state Medicaid program.

https://www.aegismanagedit.com/who-is-the-largest-msp

Xerox cloud services for midrange and Intel systems, cloud backup, and disaster recovery offer customized solutions tailored specifically to large customers by ACS (which was acquired by Xerox in 2010). These offerings provide standard versions of custom solutions built by ACS that were built specifically to address client requirements.

Xerox Workplace Cloud

Xerox Workplace Cloud is a secure software platform that offers authentication, print Management, security, cost control and mobility features. With flexible hosting options that suit individual business requirements, only pay for what is necessary.

Our comprehensive solution covers mobile printing and document tracking for all devices and brands of multifunction printers and copiers, with user authentication, access controls and essential print rules providing essential security measures to monitor documents for sensitive or confidential material by searching user-defined text strings when printed, scanned or copied. It even comes equipped with a home worker print tracker so companies can monitor costs by seeing how much paper and ink employees' homes consume.

Xerox Workplace Cloud Fleet Management is an enterprise print management service that delivers on-demand security updates to your print fleet, helping reduce costly repairs and prevent unauthorized printer access. Furthermore, this tool features intuitive dashboards which quickly display compliance levels at a glance.

Xerox Cloud Backup & Disaster Recovery

Xerox offers a cloud-based print management service that helps customers reduce costs by eliminating hardware and software, and enabling mobile printing. The solution integrates with Microsoft Azure for tracking and accounting purposes as well as offering backup/recovery services via cloud servers.

Xerox DocuShare is an enterprise content management platform that enables businesses to digitize documents and automate workflows. Available as three distinct versions – for Business, Flex and Go – depending on a company's individual requirements, DocuShare may be purchased.

Xerox has made a transition away from low margin copiers towards higher growth areas like digital document storage and IT, which has seen their stock price improve but it remains to be seen whether these investments will make up for losses in their copier business. Furthermore, they have expanded their presence within health care by winning contracts to process Medicaid documents in New York and California – expanding Xerox's presence further within healthcare sector.

Xerox IaaS for Midrange & Intel

ACS (formerly Xerox) announced on March 13 the availability of infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) clouds for midrange and Intel systems such as IBM i. The services are built upon hardware in multiple North American data centers operated by ACS; customers pay monthly instead of signing long-term contracts.

Xerox offers services that support Linux and Windows servers, legacy applications and ERP systems, legacy applications from third parties as well as legacy ERP applications. Their storage tiers are tailored specifically for each workload while hypervisor-based virtual firewalls ensure they remain protected.

Managed IaaS solutions from Xerox are offered both in standard and enterprise configurations. The former feature dual socket Intel Xeon processors while enterprise models can meet varying compute needs. Both models provide high security standards, automated processes and scalability. Xerox's service desk handles patch management for maximum flexibility while internal IT staff are freed up for other projects. VARs may white label these offerings for their customers.

Xerox Managed Print Services

Print Management with a Difference

Businesses that partner with Xerox Managed Print Services can streamline their printing methods to find untapped savings potential and streamline workflows, all from one central platform that tracks, manages and optimises each device based on usage patterns.

No matter their mobile workforce size or remote locations, home workers, or location-independent locations, the Xerox Workplace Suite enables cloud-based print management with authentication, security, cost control and mobility workflows. Setup is straightforward without the need for an on-site server – perfect for companies with limited IT support or looking to reduce infrastructure footprint.

The Xerox Workplace Suite also enables monitoring of all printing devices within an office and home setting in order to identify trends and help make more informed decisions about your business. Furthermore, HP Wolf Security helps prevent data breaches on this platform while monthly itemized invoices with reporting capabilities simplify accounting and logistics operations.

Strategies for Effective Customer Relationship Management (CRM) in the Digital AgeStrategies for Effective Customer Relationship Management (CRM) in the Digital Age

Building strong relationships with your customers is crucial for the success of every business. This has been the case for decades now,but it is now of utmost importance that you prioritize building good relationships with your customers. This is because a satisfied customer could mean tens of more customers for your business. In the same light,an unsatisfied customer,could mean a loss of tens of more customers for your business. Businesses go through great length to ensure they maintain a positive relationship with their customers,even outside the business environment. They utilize emails marketing services,and even social media,just to keep in touch.

In this article,we will look at the importance of CRM in the digital era and analyze different strategies for an improved customer relationship for businesses. Drawing insights from Businessman Grant Kelley’s experiences,we will equally look at the role of technology,and personalization in nurturing leads and turning them to long-lasting customers. 

Understanding CRM in the digital Age

CRM is not just a software for regulating customers,it is an approach to effectively managing and enhancing your interactions with your customers. With the level of competition in business today,you cannot afford to leave your customers unchecked. Unlike in the past when it was difficult to keep track of all your customers,now you can leverage technology,email marketing and data analytics to gain insights on your customer needs and preferences.

Personalization and Customization

Personalization is the crucial part of CRM. By leveraging your customer data,you can tailor out messages that are important to each one of them. Say for instance,a prospect goes through your website in search of something,using that data,you can send them a follow up email with more recommendations on their search query. This is how relationships are built and strengthened. 

Leverage Data for Customer Insights

Data is a valuable Element for effective CRM in this new age. By collecting and analyzing data from different sources,you can identify trends in customers in different sectors as well as their pain points. Using this information,you can tailor your offerings/services for improved customer satisfaction. This will go a long way in boosting your relationship with your customers,because they will see you as someone who genuinely cares about their needs.

Continuous Feedback and Improvement

Continuously asking your customers for feedback and ensuring your implement the useful ones is also an important part of CRM. It is not just about conducting surveys like every other business; it is about implementing the results from it. That is where many businesses are getting it wrong. The implement less than 1% of their survey findings and still go on to conduct new ones,at a point your customers will see it as a waste of their time and will desist from filling.

Conclusion

Customer relationship Management is a broad concept and is very important to every business owner who is looking at scaling their business. You cannot afford to have unhappy customers,that is the beginning of the downfall of any business. In this article are a few insights drawn from the likes of Grant Kelley and other successful businessmen who command a large number of customer base. If you are looking at maximizing your business,then you should implement all that is written in this article.

For more information: Grant Kelley