If you regularly watch the evening news, you likely have seen stories about social activism and massive protests in support of issues like the environment. Not only are they trying to communicate directly with the public, they are also asking some corporations to change. These are noble causes that sometimes involve a level of personal risk. Another way of exacting change is by working with companies from the inside. In other words: investing in them.

 

According to Rosalie Vendette, senior advisor in socially responsible investment (SRI) with Desjardins Group, SRI is an emerging field that is still defining itself. “It’s really about engagement, not activism,” says Vendette. “An engaged investor seeks to persuade management to adopt more responsible environmental, social and governance practices. A common way to sway management is to draw attention to these concerns through direct dialogue. While consumers have the power to decide whether or not to buy a product, investors wield their power in a much more strategic manner. For example, companies that fail to address the environmental impact of their operations can do serious damage to both their public image and their pocketbook. Conversely, companies that reduce their environmental footprint see their stock rise in more ways than one.”

 

Interestingly, there remains a perception that SRIs yield lower returns because performance may be sacrificed in favour of principles. “In the medium to long term, SRI criteria have little impact on fund performance,” says Denis Dion, product manager with Desjardins Investment Fund Development Department. “A study of American funds published in the Journal of Investing found that over an 18 year-period, an index of 400 U.S. companies that met SRI criteria performed comparably to the S&P 500, which indexes 500 major U.S. corporations.”

 

“The point is that SRI is a paradigm shift and we’re eagerly working to spread the news,” says Vendette. “We know that this new approach will continue to transform how we have traditionally invested in companies. And ultimately, we hope that this will contribute to more sustainable corporate practices.”

 

To find out more about Socially Responsible Investing, speak to your financial advisor.

Courtesy of Newscanada

With current home prices and interest rates, it’s a great time to be in the market for a fixer-upper.  By buying a house that needs some work, you can achieve your dream home for less than you would probably pay for a move-in-ready abode.

To ensure you’re making the most of your investment, however, it pays to take a look at your credit before you buy and begin your remodel. You’ll not only need credit to cover the purchase price of the house, but you’ll need it for renovation expenses as well.

The first step you should take in your bid to buy a fixer-upper is to check your credit report and score. Websites like http://www.creditreport.com can help you understand your credit. Understanding your credit will help you know whether or not you can afford to buy a house that needs work and if you’ll be able to pay for the needed renovations.

You should also carefully research what your options are for financing your remodel. Learn what your options are, from traditional fixed mortgages to home equity lines of credit, and decide before you buy which type of financing will be best for you. Getting a handle on your financing before you buy can help ensure you stay on budget when you’re in the middle of renovations.

When you’ve got a clear picture of your credit status and financing options, you can start looking at fixer-uppers. When you find a good prospect, have your remodeling contractor walk through the house with you so he can give you a rough estimate of what needs to be done and how much the work will cost.

If you’re buying a house that’s in basically good condition but just looks dated, you’ll have to make some decisions about where to invest your money. Focus on improvements that will not only look good, but will also enhance the value of your home. Resources like Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value report can give you a good idea of how much of your original investment you’ll recoup on different remodeling projects at the time of resale.

Once you’ve signed all the paperwork and the house is yours, it’s time to get to work. If you’re handy, you may be able to save money by doing some of the renovation work yourself. Projects like painting, adding crown molding and even putting down new flooring are well within the skills of most do-it-yourselfers. More complex projects like drywall, plumbing or electrical work may be best left to professionals.

Whether you do the work yourself, or hire contractors, you’ll need to carefully manage all aspects of the renovation to ensure your remodel stays on budget. The excitement of remodeling a house into your dream home can make it easy to get carried away on spending. Keep in mind that remodeling estimates are just that – an estimate. The final tab is rarely exactly what your contractor predicted it would be. Build in at least 10 percent extra to cover emergency overruns, and avoid making any unnecessary changes to the plans while the project is underway.

Courtesy of BPT

What starts out as a fun summer evening with a few friends can quickly become a reminder that not paying attention while grilling can be dangerous.

“Before I realized what had happened, I had burned my eyebrows, eyelashes and an inch of my hair all around my face,” recalls Laura Anderson. “I waited too long to hit the ignite button after turning on the propane, and the next thing I knew a fireball erupted from the grill.”

Stunned and luckily unharmed, Anderson did not sustain any major injuries but her story may be all too familiar to many grillers.  

“It was a scary experience and I was embarrassed to walk around with singed eyebrows, but it definitely reminded me to be more careful when using the grill,” says Anderson.

Grilling is an American tradition and summertime staple. Most of the time, grilling cookouts go off without a hitch but accidents can and do happen. Each year, grilling related accidents send an estimated 20,000 people to the emergency room and cause a reported $75 million in property damage.

Regardless of the type of grill – gas, charcoal, hibachi or smoker – grilling accidents happen and can have serious consequences. Improper grill care or careless grilling techniques can quickly ruin summer fun and cause a variety of accidents ranging from minor burn injuries to major fires and explosions.

“Refreshing your memory of basic grill safety may save you from a costly or dangerous accident this summer,” says Bryan Lewis, propane risk manager for CHS, a supplier of Cenex brand propane.

Give the grill a once over

Propane grills are the most popular type of grill in the United States and can also be the most hazardous. Lewis recommends that if you have an old gas grill, especially one more than 10 years old, you should consider replacing it with a grill that has new, important safety features.

If your grill is still in good shape, the best way to avoid accidents is to keep it properly maintained.  One simple precaution is to make sure grills are clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grill surface and drip trays that can create grease flares and splatters.

“People are always in a hurry to light the grill and that’s when a lot of accidents can happen,” explains Lewis. “You should always follow the manufacturer instructions for operating the grill and routinely check the propane hose for leaks, even if that means taking an extra couple of minutes before lighting the fire.”

Before starting the grill, Lewis recommends taking one minute to test for gas leaks by applying a light soap and water solution to the gas tank hose. If bubbles appear, a leak is present and you should turn it off and seek professional maintenance.

Keep a distance

Follow basic grill safety and use common sense when choosing where to set up your grill. Grill outdoors at least 10 feet away from the house, garage or other combustible buildings or objects.

“You’d be surprised by how many people forget this most basic rule of grilling,” says Lewis. “It may seem convenient to grill on your deck, or to pull the grill inside the garage if it’s raining, but accidents happen, people can get injured and houses can catch on fire.”

From 2005 to 2009, U.S. fire departments responded to an average of 8,200 home fires involving grills each year according to a report from the National Fire Protection Association.

“Even when having summer fun, people need to remember that propane can be dangerous, says Lewis. “Regardless of whether you’re using propane to light the grill, power appliances at the cabin or heat your home, safety and precaution should always come first.”

In addition to keeping grills a safe distance away from buildings, remember to keep children and pets at least three feet away to avoid the risk of getting burned. And, of course, never leave grills unattended.

Don’t toss bricks

When using a charcoal grill, wrap-up your cookout the right way. Hot charcoal bricks and ashes need to be disposed of properly to avoid trash can fires that can potentially spread to the surrounding area. Douse hot coals with plenty of water and stir to ensure the fire is out. Never place hot coals in plastic, paper or wooden containers and avoid dumping them on the ground where cookout guests, children and pets might step on them.

For more helpful summertime tips, including summer driving tips and ways to improve your gas mileage, check out the Cenexperts blog written by experts with CHS at tanksofthanks.com.

Courtesy of BPT

Think going green will cost too much or take too much time? You might be surprised at how much time, energy and money you can save by making a few changes in your home to make it more energy efficient. And don’t worry that it will be too much work because some new high tech tools are making it easier than ever.

 

There are also other intuitive devices to help you reduce your energy consumption at home. A power strip for sale by Belkin will shut down power going to a series of electronics by simply turning off one of the components. This is a great solution for home offices and entertainment centers. And here’s another smart tip: For those items at home which run off batteries, invest in reusable ones. They will cost a little more than regular batteries but more than make up for that cost in the long run. A gadget that will easily help you make the switch is the Energizer Universal Charger. This device will charge AA, AAA, C, D, and 9V batteries, so you also reduce clutter by only having one charger for all of your battery charging needs. 

 

Courtesy of BPT

The usual landlord/tenant relationship goes something like this.  The tenant rents an apartment, pays the rent, the landlord maintains the property and all is well.  The times that the landlord/tenant relationship goes sour can often be traced back to the tenant screening process.

Bad tenants usually do not just develop overnight, they have been bad tenants for a while and they leave a trail.  Your job as a landlord is to sniff out this trail before you allow them in your property.  You can save yourself many headaches by rigorously screening your prospective tenants.  In fact, I might even go so far as to say that tenant screening is the key component to being a successful landlord. 

Bad tenants may present themselves very well.  They may dress and speak well.  They will say all the right things.  They may even have cash in hand and be ready to move in.  When someone is holding $500 in front of you to move in, it can be very tempting.  Do not do it!  Screen them!  Screen everyone thoroughly.  Check every reference and verify everything on their application.  Oh, you don’t use a written application?!?  Well there is your first problem.

Here are some tips when screening tenant applications:

    Pull credit and criminal history on everyone.  This is your first line of defense against the bad tenant.  Compare the data in the reports you receive with what is stated on your application.   Does it match?  If it does not, dig deeper.  Why is the info different?  If we discover lies, that is immediate cause for disapproval.

    Verify their work history.  Do not do this by calling the number they have listed on the application if you can help it.  A friend may be waiting for your call on the other end.  Instead, call the main office and get transferred into the department where the person says they work.  In this way you can avoid the “friend” set up.

    The current landlord may want them out and will therefore lie to you.  It is best to talk with the previous landlord or to get an accurate view.

    People forge documents.  It has happened to us.  Do not believe the paycheck stubs, letterhead, whatever.  Verify everything with the issuer.

    The old adage is true; do not judge a book by its cover.  We had a well dressed, well spoken man fill out and application, say all the right things and pay the application fee in cash.  He must have assumed we would pocket the fee and not check.  He had never paid a bill in his life.  Even the phone company was after him!  There are professional scammers out there, be vigilant.  It would have taken us at least 4 months to get him out.  I know that time frame could be a year or more in some parts of the country.

    Ask their place of employment if there are any planned layoffs.  We had a tenant get laid off the day he was approved to move in.

Most people are good, tell the truth and try to do the right thing.  Your job is to weed out the bad ones by finding the lies.  And they will lie to cover up their past, and get into your property.  Evictions are neither fun nor cheap.  So save yourself some hassle, set up a rigorous tenant screening process.  Also, be sure to treat every applicant in the same manner by using the exact same screening process.  Don’t set yourself up for a discrimination lawsuit because you treated one perspective tenant differently.

Author: Kevin Perk

Kevin’s Website: http://www.smarterlandlording.com

Termites live to eat. Their hunger causes $5 billion worth of damage each year in the U.S., damage most homeowner’s insurance doesn’t cover. In fact, a colony can devour a foot of 2-by-4 wood in only six months. And since termites are masters at going undetected, they can destroy entire support beams before you discover their presence. That’s why it’s so important to know what to look for.

 

Your risk and how to reduce it

Courtesy of BPT