p13, v9.04 — Business News & Trends

Business News & Trends

Mountain Views News Saturday, January 24, 2015

MVNews this week: Page 13

BUSINESS NEWS & TRENDS

Mountain Views-News Saturday, January 24, 2015

FAMILY MATTERS By Marc Garlett

PET PROPOSALS

Did you realize that 6 out of 10 U.S. households have pets? That means that those without
critter companions are in the minority, but if you’re a pet owner selling your home, you
shouldn't ignore the perceptions of those families that don't include cats or dogs.

Odors are the biggest issue. This isn't to say that your housekeeping is remiss, but remember
that some buyers who visit your home may experience allergies or be particularly sensitive to
pet dander or odors. Just vacuum the floors and furniture frequently and use an air sanitizer.

During the early stages of your listing, you'll likely experience more frequent showings and
visits by buyers. This is a particularly good time to make arrangements to board your pet, or
seek out a good "doggie day care" center for quick visits during showings. This may be safer
and less stressful for your pet than a constant parade of strangers in your home, and may put
buyers more at ease as well.

In any case, be sure to pick up toys, bowls, and bedding in advance of a showing, just as you
would tidy up the children's things and other rooms throughout the house before buyers
visit. A particularly attractive gesture would be to offer a cleaning allowance, no matter how
scrupulously you maintain your home. This should quiet any potential objections.

LIFE LINES by Amanda Rogers

EVERYONE NEEDS AN AGENT

Yes, it’s true. Everyone needs an agent – but no, even
though we live in Southern California, I’m not talking
about the Hollywood type. An agent is someone you
designate to handle your estate after you’ve gone or
who can make certain decisions for you if you cannot
make them for yourself. Here are the types of agents
you might need:

Executor – an executor is the person you designate
to carry out your wishes for distributing your assets as
listed in your last will and testament. You can choose a
family member, a trusted friend or even a professional
to fill this role. Every adult should have a will, so every
adult should have this type of agent.

Trustee – if you have more than $150,000 in assets
(and if you own your home, you probably do) a will
is simply not enough. In fact, a will alone will put
your loved ones into the costly, lengthy, totally public
probate process. A trust, on the other hand, will
help them avoid probate. A trustee is the person you
designate to carry out the terms of your trust and fills
a role similar to that of an executor. Every adult whose
assets will have to pass through probate unless they
have a trust, needs this type of agent.

Guardian – if you and your spouse die before your
children reach adulthood, a guardian is the person
you designate to take care of your minor children and
handle their finances. Sometimes people decide to
split the roles – one guardian to raise the children and
another to handle the finances. Choosing a guardian
(as well as backups in case your first choice cannot
serve) ensures your kids are taken care of by the people
you know, love and trust, no matter what. Everyone
with minor children needs this type of agent.

Durable Power of Attorney – this person is
designated by you to make financial decisions on your
behalf if you become disabled or otherwise unable to
manage your financial affairs. Every adult needs this
type of agent.

Healthcare Power of Attorney – also known as a
healthcare proxy, this is the person you designate to
make healthcare decisions for you if you are unable
to make them for yourself. Your healthcare agent’s
powers can be invoked if you become disabled and are
unable to make your own decisions about your health
care, so your choice should be someone you know
will carry out the wishes you have expressed in your
advance medical directives or Living Will. Again, this
is a type of agent every adult needs to have.

One of the main goals of my law practice is to help
families protect and provide for each other through
comprehensive, holistic, well thought out planning.
So if you’re missing one or more of the types of agents
you need, let’s talk. For the first two callers who
mention this article I’ll waive my standard $750 fee for
a no obligation, no pressure, Family Estate Planning
Session.

To you family’s health, wealth, and happiness,

A local attorney, father, and CASA volunteer (Court
Appointed Special Advocate for Children), Marc Garlett
is on a mission to help parents protect what they love
most. His office is located at 49 S. Baldwin Ave., Ste. G,
Sierra Madre, CA 91024. Call 626.355.4000 to schedule
an appointment to sit down and talk about ensuring a
legacy of love and financial security for your family or
visit www.GarlettLaw.com for more information.

Editor’s Note: Oops! In last week’s edition, the author’s notes were inadvertently published instead of
the edited final version. Our apologies.

TOP TEN LISTS

Top 10 reasons I hate Top 10 Lists…

10. They’re turning us into lazy learners and even
lazier writers.

9. They’re creating a generation of people with a
“Top-Ten” mentality.

8. There can only be one David Letterman.

7. They provide information that is quickly and
easily forgotten.

6. They lack context.

5 They over simplify necessarily complex
information.

4. They deny us the challenge of the search.

3. Their “sources” are often unsubstantiated.

2. They present information like songs off the
billboard charts.

And the number one reason I hate Top Ten Lists…

1. They rob us of the fulfillment that comes with
discovery.

So, what has happened to this process called
discovery? Shouldn’t knowledge be gained by
unearthing the answers – not reading lists? History
has taught us again and again that by pursuing
information about one thing, discoveries are often
made about something else. Look at Alexander
Fleming and his discovery of Penicillin. An
accident. Greatbatch and the accidental discovery
of the pacemaker. And what about Kellogg and
the first Cornflake? I’m serious. Look it up. But
each one of these discoveries came about by a
distraction or a diversion that led to the birth of a
new question.

Condensing the exploration of a subject to a top
ten list is, if nothing else, absurd. 130 million books
have been written throughout history, according to
Google. Are we to believe that each one of these
books contains information that can be reduced to
ten statements lined up in a row?

How do we stop the insanity? Not only do top ten
lists oversimplify complex subjects but they also
provide us with idiotic, inane information. Here
are a few I was able to find on the internet; “Sarah
Jessica Parker’s top ten most insane outfits of the
early 2000’s.” “Ten reasons a panda should never
be your BFF” and “Top ten crimes committed by
squirrels.”

I’d like to make a plea for the encouragement
of postulation, discernment, and perspective. Not
everything in life can be reduced to a list…except
maybe groceries.

BUDGET FOR BOOSTS ON FACEBOOK

If you haven’t tried boosting a
post on your Facebook page, you
might be missing out. You can
spend as little as $5 to reach the
right audience. I recently helped
a fitness studio in Monrovia send
out a Constant Contact campaign
for a class that was also shared to
their Facebook page. The Facebook
post was boosted for only $5 and
targeted a 15-mile radius around
Monrovia, CA. It worked; they had
sign ups from the Facebook post!

Here are a few tips when boosting
a post:

- Choose People you choose
through targeting and set up
different audience

- If your audience is local, target by
city plus 25 – 50 miles

- Add an image that doesn’t have more than 20% text

- Include a button in your image so people are more likely
to click on the image.

- You can boost for as little as $5 even though Facebook’s
default is a little higher

- Set the duration for 3 days. If you choose one day you
will not reach as many people. The idea is to try and catch
your audience when they are signed
on. Most people check Facebook
every day but some less often.

It’s time to realize that business
exposure on Facebook is going to
cost a little. It’s still one of the best
places for businesses to reach their
customers at all times of the day.
I think it is important to have a
budget for Facebook ads and boosts.
You can start with $5 a week ($20 a
month) if you are on a tight budget
but $100 a month will reach more
eyeballs.

About MJ: MJ and her brother
David own HUTdogs, a creative
services business that specializes
in Internet Marketing strategies
and Social Media. They offer social
media management services and help their clients build
a strong on-line presence. “Like” them on Facebook for
trending news in social media, internet marketing and
other helpful tips, www.facebook.com/hutdogs.