Thursday, 18 September 2014

Best Methods to Find Out Cheap Mortgage

Getting the right mortgage or remortgage deal can save you £100s each month. But it can be a nightmare knowing how to get it spot on.
To help you navigate through the mortgage maze, here's our guide outlining step-by-step how you can find the best possible mortgage deal for you.

Step 1: Know what type of mortgage you want

Now you're ready to get a mortgage, you need to go about it the right way. There are several things you need to do before you're ready to check out deals:

Have you decided whether you want a repayment or interest-only mortgage?
If you pick interest-only, you NEED a separate plan to pay off your debt, as your payments only cover the cost of the interest. A repayment mortgage, while it costs more each month, pays off the original debt too.
Unless you have a compelling reason, repayment is the way forward. It is also the one you're most likely to get as some lenders just won't offer interest only mortgages. Those that do will want evidence of a credible repayment plan and might limit the amount you can borrow.

Decide if you're going for a fixed or variable rate mortgage?

The most important thing to remember is with a fixed rate, you have the surety of knowing EXACTLY what your mortgage repayments will be for that time.

In years past, variable rates were often significantly cheaper but right now the pendulum has swung more towards fixed deals, which are at their cheapest ever. But always pick the right deal for you - our What type of mortgage should I get? guide has more information on how to choose.

Make sure you've got enough cash for any associated fees.
It's no longer just about the rate when picking a mortgage - a whole raft of fees could come as part of the package - stamp duty, solicitors' fees, valuation/survey costs, mortgage fees and more. Our How much will buying a home cost? guide will give you the full information on what you'll need to pay and when.
Put as much towards your deposit/equity as you can...especially if you're close to an LTV rate boundary.
This may seem contrary to the point above, but mortgage rates drop in steps, known as loan-to-value (LTV) bands. So if you've a 9.75% deposit/equity, it's worth trying to get that up to 10% as you'll get a pick of lower interest rates.

If you've done all this, you're ready to follow the steps below to find the best mortgage for you. Remember that even if you've got an agreement in principle with a lender, you don't have to stick with it - especially if it is no longer offering the best deal.

Step 2: Get a rough idea of what you can get

Whether you're going for a fixed or variable mortgage, you need to start looking at what rates you can get. This will depend on the size of your deposit and the value of the property.

But, in starting your search for the best deal, the first thing you need to know is:
"NEVER just go to your bank for a cheap deal."
Your existing bank will only give you its tiny range of deals, not the array of alternatives, meaning it's highly unlikely you'll stumble across the best one for you.
Only check what it's offering as a starting point. Then use a broker or mortgage comparison site to check the whole market.
The web is a powerhouse for benchmarking a good deal. Use these comparison services to find what's available with your deposit and intended property value

Step 3: Can a mortgage broker beat it?

You've benchmarked a good rate from the comparison tables, now see if a broker can beat it.They scour the market to find you a good mortgage deal. By using one, you swiftly cover a huge slew of lenders, and get added clout with them to ease your acceptance as well as an extra layer of protection if things go wrong.
Brokers will also be able to advise you on Help to Buy mortgages and other Government mortgage schemes (NewBuy, shared ownership and more) if you're eligible - tell your broker upfront if that's what you're looking for.

The key is to find a broker you're comfortable with. The estate agents you meet when house hunting will often recommend brokers. They may even work from the same office. But you are NOT tied to using these, even if you buy via that estate agent.

Ask friends who've moved for recommendations - many local brokers are fantastic. The aim's to find you the best broker for the lowest possible price.
But not all brokers are the same. Some are limited in what they can offer you, so there are three crucial questions to ask.

Best Web Conferencing Practices to Make Better Conference Call

Make Yourself Known

Webcam meetings are a lot easier when you know exactly who is attending and which person to address for particular issues. When the meeting starts, introduce yourself and what you do for the company. Keep it short and simple – no need to take the meeting off track by giving a too long and too detailed explanation of yourself. Remember, not everybody on the web conferencing will be able to use a webcam or be able to recognize you from your face or voice. Speak clearly and slow enough that everyone can hear and understand you.

Eye Contact

When you’re using a webcam, you’ll want to try to make frequent “eye contact” with the camera by looking in its direction, not the screen. To a beginner, this may seem a bit awkward. However, your participants will appreciate the effort to make them feel included on the call on a more personal level, especially if they don’t have a camera and are using only the audio. Making eye contact can create a more comfortable environment in the meeting and therefore encourage their participation in the chat Q&A section.

Include Content

The host is responsible for incorporating interactive content and other media items. Don’t be afraid to share your screen and webcam, or include slides of information readily available for the participants to explore and refer back to. Include also an agenda. Again, this will always help the meeting stay on task. Even creating a poll can gather information and opinion quickly and simply.

Avoid Sound Quality Issues

Sometimes technology can be a real pain. Don’t forget to test out your equipment beforehand, but you’ll always want to be prepared for something to go wrong. Be mindful of overlapping sounds, static, and echoes especially. Try to get your hands on a higher quality microphone. Background noise and other annoying distractions can come through and hearing your voice will become increasingly difficult. If necessary, get a pair of headphones or earbuds if the audio from the conference is making its way through your microphone.

Be Enthusiastic

Nobody wants to hear a dry speech. Your participants are supposed to be following their leader while you’re hosting the meeting. If you’re being dull and boring, attention spans are going to fade. Give them materials to look at, try to sound excited for new developments, and encouraging when critiquing others’ work. Request for their engagement and ask too many questions, especially if the meeting is a going to be a long one. A successful meeting can definitely boost morale and keep your coworkers productive for the day.

How to Sell Annuity Payments in a Decent Manner

Sell Annuity Payments

Whether you represent a business with ownership of no-longer-needed annuities or are an individual who has been declared the recipient of a structured settlement, there are times when having full access to your money will just make more sense. You do not have to wait out the payments and receive what is rightfully yours in drips and drabs. It is often much wiser to sell annuity payments and get the cash you need in hand now.


Professionals at Colonial Settlement are highly skilled in helping clients sell annuity payments they no longer wish to receive in exchange for a lump sum. For more than two decades, our company has specialized in assisting our clients in realizing their financial goals by purchasing all or part of their future payment streams from structured annuity payment vehicles.


While there are some rules and regulations that can impact structured settlement sales, Colonial Settlement is highly versed on a national scale. Our professionals can walk you or your business through the process to sell annuity payments so you can have access to the money you need now, rather than having to wait.
When you decide to sell annuity payments to Colonial Settlement, you will deal with an established team of professionals that bring years of experience to your unique situation.


You can also count on receiving topnotch service and swift handling of your case. Colonial Settlement prides itself on having one of the highest closing rates in the entire country. Our professionals work expediently to ensure you have the funding you need in a timely manner whether you’re seeking a full buy out or partial payment.

When you choose to sell annuity payments, you will find a number of factors can go into determining how much you can receive. When cash for structured settlement is sought, the amount will be determined by such things as:The amount of the annuity you are seeking to sell – The amount of an offer to purchase a structured settlement will, of course, be impacted by any desire you may have to retain partial ownership of payments.

The value of the annuity – The amount and actual timing of the payments you receive as your annuity payment will impact the offer.

The stability of the funding stream – When you sell annuity payments to Colonial, our offer will be influenced by the stability of the issuer and its ability to make payments on time and in the full amount.

The economy – Current economic conditions at the time of the sale of a structured settlement can influence the offer, as well. When you sell annuity payments, things like present interest rates can have an impact.

Making the decision to sell annuity payments can be a prudent choice. When the money would better serve you or your company in full rather than payments, this option provides a way to make it so.

If you’re ready to sell annuity payments to fund other goals, Colonial Settlement is here to help. With more than 15 years in the field, our company can turn your monthly annuity paymentinto cash in your hand when you need it the most.

10 best auto insurance companies

USAA, State Farm and Farmers earned the highest scores from both auto and home insurance customers in Insure.com’s annual customer satisfaction study. It is USAA’s third year as the highest-rated auto and home insurer in the survey.

Insure.com’s 2014 survey spanned 3,835 current customers of 15 large insurers in auto, home and health insurance, and 14 in life insurance. Ratings are based on five measurements:

• Customer service
• Claims satisfaction
• Value for price paid
• Percent who plan to renew
• Percent who would recommend the companyIn the auto insurance category, 

USAA scored well across the board but did particularly well in measurements for renewal (95 percent of customers surveyed said they planned to renew) and recommendations (84 percent have or would recommend USAA). The insurer sells only to members of the military and their families.

State Farm and Farmers also garnered strong scores in all auto insurance measurements but were outpaced by USAA in renewal and recommendation ratings.

Making decisions
We also asked customers their reasons for deciding to buy from their insurers. Flo is paying off: Progressive has the highest number of customers who made their decision based on seeing a TV commercial (18 percent), followed closely by Allstate (17 percent) and Geico (16 percent). USAA had the lowest percentage of customers (4 percent) who chose the company based on a commercial.

Methodology
Insure.com conducted surveys of 3,835 insurance customers nationwide in February and March 2014 to collect 9,586 company reviews. Only current customers of the insurers on our lists were surveyed. The survey was not open to the general public on the Insure.com website. We collected reviews for auto, home, health and life insurance carriers. Consumers answered questions about their levels of satisfaction with their insurers, and each answer was assigned a point value. Points were then averaged and totaled for each company.

A.M. Best ratings do not affect the scores but are provided as a supplementary resource. The “discounts” and “coverage options” information for auto insurance carriers also does not affect the scores.

We collected data for 15 large companies in each category, so not all companies are represented in the study. The companies for which we collected data were then ranked. The top three companies in each category earned Insure.com's "People's Choice Award." In the life insurance category, a tie for third place resulted in four insurers receiving the award.

1. USAA
Overall score: 93.9
Claims processing: 4.5 stars
Customers who recommend: 83%

2. State Farm
Overall score: 92.7
Claims processing: 4.5 stars
Customers who recommend: 81%

3. Farmers
Overall score: 91.5
Claims processing: 4.5 stars
Customers who recommend: 74%

4. GEICO
Overall score: 91.1
Claims processing: 4.5 stars
Customers who recommend: 75%

5. Auto Club of Southern California
Overall score: 90.5
Claims processing: 4.5 stars
Customers who recommend: 81%

6. Nationwide
Overall score: 90.5
Claims processing: 4.5 stars
Customers who recommend: 76%

7. Liberty Mutual
Overall score: 90.2
Claims processing: 4 stars
Customers who recommend: 74%

8. Allstate
Overall score: 90
Claims processing: 4 stars
Customers who recommend: 78%

9. American Family
Overall score: 89.5
Claims processing: 4 stars
Customers who recommend: 76%

10. The Hartford
Overall score: 89
Claims processing: 4 stars
Customers who recommend: 76%

Get a Colorado Car Insurance Quote from 21st Century Insurance

Colorado, the "Centennial State," boasts a stunning and wild landscape made from the peaks of the Rocky Mountains, the desert sands of the Colorado Plateau, the sweeping grasslands of the Great Plains, and the busy nightlife of its big cities. Whether you spend your time snowboarding down the Rocky Mountains, or enjoying city life in Denver or Colorado Springs, it's likely you're looking to save money, and 21st Century Insurance may be able to help.

When you get a Colorado car insurance quote from 21st Century, you may find you're eligible for one of many car insurance discounts that could save you money.

21st Century offers a variety of car insurance discounts that fit all types of age groups and lifestyles.
If you have car insurance with another company and are looking to switch, 21st offers a transfer discount that can get your savings started right away. And, if you purchase your policy 7-days or more before your current policy expires, you can save through 21st Century's early shopping discount. Additionally, you can take advantage of the claims free renewal discount if you have been continuously insured with 21st Century for at least 6 months, free of accidents and major moving violations.

If you are a Coloradan that has more than one car you may be eligible for 21st's multi-car discount. Just insure more than one car with 21st Century to qualify for the discount. Also, if your car is a year or older, you may be able to save through 21st's one-term new car credit discount.

21st Century also offers discounts to policyholders who hold additional Farmers insurance policies. If you insure your home with Farmers and car through 21st, you qualify for 21st Century's auto-homeowner discount. Individuals who have renters insurance through Farmers and car insurance through 21st are also eligible for a discount. And, if you have a Farmers life insurance policy and a 21st Century car insurance policy, you too are eligible for a discount.

Additionally, if you have a specialty insurance policy through Foremost and car insurance from 21st, you too are eligible for a discount.

If you're a senior Coloradan, you can also save with 21st Century car insurance discounts. Through our mature driver discount, drivers 55 years or older can save on their insurance coverage. In order to qualify, drivers must complete a state-recognized defensive driving course. Coloradans who are retired, or still working, may be eligible for 21st Century's group discount. Check with a 21st representative to see if your occupation or employer qualifies.
There are also 21st Century car insurance discounts available for younger Coloradans that will help them save significantly.

Good Student Discount: For students under the age of 25, who maintain a "B" grade or better
Driver Training Discount: For drivers under the age of 21, who complete a driver training course
Teen Driver Discount: For drivers under the age of 19 who are the child or grand-child of a primary insured individual who has had their policy in force for two years
If you have a car equipped with additional safety measures, 21st Century will reward you with various discounts. 

If you're looking for affordable auto insurance in Colorado, 21st may be the perfect insurance company for you. 21st offers the same great coverage for less in Colorado with discounts that may help you save money.
And don't worry, if you're already a 21st customer, you may already be saving money with one of these discounts. But if you think you're missing out check your policy details at 21st.com or speak with a representative.

How to Successfully Schedule a Conference Call

It’s never easy gathering a group of people to be together at a single time whether it’s a party, reunion, or a simple conference call. Every life and business comes with busy times, slow times, and other interruptions that can delay important meetings and get-togethers. However, with proper communication and notice, scheduling a call or meeting can be very simple.

Make a List of Attendees

Try to write down or make note of everyone you would like in attendance. This will definitely help organize a specific time and what sort of information to expect from each person. Having this information handy for when you actually schedule the call will lessen the chance of your forgetting to invite someone important!

Consider a Date & Time

Be mindful of everyone’s schedule. Be wary of time zone changes, early mornings, and lunch hours. Send a quick email or text informing your list of attendees of the date and time you have in mind – an early warning will give your partners a chance to reschedule other duties or schedule their activities around that time.

Send a Meeting Request

Use your Google Calendar or another meeting scheduler to send a meeting request to every participant when you’ve cleared a specific time. Be sure to include the call-in number and password in the request – these are two very important things you can’t forget about. Having the meeting requests be completely organized will benefit every participant at the time of the meeting. Some, if not most, meeting requests will even allow you to put in an accurate description of the call’s agenda so that your participants can prepare their information and you can stay on task.

Send a Reminder

Send a reminder a few hours early to your partners. This way, they will know to start getting ready for the call. Or, if something unexpected comes up, they can cancel their attendance and you can mark them off your list instead of waiting for them to jump on the line.

Meet like a Pro

By the time your meeting time arrives, you can rest easy knowing the call has been properly scheduled in a timely manner and includes all necessary information. With your agenda properly shared and requests activated, your meeting should go smoothly if you stay on task and keep an eye on the time.

Donate your car in Sacramento California

Let the Vehicle Donation Processing Center help you get rid of a car or truck you no longer need, while contributing to a worthy cause at the same time.The Sacramento region is full of wonderful neighborhoods. 

Almost anyone can feel at home in Winn Park , where the atmosphere is decidedly urban, yet it exudes a 
warm and homey charm. Many of the streets in Arden Park are like cathedrals, thanks to tree limbs curving like gothic archways high above the pavement.

The Vehicle Donation Processing Center will pick up your vehicle for you anywhere in Sacramento, from homey downtown Loomis to South Natomas, a neighborhood filled with tidy yards and quaint cul-de-sacs. Just call our toll-free number to speak with an operator 24 hours a day, or fill out the online donation form for the non-profit you select.

Car donation is a quick and easy way to be rid of unwanted property, help a good cause, and get a nice tax deduction. The Vehicle Donation Processing Center will arrange for free pick up and handle all the paperwork. 

Pick up your phone or go online now to get started!California: Anaheim, Antioch, Bakersfield, Berkeley, Burbank, Chico, Chula Vista, Concord, Corona, Costa Mesa, Daly City, Downey, Elk Grove, El Monte, Escondido, Fairfield, Fontana, Fremont, Fresno, Fullerton,Garden Grove, Glendale, Hayward, Huntington Beach, Inglewood, Irvine, Lancaster, Long Beach, Los Angeles,Modesto, Moreno Valley,Newport Beach,Norwal, Norwalk, Oakland, Oceanside, Ontario, Orange, Oxnard, Palmdale, Pomona, Rancho Cucamonga, Richmond, Riverside, Roseville, Sacramento, Salinas, San Bernardino, San Buenaventura, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Mateo, Santa Ana, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Clarita, Santa Rosa, Simi Valley, Stockton, Sunnyvale, Thousand Oaks, Torrance, Vallejo, Visalia, West CovinaThe following charities can accept car donations in Sacramento. 

You can choose to donate a car to an organization that serves Sacramento.

How to Get a Credit Limit Increase on a Credit Card

Credit limit increases are beneficial to you in more ways than one. Not only do you have more available credit to work with, but raises in your credit limit can also improve your credit score by lowering your credit utilization ratio. Follow these steps to get a credit limit increase.

Pay your bill on time for at least 6 months. Of course, you should always pay your credit card bills on time, as late payments could result in credit limit (and credit score) decreases. Six months is simply the minimum amount of time you will have to make timely payments on your account before creditors will even consider raising your credit card limit.

Lower your credit utilization. Your credit utilization is pretty much how much money you have on your credit card compared to your overall limit. For example, if you have $4,900 worth of debt on a card that has a $5,000 limit, your credit utilization is extremely high.

Figure out which credit card you'll ask for a limit increase on. Why, aside from the obvious reason? Asking some credit card companies for a limit increase can cause the credit issuer to check your credit score, known in the business as a "hard pull.A hard pull can cause your credit score to go down, only about five or 10 points.
Gather supporting documentation. In some cases, it may be necessary to prove that you are worthy of a credit limit increase, even if you have paid your bill on time for 6 or more months. You can just ask for an increase in your credit line and hope for a favorable response, or you may want to better your chances by compiling information that supports your ability to commit to higher credit card payments before you implore about changes in your credit card limit.

If your request fails, consider sneaking through the back door. If your request for an increase doesn't work out as planned, consider this sneaky little trick if you absolutely need the increase. Apply for a different, second card from the same company. Next, re-allocate the credit limit to your old card.
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