2013年9月8日星期日

Starting an Estate Agents Business


The Estate Agent business is basically about helping other people buy & sell their properties. But even in this field you do get a lot specialization. Some estate agents focus purely on commercial properties, other on the lower end of the residential market whilst a few focus purely on the expensive luxury end.



Generally speaking what you choose to specialise in is often dictated by who / what you know and the location you have chosen for your estate agents business.



This business is all about communication. How you interact between the seller and purchaser can make or break a deal. You will also need the ability to do large mental calculations and think quickly on your feet.



The seller's requirements are that the property is marketed quickly and the best price is achieved with the minimum of hassle. For this service, clients will pay the estate agent a commission around 0.5% to 1.5% of the sales price achieved. This percentage is often dictated by the competitive forces in your area.



You will be required to have intimate knowledge of your local market place so that you can give your clients a ball park figure that is likely to be achieved for their property. Depending on market conditions you can then advice your customer whether they should market the property at "offers over" or at a "fixed price."



The buyers on the other hand want the estate Sourcing Agent China to help them find the ideal property for their requirements at the lowest possible price. Often they will not have the time to scour the market place and this is where a really good estate agent can score really well, by sourcing the ideal property quickly, arranging viewing times and helping in negotiations once the right property has been found.



There are also additional services that can be offered like conveyancing, insurance & finance. Some of the best estate agents offer a complete one stop service and can handle everything from putting the property on the market, to finding a suitable buyer, arranging a survey report and helping the buyer secure funding to buy the property.



If you get frustrated easily then this is definitely not the business for you. All sorts of problems can occur that make life difficult for an estate agent. The seller might take the property of the market at the last minute even though you have met all their requirements. The buyer might not be able to raise funding even after all the paperwork has been completed. Sometimes the sellers and buyers can only complete the sale after their respective properties have been sold!



Hours can be long and arduous as in many cases viewing can only be done in the evenings and weekends. Most people that are in the market for buying or selling a property are usually either in paid employment or running their own business. They will often need to be met out with normal working hours to secure a deal.



There are several estate agent franchise models available. When buying an estate agent franchise it is important that you choose a well known brand that has already achieved public recognition. Check out their property portal and make sure that it is easy to use. Make sure that you have an exclusive territory in which to operate your business and speak to existing franchisees to see how profitable the business model really is.



The property market can be highly unpredictable. Within 6 months conditions can change dramatically from being a buyers market to a sellers market. Seasonal fluctuations also serve to confuse the issue. The worst time to start marketing a property is before Christmas and in the beginning of the New Year.



People will always need a property to live in and this business can be highly lucrative for the right person with good people skills and the ability to work hard. When market conditions are right, an astute person can make decent money in this business.Buying Agent China

2013年9月5日星期四

Global Sourcing and Supply Management


Over the past several years there have been three major developments in the evolution of global sourcing. These are that more companies are pursuing a global supply base along with increasing the number of countries viewed as a sourcing base and an increase in the quantity and variety of available products.Sourcing Consultant China



Some of the factors that are leading companies to look at alternate supply sources (Globalization) include the education level of workers available in other countries, the size of the domestic and import markets and market liberalization.



This market liberalization, led by China's admission into the World Trade Organization has assured commitments to reduce high tariffs. There is also an abundance of low-wage labour available. China's average hourly manufacturing wage is 60 cents an hour with an able work force of 941 million.



Companies looking at these alternate supply sources are then faced with several challenges in global sourcing among them is the requirement to identify and establish new supplier relationships.



Some of these new supply sources will have less advanced Information technology systems and an inability to share information easily.



For those companies embarking on alternate supply sources they must perform more research and due diligence on those overseas suppliers and must also look at incorporating local business culture into their negotiation strategy.china sourcing company



There are many different approaches to global sourcing such as establishing an international Supply Management Office, the setting up of local joint ventures where they work with an in-country enterprise to establish a presence. Some companies will look at finding a Trading Agent to act as a sourcing broker.



Today, search firms especially those with a Strategic Procurement and Supply Chain focus are familiar with companies that utilize these approaches and can provide those well qualified candidates no matter which approach a company has in place.

Importing From China: Getting Started Sourcing Products

In this article I'll give some suggestions on the first actions to take to get started importing from China and finding products.



It can seem daunting at first how to begin finding manufacturers to deliver the products you need for your business. I recommend browsing online sourcing websites where manufacturers list their available products as well as visiting trade shows to begin seeing the product selection available and meet sellers.
Sourcing Agent China



The most well-known site for importing products from China is Alibaba.com. This site is a large directory where manufacturers feature their products. A virtual trade show if you will. Alibaba is an incredible resource to browse and see the selection and type of products available. You can get a general idea of what is available and general pricing information. Many factories list their MOQs (minimum order quantity) as well.



Another feature of Alibaba is that you can immediately chat and contact the sellers. An important first distinction is to find out whether the company is the manufacturer of the product or a trade company representing a variety of products. The easiest way to find this out is to just ask when you contact them. Ideally you want to deal with the factory directly for cost and operations efficiency.



Although it is possible to import your products and do all your business online. I highly recommend taking further due diligence if you are interested in a long-term sustainable relationship with your supplier. This can be done by taking the trip to China to visit the factories of the suppliers you have contacted to see that everything is in order. Another good option is to get an experienced sourcing agent on your side to represent your best interests on the ground in China.Purchasing Consultant China



Another excellent way to see the many products available is to go to a trade show. This allows you to walk the floor and see up close all the products in different industries and immediately talk business with the sellers. Often you can make contact with the companies then later do a factory visit after the show is over. The biggest trade show in mainland China is the Canton Fair which takes place twice a year in the fall and the spring. Another large trade show is the Hong Kong Mega Show which I haven't attended yet but have heard good things.



I hope these few ideas are helpful in getting started and taking action towards finding and importing products from China.