Companies are finding that this sort of support, in addition to public recognition and praise of employees who donate their time and personal resources to various causes, helps them communicate to employees that they are valued as individuals. It also provides a forum through which company can show appreciation to employee for benefits it receives through positive association with employee.

According to Kurt Rechner, President and Chief Operating Officer of Tejas Securities Group, Inc., “Tejas Securities contributes regularly to charities as a way to give back to our community and to show support for our employees and companies with which we do business. For example, we’ve made contributions to Children’s Medical Center Foundation of Austin, Austin Film Society, and Meals on Wheels, each of which provides wonderful benefits to people in and around our home-base of Austin, Texas. In addition, we recently learned about great work being done by Big Brothers of Massachusetts, and we made contributions to that organization as well. I think it’s important for companies to openly communicate with their employees and business partners about their corporate giving activities. By sharing information, employees feel valued, organization learns about good organizations that need its support—and it creates a win: win all way around.”

Companies frequently find themselves contributing around themes. Some, for example, find their employees tend to want to support health-related causes, such as Breast Cancer Research or Alzheimer’s research or other causes that may have affected families and friends. Other organizations find their employees gravitate towards education-related initiatives, such as TJ Ford Foundation and Reading Is Fundamental. And many organizations find themselves contributing to organizations that help support children, especially organizations that provide esteem-building like Big Brothers/Big Sisters and those helping children with special needs, such as Special Olympics and Make a Wish Foundation.

With good causes being a good rallying point for boosting morale, many organizations use their corporate giving programs as team building tools to help unite their workers around a common charitable cause. They find that uniting workers for an outside cause helps reinforce their ability to work together for companies’ good as well.

So if you’re an employee who is active in a charity, consider extending value of your contributions by getting your employer involved. And if you’re an employer who wants to expand benefits of your contributions program, explore ways to involve your employees, too. The non-profits you support will thank you.

5. Get a loan agreed in theory.

Now you have to approach a mortgage lender and work with him to determine exactly how much you can comfortably afford to borrow. He will take into account many factors but these will include amount you have as a down payment and amount you earn. Ultimately he will arm you with a budget with which you can now work when searching for your new home.

6. Begin searching for your new house.

Now you have a budget to work with you can begin exciting process of searching for a new home. It may seem dull to have to get all financial facts and figures in place before heading off to find that dream house, but by doing all ground work first you will be less likely to fall in love with an unsuitable, unaffordable home. You will not have set yourself up for a fall; you will once again have set yourself up for success.

7. Give your home a makeover!

Take advice given to you by real estate agents and get to work with repairs, renovations and heavy work needed to bring your house up to top of market.

8. Find best real estate agent.

Having already met and worked with real estate agents for valuation of your home get back in touch with your preferred agent and ask them to revalue and then market your home. If you are in doubt about which agent to choose speak to any friends, family and colleagues in your local area who have recently bought, sold or rented property through an agent and ask for personal recommendations. You need to feel comfortable with agent you choose to represent you, you need to make sure they will sell your house as quickly, efficiently, honestly and effectively as possible and that they are trust worthy to be left to show viewers around your home.

Once you choose your agent go through their entire marketing strategy for your home and make sure you are comfortable with their approach and that they are going to do everything required of them to assist you. Furthermore, ask them to revalue your home based on work you have done to it and any market movements that have occurred in interim.

9. Remember - first impressions count!

Now time has come for buyers to begin viewing your home. You have to go over every single aspect of your home with a very critical eye and consider what potential purchaser will make of every aspect. Their first impression of your home will be as they look at it from sidewalk, ensure outside of your home is as clean, tidy and well presented as possible and then walk through every room and garden and look at it with fresh eyes. What will a buyer’s eye be drawn to, beautiful proportions of room or dirty window and vase of dead flowers?

Because first impressions count so very much take time to consider every aspect of your home and then make time to clean, polish and present your home in very best light possible.

10. Be as flexible as possible.

If you can be quick to react to a viewing request and flexible when it comes to a contract completion date you will be doing everything within your power to enable your buyer. By remaining on top of upkeep of your home you should be able to say ‘yes’ to a viewing request at drop of a hat. And if you remain on top of your home search and are at least mentally prepared to move out swiftly – even if this means moving into rental accommodation for a short period – you will be doing absolutely everything within your power for home selling success.