Welcome to the Official Letip of Orange Blog

We want to welcome all you first timers to the City of Orange chapter of Letip International’s Blog. For those of you who do not know what Letip is:

“LeTip is a professional organization of men and women dedicated to the highest standards of competence and service. Our purpose is the exchange of business tips. Members will, at all times, maintain the highest professional integrity. Each business category is represented by one member and conflicts of interest are disallowed.”

We are a social network of business owners and business personnel that come together once a week to be each others sales force in the hopes to help each other make money and business connections. This blog is ment to keep our subscribers aware of what was talked about at our last meeting, events that this chapter of Letip plans on attending and being a part of, special announcements from our members and the services that they offer, and to show you why you should consider joining Letip today.


For information about our group, please visit our LeTip of Orange website

Orange County Construction Company

Burgin Construction is not your typical Orange County construction company. We are a company that provides first class service from start to finish on home remodeling projects and specialize in the details. Unlike many other companies, we don't focus on any one portion of a home remodel. Instead we focus on the project as a whole. A large part of this is our unique ability to do not only the demo and construction of the project but also the cabinetry and finish carpentry. Our partnership with DeWils Cabinetry provides us with detailed training on every aspect of the cabinetry from production to installation. This adds a level of expertise to our company that many general contractors can't claim. For more information on our services and to view some of our completed projects which showcase these abilities please visit our website at www.burginconstructioninc.com.

Orange County Real Estate Broker

In last week’s Wednesday LeTip meeting, the group’s Realtor, Nancy Moeller, with Seven Gables Real Estate, talked about how to buy investment property in Orange and Riverside Counties with positive cash flow producing an excellent rate of return. Impossible just a few years ago, the market has shifted as both first time homebuyers and investors are pouring into the market to pounce on this opportunity. In fact, buyers are in heavy competition for properties that are generating over 20 offers within the first few days. Most of these properties are priced under $350,000 - the sweet spot for investment property when comparing price to lease rates. Nancy provided an example based on one of her actual clients who purchased a house in Corona for $339,000, put 30% down and leased it for $2,200 per month. They currently yield positive flow of approximately $500 per month with an 8.6% rate of return before appreciation.

Speakers in LeTip are given eight minutes on the meeting agenda to educate other members and guests so that the group is better equipped to refer the speaker business. The speakers rotate each week, giving each member ample time to train their “sales force” and learn about each other’s business.

Nancy has over 16 years experience in sales, finance and real estate. She is currently a Certified Public Accountant and Real Estate Broker with Seven Gables Real Estate. While Nancy does not practice public accounting (instead referring her clients to the group’s CPA, Bruce Nuttall), she does use her expertise to help educate buyers and sellers on the complicated tax implications of real estate.

A Le Tip member since 2006, Nancy believes that the best marketing approach is word of mouth and there is nothing like the power of LeTip to build a solid referral based business that nets financial and personal growth every month.

To contact Nancy, call her directly at 714 276-7006 or visit her online at www.TheOCExperts.com. Better yet, come meet her personally next Wednesday at Acapulco Restaurant, 1535 W. Katella Ave., Orange from 7 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. and we’ll buy you breakfast!

A Personal Injury Lawyer’s Advice Following a Personal Injury!

From Jim’s perspective…These are tips to help the transition from accident scene to hospital and to home. These are the things that passed through his mind as he was thanking God that the incident was not worse:

1. Bicycle? Wear a helmet. I didn’t hit my head, but the blow that broke my clavicle could have easily killed me or caused major frontal lobe damage.

2. Use the “ICE” code on your cell phone. Instead of listing your spouse or most often called contact on your phone by their name, identify them on your contact list as ICE (in case of emergency). In the event you are unconscious, first responders can dial the ICE number and notify those concerned about your situation. My ICE number goes to the wife, and the call went to voice mail.

3. Carry your business cards. This is for passing out to witnesses in the event there is a dispute as to how the accident happened. I gave my card to several good samaratins who helped take care of me until the ambulance arrived. They contacted me through my card, and I was able to give them my prognosis and thank them for their help.

4. Carry a list of medications. The paramedics kept asking me if I was on any medications like blood thinners. Even though I had no head injury, I could not remember the names of my medications as I was lying on the hot pavement, waiting to be transported to the hospital.

5. Check your automobile liability/UM insurance coverage. In the event my crash had been caused by automobile, California state law mandates that I carry automobile liability coverage in order to maintain a personal injury claim; and if the person causing the collision had no insurance or inadequate insurance, the UM coverage would kick in. Contact Lou Grimaldi of State Farm for a policy review.

6. Carry a business card or contact number for your personal doctor. I was able to immediately call Dr. Michael Barri to discuss my symptoms and arrange an appointment the next day as opposed to being referred to a list of unknown doctors from the hospital.

7. Don’t drink and drive. I quit drinking back in December 2008, save for red wine at dinner, so when the paramedics asked if I had been drinking, I was able to truthfully and proudly, say: “NO.” Had I smelled of alcohol, I suspect the firemen, EMTs and ambulance staff would not have been so friendly.

8. Get personal disability insurance. A little more damage and I would been temporarily totally disabled with no way to pay for home and office overhead, much less the out of pocket medical expenses incurred. Call Julie Prosa, ProCal Insurance for disability insurance quotes.

And if you find yourself in a similar situation, contact THE HARMON FIRM - Serving Southern California with over 50 years of combined experience in personal injury claims.

Contact Info:
714-558-9729
http://theharmonfirm.com
Info@theharmonfirm.com

Orange County Landscaping & Construction

Imagining is only the beginning to your home oasis. Wilson O. Landscaping & Construction, your trusted friend in Orange County residential landscaping, will bring your dream yard to life. Whether you are entertaining friends or just relaxing poolside, you will enjoy a lifetime of quality and valve in your own back yard. Wilson O. Landscaping is a family owned business and has been active in local communities for the past 25 years.

At Wilson O. Landscaping & Construction, we know that every job starts with a personal relationship. Whether you are just gathering ideas or are ready to start, we would love to meet with you and provide a free consultation and estimate. Just call us at 714-974-5003, and we will bring dream yard to life.

Contact Info:

Wilson O. Landscaping
Marsha Espinoza
714 974-5003
wilsonolandscaping@msn.com

Another Journey into Wellness

Life is a journey- we all know that. Being the owner of an independent business is rewarding and challenging. Sometimes our paths take us in different directions and it's easy to lose focus. It's important to have good reliable connections- they are your lifeline. Being a member of LeTip has given me a strong group of professionals at my fingertips. I have a focus group that is supportive and informative. I love to have my clients asking me about referrals from my group because they know that I trust them. I can refer my LeTip associates with confidence and trust that they are well taken care of.

A wonderful ancient technique has found it's place in the modern world of healing. Massage Cuppingtm is a modified version of the common practice of cupping therapy.The incredible results that this simple treatment produces have truly impressed those who have experienced it's subtle power. By creating suction and negative pressure, Massage Cuppingtm is used to release rigid soft tissue,drain excess fluids and toxins, loosen adhesions, and lift connective tissue, bringing blood flow to stagnant skin and muscles. A brief demonstration will be given at Wednesdays meeting at Acapulco Mexican Restaurant (1535 W. Katella Avenue, Orange, California 92867) by Tana Diaz, owner of the Orange County Journey Spa & Wellness Center.


Staying in Touch,
Tana

Promotion…What’s the Best Approach?

There are a variety of ways to promote your business…There’s direct mail (door hangers, postcards, newsletters), there’s promotion via email (eNewsletters, ePostcards)…There’s promotion through one’s website…through a blog…and there’s that good old fashioned person-to-person networking.

Designer Mouse Graphic Design is a great resource for the development of your direct mail materials whether printed or electronic. Keep us in mind when it’s time to promote your business; and remember…you need to continually remind clients and potential clients that you’re there to provide!

LeTip of Orange is a great resource for networking. This organization provides a consistent, weekly opportunity to develop relationships with local businesses within your community and to share with others what you have to offer.

To answer my original question…What’s the best approach to promotion? Well I believe all of the options listed are important. Some people need that hard copy of a newsletter in their hand in order to retain the information…For others, that one-to-one conversation where you can put a face to the name and product is the only way to go.

When deciding where to direct your promotion dollars, think about the variety of options and how people gather their data…A membership in LeTip of Orange provides resources for all forms of promotion…direct mail, electronic media as well as that face-to-face relationship.

JUST BETWEEN US

GOOD IRON GOOD PEOPLE - Make it happen for you and your clients. Referring associates, friends and clients to a business can be a nerve racking process. How many times have you raved about a restaurant or service only to have your colleague disappointed? I for one used to be very skittish about referrals. I felt personally responsible if my referral performed poorly or my friends had a less than stellar experience.

LE TIP has been a breath of fresh air - Now I feel like an elite Concierge at a five star establishment. So far, every client I have sent to a Le Tip member’s business and those I have used personally have been top notch. Best of all, if something hasn’t gone as expected, it is always taken care of. In a recent survey of consumers, 89% said attitude and responsiveness of the contractor was more important than price!

LEARN WHAT SETS US APART – We owe it to each other to learn what makes each member special- We can refer with confidence. I do not expect you to be an iron expert – that’s my job. I look forward to discussing important steps in selecting a great contractor. I hope my contracting and ornamental iron knowledge will be a great resource. Let’s keep on learning how we can all look good and be the “go to” person for our clients.

See you all bright and early Wednesday the 17th !

Robin Bradley, B.O.M. Design/ Bradley Ornamental Metal