COVID-19 Will Continue To Test Small Businesses—Here’s How To Respond
Almost every business, regardless of size, has had to make adjustments to cope with the new realities accompanying the pandemic. The near-universal pivot to remote work, government-mandated stay-at-home orders, and ongoing health concerns have created a business environment that looks, for all intents and purposes, dramatically different than it did just months ago. Yet this is exactly the type of environment in which entrepreneurs thrive.
Your creativity, willingness to embrace risk, and ability to spot opportunity where others can’t are what allowed you to start a business in the first place, and those same attributes will serve you well as you seek ways to adapt in the months and years ahead. Your business may be struggling now, but by relying on the traits and instincts that got you to this point, you can keep moving forward. Plus, there are plenty of proven strategies you can deploy to continue to create value, even when your resources are stretched thin. Here are five:
1. Refine your marketing strategy and increase your focus on digital tactics.
If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that we’re more reliant than ever on modern technology. Even if you’re not positioned to make substantial investments in new tools, you should constantly evaluate the digital strategies and technologies you already use, and now is the perfect time to do so in preparation for “the next normal.” Owen Loft, cofounder of Socium Media, recommends that companies take this time to optimize what’s working and explore new ideas.
Condensation or Damp? How to help Tenants Manage during the Winter Months.
It doesn’t matter whether you live in a Victorian Semi or a newly built development, condensation can have a huge impact on the property, the tenant and the landlord.
The problem may start off quite small, but it can quickly escalate if not dealt with correctly and cause longer-lasting problems. These can include damp and mould, which can damage walls, furniture, clothing and subsequently become detrimental to one’s health.
This mini guide help understand the causes of condensation, how to prevent it, and what to do to keep mould and damp away.
What causes Condensation?
Condensation occurs when warm air collides with cold surfaces, or when there’s too much humidity the dwelling. This is especially common in winter, when the central heating system is used more frequently.
While condensation is rarely a problem in the summer, the amount of water in the air (otherwise known as the humidity) inside our homes is higher during the colder months. This is because we tend to have the heating turned up high and the windows closed. That’s why condensation is a bigger problem during the autumn and winter months, as it’s no longer confined to the bathroom. When the outside temperature drops, water can start to appear on windows and walls.
Boiler Safety and Maintenance Tips Landlords need to know
One of the pitfalls of being a landlord is the hidden costs that can spring up at any given time.
Some, you simply cannot plan for. For instance, a broken-down boiler can occur without warning, and that is a major strain on finances. Simple repairs might not cover the extent of the problem and if you need to replace an appliance, then it is going to be a four-figure sum as a bare minimum. Property Reporter claims that the average cost of repairing a boiler is 60% more than an average month’s rent in the UK. As a landlord, that is a big hit to take.
Aside from the financial obligation, you also have a responsibility to your tenant to ensure their well-being, and the heating system is your responsibility. A poorly maintained boiler can cause untold problems for a tenant, which includes gas leaks, fires, explosions and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, as we explained in our article Gas Safety Week: Fighting for a Gas Safe Nation. Luckily, there are some basic maintenance tips you can take that will help prevent major catastrophe at an intrusive time for both you, and your tenant.
Lockdown Pets - How are they being managed?
A recent study carried out by the University of York and the University of Lincoln found that having a pet was linked to maintaining better mental health and reducing loneliness.
However, 68 per cent of pet owners reported having been worried about their animals during lockdown, for example due to restrictions on access to veterinary care and exercise or because they wouldn't know who would look after their pet if they fell ill.
Lead author, Dr Elena Ratschen from the Department of Health Sciences University of York said: "Findings from this study also demonstrated potential links between people's mental health and the emotional bonds they form with their pets: measures of the strength of the human-animal bond were higher among people who reported lower scores for mental health-related outcomes at baseline.
"We also discovered that in this study, the strength of the emotional bond with pets did not statistically differ by animal species, meaning that people in our sample felt on average as emotionally close to, for example, their guinea pig as they felt to their dog.