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Greetings!
 Thoughts are turning to summer and with that we start thinking about our vacation plans.
One of the great things about vacation is the ability to experience new things. Many of our residents here in the desert are part-time or seasonal homeowners and many of them rent out their properties so one way or another, many people visit our area each year and get to experience all the desert has to offer.
Luckily, we live in an area with a vast number of activities. There are hiking adventures, jeep tours, hot air balloons, the tram, wildflower walks, the zoo, the water park, museums, art galleries, art fairs, a bunch of different festivals, car shows, car auctions, entertainers, plays, the list goes on and on.
 Up until lately, I rarely partook of these activities. But in the last couple months, I've found myself busy on a regular basis. Not busy working (although, yes working) but in my 'off' time instead of being holed up at home, I'm out seeing the sights, taking a drive, hiking in the desert or sightseeing.
In fact, in the last two months I've done more activities here than in all of the last five years combined! I find that both sad and exhilarating. Sad because it's scary how quickly life passes before we actually do some of the things we want to do and exhilarating because I'm finally getting to do them.
Part of the reason for my recent increase in activity is the fact I have a new friend who also has the time (and the inclination) to 'do' stuff. That really helps. It's ok to go do things alone and I've never had an issue about doing so, but it's totally more fun when you can 'ooh and aah' with someone else.
Last weekend we went to Whitewater. Have you been there? It's just a little West of here off the 10. Set back about a mile, the Whitewater Preserve is one of several preserves in the Wildlands Conservancy. To see Whitewater and all their properties, visit http://www.wildlandsconservancy.org/preserve_whitewater.html
 Whitewater used to be a trout farm. Now, while there are a few fish still present, it is mostly just a beautiful place to hike and camp and picnic. We spent several hours there, skipped some rocks on the shallow stream and managed to get temporarily lost (talk about exhilarating! Getting lost will get your heart pumping for a minute or two!). FYI - Take water when you hike even if you think you'll only be gone about an hour - you never know how long you'll actually be out there.
The desert is a truly beautiful place with a colorful history and a myriad of geographic differences. It was obvious from the smooth rock formations that Whitewater had been under water at some point in time. On another day, a hike just south of Big Horn and the rocks look almost volcanic - jagged, dark with iron ore, not a trace of water erosion.
A few weekends ago, we took a drive along Hwy 74 and experienced snow (hard, driving snow), then found ourselves zipping along a country road with rolling pastures, a flock of turkeys and pretty wild flowers, until eventually we ended up in Ocotillo with it's hard desert scape. It was an amazing day trip with so many different landscapes, it was dizzying.
 I guess there are several points I'm trying to make: For one, we are so lucky to live in a place rich with culture and history and things to do. There's not a lot for kids here, but if you're an adult there is absolutely no reason to be bored in the desert.
For another, we need to make experiencing what life has to offer a priority. Not just here in the desert, but all over our country and if we're lucky, the world. I've been fortunate enough to visit 40 of our 50 States plus Washington D.C. In many of those States, I got to experience the best each has to offer in the way of National Parks, activities and tourism and I'm forever grateful to have had the opportunity to travel that extensively.
And finally, we should take advantage of our local resources because you never know how long the opportunities will be there. I lived in Illinois for 13 years and for most of those years was right outside Springfield, the State capitol. Do you know I never made it to New Salem? This historic site is a reconstruction of where Lincoln grew up. I moved away from Illinois in 1980 but all these years later I still kick myself for not going there when I had the chance.
 Our seasonal residents treat the desert like the vacation resort area it is. When a property owner rents their home, that brings visitors who also vacation and enjoy all the great activities we have to offer. We are so lucky to live here. And the last couple months has reinforced my love of the desert and its activities.
As you plan your vacations this year and for next season, don't forget to look right here at home. I really hope you'll make the time to take advantage of all the desert has to offer...
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When you need time for fun, let Executive Errands take over your chores. 760.898.9604 www.executive-errands.com
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Our Favorite Things... The Leapin' Lizard RV Resort...
 Sometimes instead of renting out one's own property, we want to rent someone else's. If you're looking for a great getaway, you may want to consider Leapin' Lizards RV Ranch in Borrego Springs (right near Ocotillo Wells).
Just about an hour's drive from Palm Desert, Leapin' Lizard's offers 60 RV hookups, an 85 acre property with pet and child play areas, community fire pit, spotless tiled showers and lavatories, and laundry facilities. Free WiFi is available to all guests.
 This lovely desert property has access to all off road activities - the Ocotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreational area is just a 5 minute ride away - yet the Leapin' Lizard offers a quiet and peaceful area to relax in the evenings after a hard day of dirt and gasoline fumes. Don't have any off road vehicles? No worries, all sorts of off road vehicles and safety equipment are available to rent locally.
The Leapin' Lizard RV Resort is an affordable way to enjoy a weekend, a week or the entire winter season with your family and friends. If you don't have your own motor home or RV, Leapin' Lizard offers a few on site RV rentals. They also schedule several community events and activities during season.
The Leapin' Lizard is open from October 1st to June 1st.
For more information, please call Deborah or Sigfried at 760.767.4526 or visit their website at www.leapinlizardrvranch.com
Affordable vacation spots, right in our own backyard - Leapin' Lizard RV Resort, one of our Favorite Things..
["Our Favorite Things" gives us an opportunity to share people, places, events and things that we truly love and that you might too. We have no business affiliation with any company or individual featured here. We just want to share good things with you and if our recommendations help build business for someone else or saves you time or money, GREAT!!!]
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Turning Your Home into a Seasonal Rental...
 Have you ever given any thought to renting out your second home? It can be a worrisome experience letting strangers into your private realm. Still, it's a great way to offset the cost of maintaining two residences and with a little advance preparation you too can be a vacation home owner!
Many people are looking for low cost vacation solutions. If you can keep the nightly cost of your rentals down and throw in a few amenities (golf cart usage, pool heating options, housekeeping, concierge services) then you may well find yourself rented as much as you want during peak season.
We here at Executive Errands don't manage the rental aspect so you'll need to do your own advertising, respond to inquiries and manage all the money transactions, but we can help you with everything else. So what are the things you'll need to do to turn your home-away-from-home into a visitor's vacation home?
- Determine what types of amenities you can offer - research other similar rentals and compare options so you can decide what makes the most sense for your own home and to help you establish nightly rental rates
 Create a 'how to' manual for your home. All those little things that make your home special? Guests won't intuitively know how to use them so it is worth the time to write it all down. Be sure to include any community information relevant for your guests (i.e. no overnight parking on the street)- Set up an 'Owner's Closet' - this is the one area of the home locked off to your guests. Keep anything personal and/or valuable in here along with supplies that you want replenished between rentals.
- Establish house rules. If there is anything you're particular about, now is the time to list it so your guests can leave your home in the same condition as they found it.
- Determine how you are going to advertise your rental. The three best sites, according to our clients who rent their homes are:
- Home Away (www.homeway.com)
- VRBO (www.vrbo.com)
- Vacation Rentals (www.vacationrentals.com)
 Both Home Away and VRBO cost about $200 per year while Vacation Rentals starts at $99 per year. Our clients tell us, while any one of these is a good listing vehicle for your rental home; it is the combination of all three that generates the most inquiries.
There may also be local agencies available to advertise your rentals for little to no cost. For example, Rancho Mirage is creating a web presence in order to promote local rental homes. See http://whereisranchomirage.com/vacation-rental-submission
- Be sure to check local ordinances regarding short term rentals. Most of the cities here in the Desert require permits and fees.
- Be sure to check your CCR's if you live in a managed community. There may be restrictions or rules on rental frequency, length of stay, times of season, property access and/or security.
 Determine how you want to handle keys. Some of our clients overnight keys back and forth. Some homes have lock boxes. Still others have key-less entry pads.- Be sure to have someone local check your home before and after rentals (oh, that's what Executive Errands does!). You want to be sure your home is set up properly before your guests arrive and you need to know for sure there has been no damage before you return your guests' deposits.
- Most importantly - respond immediately to rental inquiries. Our clients have found that when they respond nearly instantaneously to requests for rentals; they most often get that rental. Even a few hours delay can cause you to lose a potential house guest.
If you follow this simple checklist, you can easily turn your home into a seasonal rental. Be sure to read elsewhere in this newsletter about the services Executive Errands offers for your vacation rental property.
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Short Term Rental Ordinances...
 This past March, the City of Palm Desert passed a Short Term Rental Ordinance. This ordinance is intended to crack down on short term rentals by requiring property owners to get a permit.
Anyone who operates a short term rental in Palm Desert without a permit could face fines between $1000 and $5000 over a year-long period. City officials are hoping this new law will help Palm Desert collect unreported transient occupancy taxes
In addition to the permit, property owners must provide a local contact who is available 24 hours a day to respond to potential problems or emergencies.
Executive Errands is your trusted resource to hold your keys and to be the 'first call' for security alarms or any other emergency
 Property owners outside of Palm Desert should check for their local ordinances as well. The City(ies) is pretty smart about monitoring for non-compliant home owners - they check the property rental sites like VRBO and Home Away for rentals with local addresses. There is no escaping these ordinances.
When you're ready to sign up a local resource, please keep Executive Errands in mind.
We are experienced with rental properties and can assist your 'by owner' rentals to insure your guests have a great stay and your property is properly cared for.
Executive Errands, 760.898.9604 www.executive-errands.com
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Before Your Winter Vacation Ends....
 It's that time again, when our clients begin planning their departure from their winter homes. So many things to consider! The following checklist may help make leaving easier:
- Be sure to notify Executive Errands of your planned schedule for the coming year (or as far out as you know). Having advanced knowledge of your departures and arrivals helps us properly address the needs of your home.
- Have you changed your door locks or security alarm code? If so, we need to know and may need new keys as applicable.
- Has anything changed at your home? Did you add a golf cart or an automobile that will be staying throughout the year? Did you get a new appliance that requires special attention? Do you need your patio covers or cushions replaced before the sun rots them completely away?
- Has your 'authorized key holder' list changed? We need to know who has access to your home.
- Have you changed your billing or contact information? If so, we need to know that too.
 Which home maintenance services do you need before the heat of summer gets here? AC service? Roof inspection for loose tiles or rodent access points? Pest control service? Pool equipment checks or upgrades?- If you'd like home remodeling done over the summer, now is the time for us to get the quotes and scheduling in place before you go.
- Are there any routine maintenance schedule changes? For example: Where we've been doing housekeeping twice monthly, should that go to once monthly? Where pest control was quarterly during the winter, should it be monthly for summer? Do you need any new service providers (pool or housekeeping or windows, Etc).
- Have you changed your position on summer thermostat or water heater settings? If so, now is the time to tell us.
- Is there anything being left that should go to charity or which should be otherwise disposed?
 These are our primary 'end of season' questions. When you're ready, we can set up a quick meeting to update your client profile (or you can call or email any updates) and we'll be all set for another summer of caring for your home.
And don't forget, if you've made new friends during this winter season, please refer Executive Errands for affordable absentee home care. Despite all the burglaries in and out of managed communities this last year, only one of our homes was breached and we interrupted the intruders so loss was minimized.
While we can't promise to prevent theft, vandalism, or damages, we can certainly identify them at the earliest possible opportunity.
Executive Errands is proud to be your Concierge and Lifestyle Management service.
For more information, please contact us at 760.898.9604 or www.executive-errands.com
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Money & Time Saving Apps....
 If you rent properties, you may want to track and analyze their financial performance. It's easy to do so with Vacation Rental Manager, a free app for iPad and your iPhone. Vacation Rental Manager takes as input expected or actual rent revenue, expenses and mortgage information and calculates before tax and after tax cash flows.
In effect, Vacation Rental Manager helps you determine how much you are really making from your rental properties. There is no limit on the number of rental properties, leases, customers or expenses this application can support.
 Another helpful app is Vacation Props. Vacation Props is an automated response to inquiries so you never need miss a rental opportunity again. It accepts inquires from Home Away, VRBO and other rental sites.
It will check availability of your property, calculate rates and can even send an automated response. There are several other nice features like setting up special nightly and seasonal rates in addition to regular rental rates, drill down analysis on rental agreements and the ability to set up tax rates.
Vacation Props appears to be a robust application for the serious Vacation Home by Owner person. It costs $9.99 and is available for both iPad and iPhone.
Executive Errands at 760.898.9604 or www.executive-errands.com
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The Key to....well, Everything...
 We can't say this enough: "NEVER leave your house keys under doormats, flowerpots or faux rocks."
It is amazing to us how many homeowners still think it is ok to 'hide a key'. Especially those people who live in a managed community. They often have a false sense of security and safety. Um, not true. Those walls and gates around your community? They are a deterrent, yes, but they are not a guarantee of safety.
Besides the potential loss and damages, here is the single biggest reason to manage and control the keys for your home: If a burglar finds those keys and enters your home, your homeowner's insurance may not cover your losses.
Last year my home was broken into. While I was in it asleep. I live in a gated community. This year the reports of homes being vandalized seem higher than ever. Never, in the last 6 years, do we recall this many burglaries. In one week alone, one gated community reported 12 break-ins.
 With all this unsavory activity, each of you must take extra precautions. Here are a few ideas:
- Limit the number of people who have keys to your home. When you have Executive Errands managing your home, there is no need to give separate keys to housekeepers, pest control people or any other Service Provider. We can let them in and out.
- Keep a list of those people who do have keys to your home - include everybody, even family members. This list is a standard part of our client profile setup. We must know who can access your home.
- Have separate keys for outside gates versus keys for your home. That way if you must give a yard access key to a gardener or pool technician, at least they don't have a key that opens a door to your home.
- Consider changing the locks on your home every few years. Especially if this is a second or vacation home. All it takes is one person to make a wax impression of your key and then you'll have no idea who will end up accessing your home.
 We here at Executive Errands have strict key policies. When we carry your keys, we carry them on our person. We only carry the keys we need for each days' services. We do not leave keys in locked cars. We do not give them to anyone, including our own Service Providers.
And if you do direct us to give a key to someone, we will most likely ask you to sign a 'Key Transfer' authorization form. It may seem excessive, but being a key holder is a tremendous responsibility and one we don't take lightly.
Executive Errands is "you" when you can't be here. And we treat your home (and your keys) as if it were our own. We do our best to keep activity in your home by knocking down cobwebs, picking up trash, sweeping walkways, and varying the timing of our visits. In this way, anyone casing your home or looking for signs of vacancy may be deterred and will move on to another home where it is obviously empty.
Let us be your "local person with a key"! To sign up for Absentee Home Checks, please contact us at 760.898.9604 or go to www.executive-errands.com
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Rental Property Services...
 Executive Errands does not have a real estate license. Nor will we ever. We intentionally do not have one because we work with way too many realtors who want us to refer back to them, which we are happy to do. All the properties we manage are "Vacation Rental by Owner".
When it comes to rental properties, each one is different. The following tasks are performed for every rental property we manage and to varying degrees depending on the home, the homeowner's profile with us, the extent of the rental, and the length of time a guest stays, etc:
- Check the property before a guest arrives and set up everything necessary to make their stay more pleasant. These items might include welcome fruit baskets or cupcakes, toiletries, putting out extra patio furniture or cushions, turning the pool heater on, adjusting the thermostat and water heater temperatures, opening the shades, turning on a radio, setting up for small children, etc
 Check the property after a guest leaves to be sure the homeowner can return the deposit. These items might include checks for physical damage to the home and any missing items (transponders, garage door openers, golf cart keys, fireplace keys, etc). - We also check to make sure the home is fully secure (no open or unlocked windows or doors), all appliances are off, the pool heater is off, adjust thermostat or water heater settings as appropriate, recharge and check water levels in the golf cart, put away any special items used for that particular guest (ie cribs or high chairs), etc
- Between rentals we 'turn' the property, facilitating housekeeping, window cleaning, laundry, carpet cleaning, pool cleaning - whatever needs to be done before the next guest or the homeowner arrives. Most of the time we use our own Service Providers but if a homeowner has their own, we will coordinate with them too. Sometimes turns must be done in as little as a few hours which is why...
 We must have updated and current rental schedules from the homeowners. It is helpful to know what, if anything, the guest might be expecting so in case they call us, we have answers.- We also provide, depending on the rental, concierge services to the guests. These concierge services include pre-stocking of the refrigerator and pantry, providing rental cribs or child items, arranging for catering or parties, running errands during their stay, making reservations for various activities, etc. Concierge services, also depending on the rental, may be built into the nightly rate or offered separately.
- When the home is empty between guests, we perform our regular weekly absentee home check to keep activity in the property and to make sure the property is properly maintained. We are also always on the lookout for water damage and vandalism as well as golf ball damage for those homes with golf course views.
- And don't forget, Executive Errands' rental property support services and all our Service Provider services should be tax deductible as expenses for your rental property.
When you're looking to turn your home into a rental property, Executive Errands is your 'go to' local resource for your property rental experience. To sign up for our rental property services or to start Absentee Home Checks, please contact us at 760.898.9604 or www.executive-errands.com
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Smelly Home?...
 One of the most important aspects about renting your home is the initial impression it makes when a guest visits for the first time. Keeping it clean and well stocked with household essentials like dishes, linens, pool towels, and laundry detergent is a given. But what about how your home smells?
Cigarettes, cigars, pets, burnt popcorn, sweaty golfers, and small children are just a few of the things that can leave odors buried in the fabrics of your home. Carpet, upholstery and draperies especially will hold odors long after they've dissipated from the air.
Some folks use odor eliminating products that spray into the air or on the fabrics and that might help temporarily, but there are two other ways to completely eliminate any musty smells that occur if a home is left unused for long length of time and/or if it carries unwanted smells.
 The first thing that should be done is to have your carpets, upholstery and draperies cleaned. In most cases, these activities can be scheduled to be performed all on the same day and even the draperies can be removed, cleaned, re-pleated (if necessary) and rehung right on the property.
The frequency of these services should be done as needed but for rentals, it's a good idea to do them all at least quarterly. Not only to keep your fabrics clean but also to help prolong their serviceable life.
The second thing that should be done is to have your whole home deodorized. This is a process that takes about 48 hours. The home must be empty and no pets may be present at the time of deodorization, but once complete, the home is completely safe for people and animals. The process does not affect any food products in the home.
Deodorization completely freshens up your home and removes ALL sources of odors. This includes odors from decomposing organics (it's unpleasant but sometimes rodents get caught in walls or attics, die, and then smell badly until the decomposition is complete), all other pet odors, vomit, cigarettes.... in fact, all odors, period.
 This process is also good for disinfecting and deodorizing any enclosed area where flu, infectious airborne germs, lice or scabies can reinfect after standard cleaning efforts fail.
The frequency for deodorization is completely dependent upon the amount of usage your home gets and/or whether or not there is cause to need it. If your home is rented fairly regularly, it might be advisable to have it deodorized yearly, especially if you allow pets and/or smoking on your property or if someone has been ill. At a minimum and if you like your home fresh smelling, having it deodorized every other year would be a good idea, especially if you do the carpets, draperies and upholstery in between.
Rental properties thrive on repeat clientele. With all the internet feedback sites, you'll want to insure your clients report a positive experience. As those positive experiences increase, so too do your rental opportunities. To encourage a positive reference for your property, don't forget to consider how the home smells. It's a little thing that makes a huge difference.
Executive Errands can facilitate or schedule all the smell-improvement services - carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, drapery cleaning and home deodorization. Let us care for your home.
To discuss any of these services, please contact us at 760.898.9604 or www.executive-errands.com |
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Preventing Water Damage...
 What is the single biggest worry of homeowners? Water. Flooding.
A simple flood, one that is caught quickly and does only minimal obvious damage, can cost as much as $12,000 to dry out and repair. That's because water is insidious and to dry out properly you must pull baseboards, remove carpeting, move furniture, and punch holes in drywall.
Then the drying equipment can be quite costly depending on how many areas are affected and how long the flood went undetected. Add in the potential for mold (which is pretty high given the heat here in the desert) and costs can escalate.
Potential water damage is one of the reasons we advocate for weekly absentee home checks. We can't prevent a flood, but we can certainly identify it at the earliest opportunity and take the steps to remedy the situation until you can arrive.
 However, now there is a product that can, to a large degree, actually help prevent flooding. We very rarely promote a product, but this month we have added a fantastic new product to our portfolio of services!
Water Cop, an automated water shut off system, is an amazing device that protects you in three ways:
1. It is installed in-line with your water main
2. It has sensors that are installed near every water appliance - toilets, sinks, washing machines, refrigerators, etc
3. If a sensor detects any water, it sends a signal to the Water Cop to shut off the water (which it does immediately) AND it calls a predetermined number (ours, ideally) to alert someone that there is a water breach in the home.
 We've seen this device in action and we must say, it works like a charm. In the spirit of full disclosure, it takes a very small amount of water to trigger the sensors and that is a good thing. However, should you have a major water line break or a toilet tank failure, there could be more than a few drops of water to address, but even in those cases, just the fact the device calls and alerts someone to the emergency is worth the money it costs.
When a simple flood equates to $12,000, it's not hard to imagine how costly a major flood or one that goes undetected for long periods of time can be. If you've ever experienced a flood, you know what we're talking about.
We love this device because we can do our absentee home checks and leave the water on (something we believe should be standard practice) all while knowing the home is fully protected from water in between our visits.
So far, in six years, we've never had a flood in one of our properties during a client's absence (knock on wood), but we've had several clients who's homes have flooded while they were here. We have a flood remediation company in our network, but wouldn't it be better to prevent flooding in the first place?
 We highly recommend Water Cop and hope you'll consider installing one in your home. Obviously the final decision is yours, but when compared to the high cost of remediation and repair, the Water Cop system easily pays for itself. And, when you do decide to install one of these amazing units, be sure to check with your Home Owner's Insurance broker. The Water Cop may qualify for a discount on your homeowner's insurance.
For more information or to get a no-obligation quote, please contact Executive Errands at 760.898.9604 and we'll process a referral to our Water Cop representative.
Or, if you prefer, you may go to our website at www.executive-errands.com and click on 'Contractor Services', then 'Home Services' and 'Water Off Remote' and then follow the instructions. A no cost referral will process immediately.
With Executive Errands' absentee home checks and the Water Cop, you'll enjoy an enhanced peace of mind for your vacation or primary property.
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Charitable Updates...
 On May 5th, we're supporting Heroes in Recovery, a 6K run/walk event to be held in Palm Springs. The event starts and finishes at the Palm Springs Art Museum.
Heroes in Recovery celebrates the heroic efforts of those involved in fostering a society where people can seek the addiction and mental health help they need without feeling ashamed or isolated. Nobody takes the road to recovery alone and we're hoping Heroes in Recovery will help raise public awareness so more people will seek the help they need.
 This inaugural event is being hosted by Foundations Recovery Network (FRN) out of Nashville. FRN is the parent company for Michael's House in Palm Springs. As announced in a previous newsletter, Executive Errands provides concierge services for Michael's House and they are aware of the volunteer work we do for Soroptimist House of Hope.
Therefore, when FRN decided to do the Heroes in Recovery event and they were looking for a local recovery agency who might benefit from the proceeds, they remembered Soroptimist House of Hope (SHOH). Soroptimist House of Hope has been selected as the beneficiary of this event. FRN plans to make Heroes in Recovery a yearly signature fundraising event so we need to help it be successful this first year!
 We are looking for health and wellness vendors who would like to display at this event (at no charge) and we're looking for sponsors to donate 'in kind' services and products.
We're also encouraging companies to walk together - our realtor friends, our business associates, other charity groups and other Soroptimist clubs. Let's all do what we can for Heroes in Recovery and Soroptimist House of Hope!
If you'd like to run or walk in Heroes in Recovery 6K, please sign up today at www.heroesinrecovery6k.com If you'd like to be a vendor or sponsor, please contact us here at Executive Errands and we'll get you the paperwork.
Executive Errands, 760.898.9604 www.executive-errands.com |
 1) If you enjoy this newsletter, then this is a reminder that all of our newsletters are available at our archive by clicking here: EE Newsletter Archive
3) If you'd like an electronic copy of our Homeowner Reference Brochure, please give us a call at 760.898.9604 |
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 Life whizzes by. It does so faster than the landscape whooshing past the car window. Suddenly you're in your 50's or 60's or 70's and are left wondering, what the heck happened? Why didn't I go see the local sights? Why didn't I have weekend adventures? Why didn't I plan more vacations?
For the last 5 years or so, statistics indicate that most Americans with children under the age of 18 have approximately 26 hours per week of 'leisure' time. And of that 26 hours, almost half of that time is spent watching television. Isn't that a shame? If we're truly watching that much TV, then all we have left for other activities is about 13 hours a week.
Thirteen hours per week equals 676 hours per year or 28 days. That means we could theoretically take a whole month of vacation and still be productive. My heart just stopped - take a month off work? Are you kidding? We don't really have that much time to spare do we?
 Yep, that's a huge part of the problem. The media keeps telling us we need to work, work, work. Organizations in this country in particular tend to discourage taking vacations. Did you know the US is the only industrialized country that doesn't have a law guaranteeing paid vacations?
Between the worry whether our job will still be there when we get back and because of the intense media propaganda against leisure time we often feel guilty for taking any 'me' time, much less a whole week or month.
At some point (and to help ease your conscience about going) maybe you'll rent out your home to help defray the cost of your vacation or maybe you have a second or third property dedicated to short term rentals. Either way, be sure to have someone local hold your keys and to be responsible for your home's well being and don't forget to check local rental ordinances in your particular city and community.
Before we get too old to enjoy it, turn off the television and consciously carve out time for fun. Vacations, even weekend adventures, are soul-healing. If you find that you aren't one of those people with 13 hrs per week available for leisure time, delegate as many activities as possible so you'll have the time to get up, get out, see the world!
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Until May, let me leave you with these two thoughts:
Vacation used to be a luxury, but in today's world it has become a necessity. ~Author Unknown
Adventure is worthwhile. ~Amelia Earhart
Don't forget to 'Like' us on Facebook!
It's time for a break - start planning that vacation!
Leslie Spoor, CCS
President, Executive Errands
760.469.2487
CL #944447
We value our clients' privacy. Therefore we do not, distribute your email address to anyone, ever.
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