Trademarking your business name

1. Trademarks are an effective communication tool. In a single brand or logo, trademarks can convey intellectual and emotional attributes and messages about you, your company, and your company’s reputation, products and services.  Your trademark doesn’t need to be a word. Designs can be recognized regardless of language or alphabet. The Nike “Swoosh” design is recognized globally, regardless of whether the native language is Swahili, Chinese, Spanish, Russian, Arabic or English.

2. Trademarks make it easy for customers to find you. The marketplace is crowded and it’s hard to distinguish your business from your competitors. Trademarks/brands are an efficient commercial communication tool to capture customer attention and make your business, products and services stand out.

Customers viewing a trademark immediately know who they are dealing with, the reputation of your business and are less likely to look for alternatives. Your brand could be the critical factor in driving a customer’s purchase decision.

3. Trademarks allow businesses to effectively utilize the Internet and social media. Your brand is the first thing customers enter into a search engine or social media platform (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest) when looking for your products and services.

Higher traffic on a website or social media platform translates into higher rankings, bringing even more traffic, more customers and more brand recognition.

4. Trademarks are a valuable asset. Trademarks can appreciate in value over time. The more your business reputation grows, the more valuable your brand will be.

Trademarks provide value beyond your core business. Trademarks  can lead the way for expansion from one industry to another, such as from personal care to clothing or eye ware. If you desire it, your trademark can lead to the acquisition of your business by a larger corporation.

Trademarks are a property asset, similar to real estate, that can be bought, sold, licensed (like renting or leasing) or used as a security interest to secure a loan to grow your business.  

5. Trademarks can make hiring easier. Brands can inspire positive feelings in people’s minds. As a result, employment opportunities are more attractive to candidates. Employee retention can be higher if employees have positive feelings for the brand and the products and services offered.

6. Trademarks are a bargain to obtain. The United States Patent and Trademark Office charges as little as $275 to obtain trademark registration, only a few hundred dollars after five years and another few hundred dollars every ten years.

7. Trademarks never expire. Your trademark will not expire as long as you are using it in United States commerce. Some of the most recognized brands in the United States today have been around for over a hundred years. Mercedes was first registered in 1900. Pepsi-Cola was registered in 1896.

Brands are a critical asset. Do your due diligence before investing a lot of time and money in launching a new brand. Be sure the brand fits your company. Obtain a clearance search to make sure your new brand is available and doesn't infringe on anyone’s prior rights.

Failing to research a brand before adopting can lead to denial of registration by the USPTO or, worse, a cease and desist letter from another brand owner. Spending the time and money up front to determine whether a brand is available will help avoid the very high costs of a dispute or litigation.

Keep in mind that the more you differentiate your brand from others in your industry, the easier it'll be to protect. Choose a name and logo that distinctly identify your business and will protect it from competitors.

Higman Real Estate Team

Paula Higman 

Director of Luxury Sales

Engel & Völkers U.S. Holding, Inc.

Mobile: 1-435-602-8228

FAX: 1-435-214-7091

Mail to: paula@higmanluxuryrealestate.com

Internet: http://paulahigman.evusa.com

"See what my clients are saying about me online"

Member of the Park City Board of REALTOR®

Member of the National Board of REALTOR®

ENGEL & VÖLKERS 

PARK CITY - 

890 Main Street  Suite 5-101
Park City, UT 84098   USA

Second Most Important home buying Decision You'll Make: is finding the right Agent for you

You’ve come upon that time in your life when you need, or want, to make a move. Whether you’re buying your first home, upgrading from your starter home, or downsizing now that all the kids are out of the house, working with a real estate agent is likely the best move you can make.

There are two sides to any real estate transaction: the buyer and the seller. Your relationship with your agent is going to differ slightly depending on which side you’re on. Further complicating matters is the likely scenario in which you are both selling and buying a home, usually represented in both transactions by the same agent.

Understand home financing better. One of the most valuable benefits of working with an agent is their help with understanding how much you can afford for a new home. Aside from recommending trusted lenders, real estate agents are spectacular resources for insights into neighborhood specific information and trends.

Your real estate agent might have great information on HOA obligations for a specific building or development, and could save you huge headaches from upcoming fees or special assessments. For first-time homebuyers, agents can be invaluable in helping you understand all of the added costs of owning a home, such as: taxes, insurance, maintenance, and the like.

Get the most up-to-date property listings, comparisons, and benchmarks. There are dozens of resources to search for homes, but the most up-to-date and reliable data is always going to come from the MLS or directly from the broker. While you, and millions of others, can lean on all of the resources available publicly online to get an idea of the market, your real estate agent is going to be able to keep you updated to-the-minute on the status of properties.

They will be your best resource for information on how long a home has been on the market, if it’s been listed more than once, how it compares to neighboring properties, and any insights from previous inspections.

Get marketing & guidance from a seller’s perspective. Your agent will provide comparative market analysis that will be a strong estimate of the home’s value for pricing based on comparable sales in the area, condition of the property, and state of the market.

Skilled agents will also provide valuable exposure to court prospective buyers. Only licensed agents and brokers can add your listing to the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for syndication to other agents and even web portals.

Ultimately, your representative will help guide you through the complex selling process. They will verify that any buyers you are working with are pre-screened, pre-qualified, and generally capable of completing the transaction. The agent will work with the buyer to negotiate the final price, as well as any adjustments that are requested based on inspection results (with your direction being the final say). They will also handle any earnest money deposits from buyers and prepare certain documentation within their domain such as purchase contracts.

Higman Real Estate Team

Paula Higman 

Director of Luxury Sales

Engel & Völkers U.S. Holding, Inc.

Mobile: 1-435-602-8228

FAX: 1-435-214-7091

Mail to: paula@higmanluxuryrealestate.com

Internet: http://paulahigman.evusa.com

"See what my clients are saying about me online"

Member of the Park City Board of REALTOR®

Member of the National Board of REALTOR®

ENGEL & VÖLKERS 

Heber City, UT

Heber City, Utah's real estate  is extremely hot right now.  We could put a listing on the market right now and we could easily receive 10 offers. I wouldn't recommend taking the highest bid, to my clients

Instead, we as Professionals working for our clients would take the cash offer because wee want to ensure that there were no hang-ups along the way toward closing, 

Appraisals, are not keeping up with the sales prices. If the appraisal doesn’t match the contracted price, buyers usually can’t get the mortgage and then never make it to settlement.

They’re kind of putting a glass ceiling where we can’t raise our prices any higher than we have comps to support it, so we REALTORS are definitely going with more cash offers than we used to,

First-time buyers are feeling the brunt of the competition. They tend to be more mortgage-dependent and many also using low down-payment loans, which tend to have stricter underwriting standards. When appraisals come in even the slightest bit under the contract price, the mortgage financing can fall through.

Anytime prices move up fast, the actual appraisal process, because they’re looking back in history, not forward into the future, they are lagging behind, 

From the buyer’s perspective, it’s a tough situation where they want to rely on the value of the home, on the appraisal, yet they know that if they decide to back away there are other buyers waiting to pounce.

        

 

Regardless of price point, our team is united in their efforts to support the client, support each other, and get the job done in the best way possible. Paula Higman Real Estate is a unique team of talented and diverse individuals with a passion for success and client satisfaction.

Contact Paula Higman Real Estate today and let us take this journey with you to marketing and selling your home for the best value, to the biggest luxury real estate market out there.

 

Ensure that you have the best representation when buying and/or selling. Contact Paula Higman Real Estate Park City at 435-602-8228 For a property tour and more information about Heber City and the surrounding areas.

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Discover Park City

Park City, Utah has been ranked the #1 city in the United States for "the best general health" and the
#1 city for highest percentage of exercise among residents.


















Citydata.com, 2013 consensus research

Park City, Utah - Bus system goes electric

Park City, Summit County launch fleet of electric buses

SUMMIT COUNTY, Utah -- Park City and Summit County have launched their new electric bus fleet called the Electric Xpress.

The fleet includes six buses that run only on electricity.

They received a federal grant of $3.9 million for transit last August, and in 11 months’ time they have the E-buses on the ground and working as of Friday.

“There are very few cities that have been bold enough to take on a new technology and embrace it the way Park City does,” said Proterra CEO Ryan Popple.

Proterra is the electric bus company.

“These vehicles are powered by a very powerful, energy-dense electric motor that is capable of climbing the hills in Park City and driving in the snow,” Popple said.

Darren Davis, Park City Transit Manager, said the buses will help them achieve goals.

“We are trying to do something that really supports our sustainability goals,” Davis said.

Davis said Park City is on track to meet its zero-carbon footprint by 2022. Summit County plans to cut its carbon emission by 50 percent by 2032.

“It kind of sets the stage for the nation,” Davis said. “Hope they follow our lead.”

A regular diesel bus only gets about four miles to the gallon, while the Proterra electric buses are six times more efficient, according to Proterra.

The E-bus route is from Kimball Junction to the Old Town Transit Center. It will run seven days a week from 7 a.m. to midnight, and it is a fare-free ride.

10 Reasons Not To Sell Your Home Without The Higman Team

So you’re thinking of selling your home without a listing agent and saving 1.5-3% in potential commissions. It doesn’t seem that hard, right? Take some pictures, get it on the MLS or online, and buyers will come running with offers.

While some people have the time and experience to effectively sell without an agent, most FSBO home sales fail. It’s no surprise that the percentage of US homes sold by owner has seen a steady decline.

Here are 10 top reasons not to sell your home by owner.

1.   When you decide to FSBO (For Sale By Owner) be prepared to sacrifice a lot of time. From staging the property and taking perfect pictures to getting the description and marketing right. You’ll also spend time showing the property, entertaining lookie-loo’s and door-kickers, and talking with agents who won’t take you seriously.

2.   When you sell by owner you may think you’re saving money but in reality you’re often spending a lot of money up front with no guarantee of any return. Listing agents spend a calculated amount of money up front to make sure a listing sells and ultimately pays both you and them both fairly.


3.   Choosing to FSBO doesn’t really save you money. On average, homes sold by agents get $230k compared to $180k for FSBO. When you find the right agent they will price your property to get the most money in the shortest time, a combination that can mean 10-30% more net profit. When you are considering saving 1.5-3% on a listing commission you should take that into consideration.

4.    Listing agents do not charge anything upfront to sell your home. If they spend thousands and can’t sell it for the price you want, they are out those thousands, not you! This is perhaps one of the greatest things about using an agent. There is an extremely low risk and cost to doing so!

5.    The perception of FSBO sellers is that they are not serious about selling their properties and are often just testing the market or seeing if they can get some far fetched price or perfect buyer that isn’t realistic. They are often not taken seriously in the real estate community because they don’t see the value in representation by an agent or broker.

6.   You might be ready to post your home on Facebook and Craigslist a few times, but you don’t have the ultimate home selling tool – the MLS. The multiple listing service can be accessed by licensed real estate agents, and is the way to get your home listed on sites like Realtor.com, Zillow, and Trulia. A large majority of home buyers begin their search on sites like these, and you want your home to be seen by as many buyers as possible to get the best price. It’s no surprise that homes sold via FSBO have seen a steady decline as online real estate has become the norm.

7.     When you sell your home without an agent, any mistakes you make can cost you greatly. Agents have something called E&O (Errors & Omissions) Insurance. This protects them when mistakes are made in contracts. When you sell on your own, others can make sure to exploit every little mistake you make.

8.     When you decide to sell your home yourself you are telling other agents that you don’t understand their value in a multi-billion dollar industry. Agents often see FSBO sellers as easy marks to negotiate against because they have the upper hand. They control the buyer/offer and can negotiate their own commission. They can also pick your property and price apart because they have the expertise to do so. They don’t need to worry about treating you unfairly because the chance of them dealing with you again is slim to none. More often than not they will simply ignore your listing altogether to avoid the hassle.

9.      Pricing your home incorrectly when you list it can be the worst mistake, and can greatly affect days on market and final sales price. Pricing too high will mean fewer people see it, resulting in fewer offers. Price it too low and you’re conveying that something is wrong with the property or that you are desperate to sell. More days on market will also signal to buyers that something is wrong and can ultimately mean less money upon final sale.

10.   When you FSBO you attract investors and low-ballers who see your inexperience and ignorance as a prime opportunity. What may seem like a lot to you may be a steal to them. An experienced agent will understand this and negotiate the most money possible for you.

Higman Real Estate Team

Paula Higman 

Director of Luxury Sales

Engel & Völkers U.S. Holding, Inc.

Mobile: 1-435-602-8228

FAX: 1-435-214-7091

Mail to: paula@higmanluxuryrealestate.com

Internet: http://paulahigman.evusa.com

"See what my clients are saying about me online"

Member of the Park City Board of REALTOR®

Member of the National Board of REALTOR®

ENGEL & VÖLKERS 

PARK CITY - 

890 Main Street  Suite 5-101
Park City, UT 84098   USA

Essential Money Tips for the Beginning Life Planner

The best way to begin any life plan is to take stock of your current finances, how you want to spend them now, and how you want to spend them in the future. Of course, to figure out where you’re going in life you might have to do some soul searching. But once you’ve decided the general framework for the rest of your life, it’s time to start saving, investing, and planning for life’s many contingencies.

First, save for the unexpected

No matter what your current income level or age, the first step to any solid financial life plan is to set aside money for life’s unexpected curveballs. Those in the industry call this an emergency fund, and you can create a dedicated savings account just for things like job loss, car repairs, medical expenses, home repairs, and more. For example, you may want to think about where you live now and plan for where you want to live in the future such as moving to a safer neighborhood or purchasing a larger or smaller home.

Some suggest having up to eight months or even a year’s worth of living expenses in your emergency fund, but that’s simply not reasonable for most young people. Shoot low first – maybe $1000. That’s enough to cover some basic troubles, if not a catastrophic event. A good, attainable goal is to eventually build up six months of living expenses. Set up the savings account to auto-deduct $50 or so from each paycheck. This way, you’ll eventually get used to living day-to-day on a little less, and that emergency fund will increase without you even having to pay it any attention.

Next, think about investment

Investing is scary, but it’s vital to building money for long-term goals.

“True investing doesn’t happen without some action on your part. A ‘real’ investor does not simply throw his or her money at any random investment; he or she performs thorough analysis and commits capital only when there is a reasonable expectation of profit. Yes, there still is risk, and there are no guarantees, but investing is more than simply hoping Lady Luck is on your side,” notes Investopedia.

It’s important to do your research and figure out what type of investments – from stock and bonds to real estate and mutual funds – are right for you. Check out this great primer on how to get started.

Start putting money into your 401K as soon as possible as employee-match programs are pretty much like getting free money,

“If your employer offers to match a percentage of your 401K contribution – and most do – maximize that benefit by contributing to the match limit.​ Employers who offer to match your contribution will typically do so up to 3-6 percent of your annual salary. So, if you make $50,000 and your boss matches your 401k up to 5 percent, be sure to contribute $2,500 over the course of the year,” says The Balance.

Of course buying a home is a critical investment as well, so explore your financial options in that area too. See if there are any grants or other home-buying assistance you qualify for such as special loan programs or incentives offered by the government.

Prepare for your children’s expenses

For most people, having children is an inevitability. While investing for your own future is important, you must realize that your future children’s future IS your future, and you can start preparing for that even before they are born.

“Unlike retirement, which you conceivably have four decades to save for, if you wait until your kids are born to start saving for college, you’ll have a shorter window of time to build up a sizable education fund. And while you can start out with more aggressive investments in your college fund, like stocks, as you get closer to your children’s 18th birthdays, you’ll need to shift your investments into more conservative options, which typically mean lower returns,” says the Motley Fool.

All of this points to starting to save for your kids’ college as early as possible.

Article Source | Jackie Waters

Written by Christian Sanchez on June 20, 2017. Posted in Uncategorized

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Spirit Animal

The butterfly is one of the most emblematic totem animals symbolizing personal transformation. If you see the butterfly as your totem or spirit animal, pay attention to the areas in your life or personality that are in need of profound change or transformation. Perhaps, this animal totem guides you to be sensitive to your personal cycles of expansion and growth, as well as the beauty of life’s continuous unfolding. An important message carried by the spirit of the butterfly is about the ability to go through important changes with grace and lightness.

Outdoor Concert Series

Well it's outdoor concert season in Park City :-) headed over to Billy Blanco's tonight hit me up almost every night of the week and I'll see you at any of the concerts around town! Cheers!

Freeloader Friday

Freeloader Friday:  free things to do this weekend

Hiking and Biking

With over 150 miles of public trails surrounding Park City, there is no excuse to not take advantage of them and experience Park City like never before. Also, many popular resorts such as Deer Valley, Canyons, and Park City Mountain Resort run their ski lifts so guests can bike down the runs.

Water Activities

Water sports and fishing are popular activities to partake in when in Park City. The Jordanelle and Rockport Reservoirs offer boat rentals and the Echo Reservoir offers whitewater rafting on the Weber River. These reservoirs are popular for water skiing, wakeboarding and tubing. However, if you want to take it easy on the water, fishing is also a very popular activity at these reservoirs, and the waters are usually open during some of the colder months as well. Don’t forget about kayaking, canoeing and wave runners while you’re out on the water.

Golfing in Park City

Ready to take it easy in Park City? Start the day off with a round of golf on any of the great Park City golf courses. Soak in the great views of the mountains and the blue skies while you enjoy a round of 18 on one of the premier golf courses in the intermountain region. The Park City Golf Club is in a prime location that offers temperatures about 15 degrees cooler than the surrounding areas. Park City has a plethora of great golf courses all able to offer a great start to your day. For a complete list of courses visit our golf page.

Outdoor Activities

There are many outdoor activities that the whole family can enjoy. Enjoy a hayride or a horseback ride through Park City taking in the sites and scenes of this beautiful state. Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy the sites and scenes from thousands of feet in the air by taking a hot air balloon ride over Park City. If staying on the ground is right for you, there are many state parks throughout the area to experience the scenery and breathtaking views. Also, don’t forget about the five national parks that Utah is home to. Any activity you choose, you will be surrounded by a great view and will be creating memories that last a lifetime.

Resorts

Many resorts offer activities right on their property to entertain guests, and during the summer it is no different. From rollercoasters to ziplines, guests will have many options to choose from. Take a Gondola ride, 8,000 feet above the ground to see Park City like never before or enjoy a night under the stars at an outdoor concert at an amphitheater. After a long day in the sun, relax at the spa while reminiscing about your great day.

Slip 'n Soar - Summer Kick-Off

Slip 'n Soar - Summer Kick-Off
Hosted by Utah Olympic Park

June 24th

Monday's in Park City Utah

Every Monday evening from Memorial Day through Labor Day, the Jans fly fishing experts in Park City, Utah offer free fly casting lessons and equipment tips starting at 5:00 p.m. at the ponds in lower Deer Valley, next to the gazebo.

• • 
    

Join in on the for a FREE women's only road ride every Monday night at JANS Park Ave. 

This "no drop" ride is all about fun. Beginners are encouraged to join these 

instructional rides. Come learn new skills and techniques, meet new friends and enjoy an 

evening on the road! Ask about bike rental discounts for ride participants.

Higman Real Estate Team

Paula Higman 

Director of Luxury Sales

Engel & Völkers U.S. Holding, Inc.

Mobile: 1-435-602-8228

FAX: 1-435-214-7091

Mail to: paula@higmanluxuryrealestate.com

Internet: http://paulahigman.evusa.com

"See what my clients are saying about me online"

Member of the Park City Board of REALTOR®

Member of the National Board of REALTOR®

ENGEL & VÖLKERS 

PARK CITY - 

890 Main Street  Suite 5-101
Park City, UT 84098   USA

Savor the Summit - Park City Utah

Not to be missed.....





Claimed to be the Largest outdoor dinner party in the state of Utah.

This is not your average dinner party!  Park City Utah's Savor the Summit returns every year to the Historic Main Street Park City for the largest dinner party in the state of Utah.  Always held on a Saturday, this year this event will take place on June 17th, 2017 at 6 p.m., over 25 restaurants will be serving their specialities to over 2,000 participants, Al Fresco, as the sun sets behind Main Street.  Park City's biggest outdoor dinner party will be offering dinners as a unique celebration of fabulous food, drink and live music while seated in the middle of Main Street. Park City's best restaurants will showcase their culinary talents in an open air community celebration.  It is a summer solstice party of wine, dining and music set in a unique mountain setting.   Make your reservations early with your favorite restaurant. This event seems to sell out fairly quickly.

Home Sales Expected to Soar Through 2018

 What Buyers Need to Know

By now just about every would-be buyer out there knows there simply aren't enough homes for sale these days to appease the hordes of competition. But despite the shortages, rising prices, and bidding wars, more homes are expected to be sold this year than in more than a decade.

In 2017, the number of sales of existing homes (which have previously been lived in) is expected to rise about 3.5%, to 5.64 million, according to the midyear forecast from the National Association of Realtors®. The group predicts that existing-home purchases will rise an additional 2.8% in 2018, to 5.8 million.

"The combination of the stock market being at record highs, 16 million new jobs created since 2010, pent-up household formation, and rising consumer confidence are giving more households the assurance and ability to purchase a home," NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said in a statement. "However, prices are still rising too fast in many areas and are outpacing incomes."

Historic properties: Investing for the future in a slice of the past

Many owners of historic properties in Park City relinquish the home after decades in their family’s ownership because they can no longer afford the ongoing costs of upkeep or transformation. Others simply have other plans for their lives, preferring for example to live in a city or other state. The historical homes for sale in Park City are usually well known within the community.  Historic properties have come onto the market in greater numbers in recent years. Interested buyers therefore have good prospects of finding a suitable property. 

Like the interested buyers themselves, motives for buying a historical piece of property vary to a great extent. Frequently, it is private individuals with an entrepreneurial background who are fulfilling a dream when acquiring such a property. Such a purchase is very strongly linked to emotions.  Investors and project developers have very different motivations. They are looking for historic properties with commercial purposes in mind, including usage as a restaurant, hotel, conference and seminar centre, holiday apartments or an event venue. The potential for appreciation in value of historic properties is very differentiated. Besides its overall condition and conservation status, the main criterion – as with all properties – is the location. 

Keep it secret: why some homes still have hidden rooms

Secret rooms and hidden passages might sound like the stuff of fairy tales, but more homes than you might think still feature such clandestine spaces. Some date from as far back as the 16th century in Europe, when they were used as wine cellars, safes or maid’s quarters. Sometimes, they were even used to hide outlaws and runaways from the authorities.

The three steps to consider when planning a secret room

1. Function: modern reasons for having a secret room vary. You may choose to install a panic room, which can provide a hidden, safe space in your home in case of an emergency. Alternatively, a hidden room can be used to keep valuables and money, or you could just use it as your private haven away from the world.

2. Location of your secret room: take a look at the floor plan of your property and really consider where a secret room might work and where it will be the least disruptive to the structure of your home. Empty walk-in closets and pantries both make convenient choices.

3. The doorway: one of the key components of a secret room is the hidden door. Libraries often make a great starting point, as bookshelves provide the perfect disguise for a hinged door. Another common choice is a free-standing closet or armoire – all you need to do is take out the back, and fit the closet over the door to your secret room.

Whether you intend your secret room to be a safe or a reading room, it could make a valuable addition to your home, and is also fairly simple to install.

Family that plans together stays together....

Written by: Paula Higman


Do you ever ask yourself what will bring our family together?

Whether your kids are young and living at home, away at college or with families of their own, it is important to stay connected.
Bring a smile to the beautiful faces of your family by reminding them how much you care. Sweet notes into backpacks, briefcases and bags, with I love you's. For kids who are in college or away from home, send a weekly card just so they know you've been thinking about them and how proud you are of what they are achieving. Always support those you love, in whatever endeavor they choose to conquer.
Rituals and traditions placed into your weekly or monthly routines, will be life long memories.
Experiences, things you do together with your family. They do not need to cost a lot of money, a lot of things are absolutely free, take advantage of these things and bring your family together.








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