Article: At the testing site, you will receive a fingerprint card. Take this card to any fingerprinting service approved by the Washington State Patrol and get your fingerprints taken. Fees and hours of operation vary from agency to agency. Make sure you know how much fingerprinting will cost as you'll be required to pay at the station. You must include your completed fingerprint card with the application you will fill out. Do not bend or fold the card, as this obscures results and your fingerprints will have to be retaken. The fingerprints are used in the criminal background check that's standard for real estate agents in Washington. The real estate agent application is available online through the Washington State Department of Licensing. Follow the instructions on the form to complete the application. The form can be sent by mail to the Seattle, WA Department of Real Estate Licensing or it can be delivered in person the Olympia office. Addresses are available at the Washington State Department of Licensing website. Your exam results are valid for 12 months, so be sure to get your application in before this time has passed to avoid having to retake the exam and pay additional fees. There is a $146.25 for your license. This should be paid by check or money order and mailed in or delivered with the application. As long as you have completed the necessary training, passed the exam, and paid the fees, you should receive your license pending a routine background check. Now that you have an official Washington real estate license, you can start a career in real estate. You will have exclusive access to a variety of databases for agents only, be able to connect with other agents and apply to firms, and collect commissions on any sales you make or assist with. Your license will expire within 2 years of obtaining it. Make sure you keep up to date on your license expiration date and get it renewed in time. This can be done online or via mail. You are also required to complete additional education to renew your license. For your first renewal, you will need to complete a 30 hour Advanced Practice Course, 30 hours of Advanced Law Courses, and 30 hours of approved continuing education including a 3-hour core course. For any subsequent renewals, you will need 30 hours of continuing education, including a 3-hour core course, and a minimum of 15 hours must be completed within 24 months of your renewal date. Getting into the field is the first step in your new career. You'll need to decide whether you want to join a company or work solo. Know the pros and cons of each, and what factors to consider. If you want to join an office, make sure the office fits your goals and philosophy as a real estate agent. Ask during an interview, or before, what the vision is for the company and what values they represent. If you're joining a company, consider how much you will make off commission, how many listings the company has, and whether there are any formal opportunities for training and mentoring. Going into the market independently means more flexibility, lower costs, more input on your part, and gaining local credibility in the marketplace. If you're successful, you could end up making more money as an independent agency. Working without an agency does mean you work in a smaller network with less support and guidance, and there are fewer formal training opportunities.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Get your fingerprints taken. Apply for your real estate license. Use your license. Know how long your license lasts. Start out as an agent.
Article: Local television news programs often give morning and afternoon traffic reports to help commuters. Some locations also have dedicated traffic radio. Tune into these before you get in the car. If it sounds like traffic is backed up on your normal route, take one of your alternatives. Many GPS systems have built-in traffic flow monitoring. These can alert you when a route is affected by a traffic jam. Some can even automatically change your route to a clearer one. Check the instructions for your model to see what capabilities it has, and how to set up the traffic monitoring features. The navigation tools built into most smartphones have the ability to detect traffic problems, much like dedicated GPS devices. There are also apps like Waze that you can install and use to help avoid traffic jams. Traffic apps may have special features like real time camera feeds to view traffic conditions, or social features to help you connect with other drivers and learn about various routes. If you just your phone to help avoid traffic jams, be sure not to check it while you are actually driving. Cities that have freeways often devote one of the lanes to High Occupancy Vehicles (HOVs), or ones that have at least two people riding in them (including the driver). These almost always have fewer cars, which means less congestion. Give the HOV lane a chance and see if it helps you avoid jams. Most destinations in busy locations can be reached by several ways. Before you go, look up several routes, including the fastest, the shortest, and alternatives that may take you down side-streets. You can take one of the alternatives if you expect a traffic jam, saving you time and stress. Use maps or apps to research possible routes. You can also ask other people which routes they take to avoid traffic congestion.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Listen to traffic reports before you begin your journey. Put your GPS to work. Use traffic apps. Don't fear the HOV lane. Learn several ways to reach your destination.
Article: Alum blocks are becoming more common in the US. You can now find them at many drugstores and beauty supply stores. If you're not sure where to look, ask an employee. You can also purchase an alum block online. Typically, they cost around $20. Many people consider this a good investment, as an alum block can last for years. Make sure to purchase a block that is pure alum. You do not want additional ingredients. After you shave, you need to prepare to use the alum block. This means getting your face (or legs) wet. Splashing your face with cold water helps close pores and allows the block to easily glide over your face. Alum blocks are most effective as a post-wet shave product. Make sure to thoroughly rinse all of the soap or shaving cream from your face. This will further make it easier for the block to glide over your face. Simply run the stone back and forth under the faucet. Make sure the entire surface is wet. Some people like to soak the alum block in ice water before use. Beware: this can increase the tingling feeling you will feel during use. Rub the block onto the areas of your skin that you've shaved. You can also apply the block to other areas of your face or body. Remember, an alum block is known for its astringent qualities. You can expect to feel a little bit of tightness and perhaps some tingling. Don't worry, this is normal. While most people just use alum block on the face, you can apply it elsewhere on your body. For example, you could rub it on your legs after shaving. If you're new to shaving the block can be a good indicator of areas where you might want to improve your shaving technique. The alum block has a tingling or stinging feeling so areas where the stinging are high usually indicates that too much pressure is being applied in that area with the blade. Take care to be more gentle on those areas next time. Rinse off with cold water and pat face dry with towel. Some people prefer to skip the rinse and just leave the alum on the face. You'll continue to feel the tightness for a few hours, but it shouldn't be uncomfortable. It is essential that you allow your alum block to dry completely before putting it away. Your block won't be effective anymore if you put it away wet. It can take several hours for your block to dry. Try leaving it on the counter to air dry while you are at work.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Purchase an alum block. Wet face with cold water. Wet the alum block in cold water. Glide alum block across face. Evaluate your shave. Dry your alum block.