How to keep the kids entertained at home

All of us are prone to getting a bit restless in lockdown, and kids are no exception. Unfortunately, during this time they cannot go to soft play or even attend birthday parties. Even their after-school activities are on hold.

However, with just a little imagination it’s easy to come up with plenty of ways to keep them entertained. They might just learn a thing or two while they are at it!

Here are our top ideas on what to do in lockdown for kids to tell you more. 

Crafts

Crafts are amazing for kids because they cover lots of different ideas, and will keep them busy for hours. From papercraft to play-doh, anything goes! Crafting is also a constructive outlet that can benefit your child’s mental health in the long term. 

All you need is some paper, crayons, wool, stickers and paint and you have all the fun you need to last throughout lockdown and beyond. They could even make something for their grandparents who will no doubt be missing them during this time. 

Den building

Who doesn’t want a castle in their living room? Grab some bedsheets, cushions and set to work on constructing your fort. You can even decorate the outside with some fairy lights. Don’t forget a torch to be able to shine a light on any intruders. Some snacks will be appreciated too! 

Dens help to reimagine your living space, which during the cramped situation of lockdown will inject some enthusiasm into your home. It’s also easy to put everything away once you’ve finished, making this idea very low on effort but brilliant in the amount of enjoyment it will generate. 

Cooking lessons

Your kids might think dinner comes from the oven, but as you well know the reality is a little different! If you teach your children to cook while they are young, it’s a skill that will stay with them for life. Lockdown couldn’t be a better time to get a head start on this. 

The dishes you make are up to you, but a pastry-based pie is a great one. They will enjoy rolling out the pastry, and they can even write their name on the top! If you are looking to improve their nutrition, you can take the time to explain the benefits of each vegetable as they peel them. 

Scrabble

While your kids no doubt have plenty of board games (and screen-based games) to choose from, you can’t beat a classic game of Scrabble. In the age of texting, spelling is sadly becoming a skill that not all children are mastering anymore. 

With the disruption to their education due to the last lockdown, incorporating learning through games can make it a much more enjoyable experience. Scrabble Junior is ideal for younger kids, and also has a reversible board meaning they can grow with it as their skills improve. 

Decorate their bedrooms

If your kids have reached the stage of feeling utterly fed up, then switching up their bedrooms will give them a change of scenery. It can also help them transition to the next stage of their development, especially if their current bedroom feels a little babyish.

There’s no need to go wild on the budget either. Even a simple lick of paint can make a huge difference. Be sure to browse Pinterest to get some ideas. Creating a welcoming, calming space will help your child relax, especially after such a challenging year. They can also look forward to inviting their friends over to see their new room once things are back to normal.

To sum up

Sometimes when you are trying to keep kids entertained, you just have to go back to the drawing board. It’s not always about sticking them in front of a screen, rather spending quality time together. 

With the right approach, you could even use lockdown to make happy memories that they will remember in years to come, rather than the difficulties we are all facing right now.

 

What support can I get during lockdown if I’m self employed?

Article updated: 3 February 2021

Covid-19 has been a difficult time for those who are self-employed. Many have seen huge losses to their income or have been forced to close their business altogether. 

If you are currently self-employed in one of the eight countries we work with here at Bark, here is the latest information on support available to you at the time of writing. 

Australia

Australia is running the JobKeeper payment for business owners to be able to continue to pay their employees. The self-employed can also claim if they have seen their income negatively affected due to the pandemic. 

The JobKeeper Payment will be available until 28 March 2021. Payments range between $650 and $1,200 per fortnight before tax. 

The Australian government have devised a tier system for the JobKeeper payment which is as follows:

Tier 1:

Eligible employees who have worked 80 hours or more in the four weeks of pay periods before either 1 March 2020 or 1 July 2020.

Eligible business participants who were actively engaged in the business for 80 hours or more in February and provide a declaration to that effect.

Tier 2:

Any other eligible employees and eligible business participants. 

Canada

Those who are self-employed in Canada can benefit from EI Benefits, though you need to have been registered for at least 12 months to qualify. As of September 27, 2020, changes were made to the EI Benefits scheme to make it more accessible in light of the pandemic.

Payments start at $300 per week before taxes for extended parental benefits, though the figure starts at $500 for everyone else. If you don’t qualify for EI benefits, then there are other benefit schemes you may be eligible to claim from. 

Ireland

The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is a welfare payment that covers both employees and the self-employed in Ireland. 

PUP payments range from €200 to €350 depending on your usual rate of earnings.  To qualify, your trading income needs to have ceased or at least reduced due to the pandemic. You must not receive any income from an employer and must also be seeking work. Only those who are aged between 18 and 66 can apply. 

New PUP applications will be accepted until 31st March 2021. 

New Zealand

The New Zealand government will make one-off payments to small businesses (including the self-employed and sole traders), as part of the Small Business Cash Flow Loan Scheme. 

The amount of the loan is up to $10,000 and includes an additional $1,800 per equivalent full-time employee. Applications have been extended until 31st December 2023. 

Singapore

Singapore has introduced a Covid-19 Recovery Grant to provide temporary financial relief to workers in low or middle-income households who have experienced involuntary job loss, income loss or no-pay leave as a result of Covid-19.

Applications for the Covid-19 Recovery Grant will close on December 31st 2021.

South Africa

The South African government has a range of measures in place to help businesses who have been affected by Covid-19. 

United Kingdom

The UK government is extending the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, which was first rolled out back in March 2020. 

The taxable grant will cover 80% of your average trading profits over a 3 month period. The amount is paid in a single instalment and is capped at £7,500.

The last date for making a claim for the third grant was 29 January 2021.

Details about the fourth grant will be announced on 3 March 2021.

United States

The US government passed a stimulus bill worth $2 trillion to help those affected by the pandemic, called Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). 

If your employment is related to the pandemic, you are eligible to claim half your state’s average weekly unemployment benefit plus an additional $600 a week. It can be claimed for up to 4 months, though if you do claim, it will extend your state benefits for up to 13 weeks.

If you are still self-employed, you can claim $1,200 each or $2,400 per couple and $500 for every child you have under the age of 18. Anyone who earns $75,000 or more will receive a reduced amount.

To claim, you need to visit your local state’s website for further information. Some other schemes are running in light of the pandemic that you may also qualify for when you do so.

To sum up

Remember, the availability of the above funding options in each country is subject to change as the external situation unfolds, so always keep an eye out for updates on official government websites.

If you need expert advice on how to grow your business during these difficult times, please get in touch at team@bark.com. Or you can call us at a time that suits you – we’re open 24/7. Find your local website on www.bark.com.

Lockdown Challenges – which one will you choose?

As we get to grips with yet another lockdown, it’s back to staying indoors and finding ways to pass the time. If you spent the last lockdown organising your closet, and there are no more walls left to paint or jigsaws to complete, you’ll be in need of some new ideas. 

We’ve scoured the internet to find some of the best lockdown challenges to complete. The question is, which one will you choose? 

Toilet roll challenge

The toilet roll hoarding situation of 2020 became so extreme, that one guy even checked in a 24 pack on a flight to Sydney. With the toilet roll aisles of Asda and Tesco once again becoming barren deserts, the chances are you have a few stacks of the good stuff lying around once more. Hence, it’s time for the toilet roll challenge. Essentially, it involves playing ‘keepie uppie’ but with toilet rolls. 

Everyone from Rio Ferdinand to Lionel Messi has given it a go. The idea is to challenge each member of your household to see who can get the most kicks in without dropping it. As the lockdown drags on, you can also look to improve your score each day. One plus of this challenge? It defies the ‘no ball games in the house’ rule. Your crockery will breathe a sigh of relief, no doubt. 

Plank challenge

Everyone thinks planking looks easy until they try it for themselves. The plank challenge will test your ability (not to mention your abs) to the absolute limit, as you try to out-plank those you live with. Some have even gone the extra mile by choreographing a dance routine in pairs that are centred around planking. Get ready for the high fives and leg kicks! 

Given gyms are closed during lockdown, it’s definitely one way to help strengthen your core. To keep a good form while you plank, extend your arms and keep your back straight. Be sure to record how long you can last before crashing to the ground and try to extend it by a few seconds each day. You’ll have abs of steel by the end of lockdown!

The spartan challenge

If you’re ready to create a potential ‘You’ve Been Framed’ moment, then the spartan challenge is it. In pairs, your challenge is to attempt to climb over the other person’s head and return back to the ground. Celebrities such as Leigh Anne Pinnock have tried it, and it is currently doing the rounds on Instagram and Tik Tok. 

Have your partner get into a squat position. Use their knees as a stepping stone to get above their shoulders. Wrap your arm around their waist and flip yourself over as you come down so that you land gently with your back on the ground. The aim is for your partner to not have to help you. It’s probably best to try this one where there will be a soft landing underneath! 

The gesture challenge

For something a little more gentile, try the gesture challenge. This one requires excellent teamwork not to mention symmetry. Working to the beat of a song you like, you need to both signal the same gesture at the same time. This can include a thumbs up or ok symbol, for example.

When you hit record on your video, you need to both sync up perfectly with each gesture. See how challenging you can make your routine, especially if you are trying to remember 20+ gestures in a row! Remember to keep it clean if your grandmother follows you. 

To sum up

We hope the above has given you some fun ways to entertain yourself during lockdown. Although it’s not easy, keeping busy and interacting with those you live with is one of the easiest ways to get through it. Plus, the challenges will keep your mind off of the situation while you complete them. Best of luck!

 

How to have a party remotely

Whether you’re celebrating a birthday or ringing in the New Year, it’s not always possible to do things in person. Being separated from family, friends and colleagues can be tough, especially during special occasions. 

But, with technology, it is possible to share the good times together remotely, which has to be better than missing out completely! 

Here are our top ideas on how to have a party remotely to inspire you for your next bash. 

Send a care package

One of the best ways to let others know you’re thinking about them is to send a care package. When it comes to parties, there’s no reason why your parcel couldn’t include a tipple or two. You could even mix things up and nominate your friends to send each other a box to open on Zoom. From cocktails to fancy dress, you can have a lot of fun with this idea. Be sure to get plenty of screenshots!

Gaming tournament 

While you can’t challenge your pals to a quick go on the Xbox, you can set up a remote tournament. There’s everything from Animal Crossing to Mario Kart and even old school classics like Monopoly that you can play remotely as a team. Grab a takeaway and some beers and your celebration is sorted. If you vote on your favourite games then it’s an ideal replacement for an office Christmas party too. You don’t even have to get dressed up!

Quiz night

Who doesn’t love a good quiz night? Nominate a host and invite as many people as you can. Make things interesting by asking each player to give £1 to the prize pot for the winner. You could even throw in some entertainment or a bit of TikTok dancing. We guarantee everyone will have a great laugh even if they lose! 

Teleparty (Netflix Party)

Grab the popcorn as your trip to the cinema is now a Teleparty. Formally known as a Netflix party, it allows you to sync your movie streaming with your friends, and gives you the option to chat too. From old classics to the latest releases, it will help you keep in contact with loved ones even when miles apart. Don’t forget to order some cake for the celebration part! 

Karaoke

Whether you’re a dancing queen or a single lady, put your hands up for some virtual karaoke. Lucky Voice Karaoke is offering a 14 day free trial of their software, which is more than enough for your party and several replays after that. Your next door neighbours in lockdown might not thank you for it, but you can be sure the evening will be a real success. Complete the party atmosphere with some crazy props and plenty of balloons in the background. 

To sum up

Just because you aren’t able to be with everyone this year, it doesn’t mean to say you can’t have a great time. Whether you’re in lockdown or separated due to work, by trying one of the above ideas you can keep both the sense of togetherness and the party spirit going.

 

How to manage your business during a pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic has proved to be a difficult experience for business owners across the globe. Lockdowns, restrictions and economic uncertainty have changed the way we do business beyond all recognition. 

While there is so much about the situation we cannot control, something you can do is get organised about your next steps. Here are our top tips on how to manage your business during a pandemic to guide you. 

Make sure everyone is on the same page

With so many restrictions in and outside of work, it can be tricky to keep up. Your employees are going to need clear guidance on whether they can continue working or not. This includes telling them everything they need to adhere to when at work such as social distancing guidelines. Or when they are expected to be brought back if on furlough. 

Depending on the nature of your business, your employees may also be working from home at the moment. It can be quite confronting to adapt to a new way of working. Some employees may also have accessibility or childcare requirements to deal with too, so it’s good to ensure that everyone has what they need. That way, your business can continue to run as best as possible given the circumstances. 

Have regular check-ins

Stress, not to mention the isolation, is a problem that all of us are facing to some degree. Especially as the pandemic has been dragging on for months now. Whether you’re a business owner or an employee, we all need to let off some steam. That’s why regular check-ins are essential to maintain mental health and strengthen workplace relationships.

Zoom and regular phone calls are a great outlet for this, as the conversation doesn’t always have to be about work. Even a quick 5-minute chat with your employees can make the world of difference, and you should encourage them to do the same with each other too. You’re not the only one feeling frustrated or anxious about the next few months, so don’t keep things to yourself. As a team, you are there to support each other. 

Prepared to get flexible

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that the approach to how we do business is crucial as to whether it can survive or not. For example, how restaurants have turned to serving take out food to generate a profit during the lockdown, as otherwise, they wouldn’t be bringing in any income. While it may not replace your regular earnings, being flexible is worth a shot especially as we don’t know how long the pandemic will last for. 

Even though you may be entering into the unknown, it pays to get creative with your business offering, especially as it could avoid you having to let employees go or closing altogether. A top tip is to ensure your website design facilitates a way for your business to make money, such as an online store or the ability to purchase vouchers for when you reopen.  

Refine your marketing

If your business has experienced disruption, now is the perfect opportunity to make the most of the downtime by refining your marketing strategy. Social media marketing is a huge part of this, especially as it’s one of the best ways to communicate with your customers about what’s happening with your business during the pandemic and beyond. 

SEO has always been an integral part of marketing, and now more than ever, people are making Google searches to find out which services they can still access. Relevant keywords about your service and location should be displayed throughout your website and on your social media posts. There’s no reason why you can’t build your audience and adapt your business model to profit from it, even during these difficult times. 

To sum up

As we continue to navigate the pandemic, it’s clear that communication and an element of flexibility are what’s needed most. All of us are trying to find a way through, so it’s imperative that as a business, you remain top of everything that needs to be done. 

By giving your customers new ways to shop with you, and fine-tuning your digital marketing, you will give your business the best chance of success during these turbulent times. 

 

How to promote your business in a pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the way we all do business. Social distancing, working from home and staff being on Furlough have given businesses unprecedented challenges. With so much uncertainty, you must continue to spread the word about what it is that you do. After all, you need to do everything in your power to ride the next few months out. 

While there isn’t a handbook for promoting a business during a pandemic, there are some key strategies you can employ to keep things ticking over. Here are our top tips on what your next steps should be. 

Stay social

Posting on social media probably feels like the last thing you want to be doing at the minute. However, it’s the best way to keep your business at the forefront of your customer’s minds. If you haven’t already got a watertight social media strategy, then it’s worth investing in social media marketing.

Doing so is a great tactic to make sure your content is fresh and on point. Marketing agencies specialise in this kind of work, including launching paid ads and analysing your stats. If you don’t have the time or knowledge to manage your own social media channels, then outsourcing it will make sure your audience doesn’t slip, especially when you’re most in need of a boost. 

Email marketing

Email marketing can generate $38 (£29) for every $1 (76p) spent. At a time of great financial uncertainty, make sure you aren’t forgetting about the humble email when trying to promote your business. It’s the perfect method of communication to introduce yourself, your business and any news or offers you want to share with your customers. 

The key is to use engaging subject lines that will boost your open rate. When done correctly, email marketing can add value to your brand story, and ultimately your business. Set goals for each campaign such as to push a particular product or service. These tactics are useful regardless of whether your business is going through a pandemic or not. 

Update your website

Given visiting in person isn’t something people can do as easily do during Covid-19, your customers will be turning to online forms of communication now more than ever. As the digital face of your business, your website should be tooting your horn about what it is you do. So if you haven’t redesigned your website in a while, now couldn’t be a better time to do it. Or get a web designer in to do it for you!

Ideally, your website will contain some way people can buy from you. This could be in the form of an e-commerce setup, or the ability to buy vouchers for your service. For example, beauticians have been selling vouchers for when they reopen to generate a profit while they are closed. This requires a dedicated function on your website and a secure payment method to facilitate this. 

To sum up

Even though things are tough for everyone right now, you still need to be making an effort to market your business. 

How to stay in touch with your loved ones during lockdown

In the UK, we’re in lockdown mode once again. Much like the first time, we will be confined to our homes. This means no mixing with anyone who doesn’t live with us, which sadly includes friends, and family too. 

All we can do is make the most of it, and look at how we can stay connected. Here are our top tips on how to stay in touch with your loved ones during lockdown to tell you more. 

Zoom

Zoom has been the platform of choice to connect with workmates and loved ones throughout Covid. If you’re yet to try Zoom, you can have up to 100 participants on a call lasting up to 40 minutes. Though, this can be extended if you use the paid version. 

It doesn’t have to be about boring work chats either. You can invite all of your friends and family for a quiz night, or even attempt some karaoke. Given we can’t all meet up right now, it’s the closest thing we have to coming together, so be sure to schedule regular meetings so that you don’t lose touch with everyone. 

Facebook Messenger

Most people use Facebook Messenger for casual chats with their contacts throughout the day. But, if you’re friends or family live abroad, it can save you hundreds off your phone bill, as you can call and video chat within the interface. 

An added touch is the ability to play games together in the chat too. There’s everything from word games to puzzle games, and even the likes of pool and Pac Mac too. If you’re bored during the lockdown, it’s the perfect way to connect with others and let off a bit of steam too. 

Netflix Party

Netflix Party (now known as Teleparty) is a way of watching your favourite shows together, regardless of the location of everyone else. Whether you’ll be tuning in to the new season of The Crown or rewatch a classic movie, everyone’s video will be synced and you can also participate in a group chat. 

Unfortunately, during lockdown, there will be no cinema time. But you can recreate the experience at least in part this way. Be sure to bring some nachos and popcorn to the proceedings too!

Virtual Dinner Date

There will be no meeting up for a Tinder date during lockdown or even seeing your current beau unless you live in the same household. But what you can do is hold a virtual dinner date. Anything goes, though most couples order each other a takeaway. This can be a great way to get to know each other or keep the romance going if you’re in a long term relationship. 

If you’re virtually meeting someone new, then you can make things interesting by asking each other some questions. Doing so can be a great ice breaker, especially if you’re nervous. Though at least with a virtual date, you can keep your slippers on at least!

To Sum Up

While lockdown isn’t easy for anyone, staying in contact with others is one of the best ways to get through it. Be sure to check in with friends and family every day, and make time to schedule longer chats at least once a week. Hopefully, this will all soon be over, but until then, the above list will give you some food for thought.

 

Becoming self employed in 2021

The coronavirus pandemic has sadly seen levels of unemployment sharply rise, with The Bank of England expecting figures to reach as high as 2.5 million. If your industry has been affected you might be considering your next career move. 

One option is to become self-employed either full time or as a side hustle to bring in extra income. Here’s our top advice on how to get started.

Find a niche

As difficult as losing your job is, it gives you a rare opportunity to have a clean break from your previous career. If you’ve always had a burning passion for starting your own business, then now is the time to seize that opportunity. Of course, the success of your new venture comes down to finding the right niche. It should be something you’re either qualified to do or have a real interest in. Or even, an idea that fills a gap in the market. 

If you need some guidance, then a business consultant can point you in the right direction. Market research is also imperative. You need to be aware of any similar products or services that currently exist so that you can develop your USP. Consider what you can offer that’s different to your competitors that will appeal to customers. 

The admin side of things

Before you start, check if you’re eligible for a government startup loan or grant. Then you need to think about how you will cover your costs in general. On a basic level, you need to work out how much you need to make ends meet (and generate a profit) and sync this with how much you will charge your customers. Sticking to your market research is going to be helpful here, as your products or services need to be something that’s in demand so that they will sell. 

Then there’s the so-called ‘dreaded’ tax return to consider. It’s often the thought of tax returns that put people off going alone, but with so many accountants out there, there’s no need to panic. Whatsmore, the current UK tax-free allowance is £12,500, meaning you are only taxed after you earn above this figure. If you’re planning on being employed and self-employed, you can earn up to £1,000 from your self-employment before you have to fill out a tax return.

Marketing your business

Due to the coronavirus restrictions, the way you can market your new venture is going to look a little different. For example, there will be no door to door enquiries or giving leaflets out in public for the time being. But, with the likes of social media marketing, email marketing and of course having your own website, this doesn’t have to be an issue. If you’re confident in digital marketing then you can create advertising campaigns yourself, or you can outsource your marketing to an agency if you have the budget. 

To market your business successfully, you need to know who your core audience is in terms of age, gender, income and personality. It might sound a lot to consider, but it will help streamline your marketing efforts so that you target the right people. Don’t forget to tell your friends and family too, as building up your social media followers is going to help you get your name out there. 

Networking

One of the best things you can do when you’ve just become self-employed is to network with others. Not only will this help create more awareness about your business, but it will help you learn more about the world of business in general. In-person networking events might not be happening right now, but there are plenty of online business groups and social media accounts you can connect with to spread the word.

When posting on social media, let people know your location by using hashtags. Growing a local presence could open up a wealth of opportunities, especially as people always look to support those in the community. Make sure it’s a two-way process by supporting other business owners so that your networking is seen as valuable to others. You might even find other individuals you can team up with to grow your business with from doing so. 

To sum up

Becoming self-employed is not without its challenges at the best of times. But is a way of creating income especially if your industry has been affected due to the pandemic. Whether you start a side hustle or decide to give it your all, we hope the above tips will put you on the path for success with your self-employment venture. 

Meet Edward (Ted) – Managing Director at 2excel Software & App Development

This week we’re heading to South Australia to talk to Edward (Ted), Managing Director of 2excel Software and App Development. Let’s hear what Ted has to say about his experience switching to Bark! 

Can you tell us a little bit about you and your company? 

2excel work on diverse projects ranging from simple information systems and websites to complex enterprise systems and web-enabled applications. We follow three main rules to get to our goals: do it on-time, do it within the scope and offer the best service delivering the best value possible. 

Have you always been interested in the software industry? 

I had a lifelong passion for technology and coding from selling computers in primary school to coding games in high school.

What made you want to start your company?

I kind of fell into it.

I have always been a bit of a geek; in primary school, I was building computers, in high school, I was programming and then when I left high school, I started building websites for people. When I was working for Yellow Pages I started building more websites, and that was when the accountant suggested that I should register my own business. I took on that advice and made it a reality, turning my passions and hobbies into a career and business.

What year did you join Bark, and why did you join? 

Bark found me and started sending leads around February 2020, so out of curiosity, I accepted them as they seemed intriguing. After accepting the leads, I was able to make some sales from them. Because of the promising leads that Bark was generating I decided to continue with their service and started paying for the leads – I haven’t looked back since.

Tell us about your experiences on Bark…

Bark has kept the business very busy. Before Bark, we used to get around one or two leads a day, but now we’re getting around ten to fifteen leads a day. It was overwhelming, to begin with, but after a while, we managed to get accustomed to the extra leads. I will admit it has been a lot of work getting through the increase in leads but it has been a positive experience. The leads have helped increase our bottom line and they are now a major part of our marketing strategies. 

What do you like most about Bark? 

One of the best things has been the excellent communication from Simon who is Head of Partnerships with Bark. I feel we have built a close relationship where we can both be transparent and open with one another. It is nice to get someone who takes the time to listen and seems to take on any feedback; we can give feedback on their leads and they will actually respond! This has been very helpful in gradually improving the leads to help benefit our business. We have also been able to share information with each other, which in turn has helped each other out; I feel like it has been a win-win relationship.

Tell us your top tips for success on Bark! 

  • Speak regularly to your Account Manager. Because they are there to help you convert the leads that they give you. They know how to deliver leads. If you want a long-term relationship, Bark is perfect, as they also look for long term relationships with their clients.
  • Take on all the leads you get from Bark. As you can’t always believe the information the customers provide until you follow up and they answer the phone, and you speak to them personally.
  • Don’t expect Bark to deliver miracles – you must work and sell to the leads that you do get. Bark is not expected to make a sale for you, and you need to do your part to make the relationship work. You need to be able to sell to the leads that they give you.
  • Make sure you have got the resources to back up the number of leads you get from Bark, as they will potentially send you a lot!

What do you think of the Customer Success Team at Bark? 

They have been very helpful and prompt in answering any questions.

How useful has Bark been during the coronavirus pandemic? 

Bark came to our attention back in February 2020 when the pandemic was starting to gain traction. Since then they have been a huge source of leads, which continues to grow. This has enabled our company to grow during the pandemic, rather than see us temporarily close our doors.

Due to this influx of leads, the company has had to expand resources and our team has now grown from three to a team of twelve here in Adelaide, South Australia. Our Indian team has also expanded from eleven to a team of forty. We are now three-four times larger than what we were, this time last year.

Is there anything else you’d like to add? 

Because of Bark and the leads they have generated, we are now on our way to expand the business into New Zealand and eventually the UK and USA. Bark has changed our business for the better and is helping us achieve our expansion goals.

It was a pleasure chatting with Ted about the huge success his company has had in the short time since joining Bark. If you’re looking for Software and App development, head over to 2excel’s Bark profile where you can read reviews and request more information. Check out their New Zealand branch Bark profile too! 

2excel software are also on social media! Check them out on Facebook or LinkedIn.

Covid-19 – FAQ for homeowners

The coronavirus pandemic has been a testing time for us all. Britain has now entered a second lockdown, meaning all attention will once again be on staying indoors. As a homeowner, it can be confusing to know what is and isn’t allowed. 

To make things easier to understand, we’ve answered the top frequently asked questions regarding homeownership and Covid-19 to guide you. 

Can I move house during lockdown? 

Yes, although people from outside your household or support bubble can not help you to move house unless it’s absolutely necessary.

Estate agents, letting firms and removal companies can continue to work. This includes conducting property viewings, though everyone will be required to wear a mask and social distance when doing so. 

Can I still claim for a mortgage holiday?

Yes. The scheme was due to come to an end in October 2020 but has now been extended for up to 6 months. You can claim if you are otherwise up to date on your mortgage, and have concerns about paying it due to being financially affected by Covid-19. 

Buy-to-let landlords are also eligible to claim, with the expectation that they will pass the payment break onto their tenants. The deadline for applying for a mortgage holiday is January 31, 2021, at the time of writing.

Am I eligible for tax relief while working from home?

Yes. If you’re an employee who has worked from home for at least one day since April 6th, you can claim tax relief. The value is up to £125, so is well worth applying for if you qualify. 

Do landlords still need to arrange repairs for tenants during lockdown?

Yes. The landlord is still responsible for maintaining the property, throughout lockdown and Covid-19 in general. Though the government has advised that repairs should only be carried out if they are urgent or if there is a safety risk while in lockdown. If repairs are required and the landlord needs to enter the property, it is advised the tenants stay in another room to avoid any contact. 

I can’t stay at my main residence during lockdown. What should I do?

During lockdown, the government has stated homeowners can stay elsewhere overnight if there is a legitimate reason why they cannot stay at their main residence. 

Otherwise, people are not permitted to stay in second homes, caravans, hotels or with friends or family. 

Outside of lockdown, you should follow the local advice as each area of the UK may have different restrictions. 

Can I have a cleaner in my house during lockdown?

Cleaning counts as a job that cannot be done remotely, and the government has stated that cleaners can continue to work as normal during the second lockdown. 

If you have a cleaner visit your home during the pandemic, it’s advised you social distance and that they wear a mask. 

To sum up

Above is a list of some of the FAQ for homeowners during Covid-19. As always, we suggest consulting the latest government advice on matters relating to homeownership, work and travel as the information is subject to change.