The ABC’s of For Sale by Owner (FSBO)
Congratulations – you have made a decision that will likely represent the largest and most significant savings of your life. If your home is worth $278,000 (national average sale price of existing home) it’s a decision that can potentially save you over $16,000.
Here is a Step by Step „For Sale by Owner“ Guide.
Step 1 – Prepare your FSBO home for sale:
o The simple fact of the matter is that the better your home looks and the general state of repair it is in is going to have a tremendous impact on the overall value and salability of your home. There are literally thousands of articles on the internet that will walk you through various „tried and true“ methods to squeeze the most out of your home sale.
Step 2 – FSBO Appraisal
o Get a professional appraisal. You can pay for one ($40 – $100) or you can usually get a local realtor to perform an appraisal in the hope of listing your property after you give up trying to sell it yourself. Either way you obtain a realist price based on comparables. One of the most common mistakes by For Sale by Owner’s is pricing their home too high or too low – either way you lose. A professional appraisal can be a valuable sales tool to have it on hand when prospective buyers visit your For Sale by Owner property.
Step 3 – List Your FSBO
o Online Listings – First step is to get your home „listed“ – there are several online venues that offer an opportunity to create an FSBO „online“ listing. Prices range from „FREE“ to $999 – depending on package. The internet has leveled the playing field significantly for FSBO’s – over 70% of all homebuyers see the property they buy online first!
o Flat Rate MLS – There are real estate agents that will provide what is referred to as a „Flat Rate MLS“ fee. These agents simply charge a flat fee – usually in the $499 range to expose your property to the Realtor’s greatest sales and marketing tool. You agree to pay a pre-arranged commission (usually 2.5 – 3%) to a „selling agent“ but maintain the right to find your own buyer and sell your own home without paying a commission fee. This route provides has a higher success rate then a „pure“ FSBO sale and the homeowner still saves 3% on the sale of their home.
Step 4 – Market your FSBO
o There are many marketing steps and opportunities, but there are primary items associated with a successful FSBO sale. Number one is professional signage (18% of all home sales are initiated by a real estate lawn sign). Once you have your sign up you want to get as much exposure as possible. As previously stated there are several venues to list your home – some are free – the most prominent free listing sites are Craigslist and FreeFSBO.com. The next step is traditional advertising, it’s unrealistic to think you can sell your own home and not incur some marketing costs. Once you have your sign and FSBO reference # you can start with some low cost classified advertisements that direct prospective home buyers to your online FSBO listing. You may also want to consider Open Houses although I am not totally sold on their direct value to the homeowner. I know Realtor’s use them as lead generation events – visitors may not be interested in your home but they are interested in „a“ home. Since you are only concerned with one home the value of an Open House should be strongly scrutinized. Word of Mouth is another marketing tool – tell people you are selling your home – you would be amazed how many people buy homes from people they know. They may also know someone looking to move into the area. Print some flyers and get them up on local bulletin boards (grocery stores, video outlets etc).
Step 5 – Show your FSBO home
o So now you have a prospective buyer. Set up an appointment and make sure house is as neat as a pin (see Step 1: Prepare your home for sale). Escort the prospective buyer walk through your home at their pace. Answer questions, if prompted, don’t give long winded whimsical narrations in each room – once you walked through the home you can ask them if they would like to go through the home again by themselves while you make coffee or tea. Don’t be too chatty or pushy. They are their to see your home not to become your new best friend. Remember, they are typically with a Realtor that has little or no knowledge of your home – try to act professional and helpful throughout the showing.
Step 6 – Sell your FSBO Home
o Make sure you have a „sign in“ book to capture name and phone number of potential buyer. Follow up the day after showing. Just a simple – „Hi, I’m just following up to see if you had any questions regarding the home“ If they ask questions I would answer a few but tell them you will get back to them with some answers. This gives you a reason to stay in contact. Try to encourage „written“ offers. There are great state specific „Home Sales Kits“ that provide all the documentation required to facilitate the legal sale of your home – US Legal Forms is a great source (the state forms are in the $40 range).
Step 7 – Close your FSBO home sale
o Spotting „Buyer Signals“ is easier then it sounds. Once you have a prospective buyer that has shown strong interest you have to ask for the sale. Here are some great „trial“ close lines – „what would it take to put something to paper“ or „you sound very interested, are you ready to write an offer?“ or you can take the lighter, direct approach – clap your hands together and say „while – let’s write it up“. Remember to be yourself. Bottomline is most people will drag their feet unless there is urgency. I don’t think you should create false interest but if there are other scheduled showings let the prospective buyer know.
So, now you are ready to sell your own home? No – but you are certainly better prepared. The internet is a glorious tool that is full of helpful hints on how to sell your own home – leverage that resource. As you know the savings associated with a successful FSBO sale is tremendous. Any advantage or edge you can gain will save you thousands of dollars – it is definitely worth the effort.
Immobilienmakler Heidelberg Makler HeidelbergProperty In Turkey – Hot Tips For A Quick Sale Within 30 Days!
Your property in Turkey not selling? Follow these steamy hot tips and see a speedy sale within one month.
The art of finding the right buyer at the right price starts not with the agent or the property but with YOU! Ask yourself the following questions:
1) Are you ready to let go?
2) Do you 100% know and believe it’s worth the price you’re asking?
3) Can you ‚imagine‘ your buyer?
If you’ve answered ‚No‘ to the first two questions…. You’re going to encounter a lot of ‚No’s‘ in your property selling experience. Either your viewings will be almost zero or prospective buyers will leave your property saying a big fat ‚NO‘!
Maybe you’re having difficulty answering the first two questions … ambiguity leads to buyers dropping out at the last minute … all yes, yes yes … then when it comes to the crunch another big fat ‚NO!‘
If you’re unsure whether your property is worth your price… you’d better check the market. Do not bank on your selling agent doing this correctly … get out there and check for yourself! It’s you who has to be sure … remember ambiguity ultimately leads to non commitment.
A successful sale comes from a committed buyer! That commitment starts with YOU!
Properties never move with a clean sale flow if You cannot hands on heart answer this question with a gutsy ‚yes‘ based on your own research!
If you genuinely believe that your property is priced too cheap … this can cause hiccups too. Why? Because your sticky, resentful feeling inside will lead to the first question being answered ‚No‘.
What about the final question… having difficulty there? If you can’t imagine exactly who is going to buy your property then you’re going to be hearing ‚I can’t see us living here‘ an awful lot! That’s of course if you do manage to get any viewings. Remember… the average properties shown to a client are THREE. Now this is where you have to get very realistic about your sale… The bottom line is – selling agents will promote what they think will sell. If they can’t picture anyone living in your property do you really think you’re going to get in to their golden three? Highly unlikely!
Why do you think there’s all this hoo hah about staging properties … scrubbing them up clean – It goes far deeper than just a good show. It starts with the mind… your mind! Who do you see living there? Who does your agent see living there? Who does your viewer see living there? If everyone’s in the flow together it can only lead to a positive outcome …
Signed, sealed and SOLD!
Let’s talk a bit about your future occupier of your holiday home… just saying a young family or retired couple is not enough! I want you to really, really think about them … occupations, lifestyle, preferred food, TV programmes they watch. No … I’m not barmy! This stuff works. Ask yourself … Who’s behind your keyhole? Don’t leave your thoughts in the ethers… write it down, write it down!
Remember… It’s all in the detail!
Perhaps your selling agent is not up to scratch either… Test them with the three questions too. Are they willing to let the property go? In the overseas property market many agents work harder at selling new developments because first and foremost they make more commission, secondly it’s far far easier (no chasing owners, little paperwork, show rooms do their job!) and thirdly after-service taken care of by development team. Or maybe, they really don’t think the property is worth your asking price … or even worse they can’t remember your property at all. All bad signs!
There are 3 sets of people in this chain … You, the agent and the buyer. However, many owner’s approach their selling rather blasé … Ultimately, If you are struggling to sell your overseas property I can bet your bottom dollar that you’ve not been able to answer Yes, Yes, Yes to all 3 questions.
Take ownership of your ownership!
Sit down and really consider the questions. You may find that your other half doesn’t really want to sell … or you’ve placed your property with the wrong agent. Whatever… light will be shed and you will know your hindrance. It’s then up to you to take appropriate action. If you want to see your Turkish villa fly off the shelf in one month start by answering all three questions
Are you ready to let go?
Do you 100% know and believe it’s worth the price you’re asking?
Can you imagine your buyer?
with a big resounding YES!
The 0BVIOUS…
I want you to do a little mind travel now … sit back relax and take yourself to the sunny shores of Turkey. To the road where your property sits … Go on … walk right up to it and take a look. Anything strike you as odd? Perhaps there’s something missing?
Roof, windows, doors … no you’re okay there. Sorry to sound a little cynical but this ‚point‘ really bugs me. The answer I’m looking for is… A sign!
Remember … estate agents in Turkey are not the same as in the UK where a chap in a van pulls up and promptly nails a big ‚For Sale‘ on your property. There are a few estate agents in the larger resorts who do make an effort … but on the whole signs are just not on the agents selling agenda in Turkey. Reasons? … well there are a few. One of the strangest is the Turkish often don’t want their neighbours to know what they’re up to … but that doesn’t help you!
So ask yourself… If I was to walk by your property would I know it was for sale?
Ask your Turkish agent to assist you if you’re not in Turkey… at the end of the day they’ll make a total of 6% commission on a resale property. Make them work for it! Let’s get this into real figures… if your property is sold for £50,000 they will receive 3% from you and 3% from the buyer in total this is a grand sum of: £3,000. Now surely this is worth them doing a little extra on your behalf … (and theirs too if they get a sale!)
Many agents don’t want properties signed because they think every Tom, Dick and other emlaks (Turkish for estate agent) are going to come along and take your property. Yes … this is another weird thing about Turkish estate agents… because of the lack of sole agreements you could have your property on with a zzzzzzzzillion estate agents if you so wish. An estate agent likes to keep your property under wraps if possible … their wraps!
One of the easiest options to ’sign‘ your property is to have a weather proof, custom made banner with eyelets created. Many companies offer this service on the internet and you can have your banner delivered in just 3 days! All you need to do then is send it to your site manager, neighbour or friendly emlak. Or failing that … a nice excuse for you to hop on a plane and attach it yourself!
CREATING THE SIGN…
Remember not to make the mistake of having the contact details printed too small! Make sure your sign can be read from a passing car! Also take a tip from the Feng Shui masters of old … Use yellow (gold) and red. Didn’t do Macdonalds any harm! And if you really want to pay those Feng shui masters homage … buy a flag whilst you’re on line to your banner company. Moving objects attract attention … a waving flag from your balcony could pull you that all important buyer! Turkish flags are a great Feng Shui colour too … and you won’t go upsetting the neighbours!
Make it your mission in the next seven days to get FOR SALE with a telephone contact clearly displayed on your property. Three days to order, four days to post and dah… dah… you’re another step closer to reaching your buyer within 30 days!
These are just the first 2 of the hot tips in the series to get your property moving in Turkey … Hopefully, they will give you food for thought!
Immobilienmakler Heidelberg Makler HeidelbergGhana Life: A Walk in the Dark in Tamale
Kwame Mainu, a young engineer employed by the Technology Consultancy Centre (TCC) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana, has been assigned temporarily to assist a project at Tamale in the Northern Region. The time is May 1982 and Ghana is enduring a period of exceptional economic hardship under the government of the People’s National Defence Council (PNDC) led by Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings. Food and fuel are scarce, electricity and water supplies are intermittent and all imported goods are virtually unobtainable. The situation is worst in the north. Kwame has been wondering how he can escape from Ghana to greener pastures. Then he meets Sally, a British volunteer also working for the project in Tamale.
One day, after the close of work, Sally asked Kwame if he would like to go with her to buy Guinea fowl for their supper. They walked through the town in the brief half-light of dusk to the central market where several women were roasting portions of Guinea fowl for sale to passers-by. They bought three portions, and some roast plantain to take back to share with Frank, the project manager.
It was now dark and, as usual in Tamale at this time, the power was off, so there were no streetlights. Under these conditions, pedestrians took advantage of the headlights of passing vehicles to light their way. A continual stream of passing traffic can maintain almost constant illumination and make the sidewalks relatively safe. Unfortunately, fuel was in short supply and most vehicles were parked in long queues at the filling stations, waiting for a tanker to arrive from the south. So the passing traffic was intermittent, bringing rare swathes of light followed by long intervals of blackness. The transit of each vehicle allowed a safe path to be gauged over only the next few metres. It was essential to see the path ahead because all pavements were badly broken and some roads had no pavements. Most road edges had deep storm drains that could easily turn a missed step into a broken leg. Walking in the roadway exposed pedestrians to the dual hazards of deep potholes and passing vehicles, including bicycles and even some cars with no lights. Drivers and riders tried to weave a path between the potholes and this led to vehicles swerving without warning. The walk home promised to be less than straightforward.
Frank had lent them his torch but it needed fresh batteries. They enquired in the market at several kiosks selling electrical goods but could find no batteries to buy. So they set out for home in some trepidation. Waiting for each vehicle to pass, they were able to move forward a few metres at a time. It helped their progress that the bad roads slowed the traffic and extended the periods of illumination. When they came to a smoother stretch they could risk walking on further in the darkness with Kwame walking carefully ahead and warning of any obstacles. At one point they were able to cut across an open expanse of grass, trying to keep to the well-trodden path and hoping that no poisonous snakes were lurking nearby. Kwame knew all about night adders that didn’t get out of your way. He didn’t want Sally to learn about them the hard way. Kwame felt responsible for the safety of this frail stranger in his land and was determined to get her home safely. He wondered if she had anticipated this hazardous return when she proposed the expedition. After all, he reasoned, this was almost certainly not the first time she had fetched Frank’s supper.
Although nothing more intimate occurred on the way home than catching Sally once or twice when she stumbled, Kwame felt that the shared experience had created a bond between them. It was then that he realised that Sally might provide the escape route he was seeking. He decided that on his return to Kumasi he would ask for a permanent transfer to Tamale.
Immobilienmakler Heidelberg Makler HeidelbergYou Can Be a Cruise Ship Owner Even If You Are Not Rich
Unlike fractional ownership of aircraft and houseboats, fractional owners of a cruise ship can all use the ship simultaneously. There is plenty of room for you and the other owners to live on the ship any time you want, or all the time. You can use it as a full-time residence, and so can the other co-owners.
The first obvious benefit of shared ownership is acquisition cost. There are many cruise ships on the market in all price ranges, sizes, ages, and conditions. There are many smaller and older cruise ships available for less than one million dollars. At the lower end, some smaller cruise ships in fair condition can be acquired for about $250,000. At the highest end, the biggest new mega cruise ships now cost about $500 million to build.
Do the math. If one hundred buyers pool resources in exchange for a percentage of ship ownership, the acquisition cost will be divided by that same number. One percent ownership of a $250,000 cruise ship would cost a mere $2500 for ship acquisition. At the other end of the scale, one percent ownership of a brand new mega cruise ship would cost five million dollars.
There are some other figures that must be tabulated into the total cost of ownership. Acquisition cost is first and foremost. The next figure is the cost to put the ship in service. On an older ship this cost may be higher than the acquisition cost. On the other hand, the cost to put a ship into service can be much lower if you were to get a good deal on a ship that already meets the international standards for ship safety, especially SOLAS (Safety of Life at Sea). Maintaining compliance with Chapter II SOLAS 74 amendments is cost prohibitive for some older ships and they are typically scrapped instead of being refurbished at great expense. There is a very important SOLAS implementation date coming up on January 10, 2010. On that date all commercial international ships will be required to be in compliance with the new fire safety codes. The most important new codes deal with the use of combustible materials in the ship. It will be expensive to replace all combustible materials in ships with non-combustible or flame resistant SOLAS compliant materials that meet the new safety standards. This will result in many ships being sold for scrap metal.
The looming SOLAS 2010 implementation date offers both perils and opportunities. The biggest peril is the possibility that the expense to bring a ship into full compliance with international standards will be greater than the value of the ship. However, there is a silver lining in this cloud. This pending SOLAS implementation date has already started to show up as a primary factor in the asking and selling prices of ships on the market today.
SOLAS 2010 also offers a tremendous opportunity for those who may prefer to have a very large houseboat instead of a commercial ship. Ships that are not in compliance with SOLAS 2010 are now selling for a song (inexpensively). A cruise ship can easily be converted into a megayacht with the stroke of a pen. Privately owned yachts, not in commercial service, and not carrying passengers or cargo for hire are exempt from many of the SOLAS requirements. Operating costs are also lower for a private yacht. It cost less to register, flag, and insure a private yacht. Megayachts can be flagged and classified for unlimited service. That means that a megayacht can go practically anywhere you want it to go. There is one major drawback to registering a cruise ship as a private yacht. You cannot use the yacht commercially. This cuts off a potential revenue source.
There are many decent cruise ships for sale at prices of less than one million dollars that would make good private megayachts. For example, take the ‚VERGINA SKY‘ is a ship that I have personally inspected and so I can talk first hand about it. The asking price was $750,000. Here are the specifics of the ship in a nutshell:
Current Name: Vergina Sky
Ship Details: Built: 1971 in Japan – totally rebuilt 1992 in Greece
Dimensions: LOA 97.8m x LBP 82m x beam 14.6m x draft 4.49m Dwt: 500 on 4,49 GT/NT: 4,668 / 1,717
Description: Pielstick 2 x 8400bhp, twin screw, bow thruster, 3 x 500kw generators, 16 knots, 2 saloons, restaurant, 3 bars, casino, duty free shop, disco, swimming pool, 120 cabins for 318 guests. Lying Greece
My Comments after inspecting the ship
This is a well built little ‚Pocket Cruiser.‘ At just over 320′ in length overall, it is a small cruise ship. Many experienced cruise passengers prefer smaller more intimate cruise ships for a variety of reasons. This ship can go places where the big cruise ships cannot reach, such as shallow draft ports and even many rivers. It has an omni-directional bow thruster and can turn on a dime (relatively speaking of course). I have carefully examined this ship from the engine log to the ultrasound hull report. This is a sound and safe little cruise ship. It is also a very fuel efficient and economical ship. My first time on this ship was in the middle of the summer in Greece when it was very hot outside. The ship is fully air conditioned and it was cool and comfortable inside the ship. I checked the engine room to see how many generators were running. I am happy to report that all the electric and air-conditioning requirements can be met by running just one of the three Daihatsu generators. These generators are very economical to operate in terms of fuel consumption and maintenance.
I was able to negotiate with the owner, John Kosmas and get some concessions. I got the price down to $500,000. And at that price, he agreed to bring the ship into compliance with SOLAS 2005 and also to include new paint topside. The ship was fairly well furnished even including bed linen, but the ship had been laid up for years. Its most recent service was in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Cruise ships that trade exclusively in the Mediterranean and Black Seas tend to have smaller cabins and fewer amenities than the typical cruise ships that frequent the Caribbean. The bottom line is that this ship was an economy model, not a luxury model. When I was inspecting the engine room, I asked for the engine log. When I opened it I noticed all the entries were in Greek. I was able to discern some dates and other data that told me when the ship was last in service, but I could not read the Greek entries so I handed the engine log back to the ship owner, and told him „It’s all Greek to me.“ Being Greek, Mr. Kosmas failed to find the humor in that.
Let’s look at the numbers on this ship. 100% of the acquisition cost would have been $500,000. 1% thus = $5000. One hundred buyers could own one percent each. There are 120 cabins so each co-owner could have a private cabin with 20 cabins left over. However, these cabins are a bit on the small side. Every cabin does have a bath and shower, but the size is just too small to be comfortable for most people, especially if the owners intend to live onboard full time. On a ship this size I would recommend that there be no more than 60 joint owners so each can have two cabins and will have the option of converting those two cabins into a two room suite. To keep the numbers simple lets say that this ship has 50 buyers who each buy 2% of the ship. Buy in cost per owner would then be $10,000. If there were only ten buyers, then the acquisition cost per buyer would be $50,000. $50,000 will not buy much of a house on land, but on this ship it would buy 10% of a ship like the Vergina Sky and twelve cabins that could be converted into a fairly large home.
At the economy end of the scale, a co owner could buy 1% of an economical cruise ship for about $5000. However it is not necessary for all co owners to have equal shares in the ship. Ownership can easily be divided up into 1% increments. If one buyer wanted 5%, then his cost of acquisition would be $25,000. He would be entitled to 5% of the ship’s cabins, and would have five votes on operations and management of the ship, such as itinerary planning.
Before becoming a joint owner, it would be imperative to find other people who have similar goals. I would suggest composing a preliminary DCCR (DECLARATION OF
COVENANTS, CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS). You can do this before you even shop for a ship. Write your version of how you envision the shared ownership of a cruise ship as it should be. Then see if you can find some people who agree with your goals and your DCCR, subject to some revisions and concessions to accommodate other joint owners.
Step One: Determine if you and your family have the desire and financial capability to become joint cruise ship (or megayacht) owners.
Step Two: Find others who agree with your concept for shared ownership of a ship.
Step Three: Shop for a ship. This is the fun part.
Step Four: Buy a ship.
Step Five: Put the ship into service.
Even if you are not rich, you can afford to jointly own a cruise ship. But then comes the next logical question: Why would you or anyone want to live on a cruise ship? Who would this be suitable for?
If you are retired or otherwise have a stable income from a dependable source you probably can afford to be a cruise ship co-owner and live full-time onboard a cruise ship. If you work in a field where you can work from home online, then you too can probably afford to become a co-owner of a cruise ship. Most modern ships have satellite Internet service available 24-7.
Operating a cruise ship is expensive. The expenses include the cost of fuel, labor, maintenance, repairs, spares, food, port charges, insurance, technical management, shore management, registration, and the other costs of operating the ship. At first glance these costs may seem expensive, but in reality the cost of living at sea is actually a bargain considering what you get based upon what you pay. The best value does not always translate to the cheapest price. If the ship is well managed, the management will seek the highest quality goods, services, and labor at the very best global value. If the owners are dissatisfied with either technical or shore management, they replace them.
If there are many other co-owners of the ship to split the operating expenses of the ship, it can be affordable for those with a moderate level of income, such as a retirement check. I do have specific operating cost figures but I won’t bore you with that data. The bottom line is that it would not be prohibitively expensive for a middle-class average person to be able to afford to own a fraction of a cruise ship and be able to afford to live on the cruise ship full-time if they elect to do so.
For comparison purposes it is noteworthy that you have expenses in land based housing too. Those expenses include property taxes, homeowners insurance, maintenance and repairs, yard care, and utilities. Additionally you have transportation costs and of course food costs. Most people also spend money on entertainment too. When these expenses are added up the maintenance fees for living aboard a ship are comparable.
There are actually some savings resulting from living aboard a ship. The ship’s executive chef buys food and kitchen supplies in bulk for the ship and can get better prices than the average shopper. Other savings result from the large freezers and the mobility of the ship giving the food service management the ability to stock up on supplies in countries where prices are low. Some crew and owners may choose to fish for leisure. This can supply some fresh food at even lower costs to the owners. Labor savings are realized when the crew is hired based upon the best global labor rates. The laws of supply and demand drive prices down in some places in the world. Proper ship management can capitalize on these disparities. All the savings would be passed on to the cabin owners resulting in an economical cost of living similar to what you could expect to spend with a conventional home. Ship management should have accounting transparency will all books (financial records) open and available for any owner to inspect. Also ship management should submit all financial records quarterly to an outside auditor for the peace of mind of the owners. Anybody in the chain who spends any of the ship’s operational funds should also be periodically audited. For example, a good way to audit the executive chef would be for one or more of the live-aboard co-owners of the ship to go to the food market district of each port of call and they should try to haggle and get a better price for the same food than the price the executive chef was able to acquire. If the executive chef cannot find better deals than the ship’s co-owners, then the executive chef should be given his walking papers. The executive chef position is a vital position on a cruise ship. This is a position of trust because he will bill the food he buys to the ship. He must never be tempted to accept bribes from vendors or suppliers. Therefore, he should know that he will be routinely audited and any substandard performance will result in termination of his employment.
The biggest value of all onboard cruise ship is in labor costs. The better cruise ships tend to be labor intensive, providing passengers with unrelenting attention and extravagant pampering. The hotel staff on all cruise ships provides the basic services including food preparation and serving, laundry, cabin stewarding, entertainment, casino operation, beauty shop operations, This is one area where I would prefer to not scrimp because of the very good value in these services due to the low cost of international labor. I would prefer to go beyond the level that most cruise ships go in the area of spas. Land based luxury and specialty resort spas are very expensive, but the exact same level of service, professionalism, skill, and treatments can be provided on a cruise ship at extremely low cost. Labor is the key and the primary reason for most of the expense of spas. Labor is a tremendous value on a cruise ship because the cruise ship managers can choose workers from the global marketplace where it is easy to get the best value for the money.
Spas
Spa treatment is customized for each client. Spas commonly offer services such as:
Soothing massage therapies, skin and body treatments drawing from European and Eastern principles, expert hair and nail services, and a full menu of therapeutic treatments utilizing a deep-cleansing facial at the start of the program, as well as a series of detoxification and contouring wraps, lypo-reduction wrap, as well as marine mud and herb wraps. Massage Therapies including: Swedish Massage, Shiatsu Massage, Deep Tissue Treatment, Maternity Massage, Therapeutic Foot Massage (Reflexology), French Hydrotherapy Massage.
The healing therapies include a variety of massages, reflexology, facials, firming and many other body treatments. Plus a wide variety of services and wellness programs specially designed to meet the individual’s needs and desires. A full service salon offers all manner of hair treatments (including a certified colorist), as well as a variety of manicures, pedicures, and ‚facelifts‘ for your hands. Extensive skin care includes: Age Management Therapies including, Glycolic Facial, Anti-Aging Facial Peel, Microdermabrasion; Facials including: Aromaplasty Facial, Teen Facial, Gentleman’s Facial, Nutrisource Facial, Regulating Acne Facial, Vitamin „C“ Skin Renewal Facial; Body Treatments including: Decleor Sauna Mask, French Hydrotherapy Massage, Andromeda Salt Glow, Mummy Mud Mask, Seaweed Body Wrap, Safe Sun Treatment, Herbal Wrap; as well as various hair and nail treatments.
Additionally, spas also can facilitate weight reduction programs, and even administer physical therapy. In short, you can be treated like a king, on the budget of a pauper.
Labor Costs – International competition provides the most value to the ship owners.
On paper it seems to make good sense to man the ship with a Philippine crew. I love the Philippines. I have been there several times. English is still widely spoken and usually spoken quite well. The people are usually friendly and happy to see foreign tourists. A large percentage of ships worldwide are manned by crews from the Philippines. The Philippine government has a pretty good structure and system to facilitate the export of Philippine labor. In spite of how attractive it seems on paper, I would recommend NOT hiring a crew from the Philippines. Philippine workers tend to be envious of others, and especially of everybody else’s wages. They tend to think they are getting the raw end of the deal. It is rare to find a Filipino who is happy with his employment. While I am sure there are many good employees from the Philippines, there are more who are dissatisfied than satisfied with their employment. There seems to be a cultural anomaly in the Philippines where people feel that employers are bad guys. I would hesitate to recommend a crew from the Philippines in spite of the apparent advantages on paper.
My recommendation (for what it is worth)
I do know something about what I am writing about here. I am the former President of Adventure Spa Cruise. My advice is not just uninformed ranting. Back to the point now, the second best manning nation for a ship is India. I highly recommend India for the medical staff and the entire hotel staff, including the spa, and every other position except the deck and engineering. The labor costs in India are very attractive. I would also recommend using an Indian based manning agency. It is best if the ship’s owners do not have to deal with every employee issue or concern. The manning agency takes the pressure off the ship’s management, and their service is very reasonable. Indian employees tend to make better employees than do Filipinos. Indians also speak English, albeit not quite as well as Filipinos. I know Americans tend to get all worked up when someone uses a broad brush to paint an entire ethnicity. I love the people from the Philippines, but as employees they tend to be more problematic than do Indian employees. I realize that this statement is politically incorrect, and these days that might get me thrown in jail. I usually do not worry so much about being politically correct. I call it the way I see I and I let the cards fall where they may, and hope I can stay out of jail for speaking my mind.
All deck and engineering positions should be filled with an all Ukrainian crew. The ship will realize the most value for the money with Ukrainian deck and engineering staff. The Ukraine has a long maritime history and tradition. Maritime training and standards in the Ukraine are among the best in the world. Ukrainian deck and engineering staff are as good as or better than any other, but the cost of their labor is a very good value. The labor for deck officer and engineering staff are governed by international agreements, including STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers).
Putting a cruise ship into service
After acquiring the ship, it will require some more investment to put it into service. At this point the joint owners will need to reach some agreements on many points. The cost of putting a cruise ship into service as a megayacht (very large private yacht) is much less than putting the ship into commercial service. However, if you can afford to buy a ship can easily meet SOLAS 2010 requirements, and can afford to flag and register it as a commercial ship then you can use the ship commercially to produce income and ROI (return on investment).
There are many marketing options for a commercial cruise ship. If the owners use no more than half the cabins, then that will leave sufficient means to produce enough revenue to at least pay for operating costs, and possibly produce a profit above operating costs. I will just briefly touch on some of the options available for marketing cruise ship capacity.
1. Conventional cruises. There is a trade-off here. You can produce revenue by providing conventional cruises. This will require that the ship have an itinerary that suits the commercial cruising market.
2. Freight and cargo. Some cruise ships have enough cargo capacity to produce some revenue by booking freight.
3. Assisted living. A cruise ship is well suited for assisted living, including crew and facilities. The going rate for assisted living in the average city in America is higher than the average cost of a cruise of the same duration.
4. Timeshares. This is an option not available to conventional cruise ship operators but could be facilitated if your co-owners agree to this type of marketing to fill cabins not used by co-owners. I will not go into the figures here, but timeshares tend to be high profit sales. There is a good chance that if the joint owners use no more than half the ship’s cabins for their own personal use, the remaining cabins could easily produce more than the total amount all the joint owners combined have invested.
Ships that would easily meet SOLAS 2010 tend to cost a bit more money to buy up front, and cost more to put into service. So I will give you couple of examples.
The Orient Venus is one of my favorite high-end ships. The specs:
M/V ORIENT VENUS
BUILT: JULY 1990 AT I.H.I.TOKYO
JAPANESE FLAG
JG. NK OCEAN GOING
GRT: 21,884 TONS
DWT: 4,863 TONS ON 6.50 M
LOA x B x D : 174.0×24.0x8.7 M
M/ENG: DIESEL UNITED-12PC2-6V x 2 SETS ,
TWIN SCREW CPP
SPEED: SERVICE ABT21.0 KNOTS / ABT 56.70MT /D
FUEL TANKS CAPA: IFO 1,500.4 M3 /MDO 87.30M3
GENERATOR: 1,600KWxAC450Vx60HZx 3 SETS
ENGINE ROOM M0 SYSTEMS
CRUISING RANGE: ABT 7,000MILE
PASSENGERS: MAX 606 PERSONS
CREW: 120 PERSONS
ABA WOG
DELIVERY: BY ARRANGEMENT
INSPECTION : KOBE.JAPAN
OWNERS PRICE USD 22 MIL net here
My personal assessment of the Orient Venus
It is a late model and beautiful ship. It has many highly desirable attributes for a residential ship. It is a high end luxury cruise ship with an extraordinarily high tonnage to passenger ratio. This is very important for a residential ship. More living room and more space per passenger is far more essential for a residential ship than for a conventional cruise ship. When passengers are only on a ship for a short time, they can tolerate cramped living quarters, but when they live year-round on a ship, the extra space is quite valuable. The owners have been trying to sell this ship for $22,000,000. That may seem like a high price, but when you divide it by the number of cabins (195) the asking price per cabin is $102,564. This price is in line with what you would expect to pay for a condominium. The last word I got from the owners is that they will sell the ship for $18,000,000 now ($92,307 per cabin). The cabins are all „outside“ cabins and are large. The ship can accommodate 606 passengers and a crew of 120, for a total of 726 people.
Several ship brokers have this ship listed. I usually do not talk to ship brokers. I prefer to talk directly with the ship owners. I am in contact with the owners of the Orient Venus. I could probably get this stunningly beautiful ship for less than $15,000,000 today, and get some concessions and extras thrown in to boot.
Another example of a high end ship that would make do well as a commercial cruise ship, plus accommodate a hundred or so full-time live aboard co-owners is the Dream Princess, originally named Song of Norway.
GRT: 22,945
Max Draft: 6.7 M in sea water
Length: 194 M.
Total No. of Cabins: 538
Total No. Of Beds + Berth: 1280
Outside Cabins: 346
Inside Cabins: 192
Cabins size range: SQ. M: 11 -18.
Main Engines: 4 Wartsila Sulzer – 18,000 HP.
Service Speed: 16 Knots.
Public Rooms:
Main Dinning room – „King & I“- about 500 pax.
South Pacific Lounge about 400 pax.
My Fair Lady Lounge about 500 pax.
Bars- 5
Self Service Restaurant on the swimming pool deck
Large Swimming pool
Disco
Casino
Duty Free Shops
Gym
8 passenger decks
extensive outdoor areas
Ship was redecorated / refurbished extensively during 2005.
The asking price on this ship is $31 million USD. Divide the asking price by the number of cabins and the average cost per cabin would be $57,620. Of course some cabins are better than others so co-owners would have to agree of the shared usage before agreeing to the purchase.
I have some bad news for the ship owners and some good news for you. This ship will not sell for the asking price.
Fuel
Ship fuel is cheaper than automobile fuel for a few reasons. There are no road taxes on ship fuel of course and also it is different fuel. Ships main engines usually run on IFO180 or IFO380. Generator engines tend to be more finicky and commonly require diesel (MDO), which is still cheaper than automotive diesel. IFO 180 and 380 costs much less than MDO, usually about half the price. Ships consume a lot of fuel. So fuel cost is a major concern. I have some suggestions. If I were a co-owner of a ship I would be willing to invest a little more in the ship to increase fuel efficiency, and thus lower operating costs. There are many things that can be done to increase fuel efficiency. I would start with hull resistance. There is a new silicone-based paint from International Paints that when applied to the hull reduces amount of resistance in the water sufficiently to result in a 3 to 5% decrease in fuel consumption. A similar coating for the propellers also has been proven to increase fuel efficiency.
In addition to hull and prop coatings, there is an even more promising way to achieve dramatic fuel savings.
There is a company called Kiteship that has developed and produces kites for racing sailboats. These sailing kites do not require a mast. The kites fly high above the vessel, attached by cable and controlled from the vessel. Dave Culp of Kiteship has done a technical feasibility study on fitting a very large kite onto a conventional cruise ship. This would dramatically reduce fuel consumption. It would convert a fuel guzzler to a „green machine.“ This is tantamount to converting a powerboat into a sail boat. The design of a cruise ship limits the amount of sail that a conventional ship can safely accommodate. A cruise ship lacks the ballast of a sail boat. If used in addition to the main engine(s) the kite will increase fuel efficiency. If the kite is used to pull the ship with the main engines shut down the ship’s speed will be reduced substantially. However, in this case, not only would the ship save IFO (main engine fuel) but also save MDO (generator engine fuel). If the kite were pulling the ship unassisted by the ship’s engines, then the propellers could be used to propel the ship’s generators without firing up the diesel generator engines. Even if the ship were traveling very slowly in the water, the propellers would turn in reverse if freed from the main engines. This is a very simple and easy task for the ship’s engineer to accomplish. In other words, the ship can be pulled by the kite, and that motion will push the ship’s propellers providing power to produce electricity and power the air-conditioning without using any fuel. The trade-off is a loss of speed and also some tacking is required, further reducing actual speed. What’s the rush? Why not go for maximum fuel savings? The salient point is that a high flying large kite can pull a cruise ship. If I were a co-owner of a cruise ship I would hope to find like minded co-owners who would be receptive to using such state-of-the-art technologies to save fuel.
There are hundreds of cruise ships on the market but I will just mention one more here. This cruise ship has RO/RO (Roll-On, Roll-Off) capability. This would be very convenient for live aboard owners who want to bring their „toys“ with them. The garage deck will accommodate 6 to 8 trucks, or 60 to 80 cars. That converts to a lot of co-owner toys such as motorhomes, travel trailers, campers, cabin cruisers, ski boats, jet skis, sailboats, houseboats, bass boats, motorcycles, ATVs, cars, and trucks.
Specifications:
650 PASSENGER CRUISE SHIP FOR SALE
VESSEL IS FULLY FITTED WITH SPRINKLERS
SOLAS 2005/2010 FITTED
TWIN SCREW CRUISE
VESSEL DIMENSIONS LOA 137.10 X BREADTH 21.00 X 5.8 METERS DRAFT
BUILT 1981 / POLAND
REBUILT 1991
REBUILT – UPGRADED 1999
REBUILT – RENOVATED – REFURBISHED 2002
CLASS R.S. ICE CLASS L2
GRT 12637
PASSENGERS 650 IN 230 CABINS (BASIS 3 BERTH OCCUPANCY)
ALL CABINS WITH PRIVATE FACILITIES (INCLUDING SUITES AND SEMI SUITES)
9 DECKS
HELICOPTER PAD
MAIN ENGINES SULZER 4 X 4,350 BHP
SPEED ABOUT 17.5 / 15 KNOTS ON ABOUT 45 / 36 M/TONS + 9 TONS DIESEL OIL
BOWTHRUSTER 800 BHP
STABILIZERS
120 TONS PER DAY WATER MAKER
RECEPTION
LOUNGE
RESTAURANT (420 SEATS)
NINE BARS
CASINO
DUTY FREE SHOP
CHILDREN’S PLAY ROOM – TWO DISCOS
TV/MOVIE CORNER
DUTY FREE SHOPS
HAIRDRESSING SHOP
JACUZZI
ONE PASSENGER ELEVATOR
LAUNDRY SPA & HEALTH CLUB
TWO SAUNAS
CLINIC
TWO SWIMMING POOLS (ADULT & CHILDREN)
Cost per cabin based on asking price, $71,739. This ship will sell for less than asking price. It is already SOLAS 2010 compliant. It would cost very little to put into commercial service.
Conclusion
Becoming a co-owner of a cruise ship is not a far fetched idea. It is practical and feasible if you are able to find like minded people who would be willing to share the expenses.
Immobilienmakler Heidelberg Makler HeidelbergHow To Build Network Marketing Business With Facebook Live
Are you currently building your network marketing business?
If you are reading this article, probably you are a seasoned network builder or someone new in multi-level marketing (MLM) and looking for ideas to create awareness for your business online.
In this article, I will share with you how I use social media tools to create awareness and interest for the product in my business.
As an added advantage, the process also helps my business associate generate leads for her network marketing business.
The tool that I use to grow my MLM business is Facebook Live streaming.
Unforeseen life challenges
On the first weekend of September 2020, I went to my ex-colleague’s wife’s house with the intention of doing a Facebook Live interview with her.
Her name is Sandy C and she has just recently signed up as one of my business associate.
She got into network marketing after seeing my success in the business on Facebook and she also wanted to build an additional income source for herself and her family.
Here’s her story.
Sandy C works in a travel baggage manufacturing company in Kuala Lumpur.
Six month after the first Movement Control Order (MCO) in Malaysia back in March 2020, Sandy’s boss sent out a company wide memo.
The company is in financial trouble and may not be able to meet payroll.
Due to the nationwide lockdown, the travel industry is on standstill.
Since the company makes travel baggage, sales have dropped sharply and the company is not able to sustain itself anymore.
Sandy and all her colleagues were given 2 options.
They can either resign or take a half month compulsory no pay leave and stay employed with the company.
Fearing not able to find another job if she were to resign, Sandy took the second option.
She works only 2 weeks in a month and effectively her income was cut by half.
Because Sandy has a young daughter at home, she was looking for a back up plan for herself and her family.
That was why Sandy reached out to me.
Facebook Live beginner
Sandy joined my network marketing team a few months ago.
When she signed up, she actually bought a few of the company’s product for herself and her daughter.
A couple of weeks ago, I met up with Sandy at her house. She mentioned that she and her daughter have had good experience using the product.
It seems her daughter bout of cough has lessen after she started taking the supplement product.
These are excellent testimonials and I wanted to immediately do a Facebook Live interview with her.
However, Sandy declined saying she is camera shy and she wouldn’t know what to say.
I encouraged her to try and yet she still decline.
I met up with Sandy again recently and I told her I want to do a Facebook Live interview with her.
This time, she agreed.
The reason I wanted to do a Facebook Live interview with Sandy was to help her start to grow her MLM business.
She needs to start telling her friends and family members that she has started a home based business and the best way to do so is via social media which is Facebook.
If you are building a network marketing business, know that Facebook is a very powerful tool you can use to create awareness and also to generate leads.
The best way to make use of Facebook for your business is via Facebook Live.
Knowing how to do Facebook Live is now an essential skill you will need to build a direct selling business.
The question is, where can you learn how to do Facebook Live interview?
The only way to acquire the interview skill on Facebook is to Just Do It!
That was exactly what I wanted to do for Sandy when I met up with her at her home.
I wanted her to come out from her comfort zone and start doing Facebook Live.
During the short interview, Sandy shared her personal experience using the product.
I also asked her about her daughter’s experience and she shared her story sincerely.
For the 1st Facebook Live interview, Sandy did very well.
I am very proud of her.
She has now taken the very first step to overcome her fear.
Hopefully, she’ll grow more confidence and believe in herself that she can build a successful MLM business.
Immobilienmakler Heidelberg Makler HeidelbergForex Trading Profits – A Manual Trading Strategy That Works
It is possible to take up Forex as a full time profession. In fact, it is the only home-based business anyone can set up from home with as little as 1500 USD. You will need USD 500 to set yourself up with a laptop and internet connection and 1000 USD to deposit in your forex personal ECN account. In 20 days you will be making more than USD 200 per day with this strategy, but it takes time and patience.
Good charting software that comes with the popular MT4 trading platform that almost every broker offers free along with a trading account is the only tool one needs. Added to this is the knowledge of trading strategies and risk management and one is all set to set up the perfect home based business without any overheads at all.
It is possible to make as much, or as little (whichever way you look at it), as 200 USD per day trading forex with a 1000 USD account.
I’ll let you in on a little secret forex trading strategy of mine:
Trade a 0.5 percent of your deposit in PIP value. This means that one pip should be equal to 0.5 percent of your deposit. So if your deposit is USD 1000, your exposure per pip should be USD 5.
This will leave you with 160 pips to play around with. The chances of the market moving 100 pips in the wrong direction are scarce if you have an eye on the screen while the trade is open.
A good strategy will give you ample warning that the market is going to move further and you can opt out. I suggest you keep a stop loss of 120 pips, believe me you will never need it if you follow this strategy.
Observe a monthly chart. Mark out the highest point and the lowest point the pair reached over a period of 3 months. Observe the most common price the currency pair kept returning to and draw a line through that point. That is your entry point. Go long with 0.2 lots at that point and go short at the same point with 0.2 lots. Your per-pip value will be USD 2 in each trade.
With 160 pips to play around with you don’t have to worry about the margin call. The market will move in both direction and return to the same entry point at some time or the other. You must set up alerts on the MT4 for 10 pips above and 12 pips below the entry price. When the alert sounds, exit the trade.
If the market moves away in either direction you will still make a profitable trade. It will be a matter of time before the market returns to the entry point.
With a 0.2 lot trade and take profit point at 10 pips, you stand to gain 20 USD per trade. You will get at least 4 opportunities to trade in a day. That will make you USD 80 per day. With a consistent trading strategy you will make 1600 USD in 20 days. Use it to increase your per-pip value.
This is one strategy that has worked for me over the last 2 years. Why, should it not work for you? The only thing that could be a problem here is that you need patience and have to be in front of your terminal every day. It will also pay if you increase your deposit and reduce your trade percentage. The lower the better because then you will have more pips to play around with if the market moves against the trade. Remember, the market will return to the entry point, you just have to wait it out without fearing a margin call.
Immobilienmakler Heidelberg Makler HeidelbergRemove Your Discomfort With Change
„In a world of change, the learners shall inherit the earth, while the learned shall find themselves perfectly suited for a world that no longer exists.“ – Eric Hoffer I saw this quote on someone’s Instagram account the other day and it really started to dawn on me, that some people are really going to get left behind. About 3 times a week, I’d take my runs outdoor under the sun at the large park just 3 minutes walk away from where I live, and I’d pass by many old people. Some would be sitting on a bench alone, some congregated in a group at the resting shelters, others have hired help to push their wheel chairs around, or the ones who have a little more spark left in them would be trying their best to get some workout in at the fitness area.
Part of the reason why I started to „force“ myself to put myself „out there“ to do my runs instead of getting comfortable with the treadmill in the gym indoors is because I want to see a preview of a life that’s NEVER going to be mine. Also as a reminder why my health would always be my greatest wealth and asset in life no matter where it takes me. It keeps me motivated and my fuel running. It makes me remember WHY I’m doing „this“ when I feel like cutting my workout routine short and giving up. While I’m huffing and puffing on my third round of sprint, feeling like my heart’s about to explode, I’d turn to look at them, and I’d remember my „Why“.
I’d remind myself, „I don’t want to live a life that looks like that. I’m going to make damn sure that’s never going to be me.“ And I know what it’s like to be physically impaired, along with being mentally and emotionally trapped altogether. Losing my health for 3 whole years was one of the worst crisis but the best gifts I’ve ever gotten in my life. Even though I couldn’t see it right then, but it made me realize just how much privilege I’ve wasted away and taken for granted when I was living in a healthy, thriving body which I can call my „home“.
Now that I have my health back, I’m never losing sight of the luxury for each moment to feel grateful for this limitless potential of a machine that can do so much, and is still going the extra miles for me everyday tirelessly pumping oxygen throughout every cell in my body so I can use it as a vehicle to sculpt my mind and my heart. How to think and feel. How to combine the right thoughts with the right emotions to give it power and breathe life into it. So I can design and create my world on my terms. I got myself obsessively educated with the biochemistry, physiological, and every aspect of what makes a human being alive. Truly alive. Not just „settling“ or „getting by“ or „getting used to it.“
Too many people live a mediocre life as a prisoner of their own body and mind, never once taking the time to study their own user’s manual to allow it to operate at its highest and most optimum function. To ever get the chance to know and experience the power it holds, or just simply being aware what a real gift it truly is to even be alive to be, do, and have anything you can dream up in your mind and have your heart set on achieving it to hold it in your hands. To not be on life support or feeding tube, that is a luxury. That is a privilege. To have that ease of the ability and opportunity to see, hear, smell, taste, and touch everything around us in our inner and outer world.
As we’re ushering into the mid-year in another month really soon, let’s all put in the extra effort to educate ourselves about the all the small changes and simplest things we can do to allow ourselves to become a better self than we were yesterday. It’s not just about getting left behind in technology advancement, but you’re going to start leaving your mind behind and also the awareness of your physical body, if you neglect it long enough. You can’t just rely on popping pills every day to keep yourself „alive“ and a band-aid over the pain.
That’s not living, that’s just „surviving“ and no decent human being should live that way if there was another choice. It seems like a much easier option to just pop a pill to make that headache or migraine go away, but if we don’t get to the root of the problem, it’s never going away. It’s here to stay in no one else’s world but yours, and yours only. Actually, it does affect someone else’s world too when you come in contact with them. So if you truly love the people around you, you’d really make the effort to ensure your (inner) world is a much better place that you can feel is truly worth sharing and rubbing off. How can you expect anyone to enjoy your company if you’re suffering in your own body you’re living in? That’s one way to spark Joy… or „Friction“.
Immobilienmakler Heidelberg Makler HeidelbergMalta Property Overview
Malta property boom
Residential construction levels and the price of property in Malta boomed between 2003 and 2004, recording price increases of 20.3% and 13.3% respectively, after a 2003 referendum voted in favour of Malta joining the European Union on 1 January 2004.
Located in southern Europe just off the coast of Sicily, properties in Malta, which comprises an archipelago of seven islands, with a population of 400,000 inhabitants, have long appealed to overseas nationals. This is not just because of the Malta’s intense Mediterranean climate, but also owed to the country’s tax-efficient status; Maltese residents enjoy one of the lowest levels of income tax in Europe.
Demand for property in Malta
But international demand for homes in Malta, which primarily comes from the UK and Scandinavia, has waned over the past year or so. This is particularly the case with „British buyers“ largely due to „the fall in the UK pound’s value“ against the euro and Maltese lira, says Paul Hay of Malta Homes. The decline in sterling’s worth has significantly increased the cost of buying property in Malta.
Although property prices have fallen, the downturn has been nowhere near as drastic as most other European markets,“ adds Hay. However, domestic demand for homes in Malta has been „surprisingly resilient“, says James Vassallo, senior manager, Tigne Point property development.
Vassallo continues: „Reduced interest rates have encouraged fence sitters to engage [in housing transactions] and have made those occasional bargains that much more attractive.“
Malta property prices start to stabilise
Although housing values are still falling in some areas, they have already stabilised in other regions, mainly because most Malta property owners are not so highly leveraged through borrowed money, as say those residing in the UK.
Despite the short-term market slowdown, the Malta property sector could find itself flying high in the medium to long-term, buoyed by growing tourism levels and an ever-increasing number of low-budget airlines.
Malta homes flying high
In 2008, EasyJet, Ryanair and Scandinavian Airlines, all either introduced or increased its direct routes from the UK and Sweden to Malta.
Vassallo adds: „The increased air traffic is certainly good for the island especially in these trying times. Malta is strategically placed between the west and east and the growing importance of North Africa. It appeals to businesses looking to relocate to the Med and over the years business travel has constantly grown.“
Rental investment properties in Malta
While there may have been a fall in foreign demand for Malta homes to buy, Hay says that greater tourism levels are increasing the requirements for holiday homes in Malta to rent.
„From a holiday letting point of view, 2009 appears to be looking healthy, when taking into account the global economic situation, says Hay. „In fact Air Malta recorded one of its most successful flight occupancies for the first quarter of 2009 for some years.“
Vassallo says that some of the best rental returns, albeit it at relatively low yields – approximately 4% – an be achieved by buying property in Sliema, property in St Julians, property in Valletta and property in St Paul’s Bay.
However, it is worth nothing that any foreigner wishing to lease their Malta home out, would have to register their property with the Hotel and Catering Establishments Board, and it can only be rented out on a short-term lease agreement.
Furthermore, non-nationals can only purchase a single Malta property, and usually only for owner-occupancy purposes, unless they buy property in a ‚Special Designated Area (SDA)‘ permitting them to buy property in Tigne Point, property in Portomaso, property in Manoel Island, property in Chambray, and property in Cottoenra.
Malta Properties located in a SDA do not face some of the stringent restraints placed on foreigners otherwise wishing to let their Malta homes.
Residency in Malta
One way to overcome the confines placed on overseas nationals is to become a Maltese resident, which would also offer average earners a genuine opportunity to cut their tax bill.
Malta charges no capital gains tax on property sales after three years of ownership, but any local or overseas income brought into Malta is taxable at a rate of up to 35 per cent. However, residents can take advantage of The Maltese Residence Scheme, which charges a flat tax rate of 15 per cent, subject to a minimum tax liability of EUR4,200 (£3,630).
In order to qualify for residency in Malta, Mark Hollingsworth of Hollingsworth International, explains that an individual would have to own assets worth in the region of at least EUR350,000 (£303,000) or earn an annual income of approximately EUR23,500 (£20,400) outside of Malta.
Foreigners moving to Malta have to „remit a minimum of EUR13,950 (£12,00) plus EUR2,300 (£2,000) for each dependent to the [country’s authorities], not engage in any form of business activities in Malta and either purchase or rent property in Malta. A minimum of EUR116,000 (£100,000) would have to be spent on buying a house or EUR69,000 (£60,000) paid for an apartment, otherwise an annual rent of at least EUR4,150 (£3,600) would have to be spent on leasing a home.“
The process of buying Malta property
Anyone who actually goes ahead with a Malta property purchase should find the buying process pretty straightforward. The legal purchasing system in the country presents a relatively safe buying environment.
Deeds are presented upon completion of the property purchase, while the legally binding contracts are presented in English.
Immobilienmakler Heidelberg Makler HeidelbergMarketing Mix For Your E-Business – Putting it All Together For Success
Marketing mix refers to the factors that a marketer can manipulate to influence the demand for their product. Some people may think that influencing demand means only increasing demand. This is a mistake because occasions may arise when a marketer will have to act to reduce the demand for their product. When the product is scarce, for example.
Early marketing teachers presented the marketing mix as four elements: Product, Price, Place and Promotion. 4Ps in short. Later thinking held that these 4Ps are good enough for physical goods only and that there was the need to expand the marketing mix to care of services. Thus 3 new Ps were added to the marketing mix, making 7Ps for services. The additional 3 are Physical evidence, Process and People. An attempt will be made to relate the 7Ps of marketing to your e-business.
Product
Without a doubt, product is the most important element of the marketing mix because people buy the benefits or solutions embodied in the product. In your retail store, you could see, touch, smell, even taste a product or hear the sound of a product. But on the world wide web, you cannot do this. As an e-business builder, you are limited to visual and verbal techniques for presenting your offering. You can only show a picture, drawing (static or animated) and describe the features and benefits of your product. And this must be done well.
It is easy for online shoppers to compare prices with a few clicks before they buy. Today there are shopping genies that facilitate this. This increases competitive pressure and implies that e-business builders must not only state their prices clearly but must also relate them to the value their prospective customer will get.
Place
This has to do with location and making products available. On the internet, your store is as far from you as your computer screen. And you are heavily influenced by what you see. Therefore, the e-business builder should have a website that is convincing and professional so that shoppers will be confident to place orders.
Promotion
This appears to be the most talked-about marketing mix element in internet marketing. It is the element that drives traffic (visitors) to the website. And sadly, when some people discuss marketing strategy they refer to promotion only. There are many promotools you can use. They include various types of advertising, press releases, publicity, buying leads, traffic exchanges, SEO techniques, article marketing and blogging. You should be guided by your skills set and budget in choosing your tools.
Physical Evidence
This is closely associated with the place element. Does your website give the impression of reliability and trust? If you would score high here try to include a physical address and other contact means, certification of bodies like BBB and proof that customers‘ payment details are secure.
Process
How easy is it to buy from you? How quickly does your order page load? Do prospects have to answer a ton of questions before or after ordering? How fast is delivery? E-products should be instantaneous. You need to think through some of these issues.
People
You may think that this is not relevant to selling on the internet. Big mistake. What about the attitude and behaviour of customer support staff. Experience with them may be crucial in determining whether you buy or buy again.
Take all these along as you set up your e-business in order to sharpen your competitive edge and win the business game – a robust top line and healthy bottom line.
Immobilienmakler Heidelberg Makler Heidelberg