By posting Rolling Stone’s article about Gen. Stanley McChrystal on their websites, Time and Politico seem to have undermined their own self-interest in upholding copyright law.

Continue reading Stealing Stories: Are Time and Politico Hypocrites on Copyright?

Stealing Stories: Are Time and Politico Hypocrites on Copyright? originally appeared on DailyFinance on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 21:30:00.

Filed Under: Media, Time Warner

The former Los Angeles Lakers standout has extensive real estate holdings. Increasingly, he’s putting his money into hotels in urban areas as a way to make money — and create jobs in communities underserved by real estate investors.

Continue reading Ex-NBA Star Magic Johnson Aims for a Three-Pointer in Hotels

Ex-NBA Star Magic Johnson Aims for a Three-Pointer in Hotels originally appeared on DailyFinance on Sat, 26 Jun 2010 16:00:00.

Filed Under: Economy, Investing, Real Estate

Building your successful villa rental or holiday home enterprise begins with your organization, professionalism, and of course, a gorgeous vacation rental. If you are the owner of a luxury vacation home, read our tips for ensuring that guests are happy and return again and again…and recommend your prestige property to all their friends.

Vacation Rental Advertising and Booking

- Be Clear. Offer detailed, honest descriptions and then over-deliver on the client’s expectations of service, amenities, and the quality of the property, the staff, and their stay.

- Be Communicative. Return potential guest inquiries immediately. Don’t leave your potential client with a chance to change their mind or find another property because you didn’t get back to them in a timely manner. With the technology available, there is no excuse to ever miss or delay the return of a guest’s phone call, voice message, or email.

- Be Detailed. Provide all important information and transactional documents in writing. Don’t make verbal agreements or assumptions. Both renters and hosts should communicate their needs clearly, and sign off on additions or deletions to details in contracts and policies.

- Be Organized. Keep careful records of financial transactions with clients, and keep copies of receipts/contracts, etc. if they may need them later on.

Be the Perfect Holiday Home Owner and Host

- Check in. Speak personally with guests on the afternoon or evening of their arrival to make sure they are well pleased with the home or there is anything you can do to make it better.

- Be Impeccable. Take great care to maintain the home after each arrival and departure. Each guest should feel that the home is uniquely their own for their stay, without reminders of previous guest’s escapades. In general, be proactive about maintaining the home’s exterior grounds and interior amenities to the standard to which it has previously been advertised. Tip: This may involve keeping a checklist that your manager or staff checks off before guest’s arrive, to make sure everything is functioning, in place, clean, and ready for their use.

- Go the Extra Mile to Maintain the Home’s Cleanliness. Make sure that even the most fastidious guests will find the home meets with their approval. It not only keeps guests happy but frequent maintenance will help reserve the value of your second home investment and decor.

This may include doing the following “extras” after each guest’s departure:
- Change the filters in the air conditioning system
- Apart from usual laundering of household items, thoroughly air out, shake out or pat clean pillows, linens and throw rugs
- In the case of self catering properties, make sure your home’s cleaning service inspects and washes kitchen equipment, plates, pots, pans, utensils and so on.
- Consider investing in and running a heavy-duty portable ozone air purifier in the pied a terre, yacht charter, or villa let after each guest’s departure, particularly if smokers were allowed in the home or even if not allowed (in case someone broke your rule).

- Villa Book. Write a thoroughly detailed Villa Book or Self-Catering Instruction Book that guests can use as a reference at any time during their stay. The book details any quirks with the home or its equipment, instructions, how-to’s, directions, details on local attractions, take-out menus, and the like.

- Emergencies. Have a system in place for any eventuality or emergency that may arise (where will you send your clients to stay if the roof starts leaking?) and have the contacts/people in place to service your guests at a moment’s notice.

- Extra Keys. Have multiple copies of extra keys made in case guests lose them, and consider placing a coded lockbox on the premises in the event your assistant can’t make it to the property to let your guests in.

- Security. If the luxury home is not already equipped with a sophisticated security system, consider installing a computerized keypad entry system that enable you, as host, to change the front door or gate code for each different set of guests. Should you ever have the misfortune of inappropriate renters, this will ensure the safety of the following renters and peace of mind that previous guests cannot access the property during their stay. Speak with a master locksmith or security consultant in your area regarding an ideal system.

Provide Smooth Exits

- Day of Departure: Call your clients the day before their departure to make sure their stay went smoothly and if they had any questions, complaints, or comments you should be made aware of. In addition, leave them a pre-addressed stamped envelope with a comment form if they are from your home country (or e-mail it to them and bypass your manager if they are international). They can either leave behind the comment form or put in the mail when they get home. Their answers may help you further refine the quality of the home and services offered.

- Official Check Out: If at all possible, make sure your guests have contact with you, a housekeeper, or your representative upon their departure, to make sure the home is left in a condition to your liking, and your equipment and supplies are all there. Check to make sure no important items are missing (like DVD libraries, tennis racquets, golf clubs, etc.). Have staff thoroughly check for any items left behind by your clients, and have both parties sign off on the condition of the home. Verify the correct address where their damage deposit should be sent in case they’re traveling on to a new destination and want it sent there.

- Return of Deposits. Return damage deposits right away and with a nice note inviting the guests to return. If not done electronically, send the deposit back in a trackable way via return receipt requested, UPS or US Mail with Tracking (if in USA) or other service which offers the ability to follow up on the location of a “lost check.”

Pleasant Memories and Repeat Business

- Feedback. There may be issues that came up which guests were too shy to discuss with you and/or which they don’t want your property manager to see because the problem was related to the manager. In case your property manager was not doing the best job, always give your guests a way to reach you directly. It’s easy enough for property managers to circumvent your knowledge of reported problems if you are an absentee owner. Before potential damage to your property’s reputation, and particularly before guests begin posting negative reviews of the home on the internet, consider ways of maintaining quality control with a little effort.

- Finding Your Property Again: If there would be no conflict of interest with your property manager/agent, consider leaving a business card or brochure with your contact information for your guests to keep for future stays. You never know when you may decide to discontinue your advertising, but still wish to rent to people you know were good clients. Knowing that your previous clients can still reach you will be a good thing.

- Always Say Thank You. Your guests are your vacation home’s source of livelihood and deserve to be personally thanked for their business. Make time to write handwritten Thank You notes on fine stationery with your property’s business card tucked inside. It may be smart to offer them a discount on another stay or a special bonus for referral of their friends (Use a special code so you know inquirers came from them). It is rare these days to receive personal thank you notes, so this will make your holiday luxury rental really stand out.

By following the advice above as your manage your luxury Provencal manse, or that romantic honeymoon house in St. Barts or that gorgeous golf villa in Carmel, your home can be so much more than just another vacation house: the home becomes a very pleasant memory for its many visitors and a successful and profitable renting enterprise for you.

About the Author

Owning and renting a luxury vacation rental can be a profitable enterprise when you advertise your holiday home with www.luxuryvillafinder.com. Our elegant and uncluttered site showcases villas, mansions, pied a terre, furnished apartments, vessels and yachts, boutique hotels, maison d’hotes, bed and breakfast inns, castles and even luxury safari lodges. See a Villa Advertising Video by Luxury Villa Finder.

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Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, made good on his pledge to keep lawmakers working all night on the financial regulatory reform bill.

Democratic and Republican lawmakers worked into sunrise Friday morning — under continuous CSpan coverage — to reach a fractured agreement over financial regulatory reform. The so-called “Fin-Reg” bill hands President…

Continue reading Congress Moves Toward Financial Regulatory Regulatory Reform

Congress Moves Toward Financial Regulatory Regulatory Reform originally appeared on DailyFinance on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 05:00:00.

Filed Under: Economy

Please see an interview with Charles Dixon

About the Author

For more interviews like this and to keep up-to-date with the latest news broadcasts, hints, tips, strategies, please see the ‘Property Investor Hub Blog’: http://www.propertyinvestorhub.co.uk/n

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The FCC’s closed-door meetings with industry giants over Internet regulation continued Tuesday as the agency’s chief of staff defended a process that has shut out the public. Public interest groups demanded the agency “reverse the secrecy.”

Continue reading FCC Source: “We F*cked Up” Secret Internet Meetings

FCC Source: “We F*cked Up” Secret Internet Meetings originally appeared on DailyFinance on Tue, 22 Jun 2010 22:00:00.

Filed Under: Company News, Technology, Media, Google , AT&T, Verizon

Toy Story 3, made by Pixar, the digital animation company Steve Jobs co-founded and later sold to Walt Disney, is off to a blazing start at the box office, pulling in $41 million in its first day on Friday and a likely $100 million-plus for the weekend.

Continue reading ‘Toy Story 3′ Rockets to No. 1 in Its Opening Weekend

‘Toy Story 3′ Rockets to No. 1 in Its Opening Weekend originally appeared on DailyFinance on Sun, 20 Jun 2010 21:34:00.

Filed Under: Company News, Media, Apple, Walt Disney

Last week I shared that if you do not have a tax strategy yet, then you definitely want to get your tax strategy done before you file your tax return.

I also shared that a strategy is a step-by-step action plan that ensures you are paying the least amount of tax allowable by law, regardless of your business or investment situation.

I received questions from many of you asking me to explain the idea of a tax strategy even further. In fact, there were so many requests for the answers to these questions that I decided to share the answers here.

Your Tax Strategy Questions Answered

How do I know if I really need a tax strategy?

If you are an investor or if you own a business, then you absolutely need a tax strategy. The tax law is designed to benefit investors and business owners. A strategy is designed so you know exactly what you need to do to maximize these benefits.

Many of you are in the position of thinking about starting a particular investment strategy or a business and you just aren’t sure if you should do your tax strategy before or after you start your investing or business.

I always recommend getting your strategy done BEFORE you start your investing or business because then the foundation can be in place and ready for your new venture. Plus, in most cases, it is possible to keep the foundation flexible enough so if your venture takes you in a different direction, your strategy can adapt to these changes.

Best of all, by doing your strategy before, you can get a jump start on the rules you need to know as an investor or business owner to legally maximize your tax savings. This is one area that most people neglect to focus on early and by the time they do focus on it, it is a huge project that requires a ton of catch up. In fact, most people in this situation never get caught up. As a result, they aren’t able to maximize their tax savings.

How long does it take to create a tax strategy?

At ProVision, we have developed a system that makes creating your tax strategy a very efficient process. Your tax strategy can be completed in just one month.

How long does it take to get my tax savings in my pocket?

In many cases, ProVision clients are able to reduce their current tax payments, whether it is by reducing their withholding or reducing their estimated tax payments, so they can put some, if not all, of their tax savings in their pockets immediately.

How can I prepare to create a tax strategy?

A tax strategy is comprehensive. Here are the key questions to answer to prepare to create your tax strategy:

What is your wealth vision?

Visualize yourself 5 to 10 years down the road. Where are you with your wealth? What are you doing? How has your family changed? Do you own a business? Do you have investments?

Knowing where you want to be is the first step of your tax strategy. Your goals for your family, wealth, retirement, asset protection, charities and future generations all impact your tax strategy, particularly how much flexibility is needed so your tax strategy still meets your needs as you attain your goals.

Where are you today?

Where are you today with your business and investments?

What is your current income?

What are your current expenses?

Clearly identifying your starting point provides key information that is needed to create an action plan to make your tax strategy a reality.

Some people find it strange that I approach a tax strategy with a thorough examination of where you are today and where you want to be. They wonder what this has to do with saving taxes.

These two points play a key role. Once you know where you are today and where you want to be, you can begin to apply tax saving concepts to your specific situation. Where you are today helps to identify what you need in your tax strategy today to maximize your tax benefits. Knowing where you want to be helps to identify your future tax benefits which helps identify the degree of flexibility that is needed in order to get you to that point.

Do I need a tax strategy AND a wealth strategy?

Your tax strategy is part of your wealth strategy. One of the fastest ways to put cash in your pocket is to reduce your taxes. Leveraging the tax savings from your tax strategy is a powerful way to supercharge your wealth strategy.

About the Author

If you are an investor or if you own a business, then you absolutely need a tax strategy.nnhttp://www.ProVisionWealth.com

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A House Judiciary Committee report slaps BP for moving too slow in issuing payments to individuals and businesses that have suffered as a result of the nation’s worst oil spill.

Continue reading BP Payout Is Less Than 12% of Claims Filed, Government Report Says

BP Payout Is Less Than 12% of Claims Filed, Government Report Says originally appeared on DailyFinance on Fri, 18 Jun 2010 20:00:00.

Filed Under: Energy, Economy, BP

Copyright (c) 2010 Suzy Vanstrusen

Why are we always warned about credit fraud and identity theft? Well there is a sound reason behind such warning.

In the past, many incidents were being reported about victims of credit fraud and identity theft. The sad thing is that consumers who are victims of credit fraud does not only lose their identities but also their credibility as borrowers. After all, scam artists and unscrupulous credit organizations manipulated their credit profiles and inflicted severe damage to their credit history.

So, how can we protect ourselves from the cunning and fraudulent schemes of scam artists? Let us identify some practical ways that we can use to avoid succumbing to credit fraud and identity theft

Practical Ways to Avoid Credit Fraud

1. Monitor your credit report constantly. The best way to avoid getting ripped off by the cunning and illegal activities of scam artists is to regularly check your credit file. Is this a difficult thing to do? Of course not! You just need to contact any of the three credit reporting agencies to obtain a copy of your credit report. The federal law actually entitles you to receive a free annual credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies. This gives you plenty of chances to check your credit records.

After receiving your credit file, you need to check its contents carefully. Scrutinize your credit accounts as well as your payment history. If you see erroneous entries and suspicious credit accounts, file a dispute letter immediately to a credit bureau. In so doing you can request the credit bureaus to conduct the necessary investigations to validate your claim and it can perform the important adjustments on your credit records.

Regular checking of your credit file will also help you see rooms for improvement. Let us say you have an excellent rating, then the only thing to do is to try to maintain that rating. On the other hand, if you have bad credit history then you may decide to get free credit repair services so that you can work on regaining your credit worthiness. Not only that. Free credit repair services will also provide you tips and suggestions on how you can avoid falling into new debt traps as well as on how you can repair your bad credit history.

2. Be knowledgeable about the cunning activities and schemes employed by scam artists. Being knowledgeable about how these scam artists work is one way to avoid being one of their victims. How can you do this? By reading reports and experiences of people who fell victims to the cunning activities of schemers and unscrupulous organizations. You can also watch television programs as well as online videos that provide helpful tips and suggestions on how you can protect yourself from the fraudulent machinations of scam artists. This way you will be alert and wary of suspicious people and their activities so that you will not become a victim of credit fraud.

3. Perform damage control. What if you got ripped off by the fraudulent activities of scam artists? Well you need to perform damage control. You can start by sending a formal letter to the credit bureaus explaining the situation. In order to validate your claim, credit bureaus must conduct a thorough investigation on your records. Now, suppose the credit bureau refused to take immediate action on your claim, what should you do?

You may consider filing a lawsuit against the credit bureau. However, you must have sufficient proof or evidence that the credit fraud has truly been committed by identity thieves or by scam artists.

If you have previously succumbed to credit fraud or identity theft, then make sure that you learn from your experience. Be cautious and take preventive measures. In so doing you can avoid getting ripped off yet again by scam artists and identity thieves.

About the Author

A credit analyst and a writer of EzCreditRepairSolutions.com, Suzy Vanstrusen has been providing consumers with tips and tricks in repairing your credit. Check the site for more free credit repair and credit report score.

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