Actual for You - Reference and Education

Buying Spanish Property - Are You A Fraudster And Didn't Know It?
Purchase price and declared amountIt is common practice in Spain to under declare the sales price of your property. This practice is very much against the law and should not be entertained – it is fraudulent because you are defrauding the tax office – which carries a prison sentence. However many Spanish Owners will not sell you the property unless you under declare. So what is an honest citizen like your self to do?What is black money?Black money is the difference between the declared price and the actual sales price. So if you bought your property for ?100,000 and declared ?80,000 the black money element would be ?20,000. The reason why it happens is because the seller is liable to pay upto 35% of the profit as capital gains tax and the buyer pays taxes based on the sale price – so in effect both parties gain – don’t they?Well current EU Directive means it is now being clamped down on hard. In my local town of Oliva they have started fining people –everyone who has bought a property in the past 5 years is deemed to have under declared by 20% so they are charging accordingly. So whilst you may gain short term you will be caught out in the long run and it will be you who has to pay the price not the seller.So what if the seller refuses to sell unless Black money changes hands.Personally I would walk away. However you may well lose the sale. It is possible that as it is a buyers market currently this will be enough to persuade the seller that it isn’t worth risking losing a sale. Your estate agent will encourage you to agree because they may have agreed with the vendors that their commission on the sale will be paid in cash taken from the buyer during the sale.If they still insist then at least get a solicitor to draw up a legal document which states that the seller is liable for any taxes on the undeclared amount and that the agent is persuading you to complete the transaction not declaring the full amount. However this may be difficult to enforce as it is actually encouraging breaking the law so I doubt if a court would find in your favour.Or you could just risk it a

.AS MOST POWER POLES WILL BE DOWN AND TRANSFORMERS DESTROYED. WATER SHORTAGES WILL MAKE HUMAN SUFFERING INCREDIBLE BY MODERN STANDARDS.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF NATIVE TREES WILL BE SNAPPED OR UPROOTED. ONLY THE HEARTIEST WILL REMAIN STANDING...BUT BE TOTALLY DEFOLIATED. FEW CROPS WILL REMAIN. LIVESTOCK LEFT EXPOSED TO THE WINDS WILL BE KILLED.

AN INLAND HURRICANE WIND WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR HURRICANE FORCE...OR FREQUENT GUSTS AT OR ABOVE HURRICANE FORCE...ARE CERTAIN WITHIN THE NEXT 12 TO 24 HOURS.

ONCE TROPICAL STORM AND HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ONSET...DO NOT VENTURE OUTSIDE!

HURRICANE KATRINA ADVISORY NUMBER 24 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 4 PM CDT SUN AUG 28 2005

...POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC HURRICANE KATRINA HEADED FOR THE NORTHERN GULF COAST...

A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTH CENTRAL GULF COAST FROM MORGAN CITY LOUISIANA EASTWARD TO THE ALABAMA/FLORIDA BORDER...INCLUDING THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS AND LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE COMPLETED THIS EVENING.

It should be noted that The National Hurricane Center (NHC) describes a “catastrophic hurricane” in the following way:

Making The Most Of Your Sales Flyers
Many people know the value of newspaper inserts, dircet mail, and sales flyers, but drop the ball when it comes to making people react to them. Obviuosly, it is always a better looking flyer when professional designers and copywriters are used. But, even they sometimes miss the boat on getting action. The best way to get any action on your sales flyer is to "give your customer a reason to come in and try you out". That's right, the "what's in it for me" approach. Think of yourself like a consumer. What would it take to get you to try a new product, or try a new vendor, etc.?It is all in "The Offer". Yes, you may not make as much money on their initial visit. But, they're first impression of your store is what the consumers take with them after that first visit that is crucial. If they leave happy and impressed, they will return (at regular prices) over and over again. You may have to discount a few items, or even give something away for free. But you will also want to upsell them other goods and services while they are in your store. Another point to remember on the offers; is to make them valid only during your slow times. You may not need new customers at peak times, nor do you want to discount these best hours.You can make offers without using coupons, too. If it's a upscale restaurant, call it a invitation. Or, don't use coupons at all. Simply Save 20-50% during this sale, or BOGOs (Buy One-Get One), etc. Now that you have people coming in your door, do what you do best to get them coming back!

While the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., could not be reasonably foreseen until after the fact, despite the existence of credible intelligence, the devastation that a major hurricane like Katrina could cause to New Orleans was known. With better planning, enhanced building codes, building code training and enforcement, an organized evacuation plan, and reasonable funding for levee repairs and reinforcement, the New Orleans damage (at least $31 billion) and death toll (1577) could have been lower. In a way, New Orleans was fortunate that Katrina veered slightly sparing the City a direct hit and had weakened just before making landfall.

Although there can be no certainty on how much damage might have been avoided, the existence and activation of a cohesive mandatory evacuation plan when Hurricane Katrina, at the time a dangerous Category 5 storm, was bearing down on the City could have significantly reduced the loss of life. Instead, mandatory evacuations were not carried out when they should have been.

Just prior to the Katrina's arrival on August 29, 2005 a mandatory evacuation utilizing every available mode of transportation (e.g. buses, cabs, and automobiles) had not been ordered even though there had been ample warning since the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and National Weather Service (NWS) had been issuing bulletins a full two days before the hurricane struck. Instead residents were given the option to leave, to remain in their residences at their own risk or to be sheltered within the city in unsafe areas, most notably The New Orleans Convention Center and the Superdome. Neither was immune to potential destruction as was forewarned.

To compound matters, rescuers were slow to arrive (also forewarned) since resources were not deployed closer to the City as Katrina approached, in preparation for the search, rescue and relief operations that would be needed in its aftermath. As a result, it took four days before much needed necessities (e.g. food, water, clothing, and medicines) and personnel began arriving. Five days after Katrina had struck with winds between 135-145 MPH, people were still stranded on roofs. Accordingly additional lives were lost directly because the initial relief efforts were ineffective and disorganized. At the same time anarchy and chaos gripped the City.

When speaking at a press conference, Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff stated, "…planners had anticipated that water would rise above the levees containing Lake Pontchartrain, but that the levees would not be breached. We didn't merely have the overflow. We actually had the break in the wall. And I will tell you that really that perfect storm of combination of catastrophes exceeded the foresight of planners and maybe anybody's foresight.” He also added, “Nature was unhelpful" in terms of giving sufficient warning.[1]

Actually there were plenty of warnings. Below are the bulletins issued by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) and National Weather Service (NWS), some graphic and detailed about the potential for severe flooding, damage, and loss of life:

HURRICANE KATRINA ADVISORY NUMBER 17 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 10 AM CDT SAT AUG 27 2005

...CATEGORY THREE KATRINA MOVING WESTWARD IN THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO...EXPECTED TO TURN WEST-NORTHWESTWARD AND STRENGTHEN...

AT 10 AM CDT...1500Z...A HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SOUTHEASTERN COAST OF LOUISIANA EAST OF MORGAN CITY TO THE MOUTH OF THE PEARL RIVER...INCLUDING METROPOLITAN NEW ORLEANS AND LAKE PONCHARTRAIN. A HURRICANE WATCH MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN THE WATCH AREA...GENERALLY WITHIN 36 HOURS.

HURRICANE KATRINA ADVISORY NUMBER 21 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 4 AM CDT SUN AUG 28 2005

...DANGEROUS CATEGORY FOUR HURRICANE KATRINA CONTINUES WEST-NORTHWESTWARD BUT EXPECTED TO TURN NORTHWARD... ...NEW TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS ISSUED FOR NORTHERN GULF COAST...

A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTH CENTRAL GULF COAST FROM MORGAN CITY LOUISIANA EASTWARD TO THE ALABAMA/FLORIDA BORDER...INCLUDING THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS AND LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN. A HURRICANE WARNING MEANS THAT HURRICANE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED WITHIN THE WARNING AREA WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION.

BULLETIN HURRICANE KATRINA ADVISORY NUMBER 23 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 10 AM CDT SUN AUG 28 2005

...POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC HURRICANE KATRINA...EVEN STRONGER...HEADED FOR THE NORTHERN GULF COAST...

A HURRICANE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE NORTH CENTRAL GULF COAST FROM MORGAN CITY LOUISIANA EASTWARD TO THE ALABAMA/FLORIDA BORDER...INCLUDING THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS AND LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN.

URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA 1011 AM CDT SUN AUG 28 2005

...DEVASTATING DAMAGE EXPECTED...

HURRICANE KATRINA...A MOST POWERFUL HURRICANE WITH UNPRECEDENTED STRENGTH...RIVALING THE INTENSITY OF HURRICANE CAMILLE OF 1969.

MOST OF THE AREA WILL BE UNINHABITABLE FOR WEEKS...PERHAPS LONGER. AT LEAST ONE HALF OF WELL CONSTRUCTED HOMES WILL HAVE ROOF AND WALL FAILURE. ALL GABLED ROOFS WILL FAIL...LEAVING THOSE HOMES SEVERELY DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.

THE MAJORITY OF INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS WILL BECOME NON FUNCTIONAL. PARTIAL TO COMPLETE WALL AND ROOF FAILURE IS EXPECTED. ALL WOOD FRAMED LOW RISING APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL BE DESTROYED. CONCRETE BLOCK LOW RISE APARTMENTS WILL SUSTAIN MAJOR DAMAGE...INCLUDING SOME WALL AND ROOF FAILURE.

HIGH RISE OFFICE AND APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL SWAY DANGEROUSLY...A FEW TO THE POINT OF TOTAL COLLAPSE. ALL WINDOWS WILL BLOW OUT.

AIRBORNE DEBRIS WILL BE WIDESPREAD...AND MAY INCLUDE HEAVY ITEMS SUCH AS HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES AND EVEN LIGHT VEHICLES. SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND LIGHT TRUCKS WILL BE MOVED. THE BLOWN DEBRIS WILL CREATE ADDITIONAL DESTRUCTION. PERSONS...PETS...AND LIVESTOCK EXPOSED TO THE WINDS WILL FACE CERTAIN DEATH IF STRUCK.

POWER OUTAGES WILL LAST FOR WEEKS...AS MOST POWER POLES WILL BE DOWN AND TRANSFORMERS DESTROYED. WATER SHORTAGES WILL MAKE HUMAN SUFFERING INCREDIBLE BY MODERN STANDARDS.

AN INLAND HURRICANE WIND WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR HURRICANE FORCE...OR FREQUENT GUSTS AT OR ABOVE HURRICANE FORCE...ARE CERTAIN WITHIN THE NEXT 12 TO 24 HOURS.

ONCE TROPICAL STORM AND HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ONSET...DO NOT VENTURE OUTSIDE!

HURRICANE KATRINA ADVISORY NUMBER 24 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 4 PM CDT SUN AUG 28 2005

...POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC HURRICANE KATRINA HEADED FOR THE NORTHERN GULF COAST...

It should be noted that The National Hurricane Center (NHC) describes a “catastrophic hurricane” in the following way:

Ten Easy Marketing Tasks You Can Do NOW
Who says scientists can't market? Here are 10 easy marketing ideas that a group of folks at the National Institute of Standards and Technology came up with today during our monthly Marketing Action Group:1. Listen to (and write down!) the questions your clients ask. They're clues to the problems you can help them solve. They're also topics for your next article, talk and e-newsletter. Don't invent this stuff - just listen!2. Plan and write out your next sales conversation. Got a meeting next week with a hot prospect? Write down the words you will use to find out who the decision makers are, what the budget is, the scope of their problem, and how you'll ask them to take next steps. If you have no idea how to do this, send me an email and I'll help you think through it.3. Read a marketing article. Most non-marketers don't go out of their way to read about marketing. A painless way to stay motivated, though, is to read one new article every week. Start here: http://www.turningpointemarketing.com/Free_Resources/Articles.html4. Pay attention to the marketing messages all around you. See if you can pick out the WIIFM (What's In It For Me?) and call-to-action (what they want you to do). Practice thinking like a marketer.5. If you manage others who perform your client work, visit a client with your employee to show interest. This keeps you fresh and demonstrates your commitment to the client. It also shows the client that there's more to your organization than their sole point of contact.6. Give a copy of this article to your staff and ask them to come to the next staff meeting prepared to talk about the ideas that this generates. Ask people to commit to one new task. Have them give a progress report at the next meeting. Rinse, repeat.7. Draft a 3 or 4-question survey to do short, conversational telephone interviews with your target audience to find out what they struggle with...what's on their wish list...what they want from you. Do NOT ask them if they want to buy anything from you. This is a relationship-building task, NOT a sales call. That comes much later. Ask others you work with to pick two clients or pr

within the city in unsafe areas, most notably The New Orleans Convention Center and the Superdome. Neither was immune to potential destruction as was forewarned.