The document discusses the concept of "disownership", which refers to sharing, renting, or borrowing items rather than owning them. It notes that over half of Americans are already engaging in disownership behaviors like car sharing and that companies are helping people access items without ownership. Disownership represents a cultural shift that benefits wallets, the environment, and communities. The guide provides tips on maximizing the benefits of disownership.
The document discusses the history and concept of rent-to-own transactions. It explains that rent-to-own originated in the United Kingdom and United States in the 1930s-1950s as a way for consumers to rent goods like radios and appliances with the option to purchase them over time. The document also outlines the structure of rent-to-own agreements, how they can help people with bad credit, and some benefits such as obtaining goods at below market value and flexibility to move locations.
This document summarizes a webinar about stretching IT budget dollars through financial options like leasing and a buyback program called Aventis Bucks. The webinar discusses challenges mid-market CEOs and CIOs face with rising costs. It also covers Gartner's financial IT outlook, how Aventis Bucks works where customers can receive 50% more in credit than cash value for used equipment, and the benefits of leasing hardware, software and services like preserving cash flow. The webinar aims to show how Aventis Systems can help organizations through its product and service offerings.
Multi-Link Inc. is offering a leasing program for corporate accounts installing The Stick for their own use. The program provides for rapid deployment, and long term product protection and support, all without any upfront equipment costs.
EN_Investors briefing_Affordable Housing for Rent_SIL_LISBOA_20161005Ricardo Veludo
This document provides information on the Lisbon Affordable Rent Program, including key statistics and details. It notes there will be 7,000 housing units across 107 buildings totaling over 621,000 square meters. Total private investment is estimated at 708 million euros, divided into individual operations ranging from 3 to 300 million euros. The program aims to address the gap between housing demand and available stock in Lisbon. It outlines the business model and roles of the private and public partners, as well as the value proposition for investors. Potential legal models and five example project locations are also summarized.
CSC Leasing Co. is a 20-year old, privately-held equipment leasing company headquartered in Richmond, VA with $150 million of assets under management. They focus on offering operating leases for IT and telephone equipment, as well as furniture and other specialty equipment, with lease terms typically around 3 years. CSC prides itself on providing flexible, market-oriented lease terms and responding quickly to customer needs.
The Internet of Things for Leasing and Asset Finance at The Leasing Foundatio...The Leasing Foundation
The Internet of things for Leasing and Asset Finance at The Leasing Foundation Third Annual Conference, September 10 2015, with Professor Patrick Olivier of Newcastle University.
The document discusses the history and concept of rent-to-own transactions. It explains that rent-to-own originated in the United Kingdom and United States in the 1930s-1950s as a way for consumers to rent goods like radios and appliances with the option to purchase them over time. The document also outlines the structure of rent-to-own agreements, how they can help people with bad credit, and some benefits such as obtaining goods at below market value and flexibility to move locations.
This document summarizes a webinar about stretching IT budget dollars through financial options like leasing and a buyback program called Aventis Bucks. The webinar discusses challenges mid-market CEOs and CIOs face with rising costs. It also covers Gartner's financial IT outlook, how Aventis Bucks works where customers can receive 50% more in credit than cash value for used equipment, and the benefits of leasing hardware, software and services like preserving cash flow. The webinar aims to show how Aventis Systems can help organizations through its product and service offerings.
Multi-Link Inc. is offering a leasing program for corporate accounts installing The Stick for their own use. The program provides for rapid deployment, and long term product protection and support, all without any upfront equipment costs.
EN_Investors briefing_Affordable Housing for Rent_SIL_LISBOA_20161005Ricardo Veludo
This document provides information on the Lisbon Affordable Rent Program, including key statistics and details. It notes there will be 7,000 housing units across 107 buildings totaling over 621,000 square meters. Total private investment is estimated at 708 million euros, divided into individual operations ranging from 3 to 300 million euros. The program aims to address the gap between housing demand and available stock in Lisbon. It outlines the business model and roles of the private and public partners, as well as the value proposition for investors. Potential legal models and five example project locations are also summarized.
CSC Leasing Co. is a 20-year old, privately-held equipment leasing company headquartered in Richmond, VA with $150 million of assets under management. They focus on offering operating leases for IT and telephone equipment, as well as furniture and other specialty equipment, with lease terms typically around 3 years. CSC prides itself on providing flexible, market-oriented lease terms and responding quickly to customer needs.
The Internet of Things for Leasing and Asset Finance at The Leasing Foundatio...The Leasing Foundation
The Internet of things for Leasing and Asset Finance at The Leasing Foundation Third Annual Conference, September 10 2015, with Professor Patrick Olivier of Newcastle University.
Our Leasing program delivers the skills, strategies and support to enable you to reach your goals. Take control of your career… and your destiny. As a Leasing Broker, you can build your own business serving the rapidly growing $270 billion Leasing Industry.
LakeView Leasing provides a vendor lease program to help businesses acquire equipment. Under the program, LakeView purchases equipment from vendors and then leases it to businesses for a set term. The leases allow businesses to use and pay for equipment over time without large upfront costs.
The document outlines several advantages and disadvantages of technology. The advantages include technology being a source of information, making work easier, enabling communication and socialization, being fun, allowing data storage and photo posting. The disadvantages are students being bullied online, exposure to inappropriate content, distraction from classes, over-reliance on social media and devices, laziness, criminal activities like scams, plagiarism, and focus on computers over chores. In conclusion, while technology provides benefits it also has downsides, and nothing is perfect except God.
PAETEC\'s ultimate win win proposition. Rather its hardware, furnature, software or almost any other major business purchase, our shared profit program will allow your organization to make that purchase with ZERO cash outlay.
Cloud Monetization: A Step-by-Step Guide to Optimizing Your SaaS Business ModelSafeNet
The document provides a 5-step guide for optimizing a SaaS business model: 1) Track usage data to understand customer usage patterns, 2) Identify patterns in the usage data, 3) Segment customers based on usage patterns, 4) Test new pricing and packaging models with A/B testing, and 5) Continuously measure results and refine the business model. The goal is to develop a segmented offering that maximizes revenue by matching products and prices to customer value based on usage data and feedback.
California Home Solar Growth Infographic 2013Sunrun
This document examines solar installation growth rates across several California cities between 2008-2009 and 2012-2013. It finds that inland cities like Murrieta, Fresno, Riverside, and Chico saw significantly higher growth rates in solar installations during the period of lower incentives from 2012-2013, when third-party ownership models had become more prevalent, compared to periods with higher upfront incentives.
Day 1 Session 3: Cytron @ Selangor Smart City Intl Conference 2016sitecmy
Cytron @ Selangor Smart City International Conference 2016
Presentation by Tang Eng Tong, CEO of Cytron Technologies Sdn Bhd, at the Selangor Smart City International Conference 2016 on December 6th 2016.
Tang Eng Tong presented about Cytron, a Malaysian robotics and electronics manufacturer and developer that facilitates makers, and how they are committed to helping children improve and learn using their robotics kit, rero.
UniCredit Leasing is the number one leasing company in Austria. Drowning in paper, wasting a lot of time in copying, filing and passing around paper they decided to automate their archive, mailroom and business processes. Utilizing IBM FileNet P8, WeWebU's OpenWorkdesk solution framework and a well thought-out project plan, the company was able to move to a mostly automated handling of lease contracts as well as incoming invoices, also integrated into their core systems. Key success factors for this showcase are analyzed. Many solutions for problems in this challenging mixed organizational and technical environment are presented for this - now absolutely business critical - application within a widespread and complex business environment.
Day 1 Session 2: IBM @ Selangor Smart City Intl Conference 2016sitecmy
IBM @ Selangor Smart City International Conference 2016
Presentation by Deven Chhaya, ASEAN Leader for Smarter Cities from IBM, at the Selangor Smart City International Conference 2016 on December 6th 2016.
Deven Chhaya focused on how IBM has delivered increasing levels of services in areas such as transport, emergency management, water, buildings, public safety and more.
The document discusses the shift towards a "four screen world" where people will access content and information through four main types of connected devices: smartwatches, mobile devices, portable large screens like tablets, and large fixed screens in the home like TVs. These screens will act as gateways to access a ubiquitous internet "pervasive web" that contains all media, information, and connections. Advertising and retail will also shift to be more digital and personalized across these various connected screens. The future is moving towards ecosystems of connected devices that work seamlessly together to access all internet-based content and services on different sized screens based on context.
As our purchasing power decreases, we still want to benefit from everything the consumer society has to offer. In order not to be frustrated and not to refrain ourselves, we found a solution: rethinking our consumption. We try to optimize our expenses, even when it means sharing our own goods with others and owning less, to keep on consuming as we wish to. Soone THE RIGHT TO USE WILL PREVAIL OVER THE PROPERTY RIGHT.
Collaborative consumption Alexandra Penel englishAlexandra Brandt
Along side with the collaborative consomption, come new economic perspectives in a context where production fails to find destinations. Beyond its business virtues, some see the possibility of a new organization of an environmental friendly and fairer society. Collaborative consumption could be the new barrier to individualist liberalism and immoral capitalism. Yes or no, is collaborative consumption the sign of the end of the world as we know it ?
You don't buy investment properties for your health. The whole idea is to turn a healthy profit month-over-month and set yourself up for retirement. VerticalRent's Small American Landlord Series is proud to announce it's recent edition, 8 Factors Affecting Rent Prices. This comprehensive guide gives you insider perspective of how to maximize the rent you collect for your investment property.
A new sharing economy model called "The Mesh" is emerging where consumers have more choices, tools, information and power over their choices. The Mesh conveys competitive advantages for businesses, including offering fresh, local access to goods and services through mobile devices; increasing efficiency through shared use of resources; unveiling hidden costs of traditional ownership models; facilitating stronger customer relationships through frequent interactions; providing superior, customized experiences at lower overall costs; and aligning more with changing consumer values around community and sustainability. The Mesh represents a discontinuity that early adopters can leverage to create new platforms and win in this fast-moving environment.
Car sharing has grown 34% between 2013-2014 according to an article. There are four types of car sharing: station based, one-way, home area, and free-floating. Enterprise CarShare focuses on membership plans for frequent and infrequent users starting at $40/year. Compared to competitor Zipcar, Enterprise has lower yearly and hourly rates but fewer locations. Traffic analysis shows Enterprise had 167,000 average monthly visits from July-December 2018, while Zipcar had 1,500,000. Both saw around a 30% decrease, likely due to seasonal factors. Enterprise could improve engagement by adding reviews and pricing details on their homepage.
Long before the phrase “the sharing economy” was ever uttered, many businesses leveraged sharing. Bed-and-breakfast inns, timeshares and car pools are old ideas.
Millennials are increasingly using travel agents instead of booking vacations online themselves because they want personalized, unique experiences beyond what typical search results provide. Home sharing services allow travel agents to offer Millennial clients authentic accommodations like homes, apartments, or unusual listings that make trips memorable while fitting budget constraints. By tapping into the large number of Millennials already using or open to home sharing, travel agents can satisfy this demographic's desire for adventure and customized travel through alternative lodging options that make them feel connected to local culture.
The passage discusses the burmese python problem in Florida's Everglades National Park. Burmese pythons were introduced as pets in the 1990s and have harmed the local ecosystem by preying on endangered species. In response, scientists have been tracking and trapping pythons, while the state encourages residents to report sightings. Florida has also held python challenges to incentivize their removal through competitions. Similarly in Texas, wild pigs are aggressively hunted year-round to control their invasive population.
The document outlines a vision for a website that would allow diverse organizations and individuals to collaborate on ideas. The goals are to create an alternative patent system where ideas are jointly owned and a marketplace for matching ideas with those able to implement them. It also aims to provide a protected space for sensitive discussions between organizations.
My article on Excess Capacity Commerce from the October issue of Transaction World Magazine. The reprint also features a half page advertisement for our upcoming Social Mobile Payments Conference in Miami, Florida - November 6 - 8 at the Biscayne Bay Marriott Hotel & Marina. For more information please visit www.socialmobilepayments.com
The document discusses 3 major mistakes landlords make when renting out properties: 1) Failing to properly market their properties online and missing opportunities, 2) Not screening tenants thoroughly and compromising on rent, 3) Being too friendly with tenants and not maintaining appropriate landlord-tenant boundaries. It provides tips to effectively market properties online, screen tenants, set rental rates, and establish professional landlord-tenant relationships. The document recommends hiring property managers to handle tasks and allow landlords to focus on strategic decisions.
The document discusses the sharing economy model in which individuals are able to borrow or rent assets owned by someone else. The sharing economy is most commonly used for high-priced assets that are not fully utilized at all times. Examples mentioned include renting cameras and equipment through services as the assets are expensive and only needed occasionally. Benefits of the sharing economy include allowing people to become micro-entrepreneurs and empowering local economies through new forms of employment and social connections. The document outlines different forms of sharing such as car sharing, home sharing, equipment sharing, and food sharing enabled by technologies like mobile and local services.
Our Leasing program delivers the skills, strategies and support to enable you to reach your goals. Take control of your career… and your destiny. As a Leasing Broker, you can build your own business serving the rapidly growing $270 billion Leasing Industry.
LakeView Leasing provides a vendor lease program to help businesses acquire equipment. Under the program, LakeView purchases equipment from vendors and then leases it to businesses for a set term. The leases allow businesses to use and pay for equipment over time without large upfront costs.
The document outlines several advantages and disadvantages of technology. The advantages include technology being a source of information, making work easier, enabling communication and socialization, being fun, allowing data storage and photo posting. The disadvantages are students being bullied online, exposure to inappropriate content, distraction from classes, over-reliance on social media and devices, laziness, criminal activities like scams, plagiarism, and focus on computers over chores. In conclusion, while technology provides benefits it also has downsides, and nothing is perfect except God.
PAETEC\'s ultimate win win proposition. Rather its hardware, furnature, software or almost any other major business purchase, our shared profit program will allow your organization to make that purchase with ZERO cash outlay.
Cloud Monetization: A Step-by-Step Guide to Optimizing Your SaaS Business ModelSafeNet
The document provides a 5-step guide for optimizing a SaaS business model: 1) Track usage data to understand customer usage patterns, 2) Identify patterns in the usage data, 3) Segment customers based on usage patterns, 4) Test new pricing and packaging models with A/B testing, and 5) Continuously measure results and refine the business model. The goal is to develop a segmented offering that maximizes revenue by matching products and prices to customer value based on usage data and feedback.
California Home Solar Growth Infographic 2013Sunrun
This document examines solar installation growth rates across several California cities between 2008-2009 and 2012-2013. It finds that inland cities like Murrieta, Fresno, Riverside, and Chico saw significantly higher growth rates in solar installations during the period of lower incentives from 2012-2013, when third-party ownership models had become more prevalent, compared to periods with higher upfront incentives.
Day 1 Session 3: Cytron @ Selangor Smart City Intl Conference 2016sitecmy
Cytron @ Selangor Smart City International Conference 2016
Presentation by Tang Eng Tong, CEO of Cytron Technologies Sdn Bhd, at the Selangor Smart City International Conference 2016 on December 6th 2016.
Tang Eng Tong presented about Cytron, a Malaysian robotics and electronics manufacturer and developer that facilitates makers, and how they are committed to helping children improve and learn using their robotics kit, rero.
UniCredit Leasing is the number one leasing company in Austria. Drowning in paper, wasting a lot of time in copying, filing and passing around paper they decided to automate their archive, mailroom and business processes. Utilizing IBM FileNet P8, WeWebU's OpenWorkdesk solution framework and a well thought-out project plan, the company was able to move to a mostly automated handling of lease contracts as well as incoming invoices, also integrated into their core systems. Key success factors for this showcase are analyzed. Many solutions for problems in this challenging mixed organizational and technical environment are presented for this - now absolutely business critical - application within a widespread and complex business environment.
Day 1 Session 2: IBM @ Selangor Smart City Intl Conference 2016sitecmy
IBM @ Selangor Smart City International Conference 2016
Presentation by Deven Chhaya, ASEAN Leader for Smarter Cities from IBM, at the Selangor Smart City International Conference 2016 on December 6th 2016.
Deven Chhaya focused on how IBM has delivered increasing levels of services in areas such as transport, emergency management, water, buildings, public safety and more.
The document discusses the shift towards a "four screen world" where people will access content and information through four main types of connected devices: smartwatches, mobile devices, portable large screens like tablets, and large fixed screens in the home like TVs. These screens will act as gateways to access a ubiquitous internet "pervasive web" that contains all media, information, and connections. Advertising and retail will also shift to be more digital and personalized across these various connected screens. The future is moving towards ecosystems of connected devices that work seamlessly together to access all internet-based content and services on different sized screens based on context.
As our purchasing power decreases, we still want to benefit from everything the consumer society has to offer. In order not to be frustrated and not to refrain ourselves, we found a solution: rethinking our consumption. We try to optimize our expenses, even when it means sharing our own goods with others and owning less, to keep on consuming as we wish to. Soone THE RIGHT TO USE WILL PREVAIL OVER THE PROPERTY RIGHT.
Collaborative consumption Alexandra Penel englishAlexandra Brandt
Along side with the collaborative consomption, come new economic perspectives in a context where production fails to find destinations. Beyond its business virtues, some see the possibility of a new organization of an environmental friendly and fairer society. Collaborative consumption could be the new barrier to individualist liberalism and immoral capitalism. Yes or no, is collaborative consumption the sign of the end of the world as we know it ?
You don't buy investment properties for your health. The whole idea is to turn a healthy profit month-over-month and set yourself up for retirement. VerticalRent's Small American Landlord Series is proud to announce it's recent edition, 8 Factors Affecting Rent Prices. This comprehensive guide gives you insider perspective of how to maximize the rent you collect for your investment property.
A new sharing economy model called "The Mesh" is emerging where consumers have more choices, tools, information and power over their choices. The Mesh conveys competitive advantages for businesses, including offering fresh, local access to goods and services through mobile devices; increasing efficiency through shared use of resources; unveiling hidden costs of traditional ownership models; facilitating stronger customer relationships through frequent interactions; providing superior, customized experiences at lower overall costs; and aligning more with changing consumer values around community and sustainability. The Mesh represents a discontinuity that early adopters can leverage to create new platforms and win in this fast-moving environment.
Car sharing has grown 34% between 2013-2014 according to an article. There are four types of car sharing: station based, one-way, home area, and free-floating. Enterprise CarShare focuses on membership plans for frequent and infrequent users starting at $40/year. Compared to competitor Zipcar, Enterprise has lower yearly and hourly rates but fewer locations. Traffic analysis shows Enterprise had 167,000 average monthly visits from July-December 2018, while Zipcar had 1,500,000. Both saw around a 30% decrease, likely due to seasonal factors. Enterprise could improve engagement by adding reviews and pricing details on their homepage.
Long before the phrase “the sharing economy” was ever uttered, many businesses leveraged sharing. Bed-and-breakfast inns, timeshares and car pools are old ideas.
Millennials are increasingly using travel agents instead of booking vacations online themselves because they want personalized, unique experiences beyond what typical search results provide. Home sharing services allow travel agents to offer Millennial clients authentic accommodations like homes, apartments, or unusual listings that make trips memorable while fitting budget constraints. By tapping into the large number of Millennials already using or open to home sharing, travel agents can satisfy this demographic's desire for adventure and customized travel through alternative lodging options that make them feel connected to local culture.
The passage discusses the burmese python problem in Florida's Everglades National Park. Burmese pythons were introduced as pets in the 1990s and have harmed the local ecosystem by preying on endangered species. In response, scientists have been tracking and trapping pythons, while the state encourages residents to report sightings. Florida has also held python challenges to incentivize their removal through competitions. Similarly in Texas, wild pigs are aggressively hunted year-round to control their invasive population.
The document outlines a vision for a website that would allow diverse organizations and individuals to collaborate on ideas. The goals are to create an alternative patent system where ideas are jointly owned and a marketplace for matching ideas with those able to implement them. It also aims to provide a protected space for sensitive discussions between organizations.
My article on Excess Capacity Commerce from the October issue of Transaction World Magazine. The reprint also features a half page advertisement for our upcoming Social Mobile Payments Conference in Miami, Florida - November 6 - 8 at the Biscayne Bay Marriott Hotel & Marina. For more information please visit www.socialmobilepayments.com
The document discusses 3 major mistakes landlords make when renting out properties: 1) Failing to properly market their properties online and missing opportunities, 2) Not screening tenants thoroughly and compromising on rent, 3) Being too friendly with tenants and not maintaining appropriate landlord-tenant boundaries. It provides tips to effectively market properties online, screen tenants, set rental rates, and establish professional landlord-tenant relationships. The document recommends hiring property managers to handle tasks and allow landlords to focus on strategic decisions.
The document discusses the sharing economy model in which individuals are able to borrow or rent assets owned by someone else. The sharing economy is most commonly used for high-priced assets that are not fully utilized at all times. Examples mentioned include renting cameras and equipment through services as the assets are expensive and only needed occasionally. Benefits of the sharing economy include allowing people to become micro-entrepreneurs and empowering local economies through new forms of employment and social connections. The document outlines different forms of sharing such as car sharing, home sharing, equipment sharing, and food sharing enabled by technologies like mobile and local services.
The document discusses the sharing economy and how it provides opportunities for people to save money or earn income. The sharing economy refers to apps and websites that allow individuals to share underused goods and services on a peer-to-peer basis. It offers lower prices for users and income for providers, while reducing environmental impact. Examples mentioned include car sharing apps, platforms for renting household items, and sites connecting home chefs with customers. Both users and providers need to consider regulations to stay compliant. The government aims to support innovation in the sharing economy while protecting consumers.
Resort Relief offers an immediate exit solution for timeshare owners who wish to get out of their contracts. For a one-time fee of $4,000 paid over 5 years, they will take over responsibility for all future maintenance fees, taxes, and special assessments. They help facilitate the transfer of ownership through their relationships with travel clubs and knowledge of the timeshare industry. Resort Relief claims to have helped over 7,000 owners exit their contracts.
This document discusses lessons learned from the Great Depression that can help people avoid financial hardship today. It recommends practicing frugality by getting the most value from purchases and avoiding unnecessary spending. It also suggests fixing items yourself rather than replacing them, using things in multiple ways, avoiding debt, saving an emergency fund, buying quality used goods, prioritizing function over fashion, seeking out bargains, and making meals from scratch to save money. The core principles of living below one's means, saving, and investing in the future that were important for grandparents during the Depression remain valuable today.
The document proposes a device called "Diaper Flush" that would sanitize and dry cloth diapers. It would be more environmentally friendly and convenient than current cleaning methods. The team envisions partnering with diaper delivery services to rent the device to customers for $19/month. A Kickstarter campaign would help fund product development and test market interest. The goal is to become profitable by year 2 by addressing the inconvenience of cleaning cloth diapers.
Summarized 36 startups in the world deploying "Sharing Economy" For instance, Airbnb, UBER, Wework and other companies are of the material with detail explanation.
The document provides a 5-step process for using the HelpWriting.net service to have an assignment written. The steps include: 1) Creating an account and providing login details. 2) Completing an order form with instructions, sources, and deadline. 3) Reviewing bids from writers and selecting one. 4) Reviewing the completed paper and authorizing payment. 5) Requesting revisions until fully satisfied with the work. The service aims to provide original, high-quality content and offers refunds if work is plagiarized.
Similar to The People's Guide to Disownership (20)
2. the people’s guide to
disownership
I am the CEO of a growing, mid-sized company in San Francisco and I don’t have a car. I get around town just fine,
usually on public transportation. When I need a car, I use my membership with Zipcar, a car-sharing service that lets
each member simply access the cars when we need them.
I’m not alone. In fact, there is a movement gaining momentum across the country called “disownership”: sharing, renting
and borrowing traditionally-owned items to get the benefits without the expense and hassle of ownership.
My company Sunrun just released a new survey showing that over half (52 percent) of
Americans say they are already engaging in disownership, and many more plan to do
so in the near future. Sunrun is one of a number of companies that have harnessed
the power of technology to help people access things safely without owning them,
and save money doing it.
Disownership represents a major cultural shift in consumer behavior—a shift that
benefits our wallets, our planet and our communities. So we at Sunrun, and our
peers at other disownership and sharing companies, want to make sure you have the
insider insights, tips and best practices to get the most out of disownership.
I hope you’ll enjoy our People’s Guide to Disownership as you explore and take
advantage of this new era of access. Today’s status symbol isn’t what you own. It’s
what you’re smart enough not to own.
As we say at Sunrun: Power Forward,
Lynn Jurich, Sunrun co-Founder and co-CEO
2
3. DISOWNERSHIP MANIFESTO
The new status symbol isn’t what we own.
It’s what we’re smart enough not to own: FOUR QUESTIONS
Many of the things we want and need—daily or occasionally— WE ASK BEFORE
are best borrowed, rented or shared. WE BUY ANYTHING
So before we buy something, we see if there’s another way to access it.
1. Do I need to own this
Because the true cost of ownership is far greater than the purchase price.
or just use it?
And the money we save on things we don’t need to own can fund our dreams.
Smart disowners don’t consume. We access. 2. How often will I use it?
And we access only what we need—no more, no less.
3. How much time
We read (and write) reviews. and money will it
We study terms of use. cost to maintain
We get the most for our money and time. this over time?
We believe that paying for storage is nuts, so we don’t.
And parking tickets are for owners. 4. Is there an easy,
reliable way to just
More is more—more headaches, more cost, more trouble. get access to this?
To acquire is human. To disown is divine.
3
4. the disownership
dictionary
Access Economy. Platforms, companies and online marketplaces that empower
individuals to use and access products without owning them. This includes Peer-to-Peer
Marketplaces (see next page) and companies that own and maintain traditionally-owned
items while offering rental or other forms of access to users (e.g., Zipcar, Sunrun).
Sharing Economy. A subset of the Access Economy, defined by the Wall Street Journal
as “niche marketplaces for things that get cheaper when people use them together, (e.g.,
pet care, wedding gowns, child rearing and more.)”
Collaborative Consumption. Another subset of the Access Economy. Collaborative
Consumption indicates multiple consumers having access to the same product or service
via sharing, swapping or renting. This does not include certain forms of disownership in
which one consumer has sole access to an item but does not have to own it (e.g., paying
for solar power without owning the panels on one’s roof).
4
5. Disownership
Sharing, renting, borrowing or making similar alternative
arrangements to gain access to traditionally-owned items
without the expense or hassle of ownership.
Apps and Platforms. Technology companies and applications (web and mobile) that
facilitate the access economy.
Peer-to-Peer Marketplace. Online platforms and companies that facilitate the
renting and trading of individually-owned homes, cars and other goods by individuals
(e.g., Airbnb, Getaround).
Social Identity Verification. The use of social media profiles, connected to an
app or platform via password permission, to verify a disowner’s identity and identify
common ‘friends’ with other members/users.
Terms of Service. (aka Terms of Use, Terms and Conditions, etc.) The legally-binding
rules that disowners and other sharing app or platform users must abide by in order to
use the technological app or platform and access products or property.
5
6. 8 things to disown
in 2013
Cars. You might not realize it, but Vacation Accommodations.
car ownership is optional. There are If you like to take vacations in a home,
many options available for sharing versus a hotel, but you want to be able
and borrowing cars, for as little as to take your pick of cities, platforms
an hour. If your need is occasional like VRBO.com and Airbnb.com allow
use, RelayRides and Wheelz allow you to rent a room, a floor or a whole
you to rent by the hour from other individuals. If you property for as little as a day at
need a car all over town—or the country—on a fairly a time—all over the world.
frequent basis, it might make sense to invest in a
Zipcar membership.
Wedding Wear. The average price
of a wedding dress in the United States
Trucks. Even if you do own a car, is right around $1,100. This is for an
there come those times when you item of clothing you will probably
need something bigger to move never wear again! Men have rented
a piece of furniture or handle a wedding tuxedos for ages. Why not rent a dress, jewelry
gardening project. If you have a need or even threads for fancy, pre-wedding events like
for something smaller than a moving rehearsal dinners? RentTheRunway.com has a wedding
van, try Getaround—one of your neighbors might have boutique dedicated to these occasions.
a truck you can rent for less than $20 an hour.
6
7. Luxury Clothes and Goods. Solar. Most homeowners assume
Celebrities go to black-tie events all they can’t afford to pay for pricey
the time, and even they borrow their panels, so they dismiss the concept
clothes, shoes and accessories. If you of going solar as a nice, but unrealistic,
only go to a couple such functions idea. Here’s some myth-busting: solar
every year, renting your fashion makes power service companies like Sunrun
sense—especially since you probably won’t want to repeat. will install and maintain solar panels on your home for
Sites like RentTheRunway.com (apparel and accessories) little to no upfront fee. You pay them for energy, but the
and BagBorrowORSteal.com (handbags, shoes and other rate is cheaper than traditional utility rates.
accessories) allow you to dress like the stars without
zapping your bank account or cluttering your closet
with things you won’t wear again. Tools. How often will you use a floor
sander, or even a power drill? If you
are working around the house, but
Bikes. An increasing number of cities need an expensive tool for a one-off
have municipal bike-rental programs project, check out Neighborgoods.net
that let you just pick up and drop off or ask your home improvement store
bikes as you need to, all over town. to see if they have a tool rental counter. Contractors also
Even if your town (or the town you’re often rent tools they don’t use regularly, so even many
visiting) doesn’t have a city-run program, just Google traditional stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s offer tool
“bike rental” and the name of the town you’re visiting. rental programs you can take advantage of.
Most major cities have a number of hotels and other
companies that will rent you a bike for an hour or a week.
7
8. the thinking person’s guide to making smart
disownership decisions
Disownership is freeing. To some, it’s a lifestyle choice Here are some best practices for making wise
that makes a value statement: that owning stuff is less disownership decisions:
important than relationships and experiences. But it’s
also just plain smart. As a practice, choosing to rent, 1. DECIDE WHAT MATTERS THE MOST.
borrow, lease or otherwise access things you don’t need
to own is efficient, eco-friendly and saves time, money Get clear on your values and get real about how much
and energy. you really will use something before you buy it. Cultivate
clarity on what your “why” is for wanting the item and
That said, disownership reflects a shift away from stay focused on that throughout your decision-making
the status quo, a change in direction from the era of process. On the flip side, stay clear about your priorities
Conspicuous Consumption. So, while all of us know how and the experiences you can fund (from vacations to debt
to buy and sell stuff, many of us don’t know the ins and elimination) with the savings from disownership.
outs of navigating the access economy and participating
in disownership while protecting our own interests. 2. DON’T BE SO EMOTIONAL.
Or rather, don’t let emotions drive your decision. Over
the ages, the rush of acquiring and possessing things
has become a primal, addictive force. In real estate they
call it: “pride of ownership.” But in fact, the freedom of
disownership can be more powerful than the possessive
emotions we have about our belongings. Having the time
and money for life-defining experiences freed up by the
things we disown can be a much bigger rush than holding
the title to a car.
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9. 3. GIVE TCOs THE TKO. 5. DON’T HOLD BACK AT Q+A TIME.
Take TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) into account when Ask every question—and then ask a few more! Most
deciding whether to disown or buy something. TCO likely disownership platforms, apps and marketplaces offer
includes taxes, time and financial cost of maintenance, a Frequently Asked Question section that can address
and costs for storing, insuring and repairing items. These most common questions and issues. Beyond that, though,
are all costs that disownership removes in a TKO (Total ask the individual or corporate owner of the items you
Knock Out) kind of way. hope to disown every single question you have, before
you decide to disown, even if those questions are specific
4. KNOW WHAT YOU’RE GETTING INTO. to your personal fact scenario, trip or home.
Read the agreement/terms of use carefully to look for:
As anything from “what happens if you sell your home
– Limitations on the use of whatever it is you with a solar power service agreement on it?” to “What’s
are borrowing the best way to get to your disowned house from the
– Payments, deposits and other financial terms airport?” to “Is it okay to take long-distance trips in your
– Support/help resources dis-owned car?” If you wonder, ask.
– Problem resolution
Make sure you understand what help is available if the 6. GET YOUR EBERT ON.
product or system you are disowning breaks down or Write reviews. Good ones, meaning thorough. Don’t
turns out not to be what you expected. Also, be sure you write glowing reviews over a mediocre experience. Be
understand what the complaint and dispute resolution honest. If something was average, say so. It helps future
policy is in the event a disagreement arises with the owner. disowners know whether the product will be a good fit for
their needs. It also helps owners know how to improve.
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10. how to be a
smart disowner
YOUR DISOWNER PROFILE MATTERS.
Fill it out completely. Disownership doesn’t happen without trust, and the quickest way to
help owners know you are trustworthy is to tell them about yourself. Include your photo
and connect your social media profiles. If you’re renting a house for a vacation with your
family or a work trip, let owners know who you’re traveling with, and why.
People are more comfortable engaging in the transaction when they know the person on
the other end is a fully-formed human being.
UNDERSTAND YOUR RIGHTS—AND YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES.
To access and use a car, solar panels or power tools safely and smartly requires a
complete legal contract articulating the various parties’ rights and responsibilities. Whether
this contract is on paper or online, it is legally binding, so read it and know it. Make sure
you understand who is responsible for maintaining the items, what happens in cases of
malfunctions or disputes, and what costs and deposits you are responsible for—at all
points of the transaction.
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11. CLARITY IS GOLDEN.
“Close to Downtown” might mean 5-minute walk to one person and a 15-minute car ride
to another. A solar system might stop saving you money if you increase the energy you
use once you have it installed. Review notes, descriptions, user guides, comments by
reviewers and maps carefully during your decision-making process. Make sure you have
a clear understanding of what you can expect—and what is expected of you.
CALENDAR FOR COLLABORATION.
Disownership requires collaboration. You will usually need to meet with an owner at the
top and the bottom of the transaction, to pick up keys, have goods delivered or installed
or drop off tools. Make sure you have time in your schedule for this. They will likely
have helpful tips and answers to your questions that you might miss out on if you are
distracted by a ticking clock or looming deadline.
TAKE CARE.
You may not be responsible for the maintenance of what you borrow, but you are
responsible for its careful use. You’ll want to use what you are borrowing with as much
care as you would if it were your own. That means keeping a power tool well-oiled, your
rental home locked up when you’re out, or your borrowed bike secured in a safe place.
By being a good steward of the objects you rent, lease or borrow, you maximize the use
you get out of them, while registering some deposits in your own karmic accounts.
The People’s Guide to Disownership (the Guide) is not intended to be and does not constitute financial or investment advice. The
products and services recommended in this Guide may not be available to, or suitable for, everyone, and may change. Nothing
contained in this Guide shall constitute the provision of investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any product or services.
Independent professional advice, including tax advice, should be sought before making a financial or investment decision.