Diminished Value – Get the Compensation You Deserve After an Auto Accident
Posted on 27. May, 2008 by Kris Nickerson in Articles
What Insurance Companies Don’t Want You To Know
The squeal of tires. The sickening sound of metal grinding against metal as you lurch forward in the driver’s seat. As you climb out of the car, you’re shaken – but thankfully you and the driver who hit you are not injured. Unfortunately, the same isn’t true for your car. Even after you endure the hassle of dealing with insurance companies and the inconvenience of taking your car in for repair, the bottom line is that your car simply isn’t worth as much. “The resale value of a vehicle with an accident history is considerably less than a comparable vehicle that’s never been in an accident,” says Omar Quddus, President and Co-Founder of Advocate Auto Claims LLC (www.advocateautoclaims.com).
This phenomenon is called “diminished value,” and the at-fault or third party’s insurance company has an obligation to compensate the driver who was not at fault for this difference in market price. “Insurance companies are required to restore a vehicle to its pre-loss condition and value,” says Quddus. “Unfortunately, most consumers aren’t aware that they are entitled to diminished value compensation – and insurance companies don’t volunteer that information.”
That’s the reason Quddus is on a mission to educate consumers about their rights, and why Advocate Auto Claims pursues diminished value claims on behalf of drivers who weren’t at fault in accidents. “Even when consumers are aware of the diminished value issue, they’re often ill-equipped to handle the roadblocks that an insurance company will throw at them,” he says. “Each insurance company has its own internal procedures, but those procedures can vary from region to region.” Similarly, the laws and regulations governing diminished value differ greatly from state to state.
The maze of regulations and loopholes, as well as the harsh stance taken by auto insurance companies against diminished value claims leaves consumers with few options. “Consumers may be involved in an accident once or twice in a lifetime; they simply don’t have the resources and knowledge to get the compensation they deserve,” says Quddus.
This is precisely why the owners of Advocate Auto Claims, who have more than 10 years of experience working with diminished value claims on behalf of fleet owners and rental car agencies, have opened their doors to consumers. While drivers can pay out of pocket for a vehicle inspection or a report to substantiate their claim, and an attorney may pursue such a claim in conjunction with a personal injury case, Quddus’ company handles every aspect of diminished value claims – and does so on a contingency basis. “The process of establishing diminished value and then negotiating the proper compensation is both an art and a science,” Quddus says. “We pride ourselves on our ability to get results, and don’t expect to be paid until you do.”
For more information about Diminished Value, please visit www.advocateautoclaims.com
Why do some sales go bad? Here’s Laura Betterly’s take on it.
Posted on 13. May, 2008 by Kris Nickerson in Articles
Why do some sales go bad? You know what I mean, seems like its going great and then no communication, no calls back. It can be the cause of a real sales slump.
Now why would a prospect start out adversarial? Well, as much as they might need and want or have some interest they don’t want to be sold. How do you sell without selling?? It has to do with how the salesperson actually cares about his prospect. I’ll tell you this, I never sold anything to someone I didn’t like and who didn’t like me. It needs to be genuine and not hype.
How do you do this? Well, you got to listen. Some sales people are so intent on talking to the prospect about what they can do for them, they forget to ask, what do you do? How can I be of service? Asking that, and not doing this as an exercise, but really caring for the prospect will make the difference in getting a prospect interested.
Now, what if you’ve done all that and the prospect just vanishes off the side of the earth?
Well, here are a few things I’ve found out:
- The prospect is not really qualified in the first place. They act like they can afford to buy, but then get too embarrassed to tell the truth.
- The prospect is not really the decision maker and is unwilling to tell you so.
- There is something about you personally that reminds the prospect of someone else they don’t like, and as such, won’t buy.
- There was some sort of personal emergency that occurred and the prospect gets back in touch when the emergency is over.
- The prospect was a competitor and was calling to get information from you.
- The prospect is from an alien race of beings that never buy anything anyway.
Regardless, keep this in mind for your own sales and let’s make an agreement not to do this to anyone who is selling anything to you. From a karma standpoint, it will work to your advantage.
Laura Betterly is the President of Yada Yada Makreting, Inc. (www.yadayadamarketing.com). And her blog can be found at laurabetterly.wordpress.com
Parkbridge Capital Has Eye on the Prize – Retirement Communities
Posted on 12. May, 2008 by Kris Nickerson in Articles
Manufactured Housing and RV Resorts
A slumping housing market, high energy costs, and turbulent financial markets are causing many baby boomers into more prudent choices for their retirement. Today’s retirees consider a longer, more active lifestyle than previous generations, and now, with homes adjusting downward in value, many will have fewer financial resources than previously perceived. There is an answer for many of the upcoming wave of retirees: the new generation of manufactured homes, where quality, safety, comfort, aesthetics and value exist. Many people are turning to the up-scale manufactured home communities. “The benefits are not solely in the home itself. The community offers great benefits and value,” states Lee Meekcoms, President of Parkbridge Capital Group, Inc. (http://www.parkbridgecapital.com), a privately held real estate investment, acquisition, and brokerage firm. With more than twenty-five years in real estate sales, acquisition, and development and a baby boomer himself, he understands this market well. “The boomers seek a lifestyle that is secure, fulfills needs, and provides enjoyable activities with friends in the retirement years,” says Meekcoms.
Today, many manufactured home communities feature resort-living, sporting everything from gated entrances, to swimming pools, spas, recreational centers, clubhouses, community events, wireless internet, cable TV, activity coordinators, BBQ and dining areas, fitness centers, seasonal events and more. “The people that live in these communities are happy, creative and really enjoy the place and all that it offers,” says Meekcoms, “staying at home is not really an interesting option”.
These 77 million baby boomers, or 35 percent of all U.S. adults, have long known how to flex their real estate muscle. As the top breadwinners in the American economy, baby boomers have a strong relationship to their home and consider housing and real estate to be their best financial investment. Baby boomers also account for roughly 50% of all vacation homes according to the National Association of Realtors.
Trends in both manufactured home communities and RV resorts (which can have the same set of amenities as the manufactured home communities, and often, more amenities) are strong indicators that these properties are a wise investment; the reason why Parkbridge Capital has focused on this market. “We’re confident that buying, upgrading, enhancing operations, and expanding existing properties will result in very good investor returns, while providing Americans with an affordable, or even a quite luxurious way to achieve the lifestyle that they desire.”
One might expect that skyrocketing gas prices would discourage RV traveling or seasonal living elsewhere. However, Parkbridge Capital has found the opposite to be true. “Research indicates that those who own RVs overwhelmingly feel that RV vacations are much less expensive than other travel options,” he says. “Observers of this phenomena note that RV owners are spending less time on the road and more time at their destinations. We’re seeing a lot of growth in the “park-model” (resort cottage) sector of the RV market. The retiree simply drives their smaller rv, their car, or arrives by air travel, and remains for the season at the resort.” Meekcoms expects that this trend will continue for many years.
Because of economic fact, many baby boomers want to enjoy a flexible lifestyle at a cost that isn’t extravagant,” he says. “The properties that we acquire with our partners and clients are a perfect fit for mobile, cost-conscious boomers who want the best of all worlds.”
Parkbridge Capital Group has been involved with the purchase, sale or management of more than 100 properties worth in excess of one billion dollars in current value. More information can be found online at http://www.parkbridgecapital.com.
A Berry Good Proposition: Black Raspberries May Fight Oral Cancer
Posted on 05. May, 2008 by Kris Nickerson in Articles
In the mood for something sweet? Consider a handful of black raspberries. Researchers at Ohio State’s James Cancer Hospital have shown that black raspberries may not only help prevent colon and esophageal cancer, but help battle oral cancer as well. Lab tests show that this delicious fruit reduced tumors on the mouth by up to 44 percent. Unfortunately, there are a couple of problems…
First off, black raspberries are very difficult to come by in your regular grocery story, even when in season. Having access to them year-round could be quite a task. Second, studies show you would have to eat about 4 whole cups a day to enjoy the full health benefits. Very few of us actually eat the recommended 5 servings a day of fruit. Finding the time, and stomach, to eat 4 cups of raspberries could be difficult, no matter how delicious they are.
Fortunately, scientists are working on a solution: lozenges. They hope that concentrating the cancer-fighting chemicals in black raspberries into more manageable lozenges will prove to be as successful in the fight against oral cancer as eating the whole fruit (though nutritionists will tell you the whole fruit is always better for you). If researchers find that certain genes respond to the berry extract in them, it could someday mean a simple new way to fight cancer. They would also be available year-round.
It should be noted that fruit is part of a healthy diet, and therefore good for your teeth. Highly acidic fruits, like lemons, can actually harm tooth enamel, however, so try to rinse your mouth out with warm water or brush your teeth after you eat them. Also, stay away from high-sugar snacks, like candy and soda (and yes, even black raspberry cobbler).
If you have any questions about dental health, please don’t hesitate to call our office at (866) 568-2195 or visit us at http://www.afraidofthedentist.net today.
Best Regards,
Dr. Rene Piedra
P.S. If you have any friends or family members who you feel could use our services, please don’t hesitate to have them call us. We’ll be sure to take good care of them.
Do You Miss Your Missing Teeth?
Posted on 02. May, 2008 by Kris Nickerson in Articles
Dr. Rene Piedra Can Help Even If You’re Afraid of the Dentist
“It is not uncommon for someone to lose at least once in their life and for many it could be significantly more. Tooth loss also becomes more of a problem with age,” says Dr. Rene Piedra (http://www.afraidofthedentist.net). “This is definitely something that we have been seeing with baby boomers who are now starting to come into the age range where this is now becoming an issue.” A dental implant takes the place of the missing tooth’s root and can help prevent additional health and cosmetic issues.
Known as the “people dentist” in Coral Gables, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami Beach and surrounding areas, Dr. Rene Piedra and his team keep themselves abreast of current technologies and practices that help them to bring the best of dental care to their patients.
The fact fewer people these days lack the teeth of previous generations, is largely due to advances in modern dentistry. With current dentistry techniques, “people can have now have a natural-looking, beautiful smile regardless of what life has dealt them.”
Missing teeth are usually the result of accidents, gum disease or poor dental health. According to Rene Piedra, DMD, “In almost all cases, gum disease and poor dental health is simply due to lack of education or proper dental care.” Proper dental care includes not only brushing and flossing your teeth on a regular basis but also encompasses, proper nutrition and other issues.
Leaving the missing tooth space empty may not sound too serious, but the consequences of not filling in the space from the missing tooth can include:
* The teeth adjacent to your missing tooth can change position to fill the gap resultiing in a improper bite which can lead to other health issues
* The loss of your missing tooth’s root can cause your jawbone to shrink, making your face appear prematurely older; and,
* A missing tooth in the front of your mouth can affect your smile and your self-confidence.
In many situations, a dental implant is the most pleasingly esthetic solution for replacing missing teeth. A dental crown or dental bridge, secured to a dental implant, can provide a complete and beautiful solution for improving your smile.
“New advances in dental implants are one of the most important developments in modern dentistry and Rene Piedra, DMD and Associates is proud to be able to help bring this advancement in dentistry to our patients” say Dr. Rene Piedra. Because of advances in dentistry, in materials, instruments, techniques and chairside manners it is more than ever, less challenging to have dental treatment completed. “Many of our patients are afraid of the dentist but have come in due to pain or because of a friend or family member. However, after their first visit, they so surprised after experiencing our care that they realize they will do fine on their future visits to our office,” concludes Dr. Rene Piedra.
If you have had a bad experience in the past or in your youth or are just afraid to go to the dentist, Dr. Rene Piedra can help. To find out more information about the services offered by Rene Piedra, DMD & Associates, call their toll-free number at (866) 568-2195 or visit them on the web at http://www.afraidofthedentist.net.
Can I Really Get Paid on Diminished Value?
Posted on 01. May, 2008 by Kris Nickerson in Articles
If you can answer YES to these three questions, then you have a claim worth pursuing
- Is your vehicle worth more than $5,000?
- Was the damage more than $1,000?
- Did the accident happen within the last 4 years?
If you answered yes to the above, then click here to get FREE information.
How can we do this?
Because we handle more diminished value cases than anyone else. We deal with insurance companies and make them pay us every day, and we have tools not available to the average consumer that will enable us to recover that money for you.
Remember, this is money that you will probably not be able to get yourself unless you’re trained in this area. For sure, they see you coming, and they can handle the average consumer and not pay you or pay you substantially less than what you deserve. We’re so confident that we can recover your Diminished Value claim that we don’t get paid unless you do.
We aren’t trying to sell you a report, an inspection, or anything else. We do ALL the work, and only get paid if we recover money for you.
Click here for more FREE information.
Been in an accident? Get what you’re owed
Posted on 01. May, 2008 by Kris Nickerson in Articles
Unlike other online resources that merely provide an inspection or Diminished Value report for an upfront fee, Advocate Auto Claims (http://www.advocateautoclaims.com) handles your claim from start to finish with no upfront cost to you. We are so confident that we can collect for you, that we only work on a contingency fee basis, taking a percentage of the amount collected only once the claim has been settled.
Regardless of what others may tell you, collecting Diminished Value from an insurance company can be a difficult and lengthy process. You should utilize the services of a professional Diminished Value claim specialist. The actual process will vary on a state-by-state and case-by-case basis. While the principle of Diminished Value has long since been recognized by law, the insurance industry has gone out of their way to not pay consumers for this legitimate loss. For years, the auto insurance industry has lied about owing for this loss and, more recently, has even enlisted the aid of Departments of Insurance in various states to keep from paying this loss to policyholders. With our assistance, there are still opportunities for you to collect full value for the Diminished Value of your repaired vehicle.
Don’t waste your money on a report. Call now at (866) 596-6011 or click here to get your FREE Diminished Value estimate.
Dr. Rene Piedra Asks: Do You Fear The Dentist?
Posted on 29. Apr, 2008 by Kris Nickerson in Articles
“Excavators, probes, drills, retractors and burs. That sounds more like a construction zone then a place to maintain healthy teeth,” says dentist Rene Piedra, DMD (http://www.afraidofthedentist.net). It’s no wonder that according to the National Dental Information Center, 95 million Americans fear the dentist. Odontophobia or fear of the dentist is so common that more and more patients are avoiding their dentist appointments or taking unnecessary measures to mask the experience. “Rene Piedra, DMD & Associates have made it a personal mission to eradicate this fear and change the face of dentistry,” says Dr. Rene Piedra.
Known as the “people dentist” in Coral Gables, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami Beach and surrounding areas, Dr. Rene Piedra and his team embrace several practices to help people who fear the dentist.
- They help patients get to the root of their problem rather then try to offer unnecessary medication by actually listening to patient concerns. Rene Piedra, DMD & Associates established a call center where patients can discuss their concerns about dental procedures.
- During the appointment, the element of the unknown is eliminated. Patients are walked through the entire process and can choose to view everything on state of the art computer monitors.
- Using the latest in dental technology, regular procedures are now less invasive and easier on the patient.
- Rene Piedra, DMD & Associates’ offices are uniquely set up so that when you come in, you will be welcomed into a soothing environment and greeted with a smile with no drill sounds or chemicals.
- Patients worried about the cost can relax. Dr. Piedra works with a variety of financial institutions which allows them to offer no down payments and interest free loans.
“It is all really about the people not the teeth,” concludes Dr. Piedra. “Out of all of the patients whom initially got treatment under sedation, more than 90% of them are now able to receive dental care without it! It is always our goal to get the patient past their fear of the dentist.”
If you have had a bad experience in the past or in your youth or are just fear the dentist, Dr. Rene Piedra can help. To find out more information about the services offered by Rene Piedra, DMD & Associates, call their toll-free number at (866) 568-2195 or visit them on the web at http://www.afraidofthedentist.net.
Greg Winteregg, DDS – Questions to Answer Before Adding an Associate
Posted on 19. Apr, 2008 by Kris Nickerson in Articles
This is “Part II” of a two-part article on the subject of Dental Associates. (Part I is available at: http://www.gregwinteregg.com)
Perhaps now or some time in the future, you’ll think about adding an associate. Whether that time is today or ten years from now, it is best to be informed on the subject. Part one of this article offered guidelines to help determine the need for an associate in your practice.
In this article, we’ll pick up with questions you should ask once the decision is made to hire an associate. Specifically:
1. Do you want an associate or a partner?
2. What type of work do you expect the associate to do – i.e. what would be his or her job description?
3. How should you pay an associate?
4. How do you find the right associate?
5. How does the associate’s treatment philosophy match up with yours?
6. How can you tell if the associate “fits in” with your office, staff and patients
Let’s start with the first one: “Do you want an associate or partner?”
You should never enter a relationship saying “Well – come on board and we’ll see how it goes and work out the details later.” If agreements are not clearly delineated, each party has their own “idea” of what the agreement is and they seldom match! The associate starts with the idea he or she will be offered a partnership and eventually buy the owner/doctor out. The owner/doctor is entertaining the thought but is ambivalent. The associate makes the schedule easier so the owner/doctor, who originally planned on retiring in three to five years, has more time off, feels better, and decides to work another fifteen years. The associate feels abused and taken advantage of and decides to leave. The owner/doctor finds himself back at square one. What happened? In this case the doctor failed on both the communication and leadership fronts.
Had good communication existed from the get go, with a clear reality of where the relationship was headed, things might have turned out different. You don’t have to offer a partnership right up front. If partnership is a possibility though, at least have some benchmarks in place and get these agreed upon by both parties beforehand – and stick to the agreement. For example, you both agree that you will work together for a set evaluation period before talking partnership, etc. One excellent example I saw was a doctor who had his new associate (potential partner) sign three agreements: a) associate, b) buy-in and c) buy-out. If the associate met certain guidelines and the relationship was good, he could buy in. If the owner then wanted to sell the remainder the associate could buy him out, etc. Either way – you might not want a partner – ever. This should also be made clear. Talk it over with your accountant or other advisors and decide what you are shopping for before you start on this journey.
The next question is: “What type of work do you expect the associate to do – i.e. what would be his or her job description?”
Do you expect them to take all operative and root canals off your schedule and see all the children that come in? Will they treatment plan and present their own cases? Determine issues like this prior to interviewing, much less hiring. Keep in mind that the associate is there for you and your office. They either fit or they don’t. Imagine you were selling your house. If the realtor brought in a potential buyer that asked you to add a pool and two more bedrooms, you wouldn’t do that to make it work. The realtor would find another buyer. Same concept with an associate. For example: You want an associate to free up your schedule by taking all of the fillings, kids and root canals. The prospect you are interviewing refuses to do root canals and doesn’t really like kids. Next… You get the idea. While some things are of course open to negotiation – don’t go crazy attempting to accommodate. If you needed a full time receptionist and you interview someone who can’t work Mondays and Wednesdays– why hire them? You eventually will find someone who can.
The third question is “What should you pay an associate?”
This depends on what you expect the associate to do. If they are to find their own new patients, present their own cases, etc. the percentage would be higher. Conversely, if you handle all of the treatment planning and fill their schedule for them, the percentage would be lower. Sit down and do the math. If you had an associate producing X amount at Y percentage – what would that equate to and how would that impact your bottom line? Also consider how this would impact your schedule. If you are booked out for several weeks and you give an associate all of the operative, root canals, single unit crowns, etc. you would be able to move all of the major work on your schedule forward making you more productive. For a GP associate, anything over 35% of collections in compensation is too high in my opinion (specialists are an exception). I’ve seen some doctors who pay their associates 25% if all they do is work on patients with no treatment planning responsibilities. You can also mix a per diem and percentage. If you are going to do this, you have to ensure it is viable for the office.
For example:
You guarantee a doctor $450 per day. He works 16 days per month, making the guaranteed salary $7,200 per month. You decide you don’t want to exceed, let’s say, 30% in compensation for the associate. So we take that $7,200 and divide it by 30 and multiply by 100. We do this to determine what $7,200 is 30% of.
Here’s how the example works out:
1. Associate Monthly Base = $7,200
2. $7,200 Divided by 30 equals 240.
3. 240 multiplied by 100 equals $24,000.
4. $7,200 is 30% of $24,000.
So, if we are going to give a percentage on top of the base, we tell the associate that they get 30% of anything they collect over $24,000 in a given month and distribute that amount at the end of the month.
On the other side of this, what happens if this associate who you are paying $7,200 a month and, after ramping up, their average collections are only $15,000? In that case, you had better do something as they are costing you more than they are worth – in this case 48%!
In my experience, if an associate can’t do $40,000 per month, no one is going to be happy. They won’t be making enough money and below that level of production you aren’t making enough of a profit to keep them around. You must have enough business to make it worth everyone’s while and they must be confident enough clinically to produce it.
The next question is: “How do you find the right associate?”
You’ve filled in the blanks and decided what you want and what you have to offer. If no prospects are immediately to hand, you need to go out and find someone. The question is: where to look? The answer: Everywhere! Here are some ideas:
1. Advertise in the paper.
2. Ask various sales reps (i.e. your supplier, etc.)
3. Call your friends and colleagues.
4. Advertise in local and state dental journals and newsletters.
5. Advertise online.
6. Have your office manager help you contact doctors in your immediate area to see if they know anyone.
7. Sign up for an associate “headhunting” service (these can be pricey).
8. Contact residency programs in your state. Dental schools are also an option, but if you need someone who can hit the ground running from a production standpoint, this may not be the best option as you may have to deal with a learning curve.
Just keep in mind that if you outflow enough, you’ll eventually find someone who will be a good fit.
The fifth question is: “How does the associate’s treatment philosophy match up with yours?”
Let’s say you’ve worked out the need for an associate, what the level of compensation is, the job description and the hours that he or she will work. You also searched for an associate and are now interviewing an associate prospect. He or she seems like a nice person but what is his or her treatment philosophy? Divergent treatment philosophies between a senior doctor and his or her associate is the cause of more turmoil than you’d suspect.
How can you prevent this in lieu of having to work together for six or more months? Try this approach: During the interview with your prospective associate, take ten charts, along with accompanying x-rays, models (if there are any) and temporarily remove the treatment plans. Now, ask the associate to draw up a treatment plan based on the information to hand. Match up the associate’s treatment plan with the treatment plan you made for the case. If they are relatively the same, you may have a good match. You could also describe a number of clinical scenarios and see what course of action he or she would take and see how that agrees with what you might do.
Ultimately, the MOST important thing to consider with an associate is their level of clinical competence.
You may not be able to establish this for yourself without working with him or her. There are a couple of things you can do to get an idea of where they are at clinically.
1. They could treat you. (Even if it is a prophy, you’ll see their chairside manner and the like.)
2. You could have them bring in models and pictures for cases they have completed.
Other than that, you’ll have to check up on their work with your patients.
If you feel you have found the right candidate, you could possible have them treat you and some of your staff. If the team isn’t sold on them as a clinician they’ll be reluctant to have patients see the ‘new guy/girl’. You’ll end up just as busy as you are now while paying the associate to sit around because “none of the patients wants to see the associate.” It may be a great ego-trip to a have an associate but if it doesn’t move you in the direction of lightening your load or expanding the practice, it’s not worth it.
I once had a doctor tell me that there was no way he would let his associate work on him. Excuse me?! They represent your office. Their treatment is your treatment! You are responsible for their work. And no one wants to be re-doing dentistry for free after a sub par clinician leaves the practice, not to mention the effect this has on your patients and practice.
These are a few of my thoughts on a subject that could easily fill a book. Try these simple guidelines and get good advice from your advisors. In the end, the decision ultimately is YOURS. Choose wisely. If you would like to get more information on this subject, or on how to get more fee-for-service new patients to keep your practice healthy, to expand or to make it possible to add an associate the “New Patient Workshop” from MGE (http://www.mgeonline.com) is the solution.
RV Resorts Remain Solid Investment Despite Economic Downturn
Posted on 13. Mar, 2008 by Kris Nickerson in Articles
With news headlines sounding alarms like, “Joblessness on the Rise,” “Mortgage Crisis Unfolds,” “Record-Breaking Oil Prices,” and “Recession Looms,” one could easily assume that the U.S. economy is in for a dramatic downward spiral. Just as with other stories in the news, however, reality is much more subtle than the headlines. Although the short-term outlook for much of the economy is bleak, not every sector will suffer. “Even though we’ve seen some dramatic economic shifts – particularly in the real estate market – RV resorts and manufactured home communities continue to be sound investments,” says Leon D. Meekcoms, President of Parkbridge Capital Group, Inc. (www.parkbridgecapital.com), a privately held real estate investment, acquisition, and brokerage firm.
Meekcoms attributes the strength of the manufactured home and RV resort markets to two underlying factors: prosperous Baby Boomers on the verge of retiring are trending toward having affordable second residences, while vacationers are opting for seasonal recreation within driving distance of their homes. “Properties within two hours of major cities and those that are in the Sun Belt will continue to appreciate and provide the foundation for increasing returns over time,” says Meekcoms.
Pre-built resort cottages, commonly referred to as “park models,” are perfect for cost-conscious Boomers. Maxing out at around 400 square feet, these mini-homes may look like cottages or cabins, but are legally RVs. “Park models are the ultimate hybrid,” says Meekcoms. “They can be luxurious and have myriad amenities like a house, but without the tax implications of a permanent residence.” Because of the dramatic increase in the popularity of park homes, manufacturers are enjoying keeping up with consumer demand.
Similarly, traditional RV manufacturers are seeing strong demand, and industry insiders estimate that over 8 million families will own recreational vehicles by 2010. Although one might assume that record-breaking fuel prices would discourage RV travel, Meekcoms says that the opposite is true. “Research indicates that those who own RVs overwhelmingly feel that RV vacations are much less expensive than other travel options,” he says. “What we’re seeing is that RV owners are spending less time on the road and more time at their destinations.”
Trends in both park models and RV travel are strong indicators that RV resort properties are a wise investment, which is why Parkbridge Capital has focused on this market. “The number of upscale park model and RV resort communities is relatively small, so demand is sure to outstrip supply in coming years,” says Meekcoms. “We’re confident that buying, upgrading, and expanding existing properties will maximize investor return while providing Americans with an affordable, or even quite luxurious way to achieve the lifestyle that they desire.”
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