The Sharing Solution How to Save Money, Simplify Your Life & Build Community By Attorneys Janelle Orsi & Emily Doskow 1st edition Dear friends, Since 1971, Nolo has worked hard to help Americans get a fair shake from the legal system. How? By producing books, software, forms and a website that translate legal jargon into plain English, off er clear instructions for routine tasks and break down complex systems into easy-to-understand components. All of our publications are relentlessly researched and tested by a dedicated group of in-house legal editors. And when we come out with a new edition, you’ll know that it’s been thoroughly updated. ere’s a reason why Nolo is not only the nation’s oldest, but also the most respected provider of legal information. Our mission, refl ected in everything we publish, is to give consumers and small businesses the best information available. 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But this text is not a substitute for personalized advice from a knowledgeable lawyer. If you want the help of a trained professional—and we’ll always point out situations in which we think that’s a good idea— consult an attorney licensed to practice in your state. Please note The Sharing Solution How to Save Money, Simplify Your Life & Build Community By Attorneys Janelle Orsi & Emily Doskow 1st edition FIRST EDITION MAY 2009 Editor LISA GUERIN Cover Design SUSAN PUTNEY Proofreading ANI DIMUSHEVA Index VICTORIA BAKER Printing DELTA PRINTING SOLUTIONS, INC. Orsi, Janelle, 1979- e sharing solution: how to save money, simplify your life & build community / by Janelle Orsi and Emily Doskow. 1st ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-1-4133-1021-4 (pbk. : alk. paper) ISBN-10: 1-4133-1021-4 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Sharing. 2. Sharing Economic aspects. 3. Cooperation. I. Doskow, Emily. II. Title. BJ1533.G4O77 2009 179 dc22 2009009111 Copyright © 2009 by Nolo. (No copyright is claimed as to the Seeds for Change chart on Page 99.) All rights reserved. e NOLO trademark is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Printed in the U.S.A. Printed on 100% recycled, 100% post-consumer waste paper, using soy-based inks. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission. Reproduction prohibitions do not apply to the forms contained in this product when reproduced for personal use. Quantity sales: For information on bulk purchases or corporate premium sales, please contact the Special Sales Department. For academic sales or textbook adoptions, ask for Academic Sales. Call 800-955-4775 or write to Nolo, 950 Parker Street, Berkeley, California 94710. Dedication To our partners, Catherine and Luan, with whom we have the incredible good fortune to share each day. And to President Barack Obama, with whom we all share the task of creating a better world. Acknowledgments First and greatest thanks go to our editor, Lisa Guerin, who truly shared the work of creating this book through her valuable contributions to both structure and substance, and whose intelligence and sharp wit we appreciate so much. We are grateful to Marcia Stewart for her early and enthusiastic support and for shepherding us through the acquisitions process so smoothly and so quickly, and to Nolo’s production department for the wonderful look of the book. We heartily thank all the sharers who were and are our inspiration. We would like to specially honor the community of sharers who provided many sparks of inspiration and ideas that led to this book—Diane Dodge, Cecilie Surasky, Carolyn Hunt, Teo Surasky, and Jill, Pauline, and Carmel H. Guillermo-Togawa. We also extend much gratitude to others whose real-life sharing practices informed and illuminated for us the practical ins and outs of sharing, including Terry Lim, Jane Cavanaugh, Karen Hester, Diana Shapiro, Laurence Schectman, Matt Nichols, Karen Mitchell, John Abrams, the Barn-Raisin’ Babes and the Maxwell Park Neighborhood Home Improvement Group, and the countless others whose examples have paved the way for a more sharing world. We also greatly appreciate the carsharing expertise and input from Chris Ganson, Matt Nichols, Rick Hutchinson, and Lorraine Wilde. Many thanks to Elena Condes—without her devotion to the sharing of birthday cake, e Sharing Solution might not exist. Luan Stauss is due much appreciation for the title, as well as for the home improvement group forms and ideas—and, as ever, for her unflagging support and engagement in the process. A huge thank you goes to Catherine Shaffer whose enthusiasm, insights, and delightful presence were a constant throughout the writing of this book. And many thanks to Tom and Jackie Orsi, whose support helped make this book possible, among countless other things. Table of Contents Your Sharing Companion 1 Part I: Sharing Basics 1 Getting Started 7 What Are Your Sharing Goals? 9 What Can Be Shared? 17 e Triple Bottom Line: e Benefits of Sharing 28 2 Finding Sharing Partners 31 Who Can I Share With? 32 Sharing With Your Neighbors 34 Sharing With Your Coworkers 42 Finding Sharers Online 43 Join Established Sharing Programs 44 3 20 Questions to Ask When You Share 45 1. Why Are We Sharing? 49 2. What Are We Sharing? 50 3. Whom Are We Sharing With? 51 4. How Many People Are We Sharing With? 52 5. How Will the Timing of Our Arrangement Work? 53 6. Who Owns the Shared Items? 54 7. Should We Form a Separate Legal Entity? 56 8. What Should We Call Ourselves? 59 9. What Do We Get to Do? 60 10. How Will We Make Decisions? 61 11. What Responsibilities Will Each of Us Have? 61 12. What Are the Rules for Using Our Shared Property or Meeting Our Shared Responsibilities? 63 13. How Will We Handle Administrative Matters Like Scheduling, Communication, and Record Keeping? 64 14. How Will We Divide Expenses and Manage Money? 67 15. How Will We Manage Risk and Liability? 71 16. Are ere Legal Requirements We Need to Follow? 74 17. How Will We Resolve Conflicts or Disputes? 75 18. How Will We Bring New People Into the Group? 75 19. How Can a Member Leave the Group? 77 20. How Do We End the Sharing Arrangement? 79 4 ank You For Sharing: Communicating, Making Decisions, and Resolving Conflict 85 Communication Skills for Sharing 86 Making Decisions as a Group 97 Handling Disputes 106 5 Putting Your Arrangement in Writing 117 e Benefits of a Written Agreement 118 Documents Your Group Might Need 120 Preparing Your Documents 123 Getting Legal Assistance 131 Part II: Sharing Solutions 6 Sharing Housing 135 Identify Your Housing Needs 138 Legal Issues to Consider When Sharing a Home 139 Solution 1: e Co-Owned House 148 Solution 2: e Retrofit House 155 Solution 3: e Group Rental House 161 Solution 4: e Shared Vacation Home 167 Solution 5: Cohousing 173 Solution 6: Casual Cohousing 179 e Triple Bottom Line: e Benefits of Shared Housing 187 7 Sharing Household Goods, Purchases, Tasks, and Space 189 Solution 1: Share Household Items 190 Solution 2: Purchase Supplies and Goods Together 207 Solution 3: Share Services and Utilities 212 Solution 4: Form a Work Group for Home Projects 216 Solution 5: Share a Yard 226 e Triple Bottom Line: e Benefits of Sharing Household Goods, Purchases, Tasks and Space 231 [...]... determine what you decide to share, and in what ways In our experience, most people share for one or more of these reasons: • to save money or acquire property (or the right to use it) • to save time and reduce work and effort • to live in a more “green” way • to build community, and • to get help with a project or learn a skill Financial and Property Goals If you’re looking to save money, sharing is a very... what they want to share, and then seek out other sharers Another way to get some sharing started is to get together a group of people who are interested in exploring ways to share These might be neighbors, coworkers, or anyone else you see on a regular basis (For more ideas about who to share with and how to connect with them, see Chapter 2.) Once your Sharing Circle” or Sharing Group” comes together,... you need to start sharing in any—or every—area of your life Part I explains sharing basics, including what you might want to share; who you can share with; what issues you should consider and discuss at the outset; how to communicate, make decisions, and resolve disputes in your sharing group; and how to make a written sharing agreement In this section, we cover: • how to set up practical and logistical... 29 8 | THE SHARING SOLUTION W ould you like to save time and money? Learn new skills and teach others what you know? Use fewer resources and reduce your carbon footprint? Get to know your neighbors and build community? You can get all of these valuable benefits and many more—through sharing “Share” is a word of many meanings As children, we “share” our crayons by letting others borrow them We “share”... including: • how to share simple things, like tools and food from your garden • how to share bigger things, like a car, a job, or office space • how to share help, like a nanny or a caregiver for an elder, and • how to share the most important things, like your home Each chapter in Part II contains a number of sharing solutions, practical strategies you can use to create sharing arrangements for the topic... into the atmosphere from your activities each year It also shows you how much you can reduce your emissions by making some changes in your daily patterns and consumption You can find the calculator at: www.epa.gov/ climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html Other footprint calculators express your impact based on the number of acres of biologically productive land that are required to support your lifestyle... We share the sidewalks, streets, and highways and the cost of building and maintaining them We share public schools, public utilities, and public services, all of which we pay for through our taxes 2 | THE SHARING SOLUTION Most of us share in ways that are closer to home, too Do you leave your child with your neighbor once in a while so you can run to the store, returning the favor when your neighbor... coworkers, and friends you might not have met yet is another way that sharing can improve your quality of life If participating more in the life of your community, or being part of building community yourself, is one of your reasons for sharing, here is a worksheet with examples that will help you start thinking about what might work in your own life A blank copy is in Appendix B Community Building Worksheet... details • how to plan for foreseeable and unforeseeable changes • how to deal with legal issues that might arise in connection with your sharing arrangement • how to manage the people aspects of sharing, like differing needs and communication styles, and • how to deal with conflict in productive ways Part II provides detailed solutions, information, ideas, tips, and tools for particular types of sharing, ... not—borrow the car, that you’ll both chip in to buy a car seat that your kids will share or a bike rack for the roof, or that one of you will pay a bit more to buy a new hybrid in exchange for getting to claim the tax deduction This is one of the best things about sharing: For the most part, you get to decide how to structure the arrangement 22 | THE SHARING SOLUTION The exception is when you are sharing . The Sharing Solution How to Save Money, Simplify Your Life & Build Community By Attorneys Janelle Orsi & Emily Doskow 1st edition Dear friends, Since 1971, Nolo has worked hard to. DIMUSHEVA Index VICTORIA BAKER Printing DELTA PRINTING SOLUTIONS, INC. Orsi, Janelle, 1979- e sharing solution: how to save money, simplify your life & build community / by Janelle Orsi and Emily. and tools for particular types of sharing, including: how to share simple things, like tools and food from your garden• how to share bigger things, like a car, a job, or office space• how to