Don’t Let Hidden Fees Bust Your Travel Budget

Posted on November 13, 2015 by robertjrussellcompanies

On top of planning flights, hotels, car rentals, dining and activities, there are numerous fees and surcharges to consider when traveling. According to Cheapflights.com, the most common of these fees include:

1. Booking Fees – With the increasing popularity of booking travel online, many airlines and travel websites now charge booking fees for folks who prefer to book travel over the phone. Even if you opt to book online, beware of any online booking fees. That small $5 fee adds up if you’re booking travel for multiple people.

Avoid booking fees by shopping around and comparing prices. Whether you book from a third party or direct from the airline, hotel or car rental company, be sure to read the fine print.

2. Baggage Fees – Checked bags (and even carry-on bags on Allegiant, Frontier and Spirit airlines) are on an exceedingly long list of amenities that are no longer complimentary. In addition to charging for checked luggage, airlines also assess charges for overweight baggage and excess baggage.

Avoid checked baggage fees altogether by learning to travel with one carry-on bag. (Yes, it is possible!) With the right suitcase, you can pack it all in and not fret about fees or finding space in the overhead bin.

Alternatively, you can book an airline or fare class that suits your needs. JetBlue may have abandoned free bags on its lowest fare flights, but it’s generally cheaper to book a Blue Plus ticket, which includes a free bag, than to pay for a last-minute bag check. And most airlines will charge you less if you pay in advance for checking your luggage.

If you fly often with luggage on the same airline, consider obtaining a credit card with that airline as a free bag check is a common perk.

To avoid overweight baggage fees, weigh your bag at home before heading to the airport. Lighten the load by removing that extra pair of shoes or non-essential extra outfit. Leave the toiletries at home, too as you can use the complimentary hotel amenities or stock up at the store at your destination.

3. Customs Entrance/Exit Fees – If you’re traveling abroad, there may be entrance or exit fees charged at the border. Even if your destination doesn’t require a visa, you might still be stuck with “air passenger duty.” At the time of booking, inquire whether your airline ticket includes the destination’s fees to avoid any surprises.

Avoid excess visa fees for last minute processing by applying well in advance. If you can, go directly to the embassy or consulate to apply for the visa. You’ll save on express mailing your travel documents. If you use a third-party service, the company will likely charge a service fee on top of the visa processing fees.

If you are traveling on a cruise, be wary of port fees. When a cruise ship docks at a port of call, they are charged a government-imposed port fee that is passed on to the consumer. Ask the company or travel agent if the quoted price includes port fees. Larger cruise liners tend to include them, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. If the port fees are piling up, book a cruise with fewer stops or book earlier, as rates tend to be much lower when booked months in advance.

Traveling during the off-season also helps drive costs down.

4. Credit Card Transaction Fees – Your credit card provider may tack on transaction fees for each and every purchase you made abroad. Some credit cards and banks also charge a currency conversion fee.

Avoid credit card transaction fees by getting a credit card that doesn’t add a foreign transaction fee to your charges. When presented with the option to pay with local currency or with that of your home country, always pay in local currency. The dynamic currency conversion option is based on a poor exchange rate, which means you will end up paying more. Plus, your credit card company may still charge you a foreign transaction fee.

Other travel fees to watch for include hotel fees, such as resort fees, airport shuttle costs, bed type guarantees and early check-in/late check-out fees; car rental fees, such as rental insurance, extra driver fees, alternate drop-off location fees; rebooking fees, and reward travel fees.

Posted in Travel | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Low Housing Inventory and What You Can Do About It

Posted on November 12, 2015 by robertjrussellcompanies

When you take out all the short sales and foreclosures that used to make up a big part of the inventory and you sprinkle in a whole lot of eager buyers and then factor in the lack of new construction, you have the perfect storm for a low inventory market.

It is no surprise to anyone that has been following the real estate industry over the past five years that we have arrived at a time of historically low inventory levels.

On the positive side real estate agents are experiencing multiple offers for sellers, but more buyers than not aren’t getting their offers accepted which lends to frustration.

So just what do you do when you are working in this type of low inventory market? The first thing you have to do is accept the fact that you are going to have to “move your boat” to find the fish! That means that you are going to have to find listings and present a compelling reason for sellers to want to list their homes. In this type of market the agents with the inventory are the agents who control their financial destiny (and their frustration levels).

A letter campaign can be very effective. So here are some ideas for finding listings for your business via a letter campaign:

MLS Research & Shortage Letter
Go into the MLS and look for neighborhoods that have had very low days on market numbers (fast sales). Then look at the recent sales and what the list price to sale price ratio has been. If the sales prices exceed the list prices you have found a “hot spot”. You can do a letter campaign to the neighborhood letting them know that their area has had some high sales history and inform them of their opportunity to sell.

Zoning Changes Letter
Zoning changes can drastically change the way a property is valued. For example, some residential areas that have been converted to commercial may now be valued higher. Alternatively, some homeowners may decide that the area no longer fits their needs and may need to move. My suggestion is to go to your local planning office and find out if there have been any zoning changes recently. Create a letter following up with the homeowners in the area affected and let them know of the changes and how their values may be affected.

Absentee Owners Letter
When an owner of a property does not live in or near their property they are at a big disadvantage knowing about the recent market activity and how that might affect their property worth. They may not have realized their property had appreciated. By informing absentee owners of a multiple offer market in the area where their property is located you are letting them know of an opportunity to sell at top dollar. Many absentee owners who may not be happy renting their property could find this to be an excellent opportunity to sell their home.

Multiple Offer High Demand Letter
When you have listed a property, have had multiple offers, and the home has pended quickly you can send out a letter to all the surrounding neighbors letting them know that their neighbors home has pended very quickly. Because of the brisk activity there is high demand for their neighborhood and there is a good opportunity for them to take advantage of the marketing efforts you have already done in their neighborhood.

FSBO Letter
In a very fast market, FSBOs often miss out on getting top dollar for their home because they are not on the MLS where all the agents and their buyers are. By sending the FSBO detailed information on the sales prices, days on market and current market conditions along with a letter explaining how important the MLS is for them to get top dollar you have an excellent chance of listing these properties.

No agent ever wants to find themselves in a position where they can’t find their buyers a property to purchase. You can find inventory by simply creating a consistent campaign where you go mining for listings. I encourage you to get creative and think of other ways you can find potential listings in your market. There are fish out there. You just have to go find them!

To find out more about Real Estate and how to sell more, contact Robert J Russell – 972.292.8967

Posted in real estate | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Incorporating Social Media into your business

Posted on October 24, 2015 by robertjrussellcompanies
Today, most consumers research real estate agents, insurance agents, job candidates and businesses online when choosing who they want to work with, and many are using Facebook as a primary tool to do this. 
That’s why it’s so important for you to have the kind of brand message and presence on Facebook that will inspire potential clients to contact you and not the competition!
To help you craft a powerful brand on Facebook and other Social Media sites (there are over 300 of them), Robert J Russell is available to bring you an exclusive training where you’ll learn to build trust, engage clients, attract new customers, and grow your business with the world’s favorite social site.
Robert will come to YOUR location
Call our office for pricing
Here’s just a sample of what you’ll learn …
  • 5 simple steps to build a powerful brand on Facebook that builds trust, engages current clients, and attracts new customers to your business
  • The 7 essential questions you must ask yourself to craft a strong (and unforgettable) brand message
  • Why the content you’re posting might be scaring clients away … and how to intentionally pick content that will ensure your clients get the right impression of you
  • How to translate and leverage the brand you build on Facebook into everything else you do … like your website, and other marketing activities
  • Live Q&A session so you can get your most pressing real estate marketing questions answered!

Want to know more? Call 972.292.8967

 

Posted in Social Media | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

12 Ideas for Your Real Estate Blog or Website

Posted on October 23, 2015 by robertjrussellcompanies

Here are some IDEAS FOR YOUR REAL ESTATE BLOG OR WEBSITE!

  1. Great Deal of the Week!  Write about the best house you or your team find each week– Include pictures!
  2. Great restaurant of the Week!  Choose your local favorite and write about it! Link your blog to their Facebook page!
  3. Featured LOCAL business of the Week! Link your blog to their Facebook page!
  4. Take a photo in your neighborhood, or town and ask  “Where in ‘your town’ is this?”
  5. Write about current market conditions in your local market.
  6. Write about recent sales in your local market.
  7. Current events in your area… golf tournaments, dog shows, concerts, plays, car shows, etc.
  8. Local election results!
  9. Best “Happy Hours” in your town!
  10. Events and activities for kids in your area!
  11. Dog Park information in your neighborhoods.
  12. Things you LOVE about your town and neighborhood!

When you learn about your community, show that you care by blogging about things people are interested  in… you become the “local expert”.  By investing a few minutes daily or even weekly… the content you are posting will pay off with contacts, prospects, and clients in the future!

Posted in Advertising | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

It is called Innovation

Posted on October 7, 2015 by robertjrussellcompanies

The topic of innovation within an organization conjures up images of people creating new products or services, or possibly redesigning existing ones to make things better — new and improved. At the heart of innovation is the culture of the organization and the people who work there.

Innovating starts with the power of human thought. Ideas, inspiration and creativity all come from humans, not machines. The greatest technology cannot reproduce what the human mind can do. In fact, technology is the product of human innovation. The ability to think, dream, imagine and inspire all come from human thought. Tapping into human thought and the human potential is the essence of being innovative.

Organizational focus

A big challenge in creating an innovative environment is that most organizations are results driven. The emphasis is on “doing” rather than “thinking.” Some organizations may even unknowingly be discouraging innovation through disempowerment. Employees are often rewarded based on productivity and quantitative measures.

Paradoxically, companies say they want their employees to “think outside the box,” but this is difficult to do when time and greater efficiencies are of utmost importance. Being able to innovate, create and develop new products and services takes time. Sometimes, this is designated to only certain departments, which eliminates many others from contributing their ideas.

Unless it is built into their job description or designated as a project, most workers do not have downtime to sit and think and conjure up better ways to do their jobs. When time to think becomes scarce, the thinking begins to erode, employees disengage and come to work “just to do their jobs.” They rarely feel a part of the whole.

Environment makes a difference

Essential psychological components of innovation in organizations include:

1. Safety and trust in working relationships
2. Fostering the time and freedom to think, dream and inspire
3. Engaging, empowering  and rewarding employees to innovate
4. Willingness to take risks
5. Emphasis on continuous improvement

A primary ingredient in the culture of a healthy and vibrant organization is to have employees that collaborate and share willingly with others, for the greater good of the company rather than for their own self-serving reasons. This requires having trust in leadership and co-workers, and having a sense of safety in being able to share and collaborate.

Posted in Business | Tagged , | Leave a comment

10 states where $100 buys the most

Posted on October 7, 2015 by robertjrussellcompanies

How much is $100 worth where you live?

Been feeling a little flush lately? If you’ve been spending a tad more freely, but your check seems to be lasting longer, maybe it’s because of where you live.

There are differences from state to state in how much many items cost, and if you’re looking ahead to retirement you may want to consider that when deciding where to spend your golden years. Every little bit counts, and the Tax Foundation has very kindly taken data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and translated it into how much $100 is worth from state to state.

You could be delighted to learn that you’re living in a cheap state, where your retirement savings will go farther, or horrified to find that where you are will be taking a bigger drag on your retirement income than you thought—meaning you’ll need more money to retire comfortably there.

Posted in dallas, texas | Tagged | Leave a comment

Can you send your resume to 1000 companies

Posted on September 27, 2015 by robertjrussellcompanies

There’s nothing easy about job searching. What’s especially frustrating for many job seekers is a disappointing response rate. However, it’s important to note that a job search is based on a numbers game. For example: If you get your resume in front of 1000 hiring managers, you should get 10-50 quality responses leading up to 5 interviews. If you don’t pay attention to ‘how’ you are sending your resumes, your actions might only serve to put your resume in a pile with hundreds of others – if it even makes it to the pile at all.

Consider a more focused approach to your job search. A search that increases the number and quality of responses by using a targeted list of industries and decision makers who are looking for people with your skills. This new type of search also employs an affordable delivery system that ensures your resume will be seen by the right person. Impossible?

Not at all! We recommend using a service called JobsByFax. This service is simple to use, effective and an affordable way to ensure a more focused and satisfying job search. JobsByFax combines quality and quantity by faxing your resume to potential employers and recruiters. In fact, it’s been statistically proven that sending 1000’s of resumes using JobsByFax can yield from 10 to 50 quality responses. JobsByFax will revitalize your job search and produce quality responses that lead to interviews and even job offers! Take control of your job search and send your resume to 1000’s of hiring manager now.

Posted in Business | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

What Hiring Managers are Looking for

Posted on September 26, 2015 by robertjrussellcompanies

Trends in hiring preferences are changing, especially as the workforce is becoming more and more dominated by the Millennial generation. Addison Group, a leading provider of professional staffing services, recently released the results of a survey that examines how today’s hiring managers evaluate candidates. And because today’s workforce is broken up between three generations – Baby Boomers, Generation X and Millennials, Addison Group examined the preferences of hiring managers from each age group.

The survey found that the age of your hiring manager can make a big impact on how you develop your resume and prepare for an interview. Not surprisingly, relevant work experience and skills are the most important aspects of a resume for all hiring managers, with over half of respondents ranking them highest when considering moving a candidate to the interview phase. Other key considerations include:

Proven results and references are more important to Boomers (61% and 30%, respectively) than Millennials (44% and 21%, respectively). Boomers weigh the interview more heavily, with 30 percent more Boomer hiring mangers ranking the interview above the resume or references. Millennials are most concerned with a candidate’s level of education, schools attended and GPA (27%, 13%, and 16%, respectively). Generation X values a candidate’s resume (64%) significantly more than Millennials (50%).

Posted in Business | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

5 Cities that you should consider to relocate for a job

Posted on September 25, 2015 by robertjrussellcompanies

Sioux City and Sioux Falls, South Dakota: As the biggest city in the state, Sioux Falls gets high marks for strong job opportunities in high growth, high-paying areas, such as financial services and manufacturing. Boise, Idaho: Income growth increased 8.6% from 2008-2013. While the median income remains well below the national average, a one bedroom apartment averages $752 a bargain compared to other cities with strong income growth.

Lincoln, Nebraska: This Big 10 college town can brag of the lowest unemployment in the country, as well as affordable rents (a median of $722). Along with the University of Nebraska, the local medical industry, Union Pacific Railroad, First Data Corp. and Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. provide strong professional work opportunities. Rochester, Minnesota: Rochester is a global medical mecca – home to the famed Mayo Clinic. Rochester scores strongly in job openings in relation to the number of applicants. The city’s job growth remains concentrated on high income, high opportunity areas such as construction and, of course, healthcare.

Minneapolis, Minnesota: This city boasts an impressive array of Fortune 500 companies including Xcel Energy Inc., Target Corp., General Mills Inc. and Ameriprise Financial Inc. The 2015 median income of $45,640 remains high compared to most other American cities. With low unemployment and cost-of-living indexes slightly under the national average, Minneapolis offers much to potential job hunters.

Need more info: CLICK HERE

Posted in Business | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Save Time with your Job Search

Posted on September 24, 2015 by robertjrussellcompanies

These days, to land a job over the competition, you have to work smarter. The hard part is to get your resume read by the right people at the right time. Good jobs aren’t on the market very long. To succeed your resume has to be available to the employer the moment they decide to fill a position.

One easy way to be found by employers who are looking to hire someone with your skills, is to post your resume on all the top job sites and niche job boards. This is a proven, documented method of successful job searching. While it may take a fair amount of time to find and fill out the forms of all these sites, you will definitely multiply your chances of landing a job.

If you want all the benefits without all the work, you can let a service like Resume Rabbit do it for you. You fill out one simple form and they’ll instantly post your resume on 92 top job sites like Job.com, CareerBuilder, America’s Job Bank, Dice & more. Then you’ll be seen by over 1.5 million employers & recruiters daily. It takes ONLY 5 minutes and saves 60 hours of research and data entry. Save time and update your job search strategy by posting your resume on all the top job sites and niche career sites.

Need More Info? CLICK HERE

Posted in Business | Tagged , , | Leave a comment