Car Negotiation Coach

What is the $20 tip trick? 

It’s a technique used to get a hotel room upgrade by slipping the clerk a twenty when checking in.  The idea is that you can save anywhere up to a couple hundred bucks per night for just twenty dollars up front.   It works a surprisingly large number of times and when it doesn’t,  the clerks will politely return your money more often than not. 

The twenty dollar tip trick works best in Las Vegas or other hotel-casinos because staff are used to people tipping for extras.  The twenty dollar tip trick works in other cities too, but not quite as high a success rate.  

How does the $20 tip trick work?

You simply slip a twenty dollar bill under your license or credit card when checking in.  Then you politely ask the clerk if they have any upgrades available.  It helps if you are very friendly and schmooze a little bit before asking.  It’s best to be subtle and it’s very rare that a clerk will not catch the hint when you hand them the tip.

Sometimes it helps if you research the hotel in advance online and know what types of upgrades are available.  Find out if there is a particular type of suite name to request.  Do you want an ocean or pool view? Maybe a breakfast comp or complimentary gym pass?  Perhaps access to the concierge level?

Also, avoid using multiple bills (like 4 fives).  The hotel clerk may not notice you put out multiple bills and you don’t want to look cheap or make her count it out.

My experiences with the $20 tip trick

I’ve used this trick about a dozen times mostly on trips to Las Vegas.  I’ve been upgraded about 75% of the time (including some very cool suites) and had money returned to me all other times except for one.  One time at the Hard Rock Hotel I was even offered free concert tickets when they were out of rooms!

Another related trick I’ve used is mentioning my anniversary when asking for an upgrade.  Ok, this isn’t really a trick since the times I’ve done it have actually been on my anniversary, but some unscrupulous folks may want to try this out as well.  It also helps to call in advance and ask them to note in your reservation that it is your anniversary.  I did this at a Marriott and an hour after we checked in they brought us a complimentary bottle of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries, a $150 value!

My questions to you:

• Have you ever tried the $20 tip trick?  If so, where?
• Do you think it works better if used by a woman or a man? 
• Does it work better against someone of the opposite sex?

image source: top10ofall.com

These days, it seems everyone owns a smartphone. Our society has become increasingly mobile in the last decade, prompting the creation of phones that seem to do everything but tie our shoes. Constant changes and improvements in technology can make the decision overwhelming – which phone is the best? How do I choose? What do all those tech specs even mean?

I’ll disclose upfront that I own an Apple iPhone. And while I’m quite attached to it, I don’t get caught up in the notion that my phone is better than all others. Does it meet my needs? Yes! But that doesn’t mean other phones are inferior or unworthy of consideration. There are plenty of amazing smartphones on the market; I made my decision based on what I was looking for in a phone, and I would encourage you to do the same.

Do I even need a smartphone?

The decision to purchase a smartphone is a big one – the cost of ownership is considerably higher, the learning curve is steeper, and the choices seem endless. However, if you crave access to technology on the go, a smartphone can be a lifesaver.

Smartphones allow users to complete many tasks that seem necessary for our connected lives, all from a device that fits in a purse or pocket. You can:

• Check email
• View websites
• Pay bills or check your account balance
• Get directions
• Take and edit pictures
• Update social networking sites
• Calculate the tip when dining out
• Track weight loss and calories
• Check the weather forecast
• Read a book while waiting at the doctor’s office
• Play games
• Watch movies

You may look at that list and think, “That’s ridiculous! I can do all that stuff from my computer!” And you may be right. If you spend the majority of your time at home or in your office, it may not make sense to pay for a device that replicates the things you already do. But if, like many adults, you spend your days commuting, working from different locations, transporting your children to activities, or in other pursuits that take you away from your desk, you might like the convenience of a phone that allows you to stay connected no matter where you go.

If you’re considering a smartphone, make a list of all the things you’d like to be able to accomplish with it. Make a second list of the things you have no interest in doing. When you start shopping, you’ll be able to rule out some options simply based on what you need versus what you don’t.

But there are so many choices!

There are literally hundreds of different smartphones on the market, with new ones hitting store shelves every week. It would be impossible to mention every brand, make, and model of phone available for purchase, and even more impossible to discuss the merits of each.

The first decision you should make when shopping for a smart phone is which operating system you are most comfortable using. The operating system is just like the difference between a Windows PC and a Mac – different interfaces for accomplishing the same basic tasks.

iOs (Apple). Apple’s iOS operating system is available only on the iPhone. It is hailed as being very intuitive and easy to use, even if you’ve never used a smartphone before. (My mother, who doesn’t even know how to use a computer, learned to use her iPhone within hours of purchase.) The operating system is considered very stable and secure, meaning you aren’t likely to get a virus on your phone or have your personal information stolen. However, the iOS interface is heavily guarded by Apple, preventing you from loading unapproved applications or making certain customizations to your phone. For now, users are forced to hook their iPhones to a computer with iTunes to activate the phone AND to sync data – this can be inconvenient if, for example, you don’t own a computer and don’t plan to purchase one. (This requirement is supposed to disappear when iOS 5 is released this fall, which will allow activation and syncing without a computer.) Many users criticize Apple for creating a “walled garden” that limits the ability to make their phones do exactly what they’d like them to do.

Android (Google). Google’s Android operating system is available on many smartphones, including HTC, Motorola, LG, Samsung, and Pantech. Unlike iOS for iPhone, the Android operating system allows you to change practically every aspect of the user experience if you prefer. (My father, sister, and brother-in-law prefer Android devices to allow them to download applications that aren’t available for the iPhone, as well as to add external storage if needed and make other changes.) Android phones can be activated without a computer, though you still need to sync with a computer to back up your data. Instead of using a program like iTunes, users can open the directories on their Android phones and drag pictures and mp3s straight to and from their phones. One of the drawbacks of Android is the lower level of stability and security – the openness may provide more options, but it also allows the possibility of downloading malware disguised as an app. Also, different smartphones come with different versions of Android, making it nearly impossible to have the same user experience across devices.

Blackberry OS (RIM). Blackberry has been the business device of choice for the better part of a decade. Before the influx of smartphones, Blackberry was one of the first devices to allow users to check corporate email and access the internet from a mobile device. While many people still use a Blackberry for work, RIM’s lack of innovation in changing up the operating system has left it trailing behind iOS and Android in personal use. Because RIM is struggling to keep afloat at the time of this writing, I cannot recommend Blackberry unless you need it for work.

Windows 7 (Microsoft): Reeling from the failure that was Windows Mobile (an early smartphone operating system), Microsoft has returned with Windows 7 for its new line of smartphones, which are produced by manufacturers like HTC, Dell, Samsung, and LG. While Windows 7 is a newer operating system, it has received praise from reviewers and users for its ease of use and similarity to Windows for computers. While Windows 7 is in its infancy, it is making strides toward being a competitor in the smartphone market, and for good reason.

Taking the Leap

Once you’ve determined the operating system that best meets your needs, the #1 way to choose a smartphone is to try them for yourself. Visit the nearest retailer, hold the model phones in your hand, and practice performing simple functions like typing, switching between apps, and accessing the internet. If your fingers are too big for the keyboard or the screen is too small to view comfortably, that particular phone may not be the right one for you. Whether you use AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, or Sprint, the employees are very knowledgeable and can help you find a phone that meets your needs.

More importantly, don’t feel pressured to make a quick decision. Smartphones are all the rage right now; they won’t disappear anytime soon. Take enough time to evaluate what you’re looking for and make sure the phone you choose is the best one for your lifestyle.

When you purchase a phone, review the return policy. Generally, retailers give you two weeks to return a phone after purchase (though this may vary among providers). If you try your phone for awhile and hate it, or if it doesn’t function properly, take advantage of the opportunity to get something you like better. When I bought my most recent iPhone, one of the speakers didn’t work, making phone calls and music difficult to hear. I returned it to the store and had a new iPhone in 15 minutes.

Your turn, readers! Do you own a smartphone? Why or why not? What operating system or brand do you prefer?

As you know, the housing bubble has burst, and homes have dropped significantly in price and value over the past several years. This has essentially made it a buyers’ market, and for those who have saved their money, it’s never been a better time to find their dream home.

There are several different ways to find the best mortgage rates depending on your budget so you can purchase the house of your dreams.

How to Find the Best Mortgage Rates

Save up for a down payment: Long gone are the days where you could buy a house with no money up front. Banks are no longer accepting 0% down. You will now need to save between 10% and 20% of the purchase price to show the bank and the sellers that you’re serious about buying a home. This means if the home you’re looking to buy is selling for $300,000, you should have between $30,000 and $60,000 saved up for your down payment.

See how much home you can afford: There are various tools available online that will help you calculate and crunch numbers to see how much home you can afford. Calculators will allow you to see what price range fits your budget depending on your desired monthly payment or how much you should expect to pay for a house with a certain selling price along with your down payment. Make sure you are comfortable paying this amount every month.

Have an emergency fund saved up: Job stability is so rare nowadays, and coupled with potential emergencies that can wipe out your income, you should have an emergency fund saved up. This should be between 6 months and a year’s worth of bill payments, including your mortgage.

Show a steady income: Don’t change jobs if you’re about to apply for a loan.  Income history and stability is almost as important as the amount of income.

Research mortgage rates: The best mortgage you can go with is a 15 or 30 year fixed rate mortgage. This means you’ll have the same interest rate for the duration of your mortgage. Your mortgage payment will remain the same every month.

Consider FHA Loans: If you feel that saving 10% – 20% of your purchase price is too aggressive, you should see if you qualify for an FHA loan. FHA loans can help you afford a home by providing you with a lower down payment, lower closing costs, and easy credit qualifications. Each FHA program differs per state and has different requirements, but you could potentially buy a home with only 3.5% down.

Find home owner assistance programs: If you’re looking for a house in a particular county or city, check and see if they have home owner assistance programs. These types of programs can help you by providing lower rates, taking care of your closing costs, putting up some of the down payment and more. Some cities have incentives for people who work in that city, and others have programs for lower income families.

Consider developing neighborhoods: If you’re moving to an established area, chances are you’re going to pay more to live there. Developing neighborhoods that are bringing in businesses and want to get more people moving in will be willing to help you find the best mortgage rates.

Keep your credit clean: A good credit score will help you find the best mortgage rates with any lender. Your credit score will show lenders that you’re reliable to pay the money back on time. Pay your creditors, don’t open up a lot of accounts at once, and always check to make sure no one else is using your identity.

The inventory is out there for interested buyers, so it’s your job to make sure you’re getting the best mortgage rates possible for your new home. Remember, only buy what you can afford to pay for.

With the Financial Blogger Conference (FINCON11) just weeks away, I’ve been thinking a lot about how I can make the most of the conference and networking opportunities while keeping costs down. After all, I live on a budget, and I have a hard enough time sticking to it as it is! Because the conference is geared toward personal finance bloggers, I’m sure I’m not the only one who will be looking for ways to maximize my time at the conference without draining my bank account.

Conferences of any kind can be very expensive. There are the expected costs – travel, lodging, registration fees, and food – but there are a myriad of hidden expenses as well. This post will discuss some of the expenses you can expect, as well as some you may not be prepared for, and how to minimize the impact on your wallet.

Expected Conference Costs

Travel. Getting to a conference can cost a pretty penny regardless of the mode of transportation you use. If you’re flying, travel during off-peak times or look for discount airlines. If you have any relatives with frequent flyer miles, this may be a good time to ask for a favor! Keep in mind, you may need a taxi or rental car to get to the conference venue from the airport. If you’re driving, take time to add up the cost of gas, researching possible price fluctuations as you drive further from home. Also, you might consider carpooling if someone else from your area is attending the same conference.

My strategy: After adding up the cost of driving to the airport, flying to Chicago, and renting a car, I determined it makes more sense (for me) to drive to FINCON11. It’s about 400 miles from home, but I am able to take time off work to travel, plus my car gets good gas mileage. My total travel costs will be about $75. [CONTINUE READING]

Hi Folks, lots of activity this week!  First off, I’d like you to welcome my new staff writer, Andrea from So Over Debt.  She’s a much better writer than me (funnier too) and I’m lucky to have her on board.  She’ll be sharing some of her personal experiences and strategies saving money on big ticket items.  Her first post is tomorrow!

In other news, I just completed a graphical redesign of Find the Best Car Price.  It looks a lot more professional and I’m thrilled with the result!  I’ll probably incorporate a similar style here on the blog over the next few weeks.  If you like the new layout, don’t be afraid to click the Facebook Like button above the fancy car with bags of money falling out of the trunk….it won’t bite.

Lastly, I wanted to share a few posts from my Yakezie friends:

• Learn to Negotiate Better Prices (Prairie EcoThrifter)
• Selling Old Furniture on Kijiji (Invest It Wisely)
• Coworking Spaces: for getting out of your Apartment (Money Spruce)
• How to Sell Your House Quickly (SPF)
• eBook Launch: The Rat Race: 1 Year From Now, Will You Still Be A Rat? (TFB)
• The Student Loan Death Trap (BTFS)
• How to Get Paid to Try Products and Services (Extra Money Blog)
• Vacationing In Europe – Cutting Costs Without Compromising Fun (SMT)
• Choosing Your Fixed Mortgage, 15 vs 30 Year (Money Reasons)
• How to Find a Financial Planner (Wealth Informatics)

Image via CrunchBase

I am sure that you are pretty familiar with Priceline.com. Priceline offers deals on a number of travel related products including hotels, airline fights, and car rentals. While Priceline is a money saving website, there are a few things that you need to know about using the company’s website if you want to get the best deal on your next hotel stay.

Getting The Best Hotel Prices on Priceline

Do a hotel search

The first thing that you should do on Priceline is run a hotel search. A search will tell you the price per night for a hotel stay in a city and give you a cap as to how much you should be willing to pay for a hotel.

Bid close to previous winning bid prices

You can save yourself a lot of time and money by bidding at a price that is low enough that you will save money and high enough that you will win the bidding. Use previous winning bids as a frame of reference and cast your bid around this price. Entering unrealistic bids can cause Priceline to ban you from the bidding process.

Get a package deal

The best prices on Priceline are given to those that buy a package deal on the website. You can save money booking a hotel alone but you will save more money by booking a hotel and your plane flight together. Combination packages have the deepest savings because you are buying multiple products. You can qualify for extremely low hotel pricing by booking your flight and car rental at the same time.

Book a last minute hotel deal

Priceline allows its customer to book hotel rooms up to 11pm at night for 60% off of normal pricing. If your flight does not get in until that evening, there is no use for paying for a full day’s stay at a hotel when you are only going to be using it for a few hours. You can get cheap pricing at a posh hotel by taking advantage of these last minute deals.

Options To Look For

Highly rated hotels with low winning bids

You can get a good deal on a hotel rated 3 stars and above so avoid booking deals for 2 star and 1 star rated hotels. One and two start hotels have poor guest reviews despite many of them costing as much or more than higher rated hotels.

Use the Hotel Guide

You can use the hotel guide to get an idea of the quality of the hotel that you will be booking. Look through hotels with similar star ratings as the one that you are bidding on. This way you will already be familiar with the types of amenities and level of service that you will receive.

Change your dates and times

The rates can change dramatically depending upon the date and time of year that you are traveling. It’s important to be flexible. Changing the dates of your stay can result in substantially reduced rates to what you would have to pay if the hotel was fully occupied during your stay.

Booking The Best Price on Priceline

1. Use the Name Your Own Price feature
2. Enter the City and State
3. Place a bid on the hotel by clicking Bid Now.
4. Enter your name, personal information, date of stay, and credit card information.
5. You will receive an email informing you if your bid was accepted. 

If you happen to be reading this in the Fall, right now is the best time of year to purchase a grill.  It’s Labor Day Weekend and the end of summer means grilling season is over and most stores are eager to get all of their grills out the door.

If you are like me, you look for a high-quality grill because you take your grilling very seriously.  Personally, I’m a bit of a grilling nut.   I’ll barbeque in the rain, snow, and 100 degree heat.  I go so far as to take my grill apart and clean it piece by piece with a pressure washer every Spring.  And I’ll grill just about anything: beef, fowl, fish, vegetables and I absolutely love shellfish.   By the way, if you haven’t tried it, clams, mussels, lobsters, and shrimp are all delicious on the grill!

Shopping for a gas grill can be tough, because there are so many models and it’s hard to tell them apart.  But hopefully I can shed some light on the subject for you.  When I buy a gas grill, the most important factors I look for are a durable model with good temperature control.

What to look for in a gas grill

How to buy a barbeque grill resources like Consumer Reports and About.com do a great job explaining all of the various BBQ options, so I’m not going to repeat all that here.  I’ll just tell you my personal guidelines. As a grilling connoisseur I strongly suggest that you do not skimp on quality, but don’t worry, I’ll show you how to find a good deal too. 

• Price: As a general rule of thumb, don’t spend more than $500 or less than $250.  You want something that’s put together well enough to last you 5-10 years, but there’s no need to overspend.
• Extras: 99% of people will never use a rotisserie, smoker, or side burner.  Are you part of that 1% that does? If not, just avoid all the extras, they cost more money!
• BTUs: Don’t get hung up on BTU (heat rating).  This is difficult to decipher as there are many factors that also affect heating like the size of grill and type of burners. It’s better to focus on quality and how much grilling space you think you’ll need.
• Grates: As Consumer Reports states:

Stainless-steel and cast-iron grates are best; such grates are sturdy and resist rust. Bare cast iron is also sturdy and sears beautifully, but you have to season it with cooking oil to prevent rusting. Porcelain-coated grates are easy to clean and are rustproof–until they chip. Wide, closely spaced bars sear better than thin round rods. 

• Igniter: Get a grill with an electric igniter.
• Thermometer: Look for a built in thermometer because temperature is key to good grilling.  And if you find a grill you like without a thermometer, there are always attachments you can buy separately.
• Propane Tank: Know if a propane tank is included or not.  If you have to buy  one separately, a new propane tanks costs $25-40 (and is usually $17-20 to refill).
• Storage: Consider getting a grill with enough space underneath to store an extra propane tank.  And of course get an extra propane tank! There is nothing worse than having your tank run out while you are grilling.  Deciding to always have a spare tank handy was one of the best grilling decisions I’ve ever made.
• No assembly required: If possible, buy a grill that’s pre-assembled. My last grill took literally 20 hours to assemble (and not cause I’m a dummy….there were just so many freakin’ parts!).  If you have to pay a little more for an assembled grill, it’s worth it.

My Brand Recommendation:  I’m a huge fan of Weber grills for even heating, durability, and dependability.  Overall, they are on the more expensive side and smaller than other equally priced grills, but great on quality. You can’t go wrong with a Weber.

How to find the best price on a gas grill

The steps to getting the best deal on a grill are the same as what I advise for just about every big purchase.  Research, decide on a model, get competitive prices, and buy.

1. Go to a few local hardware stores (like your local Home Depot or Ace Hardware) and pick a model you like.  Just don’t buy it yet! 
2. Go home and type the model into Google Product Search
   1. Once you find the model, be sure to sort by “Total Price”.  It’s easy to make a mistake about the best deal since Google puts the “Base Price” in bold.
   2. Don’t bother searching for “no tax” or “free shipping”.  These are nice, but you’re only concerned with the “out the door price”.  If the cheapest model ends up having free shipping and no tax, then great.  But it doesn’t really matter, they are just line items…again, total price is your only concern.
   3. Compare your search results with the prices from your local hardware stores (especially if they are running Labor Day deals).  Remember, if you find a grill online but you have to assemble it yourself, it may be worth paying a few extra bucks to pick up a pre-assembled version locally.

Do you have a favorite grill?  Or have any interesting grilling tips?

For most of us in the small business world, deciding whether to work from home or rent an office makes a huge impact on our bottom line.  So if you decide to rent office space, it’s important to negotiate good terms to keep the expense as small as possible.

By the time you are in your late twenties or early thirties, you’ll have likely lived in at least 5 different apartments and signed as many residential leases.  However, reviewing a commercial lease may be totally foreign.  So let’s take a look at what to consider when negotiating office space.

What’s Included in Your Commerical Lease?

Do your homework and read any lease agreement carefully prior to signing.  Understand exactly what’s included with the lease:

• Are you responsible for utilities like water, electricity, and gas?  
• Telecommuncations: Are phone and high-speed Internet service included?
• Can you utilize the building’s receptionist?
• Do you have to pay for cleaning services?  How often do they clean?
• Is there a shared conference room you can use?  
• Are there any limitation to access?  (can you get into the building at 2am on Saturday if you need to?)
• Can you rennovate the space or paint?
• Can you sublet?

Type of Lease Agreement

According to MoneyMamba, when renting an office for an online business its important to understand the different types of lease agreements:

• Single net lease – The tenant is responsible for rent and property taxes.
• Double net lease – The tenant is responsible for rent, property taxes, as well as building insurance. The lessor pays for building maintenance, and upkeep.
• Triple net lease – The tenant pays for rent, property taxes, building insurance, and utilities.
• Gross lease – Everything is paid for by the lessor, and the tenant just writes a monthly check. A modified gross lease may include something like space, utilities, and Internet connection paid for by the lessor, and the tenant may just have to cover insurance for the property stored in the building.

Negotiating Office Space

If you want to be an effective office space negotiator, then you have to know the going rate per square foot in your town. It’s a good idea to hire a commercial real estate broker, but luckily, with the internet, it’s also fairly easy to do your own office space comps.  If the prospective landlord is seeking $20 per square foot per month, but you know the going rate for the downtown of your city is $15, then use that knowledge to your advantage and negotiate.  

In some instances, you can barter for a lower rate.  You could even offer to clean the entire office building for reduced rent.  When you’re just starting out and trying to keep overhead low, you can’t be too proud.  Or you could consider trading other services for a deduction in rent. 

For instance, I know lawyers who will rent a portion of their office to a younger attorney, and cut the rent in half if the tenant will take on a few labor intensive cases per month.

 

Do you have any IT folks?  Maybe you can trade some IT services to building manager.

When negotiating, you could also try to subtly show disinterest in order to lower the price.  ”I was hoping for something closer to downtown.”  ”I worry about the walk-in traffic at this location.”   “The price is just too high compared to other similar properties in the area.”  These are the types of statements that may save you thousands of dollars per year.

If you are allowed to sublet part of your office space, consider dividing up the space you do not need to save additional money each month.

Conclusion

Office space can be very expensive.  It is likely the single largest startup cost for a small business (other than salaries) and therefore it truly can be the difference between solvency and insolvency in your business.

By doing your homework, offering trade for reduced prices, and holding your ground at a fair price you should be able to find office space that is perfect in location, size, purpose, and price.

What advice do you have for negotiating office space?  What’s the most effective office space negotiation technique you’ve used?

Photo: dwonderwall