Tired of finding your mailbox full of unwanted credit card offers? How about the time you waste sorting through unsolicited mail and schlepping it to the recycle bin? And how frustrating is it when that official looking notice turns out to be just another piece of junk mail? Here's some good news…now you can JUST SAY NO to junk mail!

With a quick phone call, letter or online request…you will soon be saving yourself countless amounts of time and energy. Here are the simple steps to take:

Credit Card Offers: The credit bureaus offer a toll-free number that enables you to get out of having card offers mailed to you for either five years…or permanently. Just phone 1-888-5-OPTOUT (567-8688). You will be prompted to provide some personal information, including your home telephone number, name, address, and social security number. All information provided is confidential and is used only to process your request. And if over time you get lonely for some junk mail and decide that you want to receive the card offers again, simply phone the same number and you will be added back on the list.

"Junk" Mail: The Direct Marketing Association has a Mail Preference Service that allows you to reduce the amount of commercial advertising mail that you receive at home for five years. There are several ways to have your name added to the "do not mail" list. The quickest and most efficient way is to hit this link: Do Not Mail Website. From the website, you can enter the required information, print the letter, and mail the letter to the address listed below. Or for a nominal fee of $5, enter the required information and hit the "register online" button.

Don't want to enter your information online? No problem, just mail a letter that includes a brief paragraph requesting to be excluded from the marketing lists, your name - be sure to list all name variations including, Jr, Sr, etc. - current and previous address, and signature to:

Direct Marketing Association
Mail Preference Service
PO Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512

Important note: You will not stop receiving mailings from organizations that are not registered with the Association's mail preference service, but at least this measure will greatly reduce the amount of advertising mail you receive.

Email: The Direct Marketing Association also has an Email Preference Service that allows you to get out of receiving unsolicited commercial email for five years. Visit Do Not Email Website. Enter up to three email addresses and a confirmation will be sent to each email acknowledging the request. Replying to each email confirmation within 30 days is required by DMA, or the email address will be deleted and the request will not be processed. Unfortunately, this measure will not eliminate most “spam” email, but again, will at least help to reduce the amount of junk email you may be receiving.

Ever boarded a plane, walked through the First Class section and wished that you could be one of those passengers seated in a large comfy chair, drink in hand, and plenty of leg room to stretch out? Sure, we've all been there, but maybe felt that the price for a First Class ticket was too expensive. Instead, we just continue to tolerate the headaches of the economy class, complete with getting smacked in the head by passengers trying to cram their bags into the overhead compartment, climbing over other passengers to wedge yourself into your cramped seat, and having your knees crushed when the guy in front of you reclines his chair.

But now...there's a way you might be able to put yourself into a First Class seat...without the hefty price tag. Here's how it's done.

The next time you hit the web to find the lowest coach fare, search out one with a special code like "Q-up", "Y-up", or "Z". These fares are just starting to create a buzz, and although they may cost a little more than bargain tickets, you greatly improve your chances of being upgraded to that cozy First Class seat, especially if you are a frequent flier. And even better...you do not have to use up your frequent flier miles to get upgraded to that seat in First Class; you actually earn air miles when you purchase a Q-up, Y-up or Z coach fare.

So why would an airline offer a seat in First Class with a coach fare rate?

Airlines have introduced these fares as a way to generate additional revenue. According to the Air Transport Association, the airline industry has lost more than $42 billion since the start of 2001, and has had to drastically cut expenses and place restrictions on upgrades to generate revenue. Typically, most of the passengers sitting in First Class seats are not paying the First Class price; they have merely cashed in frequent-flier miles to secure that comfy seat. For example, many passengers purchase the cheapest ticket available, and then use air miles to upgrade to First Class.

But the airlines make little revenue when passengers upgrade using miles, and have been forced to restrict this practice and find a way to fill First Class with individuals that are actually paying for the seat. Consequently, airlines offer an undisclosed amount of seats at a Y-up, Q-up or Z coach rate to generate more revenue. And finding the Y-up, Q-up and Z fares online is fairly easy. With a few clicks of the mouse, you can visit any of the popular travel websites like Expedia, FareCompare, Orbitz, or Travelocity and search out these fares. In fact, FareCompare has a link for Y-up and Q-up fares right on their main page. Simply enter the departing city and a list of all destination cities will appear with the cost.

These fares have been a well kept secret for quite some time, but now are creating quite a stir. The next time you visit your favorite travel website to compare fares, be sure to look into the Q-up, Y-up or Z fare and try to score a bit more legroom for that cross country flight!

Many people know this snappy tune by the Steve Miller Band, but it sure isn't the song you want to be singing when you've got contractors on the job in your home.

We've all heard the horror stories…contractors that "take the money and run" prior to completing jobs, provide low-ball bids and then slap homeowners with substantially higher invoices at the end, or quote unrealistic timeframes that force homeowners to wash dishes in the bathtub for twelve months versus three. With the bad reputation many contractors have, stories like these can make a homeowner cringe at the thought of embarking on a remodeling project if it entails hiring a contractor. However, not all contractors are alike, and if you invest the time to take some precautionary steps, you can avoid a nightmare and end up singing a pretty happy song. Here are a few important steps.

Before you hit the internet or start flipping through the yellow pages to find a contractor, phone friends or family members and ask for referrals. Ask questions about the reliability of the contractor, the overall satisfaction of work performed, if proposed timeframes were met, and if the contractor stuck to the budget. In addition, even if you get a great referral with the first call, continue dialing.

Obtain at least five referrals of contractors, set up meetings with each, and dig deep to find out pertinent information about the contractor and the company. Find out information about how long the company has been in business, if the company has ever operated under a different name, and if the company has ever been sued. You can search online with the Better Business Bureau, and even call your local Chamber of Commerce to see if they have any information.

Additionally, ask for references, phone all references, and set up a time to see the contractor's work if you are contemplating a large job. Include jobs done in the past so you can see if the contractor responded to issues after they had gotten paid. And since the contractor will most likely provide references for only exceptionally happy past clients, consider asking if you may contact the most recent three clients the contractor worked for…rather than just the standard reference names that they might provide normally.

If you feel comfortable with the answers you receive from contractors and their references, ask for a written estimate and review the contents carefully. Look for specific information such as detailed information about products and materials (make, model, color, brand, etc.), a clearly defined timeline and payment schedule, warranty information for work and materials, a mediation or arbitration clause, and a cancellation clause that allows a homeowner to cancel within three days of signing. For further protection and confirmation that the contract has been prepared correctly visit http://www.aia.org/ and purchase a sample contract for as little as $6.

Finally, before you sign on the dotted line, make sure the contractor and any subcontractors have all of the following in place:

License - Determine whether your state requires a contractor to be licensed or check the status of a contractor's license by clicking on the following link http://www.contractors-license.org/. Additionally, phone the Better Business Bureau and inquire about any claims that have been filed and whether or not each has been resolved.

Liability Insurance - Confirm each contractor and any subcontractor has liability insurance. This protects the homeowner if either the contractor or his employees cause damage to the property.

Workers' compensation Insurance - Each contractor or subcontractor should have a workers' compensation policy. If the contractor does not have it and one of the workers is injured while working at the property, the homeowner can be held responsible.

Taking the above steps will not only provide you with the peace of mind that you are working with a true professional, it could save you thousands of dollars in the long run too!

The material contained in this newsletter has been prepared by an independent third-party provider. The material provided is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, financial, real estate and/or mortgage advice. Although the material is deemed to be accurate and reliable, there is no guarantee it is not without errors.

As your Trusted Advisor, I always want to make sure you are clear on all details of the home financing process. If you or someone you know are interested in purchasing or refinancing a home, give me a call today!

In the unlikely event that you no longer wish to receive these valuable market updates, please USE THIS LINK or email: rashby@solidrockmortgage.com

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Robert D. Ashby, CMPS
Solid Rock Mortgage
19451 Sheridan St., #291
Pembroke Pines, FL 33332

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