Document text
3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Recycle your plastics Friday and Saturday at White City transfer station Revenue forecast means Oregonians will see $473 million in kicker rebates Peace Choir will perform in Medford and Ashland Man allegedly fires shots in Jackson County trailer park Emergency Services, May 14 Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Man allegedly fires shots in Jackson County trailer park Emergency Services, May 14 Drunk driver gets 13 months for hitting pedestrian Jackson County honors fallen police Feds allege Georgia, Maryland residents defrauded Oregon taxpayers of more than $2 million Politics and Elections Arthur I. Cyr: Camp David summit will not help Mideast stability Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Pacific Connector Gas Pipeline opponents rally in Medford BREAKING: Baltimore prosecutor charges officers in Freddie Gray's death Earthquakes hit regularly in Medford (Oklahoma, that is) Education South Medford, Ashland high schools earn national honors Medford garage sale will put books in African kids' hands Medford schools restore parent-teacher conferences Latino parents: More bilingual staff needed in Medford schools Medford schools still filling admin roles Environment Jackson County declares drought disaster Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Crater Lake may soon have China connection State waives college placement tests for students who hit high marks Stopping fire in its tracks State News Oregon House: Bikers who can't get a green light may turn on red Incoming president tours University of Oregon campus West Linn police officer leads state in DUII arrests Oil industry challenges rules meant to stop train explosions Crooked River Ranch residents stumped by bare shoe tree Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Obituaries Katie Beth (Lehnhardt) Marical Russell Dale Williams Keith D. Randahl Verla Jean Rametes Death Notices Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Check out top import and export for every U.S. state Patriots fan sets up GoFundMe page to help pay for team's Deflategate fine Sports Latest Stories Rich Garven: Pumping out some Deflategate thoughts Tornado trips up Thurston in SWC tilt Warriors rise Beavers tie school home run record in rout Horford's late follow gives Hawks win Varsity 541 College Sports Beavers tie school home run record in rout A Wise freshman leads the Ducks Baldovino, Concordia upset No. 1 Oklahoma City Northwestern’s Wu chosen for NCAA field Oregon State AD De Carolis to step down Pro Sports Warriors rise Horford's late follow gives Hawks win Kluber strikes out 18, Indians top Cardinals Rogues to host summer baseball camps MLB pumps up ball security after Brady flap Community Sports Bailey picks up modified win Business Latest Stories Blog: Cash deals for homes inches toward normal levels Tourism stronger than ever in Southern Oregon Medford airport still flying high with record passenger counts Erickson reports $75 million loss in 1st quarter Cars We Remember: Noted musician unravels 55-year Nash Rambler mystery Real Estate News Single-family home sales take off Never enough: New Starbucks proposed on Barnett Road in Medford Jackson County debt-ridden homeowners have an option New home in an old house Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house People In Business People in Business Transportation Tourism stronger than ever in Southern Oregon Medford airport still flying high with record passenger counts Erickson finds room to work at Medford airport Lithia Motors nets $40.7 million in first quarter Lithia Motors reports second-best quarter ever Agriculture 1-800Flowers.com reports $10.5 million loss in third quarter Naumes plans custom-crush winery in former packing house Opinion Latest Granlund cartoon: Kim Jong Un and snoozing Dianne Williamson: Showing cards necessary in honest race talks Arthur I. Cyr: Camp David summit will not help Mideast stability Our View: City should let SkyPark project move ahead George Will: In childhood, risk is inherent Editorials Our View: City should let SkyPark project move ahead Our View: E-cigarette bill is half right, half wrong Our View: Abundant water no excuse for waste Our View: Mental health funding should be a priority Other Views: Court ruling means PERS reform is dead Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, May 14 Letters to the Editor, May 13 Letters to the Editor, May 12 Letters to the Editor, May 11 Letters to the Editor, May 10 Columns Arthur I. Cyr: Camp David summit will not help Mideast stability George Will: In childhood, risk is inherent Dana Milbank: Power to the populists Kathleen Parker: Defining deity down: Changing others' religion Guest Opinion: Ample water? Think again Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Ample water? Think again Guest Opinion: Oregon mothers need much more than flowers Guest Opinion: Child poverty and the Schneider Children’s Center Guest Opinion: Animal-killing program pulls wool over taxpayers' eyes Guest Opinion: Uniting to restore our sovereignty to we, the people Lifestyle Latest stories Betty Montgomery: Longleaf pines making a comeback Season Stepp: Use pink lemonade in recipes William Keesler: Home alone with Arty Pergola, arbor, gazebo: Learn the differences Marketta Gregory: God doesn’t need our polished marketing Food Season Stepp: Use pink lemonade in recipes Quick, easy, versatile Page H. Onorato: Cookbook offers old friend in the kitchen today A classic dish: Celery Victor Tammy Kelly: Add springtime crunch with cucumbers Home and Garden Betty Montgomery: Longleaf pines making a comeback Pergola, arbor, gazebo: Learn the differences Dear Monty: Five tips for companies to reduce relocation costs Options abound for gardens in shady spots Tricks and tips to enlarge your small bath Health Brent St. Germain: Weight loss goes to the dogs Community blog: Don't Fall for This Part 2 Health Watch: Easy tips to drink more water throughout the day New cardiac rehab center opens at Asante RRMC Community blog: You and Me at 83... Hiking Biking Faith Religion Briefs: Friday, May 8 Religion Briefs: Friday, May 1 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 24 Religion Briefs: Friday, April 17 Milestones and Achievements Bukair-Hinkle Wedding: Stephanie Anne Obad and Mark Douglass Schmor Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Drones helping create unique wedding photos Pick your favorite wedding flowers Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Steve Poltz, Grant-Lee Phillips at Old Ashland Armory 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' Flowers, art and music highlight Art in Bloom 5 picks for live entertainment Live Music in Local Clubs Theater 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' REVIEW: Randall Theatre's 'Little Shop of Horrors' a rollicking good time REVIEW: Carson, Patton shine in 'Arsenic and Old Lace' Some Oregon Shakespeare Festival crew members seek to unionize Randall Theatre stages 'Little Shop of Horrors' Music Steve Poltz, Grant-Lee Phillips at Old Ashland Armory Victor D. Infante: If loving bad pop songs is wrong ... The Farr Side: Contest open for singer-songwriters Live Music in Local Clubs Peter Rowan, Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys at Rootsfest Community Events 5 things to see at Art in Bloom Flowers, art and music highlight Art in Bloom Hip-Hop Poetry Open Mic at OSF's Black Swan in Ashland Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Master Gardener Spring Fair at The Expo Movies Your A-to-Z guide to the ‘Mad Max’ franchise Movie review: ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ will leave your inner 12-year-old giggling with glee Movie review: ‘Hot Pursuit’ is a hot mess George Miller returns to his ‘Mad Max’ roots Tom Hardy adapts to life as Mad Max Dining Quick, easy, versatile Restaurant Inspections: April 2015 Restaurant inspections: May 10, 2015 Wood-fired pies at Peace of Pizza Trium is a classic example of a boutique winery Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Recycle your plastics Friday and Saturday at White City transfer station ... Revenue forecast means Oregonians will see $473 million in kicker rebates ... Man allegedly fires shots in Jackson County trailer park ... Recycle your plastics Friday and Saturday at White City transfer station ... Revenue forecast means Oregonians will see $473 million in kicker rebates ... Man allegedly fires shots in Jackson County trailer park ... Dear Monty: Five tips for companies to reduce relocation costs By Richard Montgomery More Content Now MailTribune.com By Richard Montgomery More Content Now Posted May. 13, 2015 @ 12:01 am By Richard Montgomery More Content Now Posted May. 13, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Reader question: I work in finance with a mid-size publicly traded company. We outsource our relocation policy to a third-party relocation company. Our costs to relocate continue to rise yet our relocation company says that short of reducing benefits; there is not much we can do. What is your answer to the question, “Is there anything we can do?” Bill G. Monty’s answer: Not having reviewed your company’s relocation policy and relocation demographics, to provide a concrete reply is not possible. The goal of a corporate relocation is to satisfy the company’s business needs. It is also important to provide for the employee, and their family throughout the relocation process. Many companies could improve cost results, but they focus their efforts on service fees instead of the policy. The relocation company reacts by creating internal procedural changes to reduce their costs which unwittingly adds a cost to the client. Five out-of-the-box corporate cost saving ideas 1. Limit the number of files a relocation counselor can administer. One example of relocation companies reducing their costs is to add files to the relocation counselor’s caseload. It is not uncommon for a relocation counselor to be responsible for dozens of files. A counselor feeling overwhelmed is far less apt to negotiate a counter-offer or take the time necessary to evaluate local market dynamics to know whether a counter is a good idea. If your vendor cannot incorporate this concept, consider alternative vendors. 2. Fire your purchasing department when hiring a relocation company. There is no question the purchasing department is the expert at driving costs down. That’s how they are trained and paid. As best they do to quantify the service, a relocation service is very different than what purchasing typically buys. Because they do not work in relocation, they do not comprehend, nor value, the service requirements. The buyer of the service should be the department utilizing the service. 3. Reduce the referral fee the local brokerage pays. In 1985, the typical referral fees agents paid for access to the relocating employee was twenty-five percent (or less). Today, referral fees are thirty-five percent (or more). When corporations pressured relocation companies to reduce service fees, the relocation company pressured agent referral fees to maintain their margins. This action has caused many well qualified real estate agents who, because they are in demand, to no longer accept relocation referrals. 4. Get expert review of your relocation policy. Many relocation policies contain provisions that do nothing to help the company, nor the relocating employee, save money. Identifying these provisions is not easy because some of the provisions are real estate myths rather than fact. An example is a popular provision in many relocation policies that sets a maximum price, based on an appraisal, at which an employee can offer the home for sale. The myth is that appraisals are always accurate, and asking more just extends market time. Research conducted by a relocation company some years ago suggested allowing the seller-employee to exceed the artificial price barrier sometimes puts more equity in the employee’s pocket. 5. Hire the position you want to fill locally. While there is a risk the new hire will not succeed, there is also risk the relocation may fail. Depending on the job responsibilities and other dynamics this option may not always be feasible, but there will be many occasions this tactic will work and be a plus for other reasons. A relocation executive named Jim Simon wrote a white paper titled “The Erosion of Service In The Relocation Industry” in 2007. The article described how service in the relocation industry had slipped for a variety of reasons. Corporate relocation executives from employers and third-party service providers alike took notice, but nearing a decade later nothing has changed. The relocation industry faults the recession for higher costs, during which time volume receded. Corporations added costly benefits to counter the effects of falling home values or suspended or reduced relocations. The recession simply disguised the underlying causes temporarily. Relocation nirvana Corporations can improve their cost results and service quality by modifying policies and a new approach with service providers. There is the opportunity for additional cost savings in updating program options. Look for ways to reduce loss-on-sale and holding time instead of pressuring the service fee, which is a fairly small percentage number of the total costs incurred in relocation. The focus on loss-on-sale and holding time is where the opportunity for cost reduction lies in relocation. Richard Montgomery gives no-nonsense real estate advice to readers’ most pressing questions. He is a real estate industry veteran who has championed industry reform for more than a quarter century. You can ask him questions at DearMonty.com. By Richard Montgomery More Content Now MailTribune.com By Richard Montgomery More Content Now Posted May. 13, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501