Word of the Month…

Studies have shown your income and wealth are directly related to the size and depth of your vocabulary. Here is this month’s word so you can impress your friends (and maybe even fatten your wallet!)…

nonplussed (pronounced non-PLUST) adjective 

Meaning: (1) confused, puzzled
(2, nonstandard) unperturbed, indifferent
Sample Sentence (1): He was nonplussed when the stranger smiled in greeting as if they were old friends—until he realized it was his high school history teacher. 

Sample Sentence (2): We thought the cat would jump at the sound of a horn, but she was so nonplussed she didn’t even open an eye.

The New "Nonplussed"

This issue’s word of the month has one official definition, but it’s become commonly understood to mean something completely different in U.S. English.

“Nonplussed” has described someone who is confused since about the late 16th century. Its new meaning of “unbothered” started popping up in the United States in the 1930s. Many dictionaries still balk at including the newer definition, but it’s a usage you likely hear these days more than the word’s original meaning.

Quotes To Live By…

“They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.” – Edgar Allan Poe, Author.

“If you take me out of it, I find ‘six degrees’ to be a beautiful concept that we should try to live by. It’s about compassion and responsibility for everyone on the planet.”

– Kevin Bacon, Actor

“Private property began the instant somebody had a mind of his own.”

– e. e. cummings, Poet

Should You Use A Travel Agent?

     Arranging flights, car rentals, walking tours, and more has never been easier for the average traveler, but there are times when working with a travel agent can save you money on your trip.

• Good travel agents are travel experts. They often get better deals than average travelers since they know about current or short-lived sales and discount options. Travel agents are beneficial in finding group travel deals or arranging perks (like onboard credit for a cruise). Some travel agents have expertise in specific destinations, which means they can find discounts you won’t find on your own.
• When a travel agent becomes a travel superhero when something goes sideways on a trip (and, let’s face it, that happens more than we’d like). A travel agent can make alternate arrangements if a flight delay means you’ll miss a connecting flight or a hotel check-in deadline. Having your travel agent handle these issues might save you extra re-booking or late fees and sanity.
• If you’re a member of AAA, your membership means working with one of their travel advisors is completely free. But even if you’re not a member or want to work with a non-AAA agent, chances are you won’t pay extra for the service. Most travel agents make their money from tour companies, cruise lines, or hotels they book for you, but you should always ask upfront whether you’ll need to pay an additional fee. 

     Finally, it’s essential to recognize that your time is worth something. If you’re busy, the weeks (or months) needed to feel confident that you’re getting a deal is too long. Outsourcing the legwork to an expert gives you time to focus on other things while they take care of all the details. Look for agents who are members of the American Society of Travel Agents (www.asta.org) or certified by the Travel Institute (thetravelinstitute.com/find-a-travel-agent).

 www.rudyperkinsrealty.com

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Thanks to my clients and friends who support my practice and graciously referred me to your friends and neighbors. Rather than pester people with unwanted calls and visits, I build my business based on the positive comments and referrals from people like you. I couldn't do it without you!

Brain Teaser

You start with an eight-letter word. Remove one letter, and you still have a word. Remove another, and you still have a word. Keep removing one letter at a time until you have one letter left and you have a word every time. What is the word?

 (See page 4 for the answer.)

What's My Home Worth?

If you want to know your home's current value, I will gladly conduct a Maximum Value Home Audit. Request this "no charge" in-depth home value analysis by calling me at (203) 243-3820.

Desk-Sized Tech

Today's teens might look at the clunky box of an old VCR, compare it with a sleek modern laptop or tablet, and laugh. That is, if they even know what it is! Did you know the original VCR was the size of a desk? The Mark IV was produced by Ampex and cost $50,000 in 1956. That's half a million dollars in today's money.

Scholarship Websites

Here are a few of the many sites that help students find scholarships they’re eligible for:

bold.org: This easy-to-navigate site makes quick work of finding relevant scholarships. There’s even an option to filter for colleges that don’t require an essay in their application.

bigfuture.collegeboard.org: Click “Pay for College” on the home page for resources like a scholarship directory and a scholarship search tool you can filter according to your needs.

scholarshipowl.com: One selling point for this site is it will automatically re-apply for any of your scholarships that don’t ask for additional information every time, which is a potential time-saver.

6 Important Tasks When Moving

     Moving is incredibly stressful, even when you’re excited about the move—it’s recognized as one of the most stressful things people go through in life. Having a detailed moving plan helps ease some of the stress and makes you less likely to forget something in all the activities:

1. Do a walkthrough and take measurements to help determine where your furniture will go.

2. Change the locks. You never know how many keys the previous homeowner gave out. If it’s a rental, make sure to check with the landlord!

3. Do any necessary childproofing or pet-proofing of outlets, cabinets, and windows.

4. Find the control panels for the house’s operating systems, like the fuse box and water valve.

5. Clean and paint when it’s empty. There’s no easier time to tackle these things.

6. Meet the neighbors. Moving trucks attract attention, so your neighbors may come to you. If not, consider knocking on a few doors to introduce yourself.

     For a more complete to-do list, check out this moving planner (moving.com/move-planner/). There are checklists for the whole process, from eight weeks before the move to the first month after moving day.

 Booster And Car Seat Safety Tips

     Car crashes are the second-leading cause of death for children and adolescents in the United States. To help keep your littles safe, it’s essential to use the proper car or booster seat for each stage of your child’s development.

     There are a few different types of car and booster seats, and the appropriateness of each one is based on a child’s height, weight, and age. Car seats have their seat belt restraints built into the seat, and the seat itself is buckled in with the car’s seat belt. Booster seats have no other restraints; the child is buckled in using the car’s seat belt.

     Rear-facing car seats are for infants up to the ages of 2–4. When they outgrow the rear-facing seat, it’s time for a front-facing seat until they’re at least five. Children graduate to booster seats when they’ve outgrown the front-facing seat until the car’s seat belt fits them properly without the booster, which may not be until the 9–12 age range. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has a detailed car and booster guide (nhtsa.gov/equipment/car-seats-and-booster-seats), and you can search their site for any seat recalls (nhtsa.gov/recalls). You can even get help installing seats properly from a certified child passenger safety technician in your area (cert.safekids.org).

 www.rudyperkinsrealty.com

Would You Like To Know How Much
Your Neighbor's Home Listed Or Sold For?

Maybe you’re just curious.  Or perhaps you want to know how much your home is worth.  Either way, I can help… without “sales pitches” or run-arounds.  Email me at [email protected], and I'll give you all the details.

Thanks For Thinking Of Me!

Did you know I can help you or any of your friends or family save time and money when buying or selling a home? Thanks for keeping me in mind with your referrals…and spreading the word about my services.

Brain Teaser Answer:

Starting (starting, staring, string, sting, sing, sin, in, I)

Proper Pepper Prep

Cutting bell peppers correctly means the seeds don’t scatter everywhere. The gist is this:

1. Cut off the stem so the top of the pepper can be flatter against the cutting board.

2. Slice the outer edges of the pepper away from the seedy center, following the curve of the pepper with the knife.

3. Each piece can then be cut easily by pressing it flat against the cutting board, skin side down. 

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay demonstrates the technique in this video (YouTube/hZGqtmwboHU).

THANK YOU for reading Rudy Perkins Realty, my

newsletter. I wanted to produce a newsletter with great content that is fun and valuable to you. Your constructive feedback is always welcome.

AND…whether you’re thinking of buying, selling or financing real estate, or just want to stop by and say “Hi,” I’d love to hear from you…

RUDOLPH PERKINS

Rudy Perkins Realty

12032433820

[email protected]

_{Disclaimer: The information contained in this letter is intended for informational purposes. It should not substitute as legal, accounting, investment, medical or other professional services advice. Always seek a competent professional for answers to your specific questions. This letter is not intended to solicit real estate properties currently for sale.}

Real Estate Corner…

Q: Why is it important to do a walk-through before closing on a home?

A: You need to do a walk-through with your REALTOR^® typically within 24 hours of your closing to ensure the home is in the condition specified in the contract. You’ll want to look at each room (which now should be empty and clean), examine the floors, check the ceilings for signs of leaks, test the windows, turn on the appliances, etc., to ensure there aren’t any surprises. 

     You also want to check on the completion of any negotiated repairs or replacements you and the seller agreed upon. 

      If you find any problems, your REALTOR^® will help you determine what you should pursue (such as a possible new leak under the sink) with the seller or what you can handle yourself. If you’re buying a new home, you need to visit the property with the builder’s representative and create a “punch list” of items that are not completed to discuss at closing. It would be best to get a written confirmation on when the builder will complete those items.  

     To learn more about buying a home for the first time, ask for my Free Consumer Report called “Top 10 First-Time Homebuyer Mistakes To Avoid.”  I’ll send a copy right to you.  

     Do you have a real estate question you want answered? Feel free to Email me at [email protected]. Perhaps I’ll feature it in my next issue!

www.rudyperkinsrealty.com

"Who Wants To Win A $50.00 Gift Certificate?"

Then, be the first person to answer this month's Trivia Question correctly.

Last Month's Trivia.  

Who was the first author to use a "type machine," or typewriter, when writing a manuscript?

a) Mark Twain b) Ernest Hemingway c) Emily Dickinson  d) F. Scott Fitzgerald
 

The answer is a) Mark Twain. After he saw a woman demonstrating the machine in a store window in December 1874, Twain bought one for $125.  

 Let's move on to this month's trivia question.

The most common first name among U.S. Presidents is James (there have been six). How many presidents had no middle name?

a) 3   b) 8   c) 11   d) 16

 Email Me At [email protected],il}}

And You Could Be One Of My Next Winners!