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(203) 243-3820…
March 2024
New Haven, CT
Rudolph Perkins Presents...
Rudy Perkins Newsletter!
"Insider Tips For Healthy, Wealthy & Happy Living..."
All tap water contains some impurities, but not all impurities make the water unsafe. Some minerals pose no threat at a low level, while a higher concentration of the same mineral may be unhealthy—and some contaminants are unsafe at even extremely low levels.
If your tap water has an unpleasant smell or taste or is discolored, you should stop drinking it and get it tested as soon as possible. Even if your water looks and tastes fine, it’s a good idea to test it once a year. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also recommends testing your water if anyone in the house is pregnant, experiencing recurring stomach ailments, or if the house was built before 1986 and might still have some lead pipes. A complete list of EPA recommendations for when to test your water is listed here: https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/home-drinking-water-test.
The most commonly available home water testing kits use paper strips or powder, but these DIY methods are limited. Home tests are usually less sensitive than lab tests, and they may not be able to detect all types of contaminants. The paper strips, for instance, can be helpful for a general overview of what’s in your water, but they don’t necessarily provide enough detail to tell you how to fix it.
For a more detailed and accurate analysis of what’s in your tap water, you can collect a water sample and have it tested by a lab. The EPA recommends using a certified lab so that you’ll be confident in the test results.
There’s an EPA lab in every state, and you can find one by searching the epa.gov site for: “Certified Laboratories for Drinking Water.” Once you have your results, you can make a plan to treat your water. The EPA maintains safety standards for all tap water except well water. If you have a well or another private water source, you’re responsible for the safety of that water. It might be even more important to test regularly if you have a private well.
www.rudyperkinsrealty.com
How To Get Top Dollar Selling Your Home...
If you’re considering selling your home soon, request my Free Consumer Guide, “7 Insider Tips To Net More Money Selling Your Own Home.” This report will be your secret weapon to maximize the net profits from the sale of your home. You can get a free copy by emailing me at [email protected].
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!)…
willful (pronounced will-ful) adjective
Meaning: stubbornly obstinate or headstrong
Sample Sentence: Our willful child has the annoying habit of lying in the store because he wants something we’re not buying.
Bad Eggs?
There are a few ways to tell if the eggs in your fridge are still okay to crack open. The easiest is the float test:
- Fill a container with water enough to cover the egg.
- Place the egg in the container.
- If it sinks lying on its side, it’s still fresh.
- If it sinks and sits upright, it’s not as fresh but still okay to eat.
- If it floats, it could have gone bad, and you should discard it.
A strong odor or slimy texture are signs of an egg gone bad for hard-boiled eggs.
Flex Your Little Mice
The word “muscle” is so familiar that you may not consider where it originated. But if you trace it back to Latin, the phrase musculus translates as “little mouse.” Ancient Romans thought flexing biceps looked like mice moving under the skin. Ancient Greeks, too, used mys for both “mouse” and “muscle.”
Quotes To Live By...
“Hope is patience with the lamp lit.”
– Tertullian, Ancient Roman Author
“Always read something that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.”
– P.J. O’Rourke, Comedian
“Gardening is not a rational act.”
– Margaret Atwood, Author
Helping Adults Kids With Money
Being supportive of adult children doesn’t always involve writing a check. It can mean saying no to the “kid” who overspends and always asks for money. Here are some suggestions to help your adult children become financially sound without depleting your savings (or damaging family relationships).
- Talk to your financial advisor. Get an accurate picture of what giving money to spendthrift kids means for your financial goals. Understanding that may help you set firmer money boundaries.
- Help them create a budget. You may be able to offer nonjudgmental budget planning guidance, including ongoing budgeting assistance to help them build a more stable financial future.
- Make an appointment with a financial advisor for them. Money can be a tough topic to broach with family, so it may be best to hand that baton to professionals.
- Find non-financial ways to ease their financial burden. This could mean looking after their kids now and then to save on daycare, giving them your gently used sofa when you get a new one, or even letting them move back into their old room for a little while so they can pay off debt. Get creative!
Weekly cleaning schedules like this are merely suggestions. Adjust as needed to find the routine that works for you, and you’ll be much more likely to stick to it. We’ll cover Thursday through Sunday next month!
- Monday: Surfaces
Clear the surfaces that accumulate piles: the coffee table, nightstand, dining table, and coffee table. Please return items to where they belong and wipe down the uncluttered surfaces. - Tuesday: Kitchen
Focus on kitchen tasks that may not get done daily, such as cleaning food spills from the stovetop, sticky spots from fridge doors, sauce splatter from the inside of the microwave, burnt bits on the oven floor, and crumb debris from the toaster. - Wednesday: Bathrooms
Clear and clean bathroom counters, mirrors, and sinks (wipe off gooey drips from soap dispensers, too). Scrub toilet bowls and disinfect the exterior of the toilet. Scrub bathtubs and shower stalls, and launder shower curtains or clean shower doors as appropriate.
www.rudyperkinsrealty.com
Free Consumer Help Is Just A Phone Call Away
Learn valuable secrets for saving thousands and avoiding costly mistakes when buying, selling, or refinancing a home. Best of all, it’s FREE. Ask about my “Insider’s Free Resources” by calling me at (203) 243-3820
DID YOU KNOW…
Unlike most real estate agents, I don’t spend my time pestering people with phone calls or bothersome interruptions to find good clients. Instead, I dedicate 110% of my time and energy to providing such outstanding service that people naturally think of me when a friend or family member needs help buying or selling a home. Thanks for your referrals!
Brain Teaser…
What’s harder to catch the faster you run?
(See page 4 for the answer.)
Real Estate Question?
Maybe you want to know how much your home is worth, or perhaps you need a recommendation for a handyman, carpet cleaner, or plumber…Either way, I love hearing from all of my good friends and clients. I’m happy to answer questions you might have about real estate or home ownership. If you have a question, tip, or idea, call me at (203) 243-3820. I’m here to help!
Alaska Superlatives
What’s the northernmost state in the U.S.? That’s easy, you say; it’s Alaska.
Did you know Alaska is also the westernmost and easternmost state in the U.S.? Not only is Alaska’s Cape Wrangell located further west over the International Date Line than Hawaii, but the Aleutian Islands also stretch into the Eastern Hemisphere.
Medication Apps
These apps are great for medication reminders and tracking.
Medisafe (iOS and Android-free) can handle even complicated medication schedules. Add a family member to the app to get notified in case you miss a dose, and the app warns you about medication interactions.
MyTherapyApp.com (iOS and Android) offers medication reminders in more than 15 languages to accommodate many users. It also has refill reminders and can track things like blood pressure.
DoseCast.com ($2.99/month or $27.99/year, iOS, Android, Amazon) includes medication and refill reminders and syncs across unlimited devices—especially useful for caregivers who want to track someone else’s health.
5 Surprising Uses For Your HSA
A Health Savings Account (HSA) is an excellent addition to an investment portfolio and medical benefits package for anyone with an HSA-eligible health insurance plan (often called a “High Deductible Health Plan”). The money in these accounts isn’t taxed while it’s in the HSA, and it’s not taxed when you take it out, either, if it’s used for eligible medical expenses. And there are probably dozens of “eligible medical expenses” that you don’t know about. Here are just a few of them.
1. Everyday medical supplies: Many basic first-aid supplies, such as bandages, antibiotic ointments, over-the-counter medications, menstrual care products, and even medication organizers, are eligible for purchase under an HSA. Sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or more and broad-spectrum protection against UVA/UVB rays is also HSA-eligible.
2. Wigs: When medical treatments cause hair loss, leading to depression, your HSA can pay for wigs.
3. Home improvements: Medically required house modifications, such as ramps for wheelchair users, may be reimbursed from an HSA. This includes removing lead-based paint in an older home.
4. Alternative therapies: Even if your health insurance doesn’t cover things like massage, acupuncture, or chiropractic therapies, your HSA can.
Service animals: You can use your HSA funds to pay for the service animal's veterinary care and food.
If having a long list of HSA-eligible purchases isn’t appealing enough, here’s another incentive to pay closer attention to your HSA: It can earn you tax-free income. Money in your HSA doesn’t have to sit there tax-free until you spend it on a qualified medical expense. You can keep it in an interest-bearing bank account or even invest some of it within the HSA, and your interest and investment earnings are also tax-free.
You can browse through a seemingly endless list of HSA-eligible health products on a site like HSAstore.com and learn more about things like HSA-eligible health plans, contribution limits, annual deductible amounts, and qualifying medical expenses here: https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/health-savings-account-hsa/
www.rudyperkinsrealty.com
Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
Every month I acknowledge my special Clients and good friends who support me and my business with referrals, word of mouth and repeat business.
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:
Your breath
Blowing Smoke
A campfire may be cozy, but you don’t want to smell it on your clothes later. The best way to get the smell of smoke out of your clothes is by adding a half-cup of baking soda or a cup of white vinegar to your laundry detergent; the sooner, the better. If you won’t be home for a while, fresh air and sunlight are your friends. Hang items in an area with lots of light and a breeze away from the fire.
Crow Grudges
Do you think you know someone who can hold a grudge? A scientist at the University of Washington conducted an experiment that shows crows can hold grudges for about 17 years!
THANK YOU for reading 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
(203) 243-3820
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.
Q: How do I make my home stand out in the market without spending much?
A: If you want to get offers from buyers, make a great first impression by improving these potential turn-offs:
- Messy Landscaping: Buyers are looking for curb appeal. Take the time to clean up an overgrown yard.
- Nasty Odors: You may not smell some odors in your home because you’ve become desensitized. Ask your REALTOR® if there are odors (smoke, pet odors) and how to get rid of them.
- Too Much Clutter: Pack away excess furniture, personal pictures, and knickknacks. They make your rooms look smaller and distract the buyer from seeing the house.
- Old Paint: A fresh coat of neutral-colored paint is a low-cost way to make your rooms look new and fresh.
You can learn more about these and 40 more tips in my Free Consumer Report, “44 Money-Making Tips For Preparing Your Home To Sell.” Just ask me for a copy for yourself or a friend, and I’ll send it right over.
Do you have a question related to real estate or home ownership? Please email me at [email protected]. Perhaps I’ll feature your question in my next issue!
www.rudyperkinsrealty.com
A $50.00 Gift Certificate?”
Then, try to be the first person to answer this month's trivia question correctly.
Last Month's Trivia Question And Answer.
When were the conversation hearts associated with Valentine’s Day Invented?
a) 1847 b) 1944 c) 1975 d) 1798
The answer is a) 1847. A pharmacist who developed a lozenge cutter realized he could make candy with it, too. In 1866, phrases began being stamped onto the candy, and the heart shapes as we know them today came onto the market in 1901.
This Month's Trivia Question.
The first World Cup was held in 1930, but the current trophy was introduced in 1974.
They needed a new one because the original was:
a) lost b) considered ugly c) awarded permanently d) damaged
Email Me At [email protected], And You Could Be One Of My Next Winners!