Word of the Month…

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

Hoodwink (pronounced HOOD-wink) verb

Meaning: to trick, cheat, or swindle
Sample Sentence: Artificial intelligence can be beneficial and can also be used for nefarious purposes, such as hoodwinking people into sending money to scammers.

Have A Laugh

When is it impossible to plant any flowers?

When you haven’t botany.

Clean A Front-Loading Washer

Housekeeping experts recommend washing your washing machine once a month to ensure clean clothes smell fresh. Here’s how to clean a front-loading machine.

-Wipe down all accessible surfaces, including drawers and doors. (You may need to remove the drawer part where the detergent goes for soaking.)

-Mix 1/4 c water and 1/4 c baking soda and add this to the drawer section where you put laundry detergent.

-Run the machine at its hottest water setting.

-When the cycle is complete, spray vinegar on the rubber gaskets around the door and leave it for a few minutes.

-Wipe the gaskets thoroughly, pushing the rag into the rubber folds. (You may need to do the last two steps a few times.)

Quotes To Live By…

“Truth is a letter from courage.”

– Zora Neale Hurston, Author

“Let me stay tender-hearted, despite despite despite.”

– Chen Chen, Poet

“Have no fear of perfection—you’ll never reach it.”

– Salvador Dalí, Artist

Avoiding Vacation Rental Scams

     Sites like VRBO and Airbnb have made booking a vacation home elementary, making it easier to get scammed.

     Even if the service you’re booking with is reputable, it’s almost impossible for them to catch all potential scams in their listings. Here are some of the most common vacation rental scams, and how to avoid them.

• Fake Listings: Many vacation properties are listed on multiple websites, so that fact alone isn’t a red flag. However, A property listed on various sites with different host or contact information is. This scammer may have copied a legitimate listing from one site to lure travelers to their fake listing with a lower booking price. Check with the host directly or contact the site before you book to ask about the discrepancies. 
• Fake Hosts: You ask about availability. The owner says that the rental is booked, but they have another property. It’s not listed yet, so they ask you to move to an external app for further discussion. This is a major red flag! The same goes for discounts offered if you pay using a different app. Always communicate and pay using the official site, so you at least have some recourse if you have problems with the property or the owner.
• Fake Photos: Pictures of the property you booked were gorgeous, but the actual property looks nothing like those photos when you arrive. It may be easy these days for scammers to use doctored photos to entice travelers, but it’s also easy for travelers to look at Google Street View or do a reverse image search to make sure it’s realistic.
• Fake Reviews: Glowing reviews are easy for a scammer to fake. Look at the reviews themselves, not just the overall star rating. Look for similar-sounding language or lots of positive reviews in a short period. You might even be able to cross-reference reviews for that property or with that host on other vacation rental sites.

 www.rudyperkinsrealty.com

A Heartfelt Message To My Special Clients And Friends...

I want to share a little secret with you. I don’t spend my time cold-calling or pestering people for business. Instead, I focus 110% of my efforts on providing such outstanding service that people naturally think of me when a friend, neighbor, or family member needs a caring and competent REALTOR®.

I want to take a moment to thank all the special people who’ve helped build my business with their enduring support and referrals.  I couldn’t do it without you!

Brain Teaser

I am a room with no floor, walls, or ceiling. What am I?

 (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.

A Bubbly Invention

Today, bubble wrap is a common protective packing material (and an extremely satisfying fidget). But its inventors weren’t trying to transform shipping—they were trying to make wallpaper.

In 1957, a pair of inventors fused two plastic shower curtains to make textured wallpaper. Although the result wasn’t what they hoped for, they were clever enough to patent the idea. IBM first used it as packing material in 1961.

Dad Joke: Sleep Cycle

Why did the bicycle fall over?

Because it was two-tired!

Free Movie Websites

Hosting movie night doesn’t necessarily mean subscribing to multiple costly streaming services. Here are a few freebies.

Kanopy.com has a vast catalog of movies available for free through public libraries. With a library card, you get a certain number of “credits” to use each month to stream ad-free films on your TV or through the mobile app.

HooplaDigital.com is another ad-free streaming service that’s free through public libraries. Its catalog goes far beyond movies. You can also enjoy TV shows, music, ebooks, audiobooks, and comics.

TubiTV.com’s collection includes more than 250,000 movies and TV shows, including live TV and some original programs, that are free to stream—but they do have ads.

Tips To Prevent Hypertension

     High blood pressure, otherwise known as hypertension, is a common condition among adults in the U.S. The good news is that there are some easy lifestyle modifications you can make to help reduce your risk factors.

• Exercise: Exercise has many benefits, including lowering blood pressure. It only takes about 30 minutes of aerobic exercise daily.
• Eat Healthy Food: A heart-healthy diet focusing on veggies, fruits, whole grains, legumes, and meats like poultry (without the skin) or fish can help reduce blood pressure.
• Limit Salt: The Mayo Clinic recommends 1,500 mg of sodium per day for most adults. Try using different dried herbs and spices to add flavor to cooking without (or with just a pinch of) salt.
• Quit Smoking: When you quit smoking, your blood pressure drops in as little as 20 minutes.

     You may also want to invest in a home blood pressure monitor to track your blood pressure as you implement changes. Learn how to choose and use a home blood pressure monitor from the American Heart Association: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/understanding-blood-pressure-readings/monitoring-your-blood-pressure-at-home

 Create A Cleaning Routine, Pt.2

     We covered a house cleaning routine for Monday through Wednesday last month, so here’s our suggested list for Thursday through Saturday—Sunday is your day to relax! Again, adjust as needed to find what works for you. You’re more apt to stick with a schedule if it suits you.

• Thursday: Floors
  Clear floors of toys, shoes, and other clutter so you can sweep, vacuum, and mop thoroughly. This isn’t a day for spot-cleaning or vacuuming around piles. 
• Friday: Bedrooms & Soft Furniture
  Strip beds and change sheets, straightforward sofas and chairs of clutter, and vacuum soft furnishings for crumbs and other small debris. Fluff pillows as you go.
• Saturday: Laundry
  Gather and wash all the dirty laundry, including clothing and linens. Fold and put away everything when it’s clean. This is also a good day to check laundry and cleaning supplies to resupply and organize as needed, so you’re ready to go on Monday.

 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:

A mushroom!

Vulture Veneration

It's easy to feel squeamish about a bird that feasts on carrion, but vultures deserve much respect. A new body of research shows that by eating dead animals' bodies, vultures reduce greenhouse gas emissions like methane and carbon dioxide that would otherwise be released if the carcasses were left to rot. One estimate is that vultures in the Americas remove as much CO2 globally in a year as is produced by 2.6 million automobiles.

This Side Up

Do you always plug in your USB cables incorrectly on the first try? Most of us do! But if you pick up a USB cable lying around your house, that little weird tree symbol on the cable actually shows the right way up.

.

THANK YOU for reading Rudy Perkins' Newsletter

Service For Life!® personal 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 want to stop by and say “Hi,” I’d love to hear from you…

RUDY PERKINS REALTY

(203) 243-3820

[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: What advice can you give to first-time homebuyers? 

A: The best advice is to learn from others' mistakes.   Here are three common examples:

•   Not knowing what you can afford.  Examine your budget, get a copy of your credit report, and sit down with a qualified lender to determine how much of a loan you can afford.  Feel free to ask me for a list of lender recommendations, and then make sure you compare shop for a mortgage.
•   We often forget to consider the overall costs of home ownership. You can make the monthly payment, but remember to add in the cost of homeowners’ insurance, property taxes, utility costs, and maintenance. 
•   Paying too much for a beautifully staged home.  The home looks perfect, but will it look that way when you move in your furniture?

If you’re buying a home for the first time, you should have a copy of my Free Consumer Report, “Top 10 First-Time Homebuyer Mistakes To Avoid.” Email me at [email protected] and I’ll send you a copy.

     Do you have a real estate question you want answered? Feel free to call me at 203-243-3820. 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 Question and Answer.   

The first World Cup was held in 1930, but the current trophy wasn't introduced until 1974. They needed a new one because
the original was:

a) lost   b) considered ugly   c) awarded permanently d) damaged

The answer is c) awarded permanently. When Brazil won its third World Cup title in 1970, they were given the trophy to keep. The new trophy was first awarded to West Germany in 1974. 

This Month's Trivia Question.

. 

You may have honey in the cupboard, but you may not know all its mysteries. Which of these honey claims is not true?

a) Honey was an early chemical weapon. b) Honey is medicinal. c) Honey never goes bad. d) Only bees make honey

 Email Me At [email protected] And You Could Be One Of My Next Winners!