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January 2021
New Haven, CT
Rudy Perkins Presents...
Rudy Perkins Realty Newsletter!
"Insider Tips For Healthy, Wealthy & Happy Living..."
How To Stick To Health Routines
While plenty of people aspire to be diligent about healthy routines, it often feels easier to stick to old habits—we’re so comfortable with the routine we already know. To break out of a rut, many people need a leg up. So, here are some tips to help you stick to a new fitness regime or nutritional plan.
1. Meaningful Motivation: It’s important to understand your own psychology when trying to stick to any new routine. Determine your motivation: the reason (or reasons) you want to start a new health routine. It can help put your “why” into words or pictures and post it in a place you’ll see it every day for constant reminders of your motivational message.
2. Habits or Routines? Habits are individual actions (like brushing your hair), whereas routines are made up of habits (your morning routine might include brushing your hair, taking a shower, and getting dressed) that, often, we do without thinking. When establishing a new routine, it’s useful to break each routine down and identify the habits that you’ll be adding or adjusting.
3. Achievable Goals: Give yourself benchmarks that you’re almost certain you can meet. For example, if you want to exercise more, perhaps your first goal is to walk around the block every day for a week. Success begets success. Small victories lead to much bigger ones.
4. Mini-Mind Games: Make it harder to make excuses than to stick to the routine, even if that means playing little games with yourself. For instance, if your running shoes are in the bedroom doorway or your yoga pants folded atop the coffee maker, it’s harder to skip a morning workout.
5. Accountability: Studies show that we’re much more likely to stick to a health routine if we’re not going at it alone. Find a workout buddy who has similar goals, like a running partner. It’s not only motivating to know you’re accountable to someone other than yourself, but it’s also fabulous to celebrate each milestone with others who are on the same path.
6. Track Your Progress: Change can be so slow that it’s all but impossible to notice progress. When starting a new health routine with a specific goal in mind, it’s handy to track your progress each day so that you can see just how you’re doing over time—and pat yourself on the back. Write your workout plan and completed tasks down, or try an app like Fitness Buddy.
www.rudyperkinsrealty.com
Warning Before You Sell Your Home...
Don’t put your home on the market without my Free Consumer Guide titled, “How To Avoid 7 Costly Mistakes When Selling Your Home.” My exclusive report will give you all the facts for a fast, top-dollar sale. Email me at [email protected], and request your Free copy...
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!)…
hyperlocal (hyper-lokal) adjective
Meaning: relating to a small area or community
Sample Sentence: Hyperlocal marketing and journalism focus on targeting small areas like neighborhoods.
Air-Purifying Plants
Just because a plant is in a small pot at the store doesn’t mean it’s meant for indoor life. Here are some plants that not only thrive indoors—they also remove toxins from the air.
- Monstera Deliciosa: Likes indirect light, easy to grow, reduces many air pollutants.
- Snake Plant: Likes bright light and very little water; reduces benzene, xylene, toluene, and more.
- Spider Plant: Likes bright (but not direct) sun; removes formaldehyde, xylene from your air.
- Bird’s Nest Fern: Likes indirect light and humidity; great for bathroom, filters formaldehyde, xylene, etc.
- Aloe Vera: Likes bright sun and infrequent watering; topical skin benefits, reduce formaldehyde.
Quotes To Live By…
“I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific.” –Lily Tomlin, actor
“The world is round so that friendship may encircle it.” –Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, philosopher
“One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.”
–André Gide, author
Whether you’re traveling in a new city or just need to get across town at home, rideshare services (like Lyft and Uber) are an increasingly popular choice. With a large number of rides across the world, most of us have heard stories of accidents and crime occurring during rideshares. Luckily, most of these incidents are preventable by keeping the following safety tips in mind.
- Make ride requests indoors. Whether you’re requesting a ride at night or during the day, it’s safer to make the request before you go outside. If possible, wait indoors until your ride arrives.
- Confirm the ride before getting in the car. Make sure the car’s make and license plate match the ride match from the app. Ask for the driver’s name, and ask them to confirm your name.
- Sit in the back seat. It’s a personal car, not a taxi, but being in the back seat affords you access to two doors so you won’t risk getting into or out of the car near a busy lane of traffic.
- Utilize the app’s trip sharing feature. Both Lyft and Uber have a trip sharing tool in their safety options. Trip sharing sends the driver’s name, photo, license plate number, and car location with the person of your choice so someone knows where you are and who you’re with.
Treating yourself to a spa day is great, but it’s not really feasible to do that every day—no matter how much you might need the spa after a long day of work. Here are some ways to transform your home bathroom into a spa-like environment, making it much easier to indulge your spa desires whenever you like.
- Declutter surfaces. Minimalism in the bathroom is more conducive to a spa-like experience. Decant essentials (like liquid soap or cotton balls) into pretty containers and stash the less lovely stuff (like toothpaste and deodorant) in a drawer or cabinet.
- Add organic features. Plenty of plants can make a bathroom feel lush, and opting for bamboo accessories (like bath mats, bath caddies, and shelves) is an instant spa look.
- Upgrade your towel game. Invest in high-quality towels (all in white for a serious spa look) and consider installing a towel-warming rack for maximum luxury.
- Pay attention to scents. It’s easy to add the calming aromatherapy many spas offer to your own bathroom with essential oil diffusers or natural candles in a relaxing scent.
www.rudyperkinsrealty.com
Would You Like To Know How Much
Your Neighbor's Home Listed Or Sold For?
Maybe you’re just curious.
Or maybe you want to know how much your home is worth.
Either way, I can help…with no “sales pitches” or run-around.
Email me at [email protected], and I’ll give you all the facts.
Brain Teaser…
There’s a place on our planet that could be called a cold shape. Do you know where it is?
(See page 4 for the answer.)
Real Estate Question?
Maybe you want to know how much your home is worth. Or maybe you need a recommendation for a handyman, carpet cleaner, or plumber…Either way, I love hearing from all of my good friends and clients. And I’m happy to help answer questions you might have about anything relating to real estate or home-ownership. If you have a question, tip or idea, Email me at [email protected]. I’m here to help!
Genius Baking
Mat Storage
Bakers love silicone baking mats but storing them is tricky—they don’t stay rolled on their own. But you already have the perfect tool to keep them rolled, and it’s free!
Cut a portion of the cardboard tube inside a paper towel roll (or use a toilet paper roll tube) and slip the rolled baking mat inside.
Secure Messaging Apps
There are plentiful options for messaging services, but not all of them are truly secure. Here are a few messaging apps that adhere to stricter encryption protocols.
Signal: https://signal.org/en/ (Free; iOS and Android) Signal is the best-known secure messaging app, boasting end-to-end encryption for text messages, video calls, and voice calls. There’s a desktop version, too.
Wickr Me: https://wickr.com/ (Free; iOS and Android) Wickr’s personal use app features end-to-end encryption for texting and voice calls, and there’s a paid business version (Wickr Pro) for things like video calls and group calls.
Wire: https://wire.com/en/ (Free; iOS and Android) Wire has end-to-end encryption for texts, voice calls, video calls, and some Dropbox file sharing, plus it’s easy to have multiple accounts (for personal and business use).
Running a business can be challenging, especially when customers can leave reviews online in so many different places. A 2016 Harvard Business School study of Yelp reviews on revenue's impact showed that one truly awful review could cost a business tens of thousands of dollars, while five positive reviews only count for a 10% revenue increase. So, let’s look at how you can increase positive reviews while minimizing bad reviews' negative impacts.
- Read your reviews. Go where your customers are. Have a business presence on all the review sites, including Yelp, LinkedIn, Google, and Facebook, and then read all your reviews. You can also set up alerts (such as Google Alerts at google.com/alerts) to be notified of new reviews on sites you aren’t familiar with. Set up an alert with your business name and see what pops up.
- Look for patterns. When similar issues come up in multiple negative reviews, it’s an opportunity to identify systemic problems, improving your business in the process.
- A sincere apology is often all it takes to turn an unhappy customer into a happy one, especially if you offer a free service or product to demonstrate a policy change.
- Address complaints. Don’t just apologize for a mistake or problem—you must actually fix it, or the cycle will start over again with another customer. Make sure to reply to each review as well. Even if there’s no satisfactory outcome, others will see you made an effort.
- Request positive reviews. Ask your happy customers to leave positive reviews for you whenever possible. Even if one negative comment remains unresolved, it carries less weight if it’s only one amid dozens of positive reviews.
You won’t always be able to satisfy everyone, particularly as some negativity may come from so-called “trolls” who are just trying to stir the pot. In some cases, when a negative review is inaccurate or defamatory, you can request that the review site remove it. Keep in mind that this is only for genuinely inaccurate reviews—not for negative reviews you don’t like. It’s illegal in the US to impose penalties of any kind for honest reviews (per the Consumer Review Fairness Act).
www.rudyperkinsrealty.com
Please Welcome New Clients
And Friends To Our Real Estate Family...
I’d like to take a moment to personally welcome my newest clients and friends to our real estate family. Thank you to everyone who supported my business over the years, and for thinking of me with your referrals...
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:
The Arctic Circle
Lazy Susans: Beyond The Dining Room Table
Lazy Susans, those handy rotating trays that often hold the condiments and napkins on dining tables, are useful for so much more.
Put one in your fridge for all the jars and containers you regularly use but always seem to have gotten shoved to the back of the shelf. Smaller turntables are perfect for condiments in the cupboard, and larger ones make corner cabinets less awkward.
In the bathroom, Lazy Susans make great makeup organizers. Find them at most home stores or on Amazon.
Did You Hear...
About the claustrophobic astronaut?
He just needed a little space.
THANK YOU for reading Rudy Perkins Realty, my personal newsletter. I wanted to produce a newsletter that has great content and 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
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: Do I have to hire a professional stager, or can I stage my home myself to sell it?
A. no doubt staging your home creates a great first impression, makes pictures pop on the Internet, and will boost your sales price. First, consult with your REALTOR®. You can certainly do the staging yourself if you have the time and energy. Here are the key things you should do:
- Clean the inside and the outside from top to bottom. You may want to hire professional cleaners to do this part.
- Remove clutter, extra furniture, and personal items so your potential buyers will “see themselves” living in your home.
- Paint the walls a neutral color to appeal to the broadest base of buyers.
If you don’t have time and can afford it, hiring a professional stager is an excellent alternative. Professional stagers have inventory and can bring in furniture and decor to make your home stand out from others on the market. Ask your REALTOR® for recommendations.
For more staging tips, read my Free Consumer Report: https://www.rudyperkinsrealty.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/ShowLikeAModel.pdf. Please copy and paste this link into your browser.
Do you have a real estate question you want to be answered? Email me at [email protected]. Perhaps I’ll feature your question in my next issue!
www.rudyperkinsrealty.com
$50.00 Gift Certificate?”
Then, be the first person to answer my quiz question correctly.
Last month's quiz.
Who was the first female singer inducted twice to the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
a) Aretha Franklin b) Pink
c) Mariah Carey d) Stevie Nicks
The answer is d) Stevie Nicks. Nicks was first inducted in 1998 as part of the band Fleetwood Mac.
So let’s move on to this month’s trivia question.
Only one U.S. President was born on July 4 (Coolidge),
but three Presidents died on July 4. Which ones?
a) Adams, Van Buren, Harding b) Adams, Jefferson, Monroe
c) Monroe, Pierce, Nixon d) Jefferson, Tyler, Truman
Email Me At [email protected], And You Could Be One Of My Next Winners!