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!)…

panacea (pan-uh-SEE-uh) noun

Meaning: a fix for every problem or ailment; a cure-all

Sample Sentence: My grandmother’s panacea was chicken soup, whether we were actually sick or just feeling low.

Common Shower Habits That Damage Your Skin

Clean skin is healthy skin, but some of the things we do to cleanse it can be harmful. Here are a few things you should not be doing.

• Using very hot water. Filling the bathroom with steam is very spa-like, but the water that is too hot can remove the skin’s natural moisturizers. Stick to lukewarm showers and try to take shorter showers if you can.
• Using a loofah. Not only can these popular exfoliators be abrasive and damaging to the skin, but they are also breeding grounds for bacteria and yeast. Instead, use a washcloth that is laundered after each use.
• Skipping the moisturizing. Even if your showers aren’t steamy, hot water will still wash away the skin’s natural moisturizers. It’s important to moisturize immediately after your shower to help prevent dry and flaky skin.

Quotes To Live By…

“There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it’s going to be a butterfly.”

–R. Buckminster Fuller, Architect

“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.”  

–Meister Eckhart, Theologian

“Science is a way of thinking much more than it is a body of knowledge.”

–Carl Sagan, Astronomer

Make $$$ While You Sleep.

    Selling handmade crafts on Etsy or becoming a rideshare driver on nights and weekends are great side hustles, but they take time. On the other hand, passive income can keep the virtual cash register active—even when you’re not. Here are some ideas to help you dream in dollar signs:

• Monetize your expertise. What’s the thing your friends and family always ask you about, the thing you can discuss at greater length than anyone else you know? Turn that expertise into what’s known as an “information product” like an e-book, a YouTube channel, or even a mobile app. Yes, there’s a large time investment up front, but when you’re done, you can earn money from it anytime—even when you sleep. 
• Rent out a room, amenity, or an entire property. If you have a second home, renting it out either as a vacation property or on a long-term basis can be lucrative. Renting out a room in your home with a site like Airbnb can bring in quite a bit of money—or, have a pool? You can even rent that by the hour with Swimply (swimply.com).
• Get into money lending. With peer-to-peer (P2P) lending services like Prosper (prosper.com) and Peerform (peerform.com), you can offer partial loans and then earn interest on them. It’s not entirely passive income, as it requires ongoing monitoring and research (these are unsecured loans, after all), but P2P lending can be an excellent source of almost-passive income for the financially savvy.

Kid-Friendly Floor Ideas

    Kids can be hard on floors. The flooring you choose needs to be safe and durable when little ones are crawling around. Parents should only consider vinyl, for instance, if it’s certified to have low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions—and some health experts still don’t advise families with small kids to use vinyl. Here are a few kid-friendly floor ideas:

• Carpeting is soft and absorbs sound, but it also hangs onto dust and other allergens. Make sure to clean regularly if you choose carpet.
• Carpet squares make stains or other damage easy to fix—you replace a single square. You keep it clean as a regular carpet!
• Oak flooring with an antique finish can help hide any new scrapes. Just fill with wood filler and a dab of stain.
• Bamboo flooring is durable and beautiful; plus, it’s a sustainable crop. It’s stain-resistant and a good choice for a home with children.
• Cork is softer than hardwood and easier to clean than carpet, and it is antimicrobial makes it great for kids. It might be best for bedrooms as high wear areas mean more dings and scrapes.
• Machine-washable area rugs help save expensive flooring from wear and tear. Check out ruggable.com for lots of beautiful options.

 www.rudyperkinsrealty.com

Here's A Free, Valuable Resource...

Now You Can Search The Home Market, Get Helpful Community Information, AND Receive Important Resources For Saving Time And Money When Buying Or Selling At  www.rudyperkinsrealty.com

Brain Teaser…

A person who turned 15 in 1990 also turned 10 in 1995. How is this possible?

 (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, call me at (203) 243-3820. I’m here to help!

Did You Know?

A common cleaning “hack” you’ve probably read before is that toothpaste is a good stand-in for silver polish.

In reality, it may work a little too well. Toothpaste is significantly rougher than actual silver polish—scrubbing it into your heirloom silver regularly can cause lasting damage.

Poppa Funny

When does a joke become a dad joke?
When it becomes ap-parent!

Recipe Websites

Having a variety of recipes ready to go makes it much easier to answer the daily query, “What’s for dinner?”

cooking.nytimes.com – The New York Times’ cooking section is a longtime foodie favorite. The “Weeknight” section is particularly popular with quick and delicious meals.

seriouseats.com – Part cookbook and part cooking school, with a vast collection of recipes and tutorials on cooking techniques.

epicurious.com – The 330,000-plus recipes in the Epicurious catalog covers all the culinary bases and then some. The “Ingredients” section includes deep dives into kitchen staples.

Why You Might Push People Away (And How To Fix It)

    Even the friendliest and most extroverted people can sometimes behave in ways that push people away, whether or not they realize they’re doing it. If you’ve noticed friends seem more distant than they used to, it may be time to evaluate your own behavior.   These are just a few of the ways you might inadvertently be pushing friends away—and ways to remedy them.

Do you only engage when it’s about you? Do you only initiate with a phone call or text when you have news to share? Are you chatty when they ask about your day, but you don’t reciprocate?

• It can be disheartening when a friend only seems interested in talking about themselves and rarely seems interested in how you’re feeling.
• Next time: Call or text to ask how they are. Ask follow-up questions. Be attentive to spending as much time listening as you do talking. Clear your mind of other issues and focus on their words.

 Do you complain every time you talk to friends? Do you vent about a bad work or relationship situation during every conversation? Are the complaints similar each time?

• Everyone needs to vent now and then, but if you repeat the same complaints and never attempt to change the situation, that’s an unpleasant (and monotonous) monologue to hear.
• Next time: Consider solutions to the problem so you can discuss how it changes. If possible, try to reframe it to see any positives. Also, focus on something not about you!

 Do you try to solve all problems by yourself? Do you think things won’t be done properly if you don’t do them? Do you ignore advice from others?

• Working together on a project may mean doing something differently than you would have done it if you were solo, but different doesn’t mean worse—and cooperation builds personal bonds.
• Next time: Ask for help, and then listen carefully to others’ suggestions. Make implementing the solution collaboratively.

 www.rudyperkinsrealty.com

Please Welcome New Clients
And Friends To Our Real Estate Family...

I want to take a moment to personally welcome all of my newest clients and good friends who have supported my business over the years.  And special thanks to everyone who thought 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:

They were born in 2005 B.C.E.

Make Charging Fly By

Your phone’s battery recharges much faster when it’s not trying to do a dozen things.

• Switch to airplane mode to speed the charging process.
• If you can take some time without your phone, charging goes even faster if you can turn your phone completely off.
• Keep it cool. Hotter temperatures make phones harder to charge, and taking off the case can help keep your phone cooler while it’s plugged in.

From Roses To...

In India, Valentine’s Day, February 14, falls precisely nine months before Children’s Day on November 14.

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

[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: I am thinking of selling my home later this year. What can I do to fix it up and net more from the sale?

A: Remember, when you put your home up for sale, it becomes a product on display. Getting rid of clutter makes it easier for potential buyers to walk through the property and see themselves living there. You may also need to tackle a few home improvement projects to get a good price for your property.

- Start with the walls. Freshly painted walls in a neutral color invite a potential buyer to imagine the home with their things in it. You want enough wall decoration to make your home attractive, but it is easy to overdo it. When removing wall décor to paint, leave most of it packed away.

- Freshen up the kitchen. Kitchens often sell a home. You will want to make sure it is bright, clean, and reasonably updated. Consider replacing the hardware or adding a new backsplash between the countertops and hanging cabinets. If you have to replace appliances, stainless steel is an option that offers clean lines and is popular.

- Enhance the curb appeal with neat, trim landscaping. Potential home buyers will likely view your home online before a buyer visits the property. A clean exterior makes better-looking photos and helps your home look more valuable.

To get more information about how to prepare your home for the market, ask about my Free Consumer Report “Home Seller’s Guide To Moneymaking Fix-Ups,” a guide to help you realize the most profit from your home. I’ll send a copy directly to you. If 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

“Who Wants To Win

$50.00 Gift Certificate?”

     Then be the first person to answer this month's quiz question correctly.

Last month's quiz.

The first game of American football played in the UK was in 1910 between Navy sailors on what two ships?

a) USS Idaho and USS Michigan b) USS Vermont and USS Wisconsin  c) USS Arizona and USS Michigan
d) USS Idaho and USS Vermont

      The answer is d) USS Idaho and USS Vermont. The US Navy brought football to the UK when two battleships played a Thanksgiving Day game on November 23rd, 1910. So let’s move on to this month’s trivia question.

In what popular 90s TV series was there a character
with the last name of “Bing?”

a) Seinfeld  b) Friends  c) Frasier  d) Cheers 

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