Robert C. White & Company - January 2022

Robert C. White & Company - January 2022

R E N T A L READER YOUR

JANUARY 2022

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REMINDERS FROM A WINTER SNOW The Power of a Fresh Start

I know people who love New Year’s resolutions and others who are allergic to them. Whether you love them or hate them, taking some time to reflect on the coming year and what you want from it is time well spent, and I encourage you to do it.

It snowed in Connecticut yesterday, the first real snowfall of the year. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting it, which made it that much better. I love the look of fresh snow on the ground. I think snow beautifies everything it covers. And making the first footprints in fresh snow just feels great. I used to work at Prudential in Newark, N.J. I lived in New Jersey and would head into New York City every once in a while. I remember leaving an event in NYC one night. It was pretty late and it was snowing. It was absolutely amazing, and I vividly remember breaking into a huge grin. For some reason, no one was walking on the snow-covered sidewalks, no cars were on the streets, and no plows had passed. The orange glow from the street lamps lit everything up in a soft light. I walked in the middle of the street, and every step I took was a first step in the undisturbed snow. In literature, snow very often represents cleansing, new beginnings, and a fresh start. I think it’s very appropriate that Connecticut gets its first few snows at the close of one year and the beginning of another. Fresh starts are what this time of year is about. Usually in early December, I gather the full RCW team and we reflect on the year, both personally and professionally. We also talk about what we are excited about in the new year. As you may know, we have a core value called “Endlessly Improving.” In my opinion, unless you reflect on the past and how things worked out compared to how you want things to be, you can’t improve. That is why reflection is so important to growth. Setting your sights on things you want to achieve in the future and setting goals is equally important to growth. And in this period of “fresh starts,” we spend a lot of time thinking about where we are headed and what we need to achieve to get there. We set big goals and small goals, and we devise plans to try our best to achieve them.

The time of year for fresh starts

2022 has a lot in store for all of us. As you

reflect on your coming year, if you think now is the time for you to sell your home — or 2022 might be the year you expand your rental portfolio — I would encourage you to reach out to the RCW team so we can understand what you are trying achieve and see if we can help in any way. Our objective is to deliver peace of mind to our clients and help them achieve their real estate goals, no matter what they may be.

From all of us at RCW, we wish you a very happy New Year, and we hope 2022 is absolutely grand for you and your family!

Fondly thinking of the wonder of a fresh snow,

P.S. You probably know I am a sucker for quotes. Headed into the winter season, which is not a picnic for property managers in the Northeast, I found and enjoyed this one: “There is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.” –John Ruskin.

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EASY, AFFORDABLE WAYS TO EMBRACE NATURE IN YOUR HOME

January is Radon Awareness Month, and it serves as a reminder that this invisible, odorless, and tasteless compound could be extremely dangerous if it leaks into your home. Radon is the second-leading cause of lung cancer deaths, and it claims the lives of 21,000 Americans each year. People can be exposed to radon via the air that comes through cracks and gaps in buildings, so testing radon levels in homes, schools, and other buildings can help prevent health risks and unnecessary exposure. It’s Radon Awareness Month! Everything You Need to Know About Radon

Thanks to the chaos we’ve experienced since 2020, many design experts are looking to create spaces that are calm, welcoming, and grounded. Enter one of the biggest design trends of the 2020s: neutral, natural elements. Here are some easy ways to bring nature inside and boost your home’s look without overspending. The obvious option is to add more houseplants. And plants don’t have to be difficult! Consider your home space, first. How much light do you get? Is it a dry or humid home? How likely is it that you will remember to water a plant? Bring these concerns to your local nursery, and they will help you find the perfect leafy friend(s) to fill your space. Then, opt for pieces that won’t decay. When choosing new decor for your home or when updating your knickknacks for the seasons, look for wooden or natural items that don’t have a life cycle. Fake plants, wooden statues and picture frames, and piles of stones or vases with rocks can bring the richness of the great outdoors into your home with little effort and can be reused each season. Now, look to your backyard! If you have a big pine tree that produces pine cones each year, don’t let those go to waste! Baskets or vases filled with pine cones can be great fall and winter decor pieces, while lots of clever crafters have made wreaths, scent diffusers, and other fun items with pine cones found in their yard. Just be mindful of what you take from nature. Don’t take anything of value to the ecosystem, and don’t grab items from state or national parks. Finally, utilize windows. Part of embracing natural design elements is letting nature do the talking! Focus your design in each room around windows. For instance, fix plant displays near windows or hang bird feeders in trees you can see through your windows. If you really want to get cozy with the outdoors, consider installing a skylight! To find more inspiration, take a walk and discover how Mother Nature has designed her space. Bring those ideas into your home and enjoy the comfort of the great outdoors within your own great indoors.

How do you prevent radon leaks? Testing your home is a quick, easy, and inexpensive way to prevent leaks. Radon kits can be found online or in home improvement stores. They are easy to install and just require placing a small measuring device and leaving it for the directed period of time. Be sure to follow the instructions on where to place the device and where to send it after the test to find out your radon level.

You can also hire qualified professionals to test for radon in your home by contacting your state radon program or by using the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP) or the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB). Additional actions to reduce high radon levels in your home include not smoking indoors, increasing airflow by opening windows and using fans, and sealing cracks in your floors and walls. How do you know if you have a leak? Even if you are breathing in a high level of radon, there are no obvious signs and no widely available medical tests to measure whether you have been exposed. Possible symptoms can include shortness of breath, hoarseness, wheezing, persistent cough, coughing up blood, chest pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, and fatigue. What do you do if you have been exposed? If you think you or a loved one has been exposed to radon, see your medical care provider about whether you should receive regular checkups or CT scans to test for possible signs of lung cancer.

Visit the EPA website for more information.

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THE STREET VET

Saving the Lives of Homeless Individuals’ Pets

About 25% of Modesto’s homeless population own a pet, and back in 2011, Dr. Stewart noticed that many needed medical attention. This tugged at his heart strings. Knowing that many would come for free pet medical attention if he set up a table near a soup kitchen, Dr. Stewart jumped at the opportunity. What he thought would be a one-time event eventually turned into a regular act of heroism. Now, Dr. Stewart has the ability to step in and save the day for both the pet and owner at no cost. Dr. Stewart has found that the bond between homeless individuals and their pets is unlike any that he sees in his office. “Keep in mind that they are with their pet every minute of every day,” he says. “That’s not the case with most of us.” He notes that seeing these special pet patients makes him feel as if he has a superpower. Dr. Stewart recalls that growing up, he wanted to be either a vet or Batman, and now, he gets the best of both worlds! Dr. Stewart often spends his spare time wandering the streets in search of pets that need his help, offering free vaccinations and medical care. He notes that the homeless population is just like us, but they have fallen on hard times, and their pets are their companions and lifelines. In helping the pets, Dr. Stewart builds a special bond with their owners. To be able to make a difference in the lives of sweet, innocent animals and their owners is the most rewarding type of work — the dream job Dr. Stewart could have never even conjured up before he selflessly started living it.

Veterinarian and animal advocate Dr. Kwane Stewart, known in his docuseries as “The Street Vet,” has his own veterinary practice in Modesto, California, but still makes a point to help the pets of the homeless population in town for free. He began this selfless act of heroism in 2011 after the Great Recession hit and has since helped well over 400 animals, even tending to a Burmese python at one point!

PEANUT BUTTER BACON DOG DOUGHNUT

TAKE A BREAK

Inspired by SunnyDayFamily.com

Directions

Ingredients

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray a doughnut pan with cooking spray and set aside. 2. In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients except the yogurt and bacon bits and mix until a dough forms. 3. Using your hands, press dough into doughnut pan. 4. Fill each doughnut cavity and press down firmly. (The dough will not rise, so be sure each space is packed tightly.) 5. Bake for 14 minutes or until cooked thoroughly. 6. Let cool, then carefully remove doughnuts from pan. 7. Dip each doughnut in yogurt and sprinkle with bacon bits. 8. Freeze for about 5 minutes, then serve to your pup!

• 1 cup flour • 1 cup oats • 1/3 cup coconut oil • 1/2 cup peanut butter • 2 eggs • Greek yogurt • Bacon bits

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INSIDE

1

Reminders From a Winter Snow

2

Can You Get Lung Cancer by Breathing Air?

Add More Nature to Your Home in 4 Simple Ways!

3

The Street Vet

Peanut Butter Bacon Dog Doughnut

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The Hottest (and Easiest) Design Trends of 2022

2022’S BIGGEST DESIGN TRENDS

Stay Stylish With These 3 Easy-to-Try Design Options

Round it out. Modern styles often take a sharp, elongated edged approach, but in 2022, designers believe rounded features are more comforting to us. You can create this in your space by adding round pillows to your couches, swapping out for circular or oval-shaped rugs, or hanging up rounded frames for paintings or pictures.

Home trends change as the years do, so as we begin another year, use interior designer predictions to elevate your home’s style with ease.

Balance work and life. As the world embraces a work-from-home lifestyle, experts predict our spaces will reflect a clear division between work and home. Look for ways you can separate our office space from your home, potentially by designing it differently than the rest of your space.

Bring the outdoors in. More home designers are relying on natural materials, like cotton and clay, and opting for softer, natural approaches to spruce up a space. You can try this by incorporating plants into your living space. Adding pottery and soft blankets can go a long way, too!

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