VanDyk Mortgage - August 2018

August 2018

Letters From The Hart Give us a call! 239-437-4278 Or visit www.TimHartJr.com Corporate NMLS #3035 www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org

THE HARTBEAT SHOW Introducing My New Podcast

Anybody who knows me knows that I’m always on the hunt for a fresh way to engage with my peers, clients, and community. I am always looking for new tactics to start a dialogue and drill down to the things that both I and members of my community care about. This month, I’m excited to announce a project I’ve wanted to do for a while now: The HartBeat Show podcast! It’s the perfect opportunity to talk mortgage, real estate, and whatever else is happening around southwest Florida, and I’m pumped to share it with you. Podcasts have been on my radar since I became an avid listener of them myself a couple years ago. That is when I realized how powerful the platform could be. Over the past few years, I began listening to podcasts on my way to and from work — an hour total each day — nearly every single day. I started out listening to episodes on Florida Gator football and Mortgage related shows. Then I found myself digging into all kinds of podcasts about social media marketing, video production, and even Game of Thrones TV recaps to see what was new. Yes, I am addicted to Game of Thrones. Before, if I wasn’t making calls or listening to music on the way to work, I was frowning along to talk radio. I got so sick of all the bad news and negativity that I started to avoid it like the plague. Even sports talk radio turned out the same way; It might as well be political talk radio the way it’s been going lately. Podcasts offered the perfect alternative, an ideal space to learn a ton about the things I’m passionate about. Whether you’re interested in knitting, Marvel superhero movies, building your own house from scratch, or grisly true crime tales, there are dozens of podcasts ready to fit what you want to hear, whether you want to learn something new or simply want entertainment for your daily commute. So, with The HartBeat Show, I’m throwing my hat into the ring. My goal is to add substantial value and entertainment to Realtors, potential homebuyers, and any other curious

member of our Fort Myers community and beyond. You’ll hear interviews with local business and community leaders, real estate experts, home inspectors, financial advisors — all kinds of individuals eager to teach my listeners information they can really use in their everyday lives. And, of course, a little bit of entertainment value as you drive around wherever you live. If you’re interested, I’d love for you to check it out. It’s sure to be a good time for both me and our listeners as we delve into a wide variety of fascinating subjects. You can find The HartBeat Show anywhere you find your podcasts, whether that’s Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Anchor, Spotify, or any other podcast app. If you want to go the extra mile to help me out, a like/share/subscribe or leaving a review would mean a lot to me. Check it out, support yours truly, and enjoy the show!

NMLS #354676

VanDyk Mortgage | www.TimHartJr.com | 239-437-4278

Page 1

RATES AND REELS WITH MY KIDS

... continued from page 4

It may not feel like it yet, but summer is coming to a close, and summer break is ending along with it. Soon, the kids will be back to early-morning breakfasts before the school bus arrives and late- night study sessions. Thankfully, there are some steps your family can take during these closing weeks of summer to ensure your kids hit the ground running this school year. Set an Early Bedtime For many kids, summer schedules are flexible. They may have become accustomed to sleeping in and staying up late without any obligations. Getting back into the rhythm of the school year can take some getting used to. In fact, according to psychologist Cherie Valeithian, it can take upward of two weeks to properly adjust to a new sleep- wake cycle. So why not give your kids a head start and ensure they begin the school year bright-eyed and bushy-tailed? 1. Load up on snacks and drinks. Pack snacks like gummy bears, sandwiches, drinks, water, Gatorade — there’s nothing worse than a hungry gang of kids when you’re out on the ocean. 2. Don’t forget sunscreen. This may seem like a no-brainer, but I’ve gotten in so much hot water with my wife by forgetting to sunscreen my kids and bringing home what look like three overcooked lobsters. And skip the spray sunscreen; It can drip down into their eyes 3. Use live bait. It’s so much easier than fishing with lures, and kids can play with it in the bait well. By the end of the trip, Captain John says, no matter what, the kids are always messing around in the bait well. 4. Change spots quickly. You always need to scoot around from spot to spot until you start getting bites, but it’s

especially important with young kids onboard. This way, they won’t get bored and tired and start asking to go home. 5. No fishing for Dad. This might be a bummer for some of my readers, but I personally believe that if you’re taking your kids along, you need to forget about fishing

too! If you get a chance, look up “Rates and Reels” on YouTube, hit the “Like” button, and subscribe so you don’t miss a thing. Thanks, and here’s wishing you low rates and tight lines!

yourself. You turn into the captain, you do all the work, and you handle everything. If you’ve got a guide, that’s a different story, but otherwise, you’ll be busy all day just keeping everything moving. All in all, we had a great time out on the water and reeled in tons of trout. I always have fun fishing with my kids, and if you follow these five simple rules, you should

TRIVIA QUESTION: WHAT IS THE NAME OF TIM’S NEW PODCAST?

3 WAYS TO MENTALLY PREPARE YOUR KIDS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR

Outline a Homework Schedule Resuming a homework regimen can be a difficult transition for some kids. Late summer, when they don’t have assignments to worry about yet, can be a great opportunity to help them prepare a study schedule. Ask the following questions to help them get started: “Do you want to dive right into homework when you get home? Do you need to accommodate for a sport or extracurricular activity? Do you work best when doing your assignments in one large chunk, or would you prefer taking breaks in between assignments?” Your kids may find that last year’s schedule doesn’t work for them this year. Emphasize that this is okay; part of growing up is learning how and when you work most effectively. Don’t be afraid to help them switch things up as the school year progresses.

Ask Your Kids How They Feel Maybe your kids are excited about the school year. Maybe they are anxious, or perhaps they’re just disappointed to see summer vacation come to an end. Starting a dialogue about the aspects of school your kids are looking forward to and those they’re dreading can help you dispel myths and identify problem areas. More than anything else, this can help your kids feel at ease about the coming year.

VanDyk Mortgage | www.TimHartJr.com | 239-437-4278

Page 2

Finish the Summer With a Family Camping ‘Trip’ JOURNEY TO THE GREAT BACKYARD

Remember: It’s okay to call it a night.

Summer is drawing to a close, but there’s still time to make some great memories. Camping trips are a summer staple. Fortunately, you don’t have to drive hours into the mountains to find the perfect campsite. Your backyard is right there waiting for you! Here are a few tips to help your family say farewell to summer with a perfect backyard camping trip. Pack for an authentic experience. Your back door is literally a few yards away, which can be great in the event of an emergency. But if the kids are running in and out of the house all night long, they might end up deciding they’d rather be inside playing video games after only an hour. Be sure to pack everything you would need if you were really going into the woods for the night so no one

is tempted to go back inside. This means tents, sleeping bags, flashlights, pajamas, books, binoculars, a compass, water bottles, and a cooler of food with snacks and dinner. Treat this like a “real” camping experience right from the beginning! Figure out the campfire. Don’t have an in-ground fire pit? No worries! You can still enjoy hot dogs and s’mores with a charcoal grill or a store-bought fire pit. If you have enough room in your backyard, you could even try building a bonfire. Just make sure to check your city ordinances and get any necessary permits first. You can find advice for building the perfect campfire at REI.com/learn/expert-advice/campfire- basics.html .

For kids, the most exciting part of camping in the backyard is getting to sleep in a tent — that is, until they actually have to sleep. After stargazing, some kids will want to stay up all night whispering and giggling in the tent, and that’s great! But other kids might decide they’d rather sleep inside, and that’s okay too. Your camping trip isn’t a failure because everyone spent the night in their own beds. It’s not about where everyone sleeps; it’s about how much fun your family had together before bedtime. The best part of backyard camping? It doesn’t take a lot of planning. Just grab your gear and your family and hike out into the great backyard.

WORD SEARCH

VanDyk Testimonial

Here is what our clients had to say about their experience with VanDyk Mortgage:

“It was an absolute pleasure working with Tim Hart and his team at VanDyk Mortgage. Tim and his team kept us well-informed throughout the entire process and were very responsive to us any time we had any questions. I especially looked forward to “Tuesdays With Tim,” when he would give

Tim Hart with Megan and Bill Minor

Par Birdie Driver Green Stroke HoleInOne

PGA Caddie

us a video update on where we were in the process. We would highly recommend them and their services to anyone looking to purchase a home.” –Bill and Megan Minor

Swing Putter GolfCart DrivingRange

VanDyk Mortgage | www.TimHartJr.com | 239-437-4278

Page 3

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

Answer the question on page 2 and win a $20 Publix gift card!

Give us a call! 239-437-4278 Or visit www.TimHartJr.com

Inside This Issue 8280 College Parkway Suite #101 Fort Myers, FL 33919

Introducing ‘The HartBeat Show’ PAGE 1

5 Tips for Fishing With Kids (continued)

How to Prepare Your Kids for School PAGE 2

The Best End-of-Summer Activity

August Testimonial

Word Search PAGE 3

5 Tips for Fishing With Kids PAGE 4

Mason, Eli, and Emerson Join Me on the Boat RATES AND REELS WITH MY KIDS

I decided to school my viewers on how to fish with your children without wanting to tear your hair out. As Captain John put it, there’s nothing better than going out on the boat with your kids. I’d have to agree, though there are some challenges to bringing a gang of restless children along for one of the most patience-testing sports. The key, Captain John and I agreed, is to keep the rods bent as often as possible for the kids. “The kids need action,” he said, and a truer statement was never spoken. The kids started off by joining Captain John as he threw out a bunch of baitfish — Pilchards to be exact — to create some action and find out where the fish were. Then we got to work. “Four rods, three kids — only a professional can do this stuff here,” I said. “Patience is key,” Captain John replied.

But we didn’t have to wait too long to get a fish on Mason’s line: a small Lizardfish, a toothy little bottom-dweller with a reptilian face. Unfortunately, the wind was brutal, and our lines kept getting tangled. Captain John instructed us to stick to the leeward side and cast with the wind as often as possible to avoid the problem. When the kids weren’t chowing down on Pringles and pretzels, they were reeling in Trout left and right. Before too long, it became pandemonium. Though it’s worth noting, this was the sixth spot we’d been to — you gotta keep it moving when there are kids onboard. When we got a second, I had Captain John break down the top five things to do when fishing with kids. With years under his belt as a guide and a couple young kids of his own, he was the perfect resource to offer some guidance. Here’s what we came up with:

Across 14 episodes of my fishing show, “Rates and Reels,” I’ve showcased a wide variety of community leaders from the Fort Myers area. Whether I’ve been wrangling Cobia with Florida State Representative Dane Eagle or reeling in Reef Donkeys (Amberjack) with City Tavern owner Kevin Offerman, I’ve had an awesome time catching fish alongside some of the most interesting people in the area. But for the latest episode — which we released just after Father’s Day — I decided to bring along three little guests who are close to my heart. With my buddy Captain John Conway as my guide and my kids Mason, Eli, and Emerson in tow,

Continued on page 2 ...

VanDyk Mortgage | www.TimHartJr.com | 239-437-4278

Page 4