Robert C. White & Co. - September 2021

Robert C. White & Co. - September 2021

R E N T A L READER YOUR

SEPTEMBER 2021 HOW QUESTIONS HELP MAKE THINGS BETTER Improving Business With Great Questions 860.613.6290 WWW.ROBERTCWHITE.COM

always stretch ourselves to think of fresh ideas and more and build on what we have done to date. A question like that also connects directly to one of our Core Values, “Endlessly Improving.” Good questions are one of the three legs that result in continuous improvement (the other two are feedback and a real desire to get better). I am glad for questions (even William’s big ones) and am glad we continue to push to find answers.

I read recently that a study showed that 4-year-olds ask as many as 200–300 questions per day.

Based on the quantity of questions my 4-year-old son William asks, I think those study results may be a bit light (especially if you include joke questions. Here is one I will never understand, but he has told plenty of times: Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the wood-cutting man).

Most of the questions are simple and short. Think “Why not?” or “Can I …?”

Some take a bit more thinking to answer. He asked me recently, “Why can’t fish breathe (out of water)?” We weren’t even close to water. You have to wonder what the trigger was for that one.

Another recent one was, “Why do people need money?” Good question, long answer. I did my best to tackle it, though.

Luke with his No. 1 Question Asker

Every once in a while, he asks a doozy that makes you slow down and really collect yourself before you answer, like when he asked why Mum (my mother) was dead and where did she go. It reminded me that his grandmother never got to meet him and that the concept of death and afterlife is tricky for young kids (adults, too).

To coming up with good answers to really good questions,

P.S. On our car ride to West Virginia, my kids thought it would be funny to start the age-old repeating question, “Are we there yet?” We were less than three hours into a 10-hour car ride. We were not even close to being there. It was funny the first 3–5 times they asked it. After that it got old and I had to shut it down. Proof that there is such a thing as a “bad” question. P.P.S. When I told my family I was writing about William and asking questions in this month’s newsletter, it led to a lot of discussion at the dinner table. One of my older kids said he should ask, “Where do babies come from?” He promptly answered, “I already know that. They come from Mommies’ bellies.” I smiled, told him he was right, and decided to say no more.

Questions are powerful. And the right question can really open up things for people and for businesses.

A question we regularly ask at RCW is: How can we make renting easier for you, our clients?

That simple question has led to changes in our screening, how we market properties, the information we collect from you when you become a client, additional services we have launched, and so much more.

One of the great things about that question is it does not have a final answer. That’s important because whenever we ask it, we can

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HERE COMES THE SUN! THE PROS AND CONS OF HOME SOLAR PANELS

Solar power has been all over the news, and odds are good that at least one door-to-door salesperson came knocking this summer to sing their praises. Celebrities like Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt, and Pierce Brosnan have invested in solar or installed it on their homes to convert to green energy — but is following in their famous footsteps the right move for your family? The Pros of Powering Up The biggest selling point for solar panels is that they’re a quick, easy source of green energy. They can reduce or replace fossil fuels in your home, decrease your family’s carbon footprint, and help fight climate change. They’re also a proven technology dating back to 1954, and individual panels can last 25–30 years before they need replacing. Switching to solar also increases the independence of the whole U.S. electricity grid, and covering your roof with panels can boost the value of your home by as much as $15,000. The Cons No One Talks About The biggest downside of solar is that it simply doesn’t work for every home. If your roof is consistently shaded by trees or poorly oriented for panels, or you live in a rainy climate, your panels might only generate 10%–25% of their energy potential. If you have the space,

Goodbye, Shoe Chaos! 3 Storage Ideas That Will Save You From Tripping

It’s that time of year again: The kids are charging inside, kicking off their shoes wherever they please, and tearing into the house! If you’ve already tripped over a dozen pairs of sneakers, it’s time to create and enforce a better shoe storage solution. Here are three functional and attractive methods to try.

1. The DIY PVC Pipe Shoe Cubby

This shoe storage project is all the rage on Pinterest! It turns out that when you cut a large PVC pipe into sections, paint them your preferred color(s), and glue them together with PVC glue, the honeycomb effect looks both fun and elegant. You can try this in your mudroom or in your kids’ rooms to make putting away their shoes feel like a game. Check out the video “PVC Pipe Shoe Rack” by Home Made Simple on YouTube for a step-by-step guide to building a floor rack or Instructables.com for tips on mounting your rack to the wall.

ground-installed solar panels may work to avoid some of these issues,

but they won’t solve weather problems.

Solar can also be expensive. Installing it will cost you $15,000–$20,000 on average. For some homeowners, this investment is offset by lower long-term electricity costs, but it might not

2. The Over-the-Door Shoe Bag

If you don’t have the floor space for a traditional shoe rack, consider investing in an over-the-door shoe bag. These fabric, clear plastic, or upscale mesh bags hook over the top of a door and are covered in pockets for shoes. Many can hold up to 36 pairs! Best of all, when they’re hanging on the back of your mudroom or closet door, your shoes will be both easy to access and tucked out of sight. You can find affordable racks on Amazon.com for less than $10 or fancier models at Walmart for under $20.

be affordable for you or make sense if your electricity bill is already low.

3. The Hanging Closet ‘Shoe File’

CO2-Saving Alternatives If you want to dip your toes into the world of solar but can’t afford to power your whole home, you can start small with solar lights for your yard, a solar oven, or a solar-powered water heater. You can even explore wind power! Small wind energy systems cost under $500 on Amazon.com or at Home Depot and can lower your electricity bill by 50%–90%.

Speaking of closets, the “shoe file” is the perfect storage solution for a coat closet or any other closet near your main door. Instead of hanging on the door, this pocket-filled organizer cascades from a hanger! Many of the pockets are conveniently located at eye level; you can load up your closet with as many files as you need, and each file can hold up to 18 pairs of shoes. ContainerStore. com sells elegant shoe files starting at $12.99.

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WILLIE THE PARROT: THE ULTIMATE DANGER ALARM Willie the Quaker parrot was a pretty remarkable bird. Like many parrots, he had a knack for mimicking certain sounds and words, including barking dog noises, human kissing noises, and a fair share of swear words. However, what made Willie a hero one day was not just what he said, but also when he said it. Meagan Howard, Willie’s owner, brought him over to her friend Samantha Kuusk’s house while she babysat Kuusk’s little daughter, Hannah. Hannah and Willie were both in the kitchen while Meagan prepared a Pop-Tart for Hannah’s breakfast. After placing the Pop-Tart on the table, Meagan stepped away to use the bathroom. While she was away, however, Hannah got her hands on the Pop-Tart and began to scarf it down, lodging a piece in her windpipe. She started choking and was unable to signal to Meagan that something was wrong. Luckily, Willie came to the rescue. Willie began squawking and shrieking, saying the words “Mama! Baby!” over and over again. In a matter of moments, Meagan knew something was wrong. She rushed to the kitchen to find a very frantic Willie and a very blue Hannah. Meagan jumped into action. She grabbed Hannah and performed the Heimlich maneuver until the Pop-Tart piece dislodged itself and shot out of her mouth.

Meagan may have been the one to stop Hannah from choking, but she insists that Willie was the real hero of the story. If he hadn’t used his unique mimicking skills to get Meagan’s attention, she doesn’t know what would have happened. It’s worth noting that before that incident, Willie had never used the phrase “Mama! Baby!” before. He knew something was wrong, and he knew how to get help. Shortly after the incident, Willie received the local Red Cross chapter’s Animal Lifesaver Award for his heroic actions.

TAKE A BREAK

EASY PEACH COBBLER

Inspired by MyRecipes.com

Ingredients

Directions

• 1/2 cup

1. Preheat oven to 375 F. In a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, add butter and place in oven. Remove when melted. 2. In a large bowl, combine flour, 1 cup of sugar, baking powder, and salt. Then pour in milk and stir until the mixture is smooth. 3. Pour the batter over the melted butter, but don’t stir! 4. In a pot, bring peaches, lemon juice, and remaining sugar to a boil. Stir constantly. 5. Pour peaches over batter, but once again, don’t stir! 6. Sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg, then bake at 375 F for 45 minutes.

unsalted butter

• 1 cup flour • 2 cups sugar, divided • 1 tbsp baking powder • Dash of salt • 1 cup milk • 4 cups peaches (fresh is best!) • 1 tbsp lemon juice • Ground cinnamon or nutmeg to taste

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INSIDE

1

How Questions Help Make Things Better

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3 Shoe Storage Ideas That Will Save You From Tripping

The Pros and Cons of Home Solar Panels

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Willie the Parrot: The Ultimate Danger Alarm

Easy Peach Cobbler

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How to Create an Eye-Catching Gallery Wall

HOW TO CREATE AN EYE-CATCHING GALLERY WALL 3 Tips to Try Today

A “gallery wall” is a collection of framed art, photos, and personal treasures hung in a group. It’s also a major home trend of 2021! These designs are a great way to show off your style, but how do you create one without it looking like a busy mess? 1. Choose a color palette. Having a cohesive color scheme or consistent accent color throughout your artwork will make everything feel like it belongs together.

2. Mix things up. You don’t want everything to look too similar. Combine horizontal and vertical pieces, a variety of frame types, and a 3D object or two. 3. Prep with a floor layout. Try arranging all of your pieces on the floor before you hang them. Then you can tweak your arrangement before displaying them at eye level.

When all else fails, use a template! PotteryBarn.com offers a wide selection — just look up “Pottery Barn Gallery Wall Layout” online.

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