Check out our August newsletter!
RENTAL READER YOUR
860.613.6290 WWW.ROBERTCWHITE.COM
AUGUST 2023
Making Unicorns and Property Management CAN YOU MAKE A UNICORN TENANT?
Did you know the national animal of Scotland is the unicorn? It’s true. And from what I’ve read, the country has doubled down on unicorns since the beginning. While a theme in Scottish legends for thousands of years, unicorns officially became part of the Scottish coat of arms in the mid-1500s. You find plenty of unicorn statues and images throughout the country’s castles and other famous places. I first encountered unicorns in the mid- 1980s. I remember visiting the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus when they visited the CT area. Their headliner: a unicorn named Lancelot. I grew up on a hobby farm, so even at that young age, I wasn’t impressed when I saw the “unicorn” — an Angora goat with one centrally located horn. The story of the Ringling Brothers’ “unicorn” is interesting, at least to me. When Lancelot was introduced as part of the show at Madison Square Garden, it caused quite a stir. Audiences were mesmerized, the media was perplexed, and animal rights activists were upset. Circus representatives claimed the mythical creatures appeared by magic at their circus in 1984. In truth, the “unicorns” were created by Oberon Zell. What started as a book to tease out the true story of the unicorn myth turned into much more for Zell.
He recounted that while visiting the University of Oregon, he came across an article about animal horn growth by Dr. Franklin Dove. Dr. Dove discovered he could manipulate a male cow’s horn buds mere hours after birth, pushing them close together so they would eventually fuse and become a single horn. The findings reported that the change didn’t just affect the aesthetics of the bull. The bull “automatically became the herd leader.” Dove formed the belief that unicorns existed in ancient times to protect the herd. With this new knowledge, Zell began a quest to create his own unicorn. But Zell didn’t want to use calves. He wanted his unicorn to resemble the pictures in tapestries from long ago, with flowing white manes and little trimmed beards. He needed Angora goats. After searching for the perfect goats for the project for about two years, he found a match, and Lancelot was born in the spring of 1980. Zell performed the horn treatment (which he had since patented) without a hitch. “The horns developed beautifully,” he remarked. Over time, Lancelot gained fame, first from Renaissance festivals, then TV appearances and school visits, and finally being named the Official Unicorn of Texas by then Governor Bill Clements.
Searching for Unicorns
manager — of course, goats need managers — negotiated a four-year contract worth $500,000. The story continues with much fanfare and rave reviews from audiences. However, popularity dwindled after a couple of years, and the circus moved on to its next animal attraction. Lancelot returned home to Zell in 1987 but did not adjust well to being out of the limelight. “He was generally pretty depressed because he loved being a show animal,” Zell remarked. While not the happiest ending for a unicorn, I think the story is enjoyable for many reasons, but one stands out … You can create a unicorn! That’s wild and amazing at the same time. And it has given me renewed thinking on a previous thought process we’ve kicked around at RCW. Can you create a “unicorn” tenant? I’m talking about a tenant so good that you would do anything to keep them in the house.
By 1984, Lancelot was ready for his big break with Ringling Brothers. Lancelot’s
Continued on Page 3 ...
WWW.ROBERTCWHITE.COM
• 1
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
A Backyard Bonanza!
Become a Roof Whisperer
Know When It’s Time for a Replacement
Keep Your Kids Entertained Without Leaving the Yard
Although our kids return to school soon, there’s still plenty of time to get outside and enjoy the warm weather with them. While trips to the zoo, park, or an outdoor sporting event can be fun for everyone involved, not everyone has the means to go regularly. Thankfully, there are many activities you and your kids can enjoy from the comfort of your own backyard without having to spend any additional money.
Picture this: You wake up one morning to find your neighbor replacing their roof. A few days later, the neighbor on the other side replaces their roof. Before you know it, everyone in the neighborhood is replacing their roof. Do you need to replace yours now? How soon you need to replace your roof depends on the materials used and the weather conditions it has faced during its lifetime. Most roofs are outfitted with asphalt shingles, which have an average lifespan of 20–25 years. If you’ve lived in your home for a significant amount of time, you likely know how old your roof is and can estimate when it will need to be replaced. If you’ve recently moved into a new home, and the previous owners had no idea when the roof was last replaced, you can find clues that reveal your roof’s age.
Here are a few activities to try the next time your kids want to play outside.
Run a race. Kids love to run around, and you should use that to your advantage. Devise different race ideas to keep them running until they’re tired and need to rest. You can have them race normally, backward, or crab-walking. You can gather hula hoops and other objects from around the house to set up an obstacle course and see who can finish it the fastest.
Break out the water. There are all kinds of different games you can enjoy that involve water. Water guns and water balloons can keep kids entertained for hours if you have them. If not, you can still create an outdoor water park for your children with your hose and a sprinkler. Put them in their
Those living in a suburb full of houses constructed at the same time can look to their neighbors for guidance. If your neighbors are replacing their roofs, that likely means it’s time to have someone inspect yours. For those whose homes were built at a different time than their neighbors, you need to examine your shingles.
bathing suits and allow them to run through the sprinkler or have a good old-fashioned water fight using the hose and buckets of water.
All you need is a ball. It’s crazy how much you can do in
Have you noticed any missing shingles on your roof or found any while mowing the lawn? Are your shingles starting to cup, curl in, or crack? Is your roof sagging? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you should have someone look at your roof as soon as possible, as it likely needs to be replaced. Another telltale sign is water damage anywhere inside your home. Once you think your roof needs to be replaced, it’s time to make some calls. If you think it needs to be replaced due to weather damage, file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance to see if they’ll cover the replacement. If weather wasn’t a factor and your shingles have reached the end of their lifespan, call local roofing companies to get quotes and find one that fits your budget.
your backyard with nothing more than a single ball. You can play catch or up the competitiveness with a game of monkey in the
middle. If you have chalk and enough players, you can play a game of foursquare. You can even play baseball if you have a bat or a decent-sized stick. One ball gives you countless opportunities for fun. Give some of these activities a try the next time your kids say they’re bored and want to do something exciting outside. They may discover a new favorite way to pass the time.
2 • 888-888-8888 2 • 860.613.6290
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Give Your Lawn Mower the Maintenance It Deserves MOW LIKE A PRO By this point of the season, you’ve probably been mowing your lawn weekly or biweekly. Have you noticed your lawn mower is not running as well as it was at the beginning of the season or last summer? Like vehicles, lawn mowers need regular maintenance to run efficiently. While you can take your lawn mower to a small engine mechanic, many maintenance functions can be done in your backyard or garage. Here are a few things you should do to ensure your lawn mower runs properly in the coming weeks. Change the oil. Your lawn mower oil is much easier to change than your vehicle’s oil. Most sources recommend you change the oil after 50 hours of use or annually for push mowers and after 100 hours of use for riding mowers. Most lawn mowers use SAE 30 oil, but double-check your manual to see if there’s a different recommendation for your mower. Changing the oil is as easy as removing the spark plug, draining the old oil, and adding new oil. It shouldn’t take you very long, and the oil should cost less than $5.
Clean underneath your mower. After mowing your lawn for a few months, you’ll notice the underside of your lawn mower is caked with grass, dirt, and other debris. This can spread disease to your lawn, making it more difficult to push, and cause your mower’s blades to work inefficiently. To clean under your mower, ensure the gas tank is empty, and then put the mower on its side. Remove any debris wrapped around the blade and spray the mower with a garden hose, which should loosen up old grass and dirt so you can scrape it away. Replace the filter. You don’t want debris or dirt to clog your engine, so check your filter a few times yearly to see if you need to replace it. Your mower will use either paper filters that can be easily replaced or plastic foam filters that must be washed and air-dried. Just be sure to disconnect the spark plugs before removing your filter!
... continued from Cover
Hoisin-Glazed Pork Chops
To be honest, we have a few of those tenants. But they seem as rare as a real unicorn. We want more. And, unfortunately, we have tenants I would be glad to hear aren’t renewing, not because of payment problems, but because they’re less flexible and more needy. I have restarted conversations at RCW about creating a “unicorn” tenant. Thinking through how we train our tenants to be even better tenants.
Inspired by TheModernProper.com
These savory and sweet pork chops are covered in a flavorful hoisin glaze and take only 30 minutes!
Ingredients
Directions
We know it will be hard and might be unattainable. But it’s worth trying.
• 2 garlic
1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, simmer garlic, ginger, hoisin sauce, rice vinegar, and water. Whisk occasionally until mixture is fully incorporated (about 4 minutes). Set aside. 2. Lightly salt pork chops. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add sesame oil and wait until smoking. Place pork in skillet and cook until browned (3-4 minutes on each side, depending on thickness of pork chops). 3. Remove pork chops from skillet and transfer to a cutting board. Let rest for 5 minutes. 4. Drizzle hoisin mixture over pork chops and top with cilantro if desired.
cloves, minced • 2 tsp minced ginger • 1/3 cup hoisin sauce • 2 tbsp rice vinegar • 2 tbsp water • 4 boneless pork chops (about 2 lbs) • 3/4 tsp salt • 2 tbsp sesame oil • Cilantro (optional)
Here’s to our little quest — to create a “unicorn” tenant,
P.S. Obviously, unicorns hold mass appeal beyond just the hearts of the people of Scotland. Case in point, National Unicorn Day is on April 9.
WWW.ROBERTCWHITE.COM
• 3 WEBSITE.COM
Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
57 DODGE AVE., STE. 107 NORTH HAVEN, CT 06473 860.613.6290
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
INSIDE
1
Making Unicorns and Property Management
2
Cracks, Leaks, and Worn-Out Peaks
Excitement and Fun Await in Your Backyard
3
Unlock the Secrets of a Healthy Lawn Mower
Hoisin-Glazed Pork Chops
4
Find Your Gardening Inspiration
CREATE A GARDEN OASIS Grow, Bloom, and Enjoy the View
The end of summer will be here before we know it, but there’s still plenty of time to get a garden going before colder weather rolls in. Give yourself the best chance at creating a beautiful fall garden by developing a plan for your space. Add flowers. Bring a touch of color and wonderful smells to your garden by planting flowers. You can find all kinds of flowers that fit your
garden’s style — some flowers that will withstand the transition from summer to fall are hydrangeas, pansies, and asters. Plant seasonal vegetables. The best part about a vegetable garden is that there’s always something to grow, regardless of the season. As the weather begins to cool, you can start planting squash, pumpkins, and carrots.
Incorporate water features. Even if you don’t have a green thumb, you can still add a beautiful space to your yard. Ponds, fountains, and waterfalls can be easy to install and require minimal upkeep.
4 •
860.613.6290
Published by Newsletter Pro • www.newsletterpro.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator