R E N T A L READER
YOUR
860.613.6290 WWW.ROBERTCWHITE.COM
MARCH 2020
MEET OPERATIONS MANAGER ANDREW COBURN
Solving Problems and Optimizing Systems
Again this month, I have asked one of our teammembers to “take the pen” and share more about themselves while talking about one of our values and what it means to them. I asked Andrew to talk about out value of “Client First,” which I believe is critically important to our success, because he lives the value every day. To add a little color to “Client First,” here are the bullets written under that value: • We understand that our clients are the reason we exist and aim to serve them with skill and empathy. • We put our clients’ needs first, before the company’s and before our own. • We don’t do it because it is easy for us, we do it because it is in the best interest of our clients. As always, I’d love to hear from you. Email me at luke@robertcwhite.comor call 860.956.5372. We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you. Yours, My official title at Robert C. White & Company is operations manager, which means that when somebody has a problem, they call me. My job is to solve that problem for them and keep things moving forward. I deal with all the processes and people- related things that go into property management. There’s something new every day —one of the things I love about the industry — and part of my job is taking extra stuff on and making everything run as smoothly and efficiently as possible. In my line of work, I have a lot of opportunities to help people. Whether a tenant is looking for a place to rent or a new hire needs to understand our processes, I get a lot of personal pleasure from helping them solve their problems. In property management, it’s all about getting out of bed in the morning and saying to yourself,“I don’t know what today is going to bring, but I’m ready to take it on.” For the most part, it’s not just sitting behind a desk and crunching numbers for 40 hours a week, and I appreciate that. A huge part of my job is interacting with people, be they vendors, clients, or tenants, and I like that. I meet a lot of interesting people through my work, and I get to work with an amazing team here at Robert C. White & Co. I completed
a double major in finance and management at Ithaca College in upstate NewYork, and the people here are what ultimately made me want to come back and work here. I’ve known Robert C. White & Co.’s owner, Luke, since I began working as an intern when I was 17 years old, and he’s fantastic. Of course, it’s important to
like what you do, but I think liking the people you do it with is even more important. Luke has built an amazing team here. Melissa, our office manager,
is amazing, and we just brought on another property manager named Lance, who is great. Having such a fun team to work with makes it easy to get out of bed in the morning. One of our company values is“Client First”because really, without the clients, there is no Robert C. White & Co. Everything I do and everything we do as a company is done in our clients’best interests. We’re looking out for their wallets, and we’re looking out for their properties. For us, it’s not about treating our customers like a number. It’s about treating them like they’re a part of the team—because they are — and about building relationships with them. Our clients trust me to be an advisor to them, and I take that responsibility seriously. In property management, part of my job is to provide subject expertise, but another part is steering people in the right direction for their unique situation. Sometimes, that means advising my clients to sell their properties, which is great as long as it’s the right thing for my client. I’ve been lucky to be learning about this industry ever since I was 17. Recently, I was able to purchase my first investment property, and that was only possible thanks to everything I’ve learned through my work here. Now, when I think about how I can constantly improve my client-first approach, one of the things I always ask myself is,“Would I do this if I were in their situation?Why or why not?”Then, once I’ve really put myself in their shoes, I’m able to really deliver on our promise to be a client-first company.
-Andrew Coburn
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YOUR GUIDE TO SPRING- GREENING
3 Eco-Friendly Home Swaps to Make When You Declutter
It takes a special kind of person to enjoy spring-cleaning. For most of us, the satisfaction of a clean house doesn’t quite outweigh the hours of scrubbing, sorting, and slogging through heaps of unnecessary stuff. If you’re struggling to find the motivation to start your spring-cleaning, try flipping the paradigm: Instead of spring-cleaning, think of what you’re doing as spring -greening, andmake some eco-friendly swaps along the way. Here are a few ideas to get you started. 1. Swap your plastic spray bottles for bulk or DIY cleaning products. According to a Statista report, in 2019, the household cleaners market was worth more than $31 billion, and it’s continuously growing. You can save money on cleaning supplies by taking the green route. When your current stock runs out, try buying bulk cleaners or making your own. Both options will save plastic because you can reuse your bottles, and they can help you avoid the harmful chemicals found in most cleaners. Visit UnderATinRoof.com and read the blog post “Zero Waste Cleaning Supplies + Recipes” to get started. 2. Explore alternative laundry detergents. If you’re used to using a plastic jug of liquid laundry detergent, it’s time to step out of your comfort zone. This spring, try exploring greener alternatives like plant-based bulk laundry powder (Molly’s Suds is an excellent source). Or, if you’re feeling really adventurous, you can even try adding all-natural cleaners like soap nuts or English ivy to your laundry loads. For more on the former, search “soap nuts” on 1MillionWomen.com, and read up on ivy detergent at Permacrafters.com/English-Ivy-Laundry-Detergent.
On March 8, 1971, all eyes were on the world of boxing as people watched what would become known as“The Fight of the Century.”It was one of the most anticipatedmatchups the sport had ever arranged: Current heavyweight champion Joe Frazier and former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali were finally facing off, the first time two undefeated boxers would fight each other for the heavyweight title. Spectators were hungry for a battle. Both fighters held rightful claims to the title of world heavyweight champion. Ali won it in 1964 and successfully defended it for several years, but he was stripped of the title during a legal battle over his induction into the U.S. armed forces. In his absence from the sport, Frazier earned two championship belts through major knockout fights. But when Ali settled his court case and came to reclaim his title, Frazier wasn’t ready to give it up easily. Ringside seats for the fight sold for today’s equivalent of over $1,000. Millions watched the broadcast in over 50 countries around the world, and Madison Square Garden sold out to a crowd of 20,455 spectators. The fighters possessed polar opposite tactics, backgrounds, and social impacts, but when it came to skill, they were evenly matched. The fight captivated the nation. As Sports Illustrated put it at the time, “The thrust of this fight on the public consciousness is incalculable. It has been a ceaseless whir that seems to have grown in decibel with each new soliloquy by Ali, with each dead calm promise by Frazier.” THE FIGHT OF THE CENTURY HOW A BATTLE OF BOXERS CAPTIVATED THE WORLD The fight exceeded all expectations with a fully engrossing 15 rounds. For the first quarter of the match, it seemed Ali would best his opponent, but Frazier came back with fury. Even though Ali continued to rise to his feet round after round, Frazier emerged victorious by the slimmest of margins, dealing Ali his first professional loss ever. The landmark event highlighted an unforgettable night of skillful prowess like the world had never seen. Even though the title fight was only the beginning of the rivalry between the two boxers, the matchup rightfully took its place as one of the greatest fights in the history of the sport.
3. Say goodbye to paper towels. Paper towels are a mainstay in American homes, but do we really need them
when a good old-fashioned rag can do the job? According to the Ocean Conservancy, 13 billion pounds of paper towels are tossed in the U.S. each year! This spring, quit paper towels and keep a stash of dish rags under the sink to do your dirty work. When you’re cleaning out your closet, you can even cut up old T-shirts and add them to your rag stash! If you’re brave, try giving up tissues, too — an old- school hanky does the trick.
If you’ve made all three of these swaps, don’t stop there! To continue your green journey, visit any of the blogs mentioned above
and start browsing.
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GIVING BACK TO LOCAL COMPANIES On National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day
March 29 is National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day, which is huge for small businesses everywhere. Mom-and-pop businesses are the backbone of the U.S. economy; Small Business Trends reports that mom-and-pop businesses account for 64% of gross domestic product (GDP) and generate 78% of all new jobs. Furthermore, no matter what turns the economy takes, small-business owners are less likely to lay off their employees than big corporations. Mom-and-pop businesses support all communities, and you can support them by celebrating this unofficial holiday! Shopping locally has a massive impact on your community. Local businesses return three times the amount of money to the local economy than larger corporations do. With that big of a returned investment, your community can support even more small businesses that generate a wealth of jobs and keep the cycle going. In addition to the economic boost, products from small businesses are usually higher quality, which makes them a better value for your dollar. Take this day to shop for birthday and holiday gifts for your loved ones that will bring them great joy and last a lifetime. Give your local economy a boost!
on Facebook or take a picture for Instagram, be sure to tag the business and use relevant hashtags so your friends, family, and everyone else in your community can shop there too. Writing reviews on Google Reviews and Yelp helps establish validity for the company. When another potential customer looks for reviews, they know they’re getting quality products and services from a well-established pillar of the community. The local businesses that are active on social media may post deals and sales for that day only, so keep your eyes peeled and be sure to follow all your favorite businesses!
Get social and spread the word!
While small businesses utilize every form of marketing available, social media is essential for their success and growth. After shopping at your favorite mom-and- pop business, share that experience on your social media! When you write a post
PESTO CHICKEN WITH BLISTERED TOMATOES
TAKE A BREAK
Inspired by CookingLight.com
Ingredients
Directions
• •
2 1/2 tbsp olive oil, divided 4 boneless and skinless chicken breasts, pounded to a 1-inch thickness Salt and pepper to taste 1/4 cup whole-wheat panko 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese 1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted 6 tbsp spinach pesto 2 cups cherry tomatoes 1 garlic clove, thinly sliced 1 tsp red wine vinegar
1.
In a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tbsp olive oil. Season chicken with salt and pepper, and add it to pan. Cook chicken for 5 minutes on each side, then remove pan fromheat. In a bowl, combine panko, Parmesan cheese, and butter. Spread pesto over chicken and top with pankomixture. Broil chicken for 2 minutes on high heat until browned. In a skillet, heat remaining oil over medium-high heat.
2.
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3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Add tomatoes and cook for 6 minutes.
Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. Season tomatomixture with salt and pepper, and add red wine vinegar.
Solution on Page 4
10. Serve tomatoes with broiled chicken.
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INSIDE 1 Meet Operations Manager Andrew Coburn
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Boxing’s Greatest Battle 3 Eco-Friendly Home Swaps to Make During Spring-Cleaning Celebrating National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day Pesto Chicken With Blistered Tomatoes March Madness Fun for the Whole Family
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WHOSE PICKS WILL GO ALL THE WAY? March Madness Fun for the Whole Family
Turn each game into an event. Not every kid may like watching basketball, but if they fill out a bracket, then they might gain at least a passing interest in who will win each game. To elevate their interest, turn each March Madness matchup into a little party. It doesn’t have to be fancy; make fun snacks to eat while you watch or bet pieces of candy on who will have the most points to create great family bonding opportunities. Reward the winners with prizes. Offer prizes to each round winner as well as the overall bracket winner to get the whole family involved. Small prize ideas for each round can include a homemade dinner of the winner’s choice, a week’s supply of their favorite snack, or a coupon for getting out of a chore. Whoever wins the whole tournament (or makes it the furthest with their bracket) deserves a bigger reward. Offer them the chance to see a movie of their choice in theaters or to eat a meal at their favorite restaurant. Create a learning opportunity. Learning math or geography might not sound like your child’s idea of fun, but it can be when they learn it through the lens of March Madness. See if your kids would be interested in understanding the inner workings of the ranking system or studying where some of the qualifying colleges are located on a map of the United States. They may find it so interesting that they don’t even realize they’re learning valuable skills.
One of the greatest things about
March Madness is that you don’t have to be a huge college basketball fan to get in on the fun. Kids of all ages can fill out brackets — or have
a parent fill one out for them — and watch their picks duke it out
on the court. While healthy competition
among family members can be fun all on its own, check out the following tips if you’re looking to go the extra mile
and reap as much fun from
March Madness as you can.
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