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SEPTEMBER 2022 Property Management Lessons from Canada IF YOU ARE GOING TO STEP ON THE ESCALATOR, DO IT WITH 2 FEET 860.613.6290 WWW.ROBERTCWHITE.COM
experience with escalators. It was a riot to watch them get on. They practically did a split with one foot on the escalator and the other firmly anchored to “solid ground.” We stopped at Upper Canada Village on the way to Niagara Falls. If you ever wondered what it was like to live in 1860, go there. They have recreated a village in the area next to the St Lawrence River and have employees play the part of all the villagers. There were millers, bakers, doctors, and everything in between. It was amazing to see how they did so much back then without electricity or many of the machines we take for granted. I liked the lumber mill the best. David liked the blacksmith. Evelyn liked the dressmaker (custom dresses only for the richest people). James liked the bakery (we split a fresh loaf during the rest of our car trip that day). William liked the animals (and was surprised that the cows’ fur wasn’t very soft). We finished the trip on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. I was not ready for how much of a tourist trap it is. However, the falls were amazing to see and getting up close and personal made the rest very tolerable. If you have never seen the falls, you really should. There is no question they are one of the greatest natural wonders of the world. Why share any of this and what does it have to do with property management? Well, because we had a really good trip and because everything relates to property management one way or another. I could say that getting dropped in a new setting (French-speaking Montreal) and having to figure it out is akin to management — and it is. Or I could say
My family took a vacation to Canada this summer. David had declared it his favorite country before even visiting, so we knew it had to be on the list of places to visit. I hope he meant after the USA, but you never know. William (age 5; the youngest) says his favorite country is Mexico and Evelyn (age 12; the oldest) says her favorite is California. Figures. Maybe those will be on the list for the future. We entered after a stopover at a business school friend’s home in Burlington, Vermont. After driving through the mountains of VT, I was struck by how flat it was when we entered Canada. I wasn’t expecting that. We traveled to Montreal and stayed at an Airbnb near the Olympic Center. I was very surprised by how French it was. I was told Canada was a bilingual country by law. Don’t tell that to the people of Montreal. I tried to order a pizza the first night we got in since it was a bit late. Not one person that was working there could speak English or understand me. Luckily a person that was eating saw I was in need of help and came to my aid. He said his English was bad. I asserted that my French was worse. He agreed and helped us order the pizzas and pay. We visited some of the sites near the Olympic Center the first day and traveled into downtown Montreal for day two (including Old Montreal). They have what is known as “The Underground City,” a series of malls and shopping centers that are connected by tunnels. Who says you need to do fancy stuff to have fun? My kids spent probably over an hour riding escalators and elevators. The youngest two didn’t have any
Having Fun Visiting Our Neighbor Up North
learning something new from the old rhymes with how we try to incorporate best practices from tenant screening from years ago when they didn’t have all the fancy technology we do now and that would be true too. Or I could say houses aren’t supposed to be built with the roofs as foundations and that would be absolutely true. See, everything relates to property management. Yours in enjoying time with the family and still finding property management lessons, P.S. Anne had to leave our trip early because of a family medical emergency. We missed her very much but were really glad getting home is only a short flight away. P.P.S. The most eventful part of the trip was when we were in Toronto traffic and both Waze and Google Maps completely went haywire. Wasn’t sure we were going to make it with no directions and no idea where we were going. Made me realize yet again how dependent on technology we have become and when it goes haywire life is not that easy.
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WANT TO PAINT YOUR KITCHEN CABINETS?
Read This Crash Course First
Have you stepped into your kitchen in the last few weeks and thought it could use more color? If so, you’re not alone. Colorfully painted kitchen cabinets are a hot trend right now in home decor, to the point that HGTV released a step-by-step guide to the painting process this winter! However, just because you want to paint your kitchen cabinets doesn’t mean you should — at least not before reading the argument for each side and getting painting tips from the pros. 2 Reasons to Paint Your Cabinets — And 2 Reasons Not To
How to Introduce Your Dog and Cat Help Your Fur Babies Find Harmony!
Everyone knows that cats and dogs don’t get along ... or do they? There are a few ways you can help encourage your pets to get along, but it starts during the early, crucial moments of your pets’ introduction. For a gentle start, try desensitization. Let’s face it: Your dog is way more excited to meet your cat than vice versa! However, your dog may react dangerously to your cat, especially if it is still a kitten. The dog’s prey drive may kick in, causing overexcitement, and even seemingly harmless playtime can lead to fatal injury. One way to solve this is to “desensitize” your dog and get it accustomed to your cat’s presence. To do this, separate your cat and dog and only allow them to view each other at specific times. You could set up a room for your dog or cat (which includes food, toys, and, if a cat, litter box), and a tall gate that your pets cannot climb or get past. Allowing them to view each other without direct interaction can help them become accustomed to one another. For a quick start, try a face-to-face introduction. Many people will try a face-to-face introduction first, but you can do this after desensitization as well. Before the introduction proceeds, both animals must be calm. One person should hold your dog on a loose lead, and pay attention to the dog’s body language while approaching the cat. If your dog has been taught commands, have it sit or lie down. Dogs that are too fixated on the cat — such as staring at the cat, displaying stiff body language, and not listening when its name is called — may try to lunge and chase your cat. In that case, a desensitizing introduction will be needed. However, if the dog is relaxed, try to allow the cat to approach. Another person should watch your cat’s body language. If the cat is calm — isn’t raising its back or hissing at the dog — it can be allowed to approach the dog. A dog training technique known as Look at That (LAT) can be viewed on YouTube, which may aid in teaching your dog to remain calm when meeting new animals and people. No matter the method, we hope this guide provides important starter tips to turn your furry housemates into best buddies for years to come!
The Pros:
• You could increase your home’s value. Painted cabinets are hot, so buyers may be willing to pay a premium for them (unless they hate your color choice). Plus, light- colored cabinets may make your kitchen seem bigger.
• If you hate your cabinets, you’ll save money. Painting cabinets yourself is time-consuming, but it’s much cheaper than springing for brand-new wood.
The Cons:
• It’s a pain in the butt. Painting your cabinets yourself means disassembling them, making your kitchen unusable for days, and doing hours of manual labor. You can avoid some of this hassle by hiring a professional, but the price of the job will increase. • Your mistakes might haunt you. Maybe you’ll regret your color choice, maybe your paint job will be uneven, or maybe that primer spill just won’t come out of your grout. These are risks you’ll need to take if you choose to paint. Painting Tips and Tricks 1. Deep-clean before you paint. According to HGTV, it’s NOT a waste of effort to clean your cabinets before you sand them. In fact, it’s a vital step to remove grease that could ruin your paint job. 2. Label every panel and draw a cabinet map. Trust us — numbering all of your drawers and doors makes reassembly easy. If you don’t do this, you’ll end up crying on the kitchen floor in the middle of a cabinet puzzle. 3. Get scientific about your finishes. According to Remodelista, you should “forget matte and eggshell finishes and opt for semi-gloss, gloss, or satin instead — hardy finishes that are easy to clean.”
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IT MIGHT BE TIME TO FLUSH YOUR WATER HEATER
This Is How You Do It!
When was the last time you flushed your water heater? If we had to guess your answer, our money would be on “I don’t know” or “never!” You should flush your water heater once a year to extend its life and keep it functioning properly — but most people don’t. What is ‘flushing’? Flushing your water heater isn’t as simple as flushing the toilet, but it’s the same principle. You need to drain the tank of your water heater to get rid of lime and other sediments. If you don’t do this, the gunk can harden over time and potentially destroy the unit. To flush, or not to flush? If you’ve been in your home for more than a year and haven’t flushed your water heater, the answer to this question is easy: It’s flush time. If you’re a new homeowner, it can be trickier to know when to do your first flush. Fortunately, your water heater has ways of telling you maintenance is overdue. To find out whether your water heater needs flushing, stand next to it for a while and listen. If you hear what experts describe as “popping,” “banging,” or “rumbling” sounds, sediment is clogging your unit. How do you flush a water heater? First, grab a gardening hose and a shop vac. Then, turn off your water heater’s thermostat and the breaker (for an electric heater) or gas (for a gas
heater). Turn off the cold water supply to the water heater. When everything is off, head to a sink and switch on the hot water. Leave the water running and go back to your water heater. Open the pressure release valve and screw your hose onto the spigot at the bottom of the water tank. Put the other end of the hose near a drain, into a bucket, or outside. Then, open the spigot to start draining your water heater. (You may need to vacuum out sediment if your hose clogs.) Finally, turn the cold water back on and run it through your water heater until the water leaving the hose runs clear. You’re done! It’s safe to return the pressure valve, thermostat, and breaker/gas to their original states. It may be necessary to relight the pilot on a gas heater. If this process seems too intimidating or your system is different from what is described here, call your plumber and schedule a professional draining. There’s no shame in relying on the experts!
Frozen Mocha Torte
TAKE A BREAK
Inspired by TasteOfHome.com
Ingredients
Directions
1. In a small bowl, combine the wafer crumbs, sugar, and butter. 2. In a greased 9-inch pan, add the wafer mixture and press to the bottom. 3. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese,
• 1 cup chocolate wafer crumbs • 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, melted • 1 8-oz package cream cheese, softened • 1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk • 2/3 cup chocolate syrup • 2 tbsp instant coffee granules • 1 tbsp hot water • 1 cup heavy cream, whipped • Chocolate-covered coffee beans (optional)
sweetened condensed milk, and chocolate syrup until smooth.
4. In a separate dish or cup, dissolve coffee granules in hot water. Once combined, add to the cream cheese mixture and fold in whipped cream. 5. Pour mixture evenly over the crust. Cover and freeze for 8 hours or overnight. 6. Remove from the freezer 10–15 minutes before serving. Garnish with chocolate- covered coffee beans if desired.
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INSIDE
1
Property Management Lessons from Canada
2
Introduce Dogs and Cats Like a Pro
The Pros and Cons of Painting Your Kitchen Cabinets
3
Your Water Heater Needs Attention
Frozen Mocha Torte
4
A Kitchen Trend Worth Watching
Kitchen Cabinets Go Bold Now This Is a Trend Worth Watching
Classics That Never Go Out of Style
According to BHG, gray-painted cabinets “remain a favorite for kitchen cabinetry for their versatility and contemporary look.” Other neutral options include “greige” — a blend that’s part gray, part beige — and, of course, the iconic white.
Drew Barrymore. Kate Hudson. Mollie King. The Beckhams. What do these folks have in common, apart from being famous? They all have painted kitchen cabinets! In 2022, natural wood is out, and painted cabinets are in. You can hop on this trend with any color your heart desires, but the experts claim not all colors are created equal. Here’s a peek at the hottest tones both now and hopefully for decades to come.
Hot Colors for 2022
Better Homes & Gardens (BHG) is making bold suggestions! Trending colors include rich yellow, bright orange, shades of blue, cool mint green, and even two-tone (wood on top, color on the bottom).
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