The folloiwing article ran in January 2008 in Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers:

Home Maintenance & Hurry-up Living

Growing up, our house was like a mall food court with non-stop eating, kids yelling, strangers popping in, and people sleeping in chairs.  My folks worked hard and gave up all their time for concerts, plays, sports, scouting, trips to the emergency room, church, and school.  The frenetic activity left our home neglected and needing major work.

          Now, as a home owner myself, I have developed a  15 minute exterior home maintenance routine you may use while keeping pace with society's hurry-up lifestyle.

1.  Do this mid-month on a weeknight after dinner.  You'll get exercise for digestion, and find items to fix the following weekend.  2.  Grab a wrench, screw driver, binoculars, gloves, hand pruner, and hand shovel.   3.  Ask your spouse or child to join you. 

Begin outside your front door.  Check the door hinges and latches.  Look up; inspect your porch light and look for bee hives.  Look down; confirm your porch is snug against your house, and ensure it pitches away from the door.  Walk clockwise around the house, and stay within arm's length of the walls.  Check around windows, keeping an eye pealed for wood rot, missing caulk, and loose screens.  Check attachment points for hurricane and decorative shutters.  Use your screw driver to tighten loose screws or as a probe at points of concern. Look up at eaves and vents for damage, stains, or insects, and look down to verify soil slopes away from the house.  Make sure no shrubs contact your house.  Look along the bottom edge of walls for signs of water damage and insects.   

Prune growth around hose faucets, utility panels and your air conditioning unit, while listening to it run.  Remove any scrap wood or paper within 12 feet of your home.  Check hose faucets and fittings for leaks.  With your hand-shovel, move away small piles of soil or mulch from the bottom edges of siding. 

From each side of your house, walk out 40 feet, then use your binoculars to scan the roof, gutters and gable-ends, looking for missing or damaged shingles or vents.  Use your gloved hands to inspect all gutters and downspouts, and siding materials.  Firmly grasp deck railings.  Check deck surfaces and steps for soft spots and looseness. 

Finally, return your tools for use next month, then hug, compliment and thank your companion before slowing down for a quiet evening in your castle.                                          

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