Sometimes there is "obvious" and then there is "not-so-obvious."
While the corner is "obviously" damaged, what was "not-so-obvious" was that behind all that nice new paint there was considerable decay in much of the trim up the side of the window. As you can see by the length of the key, the decay is quite deep, involving not only the trim board but the sheathing behind it as well. So while the key isn't going to "start" anything (except hopefully my car when it is time to go home)----it is likely (hopefully) to result in repairs to this long standing damage----hidden and otherwise.
Homes painted prior to sale can definitely make the house sell faster----improving the "curb-appeal."
For the trained inspector, it just makes them look closer----or least it should. When I inspect a home that I know has been painted prior to sale, the report will include a warning that hidden damage is possible and that the exterior should be monitored for signs of deterioration after purchase. Sometimes the stains from painted over decay takes a few weeks or months to bleed through the paint----or blister the paint----as they will.
Charles Buell
PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)
all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Click on the Rose 
to check out: AHA!---A Forum of Landmark Proportions---your Group
PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)
all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.
My WORDLESS WEDNESDAY pictures and some selected POEMS & STORIES.
Lol Charles. I'd love to see the buyers faces if you include these photos in their inspection report.
WOW. I like the pictures with the key. That is so wow, buyer beware!
Good morning Charles,
I always enjoy your posts. And I especially enjoy the photos that you add to them. Thank you for sharing. And hope all is well in Seattle.
Never thought of using my key for that. (I have a 18" probe... it might have gone all the way through..lol)
sounds like Kevin is bragging- cheryl (I'm starting anything)willis
Charlie - Good measurement of the facts. I was told by an attorney one time when I had to depict a situation in which pictures did not do justice to the size of things - to use random items. In the case I was up against, I used a golden retriever dog to give comparison to a steep hill which was the subject of a bad excavation job.
Erik, the only time it would make it in the report would be if the buyers weren't there to see it first hand:)
Robert, thanks for commenting
Rebecca, thanks----Seattle is awesome!
Kevin, I hate when the probe breaks through the drywall on the inside:)
Carol, hard to argue with pictures that back up what you are talking about.
You are like a well-trained detective Charles. May the painting-seller beware when they see you coming! :)
People think you can hide ANYTHING with paint. I have seen it too often.
I hate it when they fill those decayed places with wood putty and then paint over it. I guess it helps but is not neat.
oh my - that is some serious damage
Ilyce, can I tell my sweetie you think I am "well trained?"
Carol, hiding this kind of decay is every inspector's nightmare.
Barbara, at best it is only going to be temporary.
Thesa, still fixable though----not what I would call a deal breaker.
Wow .... you must be driving an OLD car/truck because most keys in the past few years have a computer chip in them. Is it an Antique?
Sean Allen
Sean, a 91 Jeep Cherokee. We aren't talking ankle bracelet are we?:)
Old house, new paint.....look very very closely. So often decay is present or wood repairs made of caulking compound.
I once found a 2 lb "ball of caulking" in a dormer outside wall (bout the size of a softball). To this day, I don't know how they got that thing to stick there.
Charles, You are quite ingenious - experience from years of "cover ups".. Kevin is just dying to come over with his probe !! God bless,
Steve, definately a good idea.
Kevin, don't you love it when they shoot a whole bunch of caulk in and a week later it is like a giant sack hanging down the side of the house. By the way I would love to have a probe as big as yours:)
Cheryl, what kind of past builder would I have been without the ability to cover things up:)
No problem there. Just replace the pore key spring and that wood will accept the paint just fine.
Charles, I use my probe a lot, especially in soft squishy areas. (almost lost it one time) :)
The title is also catchy! Keep them coming Charles! Great Post!
Nice pictures. I have a yellow handled screw driver a that is famous. (it has been photographed more than Brittney and Paris!)
Vince, that is one difficult sentence to read:)
Anonymous, well alrighty then:)
Rebecca, thanks for stopping by----stay tuned----more to come I am sure:)
Jim, for me it is my swiss army knife that is famous----left it home on this one:)
Great Pictures!! Thanks for sharing! Hope you had a great weekend!
Andy, thanks for stopping by