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"Why Are The Window Sills All Scratched?"

By
Home Inspector with Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC 3380-000723

As we entered the sunroom on the rear of the house, my client asked me, "Why are the window sills all scratched?"

She was right, the sill in front of each window was scratched terribly!

Well, look things over.

Can you see what happened to the sill here, and deduce why?

Hint:  the house abuts a wooded area behind.

I said that this may be the sunroom, but it could also probably be called the four-legged woodland animal view room too.

Having her look out the window I surmised that a dog used to live here and had the best time watching out the rear windows for other mammalia to walk by.

When they did the dog would explode with the fun!

So, I expect that the woods have a variety of animals to see and enjoy!  I suggested that my client have a chair out there for doing just that!

My recommendation:  some things are easy to diagnose and some are not.  And some diagnoses are easy enough to extrapolate out a step or two further than the initial indicator!  The dog who used to live here will probably never have such fun again.

 

 

Posted by

Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC  

Based in Bristow, serving all of Northern Virginia.

Office (703) 330-6388   Cell (703) 585-7560

www.jaymarinspect.com


Comments (20)

Raymond E. Camp
Ontario, NY

Good morning Jay,

Happy New Year.

Sitting and watching the local wildlife can be fun and relaxing.

Make yourself a great day.

Dec 31, 2013 09:41 PM
Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Jay,

The scratches in the window sill would have led me to believe that a four legged friend was busy there a lot.

Looks like the have a room with a view.  Thanks for the help all year long.

Have a great day and an even better 2014 in Bristow my friend.

Best, Clint McKie

Dec 31, 2013 09:49 PM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Nice work, Sherlock!  A happy and healthy New Year to you and your family.

Dec 31, 2013 10:13 PM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

And how easy it would have been to sand and refinish and not leave a buyer wondering what else may have been neglected.

Dec 31, 2013 10:21 PM
Joan Congilose
New Jersey Properties - Manalapan, NJ
Helping Sellers & Buyers

Hi Jay, The moment I read the heading I guessed the cause, my 2 dogs do the same thing. Have a Happy New Year!

Dec 31, 2013 10:29 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

It can Raymond, unless you are a hairy four legs and really explode at the opportunity to explode!

Clint - this dog has moved and now misses his formerly-fun room with a view!

That was an easy one Gabe!

S&D - what, leave the house in good shape?

Joan - once years ago I was a contractor and was doing work for an architect.  Their house had a bay window, which overlooked the bike path behind the house.  They had two Toto dogs, who loved to get up there and bark at people walking by.  One day the couple came home to find me in the bay window with both dogs, bouncing and barking at someone walking by!  I did not know they had come home!  They thought it was a very funny sight!  The dogs thought I was pretty cool.

Dec 31, 2013 10:53 PM
Women of Westchester Working Together
Women of Westchester Working Together - West Harrison, NY
Women helping Women get ahead

Yes, this one was obvious to me as I am a pet owner. Of course, my cats don't make those marks when they check out the birds.

Dec 31, 2013 11:17 PM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Jay, a house is not a home until it has been "stressed" by pets, children and "life."

Dec 31, 2013 11:21 PM
Jason Crouch
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Austin, TX
Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)

I find it funny when we encounter questions like this. It doesn't really take Sherlock Holmes to figure it out, eh?

Jan 01, 2014 12:10 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

WOW Flooring Chick - cats are pretty nondescript when it comes to the home, except perhaps for furniture, blankets, towels, toilet paper, rugs, poop boxes - anything else?

Charlie - isn't that cute?  I think that little guy had a lot of fun out there!

Jason - my client didn't have any idea!  I knew pretty much right away.

Jan 01, 2014 12:14 AM
Fred Hernden, CMI
Superior Home Inspections - Greater Albuquerque Area - Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque area Master Inspector

They may have taken the poor little dog away in a straight jacket! I'm sure it was driving him crazy that he couldn't get out there to make "frends" with those outdoor creatures!

Jan 01, 2014 12:50 AM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

I have seen this same markings in rentals in which the tenants did not have a pet deposit; I sure looks like a dog had been there Jay.  :)

Jan 01, 2014 01:01 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I think he had some fun there Fred.  He misses this spot now!

Tom - pet deposit?  They need to live too!  I gotta believe he left some deposits around the house from time to time.

Jan 01, 2014 02:21 AM
Tom White
Franklin Homes Realty LLC (615) 495-0752 or www.FranklinHomesRealty.com - Franklin, TN
Franklin Homes Realty LLC, Franklin TN

Jay, I think anyone who has had a dog can recognize the tell tale signs of "dog frenzy"!

Jan 01, 2014 07:51 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

That's a good term Tom.  This one had much fun!

Jan 01, 2014 08:04 AM
Donna Foerster
HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO
Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

Jay~ Explaining the scratches were caused by a dog enjoying the wildlife put a nice spin on things. :-) Suggesting that you client could have the same enjoyment was genius!

Jan 01, 2014 01:16 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Thanks Donna, spin maybe.  But the house is the house and that's what happened!

But sure, she should enjoy the room too!  I want to see the frenzy Tom suggested above!

Jan 01, 2014 04:14 PM
James Quarello
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT
Connecticut Home Inspector

Having pets my entire life, I knew immediately what caused those marks. 

Jan 01, 2014 09:40 PM
Suzanne Otto
Six Twenty Designs - Lansdale, PA
Your Montgomery County PA home stager

Either that or it was a really big cat :) A little spackle and sandpaper will fix that right up!

Jan 02, 2014 12:06 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I did too Jim.  We pet people seem to have a general understanding of things that non-pet people don't!

I thought this was pretty cute Suzanne.  That dog had a great time out there!

Jan 02, 2014 07:51 AM