Fix It to List It: Crawl Space

It’s easy to forget about your crawl space - unless you’re regularly checking out your home’s HVAC or wiring yourself, there probably isn’t a reason to be down there. And because you never go down there, you might not realize when small problems pop up, or when they become larger problems.

It often isn’t until you’re trying to sell your home that you’re made aware of how big of a problem the crawl space has become. It’s easy to ignore a smell or a soft spot in the floor in the house you’ve lived in for years, but a new buyer is unlikely to move forward with a purchase after finding out the crawl space is causing problems in the home.

Common crawl space problems, which usually occur because of standing water or ambient moisture, as well as exposure to the elements, include mold, insect and vermin infestation, warped and rotting support beams, and energy loss (resulting in an uncomfortable home and high energy bills). Many of these can be solved with crawl space encapsulation using our CleanSpace system.

If you intend to sell your home, you will either have to have the crawl space fixed, or accept a lower offer - either way, you’re going to take a hit. But if you let the crawl space go and wait for it to come up in an inspection, you also run the risk of alienating your buyers, who may wonder what else is wrong with the house that just hasn’t been unearthed yet.

That’s why we encourage you to fix it before you list it. We know that everyone has different goals depending on their place in the homeownership journey, so if you’re settled in and want to ensure your home is top of the line, we can create a solution for that. If you’re getting ready to sell and just want to have a system in place that ensures safety for the next owner, we can create a solution for that, too.

If you’re thinking of selling your home and want to make sure it’s in the best shape to attract buyers, or you’re staying put but have concerns about your crawl space, call us to schedule a free inspection.