It’s important that you know all about your crawl space when you’re getting ready to sell your home. This has been a hot-button issue lately with many transactions we’ve seen so far this year. More and more, home inspectors are finding issues under people’s crawl spaces - the area between the ground and the first floor of the house. If your house doesn’t have a basement, this is likely where the heating and air systems are installed.
Any problems that arise from crawl spaces will be due to two factors: humidity and moisture. The confluence of humid air seeping in under the crawl space vents and mixing with the cold air running through the ductwork creates a sweating effect. This sweating creates moisture that clings to the wood framing. Over time, under the right conditions, wood-destroying fungi, mold, and mildew can eat into the wood and compromise structural integrity.
Take action now and save yourself a future headache.
In our area, this process can be delayed because we have a wintertime season to quell the humidity. Next summer, however, the cycle starts all over again. If you’re already under contract and have negotiated the price of the house, the last thing you need is the home inspector finding a problem you never even knew you had.
If you have a vapor barrier on top of the dirt covering the ground area under your home, that should prevent the ground moisture from evaporating onto your wood joists. Another remedy is sealing the crawlspace vents and installing a dehumidifier.
A lot of home inspectors are also recommending that you hire a crawl space company to specifically examine your crawl space so that they can recommend a solution. Of course, this can cost anywhere from $1,800 to as much as $6,000, depending on the size of the crawlspace, but it will be worth the precaution.
Just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean it can’t affect you. If you’re thinking about selling your house, take action now and save yourself a future headache.
If you have any further questions regarding this topic, please don’t hesitate to give me a call or shoot me an email. I’d be glad to help you.
