Keeping your crawlspace dry and mold-free.

Crawlspaces are surprisingly important when it comes to negotiating property value. Poorly maintained crawlspaces are a costly mistake and can result in losing thousands of dollars on a house sale. On the other hand having a clean, insulated, and fully functional crawl space will actually increase your home sale value. This means you can bump up your asking price, based on the pristine condition of your crawlspace.

What are Appraisers Looking For?

Home appraisers are the most influential factors that homebuyers take into account when negotiating a price. It’s always good to know and understand what appraisers are looking for. This will help you prepare your home for inspection and allow you to make the necessary changes and repairs beforehand.

Appraisers usually inspect your crawlspaces based on different criteria:

-Crawlspace Visibility: Lighting should allow you to see the entire crawlspace.
-Debris and Waste Accumulation
-Signs of Garbage or Organic Waste
-Signs of Pests: Rodents, spiders, roaches, etc.
-Structural Integrity: Make sure beams and house foundation are in good shape.
-Odors: Very important as it can mean anything from high humidity to mold growth.
-Standing Water
-Any sign of trouble that can lead to safety hazards

Your crawlspace is the biggest source of moisture in your home. Dirty crawlspaces with little or no insulation accumulate excessive amounts of moisture, which can lead to rotting wood and pest infestations. Approximately 40% of the air in your house comes from your crawlspace so that you can control moisture in your entire home with crawlspace cleaning and insulation services. These will guarantee a dry crawlspace, and prevent rotting and other issues.

It’s no secret that homes are very prone to hosting pests. These include cockroaches, termites, ants, rodents, and of course, spiders. All these pests (and many more) thrive in dark, moist areas around your house. A dirty, humid crawlspace invites these pests into our homes, so maintaining a clean crawlspace becomes a necessity.

Mold is bad. So bad, in fact, that it can ruin any attempt to sell your house. Mold develops in humid, dark areas of your house. Cleaning and insulating your crawlspace will prevent high moisture levels, which significantly diminishes the chances of mold, mildew, and water damage.

Many homeowners are aware of the amount of temperature lost through the attic. However, most fail to realize that the same goes for crawlspaces. If your crawlspace’s temperature is very different from the rest of your house, your HVAC system is working more than it should. Crawlspace cleaning is the first step towards cutting the temperature difference. Also, consider encapsulation or crawlspace insulation for better results.​

If your HVAC system is not required to work as hard, your energy bills will be significantly reduced. This is a major selling point for new and experienced home buyers. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a properly conditioned and insulated crawlspace can save you 15-30% of your energy costs. This alone can exponentially increase your home sale value. Modern families and homebuyers are very conscious of the environmental impact and carbon footprint they are leaving. It makes a lot of sense, for obvious reasons. Clean and insulated crawlspaces reduce the amount of energy needed to control a house’s temperature, decreasing our environmental impact and carbon footprint families generate. 

Clean, well-maintained crawlspaces are also functional and practical. They provide easy access to electricity and plumbing underneath your house, which makes repairs and inspections easier. Dry crawlspaces also safeguard your home’s structural integrity, as it is less likely to develop wood rot or succumb to mold and mildew.