Of all the things you worry about as you prepare to sell your home, the condition of your crawl space may be at the bottom of a very overwhelming list. It’s true: Your home’s crawl space isn’t glamorous or even a room that anyone thinks about using. But it is a crucial component of your home that affects the quality of its air, the efficiency of its heating and air conditioning systems and the integrity of its structure. If you’re selling a house with water in the crawl space, it could create complications for the sale or affect the value of your home.
Here we’ll teach you how to identify water in your crawl space, explain the hiccups it can cause in the sale process and help you get ahead of the problems.
Does Your House Have Water in the Crawl Space?
A crawl space is an unfinished space that acts as a protective area between moisture in the ground and your house. It also helps to raise the bottom floor above the base flood elevation for your property.
Most crawl spaces are prone to some moisture issues. In Southwest Virginia, especially during the warm summer months, they’re also prone to high humidity levels.
That’s why it’s important to regularly inspect the space. While it’s obvious you have a drainage problem if you find water puddling in your crawl space after it rains, signs of moisture issues may be more subtle. Here are four things to look for:
1. Obvious signs of moisture damage, such as stains or discoloration on walls or insulation caused by excess water or condensation dripping from pipes or ductwork.
2. Humidity levels of 60% or greater. You’ll need a tool called a hygrometer or there are digital thermometers that also measure humidity levels.
3. Musty odors, both in the crawl space and inside your home.
4. Signs of mildew or mold, which thrive in damp conditions.
Why Selling a House with Water in the Crawl Space Causes Problems
Moisture finds its way into a crawl space for several reasons, including insufficient ventilation, faulty construction, foundation issues such as cracks and gaps, or drainage problems around the home.
If your potential buyers want a home inspection done, a good inspector will catch these issues along with the moisture or water problem in the crawl space. Requested repairs or renegotiations can impact the sale price and could delay closing, so you’re better off checking for issues and making any needed repairs ahead of time to prevent headaches.
Crawl Space Care, with offices in Roanoke and Christiansburg, offers free inspections. Our professional team will analyze your space and help you find the right solution for your home.
How to Deal with Unexpected Water
When you’re preparing your house for market, the best solution is to hire a professional like Crawl Space Care to install protective measures, ensuring that your house will fetch the best offer and that it will sail through the home inspection process.
The most effective solution is crawl space encapsulation, which shields both the walls and floor of the space from moisture by closing off outside vents and by adding vapor barrier plastic to the floor. This will keep your crawl space — and the rest of your home — climate controlled and healthy.
Alternatively, if you have a mild issue, a vapor barrier may be all you need to keep excess moisture found in the ground from seeping in. Or a professional-grade dehumidifier could be installed to remove excess moisture from the air, reducing the liklihood of mold and mildew.
Don’t trust your home sale to a DIY solution. You want to defer to a professional who can handle it and install the right protective measures for you.
Schedule a Free Crawl Space Inspection
Crawl Space Care is a family-owned business serving the Roanoke and New River valleys. Our technicians go the extra mile to evaluation your crawl space and provide a cost-effective solution to get your home on the market. Contact us today to get a free inspection.