When people are looking to buy a new home, they rarely consider what is under their feet. However, it is vital to know about what’s below the surface of homes, especially when you’re standing on top of a crawl space.
But what is a crawl space?
Simply speaking, a crawl space is a hollow area between the ground and first floor. It is around 1 to 3 feet high, providing enough space for a person to crawl inside, as the name implies. However, in some rare cases, it can be full-height like a basement. A well-designed crawl space has numerous benefits over the concrete slab and, therefore, adds value to your house.
What are the benefits of a crawl space?
There are many benefits of crawl spaces. They are not only used to elevate a home, but also serve as a space to install air conditioning and a heater, as well as hide ductwork, electric wiring, and plumbing. They also provide a better option than concrete slabs, especially when issues like pipe leaks arise, where excavation becomes much more convenient and offers easier access to the pipes. Furthermore, they are much cheaper than basements. A crawl space costs around $9,000 to $30,000 for an average house as opposed to a basement, which can cost $70,000 to $140,000, or even more.
For people living in damp locations or areas with high posture, crawl spaces are a much better option as they are less prone to termites and cracks compared to conventional basements.
However, you must always ensure that the crawl space has a proper ventilation system for your home’s structure as well as your health. Ventilation can be provided by installing a vent that pumps air from an HVAC system. A humidifier also works well, particularly in wet regions. Lack of ventilation can move the moisture from the ground, which can lure termites, fungi, and in some cases, rodents.
It is significantly important to have your potential home examined by a professional home inspector and be sure to ask questions about the crawl space!
Are you thinking of buying or selling a home? Let TRELORA be your partner! We are full of great tips and can help you throughout the entire transaction.
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Christopher has been been in the Real Estate industry for 8 years and has had the opportunity to close over 1,000 deals while acting as the Managing Broker for thousands more. Christopher is passionate about continuing to find ways to simplify, maximize, and serve Trelora’s clients exceptionally well and spends his time building teams to deliver high levels of service. When not doing real estate Christopher can be seen training for marathons and ultra relays with his 2 year old daughter, eating pizza, and drinking a steady stream of Diet Coke.