Most homeowners have opened the crawl space door, looked into the dark and closed it again. That's reasonable. You don't know what you're looking at, it's a tight fit and you'd rather not meet whatever lives down there. A crawl space inspection puts someone who does know under the house for you, and brings back photos so you see exactly what they saw.
The inspection is free. There's no charge for the visit and no obligation to book any work afterward.
When to get one
People in Statesville usually call for an inspection for one of these reasons:
- A musty smell inside that gets worse in summer
- A soft, bouncy or sloping floor
- Water under the house after storms
- High humidity indoors, or ducts that sweat
- A note from a home inspector, HVAC tech or pest control company
- Buying or selling a house with a crawl space
- They've just never had it looked at
What gets checked
A full inspection covers the whole crawl space, not just the spot you're worried about. Here's what the inspector looks at:
| Area | What they're looking for |
|---|---|
| Ground and ground cover | Bare soil, torn or missing plastic, wet or muddy areas |
| Moisture and humidity | Readings in the air and in the wood |
| Wood framing | Mold, staining, rot, termite damage, cut or cracked joists |
| Subfloor | Soft spots, especially under bathrooms and kitchens |
| Foundation walls and piers | Cracks, bowing, sinking or tilting piers, efflorescence |
| Insulation | Sagging, fallen or wet batts |
| Ductwork and plumbing | Sweating ducts, disconnected runs, leaks |
| Vents and access door | Open vents, damaged screens, gaps where pests get in |
| Outside the house | Gutters, downspouts, grading and soil height |
| Pests | Droppings, nests, mud tubes |
The outside matters because many crawl space problems start in the yard.
The photos
The inspector takes photos throughout. After coming up, they sit down with you and go through them: here's the ground cover, here's where the water's been, here's the soft wood by the tub, here's the crack on that pier. You see the problem, not just hear about it. If something looks fine, they'll show you that too.
What you get afterward
- A plain explanation. What's going on and what's causing it. Most crawl space problems have more than one cause, and the inspector should explain how they connect.
- A written quote, if work is needed. It lists the work, the materials and the price, with options side by side where there are choices.
- What can wait. A good inspector tells you which items need doing now and which can be watched.
If your crawl space is in good shape, you'll hear that. Plenty of inspections end that way.
For home buyers and sellers
A crawl space often comes up during a sale. The buyer's home inspector writes "moisture observed" or "recommend evaluation by a qualified contractor," and suddenly everyone needs answers before closing.
Sellers can get ahead of it with an inspection before listing. Photos and a written quote give you something concrete to share with your agent, and fixing it on your own schedule usually goes better than fixing it under a deadline.
Buyers can request an inspection during the due diligence period to find out what that home inspector note actually means and what it would cost to address. Coordinate access with the seller and agents.
The inspection doesn't replace a general home inspection. It's a closer look at one part of the house.
What happens next
If work is recommended, the quote might point to a vapor barrier, encapsulation, foundation repair or something else. Nothing is scheduled until you say so. Take the quote, think it over, get other quotes if you like. The cost guide explains how to compare them.
How to get on the schedule
Call (980) 391-6539 or request a free inspection online. We'll get you set up with a time. Most inspections take about an hour, depending on the size of the crawl space. Someone should be home to talk through the photos at the end. The access door needs to be reachable, so move anything stored in front of it.
The contractor covers Statesville and nearby communities including Troutman, Harmony, Olin, Cool Spring and Mooresville.
Questions people ask
Is the crawl space inspection really free?
Yes. There's no charge for the visit, the photos or the written quote, and no obligation to book any work.
How long does a crawl space inspection take?
Usually about an hour, sometimes longer for a large or hard-to-reach crawl space. Plan a little extra time to go over the photos and the quote.
Do I need to be home for the inspection?
It's best if you are, so you can see the photos and ask questions. At minimum, the inspector needs access to the crawl space door and the outside of the house.
Can I get an inspection while I'm buying a house?
Yes, as long as the seller allows access. It's a common way for buyers to find out what a home inspector's crawl space note means and what fixing it would involve. Work out timing with your agent.
What if nothing is wrong?
Then the inspector will tell you so and show you the photos. You'll have a record of the crawl space's condition, which can be handy down the road.