Most people don't want to go under their house, and honestly, we get it. It's dark, tight and dirty, and you don't always know what you're looking at. That's what the free inspection is for. The inspector crawls through the whole space, takes photos, and comes back up with a clear picture of what's going on.
When to schedule an inspection
There's no bad time, but these are the most common reasons people call:
- A musty smell inside the house
- A soft, sagging or bouncy floor
- Condensation or dripping from ducts
- Water under the house after storms
- A home inspection report that flagged moisture or mold
- You're buying or selling a home around Lake Norman
- You've never had anyone look, and the house is on a crawl space
What gets checked
Here's what we'd look for, step by step.
Moisture
The inspector takes moisture readings in the wood framing and checks humidity in the crawl space. With Mooresville's hot, humid summers and lake humidity, readings tell a lot about whether the space is staying dry or just looks dry.
Ground cover
Is there a vapor barrier? Is it torn, thin, shifted or missing? Is water sitting on top of it?
Water and drainage
Look for standing water, mud lines on the walls and piers, and signs that runoff from sloped lots is getting under the house. Red clay often shows water stains clearly.
Framing
Joists, beams, sills and the subfloor get checked for rot, soft spots, sagging, cuts and pest damage. Wood that looks suspicious gets probed.
Mold
Look for growth on framing and the subfloor and note how widespread it is.
Insulation
Is it in place, dry and doing its job? Or is it wet, hanging down or on the ground?
Ducts and pipes
Sweating ducts, loose connections and dripping pipes all add moisture.
Vents, walls and access
Check the foundation vents, gaps, the access door and the condition of the walls and piers.
Pests
Droppings, nests, termite tubes and other signs of uninvited guests.
Inspections for buyers and sellers
Crawl space issues come up often in home inspections around Lake Norman. A general home inspection report might just say "moisture noted" or "recommend evaluation by a specialist." That's not much to go on when you're negotiating.
A crawl space inspection gives you more detail: what's wrong, what's causing it, and what it would take to fix. If you're selling, that can help you decide whether to fix it first or price it in. If you're buying, it gives you a real number to work with instead of a guess. Mention your timeline when you call so the visit can be fit in before your deadlines.
What you get afterward
When the inspector comes out from under the house, they walk you through the photos and explain what they show. If everything looks good, a good contractor will say so. If there's work to do, you'll get a written quote that lists what they recommend, why, and what it costs.
If there are options, like a vapor barrier versus full encapsulation, they should be laid out so you can compare. If something can wait, you should hear that too. Want to know what drives the price first? Check the crawl space cost guide.
How long it takes
Most inspections take about an hour, sometimes a bit more for large or hard-to-reach crawl spaces. You don't need to do anything to prepare except make sure the inspector can get to the access door. If it's inside a closet or behind stored items, clearing a path helps.
What a good inspector won't do
- Charge you for the inspection.
- Pressure you to sign anything on the spot.
- Exaggerate what they found. The photos speak for themselves.
- Recommend mold treatment or joist repair unless they actually see a reason for it.
Questions people ask
Is the crawl space inspection really free?
Yes. There's no charge for the inspection and no obligation to book any work. The point is for you to understand what's under your house and make your own decision.
Do I need to be home for the inspection?
It's best if you are, so the inspector can show you photos and talk through what they found. If you can't be there, say so when you call, and access can be worked out with everything gone over by phone afterward.
Is this the same as a home inspection?
No. A general home inspection covers the whole house and often just notes that moisture or mold was seen. A crawl space inspection focuses only on the crawl space and goes into more detail about causes and fixes.
How soon can you come out?
It depends on the schedule that week. Call (704) 897-7470 and we'll get you set up with the earliest time that works. If you're dealing with active water under the house, say so when you call.