Crawl Space ~ Story Time

What One Tight Crawl Space Taught Me About Hidden Home Problems

When most people think about home inspections, they picture someone walking through a house, checking outlets, the attic, and maybe poking around outside. But some of the biggest problems in a home? They’re hidden deep below, in the crawl space.

Let me tell you a story from early in my career that illustrates just how important it is to inspect those dark, narrow spaces.

An agent once called me because her usual inspector physically couldn’t fit into the crawl space of a home she was selling. Knowing I was a bit more compact, she figured I might be able to squeeze in. When I arrived, I understood why she called. It was about 10-12 inches tall and only 16 inches wide. Barely enough space for a body, let alone a comfortable inspection.

Determined to help and prove myself, I inched my way in, arms over my head, army-crawling through the dirt. I couldn’t turn around, so the only way out was through. About ten feet in, it opened up, and thankfully, I was able to spot a few critical issues: water leaks, moisture damage, and compromised materials that would have gone completely unnoticed otherwise.

It wasn’t glamorous (or clean), but it was a powerful reminder: Crawl spaces hide major home problems, and skipping them can mean costly surprises later. If your inspector isn’t able (or willing) to get into those tight spaces, what else are they missing?

At DILIGENT, we go where others won’t because no one wants to find out the hard way what’s been hiding under their home.