Crawl Space Inspection in Everett, WA
A crawl space inspection is a look under the house by someone who goes all the way in: across the ground cover, along every foundation wall, and up close to the framing. The result is a record of what is down there now, with photos, so you can decide what needs fixing and what can wait.
People ask for one when they're buying a house, when a home inspection report says "further evaluation recommended," or when something upstairs seems off. Request an inspection and a local crawl space contractor will follow up to schedule a visit.
Call (425) 552-1521
When to get the crawl space inspected
- You're buying a house and the inspection period in the contract is still open
- A home inspector couldn't get into the crawl space or referred it to a specialist
- Nobody has been under the house since you moved in
- A plumbing leak, a backed-up drain, or a heavy storm left water under the house
- Floors feel colder than they used to, or heating bills went up for no clear reason
- Scratching or chewing sounds under the floor at night
Request an estimate
- Tell us what’s wrong. A name, a phone number and what you’ve noticed is enough.
- A local crawl space contractor calls you back to book a look underneath.
- You get a price, and decide whether, and when, to go ahead.
For homes in Everett, Marysville, Arlington, Lake Stevens, Snohomish, Stanwood, Mukilteo and Mill Creek.
What the inspector checks under the house
A thorough visit covers the whole crawl space, including the far corners away from the hatch. The inspector should bring a moisture meter, a probe, a strong light, and a camera, and should come out dirty.
- The hatch and the route through: whether every part of the crawl space can be reached, and where ducts or pipes block the way.
- The ground cover, noting missing, torn, or pulled-back sections and any water pooled on top.
- Moisture readings in the sill plates, joists, and subfloor, with the wettest spots marked in the report.
- Soft spots in the wood, plus insect frass, exit holes, or mud tubes on framing and posts.
- Insulation between the joists that is missing, sagging, wet, or nested in by rodents.
- Posts, piers, and beams that have settled, lean, or sit in contact with the soil.
- Ducts, drain lines, and supply pipes for leaks, and bathroom or dryer vents that end under the house.
- Foundation walls and vents for cracks, seepage, and gaps where animals get in.
What affects the cost of a crawl space inspection
Some contractors inspect for free and others charge a fee. The difference usually shows up in the report. These are the things that change the price and what you get for it.
Free or paid
Free inspections from companies that also do the repairs are common, and they can be useful. The person inspecting is also pricing the fix, though. A paid inspection, or a second opinion on a large scope, comes from someone with less riding on the answer.
Size and access
A large footprint, low clearance, or a crawl space split into sections by interior footings takes longer to cover. A hatch under carpet in a closet or beneath a deck may need to be opened up first.
The report
A verbal walkthrough costs less than a written report with labeled photos, moisture readings, and a sketch of the problem areas. When you're buying a house, ask for the written version so you can share it with the seller.
Pest inspection
In Washington, reporting on wood-destroying insects takes a structural pest inspector license. Adding that inspection, from the same person or a separate one, adds to the cost.
Extra testing
A camera run through an old footing drain, mold sampling, or a second round of moisture readings after a wet month is priced as an add-on.
Crawl space inspections in Everett
Washington's standards of practice let a home inspector skip a crawl space when the access opening is smaller than 18 by 24 inches, when there's less than 18 inches of clearance under the joists or 12 inches under the beams, or when going in looks unsafe. Plenty of older Everett houses fail one of those tests. A home inspection report that says the crawl space was viewed from the hatch is common, and it means most of the framing went unchecked.
The same standards bar a home inspector from identifying wood-destroying insects unless they also hold a structural pest inspector license from the Washington State Department of Agriculture. Suspected insect damage gets referred out. If you're buying, ask whether your inspector holds both licenses, or book a pest inspection separately.
Most of the insects that turn up here follow the moisture. WSU Extension notes that anobiid beetles live in crawl spaces where the wood stays around 14 to 17 percent moisture, and the usual sign is small piles of gritty frass on joists and sill plates. Moisture ants nest in damp, rotting wood, often where wood touches soil. Finding either one means the crawl space has a moisture problem to fix along with the insects.
Season changes what an inspector sees. A crawl space that is dry in August can have water in it by December, so a visit during the wet months gives a truer picture. For a summer inspection, ask the inspector to look for silt lines, staining, and mineral crust that show where water sat last winter.
From request to estimate
- Call or send the form with your address and why you want the inspection. If you're buying, include the date your inspection period ends.
- A local crawl space contractor schedules the visit. Clear the path to the hatch and put pets away before they arrive.
- The inspector goes through the crawl space and shows you photos of anything worth fixing.
- You get the findings in writing, with each repair listed separately so you can price it or get a second bid.
Crawl space inspection questions
My home inspector didn't go into the crawl space. Is that normal?
Washington's standards allow it when the hatch is smaller than 18 by 24 inches, the clearance is too low, or the space is flooded or unsafe. It does leave a gap in the report. If you're buying, a crawl space inspection before your inspection period ends fills it.
Is a free crawl space inspection worth it?
It can be, if you get photos of each problem and a written scope that prices each repair on its own line. For a large proposal, a second inspection from someone else before you sign is a reasonable step.
Does a crawl space inspection include termites and other insects?
Only if the inspector holds a Washington structural pest inspector license. Without it, an inspector can report rot and the conditions that attract insects but can't identify wood-destroying insects. Ask about the license when you book.
How often should a crawl space be inspected?
Once a year is a good habit, ideally during the wet season. Go under, or have someone go under, after a plumbing leak, a flood, or any sign of rodents as well.
Can I inspect my own crawl space?
You can take a first look. Bring a bright flashlight, wear a respirator, gloves, and old clothes, and tell someone you're going under. Look for standing water, sagging insulation, droppings, and dark or soft wood, and take photos. Stay out if there's water near wiring or the space is too tight to turn around in.