I wish someone would start "STAGING" crawl spaces.
Why does my flashlight always have to look like the Biggest Ball of Twine from all the spider webs?
Why should my coveralls be "off limits" to my sweetie on laundry day?
Wouldn't it be nice to enter a crawl space and see a nice throw rug at the entrance, or a few lights here and there----AND A NICE NEW PLASTIC GROUND COVER EVERYWHERE!!!
All the cobwebs would be vacuumed up along with all the rat turds, cat turds, and raccoon turds----and other "unknown" but unpleasant looking substances. All the dead birds, cats, dogs, snakes, rats, mice, possum, and former home inspectors would all have been removed. There would be air fresheners installed-----and the mold, asbestos and lead abatement teams would have done their thing.
All of the left over (50-year-old) construction materials----the extra shingles from 3 roofs ago----and the kayak full of pop cans----all gone. The decorations for all 366 Holidays----gone!
Yup, I think it is time to start staging crawl spaces. Perhaps a new "ancillary" service in these difficult times?
To remind us inspectors of what it "used" to look like perhaps an appropriately placed "Plastic Rat" or a "kiddy-pool" full of water would suffice----and there certainly should be a dispenser of Handi Wipes on the way out.
Of course, I understand that this idea would probably only work in the "nicer crawl spaces"----as described above.
Charles Buell
PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.
Oh Charles, I remember back in MD we had a home w/ a crawl space & I wanted to know how to change the fliters and where the turn off switch for the water was.
I kept hoping I wouldn't see a snake while underneath the home, I didn't thank goodness. But there it was waiting for me in my garage, yikes!
Charles, that was a funny song. It was "COUNTRY" which you don't like and probably the longest one I've ever heard. It reminded me of one of my favorite movies, "Michael" with John Travolta as the angel Michael. He had to stop at the biggest ball of twine.
I think you should look at the crawl space first and if it looks like what you described add a few hundred to the bill!!!
Barbara, I don't remember that from that movie. I can't believe there is one other person on the planet that thinks that was a great movie. I think it was one of Travolta's best movies---loved it.
Ok Charles, Ido like my endorphins running free but one black snake would greet me quite a few times when I opened up front door. He was just chilling on the bottom step, that was ok.
But then this snake that had all kinds of pretty colors and geometric shapes on himself coiled on the garage ledge scared the heck out me. I let out a small yelp as it was inches from my head. I grabbed a hatchet & ran after it down the pathway.
Would you charge less to inspect a staged crawl space?
To justify the cost of staging, we show sellers that their home should sell for more money and/or in less time. What's their incentive for staging the crawl space?
Sharon, awesome question. Wish I had a good answer:) Since we are talking about a highly hypothetical question that is about as likely as me being signed to Arsenal FC----I would have to say that if all crawl spaces were "pristine" the cost would go down. But in the meantime I will stick to my geriatric soccer league:) Everytime I hear the words "coveralls," and "dust mask" I hear the sounds of Money.
Charles, watch the movie again. Michael insisted on going a long way out of the way to see a giant ball of twine, supposedly the one you pictured? But the twine looked better before being put in that building. My favorite part was his dancing in the honky tonk and getting in the fight with the rednecks. I think I want to watch it again!
The problem with a crawl is you can't usually tell somethings there until you run into it, with some exceptions. Even a really good flashlight doesn't light up more than the direction your pointing.
I had a long dicussion with an oppossum once that had gotten between me and the way out.
Charles: If we won the lottery, the first thing my husband would do (OK the second thing after purchasing a boat) would be to pour a "rat slab" under our house in the crawl space. He never goes down there, but he would sleep easier knowing it was tidy. I don't envy those who make their living in crawl spaces or attics. You earn every penny!
Shameful, Shameful. No one thinks about the crawl space. Or the people having to endure the crawl space. Staging, LOL.... No. Cleaning.... still no. But closer than staging.
LOL...Charles! I actually work in a company that makes crawl spaces look pretty (and cleaner, healthier, safer... etc). We actually make a living crawling in and out of such places, much like home inspectors. So I can totally relate to this post.
Oh the horror stories I've compiled! Things we can't share but with coleagues. Thank heavens for endorphins.
Anyway, answering to Sharon's question, I'd like to add thatn there are a lot of benefits coming from fixing and cleaning up a crawl space.
A clean and tidy crawl space is easy to inspect for pest, mold, plumbing and duct leakage. If you have combustion appliances running there, makes it easier to service them.
You can fully encapsulate the space, and have a more energy efficient home saving quite a lot of money on utilities. You can control moisture and therefore protect your floor joists and insulation, and even have some space where you can store (not dispose of) and actually be able to retireve all the "366 chistmas decorations" from the space as needed.
Therefore, yes, there is a lot of value added to neat crawl spaces. Just imagine being able to actually have a prospective buyer, and not just the home inspector, take a look at the crawl space and knowing that it will not be a problem or the set of yet another crawl space horror story.
CHARLES I know it would be nice having a cleaned crawl space. And it actually makes sense to me. Of course, I'm a bit of a neat freak too. Just thinking of the creepy, crawly things that love the disgust there from never, ever, ever being cleaned is all the more reasons to L O V E and respect your home inspector.
My blog is intended to provide information related to home inspections in Seattle, surrounding communities and anyone else interested. Sometimes I will provide information that has nothing to do with home inspections. Enjoy!
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all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.
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I get the shivers just thinking about crawling under homes. I don't know how you can force yourself to do it!