Home · The Assessment

The in-home assessment

A thorough crawl-space assessment — and a clear plan.

Our main focus is your crawl space — the foundation of a healthy, functional home and the area most likely to hide moisture, framing, and support problems. We look at what's been compromised by age and wear, then sit down with you to explain your options.

Crawl space conditions JAGS Consultants reviews during an assessment
Assessment work starts where most homeowners cannot easily see: moisture, vapor barrier, drainage, ductwork, airflow, and support conditions below the home.
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Crawl space

Moisture, framing, supports, vapor barrier, and the early signs of trouble underneath.

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Drainage

How water moves around and under the home before it turns into expensive damage.

Energy efficiency

Where the home is losing efficiency and comfort through the crawl space and attics.

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HVAC air quality

How conditions below affect the air your family actually breathes.

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Airflow

Ventilation and air movement through the crawl space and home.

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Ductwork

Condition of interior and exterior ductwork that runs below the home.

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Foundation clues

Signs around piers, block, settling, and support points that deserve a closer look.

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Repair priorities & plain-English plan

What needs attention now, what can wait, and what may be unnecessary — explained in homeowner-friendly terms before anyone sells you a fix.

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Possible home-perimeter pitfalls

Exterior factors most crews ignore — grading, downspouts, gutters, and drainage around the home that can cause crawl-space problems.

Crawl space is always included. Drainage, energy efficiency, HVAC air quality, airflow, and ductwork are advised on at your request — at no additional cost.

Understanding your options

We help you make sense of what to do next.

After the assessment, we go in-depth on the real choices in front of you — the benefits of different materials, the mechanical equipment a company might propose, and whether a professional fix is needed or it's something you can handle yourself.

We also explain the value of sequencing — which projects are worth doing first, and when doing everything at once is overkill — plus which types of companies are the right fit for each job. You'll know the pros and cons of every corrective fix, whether it's material, mechanical, or a full system installation.

Beyond the basics

The 50-point assessment — including what most crews ignore.

Over the years I've seen how much gets missed when companies "inspect" a crawl space. The biggest misses are the exterior factors. A crew spots standing water and immediately quotes an expensive French drain and sump pump — without checking what's actually causing it: poor grading around the foundation, downspouts pointed the wrong way, or clogged, overflowing gutters. Plenty of those problems can be corrected without the expensive system.

They'll note the moisture but rarely ask whether poor airflow is the cause — sometimes just trimming back the hedges makes a real difference. They'll tell you "up to 60% of the air you breathe comes from your crawl space," yet never look inside the ductwork to see whether it's already been affected. These are the things most companies don't want you to know, because many of them you can fix yourself.

As part of every assessment, I look at all of these factors and more — so you have every option in front of you before you make the "what's next" decision.

What's on the 50-point assessment

The same field checklist Aaron built over 16+ years — every area scored no issues / some issues / major issues, with notes and suggestions for each.

Foundation & perimeter

Foundation cracks · landscaping · drainage along the foundation · downspout positioning · gutter condition & overflow · fascia boards · foundation vents · siding & decking · walkways · property pitch · exterior venting covers · rodent access.

Crawl space

Vapor barrier · insulation & type · foundation walls · insect, rodent & termite activity and access points · crawl-space door · structural concerns · standing or penetrating water · wood-moisture readings by location.

Air ducts

Exterior condition · drooping or sagging · kinks & restrictions · condensation · distribution boxes · disconnections · signs of growth · leaks · interior of the ductwork · flooded ducts.

Attic & energy efficiency

Attic access · loose, leaky, or torn ducts · roof line & venting · insulation type & R-value · roof-deck temperature · approximate direct-sun exposure.

What you walk away with

Knowledge you can act on.

You'll leave armed with a full picture of what your home's issues actually look like, what suggestions to expect when a service company shows up — and, just as importantly, what not to fall for.