At what point does a crawlspace become a basement?

[Scott R Marshall]

So I am certain this has been asked before but I'll ask it again. None of us would argue a crawlspace pretty much explains itself, you've got to crawl around to move in it. A basement you should be able to stand in, albeit maybe with just a little bit of a crouch which is magnified if you are tall like me. Well in my case I've got an approximately 4 foot distance from floor to "ceiling". Not finished, not heated, accessible only from outside and houses the furnace. A root cellar would be the best term for it but the stupid Fannie/Freddie form only has 2 choice "crawlspace" or "basement".

I'm leaning crawlspace with explanation but what say my peers?

 

[mark hurlock]

So I am certain this has been asked before but I'll ask it again. None of us would argue a crawlspace pretty much explains itself, you've got to crawl around to move in it. A basement you should be able to stand in, albeit maybe with just a little bit of a crouch which is magnified if you are tall like me. Well in my case I've got an approximately 4 foot distance from floor to "ceiling". Not finished, not heated, accessible only from outside and houses the furnace. A root cellar would be the best term for it but the stupid Fannie/Freddie form only has 2 choice "crawlspace" or "basement".

I'm leaning crawlspace with explanation but what say my peers?

A basement can be defined as a below grade floor level of a structure. I would not consider 4 feet to qualify as a floor level on any level.

 

[Mountain Man]

Think like the buyer would... what is the utility? If you have to walk like a hunch back and duck under HVAC pipes, crawl space storage.

 

[normando]

Look at the comps available. If the comps don't consider the crawl space area as basement then don't call it a basement. Best comps are similar style and appeal homes which should take care of the basement problem.

 

[Ken B]

One thing for sure - it is not a basement.

 

[Papoua Jose]

At 4' we'd call it a crawl space in my market.

There are appraisers who use crawl space categories, "tall crawl" and walk-in crawl space.

 

[Mr Rex]

4 feet ain't even a tall crawl.

 

[Meandering]

Deep crawl space.

This has a benefit over shallow crawl spaces in that it provides more air buffer to the sub-floor, and they typically have less of a condensation problem on the bottom of a sub-floor in humid climates, than do shallow crawl spaces.

 

[fractal7221]

I think it depends on the typically buyer in the market. If the market is comprised mainly of hobbits it should probably be counted as basement area.

 

[Mike Kennedy]

The Leprechauns call it a "Pub", the rest of us call it what it is - Crawl Storage/Utility Space. The Leprechauns warn crawling on ones knees for a brew does not qualify the space as a basement. It remains a Crawl Space until an Average Height American can stand erect and not bang their heads or stoop (male 5'9", female 5'4").