Basement vs. Crawl Space in New England (Connecticut - CT)

[Philip Pape]

Hi everyone, this is about new construction in Connecticut (CT).

Roughly 85-90% of homes have full basements, and I think there's a psychological expectation in the market for a full basement in New England, to the point where the market might value a 2,500 sqft house WITH a basement more than a 3,500 sqft house with just a crawl space.

My question for other developers or real estate agents/brokers out there, is what are the pros/cons of a crawl space over a basement?

- Up-front cost difference
- Energy (heating) costs
- Comfort
- Resale value impact
- Anything else that's relevant

When I say crawl space, I mean a non-ventilated, moisture-protected (vapor barrier, waterproof spray, and sand/gravel), heated space, NOT the dirt-covered, ventilated space of old.

Thanks!