Basement remodeling: Have you thought about it? If you’re interested in increasing the usable living area of your home, you’ve probably at least vaguely entertained the notion. Maybe you’ve even thought about it quite seriously.
And if, perchance, you haven’t given any thought to the possibility of remodeling your basement, maybe you should. Because homeowners stand to gain lots of benefits from basement remodeling.
Here are five of the biggest benefits:
The Best Value: According to the annual Cost vs. Value Report released by Remodeling Magazine, no other project designed to increase livable space is cheaper. That’s because adding a room of any size requires building a structure of foundation, walls and roof. But the basic structure of a basement, of course, is already in place. That’s why basement remodeling offers the best value per square foot in comparison with all other space-increasing projects.
A Blank Slate: If you add a bathroom, or a bedroom, or a playroom – any kind of room – then you’re fairly limited in terms of design and decorating options. After all, you don’t want your addition to stick out like a ghastly sore thumb from the rest of your home. To a certain degree, at least, you’ll want your addition to blend with the existing design and décor of your home.
But your basement – that’s a different matter. For your basement remodel you can let your imagination run wild. You can give your creative juices free rein. Your basement is an island unto itself, so to speak. So your decorating and design choices can be made in complete freedom, without paying homage to the rest of your home.
LOTS of Space: Adding another room of any kind to your house will certainly give you a bit more elbowroom. But not much more than a “bit.” Remodeling your basement, though, will add lots of livable space to your home. That’s because basements typically are very large areas. On average, a basement remodel will increase your living space by about a third. And some basement remodeling projects nearly double a home’s livable space.
Resale Value: A remodeling project shouldn’t be initiated simply to increase the resale value of a house. That’s because no remodeling project will return 100% of the money invested at the time of resale. But some projects will return a far greater percentage of your money at resale time than other projects. And according to Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report, no other project designed to increase living space even comes close to holding value as well as basement remodeling projects. Your remodeled basement will also make your house more attractive to prospective buyers.
A Comfy Hangout: A basement can become the most easily heated, the most easily cooled, the most comfortable living space in your entire house. This may be hard to believe if your basement is currently a dank, dark and damp pit of dreariness. But if the job is done right using the proper materials, the natural insulating and sound-dampening properties of your below-ground-level basement can indeed contribute to it becoming the most pleasant place in your home.
Not All Benefits Are Practical…
The benefits listed above are all solid, practical benefits of basement remodeling. Quite often, though, a basement remodeling project is more about pleasure than practicality. Lot’s of people like to convert their basement into a place for fun, for entertaining, and for just a relaxing place to hangout. Nothing wrong with that.
But even if your motivation for remodeling your basement is more whimsical than practical, there are likely a number of very practical benefits that will come right along with the whimsical.
And if you should find yourself needing to convince a certain significant other about the practicalities of the project…well, those benefits will be great to have in hand. You can argue the practicality now, and enjoy the pleasure later!