Have you put off finishing your basement? We get it. After all, doing so is a long, costly, and labor-intensive endeavor. And if your basement already looks like a cold, concrete cellar, it can be difficult to imagine it being anything but. However, there are several benefits to finishing your basement. Here are just a few:
Basements are often utilized as places to store old tools, clothes, and decorations, but do these possessions truly require an entire floor to themselves? Most of this clutter can be stowed in closets, storage bins, or your attic; much of it could even be sold at a garage sale or thrown away completely. In getting rid of the excess junk and making a few renovations, you add an entire floor to your home. This floor can be whatever you want or need it to be. Have you ever wanted an at-home gym? The perfect place to watch the game? How about a fully functional guest room? The possibilities are endless.
So, you’ve got a killer entertainment room complete with a 4K TV, surround sound, and a leather sofa to boot. But when it comes time to show off your house to the friends or family who drop by for a visit, wouldn’t you feel better off knowing you also have a furnished basement to showcase? You’ll also feel more confident asking for a higher starting price when you’re in the market to sell. Remodeling your basement is one of the best things you can do to increase property value. On that note...
The massive costs that go into making major renovations are undoubtedly one of the biggest reasons homeowners are reluctant to start in the first place. According to the most recent Cost Versus Value report by Remodeling Magazine, homeowners spend an average of $71,115 to renovate their basement. However, this same report also shows that 70 percent of that money is recovered when the property is sold. That’s one heck of a return! It’s understandable if you didn’t want to fork over 70 grand immediately after reading this, but there are some more practical measures you can take to make a finished basement work for your budget. You could, for example, make incremental changes over time. You could also set up an online banking account that will automatically save portions of every paycheck to fund the endeavor. No matter how you decide to go about it, you can rest assured knowing you’ll make much of that money back when you sell.
With all of this to consider, it’s easy to see why finishing your basement is a worthy investment.