Basement Finishing is an Investment Every Home Deserves

If your basement remains unfinished then you are missing out on an amazing opportunity to create value and add function to your home. Whether your basement is compact or if it mirrors the ground floorplan of your home, you could add living space, bedrooms, or simply renovate the space so that it is protected from deterioration, Basement Finishing helps it to be ready to be used in the future.

If you are looking for ways to improve your home in 2023, starting from the ground up with basement finishing could be the smartest way to start.

What Determines a ‘Finished’ Basement?

Different people have different ideas around basement finishing, but for contractors and home appraisers, there’s specific criteria that needs to be met.

A basement finishing project usually incorporates an HVAC system along with the rest of your home. If your main living areas and bedrooms have heating and air conditioning, then your basement should also have the same to be considered finished. Usually when buyers are exploring the market, they will expect a finished basement to be just as comfortable as any other room in the home.

The quality of the finishing should also match the rest of your home. Some homeowners simply book contractors to install drywall and flooring and assume that the basement is now considered finished. This is simply not true. The basement should have finished walls, flooring, light fixtures, and windows if there are parts of the basement that are above ground level. A finished basement should be fully insulated, and walls and ceilings should be painted. If you have used molding throughout your home, then the same should be used throughout the basement.

Access to the basement is also important. A finished basement should have internal access to make it more practical for daily use.

What’s So Important About Basement Finishing?

If you consider your home to be an asset, then you should aim to extract the most possible value from it. If you have a basement space that is run down, damp, and unfinished, then you are essentially wasting the potential of your property.

Basement finishing will allow you to make the best use of what is likely your most valuable asset. Remodeling or renovating your basement could also increase the value of your home, helping you to command a higher selling price in the future.

Ideas for Basement Finishing

You can do more with your basement than simply finishing the walls, floors, and ceilings. Think of the space as an extension to your home, and the potential will only be limited by your own imagination.

A popular use for a basement is as extra living space, particularly for use as a den, second living room, games room, media room, or mancave. Your basement could also be an ideal location for a home bar to be used for entertaining friends and family.

If you have the space available, you could completely remodel your basement to create partitioned rooms. You could add bedrooms to your home, add a bathroom, create a home office, or add rooms for any purpose. You could combine living space with utility space, depending on your needs. If you have a growing family and are running out of space, then finishing and remodeling your basement could allow you to stay in the home and neighborhood that you already love.

Permits for Renovating and Remodeling a Basement

General renovation and basement finishing won’t always need a permit. However, the rules can change depending on how much work you plan to have done.

If you are adding rooms and performing any form of actual construction, then a permit will be required. If you decide to install a bathroom then you will also need a plumbing permit. Any form of major structural remodeling will typically require a plan review.

When you work with a professional home remodeling contractor, you can typically expect to receive assistance with the paperwork.

How to Find the Best Contractors for Basement Finishing in Iowa

If you’re ready to improve your home, then you’ll need to find professionals that you can trust. Basic basement finishing is a relatively simple job, but for any form of renovation or remodeling, you’ll need to work with a design and construction team that will help turn your concept into reality.

At HomeWorx Iowa, you can get professional consulting and an end-to-end service that takes you from planning and design proposal, all the way up to construction and sign off. If you’re looking for the best way to finish your
under ground while adding features and living spaces that add value to your home, then it’s time to talk to the experts.