MARCH 9, 2012 CATEGORIES: BASEMENT REMODELING, HOME IMPROVEMENT, HOME REMODELING, HOME RENOVATIONS, NORM HUGHES HOMES BY ADMIN 0 COMMENTS
Each year more than 1 million homeowners finish or remodel their basements, according to the Home Improvement Research Institute in Atlanta, Georgia. But is it a good value for the John’s Creek area?
Consider that building an addition or moving and buying a larger home runs about $150 to $200 a square foot. Basement finish is two to three times more cost effective in adding living space to a home than any other option. According to The Wall Street Journal and a poll of the Appraisal Institute, a basement finish equals a kitchen remodel as the best financial return of all home renovations, but only if the quality matches the rest of the house. Norm Hughes Homes in Alpharetta, Georgia is sure to make your basement a valuable part of your existing home style.
Quality of design and construction is the single biggest factor in determining the value of a basement remodel. Your goal: People should walk into the space and say, “This is phenomenal! I can’t believe this is a basement!” No matter what your investment — — if the space looks and feels as comfortable and as nice (or nicer) than the main living space, then you’ve got a basement that will bring a ton of value — both in your enjoyment of the space and in the resale value of your home.
So, why does the basement need to be refinished? Basements are inherently dark and a design challenge for the uninitiated. It simply takes more design and better construction to turn a basement into a true extension of your home. A basement that is finished without design and construction rigor becomes little more than a finished storage place. No one enjoys going downstairs into a dark, cut-up space.
From a resale standpoint, a basement finish that is poorly designed and constructed will actually detract from the home’s value. A potential buyer, at best, will see the basement as a neutral feature and, at worst, will factor the cost of having to remodel the basement into the home’s value.
On the other hand, a basement that truly feels like another level of the home, rather than just a basement, will add value both in terms of quality of life and also as a return on investment at time of resale.
For example, at the Parade of Homes the biggest line in the featured homes always leads to the basement. When a basement is well done, it commands attention. The basement is the adult toy room — housing home theaters, wet bars, exercise rooms and wine cellars. It’s the one spot in the house where the architectural design is all about having fun. With a great finish, not only does a basement finish nearly double the size of the house, but it often becomes the most popular space in the house.
How can you maximize the value of a basement finish?
A great finished
basement demands even better design and construction than
your upstairs living space. Matching trim, paint color, carpet, fixtures and
finishes with the upstairs does not constitute a fantastic finished basement.
Investing in professional
design and quality
construction increases the likelihood that you will
maximize your home’s
value.
Compensate for the inherent problems of a basement. Basements typically have lower ceilings, random duct work, structural posts, pipes and valves, all of which demand great design to hide or blend in with the space. Turn these design challenges into design features, and you are well on your way to creating a fantastic finished basement which will add a ton of value to your life and to your home’s resale value.
How much to spend?
Special design features might cost a little more but can make the difference in
creating a phenomenal space. Special interest items like a dark room or
special sporting areas (e.g., rock climbing walls) typically do not appeal to a
broad enough range of people to recoup the investment at resale. Try to
remain in line with the pricing in your neighborhood. If you already own the
most expensive home on the block, it’s going to be tough to get your full
investment out of a basement finish.
Is there good value in finishing a basement?
Put simply: absolutely. When both financial
investment and lifestyle enrichment are properly matched
with great design and construction, basement
remodels return solid value.