Know whether a finished basement is the best or not.

Do you have another family member on the way? Or are you having guests coming over for an occasion? If you have friends, family, or events coming soon, but there needs to be more room in the house, use the space in your basement.

Are you considering renovating to make room and finish your basement? Before you make the ultimate decision, though, check out the pros and cons we've compiled. See if finishing your basement is the right thing for you!

Why You Should Finish Your Basement

Makes More Space

The basement is primarily unused space, a home to store the bric-a-brac and knickknacks you probably don't remember anymore. If you decide to finish your basement, you can make the area more practical and functional than just a storage area. You might find out that there's plenty of space you didn't know you had.

Gives Freedom to Remodel and Design

With a finished basement, the room is as livable as any other room. Because of this, you can transform the space however you like. Your finished basement can be your personal man or woman cave, a game or theater room, a home office, another kitchen, and more. Your imagination's the limit when deciding what your basement will end up being, and the fun comes in designing it to reflect your style. 

Improves Home Value

Even though you aren't considering selling right now, having a finished basement can improve and boost your home's value. Potential buyers will also be impressed to see a finished basement since this will be less work for them. Because of this, your home will have an advantage and have higher chances of selling.

Provides Privacy and Security

If you have a big family, having a quiet and private space for yourself can be a challenge. However, with a finished basement, you can have a comfortable and quiet area for work or study. The basement is secluded and isolated from the rest of the house. This makes it a perfect place to avoid the commotion and the hustle and bustle of family and housemates.

Also, the basement is the safest place to be whenever a storm or tornado comes in. Finished and redesigned, you'll have furniture and items available. This way, you can wait out the storm in safety and comfort.

Why There's No Need to Finish Your Basement

It's Expensive

Finishing a basement means modifying many things to make your unfinished basement livable. Modifications, such as the concrete walls, floors, and ceiling, are needed to be done. You either have to change it to drywall, tiles, or hardwood. Since an unfinished basement doesn't have insulation, you'll also need to have that fixed.

Plumbing and electrical installation is also required depending on your plans for the room. Doing all of that on your own is hard work. Therefore, it's recommended to have a basement contractor deal with them. And all these changes will be costly.

More Maintenance and Upkeep

In an unfinished basement, you need little to no maintenance on the stuff you stored there. A little dust here and there won't be a problem with the belongings you may or may not even remember anymore.

However, with a finished basement, you have to maintain it the same way as you maintain the rest of the rooms in the house. Additionally, you'll need functional plumbing and electrical wiring with a finished basement. This means you'll be paying for additional water and electrical expenses.

Need to Follow Building Codes

Usually, it's your house, your rules. However, some areas require you to secure permits to get any construction done to your basement. You need to adhere to your area's building codes. Otherwise, you might not be allowed to undergo any renovation or construction plans.

The task of deciding whether to finish your basement or not can be difficult. Therefore, you have to see what you're getting into before making the final decision. After reading about the benefits and drawbacks of finishing your basement, we hope you can finally decide what to do next.

Are you still interested in finishing your basement? Contact us at Grand Rapids Basement Pros, and our basement contractors will give their all to assist you in finishing your basement!