Basement Remodel

Unfinished basements can be full of exposed plumbing and uninspired spaces that need some improvement. If you're in a financial position to do something about it, you can turn your uninspiring basement into your home’s dream space. Read on to learn how.

What do you want the room to be?

The first thing you need to do before even painting the walls of your old basement is determine what you want the space to be. Will it be a recreation room? A home gym? A home office? A home theater? Another bedroom? Figure this out before anything else.

Do your research

Besides figuring out a budget, researching what needs to be done before you redo your basement is probably the most energy-intensive thing about the project, even though the energy is largely mental. You will need to research the local building codes, which are different from state to state and may even be different from city to city. You’ll need to call the local building codes and permit office, and an expert will make sure that your house is up to code before your contractor picks up a hammer. Your contractor should obtain whatever permits are necessary as part of any working agreement the two of you decide on.

Figure out your budget

After you’ve decided what you want the new basement to be and have done your research, you’ll need to figure out a budget. You should do this well before you put the job out for bid. Indeed, it’s probably impossible to put a job out for bid if you have no idea what you’re willing and able to spend on it.

Choose your contractor

The rule of thumb is that you should ignore the highest bid and the lowest bid when it comes to hiring a contractor, but that’s not a hard and fast rule. The contractor with the highest bid may be the best in your area, and they can charge more because they are in such demand. A low-bid contractor may also be very good, but the lower bid may be because they're just starting out and really need the work.

Ideally, you want the best contractor that you can afford for the renovation job, such as Paradise Home Improvement. Regardless of who you hire, one thing you can do is to ask for the contractor’s portfolio, which should contain pictures of the projects they’ve worked on. You might even want to talk to their former clients and get references.

You can turn the basement you aren't in love with into a space you can’t wait to show to friends and family. If you want more information on how to renovate your basement, follow TheHomeMag on Facebook and Instagram for more home improvement ideas.