If you have a basement in your home, you’re actually very lucky, even though you might not realize it. That’s because, with a basement, you have a lot of freedom in how you use it. With some renovation work, it could be anything you need it to be. Read on to find out why you need to renovate your basement as soon as possible. You can really start making the most of it.
A Comfortable Home
If your basement is essentially an unfinished space that’s only used for storage and perhaps where you do your laundry, it’s not going to be a comfortable part of your home. It will always be that one space where no one really wants to go. Even if you don’t have it in the front of your mind at all times, it will be there at the back. That means, even if you don’t realize it, you might be uncomfortable in your own home because of it.
This is one of the many reasons why you should renovate your basement. You don’t have to use it for anything other than your washing machine and tumble dryer and as a handy storage area if you don’t want or need to. Renovating it so that it is a bright space that feels comfortable and can be used more easily will certainly help you feel better about every part of your home, not just the spaces you spend the most time in.
Increase Your Living Space
Another great reason for renovating your basement is that, once it’s done, you can use it to increase your living space. If you think about it, you might be able to double what you currently have. You might even be able to make the space bigger. And because it will be a large space, you can use it in any way you want to.
For example, if you have an older child who needs a little more space and independence, you can create a gorgeous bedroom and bathroom in the basement for them. Just remember to hire experts for sump pump installation to prevent the space from becoming damp.
Another idea is to make this your living room. If it’s bigger than the space upstairs, or it just feels cozier, for example, you can enjoy your downtime in the basement. And use the other areas as a dining room or study.
Speaking of studies, a renovated basement can make an excellent space to work in. Whether you’re sitting at a desk or creating something to sell, like woodwork or pottery. And of course, because it’s under the ground, it’s a great place to play or listen to music. It won’t disturb the neighbors (although adding soundproofing is a good idea, just in case).
In reality, the space you gain when you renovate your basement can be used for anything at all. So be creative – it could change your home for the better.
Increase Your Home’s Value
There’s no getting away from the fact that renovating your basement is going to cost you money. The better quality materials and professionals you use to do the job, the more it will cost. However, this should be seen as an investmen. It is highly likely that having a completed and renovated basement compared to having a dark, potentially damp space that has gone unloved for a long time is going to help to increase your home’s value.
It doesn’t even really matter what you use your basement for when it comes to selling your home. You can have it looking like a playroom, a den, a workroom, a bedroom, or anything else. As long as the décor looks good and it is a comfortable place to be, it will give your home more value. You’re adding more space, after all.
Plus, because this would be a job that a lot of would-be buyers might want to do themselves. Uou’ll be saving them a lot of time, effort, and money if you’ve already done it. This is why it’s a good idea to decorate the space neutrally if you’re going to sell. In this way, buyers might be more tempted to buy. They might even be happy to pay a little more for the property as they’ll be making savings elsewhere.
Earn An Income
If the layout of your house allows for it (or if you have the budget to make it work), you might even be able to make an income out of your renovated basement. If you gave it its own separate entrance and made it inaccessible from the rest of the property, you could rent it out. Of course, you would need to make sure it included everything someone would need to live comfortably. This includes a living space, kitchen, and bathroom.
However, the living space could double as a bedroom. The kitchen could also be part of it in an open-plan design. In this way, the bathroom, which would need to be separate for hygiene reasons, would be the only additional room you would need to create.
If this idea appeals, look at the rents that people are charging for a similar setup and living situation. Speak to a realtor who should be able to help you work out what kind of income you can make.
This idea works for a lot of people because they don’t have the risk that comes with buying a separate property to rent out. The property value could fall or the property might be left vacant for a while, which would be highly costly.
However, it does mean you would have people you don’t know living in your home. Which not everyone is going to be comfortable with. Think about whether this might be something that could benefit you. See what it would cost to make the changes.
It Can Save You Money
We’ve already said that renovating a basement is going to cost you something, depending on what you have done and how it’s finished. However, even if you have it renovated and then do nothing with it (or nothing that would allow the work to pay for itself, at least), you could still be saving money in your home.
If you have a basement, it could be that you’re losing a lot of energy from it. Cracks and gaps can appear, and when you’re trying to heat or cool your home, this can be a problem.
Air from inside will escape. That means your appliances have to work harder, use more energy, and cost more to run. Equally, air from outside can come in, and the same problems occur.
By renovating your basement and filling in those gaps, and putting other measures in place to keep the space protected, you can ensure that you don’t lose and use so much energy. This will save you money on your bills, but it is also better for the planet. If and when you come to sell the house, having measures like this in place can really make a difference in terms of the value. And how interested potential buyers would be.
The fact that you can then use this renovated space for so many things is the icing on the cake. This ensures that no matter what you want to do when you renovate your basement basement, contracting experts to give you a price for renovation. Or, if you have the skills, starting work yourself, is the ideal next step for you.