More homeowners than ever are looking to finish their basements, particularly as they require additional living space, to make the most out of their home. A finished basement can be used as an entertainment area, a fitness room, a play room or an office. The options are endless; now all you need to do is get started.
Follow these five steps to finish your basement:
Step 1: Clear Out Your Basement
Before you can bring new life into your basement, you are going to have to clear out the old. The first step that you need to take is to clean your basement thoroughly, purge any unneeded or unwanted items and find efficient storage for everything that is left. When your basement is empty, you are ready to take the next step.
Step 2: Come Up with a Plan and Hire a Contractor
Next you will need to decide how you want to finish your basement. A few choices that you will need to make include:
- Will you add carpet or wood flooring?
- Will you finish the ceiling?
- Will you drywall the walls?
- Does your lighting or electrical have to be updated?
- Are you going to be installing a bathroom?
Come up with a few goals and ideas for your new basement, then hire a contractor who can help you bring your dreams to life.
Step 3: Apply for Permits
You should work with your contractor and your municipality to determine if you need any permits for the work you are about to start.
Step 4: Purchase the Materials
Now you are ready to purchase your materials. This is often the most fun part of the project, because you get to select the flooring that you want, the paint that you want for the walls and other decorative accents that will complete your basement.
Step 5: Watch the Transformation Take Place
With all of the permits acquired and the materials purchased, the real work can begin. You can watch step-by-step as your basement is transformed into the space that you want and need.
It can take a lot of time and effort to finish your basement, but the result will be well worth it. Not only will your finished basement allow you to love your home even more, but it will also add significant value to your property.
About the Author
Rudden|Bobruska Team
Gary Rudden, Lisa Rudden, and Nick Bobruska
RUDDEN BOBRUSKA TEAM
What sets your team apart from other real estate teams?
There is no team out in the market that offers what we do. All of us are Realtors, but
we each have specialized roles, which make our team so unique!
After decades of living and selling real estate in the DMV, we have established
ourselves as one of the top real estate teams with our market expertise and
cutting-edge technology. Our savvy high-tech marketing is on every website
and social media source. We have a huge network with other top agents, which
helps to premarket homes and discover homes for buyers before they reach the
open market. Our services include professional in-house staging services, broker
expertise in negotiating and navigating contracts, and buyer representation in all
price ranges. Each client has different needs and we create a marketing plan based
on those needs.
Our most distinct feature is our in-house construction and renovation team. We
are literally a full-service, one-stop shop when selling or buying a home!
How does the in-house construction and renovation team work?
All work is managed and completed through our licensed and bonded construction
crew. No need to call outside contractors. We are like “HGTV,” but we just don’t
have a show! Whether it’s a small makeover or a major renovation, we do it all. Our
sellers love this aspect of our team because we make preparing your home for the
market so seamless. Our buyers love the advice and insight we can give for future
renovations and repairs.
Having a licensed Maryland Home Improvement contractor as part of our team
along with the knowledge, experience, commitment and services that we offer, truly
puts our team as a vanguard in the real estate industry.