Benefits of Remodeling Your Basement

Basements are often treated as an overflow space where the kids hang out, and the old furniture goes to live out its final days. However, when designed and decorated effectively, basements can be a worthwhile investment that offer multi-functionality, boost your home’s value, and can even generate income. In this blog post, we’ll guide you through the benefits of remodeling your basement, including plenty of design inspiration from a recent remodel we did in collaboration with Upstate, SC based designer, Villasten.

Basement remodel featuring a kitchenette, full bathroom, rec room , and living area

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In this blog we’ll cover:

Increase Your Home Value With a Basement Remodel

Remodel Ideas to Maximize Your Basement’s Versatility

Basement Gallery

Project Spotlight: Our Clients’ Multifunctional Basement

Basement Before and After

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Bar graph depicting interior improvements with the highest ROI

Increase Your Home Value With A Basement Remodel

With inflation and interest rates on the rise, many homeowners are choosing to stay put in their homes, and invest in renovations. Remodeling the basement may be a no-brainer for homes with kids, or homeowners living in their “forever home”. However, it might not be on the top of the to-do list for empty nesters, or those in starter homes. Here’s three reason why you should invest in a basement remodel even if you’re looking to sell:

Greater Buyer Interest

Basements are often underutilized square footage. Needless to say, people don’t often have high expectations around basement design. A well-designed basement has the potential to be used for a variety of different functions, and will attract buyers from all walks of life. Those with a more open basement layout could accommodate a home theaters or a home gym. Whereas a finished basement apartment could potentially be an income generator, or a mother-in-law suite. Finished basements are often perceived as a positive attribute, and have the potential to attract a greater number of potential buyers from various income levels and phases of life.

Increase Appraisal Value

A well-executed basement remodel has the potential to substantially raise your home’s property value without having to add any square footage. And, because a finished basement is a popular selling point for many prospective buyers, you are more likely to get a bid at or above the asking price.

Proven Return on Investment

Basements are often overlooked when it comes to maximizing your home’s potential. In fact, when it comes to home improvement projects with the highest return on investment (ROI), it may surprise you that kitchen remodels and bathroom renovations aren’t in the top five (see graph). While that statistic might come as a shock, it’s also nice to know that there are other remodeling solutions to consider before you demo any of your bathrooms or gut the kitchen. In fact, according to the 2022 Remodeling Impact Report performed by the National Association of Realtors, “Basement Conversion” landed at number four in the survey's top 10 list of “Interior Home Improvements with the Highest ROI” . According to the survey, basement conversions average an 86% return on investment. Not bad for an underground hideout!

Remodel Ideas to Maximize Your Basement’s Versatility

If you’re in your forever home, or just don’t want to give up your 2.8% mortgage rate; renovating your basement is still a worthwhile investment. The great thing about basements (and also the scary thing), is that they are a blank slate with tons of potential. That’s why we recommend working with a design-build contractor (hi! 👋🏼) or a vetted remodeling company (hi, again! 👋🏼) to handle your basement renovation. This ensures that you’re getting the most out of your square footage, and maximizing your home's potential with functional spaces that fit your family’s needs. Here’s a few ideas to increase your basement’s versatility:

Optimize Storage with Custom Cabinetry

Help keep your main living areas clutter-free with cabinetry, shelving, and storage solutions. Today, there are more options than ever to personalize your storage space. So whether you need a convenient place for wrapping paper, or a discrete spot to store your documents, there are various options and styles available to customize your built-ins.

Create a Designated Work Area

Homework helpers and home office workers rejoice! The basement is a great place to set up a workspace that is out of the way. While we can’t guarantee that you’ll be distraction-free, having a designated work area is a great way to boost productivity. Plus, the commute is much shorter!

Tailor to Your Interests

If you’re going to spend the money, you might as well have a space that caters to your interests, and/or hobbies. Home gyms, recreation rooms, and home theaters are commonly incorporated into basement remodels for their ability to enhance the homeowner’s daily life, or entertain the kids without having to leave the house.

Incorporate a Guest Suite

As cost of living rises, we are seeing a shift to multi-generational living arrangements, as well as an increase in Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs). A fully-equipped basement apartment is a fantastic option for homeowners in all phases of life. A finished apartment can bring in extra income as a rental, or serve as a mother-in-law suite. Guests and tenants alike will appreciate having a space to themselves, and not interrupting your family’s routine.

Basement Gallery

Project Spotlight: Cozy and Contemporary Basement Remodel

We had the pleasure of collaborating with Greenville-based interior designer, Tameca Brown, owner of Villasten for the second time with this basement remodel. She knocked our first renovation out of the park with a Coastal Chic Modern Farmhouse Kitchen. So when the same clients called us back to revamp their basement, we knew we had a winning team!

Our clients’ original walkout basement had all the essentials: good lighting (a rarity in basements!), full bathroom, large common area, and a functional kitchenette. The space was already a hang-out spot for the kids, and a social area for the adults, but our clients felt that the space lacked a personal touch. The finished product is a cozy and stylish basement hideaway perfect for the whole family.

Fully-Equipped Kitchenette

The basement’s original kitchenette offered the necessities, but the dated cabinetry and bar seating left the space feeling boxed-in. Our team took the same space, and rearranged it to include a full-size refrigerator and a dishwasher in addition to installing a new oven, range hood, and under-mount sink. The kitchen’s vertical tile backsplash, paired with open shelving, gives this small space a more open and contemporary feel.

Basement Bathroom Overhaul

We’ll admit it- basement bathrooms aren’t typically at the top of any list for trendy spaces, but this newly remodeled full bathroom is spot on! The basement’s original bathroom was functional, but forgettable. Our design team replaced the walled-in shower with a frameless, walk-in and the switch automatically brightened the space. Plumbing fixtures, pulls, and accessories in a brass finish brighten this space’s neutral palette and play well with the shower’s light gray mosaic tile.

Home Office and Entertainment Area

The basement’s previous design had a wall of built-in cabinetry and desk area. Normally we’re huge proponents of built-ins, but in this case, the floor-to-ceiling cabinets paired with the low ceiling height, made the space feel dark and closed in. Removing the cabinets made the room appear substantially bigger, and better yet, allows more space for seating. The basement’s support beam was incorporated into the new trim work, and served as a subtle delineation between the home office area, and the gathering spaces.

Basement Before and After

In conclusion, a basement remodel is an effective way to optimize your home’s square footage. Not only does a basement remodel boost your home’s selling potential and property value; it also has a proven ROI. Even if you’re not looking to sell your home, a basement remodel gives you the opportunity to create versatile and multifunctional living space that suits your family’s specific needs and interests. We featured our client’s walkout basement remodel as a prime example of a dated hideaway turned into a cozy and contemporary gathering point. Do you have an underutilized or overlooked basement in your home? Contact Ashmore Builders today to get a custom remodel that will convert your basement from out of sight and out of mind to a valuable asset where family and friends can gather, work, or stay for a while!