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<\/a>Does adding a bedroom in the basement add value?<\/h2>\n
Absolutely. Buyers are all about usable space and are willing to spend a little extra to have more of it. According to Remodeling Magazine, a midrange basement refinish yields on average 70% ROI<\/a>. Styling this finished space as a bedroom is your best bet to appeal to the most buyers possible; After all, it\u2019s easier for buyers to understand the value of a bedroom more than a leather-clad man cave or multi-purpose catch-all.<\/p>\n An added bedroom may function as a guest room or as a private living quarter for college-aged kids or elderly parents. Basements with walk-outs, those with a door to the yard, easily convert to Airbnb and rentals for homeowners looking for a house-hack<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s becoming more and more popular,\u201d Berg comments, sharing that some Chicago homeowners are even building out walk-outs so they may function as a private entrance for tenants.<\/p>\n \u201cI’ve noticed that more people are going for that option, especially if they want to stay in a more expensive location, but not have super high mortgage payments.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Your local county assessor\u2019s office determines how your basement is appraised. Generally speaking, basements are not appraised as square footage since they are below grade<\/a> \u2014 under the ground that is. For instance, Fannie Mae, the go-to lender for government-sponsored<\/a> financing programs, does not include your basement in total square footage.<\/p>\n Instead, the basement\u2019s value is accounted for separately<\/a> as a line item in a section titled \u201cBasement & Finished Rooms Below Grade.\u201d Finished basement bedrooms usually appraise for between 50% and 70% of the above-ground value<\/a>. This given value is determined by a range of factors such as the quality of the finishes, if there is a walk-out or not, and how the space stacks up to other homes in the area.<\/p>\n Fortunately, this technicality comes with a silver lining: Adding a basement in the bedroom won\u2019t dial up your property taxes<\/a> as much as an above-grade addition.<\/p>\n Think of a basement bedroom as a bonus: It counts as a bedroom, but is identified separately<\/a> from the above-grade room count in an appraisal.<\/p>\n Now, don\u2019t expect to just throw a Craigslist mattress down there and call it a day. This space must meet basic living standards to earn the bedroom title, including:<\/p>\n If your home depends on a septic tank<\/a> to treat wastewater, the tank capacity<\/a> needs to be large enough<\/a> to support an additional bedroom in order to call it such.<\/p>\n Whether you plan to hire-out or 100% DIY, you\u2019ll need to pull a building permit<\/a> to ensure the room is built to code. While building codes vary from region to region, they generally share the following standards:<\/p>\n A \u201cform of egress\u201d is a method of escape so occupants may exit the building in case of an emergency. In addition to a door into the main home or yard, a basement bedroom must include an egress window<\/a> meeting these requirements set by the International Building Code:<\/p>\n Seven feet is the standard clearance for floor-to-ceiling height, tall enough for the average person to move around standing comfortably. In the basement, some exceptions<\/a> are made if parts of the ceiling are shorter due to exposed structural beams, pipes, or mechanical systems if these elements are spaced at least 4 feet apart and hang no lower than 6 inches from the ceiling.<\/p>\n Stairs leading into the basement must meet the current codes for height, width, clearance, and accessibility (handrails). Building Code Trainer outlines these requirements:<\/p>\n The national electric code requires an outlet every 10 feet<\/a> on any wall wider than two feet. Your occupant will thank you for this later.<\/p>\n 27 states<\/a> include building codes addressing radon, a toxic, radioactive gas<\/a> that occurs naturally from uranium decay in the ground. Colorless, odorless, and inert, radon may concentrate in basements with little notice, making it the second leading cause of lung cancer<\/a> behind smoking.<\/p>\n Berg encourages homeowners to test for radon no matter where they live, sharing that gas concentration widely varies:<\/p>\n \u201cWhere I am, literally one neighbor could have super high radon levels and the guy next door could have none. Not only is it patchy depending on where you happen to be located, but also whether or not the basement is older and has cracks. Sometimes radon can come up through the sump pit, as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Radon testing costs on average between $125 to $275<\/a>. The average cost for radon mitigation ranges from $776 to $1,164<\/a>.<\/p>\n Word to the wise: <\/b>Your basement remodel can trigger a wider building review. Most older homes are grandfathered in<\/a> regards to building codes, meaning they are exempt from codes enforced after they were built; That is, until they are renovated<\/a>. If you\u2019re remodeling an older home, strap in for extra project expenses required to get your home up to code.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don’t necessarily always get your money back dollar for dollar when you\u2019re finishing out the basement,\u201d Berg shares, encouraging homeowners to build with low to mid-range finishes. \u201cI’ve been in homes where they put a hundred grand just into the basement and yeah, it’s nice, but they could have gotten away with half that and I think most buyers would’ve been happy with it.\u201d<\/p>\n Maximize your basement bedroom\u2019s return on investment by using simple materials and designs, likely a notch or two down from your primary bedroom finishes. More importantly, invest in functional elements that keep the room warm and dry, protecting your remodel from nasty plumbing leaks and mold that send you back to square one.<\/p>\n Here are our ten top tips to maximize your basement bedroom\u2019s value:<\/p>\n Header Image Source: (Sidekix Media \/ Unsplash)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Find out how a bedroom in the basement can add value to your home, and use these 10 tips to maximize your return on investment.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":111,"featured_media":16721,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[320,234],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16716","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-add-value","category-home-improvement"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow much does a finished basement add to appraised value?<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>Does a bedroom in the basement count as a real bedroom?<\/h2>\n
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What does a basement bedroom need to be up to code?<\/h2>\n
Two forms of egress<\/h3>\n
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Minimum 7 ft floor-to-ceiling height<\/h3>\n
Legal stairways<\/h3>\n
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Adequate power outlets<\/h3>\n
Test for radon<\/h3>\n
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<\/a>How can I maximize the value of my basement bedroom?<\/h2>\n
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\n<\/b>Berg\u2019s number one piece of advice for basement renovations is to invest in a backup sump pump<\/a> and battery. This provides a fail-safe for power outages and malfunctions, so you\u2019ll never find your bedroom two inches deep in water.<\/li>\n
\nKeep the bedroom warm all year long with foam spray insulation<\/a> and double pane windows<\/a>. If your home\u2019s chimney aligns with the room, add a fireplace for a cozy ambiance.<\/li>\n
\nA wall-mounted air exchanger (a.k.a. ventilator) is a must to regulate airflow and moisture<\/a>. Resist saving with a dehumidifier; These require more energy to run<\/a> and must be emptied manually on a regular basis.<\/li>\n
\n<\/b>Skip the drywall and build and go for materials with greater resistance to moisture, such as wall panels and foam boards<\/a>. For flooring, select tile or laminate installed over a foam underlayment with a vapor barrier<\/a> (hardwood is a big no-no down here!). Toss a plush area rug<\/a> on top for improved comfort.<\/li>\n
\n<\/b>A drop ceiling is as affordable as it is convenient. With removable panels, you can easily access plumbing for repairs. Best of all, today\u2019s wide selection of chic tiles<\/a> totally trumps the utilitarian squares from your public school days. Fit the frame with beadboard<\/a>, coffered<\/a>, or wood<\/a> styles.<\/li>\n
\n<\/b>Maximize floor-to-ceiling height by leaving the ceiling guts exposed. Paint over every element for a cohesive, modern look. Commit to white for a classic look or go black<\/a> to add a splash of trend.<\/li>\n
\nYour basement bedroom will never truly look \u201cfinished\u201d until you conceal unsightly HVAC units, water tanks, and wall pipes. Cover these items with partitions or permanent walls<\/a>, maintaining adequate space for safety and access. On the ceiling, you can easily hide unsightly ductwork with soffit or bulkhead<\/a>.<\/li>\n
\n<\/b>Add windows where possible and swap out old doors for newer designs with beveled or frosted glass. Brighten the room with recessed can lights or track lights if you leave ceilings exposed. For a contemporary glow (plus, added safety), tuck LED strip lights<\/a> under the stair rail.<\/li>\n
\n<\/b>A light, neutral color scheme will keep this underground basement bright and inviting, while also appealing to the most buyers possible. Lean into warm-toned<\/a> shades like Accessible Beige by Sherwin Williams<\/a> or Vanilla Mocha by Behr<\/a>. Decorate and stage the bedroom<\/a> using a variety of textures and touches of accent colors (think a white duvet with a chunky woven throw<\/a> and decorative pillows in complementary shades<\/a>).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n