Purchasing a new home is one of the most exciting experiences for any homeowner. It lets you enjoy a secure and comfortable living space, building equity, and customize it according to your unique style. It’s crucial to ensure that every room in your incoming home is in its best condition, including the basement. 

These underground rooms’ notorious reputation urged people to remodel them. You may have also asked yourself if an unfinished basement can benefit your home-buying journey. 

This article will enumerate why purchasing a home with an unfinished basement might be a good idea. We’ll also discuss what you should check in these underground rooms. 

1. Create Your Dream Space

It can be tricky to find a house with a previously finished basement that fits your style. Fortunately, an unfinished basement lets you transform the vacant space into a home office, theater, game room, separate apartment, or family room. 

2. Get a Great Deal 

Getting a home with an unfinished basement can be worthwhile because it offers more extensive square footage than a completed underground space and can build equity. You may also get more money than you paid if you sell the house in the future. 

3. Finish the Job Properly 

If the previous homeowner did improper basement finishing to their underground room, you could correct their expensive mistakes and transform it into a more comfortable space. That way, you can prevent severe issues in the future.

4. Detect Problems Before Buying

An unfinished underground space allows a professional to spot problems easily, such as water damage, mold, and outdated electrical wiring. 

8 Things to Look For in a Basement

After enlisting the surprising benefits of buying a home with incomplete basement finishing, this section will enumerate eight things you should check in your future house’s underground space. 

1. DIY Work

DIY basement projects can cause expensive mistakes if done incorrectly. For this reason, it’s crucial to let a professional basement finishing company correct these costly mistakes. 

2. Mold Growth 

When buying a house, you should always check for mold because it can cause health problems and is usually a sign of high moisture, which can eventually cause collateral water damage.

3. The Ceiling’s Height

Checking the basement ceiling’s height is crucial because it can determine if the underground room meets the local building code requirements. It can also help you know if your dream house is ideal for future rentals. Moreover, you should avoid the property if the ceiling is less than six feet tall. 

4. Poor Drainage and Grading System

These systems keep the basement dry by collecting and directing water away from the foundation. You should check these systems to ensure they’re functioning correctly and there are no problems leading to water damage. 

Watch out for puddles, overflowing gutters, cracked foundation walls, and water stains around the outside of a property. 

5. Cracks and Other Structural Problems

Cracking foundations are the root cause of basement leaks. Let a professional inspect the house for any signs of cracks. 

6. Stains on the Walls or Ceiling

Stained basement walls or ceilings could indicate water leaks, and you must let a professional inspect them to prevent current or future issues. 

7. Ductwork for Heating and Cooling Systems

You should negotiate the house’s price if it doesn’t have ductwork for heating and cooling to cover installation costs. Otherwise, check if the current system can handle the addition. 

8. Fresh Paint on the Walls

While homeowners may repaint a basement to make it look more attractive, it’s still safe to let a professional inspect the room for signs of damage.

Conclusion

Buying a home with an unfinished underground space can be beneficial because it lets you customize the area and correct expensive mistakes. It’s also wise to work with professional basement finishing contractors. 

Remodel Professionals of Idaho offers reliable basement finishing services in Idaho Falls and Bonneville County to help homeowners enjoy a more comfortable space. Call us now to request a free quote!