basement or no basement-- help us settle the argument

[Anonymous]

My spouse and I are fighting because I prefer no basements (no problems with leaks/flooding--plus i really don't like the idea of being below ground anyway. If anything it will just be storage space (which i think we could get for much cheaper with a shed). He thinks it affects the home's resale value and a must have in case we get tornadoes (he is from the midwest). What do you guys think of basements....

[Anonymous]

Most homes use the basement for something. A shed is very mildewy and not safe for personal storage. Stuff stored in the shed usually has a lot of insects as well.

[Anonymous]

I would never, ever buy a house without a basement. I grew up without them in the south. But in an area where 99% of the houses have a basement, it would be a deal killer.

And my basement doesn't leak and isn't underground fully. It has 3 windows and walk out french doors.

[Anonymous]

The only reason not to get a basement is if you live in an area where the water table is too high to have one. Northern Virginia does not have this problem.

Team husband.

[Anonymous]

Are you looking in the DC area? There won't be that many homes without basements to make this worth arguing over. If you limit your home search here to "only homes without a basement" your choices are going to be severely limited.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most homes use the basement for something. A shed is very mildewy and not safe for personal storage. Stuff stored in the shed usually has a lot of insects as well.

And mice. Mice love sheds.

[Anonymous]

I agree with you about basements being poor substitutes for above grade space. I particularly do not understand new houses with dark isolated "media rooms." Who wants to sit in a big closet to watch TV?

That said, people do like basements to at least stash their junk.

[Anonymous]

Sheds take up precious yard space. For many people in DC, that is at a premium.

[Anonymous]

Where would you buy this house without a basement? They all have them here.

[Anonymous]

our basement has the kids playroom and the guest bedroom, as well as a ton of storage space. I would not want a house without one. Most water issues can be prevented with grading, landscaping, and drainage - you also want a dehumidifier.

[Anonymous]

We found a house we really like in silver spring, with a garage and huge backyard...Hubby doesn't want it because it has no basement.

[Anonymous]

You can find homes with above ground basement and I've seen a few homes without basement.

This is not worth an argument.

[Anonymous]

My house has a basement but is built into a hill so that one wall has windows/a door going outside. It "feels" less like a basement this way, but there is still the extra space and protection (as the guest room is no windows and fully underground). Maybe you can find something like this?

[Anonymous]

I also think that basement would just rack up heating costs...

[Anonymous]

Modern basements must be constructed to not leak--they have waterproofing and French drains on the outside that direct water to a collection point and a sump pump system that automatically pumps out the water before the hydrostatic pressure builds up and causes a leak. Our house was built in 2005 and we've gotten as much as three inches of rain in one day and eight inches of rain in three days and never had any water in the basement.

Putting all the mechanicals and laundry in the basement also frees up space on upper floors. As others have pointed out, most lots are so small here that people would rather build up (or down) than out.