Are there houses in your neighborhood that appear to be the same size? Ask the neighbors if you can see their space or look at some open houses for ideas. Could you wall off the laundry area? Personally, I wouldn’t break the bank for a basement, but would prefer a room with duel duty. Think pull out sofa or desk for a home office and some storage.

How many hotel nights could you get for $30-50k? Is it going to be recouped if you sell?
See what " legal" basement is in your jurisdiction. The egress window would need to be right size in bedroom to be legal. If not it's selling as an office or craft room.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Check your local regs but 700 sq ft is often the minimum for just a bedroom, not the laundry and all else too.

What? How can that possible be true? 700 square feet is a whole floor of a DC row house.

Our house is 900 square feet. That makes no sense.


The big thing is egress windows.

Anonymous wrote:Would 30K include redoing the bathroom, making a ceiling with recess lights, doing the flooring with either tiles or vinyl, and painting the walls?
DH had asked for estimates 2 years ago and some fancy contractors showed up estimating $50-70K. For a $600K townhouse, it didn't make sense for us to put in $60K. I think we can afford $30K but what all would that include? We aren't looking for anything fancy, just liveable, lighted area with a decent bathtoom that can be used.

I would think at least $50K in less you are willing to partly DIY.

Anonymous wrote:Check your local regs but 700 sq ft is often the minimum for just a bedroom, not the laundry and all else too.

What? How can that possible be true? 700 square feet is a whole floor of a DC row house.

Anonymous wrote:Would 30K include redoing the bathroom, making a ceiling with recess lights, doing the flooring with either tiles or vinyl, and painting the walls?
DH had asked for estimates 2 years ago and some fancy contractors showed up estimating $50-70K. For a $600K townhouse, it didn't make sense for us to put in $60K. I think we can afford $30K but what all would that include? We aren't looking for anything fancy, just liveable, lighted area with a decent bathtoom that can be used.

It can be done for 30k but you’ll have to find a small scale contractor or even a good handyman.

Your kids can share a bedroom. It won't harm them.

Would 30K include redoing the bathroom, making a ceiling with recess lights, doing the flooring with either tiles or vinyl, and painting the walls?
DH had asked for estimates 2 years ago and some fancy contractors showed up estimating $50-70K. For a $600K townhouse, it didn't make sense for us to put in $60K. I think we can afford $30K but what all would that include? We aren't looking for anything fancy, just liveable, lighted area with a decent bathtoom that can be used.

Anonymous wrote:Check your local regs but 700 sq ft is often the minimum for just a bedroom, not the laundry and all else too.

It may not make it a legal bedroom but you can certainly have guests sleeping there and a finished space will add value. You can always call it a home office.

Yes, I’d finish the space. You’re looking at 20-30k.

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a bathroom down there?

We do that includes a standing shower. As part of renovation, we would want to include bathroom redo too. It is old and crappy though it functions well.

Do you have a bathroom down there?

Check your local regs but 700 sq ft is often the minimum for just a bedroom, not the laundry and all else too.

Absolutely. Will be very useful guest space and play area for kids if finished. I’d estimate 30k

Family of 4 has a small townhouse with 3 bedrooms. Guests (relatives and friends) visiting often over the weekends. With 2 growing kids, sparing a bedroom for the guests is difficult. We have an unfinished basement with one regular sized exit window. Basement is somewhere around 700 sqft. Half of it is taken by washer and dryer and staircase that runs in the center. Would it make sense for renovating the basement, getting a decent dehumidifier so that guests could sleep there for a night? How much money would you spend on such a project if you aren't rich?

Vague question I know but I had to ask.