Worth having a walk-out basement. We love ours and we spent around 100k (give or take). Put in a stove-less kitchen, renovate the bathroom and spare bedroom, and added some unique features. Favorite space in the house (other than the kitchen). Worth every single penny but don't know the ROI though it doesn't matter to us given how much we have enjoyed this space.

Anonymous wrote:How can you excavate a basement without jeopardizing the foundation?

This is OP. By excavation I meant excavating for a walk ip entrance to the basement.

Anonymous wrote:$200k sounds about right…

+1. We just did it

Wait how does this even work? If you’re not in a natural hill you excavate enough to have a walk-out basement which walks into…a giant hill that slopes back up to where the normal ground level is? So you basically have a giant single-story-high oval pit in your backyard? What the what?

Anonymous wrote:Thanks all, very helpful. I guess the excavation cost adds significant additional cost for us. Ours is an underground basement without a slope. Thoughts on ROI of making it a walkout basement vs not?

$0.00

Anonymous wrote:Hi, we are looking to finish our 1500 sq ft basement, add walk up, kitchen, full bath, and finish a bedroom. What would be a reasonable estimate for this work in Fairfax? Could folks who have recently finished basements share their costs please?

This is easily in excess of 200k. Probably 250k.

Heck, the most basic finished basements are now pushing 80-100k. Y

Anonymous wrote:How can you excavate a basement without jeopardizing the foundation?

That’s why it costs so much.

OP - Partial comment: We had a basement that we redid that the entire back and 1/3 of the sides were fully above ground. 3 sets of French doors across the back, big windows on the sides - 8.5’ ceilings. Nicely decorated. It always felt like a basement/less than area-used but not favorite space. In our next house we spent $$$ on the attic level. Less finished space but it was wonderful space and felt psrt of the house not an afterthought.

Anonymous wrote:how much does it cost to add an egress window

We did this a few years ago and it was virtually impossible to find anyone willing. Excavation, foundation cut (permitting) and window installation. We finally pieced it together by requiring the window installation as part of our whole house window replacement. We found a landscaper willing to do the excavation and retaining wall. And a friend knew a concrete cutter.

There are companies that only do prefab bulkheads and exits.

Anonymous wrote:Thanks all, very helpful. I guess the excavation cost adds significant additional cost for us. Ours is an underground basement without a slope. Thoughts on ROI of making it a walkout basement vs not?

No way you'll make your $$ back.

We're doing this right now Moved a few walls, didn't change any windows or add egress, kept existing door. 100K.

How can you excavate a basement without jeopardizing the foundation?

Anonymous wrote:how much does it cost to add an egress window

5k in 2019.