As much as buyers would prefer to find the perfect home, it’s a rare feat. Instead, many buyers make certain concessions to get a near-perfect home. This is especially true when budgets are tight. One of the most commonly, and reluctantly, made concessions is to settle for an unfinished basement.

More often than not, unfinished basements leave much to be desired. Sometimes it’s the cold concrete floor and sometimes it’s the hanging insulation, but it’s rarely ideal. Here are some benefits of a finished basement and a few reasons to cross off finishing that basement from your home improvement list:

1. They Increase Comfort and Livable Space

Some of the biggest benefits of a finished basement are the increased comfort and extended livable space that comes along with it. Considering extra features and comfort is one of the essential basement finishing tips. A well-designed finished and remodeled basement results in more usable, and comfortable, space within your home.

Plus, it’s often a versatile space that you can use for a variety of things beyond simple storage or gathering. Taking some time to think about the various ways you might want to use your renovated basement can help you avoid common mistakes with finished basements and end up with a finished basement that suits your needs.

Depending on how you have finished and remodeled the basement, there could be additional living areas, like bedrooms, bathrooms, and more. Additions like these to help double up and expand living spaces in your home are basement remodeling trends.

2. Finishing the Basement Increases Home Value

Finishing the basement also often increases your home value. This is one of the top reasons to finish your basement. In addition to energy benefits, overall comfort, and improved aesthetics, finished basements also add more livable, usable, and functional square footage to your home.

Not only does this increase your comfort and convenience while living in the home, but it’s also an attractive feature for potential buyers should you decide to sell your home in the future. This is one of the reasons finishing the basement is considered one of the home improvement projects with the highest ROI.

3. Finished Basements Are Often Safer

Unfinished basements can be sneaky, and they can harbor hidden dangers that can inflict some serious damage on both property and health. Some issues may be relatively minor, like loosely fitted pipes whereas others may be major – like radon gas, an uneven foundation, or issues with moisture and leaks. This is why one of the biggest signs it’s time for a basement renovation is if your basement is currently unfinished or unusable.

One of the leading concerns about having an unfinished basement is the risk of radon gas. Radon gas can seep through basement walls and wreak havoc on the air quality in the home. In the worst-case scenarios, long-term exposure to high levels of radon can even cause cancer.

Cracks are one of the signs of structural damage you should not ignore. They are often indicative of foundational problems and can go unnoticed by the untrained eye. An uneven foundation can cause major shifting in the house over time. Additionally, cracks often expose your home’s interior to moisture and can also cause basements to flood during heavy rains.

As part of any basement remodel checklist, contractors are on the lookout for these kinds of issues. As the renovation process unfolds, they watch for warning signs and correct them before it’s too late.

4. Finishing the Basement Helps Protect Possessions

Usually, one of the first things homeowners do with any kind of basement is stow their belongings. Basements tend to be wide, empty spaces without a designated purpose right from the start, so storage just seems natural. However, unfinished basements tend to be damp and humid, and you may see other signs your basement has excess moisture.

The humidity that gathers in unfinished basements creates an ideal breeding ground for mildew and mold – especially in warmer months. Anything stored in that kind of environment needs to be sealed extremely well, or the mold will spread. Documents – birth certificates, taxes, photos, fabrics, etc. – are severely at risk.

The good news is that finished basements have significantly better climate control, so humidity is less of an issue. This is also why keeping an unfinished basement could be a mistake; not only can it be a cause of energy loss in your home, but it could also contribute to water damage and damage to any possessions you store in it.

5. It Can Eliminate Odors

Some homeowners don’t mind the earthy smell of an unfinished basement, but they definitely mind the musty smell. Unfinished basements often emit a specific odor that is very difficult to camouflage with spray or potpourri. It slowly fills the storage containers, and then creeps into the living spaces above.

Finished basements have sturdier insulation and drywall, and make a thicker barrier to the outside. This helps keep unwanted smells outside. Plus, one of the things to consider before finishing your basement is moisture; so, if any odor is caused by moisture issues, they will be fixed before renovation begins.

6. Finished Basements Offer Better Energy Efficiency

Another one of the benefits of a finished basement is that it helps increase the energy efficiency of your home. The sturdier insulation that comes with finished basements helps to seal your home better and prevent air leaks, which can help keep your heating and cooling system working efficiently. Although you can finish a basement any time of the year, this is one of the reasons why winter is a great time to finish your basement.

7. Better Protection Can Also Mean Fewer Pests

The heavy-duty insulation and drywall of a finished basement keep out more than odor – they also help to keep out pests. An unfinished basement can open a home to rodents, spiders, millipedes, and all manner of creepy crawling things.

These pests are both unsightly and unsanitary and don’t belong indoors. Finishing the basement helps seal gaps, cracks, etc. where creepy crawlies and pests may be able to enter. This helps provide more protection to a home – and its inhabitants – from the things that make house sounds you should never ignore; the pests that go “squeak” or skitter in the night.

Remodel Your Basement With Zephyr Thomas

These are just a few benefits of a finished basement and some reasons why finishing a basement is one of the home remodeling ideas for better organization. Tired of looking at your unfinished basement? Give us a call at 717-399-4708 to schedule a free estimate. At Zephyr Thomas, your perfect home is one phone call away.

Check out the time-lapse video below to see the Zephyr Thomas overhaul and finish the basement for this homeowner, including a new bathroom, new stairs, an egress window, and more!!