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The answer is maybe.....
 

All finished basements must have means of egress, a way to get out of the basement other than using the stairs.  If you have a walkout basement you will be all set.   If you do not have a walkout basement then you will be required to put in an egress window.  An important note: whether you have a walkout basement or not, if you are going to call one of your new rooms a "bedroom" you must have an egress window in that room.  

It is State Law that all basements, with habitable living space, must have means of egress. A finished basement is considered habitable living space and must meet this code.  The window must be large enough for an adult to get out of and low enough to the ground that you can climb out of the window.  To meet the minimum code requirements the window must have at least 5 sq. ft. of clear opening (not including jamb or screens).  The window sill can be no more than 44” from the finished floor.

Egress windows can be an asset to your basement. They allow natural light into the basement and when properly designed into your space they can be an attractive focal point.

 

Photo: Taken by Finished Basements Plus.  Project located in West Bloomfield, MI.

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You have this wide open space below your feet, what are you going to do with it?  You need to determine what your families needs are.  Do you need more space to entertain, room for the kids, a man cave?

We recommend making a wish list and prioritize them into columns of "must have" and "would like to have".  This helps your designer in planning the space.  When space is limited some spaces may need to house two functions (flex space) or simply be eliminated.

Once you have determined what rooms you want in your finished basement you need to decide where they should be located.  Ideally you would like to have natural light coming in the main living areas.  Look for areas to take advantage of ceiling height.  Consider what your focal point is when you come down the stairs and how much storage space you will need.

This is your space, with unique needs to your family, so plan around what works for you.

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 We had the electrican to our home adding under cabinet lighting and updating the bathroom light fixtures.  While he was there I had him look at our dimmer switches in the kitchen as some of the lights were not dimming when I turned them down.  He informed me that it was the light bulb.  We had energy efficent bulbs in a few of the recessed lights & pendant lights and the dimmer feature will not work with the bulbs that were installed.  New light bulbs...that's an easy fix.


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Cost of a remodeling project plays a major roll in whom you will choose for your project.   Many homeowners will sign a contract with the lowest bidder for the best deal, but be careful.  All remodelers have to pay the same amount for materials, labor and insurance.  If everything is apples to apples, the only way to reduce the price is to take it from overhead and profit.  There have been cases where contractors under bid the project strictly for cash flow.  This leaves your job vulnerable to unpaid bills and liens or simply, an unfinished job.

As a rule of thumb; if you have 3 bids and one is way lower than the other two, I would discard that quote.  Most professional remodelers will be in the ball park of one another.  Also, make sure your quotes are apples to apples.  Some contractors use allowances, others will include a specific product.  If you're not sure what is included in your quote ask your contractor and make sure it is in writting.


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As I look out my window, at my dead tree, it makes me proud to think of the warranty service we give our customers.

A couple of years ago we had some landscaping work done at our home. We hired a professional landscaper to design and install the trees and plantings.  The landscaper gave us a one year warranty, and he explained that if anything was wrong or didn’t live he would replace it at no cost to us.  

 
Well, after the first winter we noticed that a bush and a sugar maple didn’t make it, so I made my warranty call. The landscaper did show up to replace the rhododendron and said he would be back for the tree at a later date.  Several promises and two summers later, I still have a dead tree in my yard. 

 
Here at Finished Basements Plus we honor our warranty.  We have even been known to come back several years later to address a problem.  Will your contractor be there when things need fixing?

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We have not done a formal survey, but we do talk to our customers and have come to a conclusion on why they decide to remodel their homes.  It is not return on investment.  Even when the housing market was booming most of our families were basing their decisions on lifestyle, needs and wants.  They want a playroom, space for teenagers to hangout, a place to entertain, their own movie theater, a larger mudroom - homeowners want more space.  Back in the good old days you could justify the expense by knowing you would recoup it when you sold the home, but things are different today.  Homeowners have come to realize they will be in their homes for a long time and have decided to make it a great place to live and enjoy for years to come.

So is it a good time to remodel?  The answer comes from the heart.  Is this your home for the next ten years?  Do you need more livable space?


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Yes, you can make your small kitchen work for you.  I found this blog in the Reliable Remodeler magazine.  It has some great suggestions on remodeling a small kitchen.  From what colors to use and ways to utilize all your space. 



Click here for original blog on remodeling your small kitchen.



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When remodeling your basement you are starting with a blank slate.   You can design what you want.  Design around your needs.  And decorate how you like.  I have had fun over the past 15 years decorating, designing, and remodeling many of our homes, spec homes and our offices.  Being married to a builder has lead to years of moving and business adventures that have given me the opportunity to experiment with colors and textures. 

 

In the beginning I would keep it plain, with coaxing from Steve.  He preferred to keep things neutral so when it came time to sell it would appeal to more buyers.  Nice but BORING! 

 

So throughout the years I have experimented with some color.  One place to have fun with color is the countertop.  Selecting countertops from a small swatch can be a headache all in its own.  I have learned over the years that if you see any hint of green, pink or pattern; you will see a lot of it when it is finally installed in the bathroom or office.

         

Solid Blue Counter Top:  Looked cool, but you could see all the water spots.  I would stay with a top that has some texture or pattern in it for the bathroom or kitchen.

 

Yellow Counter Top:  Some of you may remember the Walled Lake office, not one of my best selections.  A horrible color for a reception area.

 

Red Counter Top:  My favorite so far.  I liked this so much I put it in our last two homes.   I have it in my bathroom.  It appears to be solid, but it does have a little texture in it so I don’t have all the water spots.  Now the toothpaste splatter is a different issue.

 

Leopard Countertop:  That’s what Steve calls my desk area.  Again that small swatch is brought to life once it is 10 feet long.  I had the accent wall repainted a darker color to bring it all together.  Much better now.

 

Greenish Dot Countertop:  I tried to have a little fun in a spec home and put this in the bathroom.  A little too much fun.  I think by painting the walls a different color and adding the right décor, it could be very cute.  The buyer will have to contend with my selections.   

 

I was trying to think of a shocking kitchen selection.  But I have always selected safe colors and it works.  What selections have you made that just didn’t turn out as planned?

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I have seen and heard it many times.  I just had a woman at the last builder show stop to ask me why her newly finished basement was musty.  Easy answer, not enough cold air returns.  Check out the video below to see how and why cold air returns are so important to achieving a warm comfortable finished basement.

Video taken by Finished Basements Plus.  Project located in White Lake, Michigan.

 

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Most of the finished basements we build have a drywall ceiling.  It looks great and gives the basement the feel of your main level.

 Homeowners are often concerned about drywalling the ceiling of their basement.  They feel the need to have access to the plumbing and heating hanging from the floor joist in the basement.  We look at this a little different. 

Our analogy is this:  In a two story home (when you are on the first floor), you have plumbing and heating above your head that leads to the upstairs bedrooms and baths.  It would never occur to you to put a drop ceiling in your kitchen or living room so you can access the second floor plumbing and heating, so why do it in your newly created lower level.  To alleviate any anxiety over this issue we do install access panels to clean outs, electrical panels and shut off valves for both gas and plumbing.

 

In the end you need to decide what works best for you; a drywall ceiling or a drop ceiling? 

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