| The American people spend $215 billion each year | | | | homeowners are choosing to finish off their |
| fixing up their homes with basement remodels being | | | | basements rather than adding on to their homes in |
| among those at the top of the list. People are looking | | | | other ways. After all, the majority are looking for |
| for ways to expand their living space without having | | | | ways to get the added space they need without |
| to buy a new house. Many times it isn't feasible to | | | | spending a whole lot of money. |
| build on another room, because of space or financial | | | | Of course, the cost of remodeling your basement will |
| restrictions, so the only way to find the additional | | | | depend on what you'd like to do with the space. Are |
| space they're looking for is by utilizing the basement | | | | you planning to cover the walls with sheetrock or |
| space under their homes if they're lucky enough to | | | | paneling, or do you merely paint the existing walls? |
| have any. | | | | Do you want to put down carpeting, tile, or |
| It's estimated that 36% of all American homes have | | | | hardwood flooring? Is there any structural damage |
| no basements at all which means the other 68% of | | | | that you need to tackle before remodeling the |
| homeowners do have cellars they could renovate and | | | | space? Will you need to have wiring and pipes moved |
| convert into living space. Of course, if you are one of | | | | before you can address a basement ceiling? The |
| the people who is contemplating a basement remodel | | | | answers to all these questions, and more, can |
| because it seems to be the least expensive choice, | | | | significantly alter the amount you will pay for your |
| you might be wondering what it is going to cost you | | | | renovations. |
| to remodel your basement space. | | | | As you may know, building materials are quite |
| In the annual report of "Remodeling World" magazine | | | | expensive in this day in age, so there is no such thing |
| back in 2005, the price put on a basement remodel, | | | | as an inexpensive basement remodel. However, there |
| which included a mid-sized family room but no bath, | | | | are corners you can cut in order to get the beautiful |
| was slightly less than $137 per square foot. This | | | | space you want without breaking the bank. Buying |
| figure is roughly $100 less per square foot than it | | | | materials from salvage yards and lumber liquidators |
| would cost to build a room addition onto a house. | | | | might be two options when purchasing the items you |
| After all, the cellar space is already there and just | | | | need. Doing the majority of the work yourself is |
| needs fixing up. It's no wonder that thrifty | | | | another big money saver. |