Home Contractors Transform Basements Into Apartments

Home remodeling projects take many shapes and sizes, from installing new siding to building a retaining wall in the backyard. One of the most profitable home remodeling projects completed by the licensed contractors at Mares & Dow involves transforming a basement into an apartment. Not only does this project increase the value of your home, but it also generates a steady stream of revenue if you decide to rent out the space. Even if you do not rent out the space, the new apartment can become an extra room for a family member or a place for guests to stay.

If you have decided to transform the basement into an apartment, let’s review what you should consider before taking on the home remodeling project.

Confirm the Legality of the Home Remodeling Project

Some local governments place remodeling restrictions on homeowners by establishing zoning laws and regulations. Common types of zoning laws and regulations include limiting the number of occupants in a home, as well as mandating certain types of parking requirements and fire escape plans. You might live in a city that prohibits the transformation of a basement into a residence for someone to rent.

If your city does not allow for a basement transformation into an apartment, you might be able to convert the basement into a space for personal use, such as an additional bathroom.

Cost

After confirming the legality of a basement conversion into an apartment, the next step involves creating an affordable budget. This is the step when the home remodeling contractors at Mares & Dow start providing help for our clients. We closely monitor the supply chain to determine the cost of materials. In addition, we calculate an accurate value for the cost of labor, which includes estimating the number of hours required to complete the transformation of your basement into an apartment.

According to Home Advisor, the national average cost to remodel a basement is nearly $20,000, but a conversion of a basement into an apartment runs much higher than that amount.

Design the Apartment

What style of apartment do you want? Do you want to design a studio or make it a one-bedroom apartment that requires partitions to divide up the space? Although an open floor plan for a studio saves you time and money because you do not have to build walls, a one-bedroom apartment with partitions allows you to charge more money to rent the space. You also have to consider the design of the floor, as well as whether you want to install one or more windows.

The highly rated home remodeling contractors at Mares & Dow help you design the new apartment by creating a floor plan and calculating the square footage.

How to Choose the Right Home Remodeling Contractors to Convert a Basement Into an Apartment

You have decided to convert the basement into an apartment. Now, you must choose the best home remodeling contractors to complete the project. The first factor to consider concerns proven experience. Second, verify every general contractor on your shortlist has earned the proper professional credentials. Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR) and Building Industry Association (BIA) represent two common types of professional designations for home remodeling contractors. The third factor to consider is the reviews left by clients on sites such as Yelp and Google.