Steps to Finish a Basement

For most people, a basement remodel job is a great way to increase available living space for their family and increase the value of their home.

For other people, it is a necessary solution to fix an endemic problem such as a leaking foundation.

No matter what the reason for choosing to remodel your basement, it is very important to design a basement remodeling checklist.

A checklist allows you to design the project one step at a time so you can clearly see the necessary steps to finish a basement, and ensures that the project not only stays on budget, but also ensures that the finished basement is exactly what you’ve wanted.

Your basement remodeling checklist will encompass a number of steps, starting from the selection of building materials and ending with the final inspection.

Between these beginning and ending steps are a number of additional steps which are often unfamiliar to homeowners. Theres a checklist at Universal Buyers Agents if you need to print something out to be more organized.

These steps however, are important to the overall process and will often make all the difference between a successful basement remodel job and an unsuccessful one.

In order to get you started on your project, I have included a basic remodeling checklist that will enable you to better visualize the process, and get you started quicker.

Not all of the steps below will be needed by everyone, but they will give you an overview of what needs to be done, and the order in which they need to be done to finish the project on schedule and budget.

It will also help you eliminate many of the common errors that tend to crop up during basement remodeling jobs.

Consider Finance Options

If you are planning to use your personal savings to finance this project, then this step can be eliminated.

For those of your who require bank financing, it will be necessary to talk with local banks to determine which ones will finance loans for you, and how much they are willing to finance.

Determine If Your Basement Can Be Finished

Not all basements are capable of being finished. In order to determine if your basement falls in this category, it may be necessary to have an inspector check out your basement first.

Have the inspector check for proper headroom and wall support.

The inspector should also make sure that there are no major leaking issues that are unresolvable. Any leaks in the basement must be addressed before the remodeling project can be started.

Generate a Plan

Before you can begin the project, you must generate a remodeling plan. Attempting to start the job without one will only result in frustration and may result in the failure of the project.

You can either generate your own plan, or hire an architect to design one for you.

Choose Contractors and Determine Your Insurance Needs

Once you have secured your remodeling plan, it is now time to begin accepting bids from contractors. Once a contractor has been hired, you should purchase specific insurance to handle any damages the contractor may cause.

Do not rely on your homeowner’s insurance. Many home insurance plans won’t cover damages caused by a contractor or subcontractor, so specialty insurance will generally be required to protect you from liability. Contractors like Oran Remodeling home renovation contractors are also bonded and have their own insurance. This is VERY important!

Secure Building Permits

Once the contractor has been hired and insurance secured, it is now time to make sure that the proper permits are obtained for your local government. A typical basement remodeling job will usually require electrical, plumbing and framing permits.

Regularly Inspect Contractor’s Work

Make sure that you check on your contractor’s progress at least once a week, but no more than twice a week. You want to ensure that the project is being completed on time, but you don’t want to hinder their progress with too much interference.

Anytime that a major feature of the basement is completed (e.g. installation of plumbing, insulation, rough framing or electric) then you want to bring in a certified inspector to sign off on the work.

Complete Project and Get Final Approval

Once the remodeling job is completed it is now time to call the building inspector back to inspect the finished job. If the work is approved by the inspector, then it is now ready for use.

If not, be sure to have the contractor address any problems that were brought up during inspection.

So there you have it, our checklist of all of the steps you should be preparing before you do a basement remodel.

If you think we missed a few steps, or you’ve come up with one on your own, let us know in the comments below!