Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on HomeGuide.
How much does it cost to remodel a basement?
An average basement remodel costs $25 to $65 per square foot or $12,500 to $37,500 total with labor, depending on the size and scope of the project. Common basement remodeling jobs include:
Adding or upgrading a bathroom
Turning an unused space into a bedroom
Adding a home theater room
Adding a basement kitchen
How much value does a basement remodel add?
Remodeling a basement has a 65% to 70% return on investment (ROI). The exact value a basement remodel has will depend on the changes made and the square footage.
When selling a home, the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) separates the above ground square footage from below grade square footage. Above ground spaces are worth about twice as much as lower-level rooms.
How long does a basement remodel take?
A basement remodel takes 3 to 8 weeks on average, depending on the size and changes made. The following factors may increase the project timeline:
Materials on backorder
Demolition
Structural changes
Mold or water damage mitigation
What’s the difference between remodeling, renovating & finishing a basement?
Some use the terms remodeling, renovation, and finishing interchangeably, but they're technically different from each other:
Remodeling means to change a room's appearance or function. Common remodeling jobs include adding rooms or walls.
Renovating means to restore a space to its original condition, not changing structures or adding rooms.
Finishing a basement means converting it from bare concrete to a livable space with walls, windows, and floors.
Do you need a permit to remodel a basement?
Yes, you need a permit to remodel a basement. Building permits cost$500 to $2,000 when structural changes are involved. Permits make sure your changes are done properly and up to code. Remodeling without a permit is risky and can negatively impact your home's resale value.
How do I hire a basement remodeling contractor?
First, search our list of basement contractors, then:
Compare multiple estimates from companies with 5+ years of experience.
Browse reviews on HomeGuide and Google.
Confirm that they're licensed, insured, and bonded.
Beware of the lowest quotes, which can result in low-quality work.
Ask for a written estimate and contract before work starts.
Only make the final payment after the project is completed.
What questions should I ask basement remodeling contractors?
Ask these questions to help find the best basement contractor:
How much experience do you have with remodeling basements?
Can I see pictures of past remodeling projects?
How long will this job take?
Do you offer a warranty for your work?
Does your estimate include materials, labor, and cleanup?
Will you hire any subcontractors?
What unexpected costs can come up for this kind of project?
Will you handle any necessary building permits?
Reviews for Seattle basement remodelers
Recent success stories from people in the Seattle area.
Franz L.
TBH Sterling is the best contractor I've hired in the past 20+ years. Dave and his team provided excellent customer service: maintaining the project on time, communicating effectively, taking responsibility when issues arose, and producing an exemplary remodel for our home at a reasonable price point.
TBH Sterling Inc.
Chris S.
Kevin Dale presented himself well and seemed to have the experience to do our job. The scope of work was fairly large as we were renovating a 1948 house, including vaulting the ceiling. We were on a time deadline and needed the project completed in a timely manner. The beginning went well with the demo. We had an architect involved for sizing the beam needed for the vault. The day that the beam was to go in, we found out that there was an old oil furnace directly where the support needed to be. We had to rush to find someone who could remove the furnace. After that, the framing seemed to go well. That's where things fell apart. We were to have the house rewired and apparently the electrician that Kevin had hired took another job and because building was in high gear, he had trouble finding someone to do the job. Several weeks went by with no work done. The wiring was finally done, but at present, when you use a waffle iron in the kitchen, it blows a circuit. (We had even had the service upgraded to 200 amp, so there is plenty of available power.) We had to have the main water shutoff in the house moved and now the shutoff doesn't shut off the water. The date for completion was supposed to be July 31 and since notice needed to be given to a current landlord, I asked Kevin about a completion date and he said that to be on the safe side Aug. 15 would probably be better. Our arrangement was to install all of the trim and do the painting. Since we were flying out to do this, we needed prior notice of when this would be available to be done. The date that was given ended up being about a month earlier than it was ready. Because the ticket had been bought, Kevin agreed to install the trim in compensation. Sounds good, but he used his framing carpenters to do it. Not the same skill set. He also used them and new workers for the drywall taping and mudding. It took weeks and many call-backs to get most of it in at-least presentable condition. There were so many other annoying things involved. In mid September, when he was given a day and time to correct a list of things or forfeit a (small) amount of the last payment, He and his crew showed up at 4 PM that day and then was miffed that he was going to lose that money because he couldn't get everything done that day. We tried to work with Kevin, but he often would not respond to emails and just seemed to ignore criticism. There were weeks in the last month (a month and a half after the original completion date) when his crew would be there for 4 hours out of the entire week. This turned out to be a very stressful remodel and I would advise people to avoid Estate Renovations.
Estate Renovations llc
Jonathan S.
John did an amazing job remodeling my kitchen, finished in time, full of kindness and respect to us. Highly recommended. Looking forward to hire him again
Lux Finishing LLC
Robert M.
She was very professional. The apartment look as if no one ever lived in it after she was done. Showroom ready. Would recommend Rivera cleaning over anyone else!!!!
Rivera’s cleaning
Kathie F.
These guys were awesome did a great job got it fixed and did an inspection to show me where we may have other issues that may need attention. I will be calling them when we are ready to tackle other issues in our home. The home is 122 years old so yes we are going to have issues
Evergeeen Construction Group
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Nearby basement remodeling contractors in and around Seattle
