Finished vs. Unfinished Basements: Getting Someone Else to Get the Job Done
When you are shopping for a home, there are lots of things to consider. One of those things is the basement. Does it have to be a home with a finished basement, or would you prefer to get a home with an empty basement and finish it yourself?
The biggest factor is that finishing a basement can turn out to be very expensive. You are unlikely to get back the money you spent when the time comes to sell the property. In fact, according to the 2007 Remodeling Magazine report, the money spent on remodeling a basement will only get you about 75% return on your dollar when you sell your home. In other words, it is usually not a sound idea to buy a home with the basement unfinished and then plan to finish it yourself.
The way it works out, then, is that in most cases when you are looking for a home with a basement, it’s advantageous to find a home that already has the work completed. It’s the opposite side of the same coin that says it doesn’t pay for the seller to spend the money on the job: when you are the buyer you are in a position to get the bargain because of that.
Besides saving yourself time and expense, there are other reasons for choosing a home with a finished basement. Basements that aren’t finished tend to get damp and can accumulate mold. Unused and neglected, they can become very unpleasant places. If the basement is in a usable and attractive condition for daily activities, it’s a different situation entirely. Another thing to consider is that basements that are entirely below ground level are generally pretty stable in terms of temperature. They tend to keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer, which means that you’ll spend less on heating and air conditioning if you spend some of your time hanging out in the downstairs area that is easier to keep at a comfortable temperature.
A finished basement provides additional living space. Gone are the days when basements were only used for storage. A finished basement can be turned into additional bedrooms, game rooms, a laundry room, a large living room, or just about anything.
If you live in an area where tornadoes have to be taken into account like the Midwest, basements are also the place to take shelter from severe weather. The anxiety of having to go into a shelter with a tornado in the vicinity can be frightening for a child, and a pleasant, accommodating space can help ease anxieties and make the ordeal better for everyone.
So when you buy your next piece of real estate, do yourself a favor and look for a home with a finished basement. Take advantage of someone else having done the work and you will come out ahead of the game.
This information was provided by Automated Homefinder, your Colorado real estate experts.
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The Dangerous Side of Dealing With Old Houses: the Woodwork Can Harm You and Your Children
Although paint made with lead in it is obsolete, it still remains a matter of concern for both sellers and real estate professionals. Lead was used as a paint additive for well over a century before it was linked to health problems in approximately 1978. That year, putting lead into paint as an additive was made illegal. In 1992, a law called the Housing and Community Development Act established a requirement that the seller of a home was obligated to disclose any potential hazards of lead-based paint to the purchaser at the time of sale. The law requires disclosure of the condition for any home built prior to 1978.
How Can Lead-Based Paint Be Harmful?
The danger is lead poisoning. One might think that with all the time that has passed since 1978 we would all be safe from this hazard, but it is still a very real danger. Children under six years of age run the greatest risk of being poisoned from lead paint because their young, growing bodies take in many of the minerals they have contact with, regardless of whether it is much needed calcium or something dangerous such as lead. Chronically high levels of lead can lead to brain and vital organ damage, behavior problems, hearing difficulties, and damage to the nervous system. These problems can occur in both adults and children, but as an additional complication in children, normal growth patterns can be impaired.
Any home that was built before 1978 that has cracked, peeling, or chipped paint should be treated as a potential hazard. It should be removed as a high priority. If paint containing lead was used around the window or door frames in the home, opening and closing these things in the home may be generating a surprisingly large amount of dust that contains lead. This dust is a hazardous substance and can be extremely difficult to dispose of. Vacuuming, sweeping, and dusting can cause it to get back into the air and it just gets moved around whenever you go near it.
In order to find out whether your home has lead paint, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that homes built prior to 1978 receive a paint inspection done by a professional. A paint inspection will let you know lead additive in every painted surface and will reveal any areas of serious exposure.
Though there are kits available that let homeowners to do the testing on their own, a professional inspection is highly recommended by the EPA to find problems that may be overlooked by someone who does not have professional experience. Some states have specific rules and regulations about resolving of a lead-based paint problem, and a professional inspector will be able to provide the right information.
Content provided by Colorado’s best Louisville real estate experts of Automated Homefinder.
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