Newsroom – Page 14 – Kaks Basement Finishing & Remodeling

Jun 02 2015

Create an In Home Fitness Center by Finishing Your Boston Basement

Yael is always dancing. Her feet are never still. The twenty-seven year old Boston native has trained in several forms of dance, including modern, jazz, and tap. “It’s my favorite workout,” she explained. “You put the music on, work through a couple of routines, and before you know it, you’ve really worked up a sweat! Dance works everything – your core, your abs, your legs.”

Yael’s husband, Seth, prefers a more stationary form of exercise – namely, a stationary bicycle. “I took a spin class a few years ago and it just clicked for me,” he explained. “Now I don’t like to go a day without getting on the bike.”

The couple had looked for a home that had space for a home gym when they were house-hunting in Boston, but to no avail. “The homes that already had space for a gym were way out of our price range, and the ones that were in our price range didn’t have the gym,” Yael explained. Money was the determining factor in making their home purchase, and they wound up buying a home that didn’t have an in home fitness center. But the desire for a home gym remained.

“That’s when we thought about the basement,” Seth said. “We weren’t really using that space for anything. so I looked into the possibilities for basement remodeling in Boston. I wanted a company that could transform this dark, unused area into a comfortable, private home gym.”

“I hadn’t realized how dramatic the transformation would be,” Yael added. “Our basement finishing contractors really listened to us. I felt like they understood how we wanted to use the space, and what our concerns were. They finished the walls and installed flooring and lighting, and all of a sudden we’ve got this great home gym.”

“What really impressed me is how well everything was built,” Seth said. “The crew moved quickly, but they didn’t cut any corners. We chose specific flooring for Yael’s dance area and they did a fantastic job installing that. It’s really one of the home improvement decisions I’ve been most pleased with.”

May 26 2015

Need Safe, Smart Storage in Boston? Finish Your Basement

If there’s one issue that unites the vast majority of Boston area homeowners, it’s a serious lack of storage space. Our families have busy, active lives – and those busy, active lives require lots of stuff. Most of us have some holiday decorations and sporting gear; bicycles and winter maintenance equipment like snowplows and shovels have to be kept somewhere. Depending on the plans we have for our families, it might be a strategic decision to hold onto cribs, baby clothes and other nursery supplies for a few years at a time – but where are you going to put all of that stuff?

One of the reasons to explore Boston basement finishing systems is that they’re the ideal solution to transform dark, damp, intimidating spaces into bright, easy to access useful storage centers for the whole family. For a very minimal amount of money – much less than the ongoing cost of renting a storage unit for years and years! – it’s possible to have all the storage space you need right in your own home.

It’s incredibly convenient to have your basement finished to serve your storage needs. Instead of having to pack up your stuff, load it into the car, drive to a storage unit, unload your stuff, and drive all the way back home again – only to go through the entire process in reverse when you actually want to use your stuff! – having a finished basement in Boston means everything you own is in your home – and isn’t that how it should be?

The most cost effective way to transform your basement into truly useful storage space is to work with a Boston company that specializes in finishing basements. You’ll save time and money, and it’s much less stressful than trying to convert your basement on your own. Every family needs storage space. Why not make use of the space right beneath your feet?

May 18 2015

Having Our Basement Finished Saved Our Marriage: One Boston Couple’s Tale

“My husband and I agree on a lot of things. Most of the time, we don’t fight at all. But there was one issue that we couldn’t even discuss without getting into a shouting match,” Erin said. The couple’s youngest son, Bob, had been unable to find steady work after graduating from school. He had, however, found a girlfriend and was now a father, with another baby on the way. “Have you looked at what it costs to rent a place?” Erin said. “Of course I told them they should stay with us, but Gary didn’t want to deal with having a baby in the house.”

More and more couples are discovering that for one or more of their adult children, leaving the nest isn’t a simple process. Accommodating multiple generations within one house, however, can be tricky. “I love my grandson,” Gary said. “But I’m also not interested in the sleepless nights that come with teething and the terrible twos. That’s why I started looking into basement finishing systems once I realized Erin was serious about having Gary move back home.”

Finishing a basement in Boston is often the most cost-effective way to add space to the home. “There’s no room on our lot to think about building an addition,” Gary explained. “And going up with a third-floor addition would have cost us an arm and a leg.”

The couple’s basement had primarily been used for storage, with some area reserved for the furnace, the hot water heater, and electric service. “Honestly, it was just this ugly space,” Erin said. “When Gary said the kids could stay down there, I thought he was being cruel. But then we had the Boston basement finishing company work their magic.” Once the walls were finished, floors installed, and interior walls, lighting and fixtures installed, the once drab basement became an attractive apartment with room for Bob, his partner, and their children. “This is a great place for them to stay while the economy gets turned around,” she concluded, “and I’m glad Gary and I aren’t fighting about it anymore.”

“Separate entrances and sound proofing are beautiful things,” Gary added. “Highly recommended for any parents who are in the same situation!”

May 11 2015

Will Having My Basement Finished Improve the Resale Value of My Home?

“I’ve been really thinking about having our basement finished and using that space for my business,” Roxanne said. “But I’m not sure if it’s a wise investment from a financial perspective. On one hand, I’ll save money because I’ll no longer be renting office space in Boston – which isn’t exactly cheap! But on the other hand, I need to know what impact having the basement finished will have on the value of my home.”

Massachusetts is one of the most competitive housing markets in the nation. If there’s one factor that can drive a property’s value up, it’s the amount of usable space available. More is definitely more, especially when you consider how many homes in our region were built in the compact New England style. Having the basement finished gives you and any potential buyers more space to enjoy.

Another factor that will impact a home’s value is how attractive the finished basement is. People use finished basements for any number of purposes, from a home office, in-law apartment, art studio, media room, storage, or even a home gym. Not every use will be equally appealing to every buyer – for example, home gyms are most of interest to people who enjoy fitness – but real estate agents are skilled professionals at explaining the potential uses of the space. What really matters is the quality of construction and how attractive the space is as a whole. Exercise equipment can be moved out and bookshelves in, for example, if your buyer is more of a librarian than a weight lifter; if the space is well built and inviting, the current use generally has no impact on the selling price. That being said, if you have the home gym and a prospective buyer loves working out, they may be willing to pay that much more for your property.

Having your basement finished in Boston pays off in a multiple of ways. First, you increase the level of enjoyment you’re getting from your home while you live there. Then, when it is time to sell, you’ll be able to realize a higher asking price due the to attractive, well-built finished basement.

May 08 2015

Turn Your Boston Basement Into A Rec Room The Smart & Simple Way

“Growing up, all of my favorite family memories took place in the rec room,” Aaron said. “We did everything there – marathon Monopoly games, movie night, cards – and we just hung out together. I really think that’s why my brothers and I are so close even today. And I want to provide that same experience for my 3 kids.”

There’s only one problem. Aaron’s family lives in a small home in the Boston suburbs, and with three children, a wife, and a home business, every available inch of the house is already in use. “We started looking into basement finishing systems right away,” he said, “because I knew I couldn’t afford to build up or out, but making use of what underutilized space we already had sounded like a good idea.”

Aaron’s wife Amber initially was against the idea. “Our basement was so dark and really kind of creepy. I know Aaron says I baby the boys, but I really didn’t want them hanging out in such a scary environment!” It was only after looking at other pictures of finished basements turned into rec rooms on the internet that she began to change her mind.

“I don’t mind doing a little home improvement myself,” Aaron said, “but my free time is very limited, and what I do have I want to spend having fun with my kids.” He recommends choosing a Boston basement finishing company with lots of experience. “One of the things that made me very comfortable about choosing the company we did is that they could show me all these pictures of finished basements they’d created. The quality of work was very high, and I felt comfortable that our family would really enjoy the space.”

“It’s become our favorite room in the house,” Amber said. “This winter in Massachusetts was so long and snowy and the kids were out of school for days. Being able to send them down to the rec room to blow off some steam was a life-saver! I highly recommend having your basement turned into a rec room to everyone.”

KAKS Basement Finishing & Remodeling