Newsroom – Page 15 – Kaks Basement Finishing & Remodeling

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.”

Apr 22 2015

Best Boston Basement Upgrades: The Home Theater

“Movies have always been a huge part of my life,” Dwayne said. “One of my happiest childhood memories is going with my Dad – an absolutely awesome guy, by the way – to see Star Wars. Seeing Luke Skywalker up there on the big screen; CP-30, Chewbacca – mind blown!”

Dwayne bought his Boston home knowing he’d want to create a home theater. “The family room was the obvious location, but my wife had something to say about that,” he laughed. “So I started looking for a basement finishing company to convert our basement into a home theater.”

The basement in Dwayne’s home had been used primarily as a storage and utility space. “There were some elements in there that just couldn’t be moved,” he explained, “such as the furnace and electrical service boxes. But with a great basement finishing system, those kind of ugly but totally necessary items were safely contained out of sight. There’s easy access for service professionals when they need it, but otherwise?” Dwayne shrugged. “You’d never know they’re there.”

With the concrete walls finished and new flooring and lighting installed, Dwayne’s newly finished basement was the ideal setting for his long-desired home theater. “Getting that set up was the best part,” he said. “With the big TV over there, some comfy seating for my family over here, it’s all good. We even got a theater style popcorn machine.” Dwayne’s family and friends have definitely enjoyed gathering in the new space for movie marathons – including, of course, a viewing of all the Star Wars films in advance of the upcoming new release.

“I’d encourage everybody to think about how their basement could make their family happier,” Dwayne said. “Yes, you need storage. Yes, you need your furnace and whatnot. But when you work with a great Boston basement finishing company, it’s possible to have a basement that gives you what you need and what you want. Your home is your castle. Shouldn’t it be awesome?”

Apr 17 2015

Basement Finishing System Bellingham MA

Apr 09 2015

Best Basement Upgrades: Create Your Own Home Gym

“Fitness has always been important to me,” said AnneMarie, a Boston marketing director. “In fact, I met my husband Greg at the gym. We’ve always worked out together.” Now the couple has three children, who are also interested in a healthy lifestyle. There’s just one problem. “Have you looked at gym membership prices lately?” AnneMarie said. “It’s crazy. And then this winter, when I couldn’t deal with all this snow just to get everyone to the gym, you feel like the money’s wasted.”

The couple had thought about creating a home gym for years, but didn’t have the space. “There’s literally no space where we can add on to the house,” Greg explained, “and every room of the house already has a purpose. I didn’t want to deal with a treadmill in my living room!” Then a friend suggested they consider finishing the basement to create a home gym.

“At first I was against the idea because our basement was dark and kind of gross. I didn’t like being down there,” AnneMarie said. Reviewing the wide range of basement finishing systems available went a long way toward changing her mind. Converting what had been a dark, wasted space into a bright, family-friendly home gym involved having the basement finishing company address a moisture issue, cover what had been exposed concrete block walls, floor joists and wiring, install lighting and flooring and making the staircase by which the family accessed the space “much less terrifying” in AnneMarie’s words.

“Honestly, the hardest part of the process was figuring out how we wanted to arrange our workout equipment,” Greg said. “It was surprisingly to have our basement transformed into a home gym.” It was also more affordable than the Boston couple had anticipated. “Between saving the money on gym memberships and what we’d budgeted for the project, we actually had some money left over to buy a new elliptical machine!” Now the family can work out in comfort, no matter what the weather is. “It’s amazingly convenient. If a healthy lifestyle is important to you, I definitely recommend talking to a basement finishing company to see what you can have done in your home!”

KAKS Basement Finishing & Remodeling