Tina’s Boston home is on the small side, a situation complicated by the fact she has two children and her husband runs a business out of the home. “So if I was going to paint, I needed a place to be uninterrupted. That’s what gave me the idea of having the basement finished and turning that space into a studio.

Renovating the basement to serve as an art studio or other creative work space is an increasingly popular option in Boston. Painters, quilters, artists and crafters all need open space to do their favorite things; basements are chronically underutilized spaces in many homes. “Our basement had the usual things – the furnace and whatnot – and a few boxes of old papers. Once the basement finishing company put the walls up and the floor in it looked like an entirely new space,” Tina explained. “So bright and airy – I couldn’t wait to get in there and set up my easel.” Her first few paintings don’t exactly look like something you’d find in a gallery, “But I’ve had a lot of fun,” Tina said, “and I think that’s what Mom would have wanted.”

#1: I’m worried my basement is so damp that mold & mildew will grow on any new walls or floors. Can you help?

Absolutely! When we work on a home, we use our innovative basement finishing system to create walls and floors that are both mold and mildew resistant. These aren’t the two-by-four and drywall walls you may be used to: these organic building materials are a feast for the nasty spores that turn into mold and mildew. Instead, after we’re done, you can enjoy your new basement knowing mold and mildew aren’t a concern for you.

#2: If you guys handle the basement walls and floors for us, do you know someone who can do the plumbing and electrical work?

We absolutely do – because we do the entire basement renovation job ourselves. Customer service is our top priority, and we think there’s nothing more frustrating than having to track down six or seven different professionals just to renovate your basement. Our total renovation packages mean all you have to do is show up and enjoy your new space – stress free and simple!

#3: We’ve heard horror stories about basement remodeling companies that quote one price, start the job, and then suddenly announce everything’s going to cost a whole lot more. Is that something we have to worry about if we choose you?

There are some bad apple contractors who do the best they can to give our industry a bad name. But we’re not like that! We guarantee our contracted price. You’re not going to pay any more than you agreed to pay for contracted items and labor. Sometimes homeowners decide to make changes to their plan mid-project; if that happens, we get everything in writing and let you know how much the new cost will be. Sometimes homes have unsuspected structural problems or other issues: in those instances, our commitment is to keep you fully informed and let you know what your options are before moving forward. There are never any financial surprises when you choose Kaks Basement Finishing & Design!

Renovating the basement to serve as a guest suite made good sense. “Everyone can be comfortable,” Sandra said. “It’s really nice down there. Our Boston basement finishing company completely did that space over. There’s new walls, new floors, new lighting – it’s bright and comfortable and warm. I’ll tell you a secret – when we don’t have guests, I like that room as my own private getaway. I go down there with a book or watch a movie on my iPad or whatever – you’ve heard of the Man Cave? Now it’s Mom’s turn!”

“We had the basement remodeled into a guest space,” Sandra said. “My best friend had a similar situation, except she has her adult children living with her on a more permanent basis. What was nice in that case is that the Boston basement remodeling company incorporated even more features into the new place – there’s a bathroom and a cute little kitchen built right in – while making sure everyone has the space necessary to be happy!”

If you’d like to finish your basement but have no idea where to start, let us introduce you to the social media platform you need to know about: Pinterest. Once thought of as a site primarily for brides-to-be deep in the throes of planning their wedding, Pinterest has become the digital go-to destination for anyone planning home renovations. Try searching for “Finished Basement Ideas” or “Creative Basements” to get started; if you already have a general idea of what you’d like to do, such a creating a home gym or a bar, search for terms that include “Basement Gym” or “Basement Bar Ideas”.

Be prepared to spend some time. There are literally hundreds of images of creative ways to finish your Boston basement. If you sign up for a Pinterest account, you can save and organize your favorite images on boards. These boards are a great resource to share with your basement remodeling company, to give them an idea of what you’d like to accomplish. Additionally, once you’ve signed up for Pinterest, you can save basement idea images you find on other websites or social media to your boards. It’s a great way to get inspired!

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?

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.

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.”

So you want to finish your basement? Stop… there are things you need to know before you hire someone and jump in with both feet! Finishing a basement isn’t as easy as one might think. Here are 5 things you should be thinking about in your basement, and how they affect you when finishing a basement: 1 mold, 2 mildew, 3 water leakage, 4 humidity, and 5 materials. Once you understand these concerns and know the do’s and don’ts, you’re off to the races. Basement finishing with the right materials can bring much valuable living space in a short time and at a lower cost of that of a home addition, while offering the same square footage.

Ok, so now let’s talk about design. Designing a basement can be so much fun and can look great, but keep it simple in my opinion. The simpler, the better. Keep walls as clean as possible, minimize jogs and what I call, ‘little catch-alls’. I know, let’s maximize every square inch, that’s what you’re thinking. Not always true… simple is best. This goes for the ceiling, as well. Don’t make it look like you’re boxing around something. This is an amateur move, so sacrifice some ceiling height for aesthetics. Another important thing is to keep it as open as possible at the stairs. You don’t want it to feel like you are entering a cave! If you keep these tips in mind, your new basement will be inviting, and people will want to use it all the time.

Now that the room is set and it’s a blank canvas, it’s time for you to stage it. Bring in furniture and items to define what the room will be. Maybe you want a family room, a play room, game room, etc. Make it cozy and fun with big floppy comfy couches, oversized beanbags, gaming systems, big flat screen television placed just right, and don’t be afraid of darker colors which can make it feel warm and cozy. Adding an electric fireplace is another great design idea. It can provide some extra heat and ambience. So, in short you can design almost anything with your basement. You can let your imagination run wild and have fun, but keep it simple.