The home they have is a bit small for a family of five but they have managed, and when it rains the kids all seem to get together at our home or theirs to hang out and watch movies or play video games.

About a month ago, my neighbors talked about needing more space at the summer home, especially when stuck indoors, having to potentially move… I certainly didn’t want to see them go, and neither did my kids! My family was relieved to hear that the neighbors were going to add on to their home. Not up and out, but down… utilizing the old basement.

I had a tour with Matt and Marcia, and they showed me all the unused space and a plan for a great new family room. Although it was damp from some water that came in, Matt told me that “We could still finish the basement with basement specific materials, from a basement finishing company.” He also said, “I wanted to keep it local with a smaller South Shore basement finishing company that I found, one with great design ideas and a solid reputation, and most importantly for Marcia, real walls.”

I asked Matt what he would do about the water coming in when it rained and his quick reply was “We plan on saving thousands by not using a waterproofing company first… don’t need them.” Marcia added, “all the downspouts from the gutters on the house are the culprit. They’ll be readjusted to send water away from the foundation.”

“Even if I get a little moisture in here, it’s okay, because the company will be using waterproof, mold and mildew proof materials for the walls and floor. “ I was happy to know that Matt and his family weren’t moving.

Just some weeks later with the basement finished, now whether it’s raining or not, their house has all the extra space they were looking for. Inside summer days can be just as busy as outside, and their new finished basement is absolutely amazing, to say the least. My family is ready to remodel our basement next… stay tuned.

The family needed at least two more bedrooms; that much was clear. “Mike’s boys were sharing a room, but considering the fact there’s six years between them, that’s not exactly ideal,” Cecilia said. “And the baby’s going to sleep with us for the first few months, but they’ll need their own space eventually. So we were left with a choice: have a second story addition added to the home, or have the basement finished?”

“We needed to know what the numbers looked like before we made our decision,” Cecilia explained, “So we got bids for both projects, from a local contractor and a Duxbury basement remodeling company. I also wanted to know how long the project would take, because I needed to have everything absolutely wrapped up and done before the little one arrived.”

“The basement renovation won on both counts. Not only was it many thousands of dollars cheaper,” Cecilia said, “but the work would be done in less than half the time it would take to have a second story put on. Everything was faster and more affordable; permitting, getting the boys’ rooms set up, the whole nine yards.”  With the money saved by choosing to have the Duxbury basement remodeled, Cecilia and Mike could splurge on a treat for the older kids. “They’ve wanted a swing set for forever and a day,” she said. “So we got them one to play on. It’ll give them something fun to do while I’m taking care of the baby. Everybody wins!”