Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Go Back   Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community > Main Forums > The Off Topic Forum
Register Forum Rules FAQ Community Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 03-14-2007, 07:19 AM   #1
shane_c
Powerplay Quarterback
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Exp:
Default Costs to finish basement

I'm thinking about partially finishing the basement before we sell the house. I would be doing the work myself. I would put in some power outlets, light switches, close off the laundry and furnace area, and do the drywall. I likely wouldn't do the floor though. What would be the approx cost to do this? Would I get more from the sale vs. what it will cost? It's about 500-600 sq ft I'm guessing.
shane_c is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2007, 07:56 AM   #2
Kybosh
#1 Goaltender
 
Kybosh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: An all-inclusive.
Exp:
Default

I'm doing a similar thing right now. I haven't gotten the drywall yet but with everything else added up I think I'm looking at ~$1000-1500 so far. I was actually surprised how affordable most of the materials were as long as you were willing to do it yourself. That estimate includes all materials and all permits and things like that to date.

Edit: I'm finishing about 650 sqft. of space with a laundry/furnace room, storage room and basement living room.
Kybosh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2007, 08:01 AM   #3
ken0042
Playboy Mansion Poolboy
 
ken0042's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Close enough to make a beer run during a TV timeout
Exp:
Default

As Yoda once said- "Do or do not." In other words, I wouldn't partially do it. If you want to make up complete rooms from floor to ceiling, then you will likely get a lot of your money back; more if your house is lacking in square footage. (like a 900 sq ft bi-level.) But to partially complete something leaves the buyer with one of the following:

- If they are handy then something won't be to their liking, so all you are doing is making the job harder for them.

- If they aren't handy they will see something that "requires work" to be completed, and an extra cost.

You want to have projects done as opposed to being half done, IMHO.
ken0042 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2007, 08:09 AM   #4
Kybosh
#1 Goaltender
 
Kybosh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: An all-inclusive.
Exp:
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ken0042 View Post
As Yoda once said- "Do or do not." In other words, I wouldn't partially do it. If you want to make up complete rooms from floor to ceiling, then you will likely get a lot of your money back; more if your house is lacking in square footage. (like a 900 sq ft bi-level.) But to partially complete something leaves the buyer with one of the following:

- If they are handy then something won't be to their liking, so all you are doing is making the job harder for them.

- If they aren't handy they will see something that "requires work" to be completed, and an extra cost.

You want to have projects done as opposed to being half done, IMHO.
I can't speak for Shane, but in my case I bought the house with a partially finished basement (bedroom and bathroom). I don't think partially finishing a basement (as compared to fully finishing) is so bad.
Kybosh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2007, 08:13 AM   #5
ken0042
Playboy Mansion Poolboy
 
ken0042's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Close enough to make a beer run during a TV timeout
Exp:
Default

^^ Right. Which is why I say to finish rooms- as you say you had a bedroom and a bathroom. I'm assuming those had floors in them though as opposed to bare concrete.

All the previous owner of my place did was electrical, and that ended up being a huge PITA for me. One of my buddy's bought a place with walls started, and had to rip them down to get things up to code to pass inspections.
ken0042 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2007, 08:19 AM   #6
Kybosh
#1 Goaltender
 
Kybosh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: An all-inclusive.
Exp:
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ken0042 View Post
^^ Right. Which is why I say to finish rooms- as you say you had a bedroom and a bathroom. I'm assuming those had floors in them though as opposed to bare concrete.

All the previous owner of my place did was electrical, and that ended up being a huge PITA for me. One of my buddy's bought a place with walls started, and had to rip them down to get things up to code to pass inspections.
I see your point now. When I was applying for the proper permits I found out that the previous owners had never gotten their work approved by the city.
Kybosh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2007, 08:25 AM   #7
Rhettzky
Franchise Player
 
Rhettzky's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Section 222
Exp:
Default

Drwalling, taping, mudding, primering and painting are way more expensive than I thought they would be. Just a heads up.
__________________
Go Flames Go!!
Rhettzky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2007, 08:30 AM   #8
burn_baby_burn
Franchise Player
 
burn_baby_burn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Chiefs Kingdom, Yankees Universe, C of Red.
Exp:
Default

I found that Home Depot was by far the cheapest for flooring. We looked at carpet from every store you can think off. It still woudn't hurt to shop around. But Home Depot was allmost half the price of everywhere else and we got the top of the line underlay. The one drawback is you may have to wait 6-8 weeks for installation. If your not in hurry it is worth the wait.
__________________
burn_baby_burn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2007, 08:58 AM   #9
shane_c
Powerplay Quarterback
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Exp:
Default

I think that if I was buying a place and the basement was mostly done, except for the subfloor and carpet I'd think that it was wonderful and that much less I have to do and would be willing to pay extra for the house vs if nothing was done down there. As I'm nearing completion of the tiles upstairs I'm looking for something else to do to maximize what we get back from the house.
shane_c is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2007, 09:11 AM   #10
Sylvanfan
Appealing my suspension
 
Sylvanfan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Just outside Enemy Lines
Exp:
Default

The only thing with partial development is that you have to make sure you lay it out correctly. If you do a half assed job and your layout is poorly thought out, it will make your house less attractive when you go to sell. To be honest if you're not completing anything....it's probably not worth your time and effort because at best you'll recover your cost and have spent the time doing it.

I had some development done in a house once, and I did okay because I finished a full bathroom, and all the walls were painted and finished to the point that only the flooring was required. But I did that when I moved in and I needed that extra work done so I could live in the house. But if I'd put in the extra couple grand into finishing it off....I would have got much more. Essentially spending that last 2g's would have netted me a return of like 10g. So keep that in mind 80% of the work only looks like 20% of the work to the average person. Hence you don't make as much money on that work.
__________________
"Some guys like old balls"
Patriots QB Tom Brady
Sylvanfan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2007, 09:17 AM   #11
ruddstud
Scoring Winger
 
Join Date: May 2006
Exp:
Default ...

Just finished mine inTuscany
600 sq. feet
- $7000.00 included carpet which was $2000

This was paint, electrical, ceiling tiles, drywall, mud, nails etc..
ruddstud is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2007, 10:39 AM   #12
Ironhorse
Franchise Player
 
Ironhorse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Calgary
Exp:
Default

Speaking of which...

How do I get an electrical permit for doing the 'outside' walls of the inside of my basement, and is it pricy / a hassle?
Ironhorse is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2007, 10:48 AM   #13
ken0042
Playboy Mansion Poolboy
 
ken0042's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Close enough to make a beer run during a TV timeout
Exp:
Default

I just pulled my electrical permit. In my mind, it was way too easy to get the permit. All they asked was if I was the homeowner, and would I be doing the work myself. I think it cost me $60. The rough in inspection is on Friday, so I guess I'll see how it goes then.

My friends who are electricians tell me what they are looking for is correct, and neat. Be sure to read the handout the city has: City of Calgary Wiring
ken0042 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2007, 11:02 AM   #14
Rhettzky
Franchise Player
 
Rhettzky's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Section 222
Exp:
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ken0042 View Post
I just pulled my electrical permit. In my mind, it was way too easy to get the permit. All they asked was if I was the homeowner, and would I be doing the work myself. I think it cost me $60. The rough in inspection is on Friday, so I guess I'll see how it goes then.

My friends who are electricians tell me what they are looking for is correct, and neat. Be sure to read the handout the city has: City of Calgary Wiring
I dunno about that, the guy who came to my basement for the electrical inspection walked into the basement (it was pitch black because the power must not be connected) and even though he couldn't see a thing he used my work lamp so that he could fill out the sticker he has to attach to the box and then left. I mean he didn't check out a single switch, light or anything. He was literally gone in sixty seconds.
__________________
Go Flames Go!!
Rhettzky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2007, 11:10 AM   #15
ken0042
Playboy Mansion Poolboy
 
ken0042's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Close enough to make a beer run during a TV timeout
Exp:
Default

Maybe neatness is more important than anything else then. First glance would have told him that.

Yeah, my experience with city inspectors is that they aren't out to bust your chops. They are there to make sure you don't do anything too deadly.
ken0042 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2007, 11:27 AM   #16
Ironhorse
Franchise Player
 
Ironhorse's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Calgary
Exp:
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ken0042 View Post
My friends who are electricians tell me what they are looking for is correct, and neat. Be sure to read the handout the city has: City of Calgary Wiring
Thanks for that, very helpful. How does one prove ownership of the house when getting the permit? And is it done at City Hall somewhere?
Ironhorse is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2007, 11:30 AM   #17
burn_baby_burn
Franchise Player
 
burn_baby_burn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Chiefs Kingdom, Yankees Universe, C of Red.
Exp:
Default

My electrical inspection was a joke. We got the permit. I said I was doing the work myself. Then I hired a third year apprentice for cash. During the inspection, I made sure I wasn't there. So when the inspector asked my wife questions, she just said she didn't know. The inspector said everything was good, except we needed to change some of the outlets. The inspector said the ones we had were incorrect and he gave us the number of the correct boxes. My electrician came over, and the boxes that the inspector said we needed to install. Were the ones he had installed allready. Makes you wonder what the inspector really knows.
__________________
burn_baby_burn is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2007, 11:38 AM   #18
Rhettzky
Franchise Player
 
Rhettzky's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Section 222
Exp:
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ken0042 View Post
Maybe neatness is more important than anything else then. First glance would have told him that.

Yeah, my experience with city inspectors is that they aren't out to bust your chops. They are there to make sure you don't do anything too deadly.
Probably. We spent so much time in the days leading up making sure we had enough wire coming out of the box, the staples were high enough on the joists and the loops were all going the right way that when he breezed through it was just kind of... well it just made me feel a little empty inside.

Seriously though, the sewer inspection and the framing inspections were a breeze too, but the inspectors for those two actually hung around and asked a few questions as well as answered some.
__________________
Go Flames Go!!
Rhettzky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2007, 12:00 PM   #19
photon
The new goggles also do nothing.
 
photon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Calgary
Exp:
Default

Just had one done in Red Deer and the guy was there for only a few minutes.. maybe they just look for really obvious bad jobs
__________________
Uncertainty is an uncomfortable position.
But certainty is an absurd one.
photon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-14-2007, 12:13 PM   #20
Flames_Gimp
Franchise Player
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Hell
Exp:
Default

1000$
__________________
Flames_Gimp is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:18 PM.

Calgary Flames
2024-25




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright Calgarypuck 2021 | See Our Privacy Policy