When it's time to finish your basement in Denver, Arvada, Broomfield, Parker Basement company, or the Castle Rock, Colorado area, how do you select the right basement finishing company?
My One Call LLC, in conjunction with www.denverbasement.com, is a Basement Finishing referral service. We have helped thousands of homeowners find a reliable Basement finishing company. Over many years, the following represents the most frequently asked questions about contractor.
(This article was updated for pricing in 2024/25) How much will I pay to finish my basement?
You can use a rough figure of $65 to $85.00 a square foot for basic and complete basement finishing for basements 1000 square feet of larger. You will see some internet sites quoting lower rates, but after seeing hundreds of proposals in the last few years $80.00 with carpet is about the average. For a higher quality finish with extra features (wet bar, built-in cabinets, higher-end fixtures) you will start around $87.00 a square foot and up.
For basements under 1,000 square feet, the average cost per square foot increases if you include a bathroom in the design. Recent examples I have seen include an 800-square-foot basement with a bathroom, recreation room, and two bedrooms with a basic professional finish, $72,300.00 (from a lower-priced company). If you count on $5500 for every 100 square feet finished, you will have a good idea.
If your not adding a bathroom and just need an office or play space for the kids you can figure on about $37.00 to $45.00 a square foot. Recent projects I have seen include a 550 square foot finish of two rooms including carpet and recessed lighting for $45,700 (2024).
Some smaller firms are okay with doing the painting or the trim. That can save you money if you are on a budget. Larger companies general will not bid a project that the home owner wants to participate in the construction. This is another reason why utilizing a referral service that matches your project to contractors who meet your requirements can be a real-time saver. See us at www.denverbasement.com
How long will it take?
A 1000-square-foot basement will take from about seven weeks to twelve weeks, depending on the size of the company you select. This does not include the time it will take to get your permit approved by your local building department.
How do I know I am getting good company?
There are many resources online to help you with that. Check the Better Business Bureau
and call references. Also, check the insurance. Click here for one site with good examples of what you should ask and do.
Should I get a Permit?
Yes. Many homeowners need to understand that if you ever have damage to your home, and the cause started in the basement, it may not be covered by insurance if you did not have a permit on the basement finish. It also ensures that the contractor has built your basement to the minimum building codes. A contractor that recommends you complete your basement without a permit may be looking to cut corners, and problems will only appear for a short time (like the first big rain storm that floods your basement).
Is finishing my basement a good investment?
The average return on a finished basement is around 70% of your spending. That, of course, includes all the do-it-yourself basements as well as the high-quality professional-finished basements. It would stand to logic that the higher and better the quality of the finish, the better your return on investment. If this is a major concern, you should check with an experienced real estate professional, as your neighborhood, the current size of your home, and current selling conditions will impact the answer.
Most homeowners finish a basement to fill a need for new space for children, an office, or just more space to entertain and host family and friends. Adding 1,000 square feet of professionally finished basement at $55.00 a square foot is a lot less money than purchasing a new home, where that same additional square footage will cost $180.00. In this case, it seems to make financial sense.
Where do I find a Contractor?
Many sources are available. The traditional sources are friends or neighbors who have completed a similar project. Yellow pages, Internet directories or websites, and referral services. Our company is local referral service. . Every other referral service we know simply takes your information, and sells it to up to five contractors. This can waste a lot of your time and the contractor's time. Most of the better contractors I know do not participate in the national or local referral service lead plans as they don't need to, as a good contracting company is busy and works from better sources of new customers, like referrals and My One Call. Click here to visit us Which every source or combination of sources you use, please make sure to do a complete reference, license, work quality, and insurance check on your own of the contractor you select. Also, make sure that the contractor does similar work. Even if they built your neighbors' deck, they still need to do a basement finish.
And then what Happens?
You will need about one and a half hours per appointment with each contractor. In the first appointment, each will discuss your project, make suggestions, measure your basement, and introduce their
company to you.
Most companies will have an estimate back within a week and will most likely want to meet with you again to explain the estimate. Sometimes, you may decide to go with a professional design, and that can take another appointment.
During this selection period, make sure you budget time to call references and see the work of the contractors you are considering. I am always amazed at how often homeowners sign a contract without talking to a company's references at all! Please make the time and energy to check your contractor's references, licensing, and insurance.
How many estimates should I get?
As many as you need to feel you can make a good choice. Do remember that even though these initial appointments and some full estimates are free, you are asking a contractor to spend between four and eight hours at no charge to compete for your business. The rule of thumb seems to be three estimates are a good number. You can always get more later.
If you are ready to discuss your basement finishing project please call us or contact us through our web site. Our services are free to homeowners.
Individual contractor sites that are part of the My One Call LLC network:
Blue Sky Remodeling in Parker and Broomfield. Basement Finishing page
3 R Services Click Here for basement finishing information.
My One Call LLC
303 720 254 1234
My One Call is a Denver Boulder Better Business Bureau Gold Star winner.
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