With home loan interest rates higher than they’ve been in years, you may not be able to move to a larger space. However, you might be able to obtain the added square footage you need by transforming unfinished spaces into delightful rooms. I recently helped my son increase the finished living space in his home by nearly 80%! Two years ago, he bought a new home with a full basement.
Fortunately, the builder installed an outdoor bulkhead with a set of concrete steps. This created the all-important egress door required by almost all codes. Before you even think about buying materials, reach out to the city building department.
It’s important to discover all of the minimum requirements that apply to basement refinishing. Fortunately in our case, the building department had a very clear set of guidelines that must be met to successfully obtain a building permit. The guidelines and requirements discussed minimum ceiling height, ventilation, insulation and heating, and the all-important egress requirement.
Some windows meet the egress requirement. Don’t underestimate the importance of egress. You need to have two ways to exit most spaces in the event of a fire.
Once you determine that you can meet the minimum requirements of your local building code, then it’s time to draw up a plan. My son saved about $8,000 by drawing his own. He used simple software, and with my help, he created a plan that the building department accepted.
If done with care, the building department will .
