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I think it depends on the town what is allowed and what is not...but again, people do it all over without the proper permits.
Which I am not endorsing either
I'm aware it's done all the time. But, of course, that doesn't necessarily make it legal or safe. The OP said he/she wants to do the job properly and properly means no bedroom or kitchen in the basement, regardless of whether it's finished or not.
You'll find the words 'expense' and 'headache' take on new meaning when you try to backtrack years down the road.
What backtrack? I know you had a hellish experience with this but:
If I finish my basement (if I had one), and decide to sell x# of years down the line, and I tear out everything I did, back to the original unfinished state, what is there to worry about?
^ you may say "just rip up the basement" but it's probably something you're gonna pass on when it comes time to sell to someone. Waste of money and less money taken in too.
Hmm, what makes a finished basement? Would I take a sledgehammer to the nicely sheetrocked ceilings, hi-hats, and smash the tile floors? Fat chance. You're better off getting the CO only at sell-time and attract more prospective buyers because of the basement.
What backtrack? I know you had a hellish experience with this but:
If I finish my basement (if I had one), and decide to sell x# of years down the line, and I tear out everything I did, back to the original unfinished state, what is there to worry about?
What backtrack? I know you had a hellish experience with this but:
If I finish my basement (if I had one), and decide to sell x# of years down the line, and I tear out everything I did, back to the original unfinished state, what is there to worry about?
Tearing out everything doesn't sound like a walk in the park either. That process is sure to involve a good amount of work and a mess (and probably some amount of money too). If you're going to go that route, be sure you do it before showing your house. Needless to say, buyers won't be thrilled about seeing a finished basement become 'unfinished'. Oh, and if it winds up taking a long time to sell, be sure you don't mind living in an unfinished basement again.
Good question. I know someone who pulled down the sheetrock and left it like that, he said it wasn't finished, he just insulated it for energy conservation. At that point it was no longer "finished".
$3000 for some sheetrock & 2x4s & 20 years of enjoyable use or the same expense + whatever the permits/plans/inspections/taxes cost.
Waste is the money you give the town, the material is invested in enjoyable use.
Keep in mind that a house with a nice, finished basement would probably sell faster than one without. That's worth something too - especially if, when the time comes, you're in a hurry to sell.
Keep in mind that a house with a nice, finished basement would probably sell faster than one without. That's worth something too - especially if, when the time comes, you're in a hurry to sell.
Agreed, just saying what if.
Must be by locality though. When my brother sold his house in Staten Island in August, the newly finished basement with bath never came up. What triggers these headaches?
The window is a must, but no sleeping or cooking? come on. There are basement apartments in nearly every damn house. Please.
And none of them are legal.
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