Very basic basement finishing job (rental, how much, home)

[IslandersIslander]

Hey everyone,
If someone (not me, obviously) wanted to have a 450 sq ft basement partially finished (a few walls, a door or two, linoleum or something similar, the simplest ceiling imaginable, existing electric used but perhaps new outlet boxes needed) and didn't want to go through the permitting process, how much do you think that would run? My friend was thinking of diving it into two spaces and leaving the existing laundry area mostly untouched.

He was quoted 40k for a proper reno (plus the egress window at another 5k), 25k for a non-permitted but more extensive job involving floor tiling, leveling, etc., but is thinking he doesn't want to spend too much since his family may be moving soon. He also paid 9k for a two room basement renovation a few years back.

[94nasupra]

I was quoted 9k for labor. 350 square feet with drop ceiling. Removable oil tank cover. Frame the walls and around boiler and washer dryer. Tile floor. Move 3 water lines. Install a pump for a small little salon. Add 5 outlets.

Find a handy man that you trust. Best thing I ever did.

[twingles]

Originally Posted by IslandersIslander

but is thinking he doesn't want to spend too much since his family may be moving soon. He also paid 9k for a two room basement renovation a few years back.

How soon is soon? This is a really big waste of money if he's moving within the next couple of years.

An egress window is a wonderful thing BTW. Wish we did ours years earlier. Makes a basement feel less underground.

[markjames68]

$40k

[IslandersIslander]

Originally Posted by twingles

How soon is soon? This is a really big waste of money if he's moving within the next couple of years.

An egress window is a wonderful thing BTW. Wish we did ours years earlier. Makes a basement feel less underground.

Well I guess he's looking at it this way: $2000 a year to rent office space and pay for the gym vs. $10,000 all at once to build an office and home gym. He already has everything he needs for both, just no space.

[IslandersIslander]

Originally Posted by 94nasupra

I was quoted 9k for labor. 350 square feet with drop ceiling. Removable oil tank cover. Frame the walls and around boiler and washer dryer. Tile floor. Move 3 water lines. Install a pump for a small little salon. Add 5 outlets.

Find a handy man that you trust. Best thing I ever did.

Would you be interested in PMing me his details? That sounds like exactly what I need.

[Arya Stark]

Good luck.
Every time i got someone for the job they quoted me 20 to 25K for finishing off a basement mostly finished.

In the end i just got a handy man, for each small job and or Lowes for flooring.

Only cost 10K that way, but mine was mostly finished.

[nuts2uiam]

Another consideration is how serious is your "friend" considering a move either sooner or later? Reason, if that move turns out to be more of a wish than an action, and he/she decides to stay and then decides to do anything else that requires a permit - maybe an upgrade to electric for example and it requires a visit to the basement by an inspector. You get where I am going with this.

[gx89]

I’m going to do my basement in dec. I’m not getting any permits. I am going to finish 1k sq ft leave the back section unfinished and throw up a custom built barn door. This is going to cost me 5-6k in materials using cheap laminate flooring. I included the rental cost of a Sheetrock lift for the ceiling and the purchase of a new framing nailer. I will build to code and I already have 2 egress windows. Find a handy man and get it done for 5-6k.