Single Family House without Basement: yes or no? (for sale, townhome)

[bluemask]

We are looking for a house to buy in the North NJ area and found this single family house in south Bergen County. Eveything seems fine except that the house doesn't have a basement. It half sits on concret slab and half over a 3-foot crawspace.

The first floor right now is carpeted. I wanted to change it to hardwood floor, if I ever buy it. My biggest concern is: without a basement, will the first floor become too cold during winter?

I searched all the for sale SFH in this town and found this is the only one that doesn't have a basement. I also searched all the sold houses in this town since Jan. 2008 and found only 2 houses sold didn't have a basement. So thinking foward, if I have to resell it, will this become a big drawback?

[Magic78]

Hi. I live in a townhome now without a basement. When we are ready to purchase a single family home, we would not buy one without a basement that is either finished or can be finished. In this market, I would move on to another house.

good luck!

[JG183]

Originally Posted by bluemask

without a basement, will the first floor become too cold during winter?

does the house have 2 zone heat ?

if not, and if the t-stat is on the second floor, then yes -- the first floor will be a couple of degrees cooler.

but an unheated basement would be colder still.

I've heard it said that having a basement increases the appeal of a home.
I can't understand that -- I've lived in a house that had one, and now in one that doesn't. The basement was always a source of potential trouble: water infiltration, not easy to access, and if there isn't a walk-out to the outside, danger of being trapped.

[Mattie]

We turned down a house in Bergen County without a basement. It may have been more important to us because we had kids, but since so many houses have them, why pick one without?

I think it definitely would affect resale, since you would be limiting those that want one. And, the house we turned down didn't have a basement specifically because it was in a flood zone. Due diligence!

[Sergio M]

Originally Posted by JG183

does the house have 2 zone heat ?

if not, and if the t-stat is on the second floor, then yes -- the first floor will be a couple of degrees cooler.

but an unheated basement would be colder still.

I've heard it said that having a basement increases the appeal of a home.
I can't understand that -- I've lived in a house that had one, and now in one that doesn't. The basement was always a source of potential trouble: water infiltration, not easy to access, and if there isn't a walk-out to the outside, danger of being trapped.

There is always a different side to every story.... I would prefer to have a basement.

[RUNYYfan]

If you can get a home with a basement, finished or not, that is usually the better way to go. There may or may not be another issue. You may want to check the flood maps on file with the county to determine if the home is in a 25, 50, 70, 100, or 500 year flood plain. a 3-4 ft. crawl space is useless if the flooding is similar to what they got up there with Hurricane Floyd. Unfortunately, I can't find the maps online.

[Irish Eyes]

We bought a house with a basement and I can't imagine ever buying one without. We have the laundry a bathroom and a gym down there. My husband also has his instruments, amps, mikes set up. And our basement isn't even finished! It does have an exit into the yard. I'm not sure if one with a crawl space would make the house colder but I love all the storage and fun space down there. It's cooler in the summer and not unbearably cold in the winter.

[nutleynut]

You will not be able to put in hardwood over the slab. that application calls for an engineered wood floor product. This is basically some moisture resistant plywood with a veneer.

[AntoinetteNJ]

Considering the lack of a basement, is there sufficient space for the kids to play out from under mom & dad's feet? What about the laundry area; is it conveniently located? Does the price reflect the lack of basement area? Do you have all the 'living room' you need without that basement? If you DM me the address, I can look it up on the online flood maps (although that's something your realtor should do for you).

[MoorestownResident]

Originally Posted by bluemask

We are looking for a house to buy in the North NJ area and found this single family house in south Bergen County. Eveything seems fine except that the house doesn't have a basement. It half sits on concret slab and half over a 3-foot crawspace.

The first floor right now is carpeted. I wanted to change it to hardwood floor, if I ever buy it. My biggest concern is: without a basement, will the first floor become too cold during winter?

I searched all the for sale SFH in this town and found this is the only one that doesn't have a basement. I also searched all the sold houses in this town since Jan. 2008 and found only 2 houses sold didn't have a basement. So thinking foward, if I have to resell it, will this become a big drawback?

No, it's not a big drawback, it is a HUGE drawback. People want/need a basement, resale will be tougher, the house will be very cold. You'll have higher utility bills and hear the noise from the furnace. I wouldn't do it.