Is it better to finish the basement as part of the build or later on?
It's often a top-of-mind conundrum for buyers of new build homes — whether or not to have the builder finish the basement during the new build process or wait and either DIY it or have a contractor do it at some point down the road.
Article content
Article content
'I get calls from people all of the time asking this and it's a great question,' says Tom Welling, general manager of renovations at Renova Homes and Renovations, a Calgary-based home builder and renovator, noting that he has experience creating basements as both a new home builder and as a renovator. Plus, he is a former new home warranty inspector. 'So I've seen it all when it comes to basements — the good and the bad,' he says with a laugh.
Article content
Article content
'I think you have to think of it from this perspective: You've got a builder building your house and this is the same challenge whether you are building a custom home or renovating. The initial price shock scares people. So, then they are counting their beans and then they say: 'You know what? We're are going to put off the basement development.' And then they take possession of the house and wish they had done it,' says Welling.
Article content
Article content
The cost of finishing the lower-level will definitely add to the home-building budget, but it is typically money well-spent. It increases a home's value and if the lower level is designed as a legal secondary suite, the financial return as a mortgage helper can be significant.
Article content
Plus, there is the convenience of having the basement completed when you take possession, allowing you and your family utilize the space.
Article content
It's possible to roll the cost of the basement into the home's overall financing, but for many, qualifying at the higher value (with the asset value of the finished basement) may be an issue.
Article content
'But know that the price of finishing the basement after a home is built is going to cost you $30,000 to $40,000 more,' says Welling. 'So you need to weigh that out. To do the construction in the new build cycle, it is much less expensive. When you wait until after, it's like doing a full renovation after you've just built your house. You have to bring all of the trades back on site.' Not to mention the noise and the dust.
Article content
But, if you decide to wait, there are several pluses to this scenario. The first being that waiting to finish the lower level gives the home's foundation time to 'cure,' and settle and any cracks or leaks in the lower-level will be obvious in the unfinished state. Secondly, it allows the homeowner to get a feel for how the lower-level space will be used by the family, which isn't always apparent from the get-go. This is key to creating a good design that works for the home's flow and for optimum use of the space. The third plus is that it allows for more time to save for the construction and finishing.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Cision Canada
an hour ago
- Cision Canada
Stuhini Appoints New Corporate Secretary
VANCOUVER, BC, July 25, 2025 /CNW/ - Stuhini Exploration Ltd. (the "Company" or "Stuhini") (TSXV: STU) (OTCQB: STXPF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Marion McGrath as Corporate Secretary of the Company, effective immediately. Ms. McGrath has been actively engaged in the securities industry for over 35 years, specializing in corporate governance and compliance for publicly traded issuers listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and the Canadian Securities Exchange. Since 2001, she has served as a professional Corporate Secretary, providing corporate and securities support services to a variety of publicly listed Canadian companies. Prior to becoming self-employed, Ms. McGrath was a senior paralegal with a Vancouver-based securities law firm. The Company also announces that Mr. Charles Kamimura has resigned as Corporate Secretary. "On behalf of the Board and the entire team, I would like to sincerely thank Charles for his dedication and support since the Company's inception," said Meredith Eades, President and CEO. "His contributions have played a meaningful role in helping guide Stuhini through its formative years and public company milestones. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors and warmly welcome Marion McGrath as we continue to advance the Company's goals. About Stuhini Exploration Ltd. Stuhini is a mineral exploration company focused on exploration and development of precious and base metals properties in western Canada. The Company's portfolio of exploration properties includes the flagship Ruby Creek Property, 16 km east of Atlin, BC; the South Thompson Nickel Project, 35 km northwest of Grand Rapids, Manitoba; the Big Ledge Property, 57 km south of Revelstoke, BC Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Stuhini Exploration Ltd.
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
Montreal group takes campaign to restore U.S. foreign aid to Times Square
Montreal-based eQualitie has partnered with the American branch of Transparency International to post a message, seen here in this handout photo on July 8, 2025, urging Americans to "support foreign aid" on a video billboard in New York's Times Square. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout — Transparency International US (Mandatory Credit) A Montreal-based organization promoting democracy and digital rights is using a billboard in New York's iconic Times Square to urge Americans to resist cuts to U.S. foreign aid. 'A retreat by the United States will mean that the weight balances in favour of digital authoritarianism, and away from what are essentially Canadian values,' said Alex Dalessio, executive director of eQualitie. The organization works to advance digital security for civil society and media around the world, allowing people in oppressive states to circumvent censorship and surveillance to communicate securely. Dalessio's group has partnered with the American branch of Transparency International to post a 10-second message urging Americans to 'support foreign aid' on a video billboard in the heart of Manhattan over 90 days. 'Instability abroad puts American jobs and safety at risk,' the billboard message says, adding that foreign aid builds 'a stronger America.' The message will be displayed more than 11,000 times. Dalessio said the campaign isn't 'targeted' at the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump and noted that European countries are also cutting back on foreign aid. His organization says it's politically neutral but wants Americans to think about the impacts of the U.S. pulling back from foreign aid after decades of funding development work that has helped spread democratic values around the world. 'Regardless of who made these changes to foreign aid, we would have made this message,' Dalessio said. 'The role of foreign aid, in the advancement of tools that support informed and educated democracies around the world, cannot be overstated.' Trump tasked billionaire Elon Musk with gutting the United States Agency for International Development earlier this year, slashing its workforce and eliminating 83 per cent of USAID's programs. The cuts have led to sudden halts in medical trials, hunger in refugee camps and cutbacks in access to HIV treatment and contraceptives in poorer countries. Dalessio said it's not clear yet what kind of impact those cuts have had on efforts to fight political repression abroad. Washington subsequently restored funding to some of the programs it had cut, while others went through what Dalessio described as 'significant' layoffs. 'We felt to some extent like there were a lot of articles about it, but there wasn't a lot of action being taken,' he said. Transparency International fights corruption abroad by assessing governance in various countries, while eQualitie works to empower those trying to build strong civil societies. Their work involves training locals to use technology to hold their governments to account and push back on repression. Dalessio said that repressive states have been using technology to surveil citizens and block their access to outside news 'as an extension of state power … to manage dissent, to direct election outcomes, or to influence the population at large.' 'This is certainly becoming normalized,' he added. 'We're seeing it in on every continent.' Dalessio said he hopes the U.S. reverses the cuts and that Canada joins its peers in 'leaning in and supporting some of these programs.' He argued that foreign aid spending could even count toward NATO's military spending target for defence-related infrastructure, since instability leads to costly conflict. NATO itself has said that hostile states are actively undermining democracies and neighbouring states. 'What's going on in the U.S. will have implications for democracy worldwide,' Dalessio said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 25, 2025.
CTV News
3 hours ago
- CTV News
Astronomer chief people officer, Kristin Cabot, resigns after viral Coldplay video
Kristin Cabot and Andy Bryon on the "kiss cam" at a Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium, Massachusetts. (@calebu2/TMX via CNN Newsource) Kristin Cabot, the chief people officer of Astronomer, has resigned, the company confirmed to CNN Thursday. The resignation comes after Cabot, who oversaw the organization's human resources, and Andy Byron, the then-chief executive of the New York-based tech company, were spotted embracing at a Coldplay concert earlier this month. Byron resigned last week after being placed on leave, according to an earlier statement shared with CNN. The two were seen on a Jumbotron screen – a so-called 'kiss cam' – at a Coldplay concert at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, last week, embracing before separating and ducking out of view. 'Whoa, look at these two,' Coldplay frontman Chris Martin quipped at the time. 'Either they're having an affair or they're just very shy.' The video of the two quickly went viral online, along with alleged statements from the ex-CEO acknowledging the situation. Astronomer, however, said on LinkedIn that Bryon had not put out any statement and 'reports saying otherwise are all incorrect.' That statement also addressed the misidentification of a third person seen in the viral clip. 'Astronomer is committed to the values and culture that have guided us since our founding. Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability,' the statement also read. The data operations company, founded in 2018, acknowledged in a separate statement that 'awareness of our company may have changed overnight,' but its mission would continue to focus on addressing data and artificial intelligence problems. The company said Astronomer's co-founder and Chief Product Officer, Pete DeJoy, would serve as interim CEO. Byron's LinkedIn account is no longer public, and he was removed from the company's leadership page following the announcement, which now lists co-founder DeJoy as CEO. By Luciana Lopez, Karina Tsui, CNN
