Basement Bedrooms or Garage Conversion?

We put a master suite in our basement a few years ago. We hired a company to do the egress window (not the contractor) and it was only about 2500. Once that was done, we re did our water proofing system, the basement was dry, but we were not going to spend the money if it might flood, that was 6000. Then, for 15,000, we put in the bedroom and bath. We were able to keep our garage and have a new bedroom. It was the best option for us, we kept our garage, and gained the bedroom. Doing some of the work by being your own contractor (hire the egress window, plumber, electrician, etc) and not letting the contractor take the mark up on those kinds of services will really save you money. Get all the permits and inspections, that way you can raise your property value.

M.

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I'm just a huge proponent of planning. Talk to a real estate agent in your area to find out what homes are in your area are like. How many bedrooms does the average home have? What are some of the more typical floor plans and layouts? You don't ever really want to do something to your house that will make it grander than the neighborhood. Doing that may make it difficult to sell when the times comes to sell it.

Talk to an architect and builder about the costs of having an addition but on your home. Then figure out how you will finance this dream of yours. Find out from your town zoning board or commission if you can build out on your current home or if you will need a variance to do so.

In the meantime and between time, converting a garage into a playroom is a fairly simple proposition but a garage can be a very cold place in the winter and hot in the summer. Converting a basement is feesible but you definitely want windows and a second way of escape and use materials that are floor friendly if possible. Basements flood, even the driest ones.

Personally I prefer the children to be on the same level as me or even higher up. The kids will be 3/5 but they will also become 13/15 and do you want them to have their own basement suite while you and hubby are on another floor?

Long story short, I would probably convert the basement and the garage. I'm all for more living space for the short term but plan and save for the future with the addition onto the house if possible. Dare to dream and make dreams reality. Don't doubt what you can do even in "this" market.

I would suggest checking w/ a real estate agent on this one. In my experience, even a 1 car garage would yield more money than not having one. I would suggest adding the bedrooms in the basement.

How many bedrooms do you have now? And you're looking to have rooms for you and hubby, and possibly 3 kids, so 4 bedrooms total?

Without more details, I'd probably go with the garage renovation, if it is big enough to allow you the space to convert it to what you'd need it for. It's on the same level and you have another space to use as a garage.

Something you may want to consider also - if you converted the basement, would your kids be willing to sleep there by themselves? I have two 8 year old boys. They go to our basement to play, but would never stay down there at night by themselves....at least not yet.