Basement Finishing

Finishing a basement adds $20-$50 per square foot in home value for an investment of $30-$75 per square foot — making it the only renovation where you're creating square footage instead of just upgrading it. A 1,000 sq ft basement finish adds a bedroom, bathroom, and rec room for $30,000-$50,000. The catch: moisture. Skip waterproofing and you're building a mold farm. Do it right — interior drainage, sump pump, vapor barrier, dehumidifier — and you've added a floor to your house for a fraction of an addition.