Basement Offers Room Expansion Options for Family Members

by Allison E. Beatty

If your son or daughter is returning from college, you may be rethinking your living space. Your quiet world is about to be inundated with four years of accumulated "stuff"--electronics, furniture, a small refrigerator, clothes?the list goes on.

Room Addition or Room Expansion?
How can you make room for your young adult and still maintain some sanity in the household? Should you do a large family room addition or a smaller room addition on one side of the house? Each option has merits, but may involve a significant investment of time and money.

Another solution is to consider a room expansion. Can you expand a bedroom on the first or second floor or revamp the basement? Depending on the floor plan, the basement often is the easiest way to go, as there is typically plenty of space and added privacy.

First Steps
Start by walking around the basement to see how much space is available for a room expansion. Is there a bathroom or would you need to add one? Can you easily add walls to create a separate bedroom? You may find that you have all the space you need--why go through the expense of a room addition from the outside?

Some people even add small kitchens in the basement. A few cabinets, a countertop, and a sink area may be all you need to give your child a comfortable space. The space also can be enhanced with recessed canned lighting, new carpeting, and a few more outlets for all that electronic equipment.

Room Expansion Costs
The next step is to gather cost estimates. Can you do the room expansion in the basement yourself or would you need to hire a contractor? How long would it take? As you contemplate your son or daughter returning, think about all the places where a room expansion makes sense. Then weigh the pros and cons along with the costs.

If a family room addition is out of your budget, the basement could be a good alternative. You may find that the lower level location is the ideal solution--for space, privacy and peace of mind.

About the Author
Allison E. Beatty is a syndicated real estate writer who has been writing home improvement columns for 15 years.