Minneapolis Basement Remodeling

Basement remodeling in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the rest of the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington metro area, is big business. In fact, basement remodeling is one of the hottest remodeling trends in town. Why? Because homeowners in the Twin Cities are smart folks, and it doesn't take too much research to figure out that not only is an unfinished basement the equivalent of wasted space, it is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to add square footage (i.e. value!) to your home.

Increase Square Footage and Save Money with a Minneapolis Basement Renovation
How do we know that basement remodeling is such a great deal in the Twin Cities and their surrounding suburbs? All we had to do was look to Remodeling Magazine's annual Cost vs. Value Report. In the 2006 survey, Minneapolis basement remodels, and basement remodeling in the rest of the greater West North Central region, didn't just report in a few dollars cheaper than other alternatives that add square footage to your home, such as adding on family rooms or building second stories. It turns out that they end up costing homeowners anywhere from one half to one third as much as major additions. That's not just saving a few pennies. When you're talking major remodels and additions, you're going to save tens of thousands of dollars choosing basement remodeling in Minneapolis over more costly alternatives to expanding your home's overall square footage.

Minneapolis Basement Remodeling Costs
Obviously, those statistics are pretty eye opening for most homeowners. But what do average Minneapolis basement remodels run? Based on data we collect from surveys of residents of the Twin Cities that have used our services in the past, we can give you a pretty good idea. An average Minneapolis basement renovation, based on our numbers, registers in at just over $32,000. The most expensive remodel on our books ran $60,000, though we also have recorded several jobs that ran as little as $12,000. Why the huge range of final costs? Many factors come into play. Basement waterproofing, for example, can add significantly to the final price, and isn't an uncommon need in an area like Minnesota where annual precipitation rates clock in at 30 inches a year and there's more water sitting around than you can shake a hockey stick at (Minnesota is "the Land of 10,000 Lakes," after all). And, of course, your taste for luxuries, or penchant for simplicity, will affect that final cost quite a bit as well.

Project Durations and Minneapolis Basement Remodeling
The other commonly asked question regarding basement remodels in Minneapolis is how long these projects take. Again, we can look to our books for answers. An average basement renovation in Minneapolis takes a month and a half, though again, that lumps together a wide range of timelines. The quickest job we've recorded took just two weeks, which is not an unreasonable expectation if all you're doing is laying new carpet, installing new lighting, and painting the drywall. The longest we've recorded took four months. If your basement renovation in Minneapolis starts to drag out this long, start asking questions, and considering switching contractors. Our second longest job took just a month and a half, which is more along the lines of what any reasonable homeowner should expect to endure if you pull out the stops and contract out for a Minneapolis basement remodeling project that is sure to make your neighbors' jaws drop.

Advice from Twin City Residents on Successful Remodels, Finding Contractors, and Saving your Marriage
While gathering numbers is an important part of quality control and customer service here at ServiceMagic, a more personal accounting of how things went is also something we pride ourselves in. To finish up our post-project surveys, we give homeowners a chance to comment on their experience and give advice to their Twin City neighbors on what they need to know when it comes to Minneapolis basement remodeling. "Do your homework via Better Business Bureau AND interview multiple contractors," recommended one diligent homeowner, who also added "I'm of the opinion that you get what you pay for. We paid a little more than we intended but the work completed by [our contractor] has been phenomenal!" A second customer suggested that you "Know what you want ahead of time before meeting with the contractor," while a third added to that advice by recommending that you "Get a timeline before you sign anything." All are excellent suggestions and emphasize the most important steps to follow in order to ensure your remodeling project goes off without a hitch: plan ahead, do your homework before you hire, and keep the lines of communication with your contractor open. Besides that, there's not much to say, except maybe these words of wisdom from a homeowner who realized, almost too late it sounds like, that it pays to go with a professional: "Hire a pro right away," he wrote, "Your spouse will be happier...." Those are words to live by.