When building your house, you may want to include a basement in your plan in order to get some room for storage and extra space. There are different types of basements, and each has its advantages and disadvantages, including walk-out and non-walkout basements. If you are torn between making a decision between constructing a walk-out or traditional basement, we have simplified the process for you. Here are some factors that have been considered for comparison between walk-out vs. non-walkout basement.
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Cost
Compared with non-walkout basements, walk-out basements cost a lot more because of the additional materials required to get the job done. If you are working on a budget, it might be challenging to add a walk-out basement to your initial building plan. Instead, you can look at appealing designs for non-walkout basements that would fit your home and your budget.
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Potential Income
Non-walk-out basements are usually used as extra rooms for storing items that are not used often. Some people use their basement space to provide access to the plumbing core of the home, while others use it as a form of additional foundation to support the house’s structure. Walk-out basements usually have large and open spaces, and they can be easily converted to extra rooms or separate apartments. You can make some extra cash by renting out these additional rooms to people who need them.
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Tax on Property
A walk-out basement is considered part of the total square meters of the living space in a home. Therefore, it’s very likely that it will incur additional property tax from the government. Some non-walkout basements like the Crawlspace and Part basements are not considered separate from the house’s total square meters, and they are likely not to incur additional tax.
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Value
One of the advantages of walk-out basements is their addition of value to a house. While you are still living in the house, your walk-out basement can serve as a source of income, and if you decide to put the house up for sale, the basement walkout will increase the market value of your house. Non-walkout basements like the Subbasement and Crawlspace basements add little value to a home when compared to a walk-out basement.
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More Bedrooms
Traditional non-walkout basements are usually used as storage areas or a place where the mechanical systems like the cooling and heating system of a house are located. Meanwhile, walk-out basements tend to come in handy when you need to create extra rooms for guests.
These factors are not a checklist for your decision-making, they are simply there to direct your attention towards the essentials you should consider. Whatever choice of basement you decide to go with, just make sure it is an informed decision that is based on facts.
