Homeowners with a basement have a large, often mostly blank, canvas on which to work. You might turn it into a play area, a home theater, a craft space, a game room, or a family room. But should you turn it into a self-contained suite? The answer is likely, yes, for several reasons. Here are a few of the best reasons to take this route and how to accomplish it. 

Why Build a Self-Contained Suite?

Refinishing your basement into a suite or flat does take some extra work and investment. So why do it?

First, you never know what your future needs will be. So, the more flexible you can make this space, the more likely it is to be useful in the future. By adding a bathroom, kitchenette, bedroom, sitting room, and even an outside entrance, you have options. You could house adult relatives, give guests their own space, create a more comfortable home theater experience, host cocktail parties, have sleepovers, or rent out the apartment.

Second, these alterations add value to the home. A space that could be rented out for additional income not only by you but also by future buyers earns you more money. It also adds a bedroom and bathrooms, which are some of the easiest ways to boost sale prices. 

How Can You Create a Self-Contained Suite?

The most basic needs of any self-contained space are a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and private entrance. If your basement doesn't already have a bathroom, the best place to add one is generally where it can access plumbing from the floor above — a bathroom or kitchen. Many remodelers also align the basement's kitchen and bathroom to minimize new plumbing needs. 

Check with your local zoning office to determine what is and isn't allowed as a secondary dwelling unit. You may be able to add only a small kitchenette, for instance, but this can be sufficient for a suite if you construct it creatively. 

The hardest addition for many basement owners is an exterior entrance. This may or may not even be feasible if you don't have a walk-out basement. But if you can build on, you'll get much more return on investment than a basement suite without its own entrance. 

Where Should You Start?

Ready to start planning your basement suite? No matter what your goals, how much space you have to work with, and what obstacles you face, the best place to begin is by consulting with an experienced remodeling contractor in your area today. With their help, you can turn your unused basement into a space that grows with your family. 

For more information on St. Charles County, contact a specialist.