Start Your Basement Finish With an Amazing Design Consult
So, you’re looking to finish your basement! Perhaps your basement space has been used as storage for years, or maybe you just purchased a home with an unfinished basement. Finishing your basement allows you to creatively craft a customized space that’s the perfect fit for you and your family. From a simple finish to custom spaces like home theaters and wine cellars, your options are basically limitless.
But, first, you need to find the right partner to design and build out your dream basement. This begins with researching local basement builders and narrowing your options down to 2-3 companies. From there, we recommend booking design consultations with your top choices.
To get the most from your design consult, our team created two checklists. They include talking points and questions that help you choose the best partner for your project.
Questions for Your Basement Finish Design Consult
A design consultation is your opportunity to vet out the best partner for your basement finish. Not only should you discuss your basement and your vision for your space, but you should also get to know the company, designer, or contractor themselves! Learn how they’ll approach your project, how they outperform the competition, how they handle issues, and more by simply asking the right questions.
Some questions to help you compare and contrast companies:
- What makes your company different from other basement remodelers?
- Tell me about some past basement finishes you’ve done that are like mine.
- What should I expect from your design and construction processes?
- Do I have to put money down or pay a fee to see the designs for my space? When do you collect a deposit?
- How disruptive will the construction process be in my basement?
- Are your designs customizable?
- Is it possible to do what I’m looking to do with this space?
- What trends are you seeing in design that we should consider or be aware of?
- What if I change my mind on how I want the design to look during the process?
- How do you handle unexpected issues during the construction process?
- Do you order materials on my behalf?
- Do you manage the tradesmen working in my home on my behalf?
- Do you guarantee the pricing you provide me at the time of estimate?
- How do you project the construction timeline for my project?
- How do you make sure my basement is up to code during this process?
- What potential problems or challenges, if any, do you see with my project?
Talking Points For Your Basement Design Consultation
At FBC, you’ll be meeting with a dedicated designer who would be working on your basement, should you choose to move forward with design! We take the time to get to know you, your family, and how your space currently functions in daily life. We want to know how we can help you build joy with your space through beautiful, but also functional, design.
Here are several talking points that our designers use and recommend bringing up during your design consult:
The purpose behind your basement finish. Is your project to help improve the daily fit and function of your space? Are you remodeling to raise the resale value of the home? A combination of both? How long do you plan to live in your home?
The ideal function of your basement. If you could wave a magic wand, what would you want this space to do for you? How will this space impact your everyday life?
How much of your basement are you remodeling? Are you remodeling the entirety of the basement, or are you leaving some square footage for storage?
What a day in the life of your home looks like. Do you have growing children that need more space? Do you need to create guest bedrooms? Are you looking to create specialty rooms?
The design style you’re going for. What’s your design style? Do you feel your home currently fits your style? If so, is it important we continue those elements throughout your new basement? What trends, colors, and looks do you want to see in the finished product?
What general budget you are working with. During your consultation, your designer can provide a ballpark range for your basement finish. It’s important to be on the same page and set expectations going into your project. It’s also a good idea to ask when, in the process, you’ll get your final project price.
What you don’t want to see with your basement. What are some deal breakers for you with this project? What are some design elements you hate that our designers should know about?
What challenges or issues there may be with your basement. If you live in an older home, ask your designer what minimum ceiling height they can work with. Also, note if you currently have two points of egress in your unfinished space. If you do not, creating those exit points will be part of your project’s scope.
Any lingering concerns you have about basement finishing in general. What would keep you from moving forward with the project? If you’ve completed a remodel project before, be sure to tell your designer all about that experience.
Your schedule. What does your availability look like for possible future appointments and the construction phase?
Basement Finishing with FBC Remodel
We know basements. In fact, the “FBC” in our name once stood for “Finished Basement Company”! Since 1997, we’ve been remodeling and finishing custom basements. This means we’ve seen it all — every size, age, and style of basement. You can feel confident that you’ll be in great hands with our award-winning designers, trusted trade partners, and expert project managers.
Learn more about our process below! We can’t wait to show you what’s possible.
