DOES BASEMENT WATERPROOFING INCREASE HOME VALUE?
The value of your home is multifaceted and complex. Our homes represent so much more than a material investment; they hold memories of baby’s first steps, high school graduations, or the celebration of holidays around a dinner table filled with family and friends.
Nonetheless, when it comes time to sell, it’s wise to make sure your home is in great shape, from top to bottom—and that includes the basement! Remember: home value also refers to how you benefit monetarily even before you sell your home, as a result of preventative measures like waterproofing your basement. Read on to learn more about how you can raise your home value by ensuring a safe and dry basement or crawl space.
WHAT’S THE MONETARY RETURN ON INVESTMENT (ROI)?
Generally speaking, you can expect a 30 percent return on your investment after waterproofing your home’s basement or crawl space. If you have a basement, there are also a whole host of secondary benefits that increase the value of your home, which you’ll benefit from right away.
WHAT ARE THE SECONDARY BENEFITS TO MY HOME?
More Space
In terms of the physical attributes, a dry, waterproofed basement adds another functional floor to your house. And there are so many possibilities for how to use that extra space.
You could opt to create an additional living space for guests that could include a separate entrance for the basement area. Alternatively, you might decide to transform the basement level into a family room, library, or entertainment room with a home theatre and space for game playing, art supplies, or a pool table.
If you’re a wine aficionado, you might consider transforming the basement into a wine cellar and food storage pantry for fermenting jars or cans of food. Don’t forget the second freezer for frozen fruits, vegetables, and cuts of meat, as well. The possibilities are endless.
Aesthetic Appeal
For current residents and guests, as well as future potential home buyers, the aesthetic appeal of a finished basement is so much greater than that of a dank, musty space filled with spiders and who knows what else.
On the grounds of aesthetic appeal alone, a safe, dry basement is much more attractive than an unfinished one. That factor, in and of itself, is worth quite a bit.
Energy Savings
In the summer, a well-sealed basement is far cooler than a leaky, drafty basement or crawl space. And in the winter, you can conserve heat much more easily in a well-sealed basement.
The year-round cost savings for heating and cooling bills is substantial and worth the investment—especially in larger homes with more square footage.
Stronger Foundation
A well-sealed foundation, coupled with a good backup system and sump pump in case of natural climate disasters, will ensure that your foundation is stronger and better able to withstand inclement weather. Moreover, a strong foundation can withstand sweltering heat and climate changes between seasons.
A weak foundation is more likely to shift and crack under the pressure of inclement weather and seasonal shifts of temperature and humidity. However, if you fortify your foundation with underpinnings made of steel or concrete, you won’t have to worry nearly as much about unwelcomed foundation shifts.
Investment Protection
It’s often said that your home is likely to be the biggest investment you make in your lifetime. Therefore, it makes sense to protect it by waterproofing your basement and fortifying it against the elements.
The investment is sure to pay off in the long run, so you should have few regrets about making your home’s foundation as strong and well-built as possible.
If in doubt, it costs nothing to consult with one of our experts. We’ll explain the different basement waterproofing options available to you. Contact us today!