# Home buyers - how important is a basement? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 9, 2019, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-buyers-how-important-is-a-basement/838404 "2019-08-09T11:28:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-buyers-how-important-is-a-basement/838404/41 "2019-08-09T18:29:34Z")
As mentioned above, what if it’s not a kielbasa disaster, what if it’s a pan fried calamity that merely incapacitates you in a way that makes it impossible for you to stay in your home? Or worse, a mashed potato apocalypse forcing you to rip out your slab to repair the plumbing? I advise a crawlspace at the very least. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-buyers-how-important-is-a-basement/838404/42 "2019-08-09T18:49:44Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > one issue the OP hasn’t mentioned: local zoning regulations. > Have you checked them? 700 sq feet is _very_ small. Many jurisdictions have regulations specifying the minimum size of a new house,sometimes 800 sq ft, sometimes 1500. This might be a problem but I doubt it. If it is, I’ll adapt. A few blocks away, someone just built a duplex that is less than 1,500 sq ft total. > [@DorkVader](#): > > I advise a crawlspace at the very least. A crawlspace is **not** going to happen. Everyone I’ve ever seen either has moisture/condensation problems or they have severe issues with frozen pipes in winter or both. It’s a slab or a basement for me. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-buyers-how-important-is-a-basement/838404/43 "2019-08-09T18:52:35Z")
Yes, but not for the reasons stated in the poll. I’ve found here in Virginia basements can be cozy and dry or they can be damp or downright wet. Even with potential problems, I’d much rather have a basement than a slab or crawlspace, it’s so much easier to have the air handler, water heater, water pipes, well pump, etc in a nice big accessible indoor space rather than in a closet, attic, or crawl-space. And if the basement is dry it’s great for storage, workshop, man-cave, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-buyers-how-important-is-a-basement/838404/44 "2019-08-09T19:04:21Z")
For clarification - I referred to having a “sub basement.” My house is what I call a split level. Like [this](https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/833-S-Cedar-Ave_Elmhurst_IL_60126_M75320-61519?view=qv) I have heard it called a tri-level. There are 3 primary living levels - 2 stacked on top of each other, with another to the side at a level in-between, with 1/2 flight of steps between each level. The lower of the 3 is largely a family room level with the garage. Go up 7 steps, and you have the LR/DR/kitchen. Front door opens to that level. Go up another 7 steps, and you have 3 beds, 2 baths. The bedrooms are directly above the lower level family room. Some houses like mine have a crawl space off the lower level which runs under the living room level. With ours, you go down another 7 steps, and there is a basement. Washer/dryer, storage, woodshop, little windows high on the walls - essentially at floor level. Some might have window wells or an escape/climb out window well. In the house I linked above, there is a picture quite a ways down in the gallery of a room w/ 3 glass block windows. I assume that is its finished “basement/sub basement.” The listing itself can’t make its mind up, interchangeably using the words basement and sub basement. I’m not sure why I’ve heard many people call that a sub basement. I think to distinguish it from a house w/ only a crawl, and because their might be some confusion with whatever you called the lower living level. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-buyers-how-important-is-a-basement/838404/45 "2019-08-09T19:50:41Z")
I’ve lived in houses with both, and it depends on the region. Both are fine. In New York and New Jersey I had finished basements which I used a lot. In Louisiana and California I don’t (no one does) and the first floor is a bit bigger. In Louisiana a basement could also be called a swimming pool. Not going to work. It looks like your area has basements as standard, so I’d go with one. I didn’t vote in the poll because you didn’t include a “it depends” option. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-buyers-how-important-is-a-basement/838404/46 "2019-08-09T20:26:16Z")
I grew up in the UK, where nobody has one, and I now live in Florida, where nobody has one, and I’ve never wanted one. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-buyers-how-important-is-a-basement/838404/47 "2019-08-09T20:53:01Z")
I don’t think it matters if you have a basement. Your house is 700 sqft so it won’t have much resale value no matter what you do. Unless you put in a full finished basement and enlarge your house to 1,400 sqft. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-buyers-how-important-is-a-basement/838404/48 "2019-08-09T22:02:44Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > A 700 sq ft house without a basement would have to be pretty dang cheap for me to consider it. Especially if a large chunk of floor was eaten up by an oversized chairlift-compatible stairway. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-buyers-how-important-is-a-basement/838404/49 "2019-08-09T22:13:45Z")
Very, very few in the desert Southwest of the US. Ground is too hard. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-buyers-how-important-is-a-basement/838404/50 "2019-08-09T22:15:48Z")
I’d like to have a basement, as long as it’s guaranteed not to flood. It’s cooler in the basement in the summer. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-buyers-how-important-is-a-basement/838404/51 "2019-08-09T22:22:17Z")
It needs to be windowless with heavy doors, and soundproof at least from the range of the front door. But well-ventilated. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-buyers-how-important-is-a-basement/838404/52 "2019-08-09T22:24:52Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > The best argument I have in favor of placing the house on a basement is that I live in the central part of the US where basements are nearly universal. People like their basements. Basements are usually the coolest parts of the home during extreme heat. Home owners like their perceived value as shelter during severe weather and they like the increased storage and living space. This space doesn’t really appeal to me but it’s true that any home without a basement in these parts is going to be seen as an odd duck and possibly harder to sell because of it. If I’m staying in the house until I die in a freak, kielbasa based, tragedy, does resale value even matter? Basements in the central US are a very good idea for all of the reasons that you mention. I’ve personally been hit by a tornado. I’ve had family hit by tornadoes. I have a strong bias towards a basement for that reason alone. I also like the cool, and I put way too much stuff in my storage area. I’ll also add that a basement will give the house additional square footage. You may only use the top floor, but the house will be worth more if you can claim 1400 sq ft at some point. > [@](#): > > Option one says to skip the basement, put the home on a slab and be done with it. What happens, happens. Option two says to install an unfinished basement serviced by a wide, straight, chairlift friendly stairwell. Bare concrete walls and floor, a toilet and utility sink and at least one climb out window so that if future owners wish to covert this space into a sleeping area, they can do so relatively easily. I would suggest Option 2. You could also take Option 1b, where you build the basement without the extras and allow anyone who wants to convert it to worry about the bathroom. Don’t dismiss the idea that you’ll move before a kielbasa-related accident. You can plan for that, but you never know what might happen to change your plans. Also, building for increased value is a good idea even if you never move. It gives you more flexibility for getting a loan, for example. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-buyers-how-important-is-a-basement/838404/53 "2019-08-09T22:39:58Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > I’d like to have a basement, as long as it’s guaranteed not to flood. It’s cooler in the basement in the summer. No such guaranty is possible. Many of my neighbors have had the option to launch a canoe in their basements this summer thanks to Mother Nature’s out of control Tourette syndrome. With that being said, a properly sealed basement wall, a good sump drainage system and well designed landscaping that directs water away from the house all can keep a basement mostly dry, most of the time. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2019, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-buyers-how-important-is-a-basement/838404/54 "2019-08-09T23:09:34Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > I’d never buy a house with no basement. Me neither. I’ve paused my house hunt because my dad is too sick to move, but before then I saw some otherwise nice houses I wrote off due to being on a slab instead of having a basement. The duplex I lived in as a small girl was on a slab and it was always felt unpleasantly damp. Ick. Plus, a basement is wear you store all your bulky crap, like the snow blower, the lawn mower, and the generator. Sure, you could get a shed, but if they’re marooned out in the elements they don’t last nearly as long as a basement. ---
**Author:** ![kk\_fusion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kk_fusion/32/15276_2.png) [@kk\_fusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kk_fusion)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2019, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-buyers-how-important-is-a-basement/838404/55 "2019-08-10T10:19:39Z")
> [@Do you own your body?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-own-your-body/112921/27): > > Nebraska = Twisters > > I vote for basement. Yup. As extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense due to climate change, basements are going to rise in value. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2019, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-buyers-how-important-is-a-basement/838404/56 "2019-08-10T12:13:34Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Plus, a basement is wear you store all your bulky crap, like the snow blower, the lawn mower, and the generator. Sure, you could get a shed, but if they’re marooned out in the elements they don’t last nearly as long as a basement. Heh. In addition to our basement we have an integral 2 1/2 car garage, an attic, a two story shed, a woodshed, a barn, and a tack room. We have too much stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2019, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-buyers-how-important-is-a-basement/838404/57 "2019-08-10T12:51:15Z")
Our home has a full basement. I love it. I fixed up half of it to be a man’s cave of sorts. A basement also allows me easy access to wiring, HVAC, etc. The biggest issue is moisture. If you’re building a basement, spend the extra money to minimize moisture intrusion problems: poured concrete instead of block foundation, drain tile around the foundation, and sealing and insulating the outside of the foundation. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2019, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-buyers-how-important-is-a-basement/838404/58 "2019-08-10T13:10:24Z")
I would never live in an area that has frequent tornados and not have a basement. Plus they’re a great place for litter boxes. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2019, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-buyers-how-important-is-a-basement/838404/59 "2019-08-10T14:46:20Z")
> [@kitap](#): > > I would never live in an area that has frequent tornados and not have a basement. Plus they’re a great place for litter boxes. “Frequent” is a debatable and fluid term in this context. I’ve lived in the area for nearly 50 years and have only actually seen one tornado with my own eyes. That only happened because I went out to look for it. I only know of two other incidents where tornado was known to have touched down within 30 miles of my then current location. Tornadoes don’t worry me. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2019, 7:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-buyers-how-important-is-a-basement/838404/60 "2019-08-12T07:24:11Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > handicapped accessibility in the design of this quite small, \<700 sq ft home. > \ > If I’m staying in the house until I die in a freak, kielbasa based, tragedy, does resale value even matter? 700’ is quite small, made even smaller by your handicapped access (wider hallways, etc.). Even if you’re planning on staying there until death, someone is going to have to settle your estate after you’re gone. I can’t see that house selling relatively easily given it’s small size & relative lack of storage space. Putting in a basement, even if unfinished will make it much more attractive to a potential future buyer. AS for the other question, I’ve always had one & like them but understand they are not the norm in certain areas of the country. Not sure if I’d demand one if I was relocating to one of those areas, but all else being equal, I’d want one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-buyers-how-important-is-a-basement/838404.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/home-buyers-how-important-is-a-basement/838404.md?page=4)