Master Bedroom in finished basement?

Question

I have a home under contract, it is an older home and has 3 bedrooms on the top floor which are all rather small. Rather than try and change that floor, which is updated and beautiful, I would like to put a finished master bedroom in the basement, would potential home buyers go for this?

Thanks

Quattro

Thanks

Quattro

Jon Holdman · Answer

The biggest downside to a basement room, IMHO, is the footsteps from above.  Really, not just limited to basements, but any room or apartment that has another floor above.  Unless you really work on the sound insulation, you'll hear footsteps all the time.

Account Closed · Answer

I'd think it would be better to have a large master in the basement, with a modern and stylish bathroon, than to just have little bedrooms upstairs.

The only thing I would be certain of would be that the damp was 100% controlled.

Sam Hantosh · Answer

All depends on how the homes are in your market area. If it is real common, go for it. If not, stick with the upstairs.

Ruben Ramon · Answer

You will have to look at your market.   In my market, a master bedroom below grade presents what we appraisers call functional depreciation, that is, a design problem.  Assuming your market is similar to mine, you will have to discount your price because the master suite being in the basement.  Also, as mentioned before, its very important to do it by the book, and advertise that.

William Sageser · Answer

Sorry I've been away from the forums for a while, too busy.

good information. Yeah this home has hardwoods so noise from above would get old. But the master bedroom is probably the best option if I do decide to improve this home before I flip it.

Damp control??

thanks!

Q

Kathleen Couch · Answer

I have an unfinished basement.  Also, I have our daughter and 4 young grandsons living with us.  We had been thinking of finishing the basement for them, but lately I have been thinking of putting our master bedroom suite, two offices, and a small kitchen for my husband and I.  I think it would be the best way for peace and quite for us.  We would still be using the rest of the house also, but that would be our private, quiet area.

Christian Malesic · Answer

Ensure proper egress and work within local codes.  Get a permit and use licensed trades!

There is nothing worse than having to tear something out because of non-conformity.

Jon Holdman · Answer

I pretty much did this in the house we live in now.   Not really anything fancy, but its the largest bedroom in the house.  I was able to put in three very large windows, and build nice window wells with steps that angle outward using large strip sandstone.  We don't use it as the master anymore, but its still a very nice room.

Putting in large windows isn't very difficult.  If there are already windows, dig down below them.  I rented a backhow, you could hire it out, but running a backhoe for a few days is a blast.  Hire a concrete cutter to cut openings below the existing windows.  Put in new windows.  Viola la, nice light.

Bob McIntosh · Answer

I have seen this done only in a few houses.  In the houses where I did see it done, the master bedroom needed to be more of a master suite.  With a large walk in closet, a large over sized bathroom, and many had a second living room (or as the one guy called it... a "sitting room").

So it has been done, the one thing you need to overcome is windows... You are not going to have a lot of light, so you need to offer the buyer other things instead.  Such as the things mentioned above.

Master Bedroom in finished basement?

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