Basement finishing - bang for buck?

[Traci Lovelace]

We are rehabbing a property with a 1000 sf daylight basement, with a walk up exit.  The house is 100 years old.  The basement is completely open, with the HVAC and hot water heater in the center up against one of the 2 fireplaces.  There is currently an open sump.  The walls are original brick, with some water proofing material painted over the lower half.  The ceiling is 8+ feet tall.

The basement has a water problem.  We are looking at $9500 for a cure to that. We would end up with an enclosed sump and a scar in the concrete floor around the perimeter.  It won't be pretty but it will be dry.

The square footage of the house without the basement is 1700 sf.

We are thinking a mini split for heating and cooling, but we weren't really going to go any further with the space because the comps in the area really don't support a price point too far above where we are going to end up with the current plan.  Are we being short sighted?

[Doug W.]

Can you add a bedroom(s) or bath in the basement?