| So, you have been dreaming of finishing that | | | | your own basement, instead of hiring a |
| basement for years now. Every time your family, | | | | professional, here is the order of items that will |
| or friends come over you talk about where your | | | | need to be completed. Please hire licensed |
| home theater room will be, or where the pool | | | | professional contractors for all work performed. |
| table is going to go, and so on. | | | | 1. Basement Layout & Design |
| Now I know homeowners want to finish their | | | | 2. Permits |
| own basements to save money, and more power | | | | 3. Framing |
| to you if it can be done. | | | | 4. Plumbing |
| I just have to say a few things to say about this | | | | 5. Heating Ventilation & Air Conditioning |
| subject: | | | | (HVAC) |
| 1. Most of home owner finished basements I have | | | | 6. Electrical |
| seen are not top quality. | | | | 7. Sheetrock/Drywall |
| 2. If you plan to sell your home in the future, I | | | | 8. Prime Sheetrock |
| just want to say buyers do notice quality. | | | | 9. Trim: Doors, Windows, Base, Crown Molding, |
| 3. Real estate appraisers may not give you top | | | | Entertainment Centers, Etc. |
| dollar for work not done right. | | | | 10. Painting: Caulking, Putty, Wood Filler, Etc. |
| 4. Home buyers today due hire home inspectors, | | | | 11. Kitchen Cabinets, Bar, Bathroom Vanities, Etc. |
| who will point out issues such as structural, | | | | 12. Counter tops: Granite, Marble, Laminate, Tile, |
| electrical, plumbing, HVAC, etc. | | | | Etc. |
| 5. Most General contractors have been working in | | | | 13. Flooring: Tile, Hardwood, Carpet, Vinyl, Etc. |
| the industry for years and have developed | | | | 14. Final Plumbing: Toilets, Sinks, Fixtures, Etc. |
| relationships with suppliers/sub-contractors. For | | | | 15. Final Electrical: Switches, Receptacles, Fans, |
| example, if you tried to hire my plumber, | | | | Cans, Lighting, Etc. |
| electrician, framer, etc. they will charge you more | | | | 16. Final HVAC: Unit start up, Installing grills, Etc. |
| money to do the same job. The money General | | | | 17. Final Trim: Install shoe molding, tie in misc. trim, |
| Contractors make is basically the money you | | | | Etc. |
| would spend on hiring the work yourself, so in the | | | | 18. Hardware: Cabinet pulls, door knobs, door |
| end you will get quality work, pay the same price, | | | | bumps, mirrors, blinds, bathroom accessories. |
| and with much less headache. | | | | 19. Final paint touch up. |
| OK enough of that, if you still choose to finish | | | | 20. |
