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         A WORD FROM OUR COMPANY FOUNDER:

When it comes to pricing, being the lowest bidder is nice, and yes, it does usually result in contracting more projects (that makes sense, right?). However, we simply will not submit an estimate to a homeowner which leaves out thousands of dollars in material costs as a way to artificially lower the price, and get hired. We strive for happy & satisfied customers, so operating is this manner is just not an option for us.

Finish quality is equally important and I'm a picky person by nature. Framing the basement, finishing the drywall, cutting trim, laying tile and painting straight lines are tasks completed by people who are using their own judgements as to what looks correct and what is acceptable. For every home, new or old, which has ever had quality issues (sooner or later, it all gets noticed), there was an individual who, in the past, completed that work and thought it was good enough. Some contractors are in a hurry & careless, and some just lack the skills required to do it properly. Understanding what is acceptable quality, and having the skills to actually deliver that quality is what separates us from many of our competitors. 

Whether you're spending $20,000.00 or $100,000.00, we use the exact same contractors and employees on each and every job we complete. These people are very good at what they do, they understand what is and is not acceptable from a quality standpoint, and they are willing to spend just a little more time to assure the work is done right. We find our customers appreciate the honesty reflected in this website, our estimate pricing, and the quality product we deliver time & time again. These have been our keys to success and it's why customer references are our primary source of new business. Thank you for visiting our website and we look forward to working with you."
Basement kitchen as featured on HGTV.
Basement finishing photo from St. Ives Country Club
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We have been in business since 1993. We understand the costs involved in finishing basements and the operating costs required to run a successful business. That's important, because our customers know they can call on us now, or in the future, and we'll be right here.

We use the same process and in-house pricing data to create each estimate: Simply put, we account for all job-related costs, we list out a very thorough & detailed scope of work (including material allowances), and then we add to the estimate enough funding to make the project profitable. Depending upon which competitor our estimate is compared to, we could be the lowest, highest, or somewhere in the middle. In any case, our goal is to be the most ACCURATE, so we do not create estimates from the mindset of "how cheap can we go?". Our pricing is reasonable, accurate, and dependable.

A final note on pricing: The choice of finish materials & the square footage to be completed will dictate costs. Therefore, customer decisions in these areas will determine the budget needed to complete the project. It's a good idea to determine what is a priority, what you can do without, if needed, and then set a reasonable budget.


STANDARD BASEMENT FINISHING:   A standard basement might consist of the following: A combination of recessed lights and standard lights, a new HVAC system (if needed) or re-routing of existing ductwork, carpeted flooring in most areas, tiled flooring in bathroom, a full bath (assuming drains are in place), standard framing, electrical, plumbing, insulation, doors, trim,  etc...

Our pricing includes all labor costs & all construction materials costs such as framing, drywall, doors, trim, HVAC, plumbing, and electrical. Our pricing also includes material cost projections for some items the homeowner would choose & purchase, such as flooring, light fixtures, bath fixtures, cabinetry, etc... Please note: There is no difference in the finish quality of a standard basement and a custom basement, because we use the same exact contractors on every project we complete & every project featured on our website.

Based upon our past experience, we find that most standard basement projects will fall into a price range of about $40.00 - $45.00 per square foot, for a 100% completed project.



CUSTOM BASEMENT FINISHING:   This is for homeowners who may add a full kitchen or wet bar, a walk-in tiled shower, granite countertops, tile flooring or hardwood flooring, a new HVAC system, more recessed can lighting, more trim and molding, fireplace, stonework, french doors, coffered ceilings, multi-room sound, etc... Basically, a custom basement adds a kitchen or wet bar, has a larger scope of work, takes longer to complete, and the materials are more expensive.  A custom basement will usually start around $45.00 per square foot, and will go up from there.

PRICING VARIABLES: While most basements will fall into one of the two categories above, there are certain basement projects which may not.  For example, a relatively small 800 - 1000 square foot basement "stuffed" with a full kitchen, built-in cabinetry, HVAC system, full bathroom, hardwood flooring, and generally nice finishes throughout will skew the per square foot pricing higher.  Keep this in mind when determining your potential budget.

                                                                       


HOW TO GET STARTED?   After a phone conversation and a discussion of the potential costs involved, we'll schedule a visit to your home. Our goal is to turn your ideas into reality, so we'll take pictures, measurements, and spend as much time as necessary in order to truly understand your goals. Of course, we'll offer our suggestions and insights, but it's your input that will ultimately shape the finished project and the budget.

We'll submit an estimate outlining the complete scope of work, the projected costs, and a description of the layout. If you accept our proposal, Design Studio will create a 3D computer drawing to help you better envision what your finished basement might look like when completed. We'll work on the design until we get it just right. The Design Studio service is included at no charge for our customers. Please note: We do offer Design Studio services as a stand alone option for homeowners who need a professional design only, and may finish the basement themselves or use another company. We charge $1500.00 for this service. Finally, once the exact scope of work is agreed upon, we'll finalize the estimate to reflect any requested changes, and with a down payment of around 20%, we're ready to go!  That's it.



THE CUSTOMER "TO-DO" LIST: We've found there are 2 ways in which our customers can help us do our job even better, helping to save time and money: First, the more defined & complete the basement finishing plan is up front, before the project begins, the better. In other words, adding to or changing a project-in-progress may increase the budget and completion time. Second, the customer chooses paint colors, flooring, light fixtures, cabinets, tile and similar finish items. We'll be happy to advise in this area, but timely customer decisions or purchaes will keep the project moving and keep us on budget, which is our ultimate goal.



COMPARING ESTIMATES:   For the homeowner reviewing several estimates and trying to determine which contractor to hire, two of the primary considerations are price and completion time. Not surprisingly, most contractors realize this, and it can result in estimates which are not always realistic on either price or completion time.

In other words, some estimates might show a price that is perhaps too low, and, in some cases, may barely cover the actual costs of materials. We know, we've met with many homeowners over the years and have seen many estimates which were just not accurate. In addition, It's very common that we are asked how long a project might take to complete, and that's a fair and relevant question. After all, the sooner a project is completed, the quicker the homeowner can enjoy the new space.  But on the flip side, the desire to secure a project, to "get hired", can lead some contractors to state overly optimistic time projections which may later prove to be unreliable. It just happens, sometimes intentional, sometimes an honest mistake. In any case, the homeowner is disappointed.

We have been in business since 1993, and we have a very good grasp on what a project will cost and how long it will take to complete. Occasionally, a potential customer may ask us to revise our pricing or cut time from the projected completion date, because another competing company states it can be done. We work to secure every project we bid upon, and we are happy to work with potential customers on the budget if we have flexibiliy. However, we cannot revise our pricing or time frame if we know it will alter the accuracy of our proposal. Our reputation and our relationships with our customers are much too important to allow us to alter our numbers if we know better.

In closing, there is one final thing to consider when comparing estimates, and this seems to be the most overlooked:
The quality and finish of the project will be different from company to company, because this work is done by people, some more skilled than others. For example, if a customer obtains 3 or 4 bids, and one estimate is much lower than the others, it might be a mistake for a homeowner to assume that the company with the much lower price will do the same exact job as the other 3. That just doesn't happen.  There are always reasons for unusually low bids, so it's always best to contact previous customers, ours included, and ask them for their experience in dealing with a particular contractor.













































Pool room in Southern Basement Company basement finish.
The Southern Basement Company official logo.
CliBasement Finishing   +   Design Studio