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LisaW
Time for me to FLY!
Member since 5/05 13199 total posts
Name:
Did I ever tell you that I hate people?
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Re: Just for kicks a choice
CAC- that is what we did
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Posted 8/16/06 8:26 AM  |
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Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource | Long Island Weddings |
Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: Just for kicks a choice
I don't think our basement finished really adds anything to the house for us. It's really not live-able space. However, there is plumbing down there and very old fixtures for a bathroom. If we finished the basement we would make that another bathroom. It would make the house a 3 bathroom house. I don't know if that's a selling point. Not that I'm selling, I'm just thinking about home value right now and our needs. We don't need the space, we have other rooms we don't even use right now.
CAC is something I am considering. I know there would be some construction involved. The whole lower level of the house stays pretty cool but upstairs is so hot!
So from a buyers perspective if you had two very similar homes in similar areas for the same price and one had a finished basement and the other had the CAC which one would you pick? I would think the value is in the added living space, no? It certainly costs more to finish the basement (by contractor) than to install CAC.
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| Posted 8/16/06 8:39 AM |
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ODonnell
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Member since 9/05 5983 total posts
Name:
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Re: Just for kicks a choice
Posted by Blu-ize
So from a buyers perspective if you had two very similar homes in similar areas for the same price and one had a finished basement and the other had the CAC which one would you pick? I would think the value is in the added living space, no? It certainly costs more to finish the basement (by contractor) than to install CAC.
My sister had her basement finished but she didn't have a bathroom installed, so it worked out about the same cost. CAC can be pretty expensive to install too. In our case, because the house is older and we have hardly any closets, we had to have 2 units installed. It can easily be in excess of $10K...
Our house actually has a finished garage. The back part is carpeted with heat and cable and the front section is a tool shed. Then there is a big loft up top for storage. While it could be considered another room if we ever go to sell, we don't use the "back room" as we call it (unless we're having parties and then it's useful for food and drinks). We didn't think it was an advantage when we were buying the house. I would have preferred CAC over it any day.
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| Posted 8/16/06 8:50 AM |
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lululu
LIF Adult
Member since 7/05 9509 total posts
Name:
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Re: Just for kicks a choice
CAC - No doubt about it. Now that i have had it i can never live without it again! We are waiting to finish our basement and basements scare me!!!
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| Posted 8/16/06 8:54 AM |
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Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: Just for kicks a choice
Posted by ODonnell
Posted by Blu-ize
So from a buyers perspective if you had two very similar homes in similar areas for the same price and one had a finished basement and the other had the CAC which one would you pick? I would think the value is in the added living space, no? It certainly costs more to finish the basement (by contractor) than to install CAC.
My sister had her basement finished but she didn't have a bathroom installed, so it worked out about the same cost. CAC can be pretty expensive to install too. In our case, because the house is older and we have hardly any closets, we had to have 2 units installed. It can easily be in excess of $10K...
Interesting points you bring up. We have a 2 car garage that is unfinished. We eventually want to pour a new floor and add electric, but not finish it.
Is it possible to just sheet rock walls and the ceiling and add better lighting w/o it costing the same as a full finish for the basement or am I just being naive about it? The space definitely needs cleaning up in that respect and I would love CAC but we also have an older home but we do have tons of closets.
I am considering bringing in some contractors and giving me the whole story, but I haven't gotten to that point yet.
Our house actually has a finished garage. The back part is carpeted with heat and cable and the front section is a tool shed. Then there is a big loft up top for storage. While it could be considered another room if we ever go to sell, we don't use the "back room" as we call it (unless we're having parties and then it's useful for food and drinks). We didn't think it was an advantage when we were buying the house. I would have preferred CAC over it any day.
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| Posted 8/16/06 8:56 AM |
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Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: Just for kicks a choice
Posted by Blu-ize
Posted by ODonnell
Posted by Blu-ize
So from a buyers perspective if you had two very similar homes in similar areas for the same price and one had a finished basement and the other had the CAC which one would you pick? I would think the value is in the added living space, no? It certainly costs more to finish the basement (by contractor) than to install CAC.
My sister had her basement finished but she didn't have a bathroom installed, so it worked out about the same cost. CAC can be pretty expensive to install too. In our case, because the house is older and we have hardly any closets, we had to have 2 units installed. It can easily be in excess of $10K...
Our house actually has a finished garage. The back part is carpeted with heat and cable and the front section is a tool shed. Then there is a big loft up top for storage. While it could be considered another room if we ever go to sell, we don't use the "back room" as we call it (unless we're having parties and then it's useful for food and drinks). We didn't think it was an advantage when we were buying the house. I would have preferred CAC over it any day.
Interesting points you bring up. We have a 2 car garage that is unfinished. We eventually want to pour a new floor and add electric, but not finish it.
Is it possible to just sheet rock walls and the ceiling and add better lighting w/o it costing the same as a full finish for the basement or am I just being naive about it? The space definitely needs cleaning up in that respect and I would love CAC but we also have an older home but we do have tons of closets.
I am considering bringing in some contractors and giving me the whole story, but I haven't gotten to that point yet.
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| Posted 8/16/06 8:56 AM |
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christy
Mommy of 2
Member since 5/05 6787 total posts
Name:
Christy
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Re: Just for kicks a choice
I would say the basement because it creates more room. Then down the road you can get CAC...but get by with AC's for now.
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| Posted 8/16/06 9:09 AM |
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VirginiaDeb
Don't eat me, hippo!
Member since 5/05 9252 total posts
Name:
Deb
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Re: Just for kicks a choice
CAC
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| Posted 8/16/06 9:13 AM |
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Eva Luna
Be kind...life's hard!
Member since 8/05 4750 total posts
Name:
God, bless & heal my DH, JenG's DH Rob & DebG
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Re: Just for kicks a choice
Posted by Blu-ize
So from a buyers perspective if you had two very similar homes in similar areas for the same price and one had a finished basement and the other had the CAC which one would you pick? I would think the value is in the added living space, no? It certainly costs more to finish the basement (by contractor) than to install CAC.
It depends on the market. If I was looking in NY, I would go for the basement.
In GA, where I bought, CAC without a doubt. The houses are large enough that a basement is nice, not necessary.
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| Posted 8/16/06 9:13 AM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: Just for kicks a choice
Posted by Blu-ize
So from a buyers perspective if you had two very similar homes in similar areas for the same price and one had a finished basement and the other had the CAC which one would you pick? I would think the value is in the added living space, no? It certainly costs more to finish the basement (by contractor) than to install CAC.
finishing a basement I would imagine costs a LOT more than CAC. so if I had a choice between a house with a finished basement that has an extra bathroom or one that has CAC, I would go for the house w/the finished basement.
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| Posted 8/16/06 9:15 AM |
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Faithx2
All good things in 2016!!
Member since 8/05 20181 total posts
Name:
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Re: Just for kicks a choice
CAC-after having it for 4 years. I couldn't live without it!
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| Posted 8/16/06 9:38 AM |
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SweetestOfPeas
J'taime Paris!
Member since 3/06 32345 total posts
Name:
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Re: Just for kicks a choice
here's something I recently learned about CAC. another benefit to having it is since it takes out the humidity in every room of the house, mold has little chance of developing in the walls - unless of course there is a leak in the foundation.
in a humid area, mold is a big problem.
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| Posted 8/16/06 9:38 AM |
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~Colleen~
my loves...
Member since 5/05 9129 total posts
Name:
guess
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Re: Just for kicks a choice
There is not much difference in cost to finish a basement or install CAC - of course it depends on the size of the house vs size of the basement and how much of it you want to finish and of course, how you want to finish it.
Personally I prefer to do my own renovations to my taste so in the end I would choose the house with the CAC...and finish the basement on my own. I prefer a basement to be 2/3 living space and 1/3 utility area so I wouldn't finish my entire basement.
I also tend to think that I would make more excuses against spending the money for CAC than I would for finishing the basement.
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| Posted 8/16/06 9:41 AM |
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joenick
Us
Member since 6/06 9370 total posts
Name:
Valerie...aka...Do Me A Favor?
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Re: Just for kicks a choice
I have both CAC and a finished basement. I absolutely LOVE both (especially the CAC with this crazy hot summer). But...the CAC is only used a few months out of the year. We are in my basement every single day...it's my sons' playroom! I couldn't imagine not having my basement for all of their toys and a great space for them to play!
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| Posted 8/16/06 9:57 AM |
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pinkandblue
Our family is complete, maybe
Member since 9/05 32436 total posts
Name:
Stephanie
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Re: Just for kicks a choice
basement definitely
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| Posted 8/16/06 9:58 AM |
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Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: Just for kicks a choice
Posted by Colleen9304
There is not much difference in cost to finish a basement or install CAC - of course it depends on the size of the house vs size of the basement and how much of it you want to finish and of course, how you want to finish it.
Personally I prefer to do my own renovations to my taste so in the end I would choose the house with the CAC...and finish the basement on my own. I prefer a basement to be 2/3 living space and 1/3 utility area so I wouldn't finish my entire basement.
I also tend to think that I would make more excuses against spending the money for CAC than I would for finishing the basement.
DH was originally on me about finishing the basement to make it a man room, but it's really not that great of a space for that. So he's not as hyped up about that idea although I think it could really add some value to the house.
I've always wanted CAC but he is less than excited about it. I don't think he feels it's important enough. I certainly do and I think it would be more efficient overall.
I may have to bring in the pros to show him why it's a good idea. The humidity and mold issue is an excellent point..we do live on an island!
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| Posted 8/16/06 10:00 AM |
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Christine
2nd verse same as the 1st
Member since 5/05 15287 total posts
Name:
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Re: Just for kicks a choice
I would install CAC.
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| Posted 8/16/06 10:03 AM |
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Michelina627
LIF Adult
Member since 2/06 1071 total posts
Name:
Michelle
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Re: Just for kicks a choice
Since we don't have a basement - that's what I'd choose! I grew up with a basement, and I miss it terribly.
DH would absolutely go for CAC.
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| Posted 8/16/06 10:04 AM |
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Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: Just for kicks a choice
This is hard! Ok, first the financing..
I'll post another thread about that..
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| Posted 8/16/06 10:08 AM |
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krwm
<3
Member since 7/05 3466 total posts
Name:
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Re: Just for kicks a choice
Basement
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| Posted 8/16/06 10:38 AM |
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lulugrrl
My 3 Blessings
Member since 3/06 6551 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: Just for kicks a choice
FINISH BASEMENT
Increased living space is more important to me than cooler air for a couple months of the year.
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| Posted 8/16/06 10:51 AM |
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~Colleen~
my loves...
Member since 5/05 9129 total posts
Name:
guess
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Re: Just for kicks a choice
I should add that DH & I have really bad allergies - and in addition, he has asthma. Having rented from a heavily shaded house (thus being a breeding ground for mold), we were always sick. More than cooling the air, the CAC rids the air of moisture. It's a nice feature.
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| Posted 8/16/06 10:55 AM |
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MrsS2005
Mom of 3
Member since 11/05 13118 total posts
Name:
B
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Re: Just for kicks a choice
Definitely CAC. I grew up in with CAC and most of my apartments have had it. During my last year of law school we lived in a house with no CAC and it $ucked. I hated leaving my bedroom b/c it was so hot.
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| Posted 8/16/06 11:57 AM |
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SweetCin
My green-eyed boy
Member since 5/05 13499 total posts
Name:
Cin
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Re: Just for kicks a choice
Tough but I would think the finished basement, especially with another bathroom
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| Posted 8/16/06 12:02 PM |
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Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: Just for kicks a choice
Posted by SweetCin
Tough but I would think the finished basement, especially with another bathroom
Hey girl! Welcome!
Thanks for the input.  
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| Posted 8/16/06 12:13 PM |
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