Basement or garage?

Lets pretend that you were deciding between two houses. One has a finished basement. One has a single car detached garage. Which do you choose and why? (And no cheating- "But I want both!" is not an option).

Re: Basement or garage?

We have a garage and no basement. Would it be nice to have one sure, but most of the people I know with basements have issues with them (flooding, cracks, bugs, mold, sump pumps, French drains etc.)

Basement or garage?

I love my basement. A full finished basement was a must have for us. We've never had a major issue. Minor flooding once during a rain storm because our spout wasn't attached on the gutter. We only use the garage for storage. If it were detached we'd probably use it even less. I think it depends on the condition of the basement and your options for storage like a adding shed in lieu of garage. If the basement space was ideal I'd choose that because it's more livable, you're likely to use it more.

Basement or garage?

We have a full basement, no garage.
We are adding a garage in the near future( for DH I don't mind not having one).
It's much easier to add a garage than it is a basement.
I find detached garages kind of useless unless it's pure storage.

Basement or garage?

Basement. We don't have a garage and are completely fine without one because we have a large shed. But a basement would be more useful to me, personally.

Re: Basement or garage?

We have both, thank goodness because the house we just bought is small.
Anyway, I would choose basement. If the house had no basement, I didn't want it. I could personally live without a garage.

Basement or garage?

I grew up without both. Now I have both. I would want a garage if you are planning on storing your car in it. I love that my car is relatively warm in the am without hearing it up and I never need to worry about ice on my windshield. If it was purely for storage, I'd want a basement.

Re: Basement or garage?

I don't like detached garages cuz I like to get into the house from the garage

I like a finished basement

Does the basement house have an attached garage?

Basement or garage?

It would be easier to add a garage later if you have enough space.

I have a garqge but nobasementand I would rather have a basement.

Message edited 1/27/2015 9:02:52 PM.

Re: Basement or garage?

Basement. Most people don't put their cars in their garages on LI, and a large shed could always serve as storage for tools, lawn equipment, bikes, etc.

A finished basements adds storage and valuable living space. In my house, it's my son's playroom/tv room, and I liove being able to corral the toys in one area (that I can close the door on) than have them spill over into my living spaces. Even for families without kids, it's another space for entertaining. I have seen some great spaces with big screen tvs, pool tables, bars, sports memorabilia. It can also be a great home office space or guest space.

When I host a big holiday, it's another space for people to hang out, and I even out another table down there for people to eat at (like the older kids, teenagers, etc).

From a resale standpoint, a lot if my buyers are willing to sacrifice a garage before a basement. A basement is a must-have for many buyers. There's just more potential for everyday use, I think.

Plus, if there's space, you can always build a detached garage. But you are not going to dig out a basement.

Message edited 1/27/2015 9:23:32 PM.

Basement or garage?

Basement. You can build a garage, but you'd have one hell of a time digging out a basement!

Also, I grew up with a garage and have one now. I have never, in the 13 years I've been driving, parked in the garage.

Re: Basement or garage?

Re: Basement or garage?

Re: Basement or garage?

Also, if the garage house has a slab floor, or even a tiny crawl space, a basement is much easier (read cheaper) to update, repair, and maintain all of your utility runs for the first floor. I have an unfinished basement, and I can see every pipe, wire, and duct for the first floor. Even with the ceiling being finished, it's much easier to get to things from a basement.

Basement or garage?

No doubt a basement
Get a shed

Re: Basement or garage?

Basement

Basement or garage?

I have both in my house, but if I could live without one it would be the garage b/c you can still use the basement for storage. The garage holds all DH tools and some other things. If we didn't have the garage we could put all of that in a shed. So my choice is basement.

Basement or garage?

I would definitely choose a basement over a garage

Re: Basement or garage?

I would choose a basement over a garage. If I needed storage space I would make sure to get a shed.

Basement or garage?

to ask a clarifying question... do you mean finished basement or garage? or basement in general or garage?

ie if there were still a basement, just not finished, I'd take a garage, I could always finish the basement.

if not, I'd take a basement over a garage, assuming there was space for a garage.

or I'd keep looking.

when we decided to trade up from our starter house 2 big requirements were a tall basement we could finish (we had a shorter one) and a garage. We crossed off houses that didn't have both. My car goes in the garage. We built a shed for storage.

Message edited 1/28/2015 9:51:28 AM.

Re: Basement or garage?

Garage, But has to be at least a 2 car

We do have a beautiful finished basement but next house do not want one. Just was never a fan of them.

Re: Basement or garage?

Does the one with the garage have an unfinished basement?

I know you said we couldn't choose it, but both were requirements for us. I couldn't live without either. Choosing one wouldn't be an option for us.

Re: Basement or garage?

It depends. Does the property of the house with the basement lend itself to building a garage in the future?

In general I would say chose the house with the basement. You can add a garage later. In my own personal case, DH will not buy a house without a garage. He uses the garage for his motorcycle, kayak, tools, as a workshop, etc. But if you don't think you'll really NEED a garage, I would choose the basement because it could be finished and now you have additional usable square footage.

Basement or garage?

if it was up to me a basement up to DH he would probably go with a garage but if I told him we could get a huge shed he would probably agree basement with no garage. we don't park our cars in the garage but DH uses it for all of his stuff so that's why he would want it.

Re: Basement or garage?

The basement. You can always store things down there PLUS if it's finished, it's extra living space.

ETA - You can always add a shed for more outdoor storage.

Message edited 1/28/2015 1:56:17 PM.