A finished basement is usually worth paying more for in Johnston if it was finished well, stays dry, and adds space you will actually use. It is not worth a premium if it was finished to hide problems, done without permits, or built over a basement with a history of water.
Many Johnston homes from the 1990s on have finished or partly finished lower levels, and listings often count that square footage. Appraisers treat below-grade space differently than above-grade space, so a finished basement usually adds value, just not dollar for dollar with the main floor.
What I look at: flooring that can survive a little water (tile and vinyl beat carpet), egress windows in any room being called a bedroom, outlets and lighting that look planned rather than added, the sump pump and how often it runs, and whether the walls feel cool and damp or dry and solid.
The trade-off is space versus risk. A finished basement gives you a family room, guest room, or office at a lower cost per foot than an addition. It also covers the concrete, so if water ever gets in, you pay to tear out and redo the finish.
What I typically see in Johnston is that basements finished by the builder or a licensed contractor hold their value well, and weekend-project basements make buyers nervous even when they look nice. Buyers pay for confidence.
As one example, two similar Johnston split-levels might be $25,000 apart because one has a finished lower level. If that space is tiled, permitted, and dry, the premium can make sense. If the carpet smells musty and the bottom of the drywall is stained, that premium is buying you a project.
My Home Search Game Plan helps you decide what is worth paying for before you start touring. To see what is new on the metro market right now, here is the live list of new listings.
Related Resources: What Does a REALTOR With a Trades Background Actually Check at a Johnston Showing? and How Do I Know If a Real Estate Agent Is Actually Looking Out for Me in Johnston?.
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Written by Jason Huffey, REALTOR with RE/MAX Revolution (License S73436000), serving Johnston and the greater Des Moines metro. Call or text (515) 606-1227. The Best Is Yet To Come.
