tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15223784.post7342835793811104085..comments2023-10-08T06:24:07.089-07:00Comments on Seattle Bubble: Finished Basements: What Could Go Wrong?The Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14832570891451659976noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15223784.post-2856572223784033902007-02-15T10:49:00.000-08:002007-02-15T10:49:00.000-08:00Also many people dont look at mold, and rot issues...Also many people dont look at mold, and rot issues in conventionally finished basements, a good alternative to wood studding and drywall (which is a food for mold and rot) is total basement solutions. totalbasementsolutions.comcharlesjohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07014635910106840901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15223784.post-2075630978292182042007-01-04T15:47:00.000-08:002007-01-04T15:47:00.000-08:00"especially when people think they can rent their ..."especially when people think they can rent their basement to pay down the mortgage."<br /><br />Well, I do rent my (main floor) to pay my mortgage. I live in the (remodeled, to-code, daylight) basement.<br /><br />My renters pay my mortgage. I pay the HELOC that paid for the gutting and rebuilding (and earthquake-retrofitting) of the basement. The HELOC would be much less if I had done the remodel on the cheap, but... eek. Isn't that just an invitation to massive rework if you keep the place, and massive lawsuit liability if you sell?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07924938624529626461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15223784.post-2228864384990616242007-01-02T22:04:00.000-08:002007-01-02T22:04:00.000-08:00I once walked through a house in Beacon Hill that ...I once walked through a house in Beacon Hill that had several grafted-on remodels, that made Tara Reid's boob job look like fine art.<br /><br />The best part was when I got taken into the basement with "remodel potential". The ceilings were like 5'11", exposed floor joists, concrete floors. I thought he was making a joke when he talked about turning them into bedrooms... what a nightmare. To his credit, he did say that they weren't up to code, and that would be "a different thing to look into"<br /><br />I didn't walk away, I *ran* away. I didn't even take the business card out of the used-house-salesperson's hand.Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17554690956040177155noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15223784.post-55469674240055832872007-01-02T12:20:00.000-08:002007-01-02T12:20:00.000-08:00This crap is everywhere in Seattle -- especially w...This crap is everywhere in Seattle -- especially when people think they can rent their basement to pay down the mortgage.<br /><br />In fact, I've never seen as many obvious code violations as I have in Seattle rentals: exposed wiring, uninsulated walls, windowless basement apartments, water damage, mold infestations, and so on. It makes me wonder what would happen to the housing market if people could no longer rent their basements without having to invest in code compliance. <br /><br />Could people afford that $600,000 mortgage if they couldn't rent their "daylight basement" apartments without $50,000 in upgrades?MisterBubblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01317437260649857132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15223784.post-37547690872186177252007-01-02T11:01:00.000-08:002007-01-02T11:01:00.000-08:00There is probably nowhere this is more prevalent t...There is probably nowhere this is more prevalent than Ballard. Many a shack has been doubled in size by adding pergo and drywall to a 6-foot high hole under the house.<br /><br />I am waiting for 3-foot crawlspaces to be deemed living space, ala <a href=http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0120601/ckjc4.jpg.html><i>Being John Malkovich</i></a>wreckingbullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17638414960637604072noreply@blogger.com