ᐅ Is building a basement still justified today?

RobsonMKK schrieb:
Depending on the garage, costs can quickly add up to 10,000 to 20,000 euros. A basic utility basement costs less than 600 euros per square meter (if it is not waterproof concrete).

For a built-up area of 100 m² (1,076 sq ft), the basement would therefore cost around 60,000 euros (rough estimate).

I’m not sure if this message was directed at me, but I’ll respond anyway: It is definitely planned for two cars to be parked in our double garage, and the garage will NOT be used as a storage room. That’s why, in addition to the 6 x 6 m (20 x 20 ft) garage for the two cars, we have planned a 6 x 3 m (20 x 10 ft) storage room behind the garage. So, the total garage area is 6 x 9 m (20 x 30 ft). While there is a cost for this storage room behind the garage, it is less expensive than a basement or a partial basement of the same size as the storage room. That’s why it was the more economical solution. Also, as I mentioned, I am not a fan of basements. I simply don’t like the atmosphere and feel uncomfortable in them. Therefore, I would not build a basement for myself, even if it were not so expensive.

By the way, a basement does not prevent a garage from becoming cluttered. As several people have already mentioned here: it really comes down to personality—some people tend to accumulate clutter, others do not. And those who do tend to clutter won’t stop just because there is a basement present.

Bieber0815 schrieb:
For a built-up area of 100 m² (1,076 sq ft), the basement costs around 60,000 euros (rough estimate).

Of course, it’s not free.
My point is that creating the same floor area above ground in the house costs you about 150,000. A garage with 37 m² (398 sq ft) of built-up area constructed with solid materials also costs you nearly 50,000.
It’s confusing when people say in general terms that a basement is (too) expensive.

This is a great solution (an extension of the garage) if there is enough space and the building window allows it. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case, especially nowadays when plots of land are getting smaller and smaller...

We also have a slightly larger garage, but that’s where we store our bicycles—we have quite a few of them—as well as a motorcycle and some gardening tools.

Personally, we would have preferred the workshop on the ground floor or at least at ground level, but unfortunately, we don’t have enough space. Something like that could also be located in a suitable garden shed. But even that requires space (which we don’t have).

Therefore, there is probably no “right” or “wrong” answer to this question—only the decision that fits the individual situation, and that can vary from case to case. The choice is also influenced by personal preferences and habits.

So, to return to the original question: whether a basement still makes sense today depends on the specific situation. I can definitely imagine living without a basement, but due to my storage needs and available space, I don’t have many other options.

If you have a large plot and the possibilities, many things can be arranged on the ground floor. Considering accessibility and barrier-free living in old age, that’s certainly a smart choice. But it’s not always feasible or practical.

Climbee schrieb:

So there is no clear "right" or "wrong" in this question, only the decision that is right for each individual situation, and that can vary. The choice is also influenced by personal preferences and habits.

I completely agree with you. The decision for or against a basement largely depends on the circumstances. Size of the plot, preferences of the homeowners, certain rooms that the house should have (party room, etc.). Especially the size of the plot is an important factor, and I know that in urban areas, there is often no possibility to build larger above ground. Therefore, a basement is a good alternative to create additional space if desired. Since we are building in a very rural area, land prices are still low, and the plots are accordingly not too small – although our plot is far from huge at 632 m² (6800 sq ft), it is large enough to build a house with a 105 m² (1130 sq ft) footprint plus a double garage.

We are located in a quite rural area as well (800 residents, 400 of them with horns *g*), but since we are building on my parents' property, the available space is limited...