Real Estate in Barrington & The Northwest Suburbs: Barrington Homes with Basements. Crawling, Locked in a Dungeon or Escaping

Barrington homes with basements are more common than not, but let's first decide which kind of basement you want.

Barrington Homes With Basements - SLAB

No basement at all. The house is built on top a slab of concrete. Of course if you've never had a basement then you cannot miss what you've never had.  The question is, are there pros and cons to buying a  Barrington without a basement? The answer is yes, especially if you are buying at the median price and above because future buyers looking at Barrington homes with basements are likely not going to want to look or buy your home. Slab homes are typically cheaper due to lower construction costs.

Start your search for Barrington homes with basements.

What About Crawl Spaces?

Not quite that slab of concrete but they are as described. You can crawl into them and often the base is mud, or gravel laid on top op mud. Mostly used as storage areas they can be lined with thick vinyl to keep dry. They also allow access to the underneath of a home where a lot of the heating ducts run as well as plumbing, electric etc.

Barrington Homes With Basements - Dungeons

OK so I am being unfair they are not really dungeons. This is an entry level basement, full height, some are partial basement and partial crawl. When finished these basements can add more living space to the home and there will always be egress windows (escape) to let some light in. The better your light fixtures they better they are. You'll often find full bathrooms in basements adding to their value. A full basement will add value to a property and even more if it has been finished. It is very common to see these types of basements in homes in Barrington. 

Start your search for Barrington homes with basements.

English Basements - Lookout

Moving up the value ladder will be Barrington homes with basements that have windows, the kind where you can actually see out. Referred to as English basements, one or two sides to the basement are partially higher than the grade of the land, allowing for windows instead of walls and lots of natural light to come through. To allow for this there is usually some sloping of the lot on one side and at the back of the lot.

These can be full or partial, full being the most common. More desire-able due to the natural light when finished it's not unusual to find great rooms or large game rooms with sofas, even mini bars added. Adding an additional bathroom can add even more value.

Start your search for Barrington homes with basements.

Time To Escape! Walk Out The Door.

Barrington homes with basements probably count for more than 95% of the housing stock but if you want the best and highest usage as well as value look for Barrington homes with basements called walk-outs. But be careful. Walk-out means simple there is an exterior access and exit. This can be a door or sliding doors or mutliple sliding doors. If you just have a door and then meet steps to walk up that to me is not the best option. Older Barrington homes with basements may have this type of walk out but I have seen new construction done this way too.

If I wanted to find Barrington homes with basements that were walk-out I would be looking for the grade to be below the door and any windows, giving you the feeling of being on the main level. Hilldside ranches offer this type but builders have got more creative and you'll often find newer homes that offer full walk out basements. This type adds the most value to a home.

Start your search for Barrington homes with basements.

Why Do I Need a Basement?

What do Barrington homes with basements get used for? If the basement is un-finished they are mostly used for storage. Full basements can be finished with drywall, flooring and dropped ceilings, adding great rooms, playrooms, bedrooms, bathrooms, bars, really anything you want, adding a lot of living space, great for families.

In case you have not already started searching, if you are in the market to buy, Barrington homes with basements will sell better down the road, so think about what you choose and let me know if I can help.

If you want to start your search for Barrington homes with basements, you now know what to look for.