I was perplexed as I walked around the semi "finished" basement. One side of the basement had sheet rock, had a dropped ceiling and the cement floor had been painted. The other side held the mechanicals, the oil tank and the washer and dryer. There was plenty of room for storage, and on the whole the area was dry. This space was a bonus as the house was on the smaller side. (On the MLS the basement was listed as "part finished".)
But...
There was no way out! Well, there was the staircase leading down from the kitchen, but otherwise, there was no way out! No second egress. And to install a below grade window to allow for egress may cost upwards of $5,000!
I couldn't shake this as time went by, this is a fatal flaw in my opinion. The basement, on first glance, appears to be a great place for kids of all ages to romp around, but with no second egress, is it safe? This basement is a true basement housing the mechanicals, and quite inconvenient at that! And it certainly does not qualify as "part finished". The only way to get anything down there is through the kitchen and down the stairs. So even if you solve the safety issue by forking over the money and installing a below grade egress window, you still won't solve the problem of getting anything in and out of the basement. Just think if the furnace/boiler needs to be replaced?
No (second) way out is never a good thing in my mind. Being in this basement reminded me of the recent story in the news of the Massachusetts family who got stuck in a corn maze and had to call 911.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT
Marcia, using the space for living space might be a bonus, but has it concerns. And it will never be finished space!
Jim, where kids are concerned, I think it is of great concern. And the inconvenience factor is high in situations like this. I don't usually see this, to be honest with you. It did take me a few minutes to realize what was giving me that feeling of something being wrong.
Oct 22, 2011 02:56 AM
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT
Bryan, this house was built in the 70's. I am sure it was not an issue back then. Just was a curious feeling to me, to realize that we would be stuck down there if the stairs were compromised.
Oct 22, 2011 02:58 AM
Colorado Real Estate Advisers LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Relocation, Luxury & Lifestyle residential
Andrea definitely a cause for concern and that space shouldn’t be used for sleeping. Thinking out side the box, any way to cut a small escape door into a closet floor or similar space above?
Oct 22, 2011 03:37 AM
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector
Andrea, basements that are being used for things other than utilities----like a laundry, family room etc do require a secondary means of egress. If there is a bedroom, that secondary egress requirement for the whole basement can be met by the egress from the one in the bedroom. No bedroom it needs a window, or a door. I am not sure how long this has been true---but quite a while---possibly not in 1970. Certainly upgrading is a good idea.
Oct 22, 2011 03:52 AM
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!
Christie's International Real Estate - Hillsdale, NJ
Bergen County NJ Real Estate
Andrea - We see this all the time in our area. Since it does not have egress you cannot list as another bedroom of course and for safety sake it surely isn't a wise thing to do besides...
Oct 22, 2011 06:38 AM
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville
The Mortgage Market of Delaware - Georgetown, DE
Home Loans in Delaware
I wonder how much it would cost to to installl a Bilco entrance with stairs? Or first home in 1976 had a basement like you have described. Yhe washer and dryer were down there and was somewhat inconvenient but we had a ping pong table down there which we thoroughly enjoyable.
Oct 22, 2011 12:36 PM
ProStead Realty - Charlotte, NC
CRS, GRI, CMRS, Charlotte, NC
Hi Andrea, great post and I would not want buyers to purchase this house. Safety always comes first.
Oct 22, 2011 01:03 PM
(831) 626-4000 - Honolulu, HI
Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert
Andrea, it can't be use as living space if it does not have a second exit. Who ever built this house certainly was not thinking.
Oct 22, 2011 03:41 PM
Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA
Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional
Andrea...
Sounds like a dangerous place for anyone, but especially kids. I would never feel safe in a place like that.
Oct 22, 2011 05:00 PM
Jon Gosche Real Estate, LLC - BoiseMeridianRealEstate.com - Boise, ID
Boise & Meridian, ID Ada/Canyon/Gem/Boise Counties
That makes me just a little claustrophobic just reading it. We don't have a lot of basements, though older homes do in downtown Boise. Without egress they just make me a little uncomfortable --Kasey
Oct 22, 2011 05:47 PM
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector
Andrea,
You are wise. I know some agents who will argue that if a house is old, pre-codes, then the inspector should be mum on that. Maybe the inspector should point out that they built them that way, but certainly not say nothing. People can die in situations like that, even in old houses!
Oct 22, 2011 06:05 PM
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT
David, I don't think that will work at all. But it was a good thought.
Charles, upgrading is a good idea, for safety and peace of mind. If they aren't going to use it ever, then who cares.
Roger, I felt very uncomfortable when down there and didn't realize why for a moment or two.
Robert & Lisa, it is a wise thing to address this, for your own safety and for resale later on.
Tammy, LOL... I know what you mean, I was not happy down there either.
JoAnn, don't know which would be better, an egress window (which would let more light in) or a bilco door.
Judith, all we can do is point it out, but it really bothered me!
Hella, for future use, yes indeed.
George, I was surprised, I don't see it often.
Richard, me either. I admit my own basement doesn't have a second egress, but we use it for NOTHING.. seriously. Makes a great bomb shelter....
Kasey, I was more than a little uncomfortable, that's for sure!
Steven, pointing it out is all I can do, but I certainly would. And of course it is a dicey subject, as it probably was up to code. But when you list is as finished space, or anyone thinks of using for anything more than a big hole under the house, you need to put it up to today's standards, for safety reasons! And resale...
Oct 23, 2011 02:47 AM
Keller Williams Realty Coeur d'Alene - Coeur d'Alene, ID
Coeur d'Alene Idaho Real Estate Expert
Wow, I don't think I've ever seen a basement with NO exit of any kind. Even the older homes around here have the little non-egress windows that could be expanded....
Oct 23, 2011 04:14 AM
David Tracy Real Estate - Houston, TX
David Tracy Real Estate for Buyers & Sellers
I think code calls for a window if you plan to use the space as a bedroom. Current codes should be checked to see what is in and out of compliance. Two words: Fire saftety.
Oct 23, 2011 01:17 PM
RI Real Estate Services ~ 401-529-7849~ RI Waterfront Real Estate - North Kingstown, RI
Homes for Sale in Southern RI and beyond
Andrea, word to the wise is always for the buyer's agent to explain the limitations of such a room- safety first !
Oct 23, 2011 02:09 PM
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT
Janna, this also had those tiny little non egress type windows. But they are useless...
Sussie, if you have kids and want to use it as a playroom, I would rethink the whole no second egress thing, no matter what code said!
Ginny, it really is our job to do that. I really felt funny down there when I realized that.
Oct 23, 2011 02:14 PM
Coldwell Banker, 170 N Main Street, New City NY 10956 - New City, NY
Real Estate Salesperson
Andrea, unfortunately that is very common in my area in older homes. Many have finished off basements and have included an egress at that time. If using the space as a family room or a play room, I'd want to make sure that there was another way out too.
Oct 25, 2011 01:11 PM
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