How I Do It

YOU NEED TO PROVIDE ME MEASUREMENTS OF YOUR BASEMENT, PHOTOS AND TELL ME HOW YOU'LL BE USING THE SPACE:

This image on the top right is a sample of what measurements to send.  Perimeter walls, post, drains, heating systems, water tanks, stairway locations and windows along with ceiling height. It does not have to be neat in any way. Anything like this messy sketch shown here will work for me. I'll work with any plan you send me and help you get everything I need by using my unique design protocol I developed over ten years ago. Remember, I have stood in, seen and designed over two thousand plus basements to date and I just don't need to be standing in yours to design it. The following will explain "How I Do It" through email using just good measurements, answered questions and photos you send me.

Let's first assume you've never measured anything before; I know this example sketch to the right is not pretty but I can understand almost anything you send me. I'll indicate back to you through email progressively with an updated preplan on a PDF image if something is not correct. You'll be instructed to merely print this out and correct it and then send that back to me. This will become the routine in the design process as well even after you received a free quote and your onboard with me. I'm a very patient person and after doing this for so many years, I can help figure your basement out and I do this within plus or minus one inch of tolerance which is more than fine for designing it. Along with my creative skills, I also possess a very high mechanical aptitude not to mention I"m extremely perceptive and very visual in nature.

So when you get started, please measure in feet and inches rounding up or down, no parts of an inch, fractions or decimals. Also indicate ceiling height and note if you measured to the center of the post or to each side also indicating the width of the post. All measurements need to be from concrete walls and or framed walls. If you have a blanket wrap insulation; lift it up, measure under this at the floor or ceiling so the plan turns out right. I will allow for this space in the basement design.

Show all perimeter wall sizes, beams and or existing walls and stairway locations at this time. Then I draw up a preliminary footprint like this one below the messy sketch image to verify dimensions and what the CAD comes up with for the total square footage. And don't worry, we may go back and forth by email a few times to get it right. The goal is to have a pre-plan on my CAD software that looks like the 2nd one down on the right. This is then sent back to you in the free quote to show the total square footage and or if I'm still missing something and need corrections. When I review your answers to my questions about the use of your space, I'll deduct the unfinished area's so I know how many square feet I'm charging you to design! My fee varies per square foot based on how complicated I see the basement in your photos, what "Design Level" you choose and this amount of square footage I'm working with.

Dimensions and or measurements of all existing obstacles such as walls, post or columns, drains, windows, stairway, heating system, water tanks and anything coming out of the floor is Step 4 in the design quote process but the most important. To receive a link to all 6 steps in the design process, please contact me which is in fact Step 1 and I'll email this to you as "What I Need From You".

Step 2 is downloading almost 200 references on a PDF file which I'll encourage you to call!

Step 3 is downloading a questionnaire I call the "Wish List" which will tell me how you want to use the space.

Step 4 as mentioned above is the most important one once again and as you can imagine, I can't do a design or free quote without this step.

Step 5 is also important and this is for you to get me many good digital photos so I can see everything as if I'm standing there.

Step 6 and the last step of the design quote process; is choosing from a "design level" (degree of detail expected) for me to understand what kind of detail and finish you're asking me to quote. My estimated time in this is important and without knowing how much work I'll need to assess, I can't provide a free quote until I know.

So once you've completed all of these 6 simple steps; I'll then send back the free design quote which is my fee agreement that assures you of what you're paying me for. I'll also mention my other free services include in this design process and yes, I can even provide a materials list too from the design. This fee agreement is sent back to me signed, you'll then receive a PayPal Invoice and I get to work on the plans keeping you updated on the layout with PDF images along with many 3D color graphic views on what I'm working on and sending it to your email so I can see if your happy with the space planning phase. This can take anywhere from a week to months depending on how decisive you are and your response time back to me. Many clients like to take their time with this process since this is a very important part of the upcoming construction process. Finishing the basement is a major financial decision and in many cases more major than buying a vehicle and it's important we make a design you can live with.

After you indicate that all the walls and rooms are good I then work on all the ceiling detail including electrical, plumbing, soffits and so on. Once I know you are satisfied with the final draft, I send you a scaled PDF file plan (larger than the one above on the bottom right) that you can print out at a Kinko's type of place on 24X36" paper for building it and permitting it along with many final 3D color graphic views and they are emailed to you at no extra cost. Once I quote you, that's the final amount unless we increase the square footage or you request a major change after the final plan was done. I may or may not charge for such a change. I'll always encourage you to call my references, they are all so very pleased.

For a free design quote fill out our feedback form here or click the contact info tab.

The finished plan at the bottom right was designed in this way; just from sending a sketch/plan to me and once again, there's no need for me to stand in your basement to do this since I've been in thousands of basements over the years! It's so very easy for me to comprehend all of this along with what I see in your photos. Just ask my references how well I do this. I know it's hard to believe but some of us in this world have creative talent naturally and I guess I'm one of them apparently.

It really is that simple and it's a fun process. . And with this information, I will determine an exact one time design fee with no surprises along the way. I then work with you until completely satisfied no matter how long it takes you to decide. It's really a fun process seeing your plan come to life on PDF images progressively. You save big time because I don't have to charge you to come to your home using wasted drive time, gas and the time in the home measuring so this savings is passed on to you. So please contact me and I'll also send you the link to my references of almost 200 happy clients from all over the USA as well as many local customers in the Denver area; all very satisfied. Thanks and I look forward to working with you.

More Information;

Engineering and permitting is not included but 99% of most basements have no need for engineering. Changes can be made at no extra charge provided you follow my proven protocol for getting this done right and you getting the plan your dreamed of. Just ask my references how nice it is to work with me. In my protocol, we work on preliminary plans first before any ceiling detail is put in such as soffits and electrical with lighting; once you tell me you like the plan and have viewed the PDF files I email to you and then you tell me which one of the many pre-plans to do my magic to then I  put in all the detail so you'll have a full scaled plan to get permits with, bids with and build with. No extra charge if we do it this way and once again, you may get up to a half dozen or more different layouts to pick from this way and you get what you want. 

For a free design quote fill out our feedback form here or click the contact info tab at the top, then you'll receive instructions on the next 5 simple steps to take to receive your free design quote. Thank you and I do look forward to working with you.

Call me at 800-491-6585 or Fax 888-267-3969 or Evenings call; 720-346-6347

john@basementdesigner.com     adesignpro@hotmail.com

Basement Finishing & Design Service, Inc.

Owned and operated by John Browning, "The Basement Designer"