Basic Basement Co

My experience can be summed up in a simple sentence - You get what you pay for. Basic Basement was by far the lowest priced contractor we had by more than half. We were getting estimates to refinish our basement in the 40-50K range. All we wanted was some walls and floors and Basic Basement provides just that. They make money on volume. They have an odd system where the on-site project manager very rarely interacted with us. Any instructions were given directly to the workers before we left for work or through Gail, the woman who worked in the office. Gail was great and very responsive and certainly the best part of the process. However, it created some difficulties with communication where any instructions or issues that occurred had to go through Gail who then had contacted the project manager to physically come to the worksite. They also seemed to have an issue with the jobsite debris removal. Almost every time they filled up bags of trash I had to request that they get taken away. Everything was eventually picked up, but it was perplexing why I had to request it every time. My other gripe is that the scheduling was rather spread out. I don't think there was a week where the crew was there all 5 days. Things were spread out over 2 months. They do not do flooring for some reason, and they recommended that they do not paint because it would cost too much. The finer details that are laid out in the contract were never reviewed before or during the job, so we ended up with confusion in drywall coverage and a stair railing that was re-used instead of replaced (which I will have to do by myself later). The finish work that was done (trim, baseboards, etc.) was only OK. Miters should have been glued to fill in the cracks and, because there was no flooring done, I will have to attach the baseboard myself. Overall, it is what it is - you get what you pay for. If you are not opposed to doing some work yourself and are content with just the basics, then I would recommend Basic Basement. Gail was great and the price was very fair. If you are looking for a hands-off, turn-key solution, then you will have to pay more for a contractor offering more complete services. My rating is a B because even though the quality was on par with the price, the scheduling and the contract detail oversights were slightly disappointing.

Let me start by saying I was dreading finishing my basement. I actually considered moving to avoid it. We desperately needed more space and I had met with numerous contractors before contacting Basic Basement. Jerry came to our home and went over our options and helped me decide the best use for our space. I was so happy to have someone who could envision what our basement could look like, because I'm not great at it. We decided that we wanted to use basic basement right away. The entire process went so smoothly. Every person from the electrician to the carpenter was on time, so respectful of our space and left the basement clean everyday. Gail was amazing. She answered every question I had and was so responsive. She really made the entire process seamless and so easy for me. I would highly recommend using this company. Not only do they take care of everything from scheduling the workers and inspections but the people are so helpful. I have an absolutely beautifully finished basement and a new bathroom. I really could not be happier.

We had a great experience with Basic Basements. My wife and I were clueless about how to design the basement and how to estimate costs. Two other independent contractors did little to help us think through the best design for our space, and quoted us costs of $25,000 to $30,000! We found Basic Basements through a Val-Pak coupon we received in the mail. Their salesperson gave us some great insights into how we should think about creating storage space as well as living space and came up with a layout that we really liked. They have the pricing down to a science...their quoted price includes a set number of lights, doors, and outlets; when we wanted to add a French Door and a spindled railing for the stairs, they were very flexible, and able to show us how we could adjust the cost by adding or subtracting certain aspects to keep the price within our range, but have the things we also wanted most. And their quoted price of $14,000 was far below anyone else! Their work crews were punctual and attentive to not making any bigger mess than needed. The only negative was that they sent just one worker to spackle the entire basement, and he didn't finish until 830 at night...well past what we think is a reasonable hour for a contractor to be in our home. Some of the trash that the project generated also sat in our driveway for a little longer than we liked, but we never had to bug them to make sure it was picked up. The quality of the work was excellent, and they were again very flexible when we decided to suspend the basement project for several weeks as we added in a supplemental air conditioning system that we didn't plan on. We were extremely happy with the experience, and hope to use them again for our powder room and kitchen--which they also do!

We had a fantastic experience with Basic Basement. As soon as we contacted the company, I was called and an appointment was made. The sales rep, Dan, came out at a convenient time and measured and explained everything to me. He sent a quote right away and provided a layout. The PM's, Gail and Bob, kept us informed and took care of all the details - my permit was approved by the township in a few weeks! They said the paperwork, done by Basic Basement, was done properly and thoroughly. All of the trades, drywaller/carpenter/electrician - were professional and FAST! When it was time for final inspection, the Inspector said that this company is top notch and that their work is excellent. Thank you - I would definitely recommend this company.

This was my first remodel experience, and I was somewhat terrified based on stories from friends. I was really pleasantly surprised by my experience with the basic bathroom company; the final product was beautiful, there were no unexpected costs, the workers were timely and courteous, and the overall budget was at least a few thousand less than any other offer I got. As stated, this was my first remodel experience, and this is not subject matter I am experienced in. Having a project manager was a huge help; I dont think I realized this until after the project. I had thought I could pull this altoghether myself, but once things got started, I quickly realized I had no clue what I was doing and the project manager was a huge huge help. My project manager was super responsive and happy to answer all of my questions, without ever getting irritated. Everyone I spoke to at the basic bathroom co was really pleasant. If you are not a "pro" when it comes to remodels, I would highly suggest the basic bathroom co as they really hold your hand and walk you through everything, and don't take advantage of your budget. One other caveat I will add is that I am a single female; the thought of having unknown contractors at my house, with my keys, made me a little anxious. Aside from the fact that the Basic Bathroom Company was accountable for what was going on at all times, the guys doing the work were all really great and friendly. I know this isn't something anyone wants to consider, but I think it's important to mention for other single females.

This was my first remodel experience, and I was somewhat terrified based on stories from friends. I was really pleasantly surprised by my experience with the basic bathroom company; the final product was beautiful, there were no unexpected costs, the workers were timely and courteous, and the overall budget was at least a few thousand less than any other offer I got. As stated, this was my first remodel experience, and this is not subject matter I am experienced in. Having a project manager was a huge help; I dont think I realized this until after the project. I had thought I could pull this altoghether myself, but once things got started, I quickly realized I had no clue what I was doing and the project manager was a huge huge help. My project manager was super responsive and happy to answer all of my questions, without ever getting irritated. Everyone I spoke to at the basic bathroom co was really pleasant. If you are not a "pro" when it comes to remodels, I would highly suggest the basic bathroom co as they really hold your hand and walk you through everything, and don't take advantage of your budget. One other caveat I will add is that I am a single female; the thought of having unknown contractors at my house, with my keys, made me a little anxious. Aside from the fact that the Basic Bathroom Company was accountable for what was going on at all times, the guys doing the work were all really great and friendly. I know this isn't something anyone wants to consider, but I think it's important to mention for other single females.

The basic basement company has done an awesome job on my basement in 4 weeks time. They were very professional and well versed in their job. Their service was prompt and the customer service was great. They are a trustworthy company to get the basement finished. Their suggestions were very valuable and reasonably priced. I highly recommend them

The entire experience went well starting with the original sales call right on through final inspections. Dominick Natoli visited twice, prepared the estimate, we made minor modifications and he provided the contract. Everything contained in the contract was provided without any issues and it was extremely pleaseant dealing with Gail at their office. We were told it would take about one month and they were dead on. Project started on July 20th and concluded on August 22nd. All of the materials were delivered exactly when I was told they would be and all of the workers showed up on time when expected. The workers were all polite, neat and what I saw to be very caring about the quality of their work. I was asked for input along the way and was accomodated where choices needed to be made, some that clearly required more effort than others and that never became an issue.. I was extremely impressed to see my entire basement framed out in just one day. Three guys worked non-stop from 7:30 am to 8:30 pm and did not leave until finished and cleaned up. Several days later, the electrician arrived and spent one day roughing out all of the electric. Passed all inspections a few days later. Then the sheetrockers came. By the time I came home from work, the entire basement was sheetrocked. Two days later, spackers arrived and spent the entire day putting several coats of spackle on that just needed a light sanding one morning a few days later. Electrician spent a day connecting everything and a few days later carpenters came to install the moulding and doors. Here again, I am very pleased with the quality of the finish work. On the last day, Bob, the project manager showed up to complete one or two small items and address anything I had on a final "punch list." Bob was involved at various stages throughout the process and he helped to make it a good experience. It was clear that this company wants to please their customers and each of the workers demonstrated this value . Gail then arranged for all four inspectors to show up on the same morning and we passed without any problems. Scheduling throughout the project was discussed and they were flexible to my time pressures. At the end of each process, debris was placed in my driveway in heavy plastic bags and Gail had it removed the next day. I honestly had a stressless experience with the Basic Basement Company and will highly recommend them to anyone who asks. I have already told many of my friends about my experience and am already enjoying my new living space.

The whole process was easy and seamless - of course we had gotten estimates from others but many other companies were unreliable (did not show up for estimates) or overpriced (almost seemed like they were pulling numbers out of the air). Met with basic basement, felt very comfortable with the first contact (Todd). He went over (in detail) of what was covered with their basic rate and what can be added (bathroom, wetbar, etc). We were just interested in adding additional living space so basic was good for us. We did have a sub-panel added (their price came in lower than hiring our own electrician). We signed the contract and set the date. Wow - every appointment was on time - we would get a detailed walk through after every step. the crews were polite and would clean up at the end of each day. They even hauled away their own garbage (no need to leave it curbside). Another great service was that they scheduled all of the home inspections with my town - the inspectors would also rave about their work. Just to give an example on timing - we had a handyman redo a full bath for us - it took him more time than it did Basic Basement to do our entire basement. Just to note how reactive they are - there was a minor issue with combustion vents (grills) being installed in the water heater closest - the Project Manager assigned to the job was at my house within an hour and quickly (as well as beautifully) installed the grills. I was amazed on how great my basement looks. They did a great job and I highly recommend them. From the crews, to the salesman to the office team (led by Gail) - it was a great experience.

We had a original 40 year old bathroom that was in need of updating. We found an ad for Basic Basement Co. which also had a division to deal with bathroom re-models. I contacted their office and set up an appt. for a sales rep to come out to our home and look over what we wanted to do. He arrived promptly, and was very helpful and professional. He next gave us a list of everything we would need to purchase, and what they would provide. This was a great option as we were really just paying for the labor. We went ahead and got all of our materials for a full re-model. After everything was purchased we contacted our salesman to let him know we were ready to proceed. An initial deposit of $1000 was required, which could be paid by credit card. The balance would be due in 2 payments with 1/2 at the beginning and the other half at the end. This could be paid by credit card or by check which would lower the cost by $200. Work began with a total gutting of the bathroom on a Tuesday morning. By the following Tuesday they were totally done. Total time was actually 4 1/2 days. Our bathroom looks absolutely awesome. I was a bit skeptical that it would get done that quickly and be that nice. WOW were we surprised. Basic Basement (bathroom) will definitely see more business from us. They were extremely professional, courteous, clean, and helpful in design ideas. They arrived promptly at 8 every morning and started working right away. These guys didn't even break for lunch. Thanks to Ralph and his assistant for a job well done. Also thanks to the project manager Jim for your help.

I started calling few remodeling companies and nobody could give me an estimate close to these guys. After we signed the contract, we waited for almost 4 weeks to get the permit. They started the project as soon as we received the permit and finished the whole project in less than 3 weeks. They are one of the most dedicated professionals we've known. The crew was polite, quiet, top notch and were willing to answer my questions. These guys are incredible. We are 100% satisfied with their work and would definitely hire them again in future.

I can't stress this enough without crossing the border into hyperbole: the Basic basement Company handled our project absolutely perfectly in every way. Okay, so there was one small detail: when the sink was installed, they forgot to bring a catch basin (that thing that goes in the drain). That was literally the ONLY thing that didn't go exactly as planned, budgeted and scheduled. We needed our entire kitchen redone, from the floor to the cabinets, and Dominick came to do the design. He listened to what we were looking for, gave us a bunch of great choices, worked with us on the small details (trim, etc) and gave us good advice on what works in our space, even when it might mean a lower total quote. We were thinking of doing cabinets all the way to the ceiling (we hated our soffet so much), for example, but Dominck suggested a slightly shorter cabinet that allowed for the use of real crown molding instead of quarter round, and it makes a gigantic difference. Unlike a lot of the other places who came in, he gave us a price on the spot. He sent us a final design the same day (without us having to sign a contract to even look at it, as one place wanted us to do), we made a couple of small changes. We also had some options on the pricing, which I really appreciated (mainly doing the demolition ourselves). Once we decided on a price, that price never wavered (you hear a lot of stories about how contractors discover new things to charge for along the way, there was absolutely none of that!). As far as timeliness is concerned, we were given a hard-dated timeline at the beginning of the project, and BBC hit every single date right on the money. They'd give you their service window, so say something like between 8 and 10 AM, and invariably they were there at 8:30. They used several different crews between flooring and cabinets and counter tops (standard for this sort of work), all of which were completely professional, worked clean, respected our space. They were always done when they said they'd be, and at every step we were just wowed by the results. They completely redid our kitchen in a total of five working days in the course of three weeks (350 square foot kitchen and entry way). The longest part was waiting for the granite, which took only two weeks. Our old house, we went through a similar project with Home Depot contractors, and it took a month! There are few renovation projects as stressful and inconvenient as doing a kitchen, let's face it. The one factor that really, really set this place apart for us was their responsiveness, which is really the only comfort under the circumstance (again, using Home Depot I actually had to write a letter to their regional manager to get someone to tell us what was going on with our granite). Gail, our project manager, responded to several emails from us within hours, not days, and she was absolutely there when we needed something answered or had even little questions. It's a huge difference maker: we never felt like we were project # LU864234; they treated us like we were their only job. Just a tremendous experience. When they were done, the kitchen looked so good that I'd find my wife just standing in it admiring it for a few days. We can't recommend Basic Basement highly enough, and we plan to use them for future renovations. The only downside I could see with this place is they don't offer an in-house finance plan, but we're savers, so for us this was a non-factor. They collect in three installments, the last one only upon job completion and meeting with you to make sure you're happy. To put it simply, USE THIS PLACE.

They were very professional. If anything went wrong or if we had any issues, they were receptive and quick to fix whatever it was.

Todd came over and measured and provided information. He wasn't pushy and just gave me the facts. After I contacted him again to let him know I wanted to go forward, he sent me a very clearly written, detailed proposal. He gave me a checklist of everything that would happen and a timeframe for each. Gail was my coordinator for all the phases. She was so helpful and friendly! I always knew what to expect from start to finish. The guys that actually came over to do the work were professional and skilled. They worked quickly and cleaned up after each job. I felt relaxed with each group in my home. I had framers, electricians, drywallers, and a carpenter for doors and trim come. They did a great job. I opted to save a little money and paint and do flooring myself. The schedule ran smoothly and I had the ability to adjust things if I needed to. I'm so happy with the finish product. I did not go over my budget. I got quotes from other places that just wanted to push upgrades and design fees on me. All I wanted was a basic finish so my kids could have a place to hang out. I'm so glad I went with these guys. I highly recommend them!

"We've just had a wonderful experience with Basic Basement Company ! We paid just half the price of all other estimates for more than double reactivity, really !! From Jordan, the salesman, to Gail and Bob the Project Managers through the specialist technicians, they were all very PRO ! And it took them far less than 2 months to finish our 1000 sqft "storage area basement"... so they were far ahead of the schedule ! They were always very clean after each job (framing, electrical, etc..) and very responsive when it came to comply with all the codes of our very demanding Township (here in West Windsor, NJ). We will definitely call them for remodeling our master bathroom and wish they had a "Basic Patio Company" to build our new patio .... Phil"

The Basic Basement company was the best contractor that I have ever used. I had a few estimates to refinish the basement and they ranged from 30K to 40K. Basic Basements did it for $15K (I spent an additional $3K for the floor and I painted myself). The Basic Basement contractors were very punctual, always arriving when they stated they would. They were very professional and did outstanding work. Our basement was done some 40 years ago, and was dark, dreary and unusable. They demolished the old paneling and studs, ripped out the wet bar, and puled up the glued carpet. The framers then framed the basement adding a vapor barrier, ran new electrical lines and lighting, and installed upgraded mold resistant sheetrock. Also done were the replacement of 4 basement windows and adding an exterior metal door leading to the bilko doors. I also added a sub panel as the previous basement was not wired properly. I passed every inspection in a town known to give contractors a hard time. They completed the project in less than 2 months. The demo/ framing crew were great, as were the electrician and finish carpenters. They often worked on Saturday if requested and I trusted to work unsupervised in my home when I was not available. Curtis was my outside project manager, was responsive to any questions I had about the workers and what was happening. Gail was my inside project manager- she was AWESOME! She really took the time to explain each step, answer any question, schedule the visits, schedule the inspectors, and was an absolute delight to work with. I can't say enough good things about Gail, talking to her at least twice a week she always was cheerful, kind and informative. I have used many contractors in the past, and I would HIGHLY recommend Basic Basements and their sister companies Basic Bathrooms and Basic Kitchens. They are very reasonable, very professional and do quality work. We love what they did to our basement.

It was very nice experience working with Basic basement and I am looking forward to renovate my kitchen soon in the future with Basic Kitchen company!!

it went great project manager did great job

My sister used this company so we had been referred. We met with the sales person in early September, hoping to have the work done by the end of November. We wound up not being finished until around Christmas, but we were not really under a time crunch, and to be fair, I think some of it was due to our township (if yours is faster with turning around permits and inspections it may be quicker). Gail, in the office, is a true asset to the company. She schedules all the contractors, inspections, handles your payments, etc., she is fantastic at getting back to you quickly, and is very pleasant to work with. I was impressed with the work and the finished product especially for the price (carpet and paint are not included in the price). My only suggestion is to have the project manager more present ( I think he was only here twice). We have flexible work schedules so we were able to be around when trades had questions though so it worked out.

Basic Basement just completed my unfinished basement. I couldn't be happier with the results. The costs were reasonable and the results exceptional. Even though you lose use of your basement during construction; they make it as pain-free as possible. I just left them a key to my house & they did their thing. Everyone from Basic Basement was highly professional. The Design Consultant was expert in schematics & designing the basement. The framing guys were expert in framing. The dry wall guys were expert in dry walls, etc...

It was obvious that the man they sent knew everything about room construction, plumbing and floors, and had many years of experience doing this kind of work. The quality of his workmanship was absolutely top notch as was the materials provided by the company. We used a vanity provided by another firm due to its custom size, and it was carefully installed. The bathroom looks absolutely beautiful. This is a great value for the money. They receive my highest recommendation.

If you think you are going to pay $9999 for 800 sq.ft. basement, well, think again. Our BASIC 840 sq.ft. basement estimate came out to be over 19K - and this is without painting and floor. All we wanted is perimeter walls and 3 doors, no bathroom, no wet bar - nothing fancy, just the basics. They threw in a ton of extra electrical work that my husband (a retired electrician) told them was absolutely not needed. They were implying that our linear footage exceeds the limit, and that's why the cost of materials grows significantly. Be prepare for a lot of "false necessities" being thrown to your estimate. One word of advice - before you call for ANY estimates do your own floor plan, then take it to Lowe's or Home Depot, and they will help you to calculate the cost of materials. This is what we did, and this is why none of contractors estimate sounded fair to us. They were all doubling the price for materials, and tripling the cost of labor. Do whatever you can yourself, and hire a subcontractor to do what you can't. This is what we did.

The workers were wonderful. The kitchen looks great. From our first visit with Dominick we knew he was going to be the one we pick. We shopped around, not to jump into the first est. No one came near the price, or listened to our needs. As it got close to starting the job my husband and I got nervous.Did going with the cheaper price mean low quality. NOT AT ALL!!!!! Every step was high on workmanship and quality. Thank you

I am so happy that I chose The Basic Basement Co. to finish my basement. Their cost was extremely reasonable compared to others and the work quality is excellent. Project manager was experienced professional and explained all details of work being done. I love quality of work done by The basic basement co. I would definitely recommend to others for basement projects.

The Basic Basement Company was wonderful to work with! The completed the job, in great quality, within the time and absolutely no surprises. Whats more, they also worked with us to paint and did a great job. Special mention for Gail, she was a complete delight and always knew the schedule and everything regarding our project.