• Turn your basement into a suite for some rental income.living room image by AGITA LEIMANE from Fotolia.com
  
  Basement suites are finished living units separate from the main part of a house. Creating a basement suite in your house can add substantial value to the property and create the opportunity for rental income, cutting down the cost of your monthly mortgage payment. It can also be an option as a place for your in-laws or adult children to live. Before starting construction on your basement suite, there are several ideas to consider to create an optimal living space.
  
  

Soundproofing

• Add soundproofing between the floors. Living in a basement can be quite noisy otherwise. This is especially important if small children are living above the unit or if there are wood floors above. Wood floors tend to carry sound to the floor beneath more than a floor with padded carpet would. Soundproofing may be expensive, but if not done, it could lead to the tenant moving out prematurely if noise from above was a big annoyance. It also protects you as well, as you do not want to hear the noise of a gathering of the tenant's friends when you are trying to have a relaxing evening.
  
  

Lighting

• Basements tend to be dark places. Even if you are lucky enough to build your suite in a walk-out basement, some of the rooms will probably lack windows. Having bright and ample lighting throughout the suite will help to combat this darkness and add appeal to potential renters. Recessed incandescent spotlights are a good option, if you have room in your ceiling. If not, incandescent track lighting or directional lights and surface-mounted spotlights can be very effective as well. Make sure that your fixtures can accommodate a high-wattage light bulb for maximum brightness.
  
  

Paved Path

• In some types of houses, the entrance to the basement involves walking around to the back of the house. Create a cement pathway that leads to the door so that your tenant does not have to walk through grass. She will especially appreciate this in rain or snow. It will also cut down on the amount of dirt that gets tracked in to the unit, preserving your floor quality.
  
  

Flooring

• Basements can tend to be prone to dampness more than the rest of your home. Keep this in mind when choosing the flooring type for your basement suite. You may want to avoid carpeting, even if moisture is not a problem. Carpet can be a pain to clean or replace after tenants move out. Good alternatives include ceramic tile, wood laminate and engineered wood flooring.