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I'm Rusty Green, founder of Compelling Homes and 2026 dsm Magazine Home Design Professional of the Year. As a remodeler serving the Des Moines area since 2009, I get more questions about pricing than anything else. Here's the straight 2026 answer for a basement remodel: a basic basement finish runs $70,000–$91,000, adding a 3/4 bathroom pushes it to $90,000–$120,000, and a high-end basement with custom bar, premium finishes, and multiple rooms typically runs $160,000–$250,000+. What's new this year: material costs have stabilized but specialty trades are running 8–12% higher than 2024, Polk County permits now stretch two to three weeks for major scope, and custom wet bars with built-in beverage appliances are the most-requested upgrade.
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Line-item costs, every add-on, and eight real Des Moines project totals.
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During the early stages of planning your basement remodel, one of the first things you'll have to determine is how much you want to spend on the project.
Finishing your basement and redesigning the space to serve a new purpose is a significant home improvement project and an investment, but it also provides a substantial return by increasing the potential resale value of your home and enhancing the long-term quality of life for you and other household members.
What is the Average Basement Remodel Cost in 2026?
To help you establish a preliminary budget, you'll first want to identify your project priorities and develop a work scope. The size and current condition of your basement will dramatically affect your basement remodeling cost. If you're starting with an unfinished basement, you will likely be investing a larger sum than if you were remodeling certain aspects of your already-finished basement. If you have to undergo major projects — such as raising your house, installing a foundation under the existing structure, or converting a crawlspace — those will also increase your project price. Similarly, transforming an unfinished basement into a fully conditioned living space requires insulation, framing, drywall, flooring, and HVAC and plumbing connections, all of which factor into the overall budget.
Additionally, your basement renovation cost — and ultimately your total project cost — depends on what type of new livable space you want to create, the scope of work, and the quality and type of materials, features, and fixtures you select for your basement space.
In the Des Moines metro for 2026, a complete Compelling Homes basement finish starts at approximately $70,000 for a foundational scope and tops out at $250,000+ for a high-end, multi-room basement with a full bath, custom bar, and premium finishes. The three tiers most projects fall into are detailed below. For the line-item breakdown — including add-ons like egress windows, sump pumps, fireplaces, and theater wiring — download our Basement Remodel Pricing Guide, or browse completed projects across the Des Moines area in our before-and-after basement gallery.
One pitfall that we've seen in other companies is that they throw out a "low estimate" for basement finishing, then make stipulations such as: "homeowner to provide all floor tile, paint, light fixtures, and plumbing fixtures." Or, my personal favorite, to exclude portions of the project like this: "homeowner responsible for permitting, licenses, labeling of the electrical panel, yard repairs, demo, engineering, or framing materials." This is why working with a reputable contractor who provides transparent, inclusive pricing matters.
When Compelling Homes estimates a basement finish, it's inclusive of a white-glove, total-turn-key experience. We handle everything, including every piece of lumber and every light fixture. We could take the "confusing" way of providing an estimate for basements and exclude large portions of the materials or labor, but that's not a client experience we wish to perform.
2026 Basement Remodel Price Tiers in the Des Moines Area
When we talk about our prices, please understand that we aren't talking about a run-of-the-mill remodel. That's not what people hire us to do. Compelling Homes produces world-class remodels, down to the very last detail. That means taking extra time and care to get your remodel right and using quality materials that stand the test of time.
Tier 1: Basement Finish — $70,000 to $91,000
A complete refresh of an unfinished or lightly finished basement with no plumbing additions. Create a home office, family living room, extra bedroom, or dedicated theater space — the kind of square footage your main floor is missing. Includes new drywall, lighting, electrical, flooring, paint, trim, built-in storage, and proper HVAC integration. Typically a single open layout or a two-to-three-room configuration without a bathroom or bar.
Tier 2: Basement Finish + Bathroom — $90,000 to $120,000
Everything in Tier 1 plus a full 3/4 bathroom (toilet, vanity, shower or tub). The big plumbing variable: does your home have a roughed-in stub for the basement bath? If so, we can usually tie in without much excavation. If not, we'll break the slab to run drain lines and may install a sewage ejector pump for gravity drainage below the main sewer line. Material choices — natural stone vs. ceramic tile, mid-range vs. premium fixtures — drive where in the range you land. See completed bathroom finishes in our bathroom gallery.
Tier 3: Full Basement with Bath, Bar & Premium Finishes — $160,000 to $250,000+
The "entertaining destination" basement — full bath, custom wet bar with cabinetry and beverage appliances, fireplace or built-in media wall, premium tile and stone finishes, and often a guest bedroom plus a workout or theater room. The Des Moines homeowners who land here are typically building for long-term enjoyment, not resale; the personalization shows. Browse our before-and-after basement gallery for examples — from Ankeny game rooms to Des Moines speakeasies.
How Much Value Does a Basement Remodel Add?
The average return on investment (ROI) for finishing or remodeling a basement is about 70% in the Des Moines area. However, several factors impact how much of your project cost — and overall total cost — you will likely recoup in resale value. Your actual ROI depends on the overall condition of your home, the value of similar homes in your neighborhood, housing trends, and the state of the real estate market when you sell your home.
Additionally, a generic project — such as an extra bedroom, laundry room, or multifunctional game room — has a greater likelihood of appealing to future buyers than a space with a more niche use, like a wine cellar. That doesn't mean you shouldn't build one. Don't neglect the value you'll enjoy from your new basement before resale, especially if you have no immediate plans to move. The value of frictionless living with every element exactly as you desire cannot be understated. A thoughtfully remodeled basement becomes an extension of your main living areas rather than an afterthought below grade.
Want the full picture before you call?
Three budget scenarios, every add-on cost, and real project totals from completed metro basements.
Download the Pricing Guide →
Your Des Moines Basement Should Be Compelling
Having a clear idea of what you want to spend for your basement finishing project is critical to developing a feasible plan that achieves your vision without going over budget. As a full-service design-build company, Compelling Homes has a top-tier team of designers and professionals as a single source for communication and accountability throughout the project. We're ready to make your basement remodel way better than good enough. You deserve for it to be...compelling.
