Finish it or update it — one fixed price
Basement Remodeling & Finishing in Fargo-Moorhead
Turn the unfinished space under your feet — or the dated one you avoid — into the warmest, most-used room in the house. Built for Fargo-Moorhead winters, designed with our interior designers, and priced before we start.
Where are you starting?
5.0 on Google
500+ Fargo-Moorhead homes remodeled
Basement remodeling at a glance
Basement remodeling at a glance
- What we doFinish unfinished & update dated basements
- Interior designIncluded with Studio A
- Your priceFixed before we build
- Typical timeline6–8 weeks
Basement finishing & basement remodeling
Unfinished or outdated — we'll make it the best room in the house.
Most Fargo-Moorhead homes have a basement that's either bare concrete or stuck in another decade. Both are hundreds of square feet you're already paying for and not using.
Before
AfterBasement finishing
Finish an Unfinished Basement
Turn bare concrete into real living space — insulated, warm, dry and designed around how your family wants to use it.
- Moisture check, insulation & vapor control
- Framing, electrical, HVAC & lighting
- Egress windows for bedrooms
- Bathroom, bar or kitchenette rough-ins
- Flooring, trim, doors & built-ins
Before
AfterBasement remodeling
Update a Dated Basement
Rework a basement that's dark, worn or chopped up — new layout, new light and finishes that match the rest of your home.
- Remove dated walls, paneling & drop ceilings
- Open up the layout & add light
- Update or add a bathroom
- New flooring, lighting & built-ins
- Fix moisture and comfort problems
Basement ideas
What would your family use the space for?
Tap everything that sounds like your family. Bring your list to your free consult and we'll show you how it fits your space.
My basement wish list
Start tapping ideas to build your list.
Not sure what fits? That's what the consult is for.
A place to be together
The room where everyone ends up.
Holiday crowds that don't fit upstairs. Grandkids who finally have their own sleepover space. Teens who'd rather have friends over than be out. Bison game days, movie nights and the cousins all in one room. A finished basement gives your family somewhere to gather — all winter long.
- Holidays & hostingRoom for everyone, without the crowded kitchen.
- Grandkid sleepoversA guest suite they'll ask to come back to.
- Teens close to homeA hangout they actually want to use.
- Game days & movie nightsBison, Vikings or a family film — all together.
"They were super friendly and helpful throughout the whole process. Coordination and communication throughout the project was top notch. My wife and I are super happy with the finished product. Would highly recommend."
Built for Fargo-Moorhead winters
A basement that's warm in January, cool in July and dry all year.
Cold concrete, spring thaw and Red River Valley soil are why so many basements here feel damp and chilly. We plan for all of it before a single wall goes up.
Moisture check first
We look for cracks, past water and drainage issues and fix the cause before finishing.
Insulated foundation walls
Continuous insulation and vapor control on cold concrete, so walls stay warm and dry.
Warm floors
Insulated subfloor or in-floor heat, so you're not walking on cold slab all winter.
Heating, cooling & air flow
Ductwork, returns and dehumidification planned so the basement feels like the rest of the house.
Egress windows
Code-required for basement bedrooms — and they bring in daylight and a safe way out.
Sump & drainage review
We check your sump pump and drainage before spring thaw can test them.
Sound control
Insulated ceilings and walls so movie night doesn't wake the whole house.
Healthier indoor air
Our Certified Green Professional team uses low-VOC, GreenGuard-certified materials and proper ventilation — important in the lowest level of your home.
90%
of our time is spent indoors — even more during a Fargo-Moorhead winter.1
2–5×
higher levels of some pollutants are often found indoors than outdoors.1
What goes into your basement is what you breathe all winter. Our team is Certified Green Professional trained, so we build with low-VOC, GreenGuard-certified materials and plan proper ventilation from the start.
Is finishing a basement worth it?
The most square footage for your money is already under your house.
71%
of the cost of a basement conversion is estimated to be recovered at resale.2
| Finish or remodel your basement | Build an addition | Move to a bigger home | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Space gained | Hundreds of square feet you already own | New space, built from the ground up | Depends on what's for sale |
| Cost per square foot | Usually the lowest — foundation and roof already exist | Higher — new foundation, roof and exterior | Higher purchase price plus closing and moving costs |
| Your yard | Untouched | Smaller | You start over |
| Timeline | Most finished in 6–8 weeks | Several months, weather-dependent | Months of searching, selling and moving |
| Life during the project | Upstairs stays fully livable | Exterior work and disruption | Packing, showings and a new neighborhood |
| Permits & design | Handled for you, design included | More permitting and engineering | Not applicable |
2. National Association of Realtors, 2025 Remodeling Impact Report. Need more room than your basement has? We build additions too.
Basement design · Studio A + Cabinet Authority
A basement that feels like the rest of your home — not like a basement.
Your Studio A designer plans the layout around posts, ductwork and windows, brings in light so it never feels like a cave, and shows it to you in 3D before demo day. Cabinet Authority builds the bar, media wall and storage to fit.
- Layout planningAround posts, ducts and windows
- 3D renderingsSee it before demo day
- Lighting planBright, layered, never cave-like
- Custom bar & built-insBuilt by Cabinet Authority
- Finish selectionsFlooring, trim, tile and paint
- Storage planHidden, organized, accessible
Basement remodel cost
How much does it cost to finish a basement in Fargo-Moorhead?
The cost to finish or remodel a basement in Fargo-Moorhead depends on the square footage, whether you're starting from bare concrete or updating a finished space, and what you add — like a bathroom, bar or bedroom. We give you an honest budget range on a free 15-minute call, then one fixed price once your design is complete.
| Cost factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Square footage | More finished space means more framing, drywall, flooring and lighting. |
| Unfinished vs. updating | Bare concrete needs every layer; dated basements may need demo first. |
| Bathroom or wet bar | Adding plumbing — especially below the main sewer line — changes the scope. |
| Bedrooms & egress | Each basement bedroom needs a code-compliant egress window. |
| Moisture & mechanicals | Drainage fixes, HVAC changes or electrical upgrades. |
| Ceiling choice | Drywall, soffits around ducts or an accessible ceiling. |
| Finishes & built-ins | Flooring, custom cabinetry, media walls and lighting. |
Your price is locked before demo day
A line-item proposal for your finished design. Sign it, and that's the price — no surprise invoices halfway through.
Basement financing
Monthly payment options through local and national lenders — we'll walk you through them at your consult.
Explore financingHow long a basement remodel takes
Most basements are finished in 6–8 weeks.
Your upstairs stays fully livable the whole time. Start planning in fall and you could be watching the first big snowfall from your new family room.
Before construction
Design & selections
Studio A plans your layout; you approve 3D renderings and finishes.
Before construction
Fixed-price proposal
Line-item pricing for the finished design. Sign, and the price is locked.
Week 1
Prep & demo
Moisture fixes, demo of old finishes and dust protection.
Weeks 2–3
Framing & rough-ins
Framing, insulation, plumbing, electrical, HVAC and inspections.
Weeks 4–6
Drywall & finishes
Drywall, paint, flooring, trim, cabinetry and tile.
Weeks 6–8
Final walkthrough
We walk it with you, finish punch-list items and hand it over clean.
Recent basement remodels
Basements we've finished in Fargo, West Fargo and Moorhead
basement finish
Signature Spaces
West Fargo, ND
Basement Remodel
Refinished Basement
Moorhead, MN
Basement Finish
Year-Round Golf
Fargo, ND
Google reviews
What Fargo-Moorhead homeowners say
Basement remodeling FAQ
Questions Fargo-Moorhead homeowners ask before finishing a basement
Have one we didn't answer? Ask it at your free consult.
How much does it cost to finish a basement in Fargo-Moorhead?
The cost to finish a basement in Fargo-Moorhead depends on square footage, whether you are starting from bare concrete or updating a finished space, and what you add, such as a bathroom, bar or bedroom. The Home Authority, Inc. gives you an honest budget range on a free 15-minute call, then one fixed price once your design is complete.
How long does it take to finish a basement?
Most basement remodels by The Home Authority, Inc. are finished in 6–8 weeks of construction, depending on size and features. Design and selections happen first, and you get a schedule with start and completion dates before work begins.
Is finishing a basement worth it?
For most Fargo-Moorhead homeowners, yes. A finished basement adds living space without the cost of an addition or a move, and the National Association of Realtors estimates basement conversions recover about 71% of their cost at resale — while you get years of use from the space.
What can I put in my basement?
Popular basement ideas include a family or media room, wet bar or kitchenette, guest suite, bathroom, home theater, home gym, golf simulator, kids' playroom, home office, game room, in-law suite and better storage and laundry.
Can you update a basement that is already finished?
Yes. The Home Authority, Inc. remodels dated basements by removing old paneling, walls and drop ceilings, opening up the layout, adding light, updating or adding a bathroom, and fixing moisture or comfort problems.
How do you keep a basement warm in a Fargo winter?
We insulate the foundation walls with continuous insulation and vapor control, insulate the floor or add in-floor heat, and plan heating, return air and dehumidification so the basement stays as comfortable as the rest of the house.
Do I need an egress window for a basement bedroom?
Yes. Building codes in North Dakota and Minnesota require an emergency escape and rescue opening, usually an egress window, for any basement bedroom. The Home Authority, Inc. includes egress windows in the design and handles the permits.
What about moisture or water in my basement?
We check for cracks, past water and drainage or sump issues before finishing and address the cause first. Finishing over an unresolved moisture problem leads to mold and damaged materials, so it is always step one.
Are your basement materials safe for indoor air?
Yes. The Home Authority, Inc. team is Certified Green Professional trained and uses low-VOC, GreenGuard-certified products and proper ventilation, which matters most in a basement where air can be slower to circulate.
Can you add a bathroom to my basement?
Yes. A basement bathroom is one of the most popular additions. If the bathroom sits below your main sewer line, an ejector pump may be needed, and we plan for it in the design and fixed price.
Can we live at home during a basement remodel?
Yes. Your main floor stays fully livable during a basement remodel. We protect the stairway and entry and keep dust contained to the work area.
Is interior design included?
Yes. Every basement remodel by The Home Authority, Inc. includes interior design from Studio A, including layout planning, 3D renderings, lighting and finish selections.
Basement finishing near you
We finish and remodel basements throughout the Fargo-Moorhead metro and within about 60 miles, including lake homes in the Minnesota Lakes Area. Visit our showroom at 2821 US-10, Moorhead, MN, to see flooring, cabinetry and finishes in person.
Communities we serve
Free basement consult
Find out what your basement will cost — before you commit to anything.
A 15-minute phone call with our team. You'll leave with:
- An honest budget range for your whole home
- Whether to build all at once or in phases
- A realistic timeline — and whether you can stay home
- Financing options, if you want them
Ready when you are
Pick a time that works for you. No pressure, no obligation.
Schedule My Free ConsultPrefer to talk now? 218-620-9126