Having lived in Atlanta for most of my adult life, I have been exposed to basements and how they can be utilized to create addition space for homeowners. Recently several clients who are relocating to the metro Atlanta area from coastal areas have posed questions about basements and numerous questions about finishing a basement.
Finishing a basement is very similar to most other remodeling projects, with the exception that for this project your contractor should get a building permit from the county. By being permitted, your project will be inspected by the county to make certain that it is being built to current code.
The most important part of a project of this nature is to have a clear mental picture of what you want to do with the various spaces that are creating in the finished basement. You must then communicate to the contractor what you want and the contractor must communicate back with you and make additional suggestions toward refining the space. You should find that after a few conversations with your contractor you are both on the same sheet and the project can begin.