My husband and I are looking into purchasing an older home that currently has a basement depth of approximately 6 ft. We would like the basement to be a finished space in the house. My husband is 6'4". How costly would it be to increase the depth of the basement, say 6" to 1'? The basement currently has a concrete floor. Are there any precautions to take? Is there any additional bracing that would need to be done?

Do not buy the house if you want a taller basement. The cost to dig out a basement is astronomical. It doesn't matter if you're digging out only 6 inches (which isn't worth it -- most codes require 7 foot ceilings if you're finishing the space). They knock a hole in the side of the house or otherwise get a Bobcat inside, dig it out, haul away dirt, then for an extra fee, repair the wall opening. NOT WORTH IT! We got estimates in previous house -- moving was a better option. You have to worry about the contractor ruining the structural integrity of the house, etc. etc.