It is way too much money.

About half of that is reasonable, but then again, I'm from the midwest where builders know how to pour basements.

Shamrock, it's hard to tell if that's too much money because not enough is known.

- What is "superior walls"? ICF?
- Define "unfinished" as this means different things to different contractors. At minimum it's usually insulated & vapor barriered, with drywall & finishing your responsibility.
- Will this include preliminary ductwork layout for the remainder of the house?
- Will this include preliminary plumbing layout for the remainder of the house? (ie: it has to be laid out in the basement and stakes out where it will run for main & 2nd story)
- What about furnace & AC units? Will these be new? Along with any upgrades needed for these new units & appropriate HVAC piping (assuming you already have plans for the main & 2nd story - if you have a 2nd story).
- How about electrical service? This should include future service for main & 2nd story.
- Are you in an area that needs piles? Does this include that? (They are expensive!) With bedrock as you mention, I doubt it.

You need to know exactly what you are being quoted before it's reasonable to say whether it's expensive or not. All I can assist is to advise that you ensure that you compare apples to apples between quotes. When we did our basement, we were quoted price variances as you note, however, what we were getting between quotes was VASTLY different. And just because $77K is higher than $37-56K ft means nothing if you don't compare what is included.

HTH
Lora

Not sure about now, but about 4 years ago in my area, Superior Walls was about 10-15% higher than for block walls basement. For several reasons, do not use that builder if you want a basement.

The basement is 1700sf, so this would be $76,500!!!

Wow, come back to the midwest my friend.
$76,000 markup sounds steep for a walkout IMO. When I built a few years ago, the builder charged about that for the walkout basement with the lot included.

By bathroom included, you mean rough-in bath, right? I can't recall exactly, but I think muy builder charged less than $1000 for that.

Thanks everyone for taking time to reply. The only difference between the quotes is that for $76,500, the builder will include a finished bathroom with average fixtures. The other builders include the rough in. The ductwork, HVAC, etc, is included in the sf cost of finished space of the house. From what I understand, superior walls are insulated and have furring strips, which makes it easier to finish out. The only reason I'm hesitating is because this is the only basement lot in Rutherford County (in a decent school system). I know we should walk away...I guess I was hoping maybe there was something I was overlooking!!

Check superiorwalls.com and see if they have a location near you. If there is one in your state, the entire basement installed should not cost more than $30K, I am getting ready to place an order for one myself that is larger than yours, but I have a plant nearby and is only $25K installed, not including the sitework and stone base.

Yes, it seems high, but make sure the advice you got above and your expectations are comparing all the costs vs. what is included in your quote; not just wall materials. Excavation? Blasting? Main level floor system? Drainage? additional septic? Windows/doors? etc. Take concrete at $100/yard and multiply by 3 to include forming and finishing labor for an initial estimate. How much concrete do you need?

Shamrock, listen to bus driver. (When he speaks, I always listen.) Keep shopping for a builder. In LA basement lots are a rarity too. The 1st contractor I talked to told me to allow $100 per sq. ft.!! That would cost us $257,000 for an unfinished basement, no house, just basement! Needless to say, I intend to keep shopping!
I wish we had the option of Superior Basements.

In Toronto that would not be out of line. Only you could double the size of the home and include an 8'8" clear height basement ceiling. And for low bidder low quality work, you could do it even cheaper.

You all are awesome! I called Superior Walls (thanks for the tip kjboggs!) and found that the basement should cost $125 per lf which totals $22,500, including the rock (?) which I think is for the basement floor. The basement floor would be another $7K at most. I pretty much knew this was a bad move, but I guess I needed to be sure. I'm definitely sure now. Thanks so much to everyone for the great advice!!

"1st contractor I talked to told me to allow $100 per sq. ft.!! That would cost us $257,000 for an unfinished basement"

How did that contractor justify this price? This must be mainly excavation because solid poured concrete walls can be built in two days (fast therefore not lots of labor) and concrete is only about $90/cubic yard.

What's the soil in your area? I can't imagine what would justify $100/sf...

For an informational video: http://www.bobvila.com/BVTV/Bob_Vila/Video-0101-06-0.html

In 2003, I found a new "dealer" for Superior Walls. Since I already had a Bobcat and cousins in the excavating business, this fellow sold me the Superior walls delivered and installed for what amounted to $11.00 per square foot for my job. Delivery and installation are all that he did for me. Mine are 10' high. Of course they really price them by the linear foot with upcharges for window and door openings, brickledge and such. My excavation cost about $500.00. I did the stone base, and did the top sills after the wall set. Got a bargain in the floor slab from a different contractor. I put HVAC condensate drain and water heater drain piping under the slab, gravity flow. My 10' high Superior walls foundation with floor slab was about $15.00 per square foot. That was 4 years ago. I made sure that all duct and piping installation (I am the plumber) provides at least 8' of headroom below it. Deciding to use the Superior Walls was one of the very best choices I made in the whole project. But Superior Walls later treated that contractor shabbily. After that contractor got the good reputation established for Superior Walls in this area, SW built another manufacturing plant in this state and started doing all installs with their own crews. Prices are higher now. Lest anyone think that my project was all "La Vie En Rose", HVAC was a problem, used a total of 5 contractors to get a reasonably satisfactory system. And unfortunately, that means 4 local HVAC contractors that I cannot call anymore if I need service. We both lost in that case.

Re: "We've found a lot "owned by a builder" who wants to charge us $45/sf for a poured foundation unfinished basement."

Since the builder owns the lot & he knows basement lots are a rarity in your area, he probably feels at some point the right person will come along & pay his higher price.

Is the lot price in line w/ the rest of the neighborhood or he is out-of-line on that as well?

I'd walk & either resign myself to a non-basement house or keep looking.

The builder offered to sell us the lot for $95K. He bought it 2/07 for $59K. If we were to buy the lot then have our house built, we'd be at $144/sf where as high end houses in this area sell for $105-$120. I talked with a different realtor about the situation (the one we'd been working with was the realtor for the builder- big mistake. Coincidentally, the 2nd realtor works for the same broker but thus far has been a great advocate for us). Anyway, apparently there's a chance that another builder will be able to get the lot! I guess the new builder we're considering works with the super expensive builder, and sometimes they trade lots or buy lots from one another. Our fingers are definitely crossed. If this doesn't work, I guess I'll be getting a storm shelter under the garage, which will cost us the same amount as a basement back in the Midwest!