Your Basement, Finished Right.

Owner-led design-build for the North Shore — one point of contact from first consult to final walk-through.

★★★★★
5.0
Google Rating
40+
Kitchens Completed
100%
Owner on Every Project
North Shore
Wilmette · Winnetka · Highland Park · Barrington
Sound familiar?

Most basement projects start with excitement and end with regret.

You hired a contractor to take work off your plate. Instead, you’re coordinating subs, chasing unanswered texts, and managing surprises that keep blowing the budget. It doesn’t have to be this way.

Moisture and waterproofing surprises

Contractors skip the waterproofing conversation until there’s a problem. Then it’s your problem — after the drywall is up, the flooring is down, and there’s nowhere to cut costs but the finishes you actually care about.

Permits and code compliance no one scoped

Egress windows. Ceiling heights. Electrical panel upgrades. Most contractors find out what’s required after they’ve already started. You end up paying for change orders that should’ve been priced in from day one.

A finished space that doesn’t feel finished

Low ceilings, fluorescent lights, and builder-grade LVP. It checks the box but adds nothing to how you live or what your home is worth.

Why Ultimate Development

One team. One point of contact. Zero finger-pointing.

Gary is your contact

Not a project manager you’ve never met. The owner picks up the phone, shows up on site, and is accountable to you directly — from the first call to the final walk-through.

No blindside change orders

During design and pre-construction we scope for what’s behind the walls. When surprises come up, we explain options and costs before touching anything. You decide.

Design support included

We don’t just sell you the job and hand you a tile catalog. We guide every material and layout decision — so you feel confident, not overwhelmed.

Milestone-based payments

You only pay as work is completed and inspections pass. We never ask for 70% upfront. Your money is protected at every stage of the project.

The Process

Here’s exactly what working with us looks like.

Leave the hard decisions and heavy lifting to us. No surprises, no disappearing acts — just a clear, predictable process from first call to final walk-through.

1
Week 1

Free Consultation

Gary walks your space, listens to what you want, and tells you what’s realistic. No pressure, no salesperson. Just an honest conversation.

2
Weeks 2–4

Design & Materials

We guide every decision — layout, cabinetry, countertops, fixtures. Leave the hard choices to us. You’ll know exactly what you’re getting before a wall opens.

3
Weeks 4–6

Permits & Scoping

We pull every permit and scope what’s behind the walls. Surprises stay off your invoice. Leave the red tape and planning to us.

4
Weeks 6–14

Build

Our crew shows up when we say. Daily cleanup. Weekly updates from Gary directly. You always know what’s happening — without having to ask.

5
Final Week

Walk-Through & Sign-Off

Nothing is done until you say it’s done. We walk every inch together. Final payment only after you’ve signed off on every last detail.

FAQ

Questions we get asked every day

How long does a basement finish take?
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A full basement finish typically takes 10–16 weeks from permit approval to walk-through. We give you a detailed schedule before you sign — and we hold to it.

Do we need to waterproof before finishing?
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It depends on your basement’s moisture history. We assess this upfront. If waterproofing is needed, we scope it into the project — not as a surprise once walls are already up.

Do you handle permits for basement work?
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Yes — always. We pull permits for framing, electrical, plumbing, and egress work. Permitted work protects your investment and ensures your finished basement meets code for resale.

What does a basement finish cost?
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A full basement finish typically ranges from $60K–$150K+ depending on size, scope, and finishes. We provide a detailed, itemized estimate after your consultation.

Can we add a bathroom or bedroom to the basement?
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Yes. We regularly add full bathrooms, half baths, and bedroom-ready egress windows to basement projects — all designed, permitted, and built under one contract.

What if there are drainage or moisture issues we don’t know about yet?
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We assess for drainage and moisture risk before construction starts. If we find a problem, we stop, show you, explain the scope and cost, and get your approval before proceeding. No blindside charges.

Get Started

Tell us about your project

We serve the Chicago North Shore — Wilmette, Winnetka, Kenilworth, Glencoe, Highland Park, and surrounding communities. We’ll be in touch within one business day.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Thank you! We’ll be in touch within one business day.

Get Started

Tell us about your project

We serve the Chicago North Shore — Wilmette, Winnetka, Kenilworth, Glencoe, Highland Park, and surrounding communities. We’ll be in touch within one business day.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Thank you! We’ll be in touch within one business day.