Is the cellar a benefit or a hindrance to your quality of life ?

Both apartments and houses may have cellars for their occupants to use for stowing away items they won't need right away. When you go there, try to picture it in your mind as clearly as possible so you'll know whether or not it will be helpful to you.

A useful place to keep things

Nothing beats a private, easily accessible cellar for storing out-of-season clothing, garden furniture you want to keep from the elements in the winter, or sentimental items that tend to clutter up your living space.

This item has the potential to sway your decision about which home to rent or purchase. In addition, the service is used by the landlord or the seller to logically raise the rent or sale price of the property.

These days, cellars can be found in only a small percentage of homes, and that percentage is steadily declining. Those who are desperate for one may have trouble finding one. However, there are instances where this feature becomes problematic, which is why it has been phased out of new construction.

“The Cellar: Exclusive Use Private Storage"

Humidity and energy loss concerns in basements

Cellars are notoriously humid, despite their apparent functionality and practicality. The basement is often the source of capillary rise or mold on the floors because it is less well insulated than the living rooms.

Basements are especially vulnerable to flooding. As a result of this type of water intrusion, not only is the first floor ruined, but also the basement.

It's important to make sure a basement is dry before purchasing a home with one (or consider doing it yourself afterwards). Use a hygrometer to assess the humidity level; for optimal preservation of materials, relative humidity should be kept below 60%. If you're hoping to build a wine cellar, you can handle a rate of 70–75%, but not higher (the metals could rot).

Last but not least, poor insulation is a major contributor to heat loss, which means higher heating costs and more discomfort for the residents during the colder months. When properly insulated, a cellar can be a valuable resource.

"A cellar's flooding or capillary rise can cause issues with the house's floors. Mold growth is another possibility”.

Be wary of the security of your possessions if you keep them in a building's cellar

Each unit has its own cellar, which can be designed to fit in with the building's aesthetic. Do not trust storing precious items in the storage facility if it is not secure. Put something secure like a padlock or lock on a closed, unlocked storage unit.

Basements in buildings, like basements in homes, can be a boon if they are properly insulated, or they can be a bane if they are too damp.

The presence of a cellar in a real estate ad should pique your interest for both good and bad reasons. The visit will become deciding; examine every inch of this room as thoroughly as you did the living quarters.

"A building's cellar is not always discreetly hidden away”.