We have two questions for you. First: Are you fortunate enough to enjoy a basement floor with a multi-functional living area? Second: Are you making the best use out of your space in order to attract potential buyers?

Most likely not; experts in the field of home construction suggest if you're not thinking about your basement's layout, what it's used for, and its functions, it will not make a difference to the value of your home. These are some of the most common mistakes that you could make when trying to make the most out of basements and what you can do to fix them.

There are many tiny rooms that are enclosed.

The basements of homeowners are usually divided into zones with walls for the home office, gym, guest room, or TV space, believing that buyers will enjoy separate areas. However, remember that basements are home to vital devices that regulate temperature and airflow, and an open layout makes more sense.

You'll require access to certain systems in the near future, and if you've got the space to do so, that will make repairs in the future much longer and more time-consuming.

The smart solution: Having free space can make repairs much simpler and is better for your systems that require fresh air and circulation to perform at their best without adding wear and tear to the equipment.

You played around with vital structural elements.

We understand that you don't want your head against the ceiling. However, one of the biggest errors that people make when trying to create more headspace is cutting through ceiling beams, floor joists, or support beams and not realizing that they're holding the house up.

This is a big no-no and is among the most costly errors to correct.

Solution: If you're missing sections of support beams, they'll require patching to ensure that there's structural strength.

You skimped the storage space.

Do you have to worry about having enough storage space? We'll tell you: No. It's certainly nice to have living space to boast about hosting gatherings with your family. However, nothing can send a buyer to a halt faster than the sight of clutter all over the place with no space to place it.

Smart solution: Designate one wall to shelve or install sliding doors that won't cut into your space each time the doors are open. Also, ensure that your treasured possessions, as well as boxes of essential documents, aren't laying on the floor in the basement to avoid the possibility of moisture getting into them.

You laid unsuitable flooring.

Because most basements are at a minimum below grade, ensure that you're using flooring materials that will not be irreparably damaged due to humidity. Don't use hardwood flooring, carpet, or any other flooring that doesn't dry out quickly.

The smart solution: Install vinyl flooring, carpet tiles, or floor tiles made of rubber that easily snap together. They'll be more durable if there's a lot of rain and water that gets in your basement. It won't ruin your home or the things you have.

You've gone quiet on soundproofing.

If you're opening the ceiling to install the recessed lighting, it's the perfect time to consider adding some soundproofing too.

You've gone quiet on soundproofing.

If you're opening the ceiling to install a recessed light, it's the perfect time to install the soundproofing. Soundproofing is definitely something you should consider, especially for older houses where there's not enough in the way of insulation for floors.

Imagine all the noise-making events happening downstairs, including movie-watching online gaming tournaments, kids dancing, at karaoke parties. You can tackle it quickly and efficiently.

Smart fix: Put in spray foam insulation when you have the ability to access the ceiling, or you can put fiberglass insulation between the floor joists. You might also want to sheetrock over the ceiling because it'll dramatically improve the way sound carries between floors.

In addition, the solutions for soundproofing will also increase the effectiveness of your cooling and heating systems.