I definitely get what you are feeling finishing a basement is one of those projects where the final number can vary a lot depending on what you want to do If you keep it simple with basic drywall flooring and lighting it can be very different in price compared to adding plumbing insulation and a bathroom What helped me a lot was finding a guide that shows typical ranges and what elements drive the cost so I had something to compare against real contractor quotes When I was planning mine I checked out this resource on basement pricing https://www.renoduck.com/basement-renovation-cost/ and seeing the breakdown made the whole thing feel less like guesswork and more like a plan Instead of going into meetings blind I could ask better questions about why one quote was higher than another based on what was included That made a big difference for me when budgeting and talking to builders