Do you include basements and garages when building starter homes (U20K lot & house)

No, I haven’t included either in a starter. I don’t make very many of my own homes anyway. I did make 2 or 3 middle income homes with garages, mostly because the homes I made were actual homes. I download most of my homes, but I do like having homes with garages, they look more real. The problem is too many lots are long and thin, where it is hard to incorporate a garage.

I'm not a builder, but I am an obsessed downloader of other people's amazing lots!

I like the look of lots with garages if I'm trying to create a neighborhood with a suburban feel to it, but it only looks like a garage from a curb appeal point of view ......... inside it is always turned into additional living space.

I never, ever use basements. If there's a basement in the house I D/L, I remove everything from it along with the doors and the stairs. I don't put a lot of skill building items in my houses (unless it fits my story, like an easel for a painter) so it forces my sim to actually leave their lot, otherwise they all become hermits.

My idea of a starter home is a square with the best bed, second best stove, second best fridge, good toilet, very good shower, a planter pot and a trashcan. Later, when the sims are better off, they can afford to downgrade to lower quality furniture (because some of the low quality furniture looks better or fits the sim's style better) and deco rooms.

In agreement with some of the other posts, I don't include garages on starter builds because there are no cars. But there is also a cost element to it, too. If I'm building a true starter house, staying under that 20,000 limit, then I'm evaluating everything I put into the house. Stairs to the basement cost money. Doors/windows on the garage cost money. I'd rather spend that money on things that would satisfy the Sim's basic needs or splurge on something that builds skills for the Sim.

would like to see more garage door choices,
thanks :)

I've made one basement (and that was not a starter home), but that's it. I'm not very good at building, so I leave well enough alone lol

I don't usually include either with a starter and I never make a garage because there is no use for it.

I rarely build houses, most of my houses are from gallery and updated for my needs. Some have basements, some not. None have garages, because I have no need for any. What would I park there, my spellcaster's broom?

Sometimes I do include a basement, usually I don't. Depends...

I generally prefer to spend money on a few skill items than additional space when it isn't needed.
Whenever I build a (non starter) home from a blueprint that has a garage, I either leave it out or turn it into a hobby room. Sims park their vehicles in their inventory anyway, so I'd better use the space for something else.