Now some companies will just come out, nod knowingly, and come up with a simple plan: Dig around the house with a backhoe, and apply some waterproofing material -- plastic and some other, more ...

Jon and Twila Radford of Mount Prospect said that they debated for several years about whether they should increase the size of their ranch home by adding a second floor or digging a basement.

Photo/Tim CarterA smaller backhoe like this can be used to dig small basement and cellar holes, but don't use them for big holes. These machines are really made for digging trenches.

He estimates the "smart" controls will cost between $10,000 and $20,000 per unit, with a fully decked-out backhoe retailing for as much as $127,000.

The mini-backhoe has tracks that can be moved closer together to squeeze into tight spots, then widened for stability when the digging begins.

For homeowners building new homes in neighborhoods with limited square footage, the space under the garage is blank canvas for fun uses — but it doesn’t come cheaply.

Adding a storey on top of the house or digging out a basement: What's the better way to carve out an extra guest room or two?