Below is a random, but quality email we got from Frank Meanbest (I’m guessing it’s a fake name….) Definately worth a post though, and maybe a viral campaign.

I am writing not only to congratulate you for creating such a wonderful website but also to extend the offer of a friendly ear of a fellow basement lover should you ever need some advice or guidance.

At the ripe old age of 73 I think you will agree my days of rating basements are well over. I have however maintained a casual interest in basements since my retirement in 1998, an interest that I have held since boyhood. During the course of my career as a Basement Ratings Officer I became a fellow of both the RICBS (Royal Institute of Chartered Basement Surveyors), and the NFBR (National Federation of Basement Raters) and was lucky enough to travel the world as a basement ratings expert. I spent six years working for Ace Substructures in Abu Dhabi as chief basement ratings officer to the royal family. This involved the careful grading of the entire portfolio of the royal family’s basements, ranging from 5* gold plated games rooms right down to upgradeable dingy cess pools but I had non-stop fun the entire six years.

Enclosed with this letter is a picture of my basement at home in Surrey, I know a man of your stature will appreciate the subtle beauty and sensual functionality of this marvellous space. I suppose that is the underlying motive for this letter really; to gain approval from one of the most respected and decorated basement raters in the world of my personal foray into basement creation.

I would be ever so grateful if you could cast your eye over the enclosed photo and offer some feedback.

I have to admit that I have been slow to embrace the technological advances of the last ten years and as such, only now do I find myself enjoying the vast knowledge pool the World Wide Web affords us. During a recent surfing session it was to my delight that I discovered your website, ratemybasement.com; it is comforting and refreshing to come across a fellow basement lover, we are after all a rare breed!

In the weeks that have followed since my discovery of RMB I have particularly enjoyed your articles on basement care and I was overjoyed to read “Gaining a Basement in the Current Economic Market”, also very informative were “Basements: Storage or Living Space? and “A Critical Analysis The Availability of City Basements”.

My opinion is that basements will become increasing rare as the economy depresses and those with decent basements will do exceptionally well to hold onto them bearing in mind that all and sundry are prepared to pay astronomical amounts of money for sub-surface space. The basement ratings market however is likely to go through the roof as more and more people want simple, no-nonsense, impartial basement grading.

Anyway, I digress I wonder if you would be so kind as to send me some pictures of your top ten basements, “The Hot Ten”; along with an autograph from you and the lads. It would go a long way to making an old man happy!

Yours Sincerely,

Dr. Frank Meanbest Esq. BA (Hons) . FRICBS