He only thing that someone with no construction experience should be doing is writing a GC a check. If you want a 5 year plan to work your way up to doing a basement build out? It starts with maybe building a fence. Then wiring a new exterior light. Then changing out the plumbing under a sink. Then running a drain to add a coffee bar sink. Then building a shed workshop, and adding an exterior freeze proof faucet next to it, and underground electrical to it. Then wiring it up, and putting in insulation, drywall, and a PTAC unit. Your apprenticeship will be complete then, and you can move to doing a basement finishout.