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It can be daunting to sell your house. There is so much to do in order to prepare the house for sale and there may be conflicting advice from family and friends about how to make the most of the sale. These tips for selling your house will ensure you don’t make a mistake! Stick to Small Home Repairs Ask yourself and your agent whether you will get the return on your investment before you make major changes to your home before selling. You most likely won’t get the money back that you are putting into the project. You should stick to making small changes like painting or changing light fixtures that will create an amazing first impression to potential buyers. Depersonalize the Space Your furniture and décor may be your favorite, but they can distract buyers from the important areas of your home. It is a good idea to get rid of all personal items (such as pet items and family photographs) and take as much as possible off your bathroom and kitchen countertops. Ask a trusted friend or family member for their opinion if you aren’t sure if you have staged your home properly. Be Prepared to Show Your Home at All Times The numbers are important in the sales world, especially when you are selling your home. If your house is seen by many people, it will be more likely to sell quickly at a fair price. You should be ready to let people see your house without much notice and ensure the house is kept clean at all times. If you have pets, be prepared to take them to a different location while the house is being viewed. Take a Step Back Selling to someone is not something that anyone likes. Buyers want to have the opportunity to evaluate your home and make an honest assessment of it before they come to visit, which is impossible to do if you or your family are in the house. Although it’s not always easy to do, be prepared to go somewhere else when potential buyers visit your home. Photos Will Help in Selling Your House Most home buyers start their search on the Internet, especially first-time home buyers. You may lose the ability to attract home buyers if you don’t have many high-quality photos of your house to display online. Think About Selling Your House During a Slow Period Were you advised to wait until spring before selling your home? Although it is true that most home sales occur in spring, homes must still be purchased. More buyers may be enticed by your house if you list it at a slower time of the year due to the smaller amount of options available. Research Fair Pricing For Houses Like Yours It’s tempting to put a high price on your house when you only get one chance to sell it. Research the selling prices of similar houses in your area and how long they have been on the market….

Before we get into it, we should first mention that there are two types of foam insulation used in foam insulation: open-cell versus closed-cell. There are many differences between them, which can lead to both advantages and disadvantages depending on their intended application. Polyurethane spray foam can be used in many different applications. Both types are used in many building applications. Certain real estate applications may not be suitable for certain types of foam. Open-cell foam should not be used below grade to absorb water. This would reduce its thermal performance and make it less efficient as water is an inefficient insulator. Closed-cell foam is a good choice for small framing sizes that require the highest R-value per in. The conditions of each installation will determine the type of foam that is used. We regularly select from a variety of foam systems, each with different characteristics, depending upon the specific requirements of our clients’ projects. Closed Cell Insulation Closed-cell polyurethane foam spray foam is one of the most effective insulating materials on the market. It has an Aged R-value around 6.7 inches and a LTTR value between 5.2 and 5.6. Closed-cell foam contains an insulating gas within the cells. This is called a “foam blowing agent” and it results in extremely efficient insulation properties. Insulation is measured in R-Value (R= resistance heat flow) in the United States. In Canada, it is now measured in LTTR (Long Term thermal Resistance). Closed-cell polyurethane foam has one of the highest R-Values among all commercially available insulation. This foam’s closed-cell structure makes it extremely effective in preventing air from entering the foam, and also allows for low moisture vapor permeability, commonly referred to as “Perm” rating, which is excellent at resisting water and the best choice in insulation if you are buying a waterfront home. Closed-cell polyurethane foam has a density of approximately 2.0 pounds per cubic foot. Research and commercial experience have shown that the 1.9-2.5 lb./ft3 range of density provides the best insulation and strength characteristics for most building applications. The rigidity and strength of closed-cell polyurethane foams is often a hallmark of their high R-Value. Studies have shown that wall racking strength can be doubled or tripled by using closed-cell foam. Open Cell Insulation On the other hand, open-cell polyurethane spray foam is typically found in densities of 0.4 to 1.25 lbs./ft3. These lower density foams offer a higher yield and are therefore more cost-effective. These products offer excellent thermal insulation and air barrier properties, even though their R-value is only slightly higher than that of closed-cell foams. Perm ratings for open cell foam are approximately 10.0 per 4 to 5 inches thick (up to 50 perms per inch). The foam can allow for controlled diffusion of moisture vapor, which can be managed by the architect/builder. Open-cell foams can be twice as effective in sound barriers as closed-cell foams. Open-cell polyurethane foam has a soft, more “spongy” appearance and lower strength than closed-cell foams. Open-cell foam is used for residential insulation,…