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As a successful real estate agent, you do more than find homes for your clients. You provide insight into the intricacies of the housing market, a reliable voice of reason when it comes to cost and budget, and a helping hand when it’s time to ensure a house is primed for selling.  As such, you must equip yourself with the right information to keep your clients ready for everything, from head to toe (or from roof to basement). That’s why…

While there’s a lot to love about watching the seasons change, a change in temperature inevitably affects the temperature within the household. Luckily, homeowners can equip their homes with radiant barrier insulation to mitigate the effects of extreme temperatures, while saving a bit of money, too.  A radiant barrier is a type of insulation that is typically installed in a home’s attic space. The barrier consists of aluminum foil that’s highly reflective to act as a barrier to extremely high…

Insulating your attic can lower your energy bills and keep you comfortable year-round. But for many homeowners, tackling the issues with attic insulation can be a daunting task full of unknowns. Factors involved in ensuring proper insulation include product choice, installation methods, and hazard prevention.  Without expert help, it’s easy to make potentially dangerous or costly mistakes on existing insulation. These five attic insulation installation tips will help you to better understand the installation process, make smart choices for your…

It might start with the soft sound of little feet. Maybe you hear scurrying overhead one night or see teeth marks on the edges of the furniture you have stored in your attic space. Pretty soon, all the signs point to the same conclusion—you have a rat infestation in your attic. With the wide array of traps, poisons, and other rodent-removal tools on the market, it can be difficult to know how to start tackling the problem. Should you try…

When homes are built, the type of foundation can make a big difference. While many homes are built with a basement or on concrete slabs, crawl spaces are common for homes built on a slope, or where there’s a risk of flooding. Crawl spaces are increasingly common on new constructions throughout the US. In fact, nearly 20% of new homes are built using a crawl space.  Your home’s crawl space creates a barrier between the ground and the floor of…

If you’re like most homeowners, you’re not spending much time under your house inspecting the underside of your home. However, issues in your crawl space can impact your monthly utility bills, reduce your indoor air quality, and prevent your home from maintaining a cozy temperature.  There are many issues that can develop in your crawl space. Ideally, you should perform a visual inspection of your crawl space twice a year, and contact a professional if you find any issues. There…

Your home is built to protect you from the elements, but not all homes are created equally. As much as 30% of your energy usage is wasted on air leaks throughout your house, and the attic is one of the biggest offenders. When you have significant leaks, warm or cold air that travels through ducts in your HVAC system will get trapped in the attic, causing a spike in your energy bill. It can also affect the comfort of your…

Your home is meant to be a safe, comfortable space you can relax in. Unfortunately, if your HVAC system is working nonstop, you have inconsistent heating and cooling from one room to the next, or your utility bill is spiking in the middle of summer, you may consider an attic insulation installation and air sealing project to help you save money and keep your home cozy year-round.  So is air sealing the attic worth it? The answer is yes, but…

Throughout many homes, there are plenty of spaces that air can enter and exit. While tiny cracks and crevices may not seem like much, their combined effect can make a big impact on your home’s energy use. Air leakage in the average house has the cumulative effect of leaving a window open 24/7. Luckily, there are several ways to reduce outdoor air infiltration – one of which involves learning how to air seal attic crawl spaces.   In the winter, attic…

Your HVAC system can account for between 40-55% of your home’s energy consumption. The more efficiently it performs, the lower your bills and your carbon footprint will be. Unfortunately, even if you have a newer energy-saving system, you can’t get the full benefit of this system if you have significant air leakage. Outside air can travel into your home through cracks in the floor, walls, and ceiling, as well as through fixtures such as windows, doors, and even electrical outlets…