When purchasing a new or previously owned home, a buyer must consider many things before putting their signature on the dotted line. Will the house be large enough to accommodate my family comfortably? Will the mortgage and insurance payments fit my budget comfortably? Is this the right neighborhood, and are there schools nearby, etc.

Increasingly, prospective homeowners are considering the costs of maintenance and operating costs. In a new report from the National Association of Realtors it was found that individuals between the ages of 24 and 39 consider the price of heating and cooling their prospective home “very important.”

What Buyers Are Looking For
In addition to the cost of the home itself, buyers are looking into what type of insulation the home currently has and the cost of upgrading to spray foam insulation, if the home currently lacks it.

This is because while fiberglass is significantly cheaper in the short-haul, it is also far less effective when it comes to keeping a home warm or cool. Spray foam isn’t nearly as expensive as many homeowners believe and the savings on a typical heating or cooling bill can be enormous.

In fact, in one test, conducted by a company in San Antonio, Texas, three homes of compatible sizes were insulated with different types of materials. In this test found that by using spray foam insulation to make walls and roofs more efficient, the size of the HVAC system can be downsized by as much as 35 percent, while the homeowner can see savings of as much as 50 percent on their heating and cooling bills.

Why Spray Foam Insulation?
You can instantly recognize a home that has been insulated with spray foam; it is quieter, cleaner smelling, and the overall temperature remains the same throughout each room. Comfort is one item that all about-to-be homeowners are looking for, of course, but the cost of maintaining that comfort can make or break the sale of the home.

The Benefits of Spray Foam Insulation
Spray foam makes nearly any home feel more comfortable by reducing those annoying drafts and huge fluctuations in temperature from room to room. A home that is insulated with spray foam allows HVAC units to work more efficiently and more environmentally friendly by consuming less energy. Less energy use translates to lower monthly bills.

Another benefit to spray foam is an improvement in overall air quality inside the home. By sealing the air leaks that cause drafts, this will minimize the amount of dust, pollution, airborne allergens, and germs that find their way to the inside. Since spray foam insulation can be applied to nearly every room of the house, including garages, attics, and crawl spaces, this not only provides cleaner air, but protects against water leaks, which can cause mold or mildew damage, and prevents insects from making the inside of the home their home as well.

Spray foam is also incredibly durable. Once installed and fully cured, spray foam will last the life of the home. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has revealed that closed-cell spray foam is classified as being highly resistant to flood damage (class 5). Spray foam also provides improved integrity for walls and offers wind uplift resistance in homes with unvented attics.

When used to insulate wall cavities, roof deck undersides, and garages, homes with spray foam insulation are notably quieter than those with the standard pink fiberglass.