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Trying to get your house ready for sale? Sometimes it takes more than a few cosmetic changes.  While making the property look good is important, it is even more important that the house functions properly. The last thing a new homeowner wants to do is replace a faucet, or put in a new water heater shortly after the move.

As you are repairing, updating or replacing, start up a notebook filled with notes for the new homeowner, letting them know about new fixtures. In some cases it may help to provide knowledge about warranties and service contracts, especially if they carry forward. Instead of trial and error, a new homeowner will appreciate a little good advice from the party who had the fixture replaced.

Install a new toilet, rain sensors and water efficient nozzles to the sprinkler system, or solar panels for energy efficiency. Right now there are rebates in place through a variety of sources that can help you save money on installation, and improve the efficiency of your home in the process. Installing a low flow toilet can save approximately 25 percent of water consumption on a daily basis.  And because flushing the toilet accounts for roughly 38 percent of water used in the average home, replacing older models can mean significant savings. And can give you a boost in the selling process.

There are other practical steps to take regarding the plumbing before selling your home.  First check for and replace all leaky faucets in the bathrooms, kitchen, and bathtubs.  Leaks can be expensive to the homeowner and potential buyers readily observe dripping faucets and think worst-case scenario.  Moreover, leaks send a subtle message that the home was not well cared for, and might possibly be a poor investment.

It is also prudent to check around the base of toilets for leaks and unpleasant odors.  These are indicative of a broken or worn out seal that sits directly beneath the toilet.  Broken seals should be replaced immediately as they can escalate into more serious problems if ignored.

Look for signs of discoloration in grout around tubs and showers. Slow leaks may start to fade the color, and eventually start to form mold. Any soft spots in the shower walls can also indicate a potential water pipe leak. A plumber can easily spot a potential problem, and repair it quickly.

Finally, if your home has mature trees and landscaping, consider a water main and sewer line inspection.  Tree roots are attracted to water sources, especially in times of drought. The first place they will head is to a water source, which could be your water or sewer main.  A final inspection report included in the potential buyers notebook could be the turning point for an offer. Knowing a house has a clean bill of health, and is ready to move into can mean all the difference.

Owning your own home is probably the largest, long-term financial investment you’ll ever make. When times are good, its easy to hire people to help you maintain your home. But when the economy tightens, the purse strings begin to tighten as well, making some homeowners try more do-it-yourself repairs instead of hiring professional contractors to complete repair work. While some repair jobs are perfectly safe in the hands of an ambitious homeowner, others are still best left to the professionals.

Plumbing involves two separate pieces: the hardware you can see and is easily visible, and the hardware that’s not. It’s easy to see your bathroom faucet dripping, but what isn’t easy to see is where the problem lies. What a homeowner sees as a small leak pooling around the base of a faucet may actually be a symptom of a much larger problem. The majority of plumbing hardware is placed within walls or floors. Not only are such pieces inaccessible to the average homeowner, but a DIY repair job could place other internal systems, like your electrical system, at risk.

Professional plumbing services employ certified plumbers who have received training in all areas of plumbing, and often have extensive plumbing knowledge based on years on the job. A certified plumber will have credentials directly from the state to ensure that he meets certain qualifications, and to give you piece of mind that he is responsible and can handle the job. Plumbing companies adhere to strict standards for their safety and yours.

Professional plumbing services also hold insurance that protects both plumbers and homeowners from damage due to unexpected problems with repairs. If a homeowner attempts a plumbing repair without the help of a professional and accidently causes additional damage, homeowners’ insurance may not cover the added cost.

Many professional plumbing services also offer warranties for service. If a repaired problem resurfaces or a repair fails, a reputable company will return to assess the damage and work until the job is complete and you are satisfied.

A professional plumbing company is an expert in the field. Not only can they help you with your plumbing problems, they are also a resource. They know what fixtures are the best and most durable, and know where to find them at the best cost.  From ordering special parts to working with a network of fellow plumbers to solve any problem, no matter how big or small, a professional plumber is an important part of your maintenance team.

When it comes to saving time and money, hiring a professional plumber is your best long term investment.

It’s Appreciate Your Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Professionals Week, celebrated every year on the last week of June. Sponsored by the Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractor National Association (PHCC), this year it’s also a celebration of the 127th year PHCC was founded.

As a plumber, our goal is to stretch beyond fixing your emergency plumbing jobs. We also strive to educate and train you, the consumer, on protecting our environment, and ensuring the health, safety and comfort of society as a whole.

How does Quality 1st Plumbing do all of this? We start out by ensuring “quality” always remains our first and foremost goal. We are a locally owned family company that provides 24 hour service. We have helped hundreds of commercial and residential customers up and down the Front Range, and strive to be the best plumbing service in the Denver metro area. We care about you and know your time is important. Which is why we make guarantees on our services and our delivery, and will even give you an instant $25 discount if we aren’t there when we promise.

We’ve also committed to being a certified green plumber, and are the first Colorado plumbing service to receive certification from Green Plumbers. As a green plumber, we have certification and training in the latest water and energy efficient technologies, and can share them in a variety of ways with you. From water or energy audits, to upgrading your water heater with the latest technology, all you have to do is ask, and we’ll be there for you.

Do-it-yourself home repairs are becoming increasingly popular in the wake of home remodeling television shows and user-friendly home repair guides. Plumbing, however, remains one area of home ownerships that is best left to the professionals. Whether you’re remodeling your bathroom or demolishing your kitchen, there are several questions you should ask a local plumber before your sign on the dotted line and hand over a check.

Are you licensed and insured?
States create their own guidelines for licensing local plumbers but all states require licensed plumbers to take a test that covers federal guidelines, plumbing codes, installation procedures, maintenance, and repair. Ask your  local plumber if he is licensed and when he received the license. Even a licensed plumber can hit some trouble, so insurance protects both you and the plumber.

Is your team licensed?
During a preliminary meeting, you might meet with the company’s owner to secure the service, but that doesn’t mean that he is the man in charge of the job. Ask your local plumber is all of the technicians who might be working in your home have licenses.  Alternatively, ask for the specific name of the technician you’ll be working with and contact her directly.

What is your specialty?
All local plumbers should be versed in basic plumbing, but there is a big difference between a leaking faucet and a chef’s kitchen remodel. Ask your plumber what their most common kind of service is before you specify what your particular needs are.

Do you have a website?
Your local plumber doesn’t need to be a master of web design, but an updated and user-friendly website suggests a degree of professionalism that should translate to the work done at the job site.

Is your fleet well maintained and stocked?
If the plumber’s vehicles are in terrible shape, it’s a bad sign for the potential workmanships. Trucks should be well maintained with the local plumbing service name clearly displayed; reputable companies will also identify themselves as licensed right on their trucks. Also ask what kind of stock is kept on hand; if the plumber doesn’t have a part you need, will you need to pay for it?

Can I contact some references?
A reputable local plumber should have references on hand. If he resists, it’s a sign that he may have a reputation of providing subpar service or that he is not very organized. Get the reference sheet and call two or three homes. Remember to ask what kind of work was done and how long it took.

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Chances are you never have thought about which plumbing company you’ll hire – until you need one in an emergency. If you live in Centennial Colorado, finding one close to home may be important; but what’s most important is finding a plumber who is reliable, trustworthy, and will get the job done correctly the first time.

If you are remodeling or installing a new water heater, you may have a chance to ask for referrals from family and friends. But what if you come home at ten o’clock at night to a burst pipe and a basement full of water? That changes things. You no longer have time to ask for referrals. You have a problem and you need help fast. That’s when its time to find a plumber based on quality, service, and guarantees.

Start with quality. Quality is making sure the job gets done the right way the first time. Is having the knowledge and the skills to know what to fix and how to fix it. Look for all these in the plumbing company you choose.

At ten o’clock at night with a broken pipe, immediate service is vitally important. You can’t wait until 9 the next morning. You need a plumbing company that can get there quickly, and fix your problem to get your family back on track.

Guarantees come in two ways. First, look at what guarantee the plumbing company offers. Do they stand behind their work? Second, see what others have to say about them. On our home page, we proudly display logos and links to some of the networks we belong to – the Better Business Bureau, Tom Martino’s Troubleshooter network, and our super service award from Angie’s list. We’re proud of what we offer – and we want you to check out our reputation on other sites. We even give you the links!

And when you have to make a quick decision when plumbing is the last thing on your mind, it’s nice to know you have someone you can depend on.

[Quality 1st Plumbing is a full service plumbing company in Centennial, helping you with everything from water heater installations, to home energy audits. We’re the premier green plumbing company in Colorado, helping our customers save and conserve wherever possible.]

In these tough economic times, isn’t it nice to know you can still find a good deal?

We all love finding great deals. And when you find a coupon on something you need, or have been putting off because of the expense, the find seems all that much better.

If you’re in Colorado and have been looking for plumbing discounts to use to fix up your home, look no further. We’ve got specials for many of the most common plumbing issues you may be facing within your home.

Drain Cleaning – We’re equipped to help you unclog any drain problem, no matter how big or small. From the kitchen sink, to a backed up sewer, we have the experience and the knowledge to get the job done. We’re available 24 hours a day, and are guaranteed to unclog your drain, or our service is free.

Plumbing Service – Do you have a variety of things to do around the house? Maybe replace a toilet to take advantage of the current water rebates? Or clean and check on an older model water heater? How about finishing the bathroom remodel, and connecting up the new sink and shower faucets? Our goal is to get your projects done the right way the first time, so you can enjoy the results and the savings for years to come.

Water Heater – Need a water heater replaced? Looking to replace it with an Energy Star water heater? We have special discounts for both, and can make your home more efficient in heating your water supply. Even if your water heater is just a few years old, you’ll be surprised at the difference a new water heater can make in how quickly your water heats, and how much money you can save on your energy bills.

And the best thing is while you’re saving money fixing up your home, you’ll also be ensuring savings down the road as well. We’ll share green tips with you along the way, and show you ways you can become more energy efficient throughout your home.

[Quality 1st Plumbing is currently offering plumbing discounts to any of its Colorado customers. Stay green and don’t print – just tell us you’ve seen our online coupons, and we’ll honor the discount.]

What does it mean to hire a same day plumbing service? It means your emergency is our emergency. It means you’ll have your problem fixed within 24 hours from the time you call.

We know you don’t plan for a pipe to break, or for your water heater to go out. It just happens. And if you wake up to find no hot water in your shower, or come home to an inch of water in your basement, its nice to know you can call someone and have them come out as quickly as possible to find the problem, and fix the problem.

If you’ve ever worked with a plumbing service before, you know they are not all created equal. The next time you have an emergency and need a plumber, ask these questions.

• Do you offer same day plumbing service?
• How quickly can you get here?
• What advice do you have to contain the problem before you can get here?
• What are your guarantees?

A quality company will be able to answer these questions and more. They’ll be able to provide you with sound advice, and help you get back on track, and recover from whatever damage you’ve had.

[Quality 1st Plumbing offers same day quality service for all of our Denver Colorado customers. Just call and give us a try.]

Didn’t take advantage of the Denver Water Rebate program in 2009? Not a problem. Denver Water has extended the water rebate program for all of 2010.

Rebates for Denver residents and customers are available on the following:

• $150 rebate on a qualifying clothes washer. Limit 1 clothes washer per household, must qualify from the model list.
• High efficiency toilets, $125 rebate. Limit 3 toilets rebates per home on eligible toilets using 1.28 gallons per flush or less.
• $25 on a rain sensor, $50 on a wireless rain sensor. Limit 1 per residence.
• Rotary nozzles, $5 rebate per nozzle, must purchase at least four.
• 25 percent of the purchase price on a weather based smart controller

All qualifying model lists are located directly on the Denver Water website.

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The town of Castle Rock, Colorado is continuing with their water rebate program for 2010. The Water Conservation Master Plan allows Castle Rock residents the opportunity to voluntarily reduce the amount of water they are using by installing new equipment in their homes, with Castle Rock rebating back a portion of the purchase price. Each rebate can be honored only once per household. The following rebates are available:

• $150 rebate on a qualifying clothes washer.
• 50 percent rebate on the purchase of a rain sensor, up to $50.
• Rotary nozzles, $5 rebate per nozzle, minimum $20, maximum $200.
• 50 percent, up to $300, of the purchase price on an approved smart controller.
• $25 rebate on the purchase of a three day programmable irrigation controller.
• As a part of the smartscape renovation program, receive $1 per square foot of high water use plant materials removed.

Castle Rock residents must meet certain qualifications and provide appropriate forms. Please visit Castle Rock Water Rebate for more information.

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Aurora Water will be continuing their water rebate program for 2010, and offer residents of Aurora the opportunity to install high efficiency appliances, and receive a rebate back on the purchase price.

Aurora Water is offering rebates on:

• The purchase of high efficiency toilets using 1.28 gallons per flush
• The purchase of a Tier 2 or Tier 3 high efficiency washing machine

Please check out the Aurora Water Rebate Program for more details.

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