Reduced home values and the appeal of an $8,000 tax credit for first-time buyers are helping existing home sales to limp along mid-2009 4.885 million units short of original projections for the year. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) released the telling numbers earlier this month (July).
That puts the pressure on sellers to ensure that their property listed for sale is priced right and shows right. Without question, a home has to pass the requisite inspection with flying colors, or a potential buyer will likely walk, using the issues as an “out clause.” If the inspection reveals issues that are anything but cosmetic, the lender is likely to decline financing, effectively making the buyers’ decision for them. Worse yet for the seller who may not have realized he/she had issues with their home, having received documentation of problem areas puts the owner on notice to declare them to potential buyers or fix them.
At the heart of inspection is the plumbing, says Steve Jusseaume, Master plumber and owner of Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver. Jusseaume has held License #178235 since 1978.
In those 31 years, Jusseaume has fixed every kind of commercial and residential plumbing problem conceivable. That’s why he’s in demand for plumbing inspections these days, as buyers vet a good deal from bad.
Plumbing that drips, leaks and clogs are sometimes apparent in a casual walk-though. For the most part, complex plumbing issues can be difficult to detect. That’s where Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver comes in with its expertise. When Jusseaume inspects a home, he looks a lot deeper than surface plumbing issues including detailed inspection and diagnosis of:
• All types of water heaters, water softeners, boilers
• Kitchen and laundry fixtures and appliances
• Bathroom fixtures
• Drainage and sump pumps
• Sewer lines and wastewater lines plus water lines.

As expected, older homes can have problems with plumbing that have either gone undetected or unrepaired for years.

When my parents finally acquiesced, agreeing to sell the residence they’d called “home” for nearly 40 years, plumbing repairs became a priority. They’d built this home, or rather, hired a contractor to build it for them, at a time they had more potential than cash. That’s not to say it wasn’t a swell house. Any six-bedroom, two-story home with St. Charles kitchen cabinetry inside and a 40-ft. swimming pool outside was, er is, substantial by most forms of accounting. In the early years, they were bent on improving the place they raised their four daughters. But particularly in the later years some of the repairs they once would have prioritized as necessary had fallen by the wayside.

The dishwasher was a perfect example.
In the decades in between high school graduation and the eve of my parents putting their home on the market, I had filled and started the dishwasher dozens of times after family holiday dinners. It was kind of expected that us girls, grown with our own families, would help tidy up the kitchen after mom and dad too pulled out all the stops making a holiday dinner. As much as she’d fuss, “You don’t have to do that,” we’d rally to the cleanup. The last button we’d push would be the “On” button for the dishwasher and then my sisters who’d flown in for the holiday would retire upstairs for the night and I’d drive back to my home nearby.
In the weeks before mom and dad listed the house, mom went appliance shopping. She identified the new dishwasher, stovetop, double ovens and refrigerator she suddenly “needed.” When I asked her what the heck she was doing committing to $10,000 in stainless steel appliances, for a kitchen that worked perfectly well, she told me that she had to leave the dishwasher door open during the dry cycle or steam would build up and warp the wood facing on the countertop.
“How long has that been going on?” I asked.
“Nine years.” She responded as if it was recently discovered…and maybe it was given the way time accelerates as age advances.
Wise sellers address these issues is before they list their home. That’s where Jusseaume and Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver help sellers keep their edge in a competitive market. Interested buyers will run the tap or flush the loo when first touring a home. Serious buyers will test the sprinkler system. But it’s the inspector for the buyer who will actually put all appliances and systems through their paces, identifying cracks, missing bolts, switching problems, seal issues, etc.
Sometimes a home will pass an inspection with flying colors. It’s pretty obvious in that case that the owner took pride in his/her home and truly cared for it. Buyers appreciate getting into a home that’s been pre-loved, not just pre-owned. But even owners who have a deep affection for their home may overlook issues or put off repairs.
Realtors across the board will tell you that homes that are newly listed and are also priced right and in good showing condition sell faster than homes that are priced too high or need repairs. If you want to shorten the days your property is listed on the market, now is a good time to schedule an inspection and repairs.
If you’re making an offer on a property, call Ben Franklin Plumbing in Denver and schedule your whole house plumbing inspection. At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing we pride ourselves on our simple and straightforward pricing met by our 24-7 availability and sealed with our punctuality guarantee, “if there’s any delay, it’s you we pay.” We are always true to our word and our work including a 2-year guarantee on all services.
Visit us at www.benfranklinplumbingdenver.com. Or call Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver at 303-340-3400.

VERY impeccable service!  I was so impressed with Steve and the respect I received.  He was very well behaved and professional- I will definitely be calling back in the future!  Thank you!

The most intimate room in your home and the place where you can enjoy your amenities in peace is the bathroom. As schedules get busier, people want to luxuriate in privacy the few moments per day they are home. To that end, they are investing into remodeling for ultimate comfort. According to Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver (www.benfranklinplumbingdenver.com), the top 5 trends in lavatory luxuries are:1. Vessel sinks are ultra-modern and come in varieties of stone, copper, glass porcelain and wood to match the feel of your bathroom. They can be set on the counter or recessed into the counter and cabinet below-depending on the desired look. The toughest part of switching to a vessel sink from a traditional recessed sink is changing the hardware from a standard-hardware setup. Traditional, recessed sinks generally consist of two handles. Vessel sinks usually have a single faucet complimenting the minimalist look. To add another dimension to your bathroom, you can tailor the height of the sink to your needs. If children will be washing hands, you may want to go with a recessed sink at a shorter height. If installing his-and-hers sinks, consider raising his sink to accommodate for a tidier shaving experience. Lower hers to cater to makeup application needs.

2. Jet shower panels provide the ultimate shower experience. You can customize jet panels to have varied water pressure and spray settings you may also choose to have and shower extensions built in. Most common jet panels have three to six spouts. Add rain-simulating showerheads to the ceiling for a new take on the old shower that will give you something to sing about.

3. Electronic faucets are a comfort item that should not be restricted to hotel and movie theater bathrooms. Bring the ease of automatic water into your home. Automatic faucets conserve water and you don’t so much as have to bother to turn off the sink while you brush your teeth. The standard is models operated by a long-lasting lithium or alkaline battery, an alternative is to hardwire the faucet. Sensor-activated toilet flushers are also available for the home.

4. Though it is also trendy to install a retro cast iron or acrylic claw foot bathtub, evolved bathtubs are rapidly gaining popularity because they are designed for maximum comfort. Walk-in tubs reduce the slip-and-fall factor for mobility-compromised seniors. Stepping over a tub edge can cause discomfort or loss of balance. Women appreciate a shower seat for shaving. Men and women enjoy relaxing in a steam shower while sitting, not standing.

5. Everyone has to have a toilet, but why settle for just any toilet? You might as well make it the best seat in the house. Options run the gamut of amenities you didn’t know you wanted. There is the heated toilet seat, the bidet and the toilet/bidet hybrid. It’s not only the temperature on the seat that you can control, but also the temperature of the water. If you want to go all out, add the blow dryer, the hydraulic slow-close lid and seat, self cleaning nozzles, memory settings so you do not have to reset the temperature with each use and even a remote control. The water needs to be heated through an internal tank and it also connects to electricity, in other words, seek a professional to install.

Now that you’ve put in the time to carefully select your jet panels with just the right hammered copper controls and everything you need to perfect your wash room, you need an experience plumber to install these improvements properly. Otherwise, the investment into these upgrades can backfire.

Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver has the training and experience to install the most complex plumbing configurations for all types of fixtures.

At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing we pride ourselves on our simple and straightforward pricing met by our 24-7 availability and sealed with our punctuality guarantee, “if there’s any delay, it’s you we pay.” We are always true to our word and our work including a 2-year guarantee on all services.

Visit us at www.benfranklinplumbingdenver.com. Or call Ben Franklin Plumbing Denver at 303-340-3400.

I was very impressed and happy with the service Keith Sears provided.  I will definitely be calling in the future!