What boards and managers ask first

The license line is at the bottom of every page, with the state board's lookup. Ask any bidder for the same, and for a certificate of insurance made out to your building.

No. Water is shut off for one riser line at a time, inside a window posted in the lobby. Units on other lines keep their water.

The notice letter gives the hours for that unit's line. The proposal states the window for each line before the board votes.

We stop, tell the property manager the same day, and put any added work in writing as a priced change. The board decides before anything continues.

Yes. Permits are pulled in the licensed firm's name, and the inspection dates go in the notice letter.

A project manager assigned to the building. Their name and phone number are on the notice letter.

The proposal names the wall finish for each unit type. Walls are closed to primed drywall unless it says more. Tile, paint and wallpaper are the owner's unless the proposal includes them.

Ask each bidder for pricing by riser line, what the walls are left like, how many days of access each unit gives, and when payments are due. A bid that can't be set side by side with another is not ready for a vote.

In a written proposal, before the board votes, priced by riser line. Not at the survey and not by phone.

Night and weekend work is scheduled and priced in the proposal. The office is answered during office hours, and the notice letter carries the project manager's number.

Older buildings can have lead solder, and the service line into a building may be lead. Replacing risers does not replace the service line from the street. Ask your water utility, and tell us before the survey so the scope can include the connection. The EPA has a page on lead in drinking water.

Hudson County, Newark and the Bergen County towns along the river. The list is on the home page. Our hours are on the contact page.