Homework

[JBTcajun]

I have done tons of homework; looked at many angles, burnt much gas, washed many clean comforters, met with owners, weeded thorough the distributors, etc,etc. One thing that hasn't been accomplished is examining the water bills of the competitors. The city will not provide. You'll always mention this and it sounds great. I wanna do it! HOW?
Thanks in advance
JBTcajun

[Kitty]

The city? Go in to the water dept. and they should know water usage is public knowledge......if not try to wink wink nod nod....:)

Get as many months as you can.

[BWJR]

To be safe get at least three years of Water Bills. This will show you a seasonal trend and a long term trend. In addition find out what the sewer charges are in regards to local and county sewer, and if there are plans to increase any of these rates.

Good Luck,

BWJR

[Ronald]

In my area the water company will not give any information about anyones water bill (even a deadbeat tenant) ( I am in the landlord business) there is one way to get the information you need go out and read the meter and go back in a few days and read it again then you will know

[Duane]

Ronald,

That may work for you, but up here in Ohio the meters are inside the builiding and unless you have access you can't read the meters. Most meter readers don't even know where the meters are located since they use radio transmitters to transmit the meter readings to their truck that drives down the street.

My city gives the information out, and I check all my competitors usage every couple of months.

Mine keeps going up, theirs keep going down.

[HAL]

All I had to do was call the water dept. they will fax you the information, as long as you have the addresses of the places you want the info from. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be!
Also make sure the places you are looking at have their own separate meter. because some places will share the meter with the entire complex.

[CharlieS]

Water bills are also kept private by our local water departments. There is no inherent right that I am aware of. However, I too have kept track by reading some meters.

Charlie

[JBTcajun]

The city water department claims there is a right to privacy, "you might use the information to gain an advantage and the city might get sued." I have been looking at the usage based on folk in the store. Someone here stated that the attendant can only tell a slow day and not a good one. With all these things considered my demographics studies are important.

[BWJR]

In N.J. water usage is public information. I guess news travels slow to the hills and swamps of Ark.

BWJR

[NJ Jon]

JBTcajun -

In looking at several mats, I've found some that have an inside water meter with a remote head outside for the meter reader.

Just for the heck of it some slow day, try to take a walk around the competition and see if there is a little box on the building with a digital readout. That will be the water meter. Outside is public space, and no one can complain if you occasssionally take a look, especially if you buy a soda in the mat and want to drink it outside in the fresh air.

It also helps to know where the water comes into the building, but that may take some detective work. The meter should be pretty close to the water input.

This may not work in all cases, but it should in some, and that's better than nothing.


NJ Jon