Submetering, or the installation of individual meters on each unit in an apartment, manufactured home park, commercial, industrial complex or even a retail mall, is a great way to attract tenants. It ensures fair billing practices where each unit is only responsible for paying for the water they use, allowing for water conservation practices and management that is much more cost-effective than splitting the bill based on a complex formula that includes occupants and floor space.
For landlords and property managers, finding water meter installation companies to plan, install, test and even complete billing and payment processing services is an important step. Too often landlords make mistakes that can end up turning this project into something that is much more difficult than it needs to be.
To weed out the less experienced and poor-quality water meter installation companies from consideration, avoid these common mistakes when making a selection.
Choosing on Cost Alone
There are two components to any installation project. One is the actual equipment, which will include the water meters and installation components. The other factor will be labor for the installation. Companies that are offering very low bids or quoted prices on water meter installation are either providing low-quality meters, or they are using cheap labor, which means untrained installers.
Paying a bit more for the latest in smart meters and experienced, professionals to complete the installation is always the best choice. This will ensure there are no complications after the fact and that all meters are tested and operational.
Not Considering Pre and Post Installation Services
Experienced water meter installation companies will offer a range of services from pre-installation planning to post-installation management of billing and payments. By considering what the company can offer in addition to the installation services, it is easier to partner with a water management company offering the full scope of services you need.
