Essex County, up next.

Twenty-two towns with some of the oldest housing in the state: Victorians and Tudors in Montclair, Glen Ridge, and Maplewood, center-hall colonials in Millburn and Livingston. Beautiful houses, and the radiators and slate roofs that come with them.

Our guides already apply here, and older houses need them more: steam and hot-water heat, plaster walls, original windows, and wiring that predates anything you plug into it.

We're starting with the Bergen County mailer. Essex County is next.

Essex County businesses can get in line for a founding spot →

Local notes

Utilities: PSE&G serves most of the county for electric and gas. Save your outage line now.
Water: New Jersey American Water serves many towns; others, like Montclair, run their own systems.
Older homes: Houses built before 1978 may have lead paint. Contractors who disturb it must follow the EPA's lead-safe (RRP) rules; ask whether they're certified.
Contractors: Home improvement contractors must be registered with the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs; plumbers, electricians, and HVAC contractors are state-licensed. Ask for the number.
Permits: Most mechanical, electrical, and structural work needs a permit from your town's construction office.

Owner: verify utility/water coverage per town before mailer

This season