Your home’s garage serves many functions. It acts as a major entryway, a point of security and a place to store those random items you just can’t seem to get rid of.
But when your garage door isn’t opening or closing correctly, it can throw off your whole day. Getting your garage door fixed quickly and correctly gets your schedule back on track and will help ensure your home’s security. But choosing a garage door repair service can be tricky.
Here’s how to choose a garage door contractor you can trust.
First Impressions Matter
Whether you’re on a first date or you’re in a job interview, first impressions matter. Similarly, first impressions are important when choosing a reliable garage door contractor.
After doing online research, call up a garage repair service and ask them what their business’s name is. It sounds like a dumb question, but making sure the name of the business is the same as the name on the website is important. When you’re on the phone, be sure to ask specific questions about the job. If they can’t answer all your specific questions, they have no business repairing your garage door.
Red Flags to Look Out For
Some shady “contractors” have subtle and not-so-subtle red flags to look out for when you’re hiring them. For example:
- If a contractor is aggressively trying to upsell products and services, they may not be legit. A good contractor knows when to take no for an answer.
- If a contractor is difficult to get a hold of, don’t bother.
- If they say a project is going to last longer than a few days, look somewhere else. Garage repairs are usually a relatively quick fix. Unless you’re waiting on a specific garage door to come in, a repair shouldn’t take long.
Be Aware
While a home repair scam can come from any home service vertical, some of the most common scams are in garage door services.
Garage door problems usually occur with little warning, so the urgent nature of the industry makes it easy for scammers to take advantage of homeowners. These are the things you should be aware of when selecting a contractor.
- Take a look at the website. Does it look like a real business? Read the ‘About Us’ section to get a feel for the company.
- Check out their online reviews and make sure there are a good number of them. Ten reviews are usually not enough to accurately represent a company.
- Compare companies before deciding on the first one you see.
- Don’t make the entire payment in advance. If a company asks for the whole payment upfront, they will not have incentive to finish the job.
Knowledge is your best defense when selecting a garage door contractor. Being aware of the risks will help set you up for success.
