Even the best garage doors made from the toughest materials are not immune to the deteriorating effects of time. Sooner or later, your garage door will start making funny noises, opening unevenly, or failing to open at all. If that’s the case, you’ll have to look for a residential garage door repair service to either repair or replace your garage door.
If you’re like most folks, you probably think that garage door repairs are a simple DIY job. While there are tons of DIY garage door tutorials on Youtube, your DIY skills are nothing compared to years of experience. Your best bet is to hire a reputable garage door repair company to handle your garage door repairs and replacements.
However, with so many garage door repair services, how do you pick the right one for your needs? If this describes your predicament, worry not; we’re here to help. Today, we’ll be highlighting a few tips on how you can find the best residential garage door repair company for your needs.
Check Out Online Reviews and Testimonials
Any garage door repair company worth its name will have all the necessary certifications. These certificates aren’t gimmicks, but proof of the top-notch quality of service. A couple of certificates you should look for include:
Manufacturer Certification
It’s not uncommon for Garage Doors companies to deal with specific types of garage doors. If that’s the case, the companies will likely get manufacturer certification from the garage door manufacturers. This means the manufacturer is confident in the garage door installation and repair capability.
This means the repair company will use the right tools and employ the right methods for their repairs and installations. Manufacturer certification or authorization is proof that the repair company will uphold the quality standards the manufacturer stipulates.
International Door Association Membership Certificate
The international door association or IDA is a forum that brings together all stakeholders in the door and access systems industry. Garage door manufacturers, contractors, and repair persons can join the association.
An IDA membership shows that the garage door repair company is committed to its cause. This isn’t just another run-of-the-mill company looking to make a quick buck out of faulty garage doors. Far from that, this is a company dedicated to providing diligent and high-quality repairs for its clients.
Members of the IDA have eight tenets that act as a guiding light in their respective industries. These tenets include:
- Ultimate customer satisfaction
- Honesty in Selling
- Honest advertising
- Complete safety compliance
- Regulatory compliance
- Sealed bid procedures
- Responsible conduct
- Proper contracting and product services
These eight tenets translate to high-quality service for your garage door repairs and replacements. You can never go wrong with an IDA member; infact, that’s why many in the Maryland area will say that ADP is my go-to garage door company when it comes to garage door services.
Local Associations
Most states have local associations for members in the door industry. These allow for members to build new networks and expand their reach. They also present a platform for these businesses to learn about new technologies or improve their service quality.
Ask whether the garage door company you have in mind is a member of any local association. If it is, that’s an added bonus.
Licensing
All garage door repair companies must have a valid license to operate in any state. Ensure the company you opt for has a valid license before entering any agreement with them. Garage door repair companies can either hold a residential or commercial license or both.
Any garage door company operating without a license is doing so illegally. You should stick to garage door companies with valid licenses. It’s worth noting that expired licenses don’t count as valid.
Insurance
Steer clear from any company without comprehensive general liability and workers’ compensation insurance. The former protects your property from any damage the company will do to your property. The latter will shield you from liability should any of the company’s workers get injured on the job.
Proof of insurance gives you peace of mind that you won’t have to adjust your budget for any unexpected catastrophe. A reputable garage door repair firm will be more than happy to provide insurance information.
Check Out Online Reviews and Certifications
Online reviews and testimonials will help you learn volumes about the company in question. With these reviews and testimonials, you can see what previous clients have to say about the garage door repair service. Check both positive and critical reviews to get a clear picture of the service.
Tread carefully with on-site reviews. That’s because some unscrupulous companies fake their reviews and dupe unsuspecting clients. For honest and unbiased reviews, check out authority review sites like the BBB or Yelp.
Look at What Services They Offer
Not all residential garage door repair companies are built the same. Some companies have a greater service variety than their counterparts. That’s why it’s important to look at the kind of service the door company offers before taking your pick.
In terms of services, make sure the repair company offers:
Emergency services: Find a company that will swoop in to the rescue when your garage door won’t open, and you’re late for your wedding. You never know when you might have a garage door emergency. Finding a garage door company with emergency services ensures you have nothing to worry about.
Affordable services: Compare the quality of the services with how much the company charges you for them. You need a company with quality services at a reasonable price to get bang for the buck. Check out reviews to get an idea of the company’s service quality.
Services particular to your model: Ensure the garage door repair company can repair your particular garage model. A one-size-fits-all approach to garage door repairs won’t have the best results.
Compare Quotes From Different Companies
You probably have a budget for how much you’ll spend on garage door repairs. If so, the next step is to ask for quotes from different residential garage door repair firms. That way, you can pick a company whose charges align with your budget.
There’s always the temptation of picking the company with the lowest quote. This may save you some money, but sometimes you may get what you pay for. It’s never a good idea to skimp on your garage door repairs if you want the best service.
Pick a company that matches your budget and go for it. That way, you can get quality repair services without stretching your pockets.
Find a Company With Guarantees
Any good residential garage door repair service will guarantee their work to instill customer confidence. This means they’ll do free repairs and adjustments should you experience any problems with your garage door after their servicing. However, you’ll have to read the guarantee terms and conditions to know whether it works in your interest.
Guarantees ensure the company’s service is to your satisfaction. If not, you can have them redo the work until you’re fully satisfied. Companies like Portes de Garage MB have comprehensive guarantees to ensure 100% customer satisfaction.
Adequate Training and Experience
Garage door technicians don’t require formal education, but require extensive training. Most of the garage door repair training occurs on the job. That’s why you need to find an experienced residential garage door repair service for your repairs.
It’s worth noting that trade schools and other institutions may offer formal training for garage door technicians. This training culminates in a certificate that technicians can show as proof of their proficiency. You can never go wrong with a company with technicians that hold actual certificates.
Ensure you hire a company with at least five years’ experience for the best results. Also, ask whether their technicians are certified, although this shouldn’t be such a big deal.
Ask for Recommendations From Friends and Family
Friends and family will always point you in the right direction when looking for a residential garage door repair service. They’ve probably worked with one or two good companies they could refer you to. You can be confident in the company because your closest people have had first-hand experiences with the door repair company.
Do Some Homework on the Company
It’s important to do proper research on the residential garage door repair service. This means investigating critical information about the company to know exactly who you’re working with. A couple of things you should look into include:
Their physical address: Googling “ residential garage door repair service near me” will expose dozens of search results. However, you should go a step further and search the physical addresses of these garage door repair companies. That way, you can identify and eliminate fake companies with non-existent physical addresses.
Website: Any serious garage door repair company will have its own website. That way, clients can learn about the company and even schedule appointments through their website. Check whether the repair company has a website, and whether it’s well-designed and functions as it should.
The company’s online reputation: Check whether the company has a solid online reputation. You can do this by checking online reviews or seeing what people say about the company on various social media platforms.
These are a few things you should research about the garage door repair company you have in mind. This will help you make a more informed decision when hiring a company for your garage door repairs.
Keep Your Eyes Peeled for Red Flags
There are numerous red flags that tell you you’re working with the wrong garage door repair company. To make sure you’re in the right hands, look out for the following red flags.
Multiple critical reviews: One or two critical reviews are perfectly normal, but more than ten critical reviews indicate a bad company. Critical reviews speak of previous clients’ negative experiences with the company. More than a few critical reviews mean the company often delivers subpar service.
Extreme advertising: It’s okay for companies to advertise in such a competitive business landscape. However, be careful with repair companies that advertise a bit excessively. There’s a high chance the company charges exorbitant prices to recoup advertising expenses.
Numerous company names: Any company with more than one name without a valid reason is a cause for concern. It indicates that the company is hiding or trying to escape from something. You should steer clear from such companies at all costs.
Don’t provide estimates: Be wary of any company that refuses to give you estimates before beginning the work. The company might be looking to overcharge you on simple repairs.
Uninvited salespersons: No salesperson should show up at your door unsolicited to market repair services. This is very unprofessional and a complete turn off for most people.
Funny gut feeling: Getting a funny gut feeling while contacting the company could be a bad sign. It’s important to trust your intuition even in trifle matters, like picking a door repair company. Of course, you’ll have to do more research to confirm your apprehension.
Be on the lookout for these red flags, so you don’t end up with the wrong garage door repair company for your repairs. At least we tried to warn you.
Check the Company’s Service Range
A company’s service range is the span of areas they serve. Some repair companies only operate within their town, while others serve the entire country.
It’s best to find a company with a service range that’s not too small nor too large. A small service range means the company may not have the skills nor tools to conduct proper repairs. On the other hand, a large service range means the company will have little to no time for your particular issue.
You Deserve the Best Residential Garage Door Repair Service
Use the information above to find the best residential garage door repair service near you. Don’t forget to do tons of research to ensure you made the right pick. Also, remember to explore all your options before finally settling on a garage door repair company.
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