The wrong time to look for a garage door repair specialist is when you are standing in the rain struggling to open the door and failing. Take the time to research professional companies in the area before you have a problem that needs immediate help. When you are looking for a good professional garage door repair service, there are several key ways you can protect yourself from falling victim to scams, shoddy work and being charged more than the job is worth.
1 Seek out recommendations from trusted sources.
Chances are that one of your friends or a family member has needed garage door repair service in the past. Ask around and see if there are particular companies in the area that they were satisfied with. Try to obtain information from several people, and use their information and feedback to compare the costs and the time it took to complete the job.
If the information you get from family and friends is not sufficient to help you make a choice, turn to independent review sites on the internet. Read a variety of reviews from trusted sources. Be aware that some unscrupulous companies hire people to write positive reviews for them, so you read carefully to judge whether reviews sound genuine or not.
2 Insist on proof of licensing, insurance and experience.
A reputable company will have no problem showing you all appropriate licenses and paperwork that allows them to perform garage door repair in your city or state. Do research to determine if they have a good standing with the Better Business Bureau or if customers have made complaints in the past. Also seek out information about how long the company has been in business, who owns it and what type of training the employees are required to have.
3 Get estimates for cost and time from several different companies.
Although speed is the essence in an emergency, getting estimates from several different garage door repair specialists can help you make a smarter choice. Get a written description of the work each repair specialist believes you need, that includes an approximate time frame in which it can be completed and an estimate of the total cost, broken down into materials and labor. While a low cost should not be the deciding factor that determines which service you hire, having specific estimates can help you make a final decision between otherwise acceptable companies.
Choosing a garage door repair specialist that will deliver top-quality work at an affordable price should include obtaining reviews, doing your own research and getting repair estimates. Be prepared so you do not fall prey to scammers or companies who do poor quality work that may lead to more expense and headaches in the future.