Repairing or replacing your garage door is an important part of maintaining your home. The garage door is one of the most overlooked openings in the home, either because it is used every day, or because it isn’t used often enough. However, when it stops working, it can be an inconvenience and a danger to you and your family. At Ingstrup Construction in Lansing, MI, we take garage doors seriously, and we think you should, too. Here are 8 tips to pick the best garage door company to do repairs or replacements.
Ask Family and Friends
If you need a garage door repair, it is important to ask you family, friends, and neighbors for recommendations. People are always willing to give good recommendations when they have had a good experience. They are even more willing to warn you about bad companies.
Compare Companies
Call a couple of companies and ask them about their garage door repair services. Compare prices and ask about hidden fees, like a service call charge or mileage reimbursement.
Get References
Ask the company for a couple of references. Whether they were out to repair garage springs or for an entire door replacement, you can see the way the door looks from the outside. A good reference will be willing to talk to you on the phone about their experience with the company.
Do the Research
Look at company reviews on the Internet. Overhead door installation is important, and making sure it is done right should be your first priority. Reviews on the web will give you an idea of how the company works and how it resolves issues with a job. Just know that some bad reviews may be made up by a company’s competitors.
Contact Better Business Bureau
The BBB keeps records of unresolved complaints against companies. Make sure that the company you are looking at doesn’t have anything against it at the consumer watchdog organization.
Get an Estimate
Once you have decided on a company, invite them out and get a hard estimate for the job. There are only a few times that garage door repair should cost hundreds of dollars. Be sure you know what the repair costs and why it needs to be done.
Ignore Advertising
Just because a company is willing to pay for lots of advertising doesn’t mean that it is a good or reputable company. It just means the company has an advertising budget. Choosing a company based on its advertising is like a roll of the dice—you could get a good company or you could get a scam artist.
Go with Your Gut
Too often, people ignore their gut for a deal that seems too good or convenient to be true. Listen to what your instincts are telling you, and if you have any doubts, do not use that company to do the repair work. A great Lansing garage door company will make you feel comfortable with their work proposal. They will not employ high-pressure sales tactics; they also will not ask for all of the money for the repair up front, though they may ask for a deposit.