When dealing with any major purchase, it is unwise to pay too much, but it can end up even worse if you pay too little. This concept is applied to any major purchase, especially when dealing with a sales person, dealer or contractor. When the important time comes to begin your search for a brand new garage door system, you want to make sure you make a good decision. The garage door system includes the door, hardware and the electric garage door opener.
All of these need to work harmoniously together in order to ensure a functioning garage door. When trying to find someone to install the garage door, it may be tempting to go along with the person that can do the job cheaply. The truth is, oftentimes paying less actually means you get less—less experience, lower quality products and less follow‑up service.
If you shop around and get written or verbal quotes, the garage door with the lowest quoted price, especially if it’s significantly lower, will often have a shorter lifespan and in the long run it may require more frequent service calls than you would like. Sometimes getting a cheaper alternative means that the parts used are cheaper. This could result in getting a defective component and therefore having to make more service calls. In fact, after you make your last payment, it may be difficult to even contact the dealer when they initially offer such a low price.
On the other hand, if you find a price that is substantially higher when you compare it to other prices you see online or advertised on flyers, it’s a good idea to get the details of the product that they are installing. Ask questions like, why is the product substantially more expensive? And what services are included with the installation? Show that you are interested in learning and understanding the whole system. This is a good way to test and see if you have located a garage door professional or if you are dealing with an inexperienced dealer. In the end, you want a good, quality product that will last a long time.
Do Your Investigation
It is very easy to come across pop-up companies. These are companies that have less than great reputations and do not have many years in the business. For most of us, we only purchase one or maybe two garage doors in the span of our lifetime. It is very important to know and understand who exactly we are doing business with.
Don’t be shy. Ask to see homes that the dealer has completed. This can serve as a reference. This is also a good idea if some of the homes are located near where you live. Ask these homeowners about their overall experience and their level of satisfaction. Also, ask if they would recommend this dealer without hesitation.
Check documentation. Make sure the garage door dealer you are considering to do your install has the necessary mandatory state or provincial licenses. Make sure they are up-to-date. It is also important to make sure they have valid liability and professional insurance. This insurance protects both you, the homeowner, and them, the business owner. If they belong to a garage door association, ensure that they adhere to their code of ethics. Ask for proof of any licenses or certificates.
Evaluate Your Service Level
It may be appealing to believe that simply because a business has a fleet of trucks and a great logo that they are professional and offer good service. This is not always the case. A company that specializes in sales, installation and service of garage doors will be honest and straightforward. They say you should judge a tree by its fruit and not by its appearance. The same is true when selecting a garage door dealer.
A good way to evaluate a potential dealer is to visit them. See if their warehouse and showroom are neat and organized or messy and in disarray. If the office or warehouse is organized, that is a great indication that the company is conscientious and thorough, and you can be relatively confident that you will get the same treatment.
The garage door dealer you choose needs to be able to react rapidly to service calls. With this in mind it is important to ask questions like, do they have enough service vehicles to cover your area? Do they have enough to provide prompt installation, do the service checks have enough replacement parts in order to respond to unexpected issues? The answers to these questions will give you an accurate idea of the quality of service you will receive.
Ask Interrogations and Check Our Responses!
You are invited to come and visit us at our showroom. For some examples of styles of garage doors, use our Design Centre. For even more inspiration, take a look at our image gallery.
We will dedicate the appropriate amount of time in order to properly advise you in order to make the best choice for your needs while respecting your budget. If it is convenient for you, we can provide you with a quotation via email.
Feel free to contact us. We would be glad to show you projects that we have done in your area.
Words to remember: the bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of a low price is forgotten.
Add new comment