Garage Door Maintenance Checklist
Your garage door must be in peak condition to work optimally. With daily use, it requires maintenance to combat wear and tear. Durable garage door parts are as susceptible to wearing out as any other moving components. Identifying early signs of maintenance and repair prevents further damage, saving you money.
We’ll discuss garage door maintenance frequency, provide a checklist to ensure you keep it pristine and provide signs your garage door needs maintenance.
Signs Your Garage Door Needs Maintenance
A garage door is one of the most often used appliances in a home, but all that raising and lowering can begin to take a toll over time. Make sure you avoid expensive garage door repair costs by signing up for regularly schedule garage door maintenance.
How to Prevent Melting Snow From Causing Damage to Your Home
As a homeowner, you have little control over nature and the elements’ impact on your home’s exterior. Snow and ice can be destructive, but what are the best ways to prevent this? Protecting your home from invasive snowfall is one precautionary step you can take.
Learn more about the potential damage melting snow causes, why you should implement preventive measures, ways to safeguard your home and other helpful information.
10 Signs That a Contracting Company May be a Scam
When you start to engage with contractors about working on your home, you may begin to wonder: Am I being ripped off? While navigating bids and contractors can be a challenge, it’s not impossible if you know what to look for.
Here are tips on how to detect a scam and protect you, your home and your pocketbook.
One-Day-Only Pricing
When the contractor shows up to give you a bid and they offer a discount price that’s only available right then and there, politely decline and say you’re exploring your options. Professional contractors understand that the work is a significant investment for a homeowner, and they should encourage you to get as much information as possible before making a final decision.
Ask for Cash
A contractor should have no problem accepting a check for work. If they insist on cash for any reason, it’s a sign that they’re either trying to avoid paying taxes on the money or that they’re in some kind of financial bind. Either way, you don’t want to be involved with them. Insist on paying with a check for your own record-keeping purposes.
No Permits
Home improvement work often requires a permit. If your contractor tells you that pulling permits is a waste of time, or that it’s not important to the process, that gives you a good indication of the care and attention to detail they will provide when delivering service on your home.
Scary Rhetoric
When a contractor starts to talk about impending danger at your home, they’re probably using scare tactics to get you to move forward with an expensive service. If a contractor says your garage door is about to cave in at any moment, that’s an exaggeration meant to get you to move forward with a replacement. Professional garage door service technicians will provide a more measured analysis.
Big Numbers
Some home improvement projects come with high price tags. But, if you get a visit from a contractor you don’t know and they quickly quote you thousands of dollars for recommended service, you should shop that bid around. Make sure you get a second opinion before investing thousands of dollars into a service you don’t need with a contractor you don’t know.
No Referrals
Any contractor worth their cost is going to be able to provide referrals. If you ask for referrals, they should be able to provide them quickly. If you feel that the contractor is obfuscating, consider this a warning sign and explore your other options before moving forward with them.
Upfront Pay
Few contractors will ask for payment in full upfront. If they do, that should be a warning sign for you. While it doesn’t happen often, there have been cases where a contractor gets full payment and then disappears. Most professional contractors will ask for a portion of payment upfront, along with a written guarantee signed by both parties.
Price Escalation
Don’t let a contractor give you a low bid to start, then raise the price after citing “unexpected circumstances” once the work begins. Make sure the written guarantee you signed includes language on how you’ll handle change orders and price increases. This should protect you from uncontrolled price escalation, and it helps hold the contractor accountable to work responsibly during the project.
No Physical Address
Not every service provider needs a brick-and-mortar location, but it does indicate a commitment to the industry and customers, as well as stability in operation. If your contractor does not have a brick-and-mortar location that you can visit or drive past, make sure to check references and learn more about how long they’ve been working. No storefront could also be a sign of inexperience.
Poor Communication and Organization
If your contractor is difficult to get hold of, or if you find that communication is lacking or unprofessional, they may not be a contractor you can count on. Take a look at the quote they provide. Is it on an official letterhead? Do they have a professional website and email address (Not just Gmail or another free provider)? These may seem like small things, but they can provide an indication of what to expect when working with them.
At Quality Overhead Door, we are your trustworthy source for garage doors, garage door openers, entry doors, awnings, fireplaces and other products for your home. When you need service you can count on in the Toledo area and throughout Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan, trust the team that’s earned an A+ from the Better Business Bureau and the Angie’s List Super Service Award.
Contact us today about your home and its needs!
How to Care for Your Garage Door
Your garage door is important to the access and safety of your home. It can add a touch of style and convenience to your residence while keeping your house more secure. Knowing the best way to properly care for your door or doors is crucial for prolonging their working life.
Regular garage door maintenance is essential for the best and most convenient operation of your doors. Without it, you could face some unfavorable consequences, such as safety concerns or mechanical breakdowns.
Learn more about how to maintain your garage door to keep it performing at its peak potential.
Avoiding a Garage Door Repair Scam: 9 Tips to Help You Avoid a Scam
Updated March 31, 2023
For years, investigative reports on TV have gone to great lengths to expose scams in the contractor and repair services industry. Over one-third of homeowners worry about fraud when they’re scheduling repairs. At Quality Overhead Door, we want to make sure we do our part to educate our customers on how to avoid a garage door scam with their next maintenance or service repair.
Scammers seek out vulnerable, unsuspecting customers to try to steal your hard-earned money. As a family-owned business, we treat our customers’ homes with the same respect as our own. We’ve created this guide to help protect you and your family from fraudulent service providers.
Staying vigilant and informed can help you recognize suspicious business practices. These tips will help you identify scammers and shady businesses that may try to take advantage of you. You’ll also find helpful ideas and online resources to make the process of avoiding a scam as easy as possible.