It’s always better to be safe than sorry when hiring a company to do any type of repair work on your home. Garage door repairs are no different. Here’s how to avoid hiring "Bad Bob," who's built a negative reputation for garage door businessess across the country, and hire an honest, trustworthy company to repair or replace your garage door.
Who is Bad Bob?
According to DASMA, the Bad Bob persona originated in Florida in the late 1990s and eventually spread across the nation. Bad Bob isn’t just one person but represents hundreds of garage door repair people who follow the same business model, which involves several deceptive practices. The Bad Bob business model includes these four elements:
- Heavy (typically deceptive) advertising
- A focus on repair work
- Overcharging
- Performing unnecessary repairs
Whom does Bad Bob harm?
Bad Bob has given honest garage door technicians a bad name, and many lose business because of it. Bad Bob often uses names nearly identical to legitimate, existing garage door companies or dealers, confusing consumers and giving honest dealers bad reputations. Customers who fall prey to Bad Bob’s deceptions can be overcharged for shoddy work done. Keep a careful eye out for “deceptive practices, false advertising, and fraud.”
How do I avoid hiring Bad Bob for a job and hire an honest repairman instead?
Do your own background check.
Does the company have a physical address? It should be listed online and visible on Google Maps and Google Street View. If you search for an address and it doesn't exist or there's no proper establishment at that location, you have your answer. You could also drive past the location to see for yourself whether the business looks legitimate. Check the company’s website to get a better feel for the company, and search for online reviews from past customers. If there is no website, be wary of working with them.
Check BBB ratings.
Visit the Better Business Bureau website for your state, and search the company you’re considering doing business with. You’ll find ratings and reviews. Make sure the company is accredited and has positive reviews overall.
Get referrals from those you trust.
Asking people you trust to refer you to a company that's done quality work for them is one of the very best ways to find a reputable company to work with. This goes both ways; people you trust can also warn you about sketchy companies in the area.
Ask for multiple bids.
Try to get three different bids from three companies that offer the same types of services before you hire anyone. This way, you can see if any of the three stand out from the others, either as being outrageously overpriced or suspiciously underpriced.
If you need you need garage door repairs in or around Des Moines or anywhere in Central Iowa, give us a call! You can also request a quote by clicking on the button below.
