Are you hesitant to hire a garage door company to repair your door or operator? Maybe you’ve been scammed before or you know someone else who has. Unfortunately, garage door repair scams happen more often than they should. Fortunately, scammers can be pretty easily identified. If you know what signs to look for, you can avoid getting ripped off or taken advantage of by sketchy repair people.
Make a Phone Call
Call the company you’re considering working with. Describe your problem and ask for a general estimate. What’s the company’s name? If they go by various names or general names, like Des Moines Garage Door Repair, beware! Some scammers also use names very similar to other repair companies in the area to confuse people. Real companies will be proud of who they are and willing to tell you about their company, services, and values.
Look at Websites and Online Reviews
You can often—though not always—learn a lot about a company, its reputation, and its reliability by searching its website. Does the company look reputable? Again, does it have a unique company name? Is the address and contact information listed? Look for reviews and testimonials on the business’s website as well as on Google and Facebook. Most businesses receive at least a couple negative reviews, but overall, the reviews should be positive!
You can also look at other websites to find reviews, ratings, accreditations, and other helpful information to help build your trust in the company you're considering for a job. Check and see if the business has
- A DASMA membership
- An International Door Association (IDA) membership
- Angie’s List reviews
- IDEA accreditation
- Better Business Bureau ratings and reviews
Find the Physical Location
If the company only has a phone number listed or online advertising but no physical address, it could very well be a scam. Look up the physical location on Google Maps. Even consider driving past the address to see if it actually exists and to get an idea of who you'd be working with.
Talk to Your Local Friends and Neighbors
One of the best ways to find a good, reputable company to work with is by asking friends refer you to companies they have worked with. If their project was completed well for a fair price with no problems, yours likely will be, too. If they worked with someone who didn’t do good work or charged more than they should have, they can warn you.
Get More than One Bid
Don’t instantly hire the first garage door company you call. Get around three different bids and compare them. If one is a lot higher or lower than the others, consider it a red flag. Also ask how payment will work. If you’re asked to pay for a job before it’s done or to pay in cash, don’t do it. You should only pay after the job is completed.
If you’re looking for a trustworthy, professional company for garage door repair service in the Des Moines area, consider WD Door! You can search for us on the websites listed above, look at our social media platforms, Google us, and browse our website and blog to learn more about who we are and the quality of service we provide. Feel free to give us a call for service or more information, or request a free quote by clicking the link below. We look forward to hearing from you!
