We know most folks these days live busy fast-paced lives and so every minute is precious. That is why we have compiled this list of things to help make the most out of your time spent with your garage door consultation.
1. Educate yourself. Go to our website to learn more about garage door options, care, and maintenance. We have links to many different garage door manufacturer’s websites. Study manufacturer’s websites, it is the key to knowing what’s available.
2. Know what styles you like. After looking at the manufacturer’s websites, remember the things you liked- window patterns, door styles etc. Sharing these things with your garage door technician will help him narrow down the possibilities and find the perfect door for your home.
3. If you have some specifics in mind, don’t be afraid to say so. Remember, you are going to be looking at this door for years to come, so make sure you are telling your garage door technician any specifics about what you are looking for in a garage door. We want you to be happy with your new garage door purchase!
4. Know what options are important to you and which ones aren’t a priority. Windows versus no windows, insulated versus non-insulated, window inserts, color, etc. There are a whole bunch of different options to customize your garage door. Some things are going to be non-negotiable and therefore, necessary to your garage door purchase, but some things are just extras, so be sure to have an idea of what those non-negotiable things are.
5. Make sure you are in agreement with your spouse. I can’t tell you how many times our tech shows up to a home to do a garage door door estimate, and one spouse has no idea we are even scheduled to come out, much less that they are going to be replacing their garage door! So, as a courtesy to the company coming out, talk it over with whomever you are sharing the household decisions with so that everyone is on the same page. Also, make sure you discuss garage door options together both before the technician comes out to your home and after he leaves to make sure you both are in agreement about what kind of garage door you are looking to get.
6. Think about any other garage door opener work you are going to need and bring that up as well. If you know you are going to need a new opener or opener repair, or there is some other garage door issue, let the tech know so he can price that for you as well. That way, the company can go ahead and plan for extra repair time if that is needed.
7. Be reasonable with price expectations. In this economy everyone wants to make sure they are getting the best price possible. While this is to be expected, your local garage door company is not going to be in business long if they are always ‘giving away’ products. Understand that while we want to give you a good deal, we do have to make enough to be able to make good on warranties we are offering a couple of years from now. Rather than getting stuck on the issue of price, look for a company that offers quality products that hold up and continue to look great over time. That is where the real value lies. Which brings me to the next point…
8. Make sure the price you are quoted includes everything you will need in order to have the job completed correctly. Does that door quote include hauling away the old door or is that going to be extra? Does the price include tax, labor, and installation? Find out if the quote is for everything the job requires or you may be stuck paying for extra fees. Do yourself a big favor, too and get the estimate in writing -that way the price can’t be changed on you later.
9. Schedule the door estimate for when you have time to meet. Most reputable door companies like Covenant Garage Doors & Openers will gladly schedule a time to meet with you that works with your schedule. Make sure when you set up an appointment you set up a time where you will have about an hour or so to devote to meeting with the garage door tech. That way there is plenty of time for the tech to go over the material and answer any questions you may have.
10. Be punctual. We at Covenant Garage Doors & Openers always strive to arrive to an appointment in a timely manner, so we hope our customers will do the same. The unforeseen can happen, but if something comes up and you are not able to keep an appointment time, please call our office and reschedule for another time.
Ready to get an estimate? Give us a call at 770-720-7828 or visit our website www.covenantgaragedoors.com.