We’ve all read stories about garage door repair scams.

However, with these criminals getting sneaker than ever, it can sometimes be tough to know what to look for. When you want to avoid being taken advantage of, it’s important to ask the right questions.

Read on for the five questions you have to ask to ensure there’s nothing fishy about a garage door repair company.

1. “Are Your Garage Door Repair Technicians Certified?”

You don’t want someone working on your home who has only been self-taught or is operating without a certification/license.

Ask if techs are “I.D.E.A.” Certified (The Institute of Door Dealer Education and Accreditation.)

Finally, ensure a company screens their employees thoroughly. Remember, this person will be in your home.

2. “What Kinds Of Guarantees Can You Offer?”

If a company offers a “lifetime guarantee,” it’s too good to be true in most cases.

While they may not charge you for replacement parts, chances are they’ll rack up high service fee costs.

Plus, they’ll use the cheapest parts possible, so they can do the same thing over and over again.

3. “What Do You Expect The Job To Cost?”

It seems pretty obvious that it’s important to get an estimate of what the repair will cost — in writing — before you let any work begin.

However, many people forget to ask about the actual service charge. In general, a $100 service charge is pretty normal. Anything lower than that, and you should be cautious.

This is because scammers will end up overcharging for the cost of materials, technicians sent to your home, or simply asking for a service charge before they see your problem.

If any of these things happen, run for the hills.

4. “Can I Get A List Of Your References?”

This one is pretty straightforward.

If you ask for references, and a company is unwilling to provide any, it’s time to move on.

It’s especially important that, if given references, you contact each one of them to get the full story on their experience with the company.

5. “Where Can I Reach You?”

Asking for the contact information of a company, or at least seeing it clearly listed on their website, is crucial.

Before you sign anything, try calling the company several times. Do you speak with a different person each time? Does it take a while for them to return your calls? When they do, is it always from a blocked number, or a different number each time?

All are signs it’s time to move on.

If you’re a company looking for advice on how to properly list your contact information on your garage repair website, click here to see how it’s done.

Avoid Getting Ripped Off When You Need A Garage Door Repair

Now that you know what to look out for when you’re in need of a garage door repair, it’s time to focus on finding reliable services.

Or, perhaps you’re a repair company that offers superior services. If so, you know it’s easy for good people to get scammed. Make it easier for them to find your services by listing your company on our Classifieds website.

Then, check out the rest of our postings to connect with other businesses, or to find other local companies that can help with your next home improvement project.