The warranty had just expired on Ashley’s refrigerator when it decided to stop working. Since it was the first time she ever needed a professional appliance repair, she called the first company she could find. Yet the service she ended up receiving was anything but professional.
The technician arrived late, charged her for parts she didn’t need, and in the end, was unable to fix the fridge. Not having any choice, Ashley had to pay all over again to have another company perform the repairs.
Every year, on average, Americans spend anywhere from $1,180 to $3,000 or more on their household appliances. Yet very few homeowners have a team of trusted technicians ready to service their appliances, should they break down. Read on to find out how to find the best repair companies for all of your appliance needs.
Professional Appliance Repair References
The first step in finding professional appliance repair services is to ask for references from people you know. Here’s a shortlist of all the different people you should consider reaching out to for a reference:
- Family members
- Friends
- Co-workers
- Neighbors
- Hardware store employees
Good repairs come from good companies. Instead of hoping you’ll pick a trustworthy service provider, talk to the people you know about the work they’ve had done.
If you don’t have any friends or family members who are homeowners, you can even try reaching out to store employees. We find that hardware store employees tend to know a lot of contractors and service providers.
After you find a company you’re considering using, take things one step further by reading their online reviews. Look for both good and bad reviews by customers, and try to identify if you see any patterns. Multiple bad reviews that complain about the same type of issues are definitely a sign it’s not a company you want to work with.
Sizing up Repair Professionals
When you find a company that has fair prices and great reviews, you’re ready to make contact. We suggest calling the prospective repair professional rather than emailing them.
By calling on the phone, you’ll have a much easier time controlling the conversation. When you call, you should begin sizing up the company from the moment the phone starts ringing.
Have a notebook handy and be aware of the demeanor of the individual answering the phone. If they don’t answer your call or don’t call you back right away, that should be a red flag.
Should they answer the phone immediately, but the person answering seems rushed or harsh, it’s probably not a company you’ll enjoy working with. While you shouldn’t write off a company just because of 1 or 2 small red flags, if you start seeing multiple pop up, it’s probably time to look elsewhere.
Ask the Right Questions
Finally, you’ll need to have a list of questions with you to ask the repair company. You can start by asking about how much you’ll have to pay for a basic service call where they have to come to your home.
The majority of repair professionals will charge a minimum fee simply for coming out to look at the problem. This means that even if the repair professional can’t do anything to fix the issue, you’ll still have to pay the call-out cost.
Find Convenient Service Hours
Scheduling can be one of the trickiest parts of hiring a reputable appliance repair service. Unless you work from home, you might have a difficult time finding an appliance repair service that can work around your schedule. That’s why we suggest finding out upfront what the hours of operation are for the company you’re considering using.
It’s always ideal to find a company that has technicians on staff who are available during the evening hours. Chances are, once you find a reliable service provider, you’ll want to use them for all of your future appliance needs.
That’s why they must have hours that’ll complement your working schedule. If not, you may find yourself always having to take a day off of work every time you need to meet with a technician.
Emergency Services
Since the appliance repair company you grow to trust will most likely be one you use over and over again, they must offer emergency services. Having to go to companies you’re unfamiliar with just because the repair is an emergency can be a major headache.
Instead, it’s always best to have a one-stop-shop type of company that’s willing to take care of regular maintenance and emergency needs. While emergency services tend to be more expensive than scheduled calls, having the option to use them can be invaluable.
Say, for instance, it’s midnight on a Friday and you have a washing machine that’s leaking water all over your laundry room floor. If you have to wait until Monday to even speak to a technician, your entire laundry room could sustain some serious water damage.
Instead, it’s best to have a company that’s willing to work outside of normal business hours to schedule a service. Whenever you can, find a company that offers 24/7 emergency services. This way, no matter when you need help, you’ll have a reputable team of technicians ready to tackle the job.
Be a Proactive Homeowner
It’s always best to find professional appliance repair providers before anything breaks down. Scheduling regular maintenance for your appliances will help you save big time in the long run.
Your appliances will last longer and your overall repair costs will be lower. Certain companies will even offer you a discount on emergency services if you sign up with them for regular maintenance plans.
Proactively finding solutions is what being a good homeowner is all about. Go ahead and check out our other blog posts to find out more ways you can best take care of your house.