Hiring a garage door company: what to ask

When you call our line, we try to connect you with an independent garage door company that serves your ZIP code. We don't employ, supervise or vouch for those companies. That's why we'd rather you ask a few good questions than take anyone's word for it, including ours.

Licensing in Missouri and around Independence

Missouri doesn't license general contractors at the state level. Instead, cities and counties set their own rules. The City of Independence, for example, requires a city contractor license for anyone hired to do work that needs a permit, and that is separate from a general business license. Other towns we cover, like Lee's Summit, Blue Springs and Grandview, have their own requirements.

A simple spring or opener repair often doesn't need a permit. A new door, new framing or electrical work might. Ask the company whether your job needs a permit in your city, and who pulls it.

Questions to ask on the phone

1. What's your business name and where are you based? You want a real, local business you can look up.
2. Do you hold the licenses my city requires?
3. Are you insured? Ask for a certificate of general liability insurance, and workers' compensation if they have employees.
4. Who will do the work? An employee or a subcontractor?
5. What will you check when you arrive, and will you explain what you find before starting work?
6. What warranty covers the parts and the labor, and is it in writing?
7. What brands and spring ratings do you use? For springs, ask about the cycle rating.
8. How long will the job take once you're on site?

On the day of the visit

• Ask the technician to show you the broken or worn part before replacing it
• Get the scope of work in writing before the job starts
• Keep the old parts if you want them, especially springs and openers
• Test the door with the technician still there: by hand, with the remote, and the safety reverse
• Get a written receipt that lists the parts installed and the warranty

Red flags, especially after a storm

After big hail and wind events, out-of-town crews sometimes canvass Kansas City neighborhoods. Most are legitimate, but be cautious about:

• Pressure to sign right away, or "today only" offers
• Requests to sign over your insurance benefits before you've talked to your insurer
• No local address, a phone number that goes nowhere, or a truck with no business name
• Large payment up front before any work or materials
• Recommending a full replacement without showing you why
• Vague answers about licensing or insurance

If something feels off, it's fine to say no and call someone else. The Missouri Attorney General's office takes consumer complaints about home repair businesses.

A few things only you can decide

We can't tell you which company to hire, and we don't rank or review them. Take notes on each call, compare what you hear, and go with the company that explains things clearly and answers your questions without pressure. For more on how our line works, see how it works.

Hiring questions