7 Tips You Need To Know Before Calling A Home Service Technician

Your home is a safe haven for you, your spouse, your children, and especially your pets. It is where you relax, break bread and enjoy time with family and friends. You work hard each day to make sure it is a place where your family feels safe and happy. When it comes to who you choose to allow in your home for service and repairs… how do you know who you can trust?Choosing a home service company doesn’t have to be scary! At MVP, we can address your plumbing, electrical and HVAC needs, however we recognize there are many other reasons you might need to call a service technician out to your home. Below are 7 important things to consider when hiring ANY service technician. Here’s what to look out for. Read more to find out!1. ARE THEY LICENSED & INSURED?The company and tech you hire should be licensed for the type of work they are doing in yourhome. A current license shows they have completed the necessary courses to perform the worksafely and correctly and have attended ongoing training. Ask to see their local license and findout if their company provides on-going training. Technology is changing constantly and servicetechs need continual training to keep up with these changes. They should be able to provideproof of current insurance for their company as well.2. DO THEY ARRIVE PREPARED, WITH ITEMS STOCKED IN THEIR TRUCK?Very few things are more frustrating than having a technician come to your home, spend timediagnosing issues with your home system… and then tell you that they can’t fix the problembecause they don’t have the right part or they have to leave and come back later. Why would aservice technician come to your home without being prepared? Sadly, to save upfront costs,many companies do not stock their trucks with all the necessary tools and parts. Rather, theywait until their technician diagnoses an issue and then they go ahead and order the neededparts. Even though this might be convenient for the company, it is not at all convenient for thecustomer! When you call to schedule your service appointment- ask the call taker if the truck isfully stocked for your specific home issue. For instance, if they are coming out to repair yourA/C, do they have the parts to fix your specific A/C in their truck, loaded up and ready? This onesimple question can save you a lot of wasted time.3. CAN THEY PROVIDE CLEAR PRICING AND A SERVICE GUARANTEE?Pricing should be upfront and clear. There should be no surprises when it comes to what theprice will be. A professional company and technician will take the time to explain the costs anddetails of the recommended service- before the work starts. Ensuring a customer feelscomfortable with the quote is a sign of a good company and reduces buyer remorse. After thework is completed, the company should stand behind their work with a satisfaction guarantee.Some (less than reliable) companies have a “tail light warranty” meaning that as soon as youcan’t see their tail lights there’s no more warranty.4. ARE YOU GETTING WHAT YOU PAID FOR?One mistake that often is made is that many people only consider cost when hiring a servicecompany. But in most cases, you get what you paid for. To avoid this happening to you- look atall the bigger picture. Are the techs actual employees of the company or are theysubcontractors? Are the employees background checked and drug tested? What serviceguarantees do they provide? Three things go into a great service experience- it’s the mostprofessional techs, using high quality, durable parts, with great follow up service. Its awfullyhard to get all three of those and get a super low price- wouldn’t you agree?5. DO THEY HAVE A PROFESSIONAL APPEARANCE?When you invite a technician into your home for service work, you want to feel confident youhave hired the best person for the job. A professional attitude and appearance is a reflection ofthe quality of the workmanship you can expect. Professional service technicians should valuetheir customers’ time by arriving on time and finishing tasks efficiently. Look for a company thatprotects customers homes. A quality home service provider will be diligent about completingthe work neatly and preventing damage to walls, flooring, and furnishings.6. HOW MANY YEARS HAVE THEY BEEN IN BUSINESS?Experience matters! Choose a company that has been around for years. A great company willhave a reputation for providing excellent service for their customers. Years of experience andcustomer satisfaction adds value to the services you are paying for. Not sure how long acompany has been in business? Ask them - they should be proud of it!7. CAN THEY PROVIDE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM RELIABLE SOURCES?A recommendation from a trusted source is invaluable. Knowing that they had a positiveexperience with a service company gives valuable peace of mind. Reading a friend’s review orhearing a family member endorse a company helps you choose a company known for having ahigh level of service and workmanship. Recommendations can come from many sourcesincluding family, friends, and trusted neighbors. Check online too and see what other customersare saying. No one is perfect all the time, so see If there are negative reviews, and take a look atwhat efforts has the company made to make it right.