Regardless of if you were just in a collision, if you have an odd noise coming from your vehicle that you need to get checked out, or if it is routing maintenance, there are a few common things you should look at before selecting an auto repair facility. The average consumer is used to shopping for the best deal, reading product reviews, and making informed decisions. With online shopping and comparison sites flooding the internet consumers have become more and more reliant on the web; Unfortunately the web can be tricky to navigate when looking for automated repairs. There are no online pricing tools available, there is no way to know that the repairs that are quoted are actually the repairs your vehicle needs, or guarantees that the work will be completed on time. This is why we have put together a simple checklist of things that should be reviewed before selecting a body shop, automated repair facility, or any service provider for that matter.
1) Is the owner, partner, or general manager available to speak with before repairs begin. Many times if a person in a leadership role is not present the work can suffer. Also if you do have any problems and an owner is not present this can become a real headache when it comes to getting issues resolved.
2) Is the owner or manager willing to give you a tour of the facility before work begins? A reputable automotive repair shop or body shop will have certain areas that you are not allowed to tour for insurance purposes however you will still be able to view them from the threshold. This will give you a look into the facility, tools, and type of employees that will be working on your vehicle. If for any reason the request for a tour is denied or there are red flags during your visit we recommend that you keep looking for a reputable automotive repair facility.
3) Do your homework by asking people who have actually done business with the repair facility you are thinking about doing business with. Online resources are great however many times review sites are riddled with reviews that are paid for, created by the ownership, or even the competition. For this reason we always recommend asking for references that include recent work completed by completely unbiased third party clients.
4) Go with your gut. Most of the times when we have a really bad experience, we look back and say "I had a feeling this was going to happen". Our instincts are built into our DNA to keep us out of trouble and one of the best ways to avoid mistakes is to do our homework and listen to your gut.
5) Do not get lazy. Online tools and shopping has made us forget how important it is to do our homework before making large purchasing decisions. Do not let yourself fall into this trap. While making a snap decision may seem like a great way to save time, it often takes more time and money to correct issues that could have been avoided.
