Garage Door Tune-Up: Helping Homeowners this Back-to-School Season
For parents across the country, back-to-school season is likely met with a mix of emotions. As garage door professionals, we cannot prepare you for checking off the school supply list or coordinating the planning of after-school practices, but we can prepare you for ensuring your garage is safe and secure for your family this Fall.
For many Americans, the garage door has become the main point of entry to the home, vastly overtaking the front door in popularity and ease of access. Aside from avoiding an after-work lockout, ensuring your garage is in well-working order avoids unforeseen access delays or worse, dangerous garage accidents. Amidst this busy time of year, garage door businesses must remind homeowners about the importance of garage door safety. Proactive tune-ups can prevent unexpected breakdowns during busy school routines.
Here is a comprehensive guide to help you inform and educate your customers:
Educate Homeowners About Safety
Many homeowners may not fully grasp the safety features and functions of their garage doors. Educating them on the significance of sensors that detect objects in the door’s path and auto-reverse mechanisms that prevent accidents if something or someone is under the door is essential. Further educate homeowners that it is the spring, not the electric opener, that lifts the door. Ensuring the homeowner is aware of manual opening or locking functions in case of a power outage avoids a lockout during a storm or when power lines are down, especially if children are letting themselves into the house after school.
Check out our blog: Ideal Upsell – 8 Products That Provide Peace of Mind Safety for additional safety-conscious products.
With children back in school and oftentimes arriving home before the workday concludes, reminding homeowners about garage door safety specific to kids is crucial. Advise families to teach children about the dangers of playing near or underneath garage doors and to keep remote controls out of reach of young children. Educating parents and driving-age teenagers about the manual operations of a garage door also ensures they can safely enter the home in case of a power outage or operator failure. Ensuring children understand the functions of the garage door prompts a safety-forward mindset and could prevent avoidable accidents. Consider sharing safety tips with your local community to further establish yourself as a safety-conscious business.
Conduct Annual Maintenance Inspections
Encourage homeowners to schedule a professional inspection of their garage doors before the school year begins. Inspections should include checking for worn parts, evaluating the proper functioning of safety features like sensors and auto-reverse mechanisms, and the overall door balance and alignment. Remind homeowners that items commonly found in garages can quickly become hazards. Advise them to reduce clutter on the floor and against walls to prevent tripping, falling, or fire hazards, which can also affect the garage door’s operation. Consider offering a safety certificate after the inspection to reinforce value and customer satisfaction.
Smart Technology Upgrades
Smart garage door openers offer enhanced security, remote access, and integration with home automation systems, making them convenient for busy families. Smart openers allow for remote access to open and close the garage – perfect for those jam-packed mornings and avoiding access issues for children as they return home from school. Notification settings can be altered to send notifications when the door is opened and closed, allowing insight into who is entering and when. With safety at the forefront of parent’s minds, back-to-school season is an ideal time to explore remote garage access methods.
Getting Ahead of DIY Mistakes
While tempting, homeowners should be cautioned against tackling garage door repairs themselves. Stress the importance of leaving complex repairs and adjustments to trained garage door professionals. DIY attempts without proper knowledge and tools can lead to injuries or damage to the garage door system, potentially resulting in costly repairs. Addressing any issues promptly can prevent more significant and expensive repairs. It is important to understand why homeowners seek DIY solutions. Oftentimes, there is a misconception that contacting a local garage door expert will be pricey and time-consuming. By establishing yourself as a trusted community partner, you can debunk these misconceptions and in turn, expand your business. Educate homeowners about straightforward maintenance tasks they can safely undertake, such as lubricating rollers, to foster trust. Consider leaving a branded can of lubricant after inspections for easy contact. SSC offers a range of customizable lubricants. Call our sales team at 833-772-3667) to get started.
SSC is proud to partner with you as you expand your garage door business. With a family-first and safety-minded approach, you can champion your community to ensure that their busy schedules are not unaffected by garage access and usability issues.
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Safety Disclaimer: In order to see all procedures completely, there may be safety measures that are not taken by our actors. Be sure to follow any and all proper safety requirements and refer to your manufacturer’s installation manual for details. Your health and safety is the #1 concern. Failure to understand/follow the recommendations in the course could result in property damage, personal injury or death. While all efforts are made to provide accurate information and guidance, it is impossible to predict all door circumstances. Accordingly, the user agrees that the user of this video; products and information contained herein are at your own risk. In no event shall Service Spring be liable for any property damage, personal injury/death, or any other loss or damage that may result from your use of the information and products provided on this video. All information contained within this site is provided “as-is” without warranty expressed or implied. User assumes all responsibility/risk for use of information and products purchased. If you have any doubts about your ability to perform the work safely, we recommend you contact another door professional to complete your repair.
