Pre-purchase due diligence
Garage door quote checklist
A verbal price over the phone is not a quote, it is a guess. Before you commit to any garage door installer in Northern Ireland, you should have a written document that states exactly what door, what specification, what labour and what extras are covered for the figure quoted.
This checklist covers what a proper quote should contain, the questions worth asking if it does not, and the signs that suggest an installer is cutting corners before they have even started.
What a proper written quote must include
Every one of these should appear on the document, not be confirmed verbally and then left off the paperwork.
- Exact door type, size and material, not just a price with no specification attached.
- Whether the quote is fixed or an estimate subject to survey.
- Removal and disposal of the existing door, stated explicitly as included or excluded.
- Motor make, model and warranty length, if the door is electric.
- Labour and fitting cost separated from the door and parts cost.
- Any structural work anticipated, such as frame repair or lintel reinforcement.
- Payment terms and any deposit required.
- Lead time from order to installation.
Questions to ask any installer before booking
A confident, established installer will answer these without hesitation. Hesitation or vague answers are worth noting.
- Have you measured the opening yourselves, or is this priced from a description?
- What happens if the opening turns out to be out of square once you start?
- What warranty covers the door, and separately, what covers the motor?
- Who do I call if something goes wrong after fitting, and what is the response time?
- Are you removing and disposing of my existing door as part of this price?
- Is VAT included in the figure quoted?
Red flags worth walking away from
Most poor experiences with garage door installers trace back to a quote that was too vague to hold anyone accountable. Watch for these patterns.
- A price given with no site visit and no request for measurements or photos.
- Pressure to pay a large deposit or the full amount before any work has started.
- No fixed address or evidence of a physical premises.
- Reluctance to put the quote in writing, or a written quote with no breakdown.
- No mention of what warranty applies, or vague answers when asked directly.
How survey-based pricing protects you
A quote based on an actual site measure is more reliable than one based on a phone description, because it accounts for the true opening size, headroom, and condition of the existing frame before work begins. It also means the figure you agree to is the figure you pay, with any genuine changes discovered on the day discussed and agreed before proceeding, not added afterwards.
What happens if the price changes after the survey
Occasionally a survey reveals something that was not visible from a description, rotten timber behind a frame, or a lintel that needs reinforcing for a heavier door. A reasonable installer explains this clearly, shows you why, and gets your agreement before any extra cost is added. If a quote changes with no explanation, ask for one in writing before proceeding.
Questions we get asked
- Should I get more than one quote?
- It is sensible to compare at least two, particularly on larger jobs like double openings or commercial shutters. Compare specification, not just the headline price, since the cheapest quote often has the thinnest detail behind it.
- Is a free quote really free, or does it come with obligation?
- A genuine free quote or survey should carry no obligation to proceed. If a company implies otherwise, or pressures you to commit on the day, that is worth treating as a warning sign.
- What if my quote does not mention removal of the old door?
- Ask directly before agreeing. Removal and disposal is a real cost that some installers leave off the headline figure, only for it to appear as an add-on later.
- How long should a quote be valid for?
- Most reputable installers hold a quoted price for at least a month, sometimes longer, though material costs can occasionally change over longer periods. Ask for the validity period in writing if it is not stated.
- Do I need to pay a deposit?
- A modest deposit to order bespoke or made-to-measure materials is normal practice. A demand for full payment upfront, before any work or ordering has happened, is not.
- What should the invoice look like compared to the quote?
- The final invoice should match the written quote unless you agreed to changes during the survey or on the day, and any such changes should be documented and agreed by you before the work proceeds.
Get a quote with nothing left to guess
We put door specification, labour, removal and warranty terms on every written quote, confirmed after a free site survey.
Based at 31 Mount Street, Dromore (BT25) · covering Northern Ireland · 24/7 emergency repairs