New Customer Onboarding Checklist for Garage Door Companies

Determine immediately if a car is trapped inside or if the door is hanging off the tracks, which requires a priority response.

Most garage door emergencies happen after hours or while you are on a ladder; use SkipCalls to ensure you never miss a $200 repair call while your hands are full.

Ask for the door material (steel, wood, aluminum) and the brand of the opener (LiftMaster, Genie, Chamberlain) to ensure you have the right parts on the truck.

Ask if they see a single spring above the door (torsion) or springs on the sides (extension) so you can bring the correct winding bars and replacements.

Give a 2-hour window and explain that you will call 30 minutes before arrival to prevent the customer from waiting all day.

Ask the customer to move vehicles at least 15 feet back from the garage so you have room to unload heavy doors or ladders safely.

Have the customer text a photo of the broken part or the opener motor head to confirm you are quoting the right service.

Inform the customer that standard spring repairs typically range from $200 to $400 to avoid sticker shock upon arrival.

Before leaving the shop, ensure you have standard 7-foot and 8-foot cables and a variety of torsion spring wire sizes.

Mark off the work area and warn homeowners to stay at least 10 feet away while springs are under tension.

Check rollers, hinges, cables, and sensors regardless of the initial complaint to find potential $150-$300 upsells.

Disconnect the opener and ensure the door stays halfway open on its own to prove the new springs are sized correctly.

Apply professional-grade silicone spray to tracks, rollers, and hinges to provide that 'quiet door' feeling that customers love.

Show the customer how to pull the red cord to operate the door by hand in case of a future power outage.

Offer an annual $99 'Tune-Up' service to prevent future emergency spring breaks and keep their system running smoothly.

Use a mobile card reader or digital invoice to collect the $1,000+ for new installations before leaving the driveway.

Integrate your CRM with SkipCalls or your booking software to send a text link for a Google review five minutes after you finish the job.