When it comes to appliance repair, tips for knowing how to deal with contractors may seem to be few and far between. Don’t worry. We’ve got the inside scoop. If you have an appliance contractor scheduled to come to your home to fix or replace an appliance, use these five tips to help prepare for the visit and make it go as efficiently as possible.
1. Clear Your Schedule
Obviously you want to know exactly what time to expect your appliance contractor, but no one can accurately predict how long each service visit will take throughout the day. When the scheduling assistant tells you a window for when you can expect the contractor, make sure you’re available during that time — and even a little before and after, to be on the safe side, just in case the contractor is running ahead of or behind schedule. That doesn’t mean you have to wait at the window for hours, though. Typically, the contractor will give you a “heads up” call about half an hour before showing up.
2. Be Prepared
Just as you want to be able to thoroughly explain the issue you’re having with the appliance, you should also make sure the contractor can thoroughly evaluate the situation. That means making sure the appliance is clean and empty. Want to provide additional paperwork, like detailed invoices of work that was previously done on the appliance by another contractor? Make sure it’s readily accessible.
3. Provide a Clear Path
You don’t want to waste the contractor’s time by making him or her move items out of the way just to get to the appliance. Designate a clear path to the appliance and ensure the space around it is clear, as well. Likewise, make sure there is adequate lighting in the area, to make it easier for the contractor to work.
4. Keep Tabs on Your Animals
What’s more of a distraction than working around clutter? Working around animals. For the safety — and sanity — of the contractor and animals, put your pets in another area of the house or outside.
5. Assess Your Payment Options
The contractor should know if payment is required upfront, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to do the research beforehand. Do you have a service visit fee? How much is it? Does it have to be paid in full at the time of service? Know what’s required — and where your checkbook is, if necessary — so you can be prepared when the contractor is wrapping up the work.
Want to ensure you have the best contractor for the job? With a nationwide network of almost 13,000 independent professional contractors and more than 45,000 service technicians, American Home Shield® knows what it takes to provide repairs you can trust.
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