1. Don’t leave the garage door remote in your vehicle – If a thief breaks in to your car and steal the remote he has a way into your home.
2. Invest in a keychain remote opener – Stop using that remote you clip to your visor and get a keychain remote opener that you can leave on your keys.
3. Secure your garage door emergency release – Follow our article here and learn how easy it is throw some zip-ties on your emergency release and still retain it’s intended function.
4. Keep it locked – Put a deadbolt on the door between your house and garage; is it really that much of an inconvenience to have to use a key each time you come home?
5. Make sure the door from your garage into your house is as secure as your front door – Ensure you have a strong, sturdy door made out of solid-core wood or reinforced steel and install an Anti-Kick device like the Door Devil on it!
6. Don’t leave your garage door open – It amazes me how many people in my neighborhood just leave their garage door open all the time. It’s just inviting someone to pop their heads in and grab something. Listen up America! I don’t care how safe you think your neighborhood is, good neighborhoods are the first place criminals like to drive through to case houses.
7. Install a wide-angle peephole in the door between your house and your garage – You’ll at least be able to see what’s going on if you hear a strange noise; rather than opening the door to find out.
8. Frost or cover your garage windows – Don’t do thieves any favors by enabling them to see when your vehicle is gone, a better idea would be to replace the door with one that lacks windows.
9. Padlock the throw latch on your garage door when you’re out of town – If you don’t have a manual lock on your garage door, you can use a c-clamp tightened down on each side of the door track to effectively “lock” down the door. It’s similar to those small window track locks you can buy for your home interior windows.
10. Don’t neglect maintenance on the mechanical parts of your roll-up garage door and keep an eye out for corrosion. Don’t forget the door from your garage to your house; check the frame, locks, hinges and any replaceable items.

Your garage door spring is broken, and you’re stuck in your garage. You need immediate service, so you do a quick online search and call the first name that pops up.

Later, you learn that you paid $800 for unnecessary parts and ridiculous fees, when your local garage door dealer would’ve fixed your problem for $180.

“This problem happens more than it should,” says Bill Gibson, CEO of Overhead Door Company of Lexington, Ky. “In the last 15 years, we’ve seen a nationwide increase in ruthless garage door repair companies that prey on people with garage door predicaments.”

The problem is so widespread that it has been exposed several times on national television. Since 2011, “Dateline NBC,” ABC’s “The Lookout,” and CBC’s “Marketplace,” (Canada) have all broadcast primetime programs of hidden-camera investigations that caught garage door repairmen gouging homeowners.
What can you do?

“Most garage door companies are honest and reliable business people who care about their customers and their communities,” says Chris Long, long-time editor of a trade magazine for the garage door industry. Long offers some simple tips to help consumers find qualified garage door repair experts.

1. Get a second bid.

“With an online search, it’s quick and easy to find a second garage door company to help you,” he says. “A simple second or third bid may be the best way to find someone who will do the job right at a reasonable cost.”

2. Find a member of IDA.

The International Door Association, with origins dating back to 1968, is the only national association for garage door dealers. Its publications and conferences constantly promote professionalism, says Long.

Look for the IDA logo on the websites of local dealers. IDA members subscribe to the IDA Code of Business Conduct, which promotes fair and honest dealings, responsible conduct and professional business practices.

You can find IDA members in your area by using IDA’s member search at www.doors.org or at www.garagewownow.com, the industry’s home improvement website.

3. Look for IDEA accreditation and certification.

In 1995, the garage door industry created the Institute for Door Dealer Education and Accreditation, offering a rigorous accreditation program for garage door companies and training, testing and certification for technicians.

“IDEA accreditation and certification is sought by conscientious companies that want to be among the elite,” says Gibson, who is an accredited dealer with several certified technicians.

Red flags

Consumers should also watch for clues that can indicate a rip-off artist. Long suggests that you look for three particular clues.

1. Excessive advertising.

The top position on an online search does not necessarily indicate a reputable company. It merely indicates a company that has spent considerable effort on its search engine ranking. To find a reputable company, Long encourages consumers to look deeper into the top companies listed in your search.

2. Repair specialists.

For decades, the typical garage door dealer focused on sales and installation of new garage doors and openers. Service and repair was a part of the total operation. But now, says Long, some companies target the repair business only, knowing that consumers are less likely to get second bids for repair work.

“A full sales and service company with a long history in the community is likely to have a good reputation for quality products, competitive rates and expertise in repair issues,” adds Long.

3. Are they truly local?

Many rip-off companies operate only with online ads, a cellphone, a pickup truck and no physical location. “Before you call, make sure they’re a local company,” advises Long.

“Check out their address using online satellite maps to see if the company is truly local. Good companies are proud to be reputable and active members of their communities.”

Although there is no fool-proof way to find the best local company, consumers should take another minute or two before they make that phone call. By following these simple tips, you can greatly improve your odds of getting your repair done quickly, accurately and at a competitive price.

Homeowners planning to replace existing windows for impact-resistant windows always ask us how much permit fees will cost. The answer is not simple as each municipality has different formulas to calculate the permit fees. To give our potential clients an idea of how much fees might be, we have looked at our accounting records. The table provided below contains a short list of previous projects by municipality. On this list, homeowners and our readers can learn how much our previous clients have paid for permit fees. We have included the total project cost to provide a tangible point of comparison. It is our understanding that project cost is one of the important factors municipalities use to calculate the permit fees due. In addition, they might use the square footage of glass replaced and the total number of different products installed (because they review each product approval).
Municipality Date Project Cost Permit Fee
City of Coral Gables 5/7/12 $17,800 $803.00
City of Coral Gables 7/13/12 $43,840 $1,244.27
City of Coral Gables 12/13/12 $22,329 $1,192.07
City of Coral Gables 2/12/13 $8,000 $294.64
City of Miami 2/29/12 $19,736 $172.84
City of Miami 1/27/13 $24,303 $194.44
City of Miami Beach 2/27/12 $23,948 $1,454.84
City of Miami Beach 7/27/12 $24,448 $565.64
City of Miami Beach 2/4/13 $89,600 $811.09
City of Miami Beach 3/20/13 $14,864 $477.65
City of Miami Springs 10/16/12 $15,690 $151.44
Miami-Dade County 2/15/12 $74,234 $151.04
Miami-Dade County 5/9/13 $14,284 $147.44
Town of Miami Lakes 7/2/12 $4,858 $111.94
Town of Surfside 4/5/12 $13,128 $481.98
Village of Biscayne Park 7/19/12 $4,390 $281.44
Village of Key Biscayne 12/20/12 $34,359 $3,157.45
Village of Key Biscayne 11/29/12 $7,743 $707.72
Village of Palmetto Bay 4/4/12 $17,955 $280.30
Village of Palmetto Bay 3/12/13 $10,285 $277.58
Village of Pinecrest 8/12/12 $21,975 $245.64
Village of Pinecrest 4/09/12 $35,000 $273.49
Village of Pinecrest 3/29/13 $21,975 $245.64

Important note:
Please understand that this list is provided for informational purposes only. Sentinel cannot guarantee nor estimate in advance how much permit fees will be assessed in our future projects. We hope that this information proves useful during your research when in the market for installing impact windows and doors for your property.