A guide to appliance repair in Columbus
Known as the birthplace of Coca-Cola, Columbus, Georgia, is a great place to live. Nestled right on the Chattahoochee River across from Alabama, it’s a city full of history. What’s more, with its reasonable housing prices, commuting times and location between Atlanta, Georgia, and Montgomery, Alabama, it’s a great place to purchase a home.
But buying a home means making sure everything stays running smoothly. This means finding a quality appliance repair company in Columbus and the surrounding area.
Whether you are in Phenix City, Ladonia or south near Fort Benning, you can find a great home appliance repair company with this guide. With so many options out there, it might seem overwhelming. However, we have just the right questions for you to ask to make sure you get the quality service you need to keep your home up and running.
What to look for when choosing an appliance repair company in Columbus, Georgia
Searching for the best appliance repair service in Columbus can take some time. But gathering the right information can help you make the best decision for you and your family.
Checking online reviews, inquiring about warranties, and asking about major brand certifications are just the beginning. Here is what to look for when choosing an appliance repair company in Columbus, Georgia.
Online business reviews and ratings
Checking online customer reviews and ratings is an important first step to finding a repairman. They are a great indicator of what kind of service to expect from Columbus appliance repair companies. If a company has poor customer service or makes faulty repairs, customers will likely give it a bad review.
What’s more, how a company responds to negative reviews can offer a lot of insight into how it treats its customers. If a company responds in a way that shows it cares about its customers and offers a way to resolve the issue, it’s a good sign that it takes its work seriously. It’s a red flag if a company responds negatively and is more concerned with being correct than taking care of its customers.
It’s important to keep in mind that angry customers are more likely to leave reviews than happy ones. So, if you see a company with a handful of negative reviews and only a few positive ones, it isn’t automatically a red flag. Do some more research into the local pros to find out more. Remember to always watch out for good reviews that are actually paid ads. While also not a red flag, knowing which reviews are organic is important.
How long they’ve been in business
A great indicator of a company’s service is how long it has been in business. This not only shows it has the experience needed to continue to repair appliances, but also it has clients who keep coming back. Long-standing repair businesses may also offer more services than younger businesses.
Appliance repair companies that have been in business for many years show that they are adaptable. They likely have experience working on older models as well as major brand appliances. Experienced techs have seen it all and know what to expect, whether facing a dishwasher, ice maker or oven repair.
Repair business qualifications
After looking at customer reviews, the next step to finding just the right Columbus-based appliance repair company is to check a company’s certifications, licenses and qualifications. These are necessary to determine if a company can work as a repair shop. It also verifies its legitimacy. What’s more, certain major appliances require special certifications for repairs.
When verifying these certifications, it’s important to confirm that a repair company can work in your area of Columbus or the surrounding areas. This is especially true if you live across the border in Alabama.
A great place to start looking for certifications is online through the Better Business Bureau. Additionally, see if the repair shop is on websites such as Yelp or Angi. Not only can these sites help you vet shops, but they also offer even more customer reviews.
Areas of Columbus the repair company serves
Because Columbus and the surrounding area span two states, it is vitally important to check a repair shop’s service area before making a service call. A handyman who works in Bibb City might not work in Smiths Station.
Most appliance repair shops will have their service areas located on their websites. If not, you can always call and ask. If you want to avoid making a bunch of phone calls, you can try narrowing down your online search. For example, to focus specifically on Columbus, try searching “appliance repair shops in Columbus, GA 31909.” Adding the ZIP code should narrow down the search.
Questions to ask your Columbus, Georgia, appliance repair company
After narrowing down your repair shop options, it’s time to ask questions. These questions will help you determine if a company meets your needs and fits your budget. Ask about any extra fees added to repairs, if the company offers a service or home warranty, and what brand-name appliances it works with, if any.
Ask about their service warranty
Always ask a potential repair shop about its service warranty. Most shops provide at least a one-year service warranty; however, that can vary from shop to shop. Some shops may even offer an optional extended warranty for an additional price.
A service warranty is different from a manufacturer or home warranty. A service warranty is a guarantee on both the parts and labor used during a repair. This means that if your washer or dryer repair is faulty or your small appliance breaks again shortly after being fixed, you won’t have to pay an extra cost. The company will fix any issues that arise within a certain time frame after the initial repair, giving you peace of mind and protecting your budget.
It’s important to know that a service warranty and a manufacturer warranty are different. A manufacturer warranty comes with an appliance when it’s purchased. This usually covers repairs that occur between the time of purchase and the end of the warranty. With major brand appliances, a manufacturer warranty will require a specifically certified technician to make the repairs, or you risk breaking the warranty.
Ask if they offer a home warranty
A home warranty is a great way to save on appliance and home repair costs overall. Home warranties, like those offered by Cinch Home Services, cover appliance repairs as well as home system repairs. With one yearly (or monthly, depending on your plan) payment, you won’t have to worry about surprise repair costs if something breaks. Your home warranty will have you covered.
Not all repair services offer home warranties. Features, repairs and offers will vary from company to company. However, they are always a great way to save your budget while keeping your home up and running.
Ask about their experience with your appliances brand
An experienced technician will have worked on a number of different brands and models over the years. However, it can be hard to keep up with the advancement of technology and all the new features available in everything from dishwashers to washing machines. This is why it is important to ask a potential repair shop if it has experience with your appliance brand.
This question goes one step further by asking if a repair company can work under your manufacturer warranty. Certain name brands, such as Kenmore, Frigidaire and Maytag, require qualified technicians to make repairs under their warranties. If you are looking for a Whirlpool refrigerator repair and need to stay under the manufacturer warranty, call the manufacturer so it can point you in the right direction.
Finding the right repair shop is a little less stressful if you have older models or are no longer under your manufacturer warranty. A general repair technician can make the repairs. However, checking before making a service call is always a great idea.
Ask about pricing, fees, estimates, forms of payment and more
When making a service call, a repair shop likely can’t give you a guaranteed price for its services. Each repair cost will vary depending on the issue, any needed parts and the amount of labor. However, every repair shop will offer you an estimate of the cost of repairs.
Before hiring an appliance repair shop, you want to ask if there are any additional fees you should expect to pay. Appliance repair costs can be expensive, so you don’t want a surprise when you get the bill.
Before any repairs, ask what forms of payment the shop accepts and prefers. Most shops take credit and debit cards. They sometimes won’t accept cash due to the high cost of repairs. If they insist on cash payments, it is a red flag.
If you need repairs made ASAP but don’t have the available funds, ask if the shop offers financing, installment payments or credit. If it doesn’t offer it in the shop, ask if it works with lenders or has recommendations.
Ask about the repair company’s insurance
Understanding the repair shop’s insurance policy is important. Knowing your liability is key to protecting you, your home, and the repair technicians. What happens if the handyman gets injured while making a repair? What happens if your property gets damaged? Here are some quick questions you can ask to understand their policy better.
- Does the company’s insurance cover injury to the homeowner?
- Does the company’s insurance cover injury to the technician?
- Which insurance covers damages to personal property?
- Does insurance cover any damages made to the appliances?
- Does the company’s insurance extend throughout the entire service area?
- What parts of the repairs are covered under homeowners insurance?
Check the repair company’s appointment availability
When it’s time to make your service appointment, you should consider your repair's urgency and your available times. From there, you can easily make appointments online at many repair shops in the Columbus area.
If you are in urgent need or have limited time available to meet with the technician, you can always call to ask about setting up a time. Availability could be the deciding factor on which appliance repair shop you choose.
Other important questions to ask
If you still aren’t sure about a certain repair company, here are a few follow-up questions you can ask to give you some peace of mind.
- What is the average cost to repair my appliance?
- Do you offer any type of extended home or appliance warranty?
- Do you offer same-day appointments or service?
- What are your policies about a pre-existing condition?
- Do you offer any service plans, and what is offered in those plans?
- How can I manage my service once I become a customer?
- How do I contact customer service before, during and after my repairs?
- What are your service hours?
- Will there be an extra charge if repairs take longer than estimated or go beyond your service hours?
- Do you offer any discounts on appliance replacements?
- Can you work with my homeowners insurance for repairs and replacements?
- Do you offer after-hours services, and what does that cover?
What to do when you have an appliance emergency in Columbus, Georgia?
If your refrigerator stops working in the late evening, the last thing you want to worry about is how many days it will take for a repair. This is when emergency or after-hours services come in handy. While the costs of late-night repairs are likely higher than regular hours, sometimes the cost is worth the hassle.
While not every repair shop will offer after-hours services, it's important to ask if they work with any other shops for these emergencies. If they don’t, you can always shop around for a repair shop that does, even if they are just a backup shop.
What’s the best appliance repair service in Columbus, Georgia?
If you research and ask the right questions, you will likely find a great appliance repair shop in Columbus, Georgia, and the surrounding area. It doesn’t matter which company you choose as long as it meets your needs and provides quality work.
Just remember, the best repair shop will always have the following:
- Good customer service and reviews
- Proper certifications, licensing and insurance
- Experience with major brands
- Reliable service in your area
- Appropriate prices
- A workmanship guarantee
Let Cinch handle the process of finding a professional repair person for you
If an appliance breaks down or a home system stops working, a Cinch home warranty has you covered with an easy claim process. Cinch will send a verified, vetted and reliable technician to fix the issue at your convenience, making less work for you.
With three different plans, Cinch offers reduced repair costs, discounts on brand-name appliances and customizable plans to cover all aspects of your home.
- Cinch Appliances plan. This plan covers repairs on all major home appliances, including washers and dryers, stovetops, built-in microwaves and more.
- Cinch Built-in Systems plan. The built-in systems warranty is just what you need to protect your home from major repair costs related to HVAC systems, electrical systems, plumbing and more. This warranty includes repairs to garbage disposals, garage door openers, toilets and smoke detectors too.
- Cinch Complete Home plan. This plan combines the appliances warranty and the built-in systems warranty. However, it also includes a homeowners insurance deductible reimbursement. So, this comprehensive plan will help you keep repair costs down across your home.
With a 180-day workmanship guarantee on covered repairs and 40-plus years of experience, Cinch home warranties are the perfect addition to your home. Get a quote today!