Things to Consider Before You Schedule a Service Provider
January 26, 2012You have found yourself in need of service in your home; a window washer, plumber, appliance repairman, electrician. Now you have just put yourself in a vulnerable position. You really have no choice in the matter; you need something fixed. However, you are also inviting a stranger into your home. Your precious things are all around, from grandma’s broach to your children to, perhaps, even your life!
According to national statistics, Over 11% of service technicians (plumbers, window washers, etc) have background discrepancies that could place a homeowner at risk. Within that group:
- 75% of that group have suspended or revoked drivers licenses
- 25% have criminal records
- 50% of those criminal records involve sex offender-related crimes
- 90% of of independent servicers have no general liability insurance
- 31% have no auto insurance at all
- 57% of these servicers do not carry worker’s comp insurance
Makes you want to never have a service provider out to your home — EVER! So how do we protect ourselves? After 23 years as the owner of an appliance repair company, here are a few tips BEFORE you book that call.
Now, as you are going to possibly call around to more than one company, have a pencil and paper or your computer open to take notes. Nothing is more frustrating to both a company and a customer than miscommunication between the two.
How did you find this company? Whether you use the yellow pages or a Google search, you need to ask questions about this company. And, if necessary, verify their claims. And if they hesitate or lie to you, in any way, hang up and move on.
- How long have they been in business
- Is there a cost to come out, and if so, how much
- Are they a current contract servicer for the brand of appliance, heater, faucet, etc, that needs repair?
- Are they licensed (if applicable to their trade)
- Are they insured (and if they are, is it FULL REPLACEMENT COVERAGE)
- Do they belong to the BBB or other professional service organization (and if they are, check out their rating)
- Will the technician coming to your home be background, drug and alcohol tested?
- Is there a warranty or guarantee on their work (and if so, how long is it and what does it cover)
- Who are they sending out to my home and how long has he worked for you
But most important, go to their website, check out their online reviews, contact the BBB, and if there are complaints, were they resolved? What is their rating with the BBB and Yelp and Google and related sites? What are people saying about them? Have any of your friends or co-workers used them? Check out social media. Do they have a Facebook page? Twitter?
The reason I believe that you want to do all this legwork, is that it will easily establish if they are a SOLID company, firmly established in the community and working to improve their business. In a nutshell, it shows that they care!
The time you spend making an informed decision can make such a difference in your experience in your home. And you may possibly establish a relationship for life!
Appliance Repair Technician Position
January 16, 2012Cody’s Appliance Repair is seeking an experienced appliance repair technician for a long-term, full-time position in Boise, Idaho, with great pay benefits, paid holidays and vacations. We will also provide a service vehicle and uniforms. If you need to relocate, we can help!
If you have experience in this field, have a a strong work ethic, can pass a drug, alcohol, and background check, and want to work for a great company, who will value your skills in our profession, call us today! We want you to work for us!
Alarming statistics in the home service industry. Who can you trust?
December 22, 2011ALARMING STATISTICS YOU SHOULD READ:
Over 11% of service technicians (plumbers, window washers, etc) have background discrepancies that could place a homeowner at risk!
Within that group, 75% have suspended or revoked drivers licenses, 25% have CRIMINAL RECORDS of which half involve sex offender-related crimes. 90% of of independent servicers do not carry general liability insurance. 31% have no auto insurance! 57% do not carry worker’s comp insurance. Folks, when you choose the $45 flat rate guy and invite him to your home to do work, BEWARE!
Let your fingers do the walking? Yes, of course, but be careful! Use the BBB or your local chamber of commerce for references and to check out consumer feedback. Better yet, the recommendation of a friend or two is always reliable. Do be careful of rating sites like Yelp, though. Many wonderful, glowing reviews are “hidden” or “filtered” if the reviewer is not a Yelper, so you might not get the full view of this business.
Make sure they are properly licensed, insured, background and drug tested, for your safety and security. Remember, they are in your home around your family and treasures. Never assume that that guy is who he represents himself to be.
Choose a well-established company with a track record in the community. They will be there tomorrow and will most likely vet their employees. If they are a one-man shop, who is going to check them out??
There are so many fabulous companies out there who want a long-term relationship with you, the client. Just be choosy!
Ready to buy a new appliance? Is made-in-China really what you want?
December 20, 2011This blog post was created by Dean Landers from Landers Appliance in Baltimore Maryland. It is well-worth your time to read this prior to buying your new appliance. Thank you, Dean, for allowing me to re-post this informative article.
Well Made Appliances are Hard to Find!
Sears, the #1 appliance retailer in America has seriously reduced the amount of appliances they are sourcing (IE buying) from US 
companies. They are sellingChinese and other Far East imports under the Kenmore brand name. If you walk through other big box retailers you’ll see that Chinese appliances are flooding our market at an alarming rate (alarming to me at least)! These Far East appliance manufacturers are using their own governments trade practices that are unfair to United States manufacturers (through currency manipulation and price subsidies) and using these advantages to capture market share in the US appliance industry. The media does not seem to be upset by this trend. I’m not making this point from a jingoistic perspective. Nor am I trying to talk people into buying the brands we sell at my company. I am seriously concerned as a citizen who has inside knowledge on the subject. My real life experience in the appliance service, sales and parts industry over the past 30 years has given me a bird’s eye view of how these Far East companies appliances perform over the long haul.
Let’s start with thoughtless designs regarding ease of serviceability, take into consideration extremely poor parts distribution, weak to non-existent technical support, hard to read and understand wiring diagrams and schematics, and replacement parts becoming no longer available long before they should, and then you can better understand what we have been experiencing.
These products are not going to give you the long-term satisfaction that you hoped for when you made your initial purchase. Certainly modern appliances, regardless of the country of origin, are being replaced after fewer and fewer years of life. This is due to a number of factors.
The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has really squeezed manufacturers to design appliances that are energy efficient regardless of durability. The manufacturers are always looking at ways to provide a greater number of options to consumers and so have implemented the use of electronic controls in the vast majority of products being produced today. These electronic controls are not nearly as dependable nor as inexpensive to replace as their electro-mechanical counterparts. So here we are.
Please talk to your appliance service professional before making a buying decision. I know if you were to speak to any of our technicians they would tell you Whirlpool, Kitchen Aid, Maytag, with Sub-Zero and Jenn-Air, (on the high end) all make excellent appliances.
**And for my two-cent’s worth, at Cody’s Appliance Repair, we also recommend Sub-Zero, Dacor, BSH Appliance’s (which includes the Thermador and Bosch brand), U-Line, Viking, and Five-Star, which are still American made!
Should I buy an extended warranty on my new appliance?
November 18, 2011The advice I am giving may sound biased, coming from someone who has owned an appliance repair company for 23 years, but I believe that I have a unique perspective on this issue. From where I sit, extended warranty companies, or TPA’s (third party administrators), used to be great to work for.
Continue reading » Should I buy an extended warranty on my new appliance?
Dryer Vent Safety, Cleaning, and Maintenance
November 17, 2011Dryer Vent Safety and Maintenance
The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 15,000 clothes dryer fires occur annually. These fires account for and average of 10 deaths, 310 injuries, and more than $67.7 million in property damage! (See our YouTube video on our home page). It is imperative that you have your dryer vent inspected and cleaned yearly. If your vent is 5 feet long, and you are a do-it-yourselfer, have at it, but if it is longer, has elbows, flows under the house or up to the roof, HIRE A PROFESSIONAL! You do not have the proper equipment to do a thorough job.
Continue reading » Dryer Vent Safety, Cleaning, and Maintenance
How long should I preheat my oven?
November 15, 2011When you turn on your oven to bake those cookies your have lovingly made with the little time you have in your day, the last thing you want is for them to not bake exactly how you want them to. I hope the information that I give will be helpful in your quest for the perfectly browned roast or perfectly baked loaf of bread.
Continue reading » How long should I preheat my oven?
Why you should choose Cody’s Appliance Repair for Sub-Zero service
November 10, 2011
Your Sub-Zero appliance is not your standard refrigeration unit. These built-in bad boys can weigh up to 850 pounds! And imagine the added weight of all of your food items. Say it needs to be pulled out for service. Do you want that monster dragged across your hardwood/tile/stone floor? That is what most companies have to do. NOT US! Cody’s Appliance Repair uses a state-of-the- art air bag moving system to “float” your unit out. And a sigh of relief for the homeowner and technician!
These airsleds can also be used for your range, stacked washer/dryer, or any other heavy unit you have. Added insurance that your flooring will be safe.
You purchased the best. Now hire the best to care for your appliances. If you live in Ada or Canyon County; Boise, Eagle, Star, Middleton, Nampa, Caldwell, Kuna, Garden City, Emmett, or Horse Shoe Bend, give us a call today or schedule service right here on our website. Let our family care for your family for all your appliance repair needs.
Sub-Zero Refrigerator Problems
October 30, 2011
Your decision to purchase a Sub-Zero product was a wise one. Still the “Gold Standard” in refrigeration, Sub-Zero has the best customer support system in the business. However, that does not mean that you won’t ever have a problem. After more than a decade as Sub-Zero’s factory-certified repair, I hope I can help answer some of the question you may have.
Continue reading » Sub-Zero Refrigerator Problems
Why does my dryer take so long to dry?
I know how frustrating it is to find your load damp, and you have to run it again to finish. I believe that I may have some answers for you.
Just how wet are the clothes you are putting into the dryer? The culprit may be your washer! If it is not spinning the clothes dry enough and you are putting sopping clothes in the dryer, it is going to take MUCH longer to dry.
Continue reading » Why does my dryer take so long to dry?
