What a garage door proposal is for
An old door with a broken spring raises the repair or replace question. Three options, from the minimum repair to a new insulated door with a quiet opener, let the customer choose without feeling pushed. It also shows the cost of repairing an old door twice.
What to put on a garage door proposal
- The door and its condition, the same in each.
- What each option fixes.
- Warranty differences.
- Lead time for a new door.
- One acceptance line.
A worked example
The same double door, about twenty years old. Price each line from your own book.
Option 1: Good: spring repair. New springs; the door works again.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torsion spring replacement, pair | 1 | set | Your price |
| Safety inspection | 1 | each | Your price |
Option 2: Better: repair and tune-up. Springs plus cables, rollers and weatherstripping for a quieter, sealed door.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Torsion spring replacement, pair | 1 | set | Your price |
| Lift cables | 1 | set | Your price |
| Rollers, nylon | 1 | set | Your price |
| Weatherstripping and bottom seal | 1 | each | Your price |
Option 3: Best: new door and opener. Insulated door and a quiet belt-drive opener with battery backup.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| New garage door, insulated, installed | 1 | each | Your price |
| Opener, belt drive with battery backup | 1 | each | Your price |
| Remove and haul old door | 1 | each | Your price |
Note the door's age and condition in the notes. Customers make the repair or replace call better with the age written down.
Line items garage door companies use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Service call and safety inspection | each | Trip, diagnosis and a check of springs, cables and sensors. |
| Torsion spring replacement, pair | set | Wire size and cycle rating; replacing both is common practice. |
| Extension spring replacement | set | With safety cables. |
| Lift cables | set | Often replaced with springs. |
| Rollers, nylon | set | Quieter than steel; count per door. |
| Opener, belt drive | each | Brand, horsepower and features like battery backup. |
| Opener, wall mount | each | Frees the ceiling; needs a torsion setup. |
| Safety sensors | set | Photo eyes at the bottom of the track. |
| New garage door, installed | each | Size, insulation, style, windows and color. |
| Remove and haul old door | each | Including the old springs and track. |
| Weatherstripping and bottom seal | each | Sides, top and bottom. |
| Track realignment | each | Bent or loose track. |
| Panel replacement | each | When the style is still available. |
Terms and deposit language for garage door
- Deposit. No deposit on repairs. New doors take a deposit at order since they are built to size and color.
- Payment. Repairs due on completion. New doors balance due at install.
- Warranty. Springs and openers carry the maker's warranty; state your own labor warranty and that it covers your parts only.
- Spring work is dangerous and done only by trained techs; the customer should not adjust springs.
- Other worn parts found during a repair are pointed out and quoted, not replaced without approval.
- Custom door orders cannot be cancelled once placed.
How to fill it in
- Fill in the customer and the job.
- Check each option's name, its one-line difference and its lines.
- Add your prices; each option totals on its own.
- Set tax, the deposit and the good-until date.
- Print it, download it, or send it from Koira so the customer can pick and sign on the phone.
Free tools for garage door
The same proposal for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, drywall, electrical, fence, flooring, general contractor, gutter, handyman, hvac, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, remodeling, roofing, septic, snow removal, solar, tree service, waterproofing, window cleaning.