I wrote this because I keep hearing the same stories from new customers. They called somebody they found online, the guy showed up in an unmarked van, replaced one spring instead of both, charged double what it should cost, and gave no warranty. Or worse — they paid upfront and the company never came back.
Central Oregon has good garage door companies and bad ones. Here is how to tell the difference before you hand over your money.
Check the Oregon CCB License
This is the single most important thing you can do. Oregon requires all contractors who work on residential or commercial properties to hold an active Construction Contractors Board license. No license means no insurance, no bond, no accountability.
Go to search.ccb.state.or.us and search by company name or license number. You will see: whether the license is active, how long they have been licensed, their bond amount, complaint history, and insurance status.
Our license is CCB #209697. We have been active since March 2016 with a clean record.
Red flag: if a company cannot give you a CCB number, or if you search the number and it comes back inactive, expired, or with multiple complaints — walk away.
Get a Written Estimate Before Work Begins
A reputable company will diagnose the problem, explain what they found, and give you a written price before touching anything. You approve the price, then they start work.
Some companies show up, start disassembling the door immediately, then hit you with a price when the door is in pieces and you have no choice but to pay. This is a classic pressure tactic. Do not allow any work to begin until you have a written estimate and have agreed to it.
We always explain what is wrong, give you the price, and wait for your approval before starting. If the price does not work for you, we button everything back up and you owe nothing for the diagnosis.
Ask About Spring Replacement Policy
This is the test that separates legitimate companies from corner-cutters. When one spring breaks, a reputable company replaces both. The springs are the same age, have the same number of cycles, and the second one is right behind the first.
Companies that replace only the broken spring are either inexperienced or deliberately setting up a return visit. You will call them again in weeks or months when the second spring breaks, and you will pay for a second service call.
Ask: "Do you replace both springs even if only one is broken?" The right answer is yes.
Verify Insurance
A licensed contractor should carry general liability insurance ($1 million minimum is standard) and workers compensation coverage. This protects you if a technician is injured on your property or if your property is damaged during the repair.
Ask for a certificate of insurance. A legitimate company will provide one without hesitation. We carry $1 million general liability and full workers comp.
Check Google Reviews
Not just the star rating — read the actual reviews. Look for:
- Reviews that mention specific technicians by name (means real customers)
- Reviews that describe specific repairs (not just "great service")
- Reviews from your city (Bend, Redmond, Sisters)
- Responses from the company to negative reviews (shows they care)
- Consistent review patterns over years (not 50 reviews in one week)
We have 630+ Google reviews at 4.9 stars. Read them — you will see real names, real repairs, real neighborhoods.
Watch for These Red Flags
- No physical address — legitimate companies have a business address, not just a phone number
- Cash only — reputable companies accept credit cards, checks, and digital payment
- No warranty in writing — verbal warranties are worthless. Get it on paper
- Pressure to decide now — "this price is only good today" is a manipulation tactic
- Unmarked vehicle — a company that is proud of their work puts their name on the truck
- Cannot answer basic questions — what spring type? What cycle rating? What brand opener?
- Significantly lower than other quotes — they are cutting corners on parts quality or skipping steps
Questions to Ask
Before you hire anyone, ask these five questions:
- What is your Oregon CCB license number? (Verify it)
- Do you carry liability insurance and workers comp? (Ask for certificate)
- Will you give me a written estimate before starting work?
- Do you replace both springs or just the broken one?
- What warranty do you provide in writing?
A good company will answer all five without hesitation. If any question makes them uncomfortable, that tells you everything you need to know.
Why We Do It Differently
We started Brokentop Garage Doors in 2016 specifically because we were tired of watching Central Oregon homeowners get taken advantage of. We answer our own phone. We show up when we say we will. We explain everything before we start. We replace both springs. We put the warranty in writing.
Call 541-203-7676. Ask us any of these questions — we are happy to answer every one.