Great elevator companies are flexible, forthright about costs, and they emphasize excellent customer service
If you own or manage a building with one or more elevators, looking for the right elevator service company can be a serious challenge. A building’s elevators are usually its most important moving parts. Downtime causes significant inconvenience and if they break, it could mean being forced to use the stairs.
Not all elevator service companies are equal. Choosing the right one is about finding a reliable partner who clearly and honestly communicates with you about essential information like costs, repair timelines, and potential safety issues. Here’s what to look for:
1. The company is small enough (or good enough) to offer individualized customer service and customized solutions for your business
In an industry where a few giant companies control over three quarters of the worldwide market, it can be hard to find a partner that tailors its services specifically to the needs of your organization. However, if you want to save the most money on your building’s elevators without compromising safety or efficiency, you’ll want to contract with a company that can give you individualized attention.
Focused, local companies are often more responsive and better equipped to help clients maintain current elevators and parts efficiently, while larger ones are often less able to service elevators in a timely manner, as their mechanics are overloaded with service accounts. In addition, many giant companies are also manufacturers, limiting the flexibility of the solutions they provide. Their sales representatives will often offer only their proprietary products and not make customers aware of non-proprietary equipment as options.
2. The company is versatile enough to offer comprehensive repair, maintenance, and modernization for all major elevator brands
While it’s essential to make sure your elevator company can enact timely repairs if something breaks, that’s not all a good one should do. Quality companies will also consistently evaluate the equipment for modernization opportunities that can make your elevator faster, quieter, safer, and more reliable. New parts are manufactured each year, and a good contractor can determine when it’s worth it to just fix an existing problem, upgrade to a new part, or wait a few more years until prices drop. The key here is that the company looks out for your best interests in light of your goals, rather than simply upselling you or doing what is easiest.
3. The company is upfront and honest about any and all fees and costs
Pricing considerations will likely make a big impact on your decision – and to make the best choice, you’ll want to be able to fully understand the prices and fees of each elevator company. A good elevator services provider will always be completely proactive and transparent about pricing.
In addition to knowing exactly how much you’ll pay for service and repairs, you’ll want to know exactly what is covered in the contract. Typically, there are a few different agreements that can be signed with elevator maintenance companies, including:
• A parts, oil, and grease contract provides oil and greasing services as well as the repair and replacement of ‘specified parts.’ The exact definition of these can be vague, with some POG contracts acting as a slightly downgraded full maintenance contract, while others are closer to an oil and grease contract with only a few additional perks. These agreements often result in surprises when a client finds out that something isn’t covered.
• Oil and grease or examination and lubrication contracts include regular lubrication of an elevator’s moving parts. As with a POG contract, other maintenance or repairs will be reported to a building owner or manager and billed separately.
• Survey and report contract: This is simply a contract to survey the elevator’s condition, often on a quarterly basis. No actual repairs or maintenance are completed with this type of agreement, and thus are billed on an as-needed basis.
• A full maintenance contract allows the maintenance company to take nearly full responsibility for the elevator’s operation, almost akin to an insurance policy or a retainer. For a monthly fee, the firm will conduct regular and preventative maintenance and repair all failures for no additional charge. This is the most comprehensive agreement possible.
Closely examine any contract. Some companies claim they are “full maintenance” but insert exceptions and exclusion language into the agreement, hoping laymen won’t catch any of it before it is signed. At Connections Elevator, we only offer legitimate full-service contracts. These agreements are the most cost-effective, seamless way to ensure elevators remain in working condition with no expensive surprises if the machinery has an issue.
Do research before deciding on an elevator service partner
Choosing the right elevator repair company isn’t always a simple decision. Considering the fact that the average term of a contract in the industry is five years, property owners and managers should conduct due diligence to find a reliable partner that they will feel comfortable working with for some time.
If you’re looking to hire a South Florida elevator repair firm committed to excellent service, contact Connections Elevator today for a free consultation. We have a 99% retention and referral rate, we’re local, and our main priority is always our customers.