Guide
Hiring a garage door contractor in Massachusetts
Before anyone starts work, ask for the contractor's state registration number and ID card. If you hire an unregistered contractor, you lose access to the state's arbitration and Guaranty Fund.
Say the town and what the door is doing.
Check the registration
Massachusetts registers home improvement contractors who work on owner-occupied homes of one to four units. Garage doors aren't on the state's list of exempt trades, so expect a registration, though some part-time and small jobs are exempt.
- Ask for the company name and registration number.
- Ask to see the ID card the state issues to registered contractors.
- Check the status and complaint history on the state's MA Contractor Hub.
If the contractor doesn't show up there, the registration may have expired or been suspended or revoked. The state asks you to report an unregistered contractor to HICRegistration@mass.gov.
Get it in writing
The state tells homeowners to ask for a detailed written contract even on small jobs, and state law requires one once a job passes a set amount.
- The registration number.
- The work and materials, in detail.
- Start and finish dates.
- The total price and the payment schedule.
- Warranties.
You should get a copy signed by both of you before work begins. The law requires this notice above the signature line: “Do not sign this contract if there are any blank spaces.”
Don't overpay up front
A deposit can't be more than one-third of the contract price, unless special-order materials cost more than that. A custom-ordered door can be one of those, so ask to see what the deposit covers.
Let the contractor pull the permit
If your job needs a permit, the contractor should get it. If you pull it yourself, you may not be eligible for the Guaranty Fund. The state says a contractor who refuses to apply may be unregistered.
Haverhill's building inspector can tell you whether a permit is needed: 978-374-2338. In Methuen, ask the Inspections Division: 978-983-8625.
Check insurance and references
Ask for proof of liability insurance and, if it applies, workers' compensation. For a planned job such as a new door, the state suggests interviewing at least three contractors and asking for references from recent customers. Read recent reviews on a public site too.
If the job goes wrong
If you have a written contract and the contractor was registered and pulled the permit, you may qualify for state arbitration. You can also go to court.
The Guaranty Fund is a last resort for an arbitration award or court judgment the contractor hasn't paid. A complaint to the state can get a contractor fined or suspended, but it won't get you any money.
Where this site fits
This site isn't a contractor, so it has no registration number of its own and can't vouch for anyone. Get the number from the contractor you speak with.
Call about your door
Say the town and what the door is doing. You will be connected with an independent garage door contractor.