It may not seem so, but finding a reliable service for anything these days can be a little tricky. Now, it’s especially difficult when you’re looking for something as niche as TV antenna services and installation. Not a lot of people use antennas nowadays, so naturally, there aren’t many companies that offer such services. That also made it so that people will settle for any service they might find. However, that’s not how you’re supposed to approach things. Just because it isn’t around the corner, it doesn’t mean it’s not there. Today, we’ll try and help you find a reliable TV antenna services and installer by giving you a few tips on how to find them and what to look for. Stay tuned.
1. Ask Around
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The first step you should take is to ask your family members or friends if they’ve ever had experience with companies that offer services you need and whether they have some good recommendations. That could be a great place to start your search for a reliable service provider. In case your family or friends aren’t able to help you or if you’ve just recently moved to a place where you don’t know anyone, don’t worry, there’s another way.
2. Google It
With just a few clicks and a little bit of typing, you can find virtually anything you’re interested in online. If your friends and family come up short, just use Google. Chances are, you’ll find several options to choose from. Most of the time the better-ranked the website of a service provider is – the better their services are. If you have to do a deep dive, meaning page 2 of search results, it’s probably not worth it. After you’ve explored your options, it’s time to move on.
3. Check With Multiple Service Providers
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Even though it is possible to find contractors and learn more about them (which we will touch on later on) online, nothing beats having a conversation or meeting with them in person. You can only so learn so much from the internet. Even if you think you’ve found your ideal match, it’s good to give yourself an opportunity to choose. Have a conversation with your ‘prospects’, talk about the things you need to talk about, ask the right questions and compare the answers. That is your best chance to find the perfect fit for you and your needs.
4. Ask For References
When you’ve narrowed down your choices, it’s important to ask for references. Try and talk to previous clients or even employees and see what they have to say. You can learn more about how they handle business, how do they behave on the job site, are previous clients satisfied with the service provided and so on. There could be some minor details you learn while doing this, that you wouldn’t have learned any other way. They are going to be in your home after all, so it’s best to cover all grounds.
5. Ask About The Cost Beforehand
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You should never blindly hire or accept a service before covering the costs. Just assuming based on what you’ve heard or read could lead to potential misunderstanding or even conflict. Every reliable company will gladly discuss the costs beforehand as they’re not trying to scam or defraud you – they’re there to do a good job and get paid a fair price for it. Most of the reliable installers take pride in their transparency and will discuss their rates and offer free quotes so you can decide whether you want to hire them or not, as you can see for yourself if you visit here.
6. Read Online Reviews
As we’ve previously said, you can only learn so much online – but reading reviews is a good place to start. Every successful and reputable business will have an abundance of positive online reviews. Naturally, you should only focus on the positive ones, or the negative ones for that matter – you should always read between the lines so to speak. A general rule of thumb is – if the rating is over 4.5/5 starts, you’re getting unparalleled service, but anything over for should be sufficient in most cases.
7. Ask If They’re Licenced Servicers
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Not everyone is allowed to do this work. The company you’re interested in hiring should be licenced to do such jobs, especially if you’re in need of additional services, like CCTV, which some of the companies offer as well.
Now, what should you look for in a TV antenna installing company?
Since the availability of certain signals and channels greatly depends on your location, your service provider should be someone with knowledge and expertise on the subject. It’s not as simple as placing an antenna on the roof and turning it around until something appears on the screen.
A professional should be able to easily tell what they can do solely based on your address. They should know they gear, how far any particular antenna can reach, which way it should be oriented and more.
They should also advise you on which antenna should you buy. As you may or may not know, there are two types of antennae, indoors and outdoors. All of them have a different range, installation methods, channel limits and so on. After talking to you and understanding your interests and requirements, they should give sound advice on which model you need. A reliable company would never try and sell you the most expensive and farthest-reaching model just because it’s expensive.
Quality installers will use tools to position your antenna, they won’t just free-hand it. There are devices called signal meters and compasses that allow for a more precise alignment and therefore better results.
Another thing a reliable installing company should offer you is some kind of insurance. Just a simple one you might need in case of a storm that moves your antenna or something similar.
There you have it. Hopefully, a couple of these tips will come in handy next time you’re in need of a TV antenna servicing crew and you can’t decide which one you should hire.
