Choosing The Right Auto Body Repair Shop In Edmonton

Whether you are dealing with fixing a dent, ding, scrape, or serious damage from a collision, finding a reliable auto body repair shop in Edmonton can be a stressful experience. We have all heard the horror stories of people being taken advantage of, or repairs being completed poorly, that is why it is so important to research and educate yourself before you choose an auto body repair shop.

Fortunately, most people are not involved in enough accidents in their lifetime to know exactly what they should do based on their own personal experiences. The insurance industry will provide advice, however, that advice can often be based on their own interests and may not be in the best interest of the vehicle owner.

Most insurance companies will be looking for the following two things from an auto body shop, and these are things you should avoid:

Two Things To Avoid When Looking For The Right Auto Body Repair Shop In Edmonton

Fast Repairs

Although fast repairs may seem like a positive selling point, high-quality repairs may take time. High-quality auto body repairs are not something that should be rushed and poor quality repairs will cost you more time and money in the long run, and could potentially cause safety issues as well.

Insurance companies are often looking for the quickest turn around possible, and although getting back on the road sooner is more convenient, rushing the repair process may leave numerous details procedures uncompleted. It is true this may alleviate costs, but the saying ‘you get what you pay for’ is often very accurate.

When researching, shopping for repairs, and choosing an auto body repair shop, fast repairs should not be a selling point – they should actually be a warning!

Cheap Repairs

Just as insurance companies are looking for a quick turn around they are also looking for cheap repairs. Every dollar spent on repairs is a dollar taken out of their profit. While your safety may be a priority, so it the bottom-line. When it comes to auto body repairs, particularly after a collision, cheap repairs will often mean cutting corners. Cutting corners may result in mistakes, flaws, defects, and ultimately potential safety hazards. Quick, cheap repairs often also lead to diminished value and costly re-repairs down the road.

Poor auto body repairs have the potential to put your safety at risk, as well as reduce the resale potential of your vehicle. Finding a reliable auto body repair shop in Edmonton will help to alleviate these stresses. Finding a shop that

5 Things To Look For When Choosing The Right Auto Body Repair Shop In Edmonton

Honesty

One of the most important qualities you can look for in an auto body repair shop is honesty. When dealing with auto body repairs you want to deal with a shop that will not try to sell you on repairs or enhancements that you don’t really require.

Finding a shop that does not over-inflate prices is also a sign of honesty. Being overcharged for parts, repairs, and services is obviously not in your best interest, so make sure to shop around and do your research.

Check reviews, and find a shop that is a part of the community. Don’t just settle for any old auto body shop, find the experts that your neighbors trust.

Good Reviews

Directly tied to trust are good reviews. Find a good auto body repair shop is like finding a good restaurant or hotel – you should check reviews and see what people are saying about their experiences and the services that were provided to them.

Check Google Reviews, ask your friends, family, and neighbors, about the shop you are considering, or the shops they have dealt with in the past. If nothing else, spend some time reading online reviews for the shops in your area. Check out their social media pages, reviews, and website, and see what people are saying on both their business pages, as well as their personal pages.

Ultimately, a good auto body repair shop’s services will get people talking, so see what those people are saying.

Customer Service

One of the most important aspects of your experience will be related to a shops customer service. Look for prompt, courteous customer service – and remember, the way you are treated by staff is often more important than you may think. These are the people you will be dealing with throughout the repair process. They will be answering any questions you may have about pricing, timing, service, and progress.

The way you are treated can also be a great sign of how your vehicle will be treated. Friendly, attentive staff that show you that your time and safety are important are great signs of the type of auto body repairs your vehicle will receive.

Shop Facilities

Visit the shop you are considering and take your time to look around. Is the shop modern, organized, and clean? Just a quick peek into the shop will give you a very good idea of what kind of facility is being run and the type of service being provided. Obviously, you can’t expect everything to be clean all the time, but if the shop is well organized and maintained, your odds of receiving great service are probably much higher.

It may seem silly to mention the word modern, but in reality, a modern look can be important as it typically reflects the quality of the equipment being used. A shop with newer, modern, high-quality equipment is obviously better suited to take care of all your automotive needs. And a well-organized shop often reflects the quality of the workers, management, and ultimately workmanship. If a shop is unable to take the time to keep their shop neat, clean, and professional, should you really trust them to do so with your vehicle?

Certifications

This probably won’t be as much work as it sounds like. Most trustworthy auto body shops will display any of their certifications inside in a clearly visible location. Certifications are not like memberships or awards but are more related to the type of training and qualifications the business and their employees have.

High-quality auto body repair shops will have training and education above and beyond what others have. And this often means having national certifications, warranties, and automotive service excellence.

When it comes down to it, you want your auto body repair shop and it’s workers to have the highest level and training and skill available to ensure that you are going to be returned and safe and reliable vehicle.

Trust Southern Auto Body

Obviously, you want to find the best auto body repair shop in Edmonton. Ideally, you want to be able to do so quickly and easily. Not everyone has the time to research every auto body shop in Edmonton, but that doesn’t mean you don’t deserve the best service, from the most trustworthy shop available.

Southern Auto Body is a name, shop, and team that you can trust. We offer a multitude of services ranging from Auto Body Repair to Mechanical services and we are here to give you and your car the quality service deserved.

To learn more about our services visit our services page or contact us today!