Garage door safety check before selling?

Home inspectors usually operate the door and test its safety reversal. They may check that the photo eyes work, that the door reverses when it meets an obstruction, and that the opener's emergency release functions. They also note things they can see: damaged panels, a torn seal, exposed or frayed cables, missing parts, a door that rubs, or a noisy opener.

Most findings are small, and a service visit can fix them before the listing. What we can do is bring the door to a safe, working state and give you an honest list. What we cannot do is promise that an inspector will find nothing, or that the work will change what a buyer pays. That is up to the market. Our note on whether a new door increases home value is honest on that.

A repair record helps. If you can show that the door was serviced, the buyer sees a house that has been cared for. It can also prevent a last-minute repair request during escrow, when everyone is in a hurry.

Repair covers most pre-sale items. Replacement only makes sense when the door is damaged beyond repair or is clearly dragging down the look of the house, and the choice is yours. See repair or replace a garage door.

If a door is cosmetically poor, a section replacement may be less than a whole door. We will not tell you it will raise your price.