Due Diligence

Electric gates are considered to be an investment and can improve the value of your property. Homeowners can spend a huge amount of money on gates and railing along with an intercom.

So, it is a heart-breaking moment to see a homeowner lose money or not have their expectations met because of a building dispute, or as more commonly happening a fly by night company. To avoid this, one must select their automation company and carry out due diligence, check

Reasons Why To Carry Out a Due Diligence

We at Gate Smart are seeing more and more gate companies around the area. We are also receiving more call to finish jobs, that have been started by these flies by night companies.

With one customer in the High Wycombe area, stating that she had paid a £5000.00 deposit and now she can get in touch with them.

Mr Jackson rang, asking us to finish the electric side of the automation, at the company had wired it all incorrectly costing him £1500.00

6 Simple steps to follow.

We have designed a six simple step guide, to help you, Carrie, out a quick Due Diligence.
This is a simple guide, to help. But we would recommend a full in-depth Due Diligence be carried out.

Does the company have a web page?
Does the company have a Facebook page and other social media pages?
Does the company have any reviews on social media?
Does the company have a landline number?
Does the company have an office or a workshop?
Does the company have a bank account in the company name?

Does the company have a web page?

Most companies today will have a web page, along with a blog. Check to see when it was last updated. Do all the contact us, detail co-inside with all other details given does the company have an email address. A company call gate smart should really have the domain name www.gatesmart.co.uk and have all email with the same name. i.e info@gatesmart.co.uk. If I see a different email like gatesmart@hotmail.com this should start to ring the alarm bells.

Does the company have a Facebook page and other social media pages?

The majority of companies have a presence on social media, as this helps with the SEO (search engine optimizing) along with it being very easy to update and picture, much easier than having to contact the web page developer.
Check when they last posted, and what did they post, if its only miner works like fixing intercoms, control board. Do you want them to Carrie out a full install? If they have no picture or posts stating this.

Does the company have any reviews on social media?

Today it becomes very easy for a customer to leave a review on a company. And it also helps with their SEO (search engine optimising)
If a customer as spent the time to leave a review, then I’m sure they would not mind replying to a quick email

Does the company have a landline number?

Check the phone number by calling the number on the web page, and see if it gets answered. Along with how it is answered.
If this is a legitimate company it should be answered with the company name. “Gate Smart how can I help you”
If they are gaps in the ringing tone, this usually points to the phone be diverted. If answered by an answering machine, how long does it take for a return call? Ask, if you think it may be a call center, we as a company have used this as a service, to catch missed calls, after all, we all need to visit the toilet.

Does the company have an office or a workshop?

If the automation company as a workshop, then it is more than likely building their gates. As a customer once said to me. “why am I paying a company, to pay Gate Smart to make a gate, when I can go direct to Gatesmart”.
Visit the company without an appointment, say on a weekend and have a quick look around
We as a company do not mind. We have had a customer visit us unannounced and ended with us showing them how to weld.

Does the company have a bank account in the company name?

Cash is not always king

Everyone loves a bargain, but please ask to pay the first payment by bank transfer.

After you have received an invoice, and you must insist on an invoice. This will show you if the company is registered for tax or VAT. it May have a company registration number if they are an Ltd company or a Sole trader. It should have a bank account number along with a company name. But more importantly, it will have an address, phone number and an email. It can also show if they are using accounting software.