How do I check an appliance store’s installation crew and van fleet?
Meet the installers, ask how they were trained and how long they have worked there, and inspect each van for condition and maintenance records. Then ask who pays for tools, fuel and insurance, how jobs are scheduled and what the incident record looks like. A crew and fleet are real assets, but only if they stay.
Installation gives an appliance store its edge, and it also creates risk. Ask what each installer is qualified to do and who signs off on gas, water and electrical hookups. Request the record of callbacks and damage claims. Many problems begin after a bad install, not after a bad sale.
Walk the fleet. Check the age of each van, the odometer, the service log and any outstanding repairs. Ask who owns the vehicles. If some belong to staff, they will not come with the business. For those the store owns, an appraiser can estimate their condition and value.
Ask how the crew is paid and how likely they are to stay. Would they work for a new owner? What would it cost to replace them? Review how jobs are scheduled, and how often the vans sit idle. Finish with insurance and licensing questions, which your lawyer and insurance adviser can answer. Ask also how installers handle a job they cannot complete, such as a hookup that does not meet the home’s setup. The way they communicate, document and reschedule says a lot about the standards the business keeps, and about the reputation you would inherit.
Key takeaways
- Meet the installers and ask about training, tenure and who signs off on hookups.
- Inspect every van and confirm who owns it, with service records in hand.
- Review callbacks and damage claims, and ask whether the crew would stay.
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Sources
This answer is checked against primary sources. Links were last confirmed on the dates shown.
- 01Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to conduct due diligence when buying a business
- 02Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentEquipment valuation: How to do it
- 03Business Development Bank of CanadaGovernmentHow to reduce employee turnover
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