How reliable are an alarm company’s installer subcontractors?
Judge them by their work and the paperwork. Ask for the list of subcontractors, the agreements, call-back and complaint records, and how installations were inspected. Visit a few finished sites and speak with the installers. Reliability shows in consistent quality, steady availability and clear terms.
Start by asking who does the installs and service: employees, subcontractors or a mix. For each subcontractor, ask how long they have worked with the company, how they are paid, and whether they have a written agreement. Check what the agreement says about quality, warranty and who owns the customer relationship.
Look at results. Request call-back records for recent installs and see how many needed a return visit. Ask how complaints are handled and who pays to fix a poor install. Visit a few finished sites, with the seller’s consent, and look at tidiness, labelling and how the system works.
Think about dependence. If a single installer does most of the work, you need to know what happens if they leave or ask for more. Speak with them directly, if the seller agrees, and ask what they would do after the sale. Finally, confirm equipment ownership and tools. Your lawyer should read the agreements, and your accountant can confirm how they are treated. Ask what training or certification the installers hold, and how new subcontractors are introduced, so quality does not depend on one person’s habits. Ask how warranty work after an install is handled and who pays for the return visit.
Key takeaways
- Get the subcontractor list, agreements and call-back records.
- Visit finished installs and speak with the installers themselves.
- Check how dependent the company is on one or two people.
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Due diligence
Selling
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 CanadaGovernmentWhat are the steps to buying a business?
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