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What to Ask Before Hiring a Restoration Shop

Do you own a classic car? If you want your classic car to look great, then you’ll probably want to have it taken care of by a fully qualified mechanic. If you haven’t shopped around, then you’ll want to make sure that you do. At JD’s Auto Repair, we help all of our classic car customers with their various restoration needs.

Nowadays, it’s common to do some research before selecting an automotive repair or restoration shop. When choosing a restoration shop it’s important that you pay attention to more than just the cost. Of course, we all want to get a great deal, but it’s always a good ide to dig a little deeper than just the bottom line. Here are a few good questions to help get you started:

  • What are your goals?

It’s always helpful to have a good sense of what you want to accomplish with your restoration project. Different restoration shops have different approaches to their work. For example, body repair shops address bodywork in a manner that is different from the way a fabrication shop would address it. Because of these difference, it’s important to be clear about your own expectations.

  • What are your priorities?

You might want to create a list that outlines the specifics of your project goals. For example, do you want metal or body putty? Do you want to restore your vehicle to its original condition or do you want to add modernized conveniences, such as power brakes and power steering?

  • How long will the process take?

It’s a good idea to gather information about the expected duration of the restoration project. You don’t want to drop off your car for work and then find out that it will take a month to have it completed if you are expecting it to only take a week. If you can agree to a start date and an end date, it will ensure that there’s no surprises on either end.

  • How is billing handled?

Many people take their cars in for restoration work without knowing how the billing is handled. It’s a good idea to find out ahead of time. You might also want to find out if the shop plans to take photos of the rebuilding process so that you can guarantee you receive all of the work that you requested to have completed.