Learning about Garage Door Shopping

My Homeowner Learning Curve:

For years, my garage has stored everything but my car. So I cleaned up my act and storage space to find that I could put my car in the garage. What happened to the remote?? I looked and looked and thought it must have disappeared. Easy solution: Buy a replacement or an remote for a Genie garage door opener from 20 years ago. E-Bay was mentioned, and I looked but found nothing.

So I contacted Genie, who said, I could buy an adapter for my 20+ years old garage door, which by the way works very well, but the adaptor is 1/2 the price of a new garage door opener. So am I willing to invest 50% of value on a garage door opener that could go at any time or buy an opener with safety features that my opener never dreamed about! (I know garage door openers' don't dream, but I thought I'd throw that in.)

I made a decision and started researching garage door openers. And then someone mentioned that I should consider a new door. Well, heck, I hadn't considered a door, since the other one has probably been on the house since its' infancy of 1952. It's a good wood door. Then my friend mentioned a tax credit. More research....This is what I found out on the EnergyStar.gov site:

"On February 17, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Tax Act of 2009. This bill extends and modifies the tax credits for windows, doors, and skylights established in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The following guidance is not intended as legal advice, and you should consult a tax professional with specific questions.


Qualifying products purchased between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010 are eligible for a tax credit equal to 30 percent of the product cost. Installation is not included; be sure to obtain an itemized invoice from your retailer or installer. The maximum amount of homeowner credit for all improvements combined (including roofing, insulation, HVAC, and water heaters) is $1,500 during 2009 and 2010.
Very complicated table of what doors would be considered for the credit or not. I'm going to rely on the contractor I hire on that specifically. Interesting note: There is no door with an Energy Star Rating at this time.

Wow! A tax credit of 30% and have a insulated garage door! Now, I'm looking at garage doors with more interest. Some garage doors have windows, of all different shapes and some do not. Window doors look newer, and might improve my "curb appeal". What color? So I did more research and talking with friends. My friends are voting for the windows. Hmmm. Stay tuned, first quote just came in, another will come on Tuesday. By the way, I have two excellent referrals if you are looking for a garage door/garage opener man.
 
I'm writing this blog to enhance your ability to become a better shopper. Shopping and comparing is my business, so I thought I'd walk you through my process. Someone once said to me years ago, after shopping and comparing houses, that I analyzed the houses, like I was in his shoes. That hearing me question or state objectives of that home, made him a better shopper in all things. I considered it a great compliment.