How To Find The Right Service Providers In San Antonio

One of the challenges of moving to a new city is finding service providers to replace those you’ve come accustomed to: doctors, financial planners, yoga instructors; the list goes on and on. We’re going to try to alleviate some of the stress by giving you some tips to find those right people and save you some legwork in the process!

Ask around.

Sure, you don’t know a lot of people in your new city, but there are those whose opinions and suggestions you can probably rely on for guidance. The two most obvious are co-workers and neighbors; ask who they use for the types of services you’ll need. Our property management team is a great resource, too. Some of us have recently moved to San Antonio while others have been here quite some time. Both these perspectives are valuable as you listen to their experiences and understand what they like and don’t like about certain providers. Be sure to ask any specific questions that are relevant to your situation.

Do your homework.

There are a number of websites designed to help you through the “provider picking” process. A few of the most popular are:

• healthgrades.com. This site provides a range of information about physicians in cities across the country, as well as a patient satisfaction score on a number of important criteria, like “how well provider explains medical condition(s)” and “office environment, cleanliness, comfort, etc.” You can search by condition, procedure or physician specialty. You can also find the right dentist on this site.
• The Better Business Bureau. Check out a local business on this website to get the BBB’s overall rating of the company, read any reviews posted or see complaints that have been filed against the company. You may find a business isn’t accredited by the BBB (but still has a good review), but this isn’t necessarily a reflection of their quality and/or performance, so keep this in mind as you consider your options.
• Some people feel more confident patronizing businesses that are members of a city’s chamber of commerce – in this case The San Antonio Chamber of Commerce. This site provides a complete list of its members in a number of categories, like hotels, restaurants, banks and more.

Make sure you visit.

Once you’ve gotten a few recommendations and feel like you have good options, take one last important step: stop by and observe (as in the case of a yoga lesson) or talk directly with a provider or provider staff member to determine if it’s a good fit; even physicians often make time for “meet & greets” with potential patients. A face-to-face meeting goes a long way in reassuring you that this is someone you can trust and respect (or not).

San Antonio is full of customer-focused businesses and we have no doubt you’ll find a provider that aligns perfectly with your needs. If you need some help identifying choices based on criteria like location, specific services provided or personal experiences, please don’t hesitate to ask – we’re always here to help our residents.

When you find a service provider you really like, why not let us know so we can share with others who are in the same situation! Feel free to share in the comments below.