Our Favorite Garage Door Openers of 2020

June 25, 2020

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There have been a few items, ok let’s be honest, a lot of items, that I have felt really strongly about while building #thelakeloft.  However, I’m guessing one item in particular will surprise you: our garage door openers.

For as long as I can remember, we have used LiftMaster in the homes that we build and remodel. To be completely honest though, I didn’t pay all too much attention to them until a few years ago.  One of my relatives had installed a belt driven LiftMaster opener (the 8550 to be exact), and I was blown away by how QUIET it was when you opened it. So in my last house, I had to have that opener, and let me tell you, I was NOT disappointed. I raved about that opener to all of our clients.

One of my favorite features is the myQ connected technology, which allows you to open your garage door from the myQ App on your phone. Not only can you open and close it from your phone, but you can check to see if your garage door is currently open or closed (because let’s be honest, how many times have you had to turn around because you couldn’t remember if you actually closed the garage door?!). Guilty!

So needless to say, when it came to the garage doors for #thelakeloft, this was definitely an item I was pretty passionate about. Instead of going with the overhead 8550, this time, we went with the wall mount 8500W.  I loved that it still had myQ connectivity (which was a must for me!), and it was ultra-quiet.  It also has a battery backup system, which means I’ll never have to worry about getting locked in the garage, even if the power goes out.

One of the main differences with the 8500W is that instead of the opener being mounted near the ceiling above the garage door, it is mounted on the wall to the side of the garage door.  This eliminates some of the overhead clutter and makes everything feel more clean and open (which is always a win in my book).

Now that the openers have been installed and we’ve been able to use them for a while, I have a few new favorite features that have surprised me (seriously, who would have thought I would love garage door openers so much?!).  First off, each opener (we have three – one at each garage door), has a wall mounted LED light that comes with it. We installed ours on the wall next to the opener, but you can install them anywhere in the garage so long as there is an outlet nearby. They are all motion activated, and let me tell you, they kick off some serious light! Between the light output, and the fact that they are wall-mounted (therefore projecting light out into the garage), I don’t even have to turn on our actual garage lights when I’m in there.

Another feature I love about the 8500W  openers is that they have an automatic lock that deadbolts your garage door after you close them.  A small detail, but I’m all about extra safety precautions in our home and the extra peace of mind they bring.

The last (and most fun) feature, is the Key by Amazon in-garage delivery.  You guys, this one blows my mind (and is so helpful in a time like this to provide another contactless yet secure delivery option). Eligible prime members can enjoy free in-garage delivery by linking their myQ account to the Key by Amazon app. Once linked, all you have to do is select in-garage delivery at checkout, and a certified Amazon delivery driver will receive a one-time garage access validation when they arrive so they can securely place the package in your garage.  Mind blown, right?!

If you want in on the fun, but don’t currently have a myQ-connected garage door opener, the myQ smart garage hub provides an easy upgrade and can be added to all leading brands of garage door openers for less than $40. Click here to see if your garage door opener is compatible.

So what do you guys think?! I bet you didn’t know garage door openers could be so entertaining! 🙂  Leave a comment below and let me know which feature you would find the most useful! Also, to locate a dealer near you, visit LiftMaster.com.

**Disclaimer: this post has been sponsored by LiftMaster, but all thoughts and opinions are my own.**

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  1. Matthias Roehl says:

    Hi. I’m responding to inquire about the spec of the kitchen sink you used in the kitchen at the lake loft

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