When it comes time to have your carpet professionally steam cleaned, your first instinct will probably be to choose the cleaner with the lowest prices. Be careful! Most of these companies have cut corners somewhere! When companies like these advertise “unbeatable prices,” you need to ask yourself three important questions.
Have they cut extremely vital operating costs, such as insurance?
An adequate level of business insurance coverage does not come cheap. Consequently, this is commonly one of the first things to be cut if a company is in difficulty. If this company can’t afford insurance to cover them in the event of an unfortunate accident on your property, can they pay for damages to your home or loved ones if they have an accident? Commercial insurance is not required by law; Anyone with a legitimate business license can legally do business without insurance. Always ask your carpet cleaner for proof of insurance!
Does this company use substandard equipment?
Anything other than steam cleaning will not do an adequate job of cleaning your carpet, upholstery, or rugs. Carpet dry cleaning, such as pot cleaning, dry foam cleaning, and bonnet cleaning, will only disguise the dirt on your textiles. Also, these poor cleaning systems do not kill germs, viruses, or illnesses because they use only small amounts of warm water. These dry cleaning methods are designed for use on commercial carpets in commercial establishments such as stores, schools, and churches. Steam cleaning, on the other hand, is considered the gold standard for cleaning textiles. Most steam cleaners produce water over 180 degrees F for superior cleaning and germ-killing ability. Steam cleaning equipment is extremely expensive and in order for companies that employ steam cleaners to stay in business, they have to charge more than the commonly advertised ‘Whole House for $99’ special. Before you hire any carpet cleaner, ask if they do steam cleaning. If your answer is “no”, then you’re better off looking for a different company.
Will this company use baits and change tactics with me?
This is one of the oldest tricks in the book. Unfortunately, homeowners are still being scammed out of hundreds of dollars every day. What happens is that the customer falls in love with the attractive price and decides to hire the carpet cleaner. Then, when the technicians are done cleaning, they throw a bunch of hidden charges at the homeowner, resulting in a much higher bill than originally agreed upon. Then, since the work is already finished, the owner feels pressured to pay the price even though he feels taken advantage of. Another position these companies use is intimidation. As soon as they walk in the door they start their extremely hard pressed sales and suggestions for the owner. They start adding service after service and are very insistent with their suggestions until, before you know it, the price is three times higher than originally agreed. Always require a written quote before any technician (not just carpet cleaners) does any work on your home. This way, if the company tries to raise the price after the job is complete, they have physical evidence that will hold up in a court of law that suggests they are using bait and switch tactics. A legitimate carpet cleaning company should be able to give you a fairly accurate quote over the phone and should be able to provide you with an exact price, before the cleaning begins.
Choosing a carpet cleaner might seem a bit scary right now. Relax; As long as you follow the guidelines above, you’ll be delighted with the cleaner you choose.