Choose A Great Carpet Cleaner With 5 Key Questions
You will learn the questions to ask and save yourself a lot of grief, because, it’s very easy to end up with a worse problem than before you started looking for a cleaner and with a lighter purse or wallet to boot.
Some of years back I had just finished grooming a carpet after deep cleaning. The Customer came in and said it looked lovely and did I think it would be dry by Wednesday? Wednesday? I said, but today’s Monday! Yes I know she said, the last time I had it cleaned he said it was quite normal to take a few days before fully dry, we only rang him back because it was beginning to smell a bit ‘fusty’.
I told the Client even though it was wool and had been deep cleaned, it would be dry in a only a few hours. I then decided I needed to write this article so those seeking a carpet cleaner need not get ripped off if you ask the right questions. Detailed video presentation on each point can be accessed at my website. Carpet Cleaning Somerset
1. What methods or systems do you use for carpet cleaning?
Find out the answer to this question first because it’s a non starter if they don’t answer either ‘Steam cleaning’ or Hot water extraction (HWE) which the industry term for steam cleaning. This in my opinion and in the view of most carpet manufacturers is the only proper way to clean a carpet.
Some companies will tell you their ‘dry’ or ‘low moisture systems’ are as good. This in my view, simply is not the case for the majority of residential carpets. Although the drying time of under an hour seems attractive, it’s no wonder because it’s simply scratching the surface leaving high levels of soil below the surface only to reappear in a no time.
2. Can you supply 2-3 references from happy customers that have used you?
To be honset, the best way to pick a carpet cleaner, like any tradesman is to ask friends, family members or work colleagues. But sometimes you can’t get a recommendation so you have no choice but to trawl the Yellow Pages, Google it or some kind of directory.
That’s fine, but please don’t make a decision based on the biggest advertisement or the fanciest Hompage. Get testimonials. A large advert only indicates a large advertising budget, and a good cleaner will be getting most of their work from repeat customers and referrals.
3. Do you have Liability and Treatment risk insurance (UK)?
Always ask whether or not they are insured. Or you can even ask to see a copy of the cleaners insurance policy. What you need to be aware of is that there are a lot of part time carpet cleaners. Some find the cost of insurance for the volume of work they do makes their ‘business’ less unprofitable, so they skip it. Their are some highly professional, part time cleaners, but always check.
Treatment risk insurance is not always available in some countries, but certainly here in the UK it is, but is an extra cost. This makes the item the Cleaner is working on is also covered. Not so with just liability insurance.
4. Who will do the work?
Always ask who will carry out the capet cleaning. You will be gobsmacked by some companies who have very charming salesmen or women to do the quotation only for someone not so charming turning up to do the work. You will find the an Owner Operator company is always your best bet because they inspect a job, price it exactly and they are the ones who will deliver on the day.
Worse still, some companies will subcontract their work out to an entirely different firm. One which you have no idea of their pedigree.
5. Do you offer a 100% money back guarantee on your results?
I have saved this one till last. When you buy something it’s nice to know if your not happy with it, you can take it back and ask for your money to be returned, not that you want to, it’s just peace of mind and helps you feel relaxed in your decision.
Why wouldn’t any reputable company give you that reassurance? Since I started writing articles about choosing a carpet cleaner, I’ve noticed many cleaning companies using the ‘100% delighted or you pay nothing!’ headline. Sadly, it now seems more of a marketing ploy for some, rather than a real attempt to stand by ones workmanship.
I now recommend checking any clauses in their terms of business for details of the money back guarantee. More information can be found on the website Carpet Cleaning Somerset
Prepared with these questions you will be able to sort the wheat from the chaff and send the dodgy characters running for the hills. It may seem daunting and a lot of bother, but for those who take the trouble it will save you a lot of pennies and disappointment.
Find other videos and article at Carpet Cleaning Somerset.
c. 2009 D.C. Services
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