Professional Carpet Cleaning Companies- How to

Hiring a carpet cleaning professional is not always as easy as it would seem. There are several factors that make this industry one you need to pay attention to before hiring.

First,you have the fact that there are several different ways to clean carpets. Some companies steam clean, some dry clean, some shampoo, etc.

Second, the barriers to calling one's self a carpet cleaner are pretty easy to overcome. There is a certain amount of equipment you need, but this equipment can vary in quality and age. Also, unexperienced individuals that have just recently purchased cheap equipment can try to trick you into believing they are a highly skilled and experienced carpet cleaner. 

Finally, carpet cleaners are not always on a preset schedule. They are in an industry where customer emergencies can pop up on any given day. Therefore, they can often be tough to nail down for specific times and can also be late to preset appointments.

So what do you do when looking for a contractor to clean your carpets? 

We recommend:

* Asking your friends and neighbors to see if they have had good or bad experiences with local carpet cleaners. Simply knowing that another person has had a good experience with a carpet cleaning company prior to calling them lessens your chance of hiring a problem.

* If you have the time, call a few companies to price out your carpets. This will help you determine fair market price for your job. This does not mean you should always go with the lowest price, you should go with the company you feel most comfortable with and who you feel will fix the problem correctly. Paying someone who is not going to fully clean your rugs is like throwing money away!

* Ask the carpet cleaner how long they have been in business. As noted above, there are people that pose as professional carpet cleaners that are actually very new to the business and may not know what they are doing. These companies do not stick around long. If a carpet cleaning company is well established they are more likely knowledgeable and professional.

* Always ask if the carpet cleaning company charges a fee for your service call. Some carpet cleaners charge a fee for coming out and giving an estimate. 

* Ask if the carpet cleaning company has insurance. Make sure this fact is stated somewhere in the contract, even if they have to write it in. You can also always request the name and number of the insurance company they use to verify proof of coverage. You take a risk of liability when you use companies that do not carry insurance. If they are not insured and ruin your carpet who is going to pay for it?

* Ask if the company guarantees their work. Make sure you get it in writing.

* Always get a statement of work performed in writing. Keep this filed away.