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MISTAKE #1:
Choosing a carpet cleaner based
on equipment alone. No question, your carpet cleaner needs first
rate equipment. But they also need something else. They need
employees who are skilled at operating that equipment. Many
companies own hot water extractors, but very few companies train
their employees on how to use them properly. The best way to know
that the carpet cleaner’s employees have been properly trained is
to make sure the cleaner has been certified by the Institute of
Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). BEFORE
YOU CHOOSE A CARPET CLEANER, ASK TO SEE WRITTEN PROOF OF THE
COMPANY’S AND THE TECHNICIAN’S IICRC CERTIFICATION.
MISTAKE #2:
Choosing a carpet cleaner based
on low price. Low price could be a problem in three ways: (1) Low
price can be the bait that attracts your phone call. But once the
technician gets into your home, you are pressured into a much more
expensive job. (2) Low price can be for single process cleaning.
Rarely does the consumer know what this means, and when told, asks
for dual-process cleaning instead, which costs much more. (3) Low
price means the carpet cleaner may have cheap equipment, which will
not effectively clean your carpet.
MISTAKE #3:
Choosing a carpet cleaner who
doesn’t offer a money back guarantee. In my view, every carpet
cleaning company should be fully accountable for its work. And if
you are not pleased with the job in every way, you shouldn’t have
to pay for it. Period. Not all carpet cleaners offer a guarantee.
Or, if they do, the guarantee may ‘limited.’ Ask the carpet
cleaner if they offer a money back guarantee and then make sure the
carpet cleaner includes this guarantee in their quotation or
invoice.
MISTAKE #4:
Choosing a carpet cleaner without
first getting recommendations from friends, relatives, the HOA/PORA,
and even the carpet cleaners clients.
MISTAKE #5:
Choosing a carpet cleaner who
isn’t certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and
Restoration Certification (IICRC).
If your carpet cleaner isn’t a close friend, you may not know
whether they have the knowledge or experience to clean your carpet
well. If you want to be sure you’re hiring a competent
professional, make sure they are IICRC certified. The carpet cleaner
must earn that certification through study, experience and
successful completion of formal and written examinations. In effect,
cleaners who are certified by the IICRC have earned a college degree
in carpet cleaning.
MISTAKE #6:
Choosing a carpet cleaner who
does not use a truck mounted, hot water extraction system.
You might expect this from me, since I use this type of system. But
there are several good reasons. Portable hot water systems are good,
but they are not as good as truck mounted systems. Truck mounted
systems are the Rolls Royce’s of carpet cleaners. Compared with
portable hot water systems, truck mounted systems use hotter water,
higher pressure and stronger vacuum. So all the way around, you get
a much better job. No two ways about it
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