Five Mistakes To Avoid

MISTAKE 1

Choosing an unqualified carpet cleaner

It’s a sad indictment of today’s society that all unregulated ‘service’ industries have more than their fair share of rogue traders to contend with. This is particularly the case with the Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning industry; anyone without experience or insurance can purchase (or hire) cleaning equipment and then market themselves as an expert – all in the same day!

You will go along way to protecting your valuable carpets and upholstery by only choosing a trained and current member of one of the following industry leading trade associations:

• NCCA – The National Carpet Cleaners Association
• WOOLSAFE – The Woolsafe Organisation

MISTAKE 2

Choosing a carpet cleaner based on the lowest price.

Lowest price could mean a very costly mistake in three ways:

• Lowest price probably means the carpet cleaner has minimal skills and will be using the cheapest chemicals and inferior equipment – you could actually be paying them to ruin your carpets or soft furnishings!
• Lowest price can be the ‘bait’ that attracts your telephone enquiry. However, once the cleaner arrives, he pressures you into a much more expensive job.
• Lowest price can be for ‘single-process’ cleaning. Very rarely does the consumer know what this means and when informed, asks for ‘dual-process’ cleaning – which costs significantly more.

MISTAKE 3

Choosing a carpet cleaner based on a single telephone call.

Instead, invite the person to your property and ask for a written quotation. You then have the opportunity to verify the individual’s qualifications, insurance details and references.

A professional carpet cleaner will always want to conduct a thorough survey or audit, prior to undertaking any cleaning operation; to see the type of carpet, the level of soil, identify any potential problems beforehand, and measure the exact area before providing an accurate quotation.

MISTAKE 4

Choosing a carpet cleaner who doesn’t offer a money-back guarantee.

Every carpet cleaning company should be fully accountable for the quality of its workmanship. And if you aren’t pleased with the service you have received, you shouldn’t have to pay for it. Of course this guarantee is worthless unless the carpet cleaner can be contacted, or traced afterwards!

MISTAKE 5

Choosing a carpet cleaner without checking their references.

Make sure you can contact their references, or even better still, read comments from current customers on an independent website such as www.checkatrade.com