Mistake #1: Choosing a carpet cleaner based on equipment alone. No question, your carpet cleaner needs first rate equipment. But he also needs something else. He needs employees who are skilled at operating that equipment. Many companies own hot water extractors, but few companies teach there employees how to use them properly. The best way to know if that the carpet cleaners employee's 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 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 a bait that attracts your phone call. But once the cleaner gets into your home, he pressures you 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 has cheap equipment, which will not effectively clean your carpet.
Mistake #3: Choosing a carpet cleaner who dosent offer a money back guarantee. In my view, every carpet cleaning company should be fully accountable for its work. And if you arent please with the job in every way, you shouldn't have to pay for it. Period. Not all carpet cleaners offer a guarantee.
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 weather he has the knowledge or experience to clean your carpet well. If you want to be sure you're hiring a competent professional, make sure he is IICRC certified. The carpet cleaner must earn that certification through study, experience and successful of formal, written examinations. In effect, cleaners who are certified by the IICRC have a college degree in carpet cleaning.
Mistake #8: Choosing a carpet cleaner who dosent use a truck mounted hot water extraction system.
You might expect this from me, since my employees and use this type of system. But there are several good reasons. Portable hot water systems are good, but they arent as good as truck-mounted systems. Truck-mounted systems are the Rolls Royce of carpet cleaners. Compared with portable hot water systems, truck mounted systems use hotter water, higher pressure and stronger suction. So all the way around, you get a much better job. No two ways about it.
THE IMPORTANCE OF VALUE AND PRICE
Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.
When you select a carpet cleaner, you'll choose from a wide variety of cleaning methods and prices.