There are many reasons why you shouldn’t go with the cheapest carpet cleaning quote, but the main one is that most of the services that a quality carpet cleaning company will provide aren’t included in the base price of the cheapest carpet cleaning quote. When you get the cheapest carpet cleaning quote, here are some questions you should ask the sales representative:
Question: Is the person who will come to my home licensed, insured and bonded?
Answer: Chances are, they aren’t. In fact, the person scheduling the appointment may not even know the name of the technician coming to your home. This is because the person who is coming to your home is not a carpet cleaning technician, but a salesman who works on commission. This salesperson may not have been fully trained on how to operate the carpet cleaning equipment and may damage your carpet with the hot water they use, more than they actually clean it.
Question: What does the price of the carpet cleaning include?
Answer: The price includes a steam cleaning, which means just putting hot water on your carpet and then sucking it back up into the equipment. This isn’t a bad way to refresh your carpets and get some dirt out, but it doesn’t really clean them. In fact, it may damage your carpets if the salesperson/technician uses too much water. Using too much water can shrink your carpets and if the water is left on the carpets, they can start to mold within 24 hours. The cheapest carpet cleaning quote will also not include fans to dry your carpet, which may be needed to prevent mold later on.
Oddly enough, the cheapest carpet cleaning quote also does not include detergent. This is extra as well. Stain removal will be an additional charge, and is not guaranteed. This is how the cheapest quote of 3 rooms for $30 turns into about $300. Of course, all of these services are being performed by someone who is unlicensed and untrained. You can always refuse all of these services and just get the steam cleaning, but watch how disinterested the salesperson becomes if you insist on getting this service, and how poorly it is performed.
Question: What is the square footage of the rooms you will clean for the cheapest carpet cleaning quote?
Answer: There will be a square footage listed in small print on the carpet cleaning offer, or you need to ask the technician. This is because your 3 rooms may be larger than the square footage allowed, and if so, the sales person will clean everything and then charge you the real price for the extra square footage he cleaned, possibly $10.00 per square foot. This is when the cheapest carpet cleaning quote becomes a scam. And if you have signed a contract, then the salesperson will demand payment, which could be something like $300. You may even have to call the police to settle the matter.
In conclusion, it is never wise to go with the cheapest carpet cleaning quote as advertised on the Internet or in a flyer. Instead, call a few local companies and get a real quote for quality carpet cleaning services.
