How to Avoid Unscrupulous Carpet Cleaning Companies
Posted: Wednesday, February 13, 2008
by John Braun
Hitman Advertising
One company charges $40 while another charges $80. It's the same room. It's the same size. Why would another company charge twice the price?
With a product, you can make a direct comparison. You'll undoubtedly go with the cheaper company. But we're not talking products here. We're talking services. The difference in the outcome of a service can be DRAMTIC to say the least.
The problem is, anyone can start a carpet cleaning company. Even convicted felons can start a business. In fact, starting a carpet cleaning business would often be more profitable for them than getting a job. No insurance is required to obtain a license. No training is needed. All that is needed is the small $40 fee to get the business registered.
You've probably heard about the 20/20 and NBC Dateline shows about bait and switch carpet cleaning. The company offers a low price such as $79 for an entire house to get homeowner to call. Once the cleaner is in the home, the price escalates to $400. And getting these crooks to leave your home isn't easy. It can be a frightening experience.
The sad fact is, many carpet cleaners aren't professionals. They're driving around town with beat up, old portable machines in the trunk of their car or pickup truck.
These "companies" can charge cheap prices because they know no one would use their service unless it was cheap. Let's break down where the $40 goes.
The cleaner may take 20 minutes to drive to your home and 20 minutes to drive to his next job. I would hope he would spend at least an hour setting up his equipment and cleaning your room. What happens is the cheap companies often skimp on the time spent cleaning. After the job, he'll spend another 20 minutes cleaning his truck, equipment, and paperwork.
Your one room of carpet can easy take two hours of work. If the cleaner was being paid $12 an hour, these two hours would cost about $31 after taxes and workman's compensation.
That only leaves $9 for equipment use, a vehicle to get to your home, gas, chemicals, insurance, and training. And what about profit? The owner of the company will squeeze that in somewhere. At really cheap prices, you're the one losing out. With services, you get what you pay for. To find quality professional carpet cleaning companies, go to www.Hitmanadvertising.com/clinks.htm
John Braun is an author, speaker, and writer for the carpet cleaning industry. He is an advocate of consumer rights.
For professional carpet cleaning companies, visit:
www.CarpetCleaningBakersfield.com
www.CarpetCleaningAnnArbor.com
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