Things to consider when getting price quotes
Many people think of carpet cleaning as a commodity. As if they were buying coffee beans they ask for price quotes, and choose to do business with the company that offers the lowest one. In this article we will discuss why prices differ so much from company to company, and why it is often a bad idea to choose the lowest price.
Let’s say you have about 800 square feet of medium pile nylon carpet you would like to have cleaned. You call 5 companies in Madison and get the following prices: $200, $280, $40, $100, $500. There are there main reasons prices vary so much: different services are being quoted, level of experience, and bait and switch.
The highest 3 prices are probably all from professional carpet cleaners. They are reasonable prices for this kind of work, but they are still significantly different. One guy will do a quick but thorough cleaning. He doesn’t pre-vacuum, or move furniture. The next guy always vacuums, even if you just did because he wants to have the best results possible. He will move each piece of furniture, clean under it, and put it back on blocks so they don’t stain the carpet as it dries. The last guy asked a lot of questions before he quoted you the price, so he knows he is going to run into filtration soil lines and tough pet stains. Carpet protector is included in his price as well.
All three will clean your carpet differently. Maybe the $200 cleaning is right for you. Maybe you wanted the level of service and results of the $500 cleaning. The point is that each job is different. Carpet cleaning professionals and clients need to discuss expectations and specific ideas about how a carpet should be cleaned, and then decide on a price. Apex Carpet Care and provide any level of service you would like. In the example case we would be happy to do a thorough cleaning for $200, or we could take care of the special problems and apply protector for the higher prices, depending on what the customer wants.
Now lets talk about the $40 and $100 price quotes. These are a likely bait and switch, and an inexperienced cleaner. Low prices are tempting, but think about it. Could a company really send a person out to do this work for this price? Consider the costs of fuel to get there and run our machine, the cleaning agents we use, overhead (office expenses, insurance, equipment, etc.) and labor.
The bait and switch scam works like this: You get a low price quote as the “bait” to get you to book a job. Then they switch the price when you get there with slimy sales tactics. When you see unbelievably low prices that is what is going on.
The cleaner that quoted you $100 is probably a rookie. He will actually go to your house and clean it for $100. He may do a good job and he may not. Carpet cleaning isn’t rocket science, but it does take knowledge, experience, and the right equipment to do a good job. The rookie cleaner likely worked as a carpet cleaner before starting his own business. He probably has the knowledge and experience, but may not have the right equipment to do it right. He may not be insured, and there is a small chance that your carpet would be damaged leaving you will the bill.
If you are on a tight budget choosing a rookie is probably your best bet. If you have high expectations, expensive carpeting or a problem like pet stains you should hire a professional and expect to pay a fair, but higher price.
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