Subscribe to contentHow to Find a Reliable Local Carpet Cleaner
Rouge tradesmen have always been part of the landscape for home owners who need some work done. Dishonest companies or individuals can take your money and give you poor work in return, if they do the job at all. The greatest difficulty with carpet cleaning is that it's hard to gauge whether or not the job has been done correctly unless you stand over the technician and watch. More than ever, finding a reliable carpet cleaner is important.
Currently, there is only one independent trade group covering carpet and upholstery cleaners: the National Carpet Cleaners Association (NCCA). The association has been around for forty-two years, ensuring the quality and reputation of carpet cleaners throughout the U.K. The NCCA is one of the first places to check if you're looking for a reliable carpet cleaner.
If you suspect a carpet cleaner of misrepresenting himself as an NCCA member, the association will be happy to investigate the matter and report the offending tradesman to the Trading Standards office, if he is indeed doing so. Due to their diligence in protecting their name, you can rest assured that a carpet cleaner who is a legitimate NCCA member will be of the highest calibre.
In addition to NCCA membership, don't discount the recommendations of family and friends. They will have a lot of useful information regarding carpet cleaners they've used. If a family member is pleased with a contractor, you probably will be as well.
For any cleaners you are considering, ask about the equipment and cleaning methods being used. Older, shampoo-based cleaning often left carpets damp for days after, which in turn, caused the rugs to soil again very quickly. Modern cleaning methods are largely free of that problem.
Be careful with company identification as well. A reputable cleaner will have company information painted on the truck; employees will be uniformed and with photo I.D. The guy in jeans and a t-shirt with a plain white van may be legitimate, but he also might be scoping out your house for a future robbery. Be careful to invite only reputable carpet cleaners into your home for an estimate.
When estimates are being gathered, always get a minimum of three. That way, if two or more of the estimates show comparable prices for similar services, but one sticks out as much lower than the others, you know the lower one is probably a bid to stay away from. You can't make those kinds of judgements with only a single estimate.
Lastly, ask for references from others for whom the carpet cleaner has worked. If he's a dodgy contractor he might resist your request or try to provide vague answers. A reliable carpet cleaner will produce references on the spot. Be sure to call the references just to make sure.
When you find a reliable carpet cleaner who does a good job for him, do him a favour and tell other people. You, along with his other satisfied customers, are his most effective means of advertising.