MISTAKE #1: Choosing a carpet cleaner based on low price. Low price
could be a problem in three ways: (1) Low price can be the 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  #2: Choosing a carpet cleaner based on a single phone call.
Instead, invite the person to your home and ask for a specific written
quotation. Then you'll know exactly what the carpet cleaner
recommends -- and you won't be the victim of high pressure tactics
when the technician steps into your living room.

MISTAKE #3: Choosing a carpet cleaner who doesn't offer a money
back guarantee. In my view, every carpet cleaning company should be
fully accountable for its work. And if you aren't pleased with the job in
every way, you shouldn't have to pay for it. Period. Not all carpet
cleaners offer a guarantee. Or, if they do, the guarantee may be
"limited." Ask the carpet cleaner if he offers a money-back guarantee
and then make sure the carpet cleaner includes his guarantee on his
written quotation.

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MISTAKE #4: Choosing a carpet cleaner without getting comments
from his other clients. Any carpet cleaner can say anything about his
past jobs. And, sadly, some of what he says  may not be true. Make
sure you ask for references or read comments from current customers
so you can depend on the carpet cleaner and his work.

MISTAKE: #5: Choosing a carpet cleaner who doesn't use a truck
mounted, hot water extraction system. You might expect this from us,
since our company uses this type of system. But there are several good
reasons. Portable hot water system are good, but they aren't as good as
truck-mount systems. Truck-mount systems are the Rolls Royces of
carpet cleaners. Compared with portable hot water systems,
truck-mount 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.