Commercial carpet cleaning: what to look for when selecting a contractor©

Author: Vartan Khazadian, owner of CleenCarpet®
05/24/2007

If you are a property manager or shop owner, then you understand how difficult it is to find a reliable carpet cleaning company. I stress the word “reliable,” because it is rare to find a carpet cleaning technician who understands the importance of not wasting people’s time, right? Hcow many times have you waited on-site for the crew to arrive, only to be the victim of a no-show? Or opened your shop early for the crew to clean the carpets before the store opened, and nobody showed, again? We will review some basic requirements of a professional commercial carpet cleaning company as well as what to look for and require the next time you select a vendor to establish a relationship with.

Most carpet cleaning companies fail to understand the specific requirements of commercial work. They are:

1. Punctuality
It might be alright to show up a little late for a residential appointment, but this is not
acceptable for a person who is running a business. Time is money!

2. Reliability
Property managers are often looking to establish long term relationships with a carpet cleaning company. They do not want to have to open the yellow pages or search the internet for a vendor every time the carpets need cleaning. Be always accessible and you will win the business.

3. Availability
Commercial enterprises have emergency situations arise, and they must be addressed in a timely fashion. A good carpet cleaning company should be prepared to handle weekend and emergency hour work.

4. Knowledgable staff
While commercial enterprises usually only purchase commercial glue down carpeting, and rarely utilize more exotic or expensive carpeting, they ten to experience a wide variety of stains and spills. Business owners look to a carpet cleaning company to have the material and “know-how” to handle any time of stain.

5. Competitive pricing
Business owners understand the principle of “you get what you pay for.” However, they also expect pricing that is competitive and priced lower than residential service. Rightfully so, because a carpet cleaning company is enjoying the benefit of volume cleaning. Price might be lower, but you are cleaning more carpeting than a residential home. Adjust your price accordingly, and you will win the contract!

Now that we have reviewed the basics of commercial carpet cleaning requirements, if you are a business owner, you know what to inquire about the next time you are selecting a vendor. And if you are the owner of a carpet cleaning company, you’ll understand better the needs of your customers and can compete more effectively.