Do you charge extra for trashed carpets??

**Rob Allen** · 09-29-2009, 11:51 PM

I know some feel it should be included in the price and others feel we should charge extra? What do you think??

**Classicboss** · 09-29-2009, 11:57 PM

I voted no. As of now I do not charge extra for trashed out carpet... however I have been thinking about charging extra for trashed carpet... it takes longer to clean and its more of a hassle removing spots and stains than with someone who takes care of their investments.

**danny4406** · 09-30-2009, 12:10 AM

Most of my price quotes are giving over the phone without actually seeing the carpets. If when I get there and they are heavily soiled I always try to charge a little more without much of a fight.

**Rug Spa** · 09-30-2009, 12:14 AM

I always charge more if it trashed. Why not takes more time,use more supplies and knowledge. + you make cheerleaders.

I got a add from churchs chicken to day. In small print it said prices may vary on items .

**floorguy_724** · 09-30-2009, 12:22 AM

We charge the same whether it is trashed or clean. IMO you win some and you lose some! It is a little more work, but you know

**rjfdube** · 09-30-2009, 12:23 AM

I charge extra for trashed carpet. I also charge for STAIN removal. Most spots come out during cleaning process. Even whencarpet is trashed beyond beleif; When someone hires us they are getting a extra thorough job; sort of like the old full services gas stations; all that should happen after I leave the custy's house is enjoyment.

**Mr. Slide** · 09-30-2009, 12:36 AM

Do you charge LESS for very clean carpets ? of course not!
I change the same.

Cheers, Al

**wandwizard** · 09-30-2009, 02:34 AM

Imho most carpet cleaning falls into the category of light to moderate soil. If it doesn't it should. Very few people clean their carpets annually and many wait several years between cleanings. Carpets that have been let go for years deserve a higher price as well as any carpet that is extremely soiled regardless of the amount of time it took to get that way. Customers who get their carpets done regularly at least every one or two years deserve better treatment than those that get them cleaned every 5 or 10 years. A trashed carpet will take me at a minimum 25 to 50 % more time and cleaning supplies to clean than what I would call a normal job. If I have to have my expensive truck mount running and extra 30 to 60 minutes or more because someone does not think their carpets need cleaned more than two or three times during a 20 year period they deserve getting some extra charge. Keep in mind here that I don't charge people .50 to 1.00 a sq. ft. either. If I did then maybe I would take the bad with the good like I used to do. Imho if I lose a customer because I charged an extra .10 to .15 per sq. ft. that only cleans every 10 years I haven't really lost anything but a headache. I don't care how good a cleaner you are or how much you blow away your competition you are not going to change peoples' habits in most cases so why on earth give them a break they don't deserve. Now if I were just starting out and needed every single job I might be more inclined to take every job at the same price. I've been doing this for 22 years and I rarely get any objection when I tell them I need a little extra to clean their carpets because they are in bad shape and it will take me a lot of extra time to get them clean.

**M Ellis** · 09-30-2009, 03:44 AM

I charge more.
If when i get to a property and it is trashed, I immediately tell them what i expect the cost to be.
If they are not happy to pay to have me spend time to remove the grime, I will walk away and i have.
Any reasonable person would expect nothing less of us. If they tell me someone else offered to do it at a reduced price to mine, I tell them i am happy to leave and allow them to come and clean their carpet.
The only exception to the above is if it happens to be Elderly ppl I usually go the extra mile to look after them.

Mick

**stevie bs** · 09-30-2009, 07:59 AM

I don't charge more.
I love it when the carpets are extra dirty,it gives me the opportunity to show my stuff.

I charge extra for urine spots and stains that require heat transfer,etc., but not for dirtier carpet.

I HATE TO CHARGE MORE THAN MY QUOTED PRICE, and will usually eat it rather than go up.

And before anyone ask; I don't give a discount if the carpet is only lightly soiled. If the customer thinks it needs cleaning,so do I.

**tcsdlm** · 09-30-2009, 08:12 AM

We Charge The Same For Trashed or Lightly Soiled, But in Some Cases when you have to remove a Layer of Tar/Grime off the carpet we Charge 30c per square Meter more but no very often, So roughly the same.

I like to let the Customers think they are getting a Bargain!

**b18cyacrx** · 09-30-2009, 12:52 PM

We charge more for trashed carpet because we have to use more chemicals and it takes longer to get it clean them.

**stevie bs** · 09-30-2009, 02:26 PM

Do you guys that charge more once you see the carpet give over the phone quotes?

Do you just "ball park it" over the phone?

My new customers seem surprised when we don't charge them more than we quoted over the phone. I guess that's what they're used to. Guess that's why they were "looking" when they found me.

**Kenny Wright** · 09-30-2009, 03:25 PM

When I quote over the phone, I tell them it will be between $ and $ depending on ... but I make sure the exact price is established before I start.

I charge extra if there will be extra time involved or significantly extra chemical costs. Otherwise, I enjoy cleaning the bad-looking ones. There's more of a WOW factor when you finish and you easily turn the customer into a cheerleader.

**Richard Baldwin** · 09-30-2009, 03:32 PM

Who are we to judge where the line is between "trashed" and "not so trashed".
If I put "Trashed carpet" on the invoice or even something more polite like "Heavy soil-extra charges" I could be offending my customer.

Everyone has a different level of "dirt tolerance" Some homes are immaculately sterile and others I'm tempted to wear the respirator just to walk in. But who am I to draw the line and tell one customer "your'e a slob so Im going to charge you more".

I take the good with the bad, and it is the "Average" of the cleanest, easiest carpet with the dirtiest, most time and chemical consuming carpet that is where my time and price is based.

If I get a trashed carpet I look at it as a special challenge to impress and amaze the customer. As for the super clean homes, I just have to do my best and hope I didnt make it look any dirtier by cleaning it.

Sometimes I prefer the trashed ones, there can be no mistake that my money was well earned when they see the before and after.

So, I base the pricing on quantity, rather than quality or condition of carpet that I am about to work on.

**rjfdube** · 09-30-2009, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by Mr. Slide

Do you charge LESS for very clean carpets ? of course not!
I change the same.

Cheers, Al

No; Just the going price or the minimum charges.

**James** · 09-30-2009, 04:25 PM

If the carpet is trashed. (I tend to believe.) They don't put much value in keeping it clean and they think your charging to much already. However, if the carpet is clean. They value having a clean carpet and they don't mind paying for it. Even if you need to raise the price a little.

No, I don't charge more for trashed or less for clean.

**Glides-R-Us 1-757-486-3532** · 09-30-2009, 05:07 PM

Yes we do charge more. We go to Restoration Cleaning if the carpet is in bad shape and only "heroic" cleaning measures are going to bring it back. The same as ifthey demand the carpet be dry within 5 minutes of cleaning it as well. If you can do something that most of your competition can't or wont, charge for it.

**Clean Solutions** · 09-30-2009, 05:53 PM

I charge more for the same reasons. I also charge more of builders cleans where there is plaster, glue, paint and grease stains on the carpet. As stain removal can take just as long ans a basic clean for the same area.