Rug Cleaning OR Restoration, what brings in more money?

**admin** · 10-21-2009, 06:24 PM

I had a discussion with a few guys at Howard Partridge's round table and a few of them stated that rug cleaning can be even more profitable than water restoration.

With water restoration coming and going, but rugs coming in daily and charging $3/sq foot -

What do you think?

**Rug Spa** · 10-21-2009, 06:31 PM

i agree

**Carpet Cleaning 911** · 10-21-2009, 07:28 PM

Don't know, cause all the people I know that are already cleaning rugs are now getting into water restoration as well. They say it's easy money for fairly little investment and since most of the equipment can be rented (IE blowers, Dehumidifiers) the overhead is low as well. The argument they use is that when the economy slows down then so does rug cleaning as rugs aren't cheap to clean (from a customers prospective) and they cut back on it, while homes will always flood, (pipe's break etc) you just don't know when so it's hard to set a regular business model but atleast these things happen sometime every month year round so you have that income in the winter months or whatever you normal slow time would be.

**TheEyeball** · 10-21-2009, 09:00 PM

Hmmm, good question. It comes down to volume, I suppose.

I personally make more on rug cleaning. I don't own drying equipment so I don't do a lot of flood work. I charge $1.50sqft for rug cleaning one side, and $3 both (rug bath).

**Jim Martin** · 10-21-2009, 09:07 PM

really it all comes down to where you live...I can make a lot more in rug cleaning then in water restoration.....Aside from a toilet that over flowed or a leaky hot water heater...we don't get that much rain here to cause that much flooding .....so restoration is far and few between for most here.....

**Chadly** · 10-21-2009, 09:19 PM

Or think of the liability. If your going to do it, do it right.

Rugs makes us easy money on the side as a sideline when its done in an off time (not 8-5 hours). These can be done before and afterhours or used as filler time a few times a week.

Some weeks its only 3 rugs, other weeks 20 rugs.

**owenscott** · 10-21-2009, 09:49 PM

I heard that carpet cleaning is almost recession proof. In the high times poorer folk pay to have their carpet cleaned while the rich buy new. In the down times the rich clean instead of new and poor go without as much cleaning.

Seems like this recession was a bit different tho.

**admin** · 10-21-2009, 10:34 PM

Jim do you have a rug plant?

**Jim Martin** · 10-21-2009, 10:44 PM

Originally Posted by admin

Jim do you have a rug plant?

No....I really don't need one..95% of the rugs we run across I can do right at the clients home....and the 5% I can't there is a place here in town that will take care of them...Not a very high percentage of the ones I cant do to justify a plant....

**cleaningclean** · 10-21-2009, 11:25 PM

I think it depends on the size of the area you service, the more expensive rugs aren't something people clean over and over, maybe every so often just to freshen up. they are usually very well taken care of.

We def make more on water damage....we have networked with many points of contact who refer us. so for us its water damage.

since we are on the topic of rugs......

My question is it really necessary to give a rug a bath?

I don't know about you guy but most of the rugs we clean are in higher end houses and the rugs are very well taken care of.

Most just need to be vacuumed and vacuumed and have the dry matter removed by running a beater on the back and what not and then just cleaning then with a oriental rug solution.

It does the trick for us and we charge anywhere from $2.20-4.50.....I don't understand what the big deal with giving a rug a bath, yea maybe around %5 would need one but 95% don't, why risk the rug shrinking/bleeding by soaking/bathing?

maybe im missing something?

**Rick Imby** · 10-22-2009, 01:26 AM

Originally Posted by Jim Martin

really it all comes down to where you live...I can make a lot more in rug cleaning then in water restoration.....Aside from a toilet that over flowed or a leaky hot water heater...we don't get that much rain here to cause that much flooding .....so restoration is far and few between for most here.....

I bet you do not get much ice and frozen pipes there either....

**Jim Martin** · 10-22-2009, 08:49 AM

that is correct.....we do get cold in the desert....but nothing like the north.....I think it was 3 or 4 years ago we had a bad winter and got some broken pipes but it does not happen that often......

**Carpet Cleaning 911** · 10-23-2009, 03:40 PM

Originally Posted by cleaningclean

I think it depends on the size of the area you service, the more expensive rugs aren't something people clean over and over, maybe every so often just to freshen up. they are usually very well taken care of.

We def make more on water damage....we have networked with many points of contact who refer us. so for us its water damage.

since we are on the topic of rugs......

My question is it really necessary to give a rug a bath?

I don't know about you guy but most of the rugs we clean are in higher end houses and the rugs are very well taken care of.

Most just need to be vacuumed and vacuumed and have the dry matter removed by running a beater on the back and what not and then just cleaning then with a oriental rug solution.

It does the trick for us and we charge anywhere from $2.20-4.50.....I don't understand what the big deal with giving a rug a bath, yea maybe around %5 would need one but 95% don't, why risk the rug shrinking/bleeding by soaking/bathing?

maybe im missing something?

Moe,
I think the soaking thing is being misconstrued or sometimes used unnecessarily. True if the rugs are taken care of most of the time beating and vacuuming the dirt out does just fine with a mild clean with solution after. Soaking was really designed as a treatment for odor and bad stain removal but some people have taken it on as way to clean and yes rugs are bleeding etc.

**Jason Whaley** · 10-23-2009, 04:14 PM

Restoration all the way! If it comes down to volume and you are not getting lots of restoration then you need to market it better. I did one restoration this week at 4k for only 7 hours of work. Try cleaning 4k in rugs in 7 hours..... At 4.00 a sq. ft. that comes out to 1,000 sq. feet of rug. At 3.00 a sq. ft. that comes out to 1,250 feet of rug. I only charge $2.00 a sq. for rug cleaning so I would have had to do 2,000 feet of rug to make the same i did doing the restoration. Either way that is a lot of rug! I'm sure there are some out there popping out this volume of rug but for most of us here we are not or can not.

**cleaningclean** · 10-23-2009, 04:19 PM

what are some of the ways you market restoration Jason that works well for you if you dont mind sharing.

**Jason Whaley** · 10-23-2009, 04:38 PM

Cold Calling

#1 Adjusters..... This work was from a property manager but over the years I have made several contacts with adjusters.

#2 Plumbers..... This is a great source of referrals. They usually get the first call. Paying a referral fee can help. 1% to 5 % if they get you the work.

Septic Tank professionals..... Nasty work but it pays well.

Bottle water companies..... I charge $125.00 to remove 5 gallons of water from water coolers that have leaked on the floor. It usually takes less than 30 minutes.

You have to keep your name in front of them. Send them info on your biz or drop off goodies quarterly. Eventually some of them will give you a call. Also don't rape them on rental charges like the big guys do.