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That carpet job last Tuesday turned into a nightmare real quick
Got a call to install some plush carpet in a living room outside of Tulsa. Looked simple enough on paper. But when I pulled up, the homeowner had already moved all their furniture into the garage and left the door open. Dust, leaves, and a few dead bugs all over the subfloor. Had to spend an extra 45 minutes just sweeping and vacuuming before I could even lay the padding. Then the carpet roll had a weird crease line down the middle that wouldn't flatten out no matter what I did. Took me twice as long as I quoted and I barely broke even on that one. Anyone else run into homeowners who don't prep the room right?
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iris9271mo ago
Do exactly what betty_wells said but take it a step further. I send that checklist text plus a photo of what a clean subfloor looks like. People don't get it until they see it. Last month a guy had cat litter dust all over his floor and claimed he swept. Sent him the photo of what I need and he spent an hour cleaning right while I waited in the truck. Also started adding a "site prep fee" to my estimates. If the floor's not ready when I show up, that fee kicks in. Cuts down on the lazy homeowners real fast.
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tarabell1mo ago
Saw a guy on a forum once who started including a clause in his contract that said if the floor wasn't clean and clear when he arrived, he'd charge a $75 trip fee and reschedule. Said it completely stopped the nonsense. People read that and actually do the work. Makes me think we should ALL be doing something like that because this is way too common of a problem. I also read somewhere that some installers will send a video walking through what a clean room should look like and that REALLY cuts down on the confusion. Honestly, the more specific you get the better these homeowners seem to respond.
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betty_wells1mo ago
Learned that lesson the hard way myself a few years back. Now I send a text the night before with a short checklist: clear the room, sweep the floor, seal any pet doors or drafts. Saves me a lot of headaches and lost time. A few customers grumble but most appreciate the heads up.
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