carpet cleaner before thanksgiving? who do you use

we've got family coming in for thanksgiving and the carpet in our living room and hallway is not company ready. two kids in youth soccer tracking in mud from the fields all fall doesn't help. we're over by gulley park if that matters for who travels out.

saw a few people talking about this in a fb group and one person said the cheap flat-rate deals ($25 a room type ads) tacked on fees once the tech was already standing in the house. stairs, pet treatment, moving furniture, a "heavy soil" charge. by then you're not really going to send them home.

so i'm trying to do it right this time. a few things i'm planning to ask for:

- a written quote with the final price before anyone shows up
- what counts as a "room" (is the hallway one? closet?)
- whether stain or odor treatment is included or extra
- how long until it's dry, since we're hosting

anything else i should be asking? and if you've had someone local who was straight about pricing, i'd like to hear who. also curious how far out people are booking, since i'm guessing the next two weeks fill up fast.

Ask if they use a truck-mounted machine or a portable one. Truck-mounted pulls more water out, so it dries faster, which matters when you're hosting. Also ask if the quote is per room or by square footage.

I'd book this week. The week before Thanksgiving gets slammed.

Good call on truck-mounted, but get it in writing too. I had a guy say "truck-mounted" on the phone once and then carry a little portable unit in from a regular van. Ask them to put the equipment type on the quote right next to the price.

Also ask what their "heavy soil" cutoff is. That's the fee that magically shows up the second they see soccer mud, so make them say up front whether it's included. Same for stairs and moving furniture.

Agree on booking now. I'm over by Walker Park and between deer season boots and everybody's Thanksgiving plans, I'm not waiting till next week.

DENISE THAT PORTABLE UNIT IN A VAN TRICK IS SNEAKY, GOOD TIP ON PUTTING THE EQUIPMENT ON THE QUOTE. ALSO ASK IF THERE'S A MINIMUM CHARGE AND WHETHER THE PRICE INCLUDES TAX. AND DON'T PAY UNTIL THEY'RE DONE AND YOU'VE WALKED THE HALLWAY YOURSELF.

ETHAN, YOU CAN DODGE THE FURNITURE FEE BY MOVING THE SMALL STUFF AND VACUUMING FIRST. I'D ALSO SAY NO TO THE "PROTECTOR" UPSELL UNLESS THEY PUT A PRICE ON IT UP FRONT. THAT'S ANOTHER ONE THAT SHOWS UP ONCE THEY'RE ALREADY IN YOUR LIVING ROOM.

SOCCER MUD COMES OUT BETTER THAN YOU'D THINK BUT GET IT BOOKED NOW. GUN SEASON IS ALMOST HERE SO EVERYBODY'S BOOTS ARE ABOUT TO GET WORSE TOO.

this is really helpful, thanks all. adding to my list: equipment type written on the quote, heavy soil cutoff, minimum charge, tax, and a price on the protector before they start. and i'll walk the hallway before i pay anything.

good call on vacuuming and moving the small stuff first. the soccer cleats are staying in the garage from here on out, we'll see how long that lasts.

gonna start calling tomorrow morning and get it booked this week like you all said. if anyone does have a local name who quoted straight, i'm still happy to hear it.