How To Choose New Flooring Like A Pro!
My List of Recommended Carpet Stores
(Free Information by Consumer Advocate - No Flooring Sales)
Unbiased Carpet Information & Guide
You can spend hours searching the internet for
complete, honest
and accurate carpet buying information or you can find it all right here. You
don't want carpet information overload. Surfing the internet
again and again only to read different opinions will just make it more
confusing. Let's
make it simple. Choosing new carpet is not rocket science but there are some
important things you need to know to help avoid common sales scams, how to save
the most money and make sure you are completely satisfied with your final
selection.
Avoiding Costly Carpet Mistakes
Too many homeowners are scammed or ripped-off when buying New Carpet because they don't buy from a reputable carpet store. They pay to much or are over-measured. There are some Carpet Retailers that should be avoided because they sell low-quality products for high-quality prices. Many homeowners don't do their carpet homework. It's important to understand all the performance details and manufacturing specifications about the carpet you are considering. Carpet Specifications Explained
It's not easy to choose a carpet that is designed to handle your level of foot traffic. Too many homeowners choose the wrong grade of carpet. All carpets look great when new, but the trick to choosing wisely is knowing what makes one carpet more durable than another. What Grade of Carpet Should I Choose?
Accurate Carpet Information
Many homeowners make the costly mistake of trusting the advice of inexperienced or unscrupulous Carpet salespeople. That's often a costly mistake because many Carpet salespeople don't have sufficient carpet product knowledge or hands-on experience to know which carpet to recommend. If you are in the market for new carpet, don't let any one Carpet salesperson make all your Carpet Choices for you. You need to make your own choices based on your unique personal needs, goals, lifestyle and budget.
Inexperienced Carpet Salespeople
Many Carpet salespeople have limited access to complete and accurate carpet information. Their limited carpet knowledge often comes from a manufacturer's brochure, the internet or an outdated carpet sales training video. Just because they work at a carpet store doesn't mean they know everything about the products they sell.
Many salespeople are hired for their ability to close the sale, not because of their vast carpet knowledge or experience. Carpet salespeople may say or do whatever it takes to convince you to buy their product whether it is a good choice for you or not.
Carpet Manufacturing Information
Manufacturers create flashy posters, banners, signs and displays to promote their new and improved product lines and they are quick to point out all the positive benefits and good qualities about their products.
But they often fail to mention the negative aspects or bad qualities about their products. This means you have to do your homework to make sure you know what you are buying. Don't assume their slick brochure can provide all the product information you need to make wise choices.
Where to find the most useful product information?
If you were thinking about buying a new automobile and wanted to know if you were making a good choice, who do you think could offer the most honest and complete information about the vehicle in question?
A. The Auto Manufacturer?
The manufacturer's brochure would show you great photos of the vehicle and describe all the newest features and mechanical specifications. They will have a color chart so you can pick out the color you like best. They might have a special financing offer to help lower your monthly payments a bit, that is, if you finance the vehicle through their credit company. The company brochure is designed to make the vehicle look appealing to you. It is not a comprehensive buyer's guide showing all the pros and cons of the vehicle.
B. The Auto Salesperson?
The salesperson you meet will ask you what type of vehicle you are looking for and take you on a test drive. They will show you how to operate all the newest features and equipment. They will tell you all the good points of the car you are considering. However, the size of his paycheck depends on how many cars he sells by the end of the month. A successful car salesperson asks enough questions to find out what features you want in the vehicle of your dreams and then wraps it up in a beautiful box with a giant bow on top!
C. The Auto Mechanic?
But a seasoned Auto Mechanic would be able to tell you about the vehicle's service history, any common problems, manufacturer recalls and common consumer complaints for that particular year, make and model. They may also know if previous buyers have been happy with the quality and performance of the vehicle. The mechanic doesn't make any sales commission from the vehicle you buy. The cost you pay for maintenance and repair is where they make their money.
If they give you honest and sound advice about a car you are considering, their hope is that you will trust them enough to take care of all your vehicle service needs in the future. If they give you bad advice today, you will surely find another place to have your car serviced tomorrow. This makes sense to me.
The Same Rules Apply When Choosing New Carpet
So when buying new CARPET, you want the wisdom and advice of someone who has had many years of "hands-on" experience with the same type of carpet you are considering. You want someone who can tell you how well the carpet performs over time, how long it will last under applications similar to yours, and if there are any common problems or complaints. That person is The Mechanic, in carpet terms that is the same person known as the Carpet Installer.
The Carpet Mechanic
I don't sell or install carpet anymore and I certainly don't manufacture it, but I have spent over 30+ years selling, installing, repairing, researching and learning virtually everything about carpet of all types, grades and styles.
I know how carpets are made and I know how long they will last in a given situation. I've installed tens of thousands of yards of carpet and most other flooring products too. Every type and style of carpet has its own positive qualities. However, it's the negative qualities of the carpet (they often fail to tell you about) that consumers need to know about - in order to make wise and informed choices.
Polyester and P.E.T. Fiber
Polyester is one of the softest fibers used to make carpets today. It has the most vibrant colors and it resists stains and cleans easily. That's what the manufacturer's brochure says and it's true. Polyester carpets are best suited for low foot-traffic applications. What are the negative qualities of polyester carpets? In medium to heavy foot traffic applications, the pile mats down quickly, especially in main walkways, stairs and hallways. They don't mention that in their brochure and inexperienced or unscrupulous carpet salesperson won't mention it to you either. In fact, many carpet salespeople today actually believe that carpets made from POLYESTER are better than ever. Polyester will always be polyester and the fact is, it is simply not a resilient fiber and as hard as they try, nothing can change that.
In Conclusion
Don't blindly trust any carpet product information derived from Carpet brochures, Carpet advertisements, carpet selling websites or commissioned Carpet salespeople. Do your homework and learn how to make wise choices for yourself. You must be sure to buy a carpet that is designed to meet your needs, goals and lifestyle. Sitemap
Keys to Your Carpet Success
You must choose the right grade of carpet and padding to meet your needs and goals. You also need to have your carpet installed by a qualified and experienced installer. Just as important is buying from an honest and reputable carpet and flooring dealer. Here are five links about choosing new carpet like a pro!
