[Deep Cleaning Solutions]

Hi,im hoping to be starting up my own carpet cleaning business this summer,
if i can scrape the funds together.
I'm looking to have a few training course's under my belt,
over the next few months,
and i have started looking at machines.
I have seen this on ebay:-
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Professional-Carpet-Cleaning-Machine-Mega-Kit_W0QQitemZ120290259303QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_3?hash=item120290259303&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1688%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50
What do you think!,i've never heard of Semca,
but the thing that caught my eye is they have,
an option of a 3 day on site training if you purchase,and it looks reasonably priced.
Do you think this machine is substantial enough,
to start me off in my new venture.
Cheers

[richy27]

i would wait till you have done your training before buying equipment. i did this and glad i did its very easy to waste your £££££ s on kit you dont need. ncca good course ( mainly theory based) cleansmart excellant hands on course plus matt has some excelant new starter setups available.

[Joe H]

Its good that you are looking at machines. No experiance of the Semca machine but 2 x 3 stage vac motors is a good start. You dont particularly want to go anything less then that in my opinion.

But like Richard said, perhaps best to get some training first.
The NCCA 2 day course takes about 25 people at a time, so its good for you to be talking to others as some on a course will be newbies like yourself and some will be more experianced having a refresher or wanting to joint the NCCA (and you have to do the course as one way of gaining entry).
You do get a chance to have a "play" with a variety of methods of cleaning carpets so that will be interesting to you no doubt.

Where abouts in Lancashire are you?
In the North West there are not usually any courses for c/c.
Shame really, but we therefore have to travel.
National Carpet Cleaners Association courses usually are in Leicester and Cleansmart is in Nottingham.
The sponsors of this site, Express Cleaning Service, sell equipment and no doubt will do traing course in association with a sale.

[richy27]

i was glad i stayed up overnight for the ncca course all part of it as the evening gives you the chance to informely chat to other cc you can learn an awfull lot. 

[clinton]

Always find you pick other tips up from chating to other cleaners too..

[Paul_Ashworth]

One of my commercial customers had a machine very similiar to this and to be honest wouldnt waste your money it was crap very flimsy.

[derek west]

looks worse than a rug doctorl, if you walked in my house to clean my carpets with that i'd kick you out.
thats just one  opinion though so don't let my honesty put you off. i'm often wrong.
derek

[C A Payne]

agree with paul, that machine looks like it came out of the ark... in this game you pay for what you get!! get familiar with a few c/c ing suppliers ie; alltec, amtech, prochem, the craftex one "restormate", the big clean & cleansmart etc ... don't be to hasty in parting with your money... regards charlie  

[Paul_Ashworth]

Just to give you some idea my back up machine which is a portable was nearly 3k plus you will need agition machines decent hoovers etc and have to date invested near 30k on this business and thats not including whats been bought out profits

[Deep Cleaning Solutions]

Joe,...i live over near blackburn,burnley way.
( the posh end mind ).
Yes your right about course's this way,cant find any on the net.
I don't mind travelling for the best training.
Thanks for all your advice,
i think i will do a few course's,
and see where it takes me before i splash out on a machine.

[Joe H]

I presume you not got the van yet?
Are you still using the Laguna estate?

[Deep Cleaning Solutions]

Laguna estate is a swear word in our house.
I have never known a car have so many problems in my life.
Will probably trade it in for a van when i'm ready to start,
I was hoping to be set up by now,but was made redundant before xmas,
and it's took me this long to find a half decent job.
This is the first time in over 15 years i've had to search for a job,
and can't believe how bleak it is out there,
(been mainly surviving on temp work since christmas).
Anyway sorry for waffling on ,
but i'm working fri,sat, & sunday nights full time now,
so there is plenty of time during the week for me to run my c/c business.
Hopefully it will take off and i can do c/c cleaning fulltime.
I have also a bit of redundancy money left,
to buy the essentials i need.
Anyway i'm determined to get the ball rolling in the next few months.

[Joe H]

Have you had a go with any machine before?

If you want to come down to Warrington sometime I will let you have a go with my portable, rotary and other bits and bobs. Should be about 45 miles.

[Simon@arenaclean]

That's a generous offer, I would give Joe a ring and take the opportunity with both hands!!

[Deep Cleaning Solutions]

Thankyou for such a kind offer joe,
this is the kind of generosity on this forum,
that warmed me to c/c  in the first  place.
I shall be in touch in the near future.
Thankyou...... Dave.

[markpowell]

If i was you i would try get someone to let you go out with them cleaning for a couple of days, then see what you think, i would accept Joes kind offer too if i was you mate.
Mark

[derek west]

going out with joe will make you realise 2 things
1) thers a lot more to carpet cleaning than you ever imagined.
2) your gonna need a lot more money for equipment if you wanna build a client base.

derek

[C A Payne]

plus you will benefit greatly from joe's knowledge & customer interaction.... charlie

[clinton]

Charlie

[Mike Osbourne]

going out with joe will make you realise 3 things
1) thers a lot more to carpet cleaning than you ever imagined.
2) your gonna need a lot more money for equipment if you wanna build a client base.

derek

3. He likes tea