Savvy Sellers Increase Home Value with New Carpet

March 12, 2008 Portland, Oregon

Home sales may be down but they are certainly not out. As more “for sale” signs pop up across the nation, savvy home sellers are finding they need spend a little more money to make their homes more appealing to potential buyers. Adding extra value to a home may be the only way for some to sell a home in today’s weakened real estate market.

A fresh coat of paint, new window treatments and beautifying the yard are a just a few of the more common and less expensive do-it-yourself projects that can add value and curb appeal to any home. But few projects can add a bigger “wow” factor to a home like new carpets, says Alan Fletcher founder of www.Abccarpets.com a free consumer carpet information website.

“I receive hundreds of questions from consumers who are in the market for new carpet, but in the past few months I’ve seen an increase in questions from homeowners who are planning to sell or having a hard time selling their homes” Fletcher says. Some questions I’ve received lately have been “What color carpet will help my home sell faster?” and “I’m selling my home soon, what grade of carpet should I select and how much should I spend?” 

To help sell a home with worn carpet some realtors suggest offering homebuyers a carpet “credit” or suggest lowering the price of the home just enough to cover the cost of carpet replacement. “That’s not a positive approach, says Fletcher. To help sell a home faster and for a higher price I recommend replacing worn or pet damaged carpets with a new medium-grade, neutral-color carpet.”

There are currently several television programs designed to help home sellers address issues like “enhancing curb appeal” and “how to stage a home.” These popular programs show how homeowners  going to great lengths to make a home look presentable and prevent potential buyers from having negative thoughts or concerns. “A matted down or pet damaged carpet is very unsightly and unsanitary and may scare off potential buyers. In fact, a worn out carpet may even send a signal that the seller may be financially distressed. If this happens, sellers may only receive “low ball” offers.” Fletcher warns.

“In the 90’s, selling a home was quick and easy here in Portland. Even without good curb appeal many homes sold the same day they were listed. Even if the carpet was worn out and pet damaged it didn’t seem to matter, people were buying up homes and fixing them up as fast as they could. “Those days are gone for now, says Fletcher. With the dramatic increase in fuel prices I think people will be investing more money fixing up their homes and enjoy spending more time at home.” Fletcher suggests that consumers who are considering buying carpet should do so more sooner than later as more carpet price increases are on the way. By doing a little “carpet homework” folks can find a fair and square carpet deal and won’t have to spend a fortune to get a decent carpet but should avoid buying a carpet that looks too cheap.”

With 30-years in the carpet business and author of “The Complete Carpet Buying Guide“, Fletcher claims that buying carpet today is more costly, confusing, difficult and time consuming than ever before. “There are so many unscrupulous carpet dealers and carpet scams to watch out for, and honest and experienced carpet salespeople are getting harder to find” says Fletcher. Some carpet retailers are gouging consumers with $70 per yard prices for carpets that typically sell for less than $35 elsewhere. While I firmly believe that home sellers should not lose a sale due to the cost of new carpet, that may well depend on which carpet dealer they buy from.”

Alan J. Fletcher is the author of The Complete Carpet Buying Guide available at www.AbcCarpets.com. Visit Alan’s Preferred Carpet Dealer Directory to find locally owned carpet retailers in your area. © email Alan at alan@landlordfloors.com.

xxx

George and Mary’s Tragic Carpet Story

George and Mary’s Tragic Carpet Story

(This is a very common story that thousands of consumers have experienced when buying new carpet) When George and Mary agreed to buy carpet from a large carpet retailer, they thought they had it all planned out perfectly. They thought they knew what they were doing. They took their time and looked at lots of samples and visited several carpet dealers before they made their final choice. For several years they had been saving up to buy the perfect carpet now that their kids were all grown and out on their own. What was supposed to be an exciting event for George and Mary was about to turn into a costly nightmare.

It was early April when George and Mary decided to start shopping for new carpet for their three-bedroom split-level home. Raising three kids and several pets through the years had taken its toll on their existing carpet and padding. There were several “bad” areas around the house where their old cat urinated and nothing they tried could remove the stains and odor. Their cat of 16 years had recently passed away so they thought the time was right to get new carpet.

They visited several carpet stores around town and finally found the perfect color and style they were looking for. The total price was a bit higher than they had hoped but they were getting tired from looking at dozens of colors and styles and were eager make their final choice. Their salesperson said that it would take about three weeks for their carpet to arrive. Mary was very excited.

George and Mary’s new carpet was scheduled for installation on May 5th. On the afternoon of May 4th George had his two sons come over to help him move all the furniture out of the way so the carpet could be installed the next day. Most of the larger furniture had to be moved outside on the deck and some placed into the garage. The threat of rain forced them to buy plastic sheeting to cover everything put outside so it wouldn’t get wet. The kitchen and main bath were filled with smaller items so dinner that night was delivered pizza and in the morning breakfast would just be doughnuts and coffee.

The carpet installers were supposed to show up first thing in the morning but as of 9am they had not shown up. Finally about 10:00 am Mary decided to call the carpet store to find out what was going on. The store manager put her on hold for a few minutes and when he returned he asked her “didn’t someone call you last week? “No!” Mary replied. “Your carpet didn’t get put on the truck for some reason. Someone was supposed to call you last week and reschedule your installation. I’m very sorry” the manager told her, “The manufacturer says your carpet should arrive here by the 12th.”

Now George had to move all the furniture back inside until next week. Mary had already taken today day off but now she has to schedule another day off next week too. Next week George had to move the furniture back but again but he also had to be out of town for a few days that week so he had to move out the furniture two days before the carpet was re-scheduled to be installed. Again he had to cover it with plastic to be sure it didn’t get rained on.

The Carpet store called Mary on the 11th to say that their carpet had arrived and the installer would be out first thing in the morning. The installer finally showed up at 9:30 am with their carpet. George had already left for work by this time but Mary was still very excited to finally be getting her new carpet installed. The installer looked around the house for a few minutes and then told Mary that there would be some additional installation fees and charges. The installation charge was only supposed to be $199 for the whole job but there were other add-ons and extras beyond the scope of their “basic” installation charge. There was an extra charge for the stairs, tack strip replacement and transition metals, an extra fee for removing the old carpet and pad with pet stains, and removing and replacing 3 closet bi-fold doors. The additional cost for installation would be almost $300 more than they were originally quoted and now Mary was stuck paying for it. The installer wanted a check for the additional amount before he would begin working. Mary reluctantly agreed to pay the additional installation charges and wrote the check.

The carpet installer and his helpers began to remove the old carpet and padding. They worked so fast that dust was flying everywhere. They replaced some damaged tack strip and soon the new padding was being installed. Mary tried to stay out of their way but there were not many places she could go. She managed to wiggle her way into a spot in the kitchen and she sat on the coffee table and read a book. Around noon, Mary offered to go out and bring back hamburgers and drinks for the guys as a kind gesture and she wanted to be sure they finished the job that day so she wouldn’t have to take another day off from work. As the afternoon rolled on it was becoming apparent that the job would not be finished in one day. Her excitement began to fade.

About 3pm the installer approached Mary and told her that there was not enough carpet to finish two of the bedrooms, including the master bedroom and that the carpet measurements were miscalculated. He said that he had already called the store and more carpet would be ordered. The store manager called Mary and told her that they would have to order another 15 yards of carpet in order to finish the job. It would be another three weeks to get it and there would be more fees and charges once the additional carpet arrives. The manager asks Mary to approve the additional charges and authorize payment with her credit card. Mary has no choice but to pay for the additional carpet needed and an additional carpet installation charge of $225 for the installers to come back out and finish the job. By this point, Mary was very angry and frustrated, to make things worse the carpet installer leaves by 4pm and has not finished the stairs, the upper hallway and two bedrooms and he won’t be back for three weeks.

When George gets home from work he quickly learns about the day’s events and becomes quite upset too. He tries to call the carpet store to complain but it is too late. He spends the next two hours moving furniture back into the rooms that have been completed but because the master bedroom is not done he cannot set up their king-size bed. They end up sleeping on a double bed the guest bed in the smallest of their three bedrooms. For the next three weeks they cannot walk around the house without shoes because there are sharp nails exposed on the tack strips in several areas where the carpet is not yet installed, including the stairs that lead to the bedrooms. Stepping on these exposed nails barefoot would be very painful and damaging to their feet.

Three weeks go by and now the problem for George and Mary gets worse. The additional 15 yards of carpet finally arrives on time but it is not the exact same color (dye lot) as the carpet they originally ordered. The installer showed up and finished the job but the new carpet did not match the carpet from three weeks earlier. Mary calls the store to complain and they tell her there is nothing they can do. “It is the nature of the business” she is told. George and Mary are still unhappy with their new carpet. They feel cheated, overcharged, lied to and scammed. They have made numerous calls to the carpet store and they do not return their calls. George and Mary thought they knew enough to buy new carpet. They thought they were doing everything right. They were wrong. Fortunately consumers can learn how to avoid all these problems by visiting my website at www.AbcCarpets.com ©2008 Alan J Fletcher

Carpet Buying Questions? Get Straight Answers at www.HowToBuyCarpet.com

Consumers, are you getting ready to buy new carpet need to have accurate and honest answers to your carpet questions? Find out everything you need to know about carpet at www.Howtobuycarpet.com It’s the best online source for unbiased carpet buyer’s information on the web. Take advantage of the free “Ask The Carpet Expert” service provided by Alan J. Fletcher a 30-year carpet veteran and consumer advocate. Looking for a reputable carpet dealer? Visit Alan’s Preferred Carpet Dealer Directory (Carpet_Dealer_list) to see if there is an approved carpet dealer listed near you.

When is the best time to buy new carpet?

When is the best time to buy new carpet? 

© Alan J. Fletcher Consumer Advocate

Everyone’s been asking me this question lately. Is there a best time of year to buy new carpet? If you know what to do, the answer is YES! You can save as much as 25% or more by knowing when to buy and how to negotiate your best deal.

Carpet retailers have busy seasons and slow seasons. If you try to negotiate a better deal during their busy season, then you don’t stand much of a chance to beat them down on the price. However, if you negotiate wisely during their slow season then you stand a very good chance of getting a very sweet carpet deal for yourself.

Worst times to buy new carpet.

Now, when are the slow seasons you ask? Let me start by telling you when the busy seasons are so you can get a better understanding of the big picture.  The real question is,  when do people buy carpet most? You don’t want to buy carpet when everyone else is buying. It’s almost impossible to negotiate a great deal on carpet when there are other customers waiting in line behind you holding their checkbooks. Here are the big three common  ”busy” seasons to steer clear of:

 1.  Between February 20th and april 30th when people are expecting a tax refund

2. from the 4th of July through August 31st. During the hot summer months when people are remodeling an existing home or moving into a new home before the new school year starts.

 3. Mid-October thru mid December.  When people are geting ready for the holidays, and when out of town relatives and guests are coming.

The best times to buy new carpet. 

Alright, now you know when NOT to buy carpet if you want to negotiate your best deal. Now lets look at the three windows of “money-saving” opportunity so you know exactly when IS the best time to buy new carpet.

Once December 15th rolls around, the Christmas trees are going up and holiday shopping is at an all time high. This means that buying after December 15th is a great time to buy new carpet. This window of opportunity lasts through January 31st. By Feb 15th it’s all done, as the tax refunds are starting to come in. People who file their tax returns early know how much their refund will be and that’s when carpet shopping goes into full swing. You’ll be able to get the best deals at the beginning of January when this slow season is in full swing.

The next slow season is from May 1st to June 30th. The tax refund is spent, Memorial Day weekend is busy, the kids are getting out of school, vacation planning is underway and their is plenty of springtime gardening to do. Buying new carpet is not at the top of the proirity list for most people during this time. This makes it a great time for you to negotiate a great carpet deal. I suggest shopping from May 20th through june 10th for the best negotiating power.

The next slow season comes right after the kids go back to school and lasts the whole month of september. Everyone is getting settled into a new school year regimine, enjoying the last few weeks of hot summer weather, and getting ready for the autumn leaves to fall. No one wants to think about getting ready for the holidays just yet. September is a great time to negotiate a great deal on new carpet for your home. This window of opportunity is not very long, I suggest shopping early in September because once people start thinking about the holidays it is all done until after christmas.

Negotiating a great price on carpet.

Knowing the best times to buy new carpet is important, but knowing how to negotiate a great deal is more important. You can’t just walk into any carpet retailer and ask for 25% off because you know it is their slow season. Some carpet retailers will negotiate with you and some won’t. You need to know which carpet retailers are willing to negotiate. 

So you have to do your homework. You also need to know what carpet to select to meet your needs and goals, what pad is best for you. It doesn’t matter how great a deal you get if you buy the wrong carpet and pad. Proper installation is another issue all together. You must be sure to have your carpet installed correctly. Not every carpet installer does a good job, so you’ll have to take steps to be sure your installers are qualified, even if they are approved by the carpet retailer.

 Negotiating doesn’t start as you begin to shop for carpet, it starts after you have found exactly what you want, at the price you want, and have a total amount right in front of you. After you’ve done everything else right, just seconds before you sign on the bottom line, is when you hesitate and say “I’m not sure about this price… it seems pretty high to me. I need to think about this a little more just to make sure I’m making the right decision.”.  That is the beginning of negotiating a good deal on new carpet. Getting to that point requires that you do some homework. I can help you with that. Visit my website where you can learn the secrets to buying carpet wisely and how to avoid common carpet scams.  

If you want to know more about buying carpet, visit Alan’s website at www.howtobuycarpet.com . You can e-mail him if you have questions at Alan@landlordfloors.com

Take the Carpet Quiz

Do you know enough about

Buying Carpet to avoid making

 Serious and Costly Mistakes?

Take this Quiz before you start

shopping for carpet to find out! 

Buying carpet is not as simple as it was 20 or 30 years ago. but today it is very easy to make the wrong carpet choices. Smart carpet shoppers do their homework and research before making such an important and expensive purchase of buying new carpet. Can you make all the right choices and get the whole job done start to finish? Maybe so, my simple carpet quiz will put your carpet buying knowledge to the test! 

Are you a Smart Shopper? You better hope so. First, take your sweet time! There are hundreds or thousands of your hard-earned dollars at stake! Second, have a game plan! You should already have a good idea about what carpet style and main characteristics of the carpet and pad you want to buy. You should know how long you want your carpet to last and about how much it’s going to cost for the carpet, the pad and the installation, long before you reach for your checkbook. 

When you visit any retail carpet store, you don’t want to start asking advice from the carpet salesperson. Most of your carpet buying questions should have been researched and answered long before you start shopping for carpet. Any questions you have for the salesperson should be limited to  “How much does this carpet cost per yard?”,  or ” Do your installers use a power-stretcher?” or “Can I see a copy of the manufacturer’s carpet warranty?”.  

After you visit several carpet stores, you’ll almost think you’re buying carpet from a used car lot. The last thing you need is high-pressure salespeople and a garbage can full of conflicting information.  You will quickly understand the reason why you don’t want to ask carpet salespeople for advice.

Find out if you’re ready to start shopping for carpet, or if you should stay home tonight and read my E-book  “The Complete Carpet Buying Guide”. 

 

The Carpet Quiz

 Find out if you are ready to buy carpet wisely!

Carpet Quiz Answers are on the next page

1. Do you know which carpet padding to use for your home? Which padding is the best deal?

• Rebond                                            
• Foam                                                 
• Rubber,                                             
• Synthetic fiber                             
• Recycled fabrics                        

2. Here are some common features padding may have for an extra charge. Do you know what benefits they provide? Which of these features do you think are worth paying extra for? 

• Moisture barrier                                 
• Odor eating                                        
• Anti-microbial                                    
• None of the above                            
• I don’t know

3. Do you know what padding Density to choose? 

• 4 pound                                                
• 5 pound                                                
• 6 pound                                                
• 7 pound                                                
• 8 pound                                                
• 10 pound                                           
• Don’t know

4. Do you know what thickness of pad is required?

• ¼”                                                 
• 3/8″                                               
• 7/16″                                            
• ½”                                                
• Don’t know

5. Do you know about carpet fibers? Which fiber is most resilient?

• Nylon                                         
• Olefin or polypropylene         
• Polyester or P.E.T.                   
• Nylon / polyester blend         
• Sorona                                       

6. There are different ways to make carpet.  Would you choose a Continuous Filament fiber or go with a Staple Fiber?

• Continuous filament
• Staple fiber
• I don’t know

 

Carpet Care and Maintenance

How you care for your carpet will determine how long it will last. 

7. How many people live in your home? How many days per week do you vacuum on average?

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8

8. What number is higher?

• Your answer to How many people live in your home?
• Your answer to How many days per week do you vacuum?
• Both answers are the same

9. Do you have a good vacuum with a beater bar?

• Yes
• No
• I don’t know

10. How often do you have your carpet professionally cleaned?

• Never
• Every 6 months
• Once a year
• Every other year
• Every three years

11. Do you keep all the receipts for the professional cleanings?

• Yes    
• No
• I don’t know

12. Do you know what the following carpet definitions / conditions mean? Which of these conditions are covered by the manufacturer’s warranty? 

• Appearance retention
• Crushing
• Fading or color loss
• Footprints or indentations
• Matting
• Shading
• Shedding
• Filtration soiling
• Wrinkles
• Yellowing

13. Have you visited the website of “The Carpet and Rug Institute”? (CRI) 

• Yes          
• No

14. Are you familiar with the requirements set forth in “The Carpet & Rug Institute’s Standard 105 for Residential Installation”?

• Yes            
• No

15. Do you know which manufacturer’s warranties apply to your particular carpet?

• Yes
• No
• I don’t know

16. If some of your carpet is found to be defective and you file a valid claim with the carpet manufacturer, what do you think will typically happen next?

• They will refund my money 100%
• They will refund a percentage of my money
• They will replace all my carpet with another carpet of my choice
• They will remove all of the old carpet and install new carpet of the exact same type and style.
• They will remove the defective carpet areas only and install new carpet of the same type and style.
• They will issue a pro-rated credit to your retailer equal to the cost of the carpet material only, for the affected area only, the credit is good only toward new carpet from the same manufacturer. They will not pay to remove your old carpet, nor will they pay to have your replacement carpet installed.
• They will pay to have the carpet repaired if possible

Carpet Installation

How your carpet is installed will determine how long it will last

17. What is the best day to have your new carpet delivered to your home:

• The day it is to be installed
• The day before
• The week before
• I don’t know

18. What is the best climate to have your carpet installed

• On a warm day with the doors open
• On a cool day with the doors closed
• Any day with the heater on (66*F) before and during installation
• I don’t know

19. What should do you do before the carpet installer begins to install your new carpet?

• Move all small breakables and valuables into a safe and secure area
• Make arrangements for kids and pets to be out of the work areas
• Check to make sure the installer will use a power-stretcher
• Take photographs or a video of the entire area in case you need to prove damages in court
• Make sure the installer has brought the right carpet style, quality and color
• Have the installer roll out the carpet so you can check the carpet for obvious defects.
• Make sure you have the original carpet sample so you can compare it with the carpet delivered

20. What should you do after the carpet installer is finished installing your carpet?

• Call all your friends to come over and see the new carpet!
• Inspect the carpet installation completely. Withhold final payment until you are completely satisfied.
• Pick up all the carpet scraps and vacuum the carpet well.
• Show the installer where you want all the carpet and pad waste to go.
• Find out how long the carpet seams will look so obvious. 

Click to see Quiz Answers at www.carpetsupersite.com/quiz_answers.htm

 

Home buyers often overlook carpet pet damage

“Not every homebuyer knows how important it is to check the condition of carpeting in a previously owned home before making any offer to buy. Many unsuspecting homebuyers discover carpet damage too late, often weeks after moving in”, says Alan Fletcher, author of a new e-book “The Complete Carpet Buying Guide“. “The main problem is the highly potent odor and severe damage caused to carpet and padding by pet urine, which is often difficult to detect and almost impossible to eliminate. For many homebuyers, the problem could take weeks or even months before it is fully realized” Fletcher says.“When touring a home for sale, homebuyers may not immediately notice the odor from pet urine if the carpet has been recently cleaned and might therefore assume that the carpet is in good condition. Similarly, if a homebuyer tours a home while it is unheated or when doors or windows are wide open, odors from pet urine can be much less noticeable. Pet urine odor will be easiest to detect in the winter months while the heat is on, and also when air circulation is limited during hot summer days.” Fletcher also warns homebuyers to be aware that central air conditioning can also help mask pet odors.

Fletcher goes on to say, “Homebuyers with pets may be surprised to find fresh pet “accidents” in their newly purchased home. Most dogs and cats will urinate or “spray” indoors to overpower the scent of pets that previously inhabited the residence, causing the pet odor and carpet damage problem to

escalate. It’s natural for dogs and cats to mark their territory and will do so if they feel threatened or to establish or define boundaries. Cats use several methods to mark their territory including spraying, scratching, rubbing against furniture, and leaving feces uncovered. Dogs use urine marking to show dominance or to make claim to something they feel belongs to them. Female dogs may urinate over any spot where another dog has previously urinated.”

“Even pets that have never had “accidents” previously may begin urinating or spraying if they detect the scent or markings of other animals. When this happens, complete carpet and pad replacement may be the only hope of solving the problem. It may also be necessary to have the wood or concrete subfloor sealed to prevent urine odor from seeping up through the new carpet because animals have sense of smell many times better than humans” Fletcher added.

“Pet urine is very difficult to completely remove from carpet because it often soaks through the surface fibers into the carpet backing and may even become embedded into the padding and flooring below. Having the carpets professionally cleaned may help temporarily but the underlying damage caused from pet urine will not be solved and the urine odor may quickly return. Carpet that becomes urine-soaked will quickly deteriorate and further cleaning will only worsen the problem” says Fletcher

“It’s not enough just to ask the seller if there is or has ever been a pet urine problem in the home because people who have pets can become so accustomed the odor from pet urine that they may be unaware of the severity of the problem. In order for homebuyers to know for sure if there is a pet urine problem they will need to conduct their own investigation. The best way to determine the presence of pet urine damage would be to pull up the carpet in a corner of the room and look for signs of urine stains. Another effective, but less popular method, is to just get right down on the floor and smell the carpet in suspected areas. Cat urine glows under a black light and that may also be a method that may be used, but the room must be dark in order to see the urine stains. Cats tend to prefer urinating in a quiet corner or in closets, while dogs will usually urinate in the middle areas of a room or lift their leg on furniture or other objects. A thorough room by room search may be necessary to discover the scope and severity of the problem” Says Fletcher.

“If it is determined that the carpet has significant pet urine damage, the total cost of replacing the carpet should be considered prior to making an offer to purchase the home. In some cases, urine soaked wood subflooring may need to be completely removed and have new wood installed. A qualified flooring contractor should be able to provide a reasonable repair estimate” Fletcher says.

“New carpet and padding prices have been on the rise for the past few years due to rising crude oil and fuel prices. Replacing carpet in a typical 2-bedroom home could easily cost more than $2500 for a medium grade style. Prices for carpet vary widely depending on the quality, face weight, type of fiber, and style selected. There are other expenses to consider including carpet padding, moving furniture, removing the old carpet and pad, and professional installation. Some carpet retailers include some of these items in their carpet prices but homeowners are often charged extra if the job requires more than what is considered to be a simple or “basic” installation”, Fletcher warns.

Potential carpet buyers can visit Mr. Fletcher’s website at www.carpetsupersite.com to learn more smart ways to save time, money and learn how to avoid common carpet buying problems.

Berber Carpet Advice

Berber carpet snags easily. Dogs with long toenails and kids with sharp objects, toys or other playthings can easily cause snags. Snags are difficult and expensive to repair. If you find a snag, don’t pull it, snip it off with scissors. If you have kids or pets, you might want to avoid buying berber carpet.

 Berber carpet has to be installed in a certain direction on stairs to prevent the rows from “smiling” as it wraps around the front of the stair. If the berber carpet on the stairs is not going the same direction as the carpet in the main rooms, it may not look very good. Berber carpet should be installed in the same direction, and the stairs are the deciding factor since berber must be installed in a certain direction on stairs. If you are having Berber carpet installed, think about the direction before you measure and place your order, you probably can’t change the carpet direction after the carpet has been measured and ordered.

Berber carpets with small loops tend to look better and retain their new appearance longer than berbers with large loops. Larger loops tend to collapse and fall over quickly, and when they do, rarely bounce back to look like new again. Most Berbers are made with a fiber called Olefin, also called Polypropylene. It is a strong fiber, but it does not clean easily.  Buying a Berber made with Nylon costs more, but is a much better way to go if you want a berber carpet that will last longer.  Berber carpets are more expensive to install because they are more difficult to install, as much as $1 or $2 more per yard.  A power-stretcher must be used to install berber carpet or wrinkles may develop. A special pad is required to keep the warranty in effect, usually 1/4″ thick and at least 8 pound density. I believe that using Chem-Dry to clean Berber carpets is the best way to go.  Hot water extraction, or the ”steam cleaning” method can cause berber carpets to stretch-out and develope wrinkles if too much water is injected into the carpet and it soaks through  into the carpet backing and carpet padding.  Water is a mortal enemy of berber carpet and the Chem-Dry method uses very little water.