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New Carpet Before the Holidays?
If you’ve got friends and relatives coming for Thanksgiving and Christmas you might be considering replacing your old carpet. Here are some “insider” tips and tricks to help you choose new carpet wisely, save time and money and be sure to get it installed before your guests arrive!
Every year, right after Halloween and before thanksgiving and Christmas there is always a hot rush by homeowners to buy new carpet and have it installed before their festivities.
Some homeowners wait too long and discover that they can’t get their new carpet installed in time for their upcoming holiday events.
Here's some smart advice
to help you make sure your new carpet is installed in time for the holidays!
There are basically two ways to buy new carpet - The fast way and the slow way.
1.) Buying “in stock” carpet from local flooring retailer or carpet warehouse, or
2.)
Ordering from a manufacturer's carpet sample and wait for your new carpet
to arrive on a truck
from the mill, often located in Dalton Georgia.
Buying
“In Stock” Carpet
If you want your new carpet installed fastest, you might want to consider buying carpet that is “in stock” There are always plenty of rolls of carpet readily available for immediate installation at a local carpet warehouse. The main benefit is that you can have it installed rather quickly and the prices can be quite reasonable.
The
downside is that the carpet selection is limited to stock on-hand; it can be
difficult to determine the grade or quality of the carpet in question; the
amount of carpet available may be limited; the carpet may be “second
grade” goods and there may not be any manufacturer’s warranty coverage.
Ordering
New Carpet from the Mill
Every carpet retailer has carpet samples that you can take home and consider for a few days. The benefit of ordering new carpet from the mill is that you are guaranteed to get “first quality” carpet and you will always get the full manufacturer’s warranty. You also have the benefit of selecting the exact grade or quality you require and choose the color and style that you really want.
The
downside is that you will have to wait for the carpet to be shipped before you
can have it installed. It can take one to three weeks for your carpet to
arrive, perhaps longer if the weather is bad or unforeseen problems arise.
If you decide to order from a sample, then you need to make sure you have your home measured accurately and place your order as soon as possible. To help ensure you get your new carpet installed in time for the holidays:
-
If you want your new carpet installed before Thanksgiving, you should place your order no later than October 26th.
-
If you want you have your new carpet installed by Christmas or before December 24th, you should place your order before November 15th.
-
If you want your new carpet installed before January 30th, you should place your order no later than November 20th.
Check
with your flooring dealer to make sure they are prepared to schedule your carpet
installation as soon as your new carpet arrives. Doing your carpet homework
being well prepared in advance of installation day and
you will stand the best chance of choosing wisely, saving money and having
your new carpet installed before your holiday guests arrive!
How
to Choose the Right Carpet for YOU!
In
order to save the absolute most money possible and get the whole job done
correctly from start to finish, you need to make wise & informed choices.
In order to be completely satisfied with your New Carpet purchase you need to
consider all the following and more:
Smart
shoppers can save hundreds by doing their Homework.
When
buying new carpet, homeowners usually get a fair and square deal as long as
they buy from a reputable carpet dealer and take the time to do their carpet
homework before they buy.
Selecting
the right carpet
Style
The carpet samples you see at the carpet store will all look and feel great, but some carpets are so cheaply made they will mat down quickly and show signs of wear within a year or two. You can’t tell if a carpet is well-made just by its look or feel. You need to know how to interpret all the carpet construction specifications to determine if the carpet in question will be a suitable choice for you.
What grade of carpet should I select?
Homeowners need access to complete and accurate product information in order to make wise and informed carpet choices. This information is normally found on the manufacturers label affixed to the back of every carpet sample. If the label is missing or the specifications are not shown, you will need to ask the salesperson to get the information for you. If they are unable or unwilling to provide you with the carpet specifications, you should take your business elsewhere.
Private
Labeling on Carpet Samples
Some carpet retailers use private labels to make it difficult for you to comparison shop. They change the style name or the color names of their carpet samples to keep you from shopping around for the best price. I think it's wrong for dealers to use private labels but it is a common practice among larger stores, national retailers and home improvement stores.
Your best option is to shop around as much as you can and buy only from a dealer you feel comfortable with. There are still honest and reputable carpet stores out there, but you need to know more than just where to shop, you need to know which carpet & pad is right for you.
Sound
Carpet Buying Advice?
Homeowners
often rely on the advice and suggestions of carpet salespeople. Unfortunately,
many carpet retailers prefer to hire salespeople who are good at selling, but
often lack basic carpet knowledge and "hands on" experience. You
will be better off if you make your own choices based upon your own research,
and by verifying any and all advice or suggestions you might get from
salespeople.
Selecting
the right carpet padding
Selecting the right padding is very important. Padding has three main specifications to consider depending on your needs and goals. It’s important that you select the right type, thickness and density rating that is appropriate to your carpet selection and application. Some pads are better for use on stairs; some are better for basement applications; and it’s important that you meet the carpet manufacturer’s padding requirements or you might void your new carpet warranty. You should do your padding homework before you buy and not allow a salesperson to select the padding for you.
Where
to Shop for Carpet
Depending on where you live, you may have limited choices as to where you can conveniently shop for new carpet for your home. In rural areas, there are usually fewer choices and you may need to drive to a more populated area to have more choices and better options.
In larger cities there are plenty of carpet retailers to choose from, but not all carpet retailers are reasonably priced. Some cater to high end clientele.
Qualified
Carpet Installation
Many
carpet stores have a hard time finding qualified carpet installers. Installed
wrong, your new carpet can lose half its intended life span. It is your
responsibility to make sure your carpet is installed correctly. Print out and
use my free Carpet Installation Inspection Form and do a thorough walk-through
with your carpet installer when he is finished and before he leaves the
jobsite.
Learn How to Buy New Carpet Wisely!
Start
by taking my free Carpet
Foot Traffic Test to see what grade of carpet you need to buy based on
your own personal needs, goals, lifestyle and budget.
Print out and use my Free Carpet Shopping Form