Steaming it solo

For homes filled with young children, pets and heavy foot traffic, Steve’s Carpet Cleaning has been a solution to a common household problem. The business, which has found a thriving client base among Plumas Lake residents, has been doing steady work for many people who have been in their homes for several years now.

Owner Steve Baker founded his Wheatland-based company just over two years ago, but he’s no newcomer to the carpet cleaning industry.

“I have owned a carpet company three times over the past 20 years,” said Baker. “The first time I didn’t have the maturity to endure. The second time I changed careers to seek a more lucrative proposal, but I have always found that I had the desire to return to owning this type of business.”

As the owner and lone employee, the fate of Baker’s business rest solely on him and he has taken several steps to ensure that his service and quality of work meets tough standards.

“I’ve trimmed all of the fat from a company profile. No secretaries, no commercial office space and no employees so that I may offer the best service at the best price,” said Baker.

With an initial investment of just a few thousand dollars and by keeping his overhead low, Baker can keep his service costs low while maintaining high customer service and offering that rare personal touch. Steve’s Carpet Cleaning charges just over $100 to clean the average-sized house.

“I can’t find a better solution. It’s part of my objective, to be the person to schedule, quote and complete the job. No miscommunications,” said Baker. “What I enjoy most about operating locally is significantly lowering my operating expenses and meeting my neighbors. There is no downside.”

Baker hopes to continue expanding his business including purchasing some additional equipment that would allow him to complete jobs at a faster pace, thus allowing him to take on more opportunities than he currently does.

With the holiday season almost in full swing, Baker urges potential customers to call for appointments sooner rather than later.

Steve’s Carpet Cleaning can be reached at 301-5410.

Plumas Lake correspondent Michele Perrault can be reached at (530) 483-3664 or you may e-mail her at mperrault@plumaslakelife.com.