The carpet in the front room has a dark path worn from the recliner to the hallway, and your father has decided it is none of your business. You think it needs cleaning. He thinks it is fine and that the men who come to clean it will try to sell him things. You are both partly right. The useful part is comparing the written quotes, because the written quote is the only part you can hold a company to later.
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Start with a written scope
Ask every company for a written quote that lists the rooms, the stairs, the hallways, and any closets. A quote that says whole house with no detail is a guess. Ask whether the price includes pre-treatment of stains, and whether the company moves furniture or expects the household to clear the room. If they will lift and reset the furniture, ask who is responsible for anything that breaks while it is moved.
Compare the method
Ask how the carpet will be cleaned: hot water extraction, a low-moisture method, or a dry powder method. Each one leaves the carpet damp for a different length of time. Ask how long the carpet takes to dry and whether the rooms must stay closed off until it does. Damp carpet that stays wet for a long stretch is a common source of trouble afterward, so get the drying time written down. Ask what they do with a rug that has a fringe or a backing that does not like heat or moisture.
Check the paperwork
Ask for proof of insurance, and ask whether that coverage applies to damage to floors, walls, or furniture in the house while they work. The company name on the quote should match the name on the insurance certificate. Then read the stain guarantee. Find out what it covers, what it excludes, and whether it only applies to stains the technician notes on the first visit.
Test a corner before the whole house
Ask the company to clean one small area first, such as a closet floor. Look at it the next morning when it is fully dry. Check that the color looks even, that the pile is lifted rather than matted, and that no new dark ring has formed at the edge. This is a fair request, and a reputable company will accept it.
Watch for add-ons
Some companies push protective coatings, deodorizers, or extra passes on high-traffic areas. Ask what each add-on is, whether it is included or extra, and whether the company says it is required. Say no to anything you have not seen written on the quote.
What to do tonight
Pick the room that matters most to your father, probably the one with the recliner and the path to the bathroom. Ask him whether he wants the carpet done at all, because some men like the old carpet exactly as it is. Then get two written quotes and ask each company the same five questions: what is included, how long it takes to dry, who moves the furniture, what the guarantee covers, and whether they will clean a test corner first.
When to walk away
If a company will not put the scope in writing, will not show proof of insurance, or pushes you to decide on the spot, leave. A good carpet cleaner expects you to compare two or three quotes before you pick one.