After four decades serving Lake of the Ozarks, Clearwater Carpet Cleaning has transitioned ownership to an established local restoration company.
Clearwater Carpet Cleaning has been in business since 1986, when Cliff Bussey opened it with his partner Ron Conaway.
"We opened on April 1st, so the joke would be on us if we didn't make it," Bussey said.
Clearwater Carpet Cleaning - Vintage Pics
His family had moved from northern Michigan, knowing almost no one. Using the radio, newspaper, and good ol' door knocking, Clearwater Carpet Cleaning became a dependable small business at the Lake.
Work has been steady ever since. Over the years, Bussey and his team built a loyal customer base while handling everything from carpet, rug, upholstery, and air duct cleaning to flooring work and insurance-related fire and water restoration.
Those services are still available, now with U.S. Disaster Restoration.
Earlier this year, U.S. Disaster Restoration approached Bussey about purchasing Clearwater. He had already been considering selling for a couple of years, but he insisted on finding the right company to take over — especially with customers who had trusted him for decades.
U.S. Disaster Restoration's team provides fast response and turnkey restoration services to help get properties back to normal — the kind of service Clearwater customers have come to expect.
Call U.S. Disaster Restoration at 573-742-2637. Online: us-restore.com
After 40 years in business, there are plenty of memorable jobs.
One cleaning trip nearly ended with a truck in the Lake. Bussey recalled a company truck sliding down a gravel driveway during the winter, hitting a seawall, and somehow ending up balanced across it. With the Lake drawn down and rocks below, Bussey said another six inches could have sent the truck over the edge.
The Clearwater Carpet Cleaning van teeters on the edge of a 45-foot drop into Lake of the Ozarks. “When second best just will not do… Call 348-1212.”
(Photo courtesy of Craig Smith Construction & Drafting)
Another job in 1989 was considerably messier. A sewer backup at the Lodge of Four Seasons left about 10 inches of sewage across the main floor, affecting around 14 rooms. Bussey and a crew brought in both of their cleaning trucks and pumps and worked through the night alongside septic crews to get the mess under control.
For Bussey, the variety was one of the things he loved about the business. There was always something different from one day to the next.
So why sell?
"It's time to spend more time with my wife," explained Bussey, who will soon be celebrating 50 years with his wife Kathy.
Bussey said he felt comfortable with U.S. Disaster after getting to know the company and its leadership, including owner Samuel Hubbs. Their shared Christian faith was important to him, as was knowing his longtime customers could expect the same standards of service.
"Clients can expect the same quality and honesty that they've had with Clearwater for all the decades they've been with us. Nothing has changed just the name," Bussey said.
"Any time you have like-minded people working together, it's a stronger team," Hubbs added. "Our belief in Christ affects our work ethic and shaped the business's core values."
U.S. Disaster was already familiar with Clearwater's work, having hired the company before. For Hubbs, bringing Clearwater into the company was a natural fit. Cleaning is already a major part of restoration work, and now that can be handled in-house.
"Scheduling will be a little tighter and it'll be a more seamless process," Hubbs explained.
Bussey is staying on through the end of the year to help with training and the transition, while Clearwater's staff have joined U.S. Disaster, including longtime employee Jeff Miles.
U.S. Disaster is already investing in the cleaning side of the business, adding another van, more equipment, and additional staff with plans to continue growing the operation.
For nine years, U.S. Disaster has handled water, mold, and fire cleanup and restoration at the Lake. Hubbs said water damage makes up the largest part of that work, where a quick response can make a significant difference in how much secondary damage occurs.
When an emergency call comes in, Hubbs said customers reach a person rather than a machine. The company's crews can often respond within 30 to 45 minutes.
For longtime Clearwater customers, the ownership may be new, but both Bussey and Hubbs say the goal is to make the transition feel anything but dramatic. The people and services Clearwater customers have relied on aren't disappearing; they're becoming part of a larger restoration operation with room to grow.
"We're here to serve and take care of our customers," Hubbs said.
Whether you need carpet cleaning or help after water, mold, or fire damage, U.S. Disaster Restoration is ready to serve the Lake area!
To learn more, request service, or get 24/7 emergency help, call 573-742-2637 and visit us-restore.com.
