Gophers Be Gone!
Gophers are wreaking havoc in most of the yards in our neighborhood. We've tried everything from smoke bombs and car exhaust to ultrasonic devices. Nothing has kept the gophers away for long. Hendrick Wong, owner of Ensure Pest Control, a Diamond Certified company, explains why one of our neighbor's yards is a gopher-free zone. They have excavated the top six inches of soil and laid down a 1/2 inch grid made of galvanized wire mesh. The wiring keeps the gophers from breaking through the ground. This solution may be too labor-intensive for big yards. A less expensive remedy, according to some of Ensure Pest Control's customers, is to put used, urine-saturated cat litter into the gopher mounds and tunnels. Mr. Wong's theory on the effectiveness of this method is that the stench drives the gophers away.

Are You Being Squeezed by a Lemon?
The Center for Auto Safety has rated all the state lemon laws in the country, and according to the Center's Director Clarence Ditlow, California's is ranked #1. But even the top-rated lemon law won't do you much good if you don't know how to use it! To qualify for lemon law protection, the shop must attempt repairs for the same defect at least four times, or the car must be out of service 30 calendar days within 18 months or 18,000 miles. You may also qualify with a "reasonable" number of attempts during the entire expressed warranty period. Only two repair attempts are needed for safety defects, which may cause death or serious bodily injury. California law also covers some business vehicles. Mr. Ditlow urges lemon owners to keep all documentation and repair records and to directly notify the manufacturer as you proceed.

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Keep Your Eye on the Prize When Refinancing
Many lenders try to entice borrowers by waiving appraisal, documentation and processing fees or by touting their no-cost loans. Before you leap at one of these offers, Lisa MacLean-Fonarow, Senior Loan Officer with All California Mortgage Inc., a Diamond Certified company, says first stop and think about the big picture. For most borrowers, the interest rate and points are the most important consideration. For example, a lender who waives the $400 appraisal fee may charge 6 1/4% interest, while another lender charging for the appraisal can get you 6 1/8% interest. This small difference can add up to thousands of dollars on a 30-year mortgage. Ask your broker to help you evaluate options with a breakeven analysis. That way you'll know whether paying those annoying little fees up-front makes sense in the long run.

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How to Get the Most Out of Your Old Insulation
If your ceiling insulation was installed more than 10 years ago, you aren't saving as much energy as you could with the new products on the market today. According to John Gorman, President of Diamond Certified's Save Energy Company, contractors now routinely install R30 insulation in ceilings. R38 products are also available but less commonly used. The old insulation is often only R19, which is not as resistant to heat loss. To improve your situation, Mr. Gorman says you don't have to spend a lot more money. Don't take out the old stuff. Just add to what's there. Either fiberglass or cellulose insulation can be blown in. When the job is done, you'll be more comfortable whether it's hot or cold, and you will save some bucks on your energy bill.

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Hold the Mold by Catching Leaks Early
If you ignore stains or discoloration in your linoleum, before you know it, a small leak may turn into an extensive mold problem. Tests for mold are expensive and the clean up can cost thousands of dollars. An owner of a Diamond Certified company says to prevent serious mold problems, homeowners should regularly check for leaks under sinks, around toilets, bathtubs and washing machines. Don't forget to look by your water heater and near the refrigerator's hook-up for the icemaker. If you find dampness, clean it up and lay out paper towels. Check the towels often for small drips to pinpoint where the leak is coming from. Water spots and moldy smells are clues that you need to fix those leaks right away, not six months from now.

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Unplugging an Extra Refrigerator May Cost You in the Long Run
Looking for ways to cut her PG&E bill, a friend told me she's turned off and unplugged her extra refrigerator. This could be a recipe for disaster, according to Steve Silver, a salesman with Diamond Certified's Asien's Appliance. He says what happens is the Freon and coolants settle, and they can eventually leak into the sealed cooling system itself. The refrigerator will run, but not cool when you turn it back on. You'll end up having to buy a new fridge. A wiser strategy is to turn it down to the lowest setting, and put something in both the freezer and the refrigerated sections. Mr. Silver suggests a couple of milk cartons filled with plain water.

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Don't Spend Real Money on Real Fakes
How legitimate is that autographed Pablo Picasso lithograph you bought on-line? The Certificate of Authenticity included with the print might assure you. But don't put too much stock in that certificate. According to Alex Adelman, President of Masterworks Fine Art, Inc., a Diamond Certified company, most Certificates of Authenticity are not worth the paper they're printed on. When you read them, you need to have an attorney's eye to know what you're getting. For example, some of the Picasso lithographs come with "complimentary" signatures, which means, according to the fine print, that they are not covered by the guarantee. Adelman believes that if you're serious about investing in artwork, you should investigate the work's authenticity using outside sources, and if you pay with a credit card, you may have some recourse if you find out after the purchase that you've been defrauded.

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Avoiding Health Plan Hassles
The next time your company has an open enrollment period, you might want to consider switching your health plan from an HMO to a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). That's the word from David W. Hodges, Chief Executive Officer of Diamond Certified's Hodges and Russell Insurance Services. He says while many people like many aspects of HMOs such as no paperwork and low fees, doctors are fed up with many of the plans. In fact, many top specialists no longer participate in HMOs, so if you have a special medical problem and want to see the best expert in that field, you will likely find yourself paying for that visit out of your own pocket. The bottom line, according to Mr. Hodges, is that if you want to seek excellence in medical care, most of the time you're better off choosing a PPO over an HMO.

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Tackling the Impossible!
It's your worst nightmare. You're in the middle of a busy intersection and your engine dies unexpectedly. You're towed and the mechanic can't find anything wrong. The next time the car quits; you're on a bridge. You are going crazy. Most intermittent drivability problems are related to the car's high tech electronics and Chuck Collingwood's Automotive, a Diamond Certified company, is one of the few auto repair shops that specialize in solving these problems. Mr. Collingwood says it is critical to keep a log of the failures. Do they happen only when the engine is cold, on hot days only, on hills, stopping, turning right, etc.? Expect the repairs to take a little longer because specialists have to confirm with test drives that the car is working correctly. And the repairs can be expensive. The average cost ranges between $400 and $1000.

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A Great Foundation Makes All the Difference
There is a right way and a wrong way to install marble, tile and granite and what makes the difference is the foundation. David Shawn, President of Miconi Marble and Tile, A Diamond Certified Company, says that a quality job has to start with a cement mortar bed. Some companies take short cuts using a cement board instead on top of the sheet rock. The result is an unleveled surface, which leads to uneven walls, floors and countertops. Knowledgeable installers use levels and special materials where needed to make the top surface perfectly even. They also create a stucco mesh wire form that goes underneath the cement mortar. Shawn claims it is worth investing in the foundation because you will be more satisfied with the end product in the long run.

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Take It Off and Keep It Off
The key to permanent weight loss is blood sugar stabilization. That's what Maureen Sullivan, owner of Diamond Certified's Lite for Life Inc., has learned after years of experience in the nutrition and diet counseling field. If you want to stabilize your blood sugar, start with eating only fruit, vegetables and protein for 2 to 5 days. Next, stop eating sugar and cut out alcohol. She suggests eating 5 to 6 small meals a day. With this kind of plan, Ms. Sullivan says that you will not be hungry or tired. You are unlikely to have cravings or have any of the negative symptoms that make you want to quit the diet. And, you could lose up to 2 pounds week.

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Perfect Credit? Maybe Not.
You're bombarded with letters for pre-approved credit cards and you've never missed a credit card payment. You assume you have perfect credit. Erica Sanberg, Chief Financial Writer for Consumer Credit Counseling Service of San Francisco, says don't be so sure. Making payments on time is only part of what creditors look at in determining your credit score. They also look at what is owed, your available credit limits, and how long you've had credit. If you want to know your real credit status before applying for a car loan or mortgage, go to www.myfico.com. For $12.95, you will get your credit report and FICO score, along with detailed explanations.

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Avoid Flooring Fiascoes – Warning About Water!
Mopping your kitchen with too much water can be hazardous to your flooring, according to Gail and Bob Corridan, owners of Larry's Linoleum, a Diamond Certified company. They warn that the popular laminates should not be cleaned with excessive amounts of water. Laminates simulate the hardwood floor look, yet are durable and less expensive than hardwood. Water can seep into the joints, causing swelling and bubbling, and now your floor is ruined. Manufacturers recommend spot dry-mopping for the laminates. They specifically warn against improper care and maintenance in their warranties, and that includes using too much H2O.

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Window Warranties
Plenty of things can go wrong when you have windows installed. They may not fit right, they may not be the quality you expected, or they may fog up. Something you may not know until you try to get warranty work done is that lifetime warranties do not always cover the last problem. According to Kevin Grundry, Chief Financial Officer for Custom Exteriors Incorporated, many warranties only cover the frame, not the glass seal. A defective seal may cause fogging on double pane windows. To know what you're getting from a contractor, ask to see the window manufacturer's warranty in writing. You want coverage for both frames and seals.

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"Free" Credit Reports……Hmmm
The offer for a "free" credit report blasted from the radio. A young woman, wondering whether her credit was any good, dialed the toll-free number. The report was going to be e-mailed for free. The catch was to get the freebie, she had to agree to try out a credit monitoring service, but everything was "guaranteed." Her next credit card bill showed a charge for an $80 membership, which entitled her to unlimited credit reports and notices when someone checks her credit. It's foolish to buy a package like that when all you really need is the credit report. A single copy costs about $10, and by law, you are entitled to a free copy if you've been turned down for credit within the last 60 days.

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Smog Check Savvy
If you have a high mileage car, or one that's not running well, you may be worried about passing the next scheduled smog check. One bit of advice from Jim Livingston, owner of Pioneer Auto, could save you money, time and trouble. Jim suggests getting a pre-test because you don't want the vehicle to not pass or worse, fail as a "gross polluter." Gross polluters are required to get smog certification at designated shops, which is a hassle for you. A pre-test is not official and lets you know where you stand. When you're ready to get smogged, call and ask three questions: 1) do you perform pre-tests? 2) how much is it? and 3) can you fix the car if it doesn't pass? A test and repair facility is preferable.

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The Secret to a Less Stressful Home Remodeling Experience
Homeowners doing remodeling often complain that they are spending more money on the project than they expected. Greg May, President of Diamond Certified's May Construction Inc., says one of the secrets to avoiding costly surprises is to make as many decisions about plumbing fixtures, appliances, cabinets, countertops, etc. as possible before having the contractor out to bid on their project. Put this information in writing, along with a detailed description of the work you want done. Hand it to the contractor at the time of the first jobsite visit. That way he can provide a more accurate bid in a timely manner without having to guess, which can result in problems later for both the homeowner and the contractor.

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Taking Complaints to the Next Level
Last year, I violated one of my own cardinal rules for getting customer satisfaction. I did not take my complaint to the top. I had complained about a defective bathing suit both by phone and in writing. The company wanted the suit back, but after several more calls, the rep claimed it never arrived. Did I insure it? Why would I insure a damaged suit? I went away very dissatisfied. A month ago, I attended a conference where the same bathing suits were on display. While looking around, I decided that I would tell the salesperson my sad story. He listened and within minutes, insisted on giving me $50 worth of merchandise. What I didn't know until afterwards was I had taken my complaint to the next level. I discovered that the president of the company had been waiting on me. In no time, he restored my faith in the complaint process.

Home Inspections – What You Don't Know Can Hurt You
When you make one of the biggest investments of your life, it's well worth it to hire a home inspector to report on the condition of the house. The fees generally range from $350 to $500, depending on square footage. According to Broker Patricia Moore with ReMax Allied Brokers, most home inspectors are generalists, not specialists, who go out of their way to identify major visible defects. She suggests if you get a report saying the furnace is bad, for example, it may be worth it to pay a little extra for a furnace specialist to check things out. Sometimes, the problem can be easily resolved with a minor repair. Moore cautions against doing the inspection yourself or having a friend in the trades do it. It's too easy to miss big items such as chimney repairs and potential electrical code violations.

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