With many COVID-related lockdown measures still in place, the way we vacation has changed. Trips to amusement parks or festivals have been replaced by day trips to the beach or weekends in the Sierras. If you’ve spent the last few months taking advantage of California’s natural beauty, you’ve probably driven your car into harsher environmental conditions than normal. Read more
Read MoreWith many COVID-related lockdown measures still in place, the way we vacation has changed. Trips to amusement parks or festivals have been replaced by day trips to the beach or weekends in the Sierras. If you’ve spent the last few months taking advantage of California’s natural beauty, you’ve probably driven your car into harsher environmental conditions than normal. Read more
Have you received your free copy of the 2020 Fall Diamond Certified Directory Update in the mail? It provides instant access to hundreds of local, top rated Diamond Certified companies across a wide range of service industries, from auto repair and landscaping to optometry and dentistry.
Every Diamond Certified company must continue to deliver on its promises to you, the consumer. That’s why we conduct ongoing customer satisfaction research, perform credential-based ratings, monitor each company’s performance, and back you up with mediation and the Diamond Certified Performance Guarantee. Read more
It’s said that a clean house provides peace of mind, and this has never been truer than in the present moment. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, cleanliness and sanitization are more critical than ever—not just outside the home, but inside as well. To help you clean your home effectively and efficiently, we asked seven Diamond Certified Expert Contributors in the house cleaning industry to provide their tips. Read more
When preparing to buy a home, it’s natural to be preoccupied with thoughts about your future residence. However, it’s important to not overlook the more technical (read: less exciting) aspects of purchasing a property, such as applying for a mortgage loan. Getting approved for a home loan has always been an involved process, but since the subprime mortgage crisis that preempted the 2008 recession, it has become even more rigorous, so you’ll want to be well-prepared. Here are three tips for making the most of your mortgage loan application. Read more
From wildfire smoke to COVID-19, Californians have faced numerous airborne contamination threats in 2020. And while staying indoors can mitigate these threats, they sometimes still manage to breach our domestic borders. Perhaps you’ve had guests in your home (expected or otherwise), or maybe your home isn’t well-insulated from the outside air. In either case, it’s possible that the air quality in your home has (or will) become compromised.
One measure you can take to mitigate this risk is utilizing an air purification device, whether a portable unit or an add-on to your home’s HVAC system. However, when it comes to choosing an air purifier, it can be difficult to know which is the right fit. Read more
Do you have trouble sleeping? You’re not alone. According to the CDC, one-third of U.S. adults say they usually get less than the recommended amount of sleep (at least seven hours). While a variety of factors can cause poor sleep (sleep apnea, excessive screen time, etc.), one of the most basic is a lack of comfort. If you aren’t comfortable on your current mattress, you may have difficulty sleeping regardless of your bedtime routine.
If you’re thinking about replacing your mattress, plan to make a well-informed and carefully considered purchase. After all, with the sheer variety of mattress styles and features nowadays, it can be difficult to determine which is the right fit for your particular needs. Read more
We’re pleased to announce that the following companies have recently been awarded Diamond Certified. That means they’ve passed our rigorous 12-step rating process and scored Highest in Quality and Helpful Expertise®. Read more
It’s easy to get complacent when we’re all so distracted by what’s going on in the world. Unfortunately, distracted people can be easy targets for all kinds of scams, especially online scams. Here’s a case in point.
About three weeks ago, I received an email from an acquaintance asking me if I had an Amazon account (red flag). Nancy said she was having trouble with her credit card and wanted to buy a $200 Sephora gift certificate on Amazon to surprise her niece for her birthday, which was the next day (red flag). Read more
Due to restrictions related to COVID-19, more people are working from home than ever before, and some Bay Area companies have asked their employees to telecommute for months to come. At the same time, most of the region’s school districts are holding classes online. Suddenly, the must-have feature of every home is a well-organized home office or classroom. Creating a space that allows for complete concentration takes some planning, but it can be a key factor to success for both employees and students. Read more
When your furnace, dryer or garbage disposal stops working, your first instinct may be to call a professional. In some cases, however, all it takes is a little troubleshooting to avoid an expensive service call. We asked five Diamond Certified Expert Contributors to share their home troubleshooting tips. Read more
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