Diamond Certified Blog

Everyone knows about spring cleaning, but some forget this annual ritual pertains to the yard as well as the home. After sitting dormant all winter, your lawn and plant beds need some freshening up to help them thrive throughout the spring and summer. Here are five maintenance steps to set your garden up for success: Read more

Welcome Aboard!

We’re pleased to announce that the following companies have recently been awarded Diamond Certified. That means they’ve passed our rigorous 12-step ratings process and scored Highest in Quality and Helpful Expertise®. Read more

I was at my public library picking up a book for my book club when I noticed that the woman ahead of me was checking out a pass to the Exploratorium for her family. I asked the librarian for more information and found out that San Francisco libraries and others in the Bay Area have a “Discover & Go” pass, which offers free and discounted tickets to attractions such as the California Academy of Sciences, the Legion of Honor, the Oakland Zoo, the Lawrence Hall of Science, and the Pacific Pinball Museum. You log in with your library card and the listings include details about the conditions and how to make online reservations. The passes can be printed at home. Read more

A staircase is essentially a practical fixture, but as the home’s central architectural element, it also has the ability to tie things together aesthetically. Perhaps that’s why many homeowners choose to remodel their staircases in conjunction with other home renovation projects. In this article, we’ll take a glimpse into the niche trade of stairs remodeling. Read more

Earlier this week, we posted an article featuring five questions you should ask a tree service technician. One of these questions was in regard to tree health, which should be regularly assessed by a professional. To learn about a common point of confusion property owners have about their trees’ health, watch this informative video by James Cairnes, owner of World Tree Service, Inc.

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Before hiring a company to service the trees on your property, there are several things you’ll need to inquire about, from licensing and insurance to scheduling and payment. However, there are a few questions many homeowners don’t think to ask, but should. Here are five things to ask a tree service company:

1. How experienced is your team?

When it comes to working with trees, the stakes are fairly high. After all, trees are living things, which is why tree service technicians have more in common with physicians than handymen. That’s why it’s important to hire a tree service company that possesses an adequate level of knowledge and experience in its field. Read more

Unless you’ve done it before, it’s impossible to understand just how much a new puppy will change your life. This past January, my family fell in love with Olive, a nine-week-old lab mix rescued by Pets & Pals Animal Shelter in Lathrop, CA. Her mother is a purebred Labrador Retriever. All we know about her father is that he’s big and he jumped a high fence. Judging by her size at nine weeks old, the vet estimated that Olive might grow to 80 or even 100 pounds. We hadn’t planned on getting a big dog, but we couldn’t resist that brown-orange bundle with paws the size of pie plates. Read more

When a major leak, flooding or similar water-related emergency occurs in your home, knowing how to respond can make all the difference in preventing (or at least minimizing) subsequent water damage. Follow this 5-step response procedure: Read more

Attics can be easy to ignore, but if you neglect yours for long periods of time, it can lead to negative consequences for your home and family. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about keeping attics and crawl spaces clean.

What are the benefits of attic cleaning?

The dust that fills your attic harbors allergens that seep into the main parts of your house. Cleaning your attic and/or crawl space will improve the air quality throughout your home. Read more

It often surprises me how little it takes to brighten someone’s day. I wish more businesses understood that sometimes even a tiny thing can perk you up or just make you smile.

For example, I was window-shopping at an outdoor mall when I came across free organic lemons outside of a storefront. The owner had more bowls of fruit at the sales counter. This small gesture wasn’t just a conversation starter—I was lured inside to see the merchandise and left with a positive feeling about the place. I didn’t buy anything that day, but I will return. Read more