Diamond Certified Blog

In December 2017, Congress passed a comprehensive tax overhaul. With several hundred pages of new tax regulations on the books and tax season just around the corner, Bay Area residents and business owners are eager to learn what the revised code will mean for them. We spoke with Russell Barnett, EA, CTC to help make sense of these new rules.

Businesses Will Be Most Affected by the Tax Overhaul

“The biggest changes to the tax code affect how business income is taxed,” says Mr. Barnett. Read more

Long before he was promoting the Diamond Certified Resource, Greg Louie knew the value of differentiating quality for consumers. “Before I got into the business ratings industry, I was in the sports equipment business—specifically, manufacturing custom-built golf clubs,” he explains. “In competing against major manufacturers, I was always looking for ways to differentiate my company from others. Later, when I got an opportunity to join a business ratings company, I knew it would be a good fit for me, because I had a firsthand perspective of how differentiating quality could benefit consumers and businesses alike.” Read more

It’s been a little over three months since we launched our new-and-improved website, and we’re thrilled with the response. The new site is both easy to navigate and filled with the information consumers need to make informed decisions. If you haven’t checked it out yet, here’s your chance. Below is a guide to some of the main pages on the new site. Take a look and let us know what you think!

The Diamond Certified Company Report

Diamond Certified Company Reports have everything you need to choose with confidence. Each report gives you the most accurate ratings and Deep Info available, Read more

Help us celebrate our new website by taking our 1-minute video tour at diamondcertified.info. To show our appreciation, we’ll mail your family a FREE 2018 Diamond Certified Home Service Calendar and donate in your name to your local fire district. But don’t delay—we have a limited supply of calendars and they’re going fast.

Here’s some of what you’ll find inside the 2018 Diamond Certified Home Service Calendar:

• Monthly home, health and auto checklists that feature important tasks you need to take care of throughout the year
• Helpful tips and insider knowledge from Diamond Certified Expert Contributors
• Important days for Bay Area consumers to remember,

Read more

With Tim Lindelli of Herb’s Pool Service, Inc.

In January, swimming is likely the last thing on your mind, but if you have plans to install a pool this year, it ought to be the first. Why? Because a swimming pool project takes a long time—longer than most homeowners realize. “Every spring, we get calls from homeowners who want to have a new pool built by summer, and they’re upset when we tell them that isn’t likely to happen,” says Tim Lindelli, project manager at Herb’s Pool Service, Inc. in San Rafael. “Due to the lengthy process involved, if you want to be swimming in your new pool by June, Read more

When my husband and I had children in the last half of the 20th century, baby-proofing our home consisted of getting a gate to block the stairway, covering all the electrical outlets, and adding safety clips to kitchen and bathroom cupboards so curious toddlers couldn’t open them. Now that our son and daughter-in-law have an almost one-year-old, I’m learning about how much more can be done to prevent accidents and make a home safer. What once took an hour or two is now a major project for young couples. Read more

Before hiring a contractor for a remodeling project, there are several things you’ll need to inquire about. Most importantly, you’ll need to verify current licensing and insurance, check references, and compare the contractor’s bid against other competing bids. It’s also important to ask about the project timeline, payment schedule and whether the contractor offers any warranties or guarantees. However, there are a few questions many homeowners don’t think to ask contractors, but should. Here are five such questions: Read more

Do you make avocado toast in Tiburon? Do you cook mac-and-kale in Cupertino? Maybe you read nutrition panels in Pinole, prepare recipes from Pinterest in Palo Alto or pickle in Petaluma. Whatever you cook and wherever you do it, if you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, you probably use your kitchen a lot. So, this year, it’s time to make that kitchen work for you and your family. Whether you’re ready for an entire kitchen remodel or just need some helpful hacks, we have some suggestions about how to organize a kitchen. Read on!

Kitchen Work Zones

Start by understanding your kitchen work zones. Most kitchens have three core zones:

• Cooking
• Food preparation
• Cleaning

In addition, Read more

Updated January 2019

Bay Area storm systems bring heavy rains that saturate the soil, creating more surface runoff and loosening plants’ root systems. Under these conditions, strong winds can topple trees, causing headaches for homeowners. If a tree has fallen on your property, follow these steps to remedy the situation:

Power lines

If the tree interfered with power lines or fell in a way that put it perilously close to power lines, call 911 or PG&E. Damaged power lines are a serious hazard that should be handled by those with the proper skills and equipment.

Gas lines

Shut off your gas until a professional can confirm that gas lines didn’t sustain damage. Read more

Have you received your free copy of the 2018 Winter 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 plumbing 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.

If you haven’t received your copy of the 2018 Winter Diamond Certified Directory Update, simply click here and we’ll send one as soon as possible. Read more