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Diamond Certified Blog
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Imagine if your car only drove at one speed, regardless of whether you were in town or on the freeway, or if your stereo only had a single volume setting that couldn’t be adjusted. Sounds awful, right? Well, when it comes to your air conditioner, you may be dealing with an equivalent situation. In fact, the air conditioners found in many Bay Area homes only have one setting: full blast. Not surprisingly, these relics of cooling technology aren’t exactly the epitome of energy efficiency.
Fortunately, there’s a better option available: the variable-speed air conditioner. Unlike its single-speed predecessors, a variable-speed unit is able to incrementally adjust its power output in conjunction with changing climate conditions—and that’s just the beginning. Read more
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Earlier this week, we posted an article featuring expert tips on home security. One of the aspects mentioned was reinforcing or “hardening” exterior doors to improve protection against break-ins. To get a comprehensive look at what this involves, watch this informative video by Diamond Certified Expert Contributor Randy Reed of Reed Brothers Security.
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With Roy Nickolai of All About Parking
When using a valet service, it’s not always easy to tell its level of professionalism. One indicator that you’re dealing with a professional company is if the valet attendant walks around your vehicle and performs a damage control inspection prior to issuing you a ticket. The purpose of this inspection is to document any scratches, dents or other damage already on the vehicle, which the attendant will typically make note of on the valet ticket. This simple step will help you avoid any controversy about whether damage occurred while the vehicle was in the valet service’s care.
While it should be part of standard procedure, Read more
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If you’re a homeowner, you know there’s no greater priority than security—after all, it’s not only your valuables that are at stake, it’s the safety of yourself and your family. However, like many Bay Area homes, yours may contain unknown deficiencies that pose an increased vulnerability to break-ins. To help you avoid this, we’ve asked four Diamond Certified Expert Contributors to provide some helpful hints for home security.
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While we love receiving all kinds of feedback from consumers about Diamond Certified companies, we particularly love hearing the kudos! Here’s what some happy customers have to say about their recent experiences with Diamond Certified companies.
Linda emailed to tell us she’s been using the Diamond Certified Directory for years. She hired Atlas Landscapes last fall and says “…they were exceptional in every way and truly surpassed my expectations. The customer service and quality of work were what I thought I’d get and more.” Read more
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I’ll be the first to admit that I really like getting good deals and saving money, but like most of you, I also like to splurge on some things. Sometimes I find that saving money can actually mean spending more on a quality product that will last a long time. For example, during a kitchen remodel, I bought a faucet that was on sale and it failed in the first year. The second faucet I purchased was three times more expensive, and so far it has lasted seven years. I’m so happy that I decided to splurge for a quality product. Read more
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Earlier this week, we posted an article featuring expert tips on preparing to sell a real estate property. One of the aspects mentioned was the advantage of performing pre-sale property inspections. To learn more about what makes this a worthwhile step, watch this informative video by Diamond Certified Expert Contributor David Kerr, partner at Kerr & Jones – Terra Firma Global Partners.
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“I thought you don’t need air conditioning in San Francisco,” we’ve all heard someone say (usually an out-of-towner). But anyone who lives beyond the city limits knows the truth: that cool and foggy peninsula is surrounded by areas that stay hot and dry well into October. The key to staying comfortable and sane during the summer is a properly functioning air conditioning system. Before you flip the thermostat from “heat” to “cool,” take some simple steps to make sure your system is ready to go. With the Bay Area’s changeable spring weather, be sure to check your system early—you don’t want to be one of dozens of desperate customers contacting HVAC technicians when the first heatwave of the season hits. Read more
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Consumers who choose Diamond Certified companies are thrilled with the quality of service they receive, and they’re letting us know about it. Here are some recent highlights from our inbox.
Jan had a great experience with Sigura Construction, Inc.: After a plumbing disaster in our home caused a large amount of damage, we contacted Sigura Construction. Their skilled crew and management personnel worked with us, our HOA, the insurance adjuster, the fire department and the city construction permit bureaucracy to smooth out the entire process. Read more