Diamond Certified Blog

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) is the United States’ largest trade association, consisting of more than one million members that include residential and commercial brokers, salespeople, property managers, appraisers, counselors, and other real estate professionals. All members are identified as REALTORS, a registered designation that signifies their commitment to the association’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. NAR’s key priorities include promoting the success and professional development of its members; conducting research and exchanging information; and advocating on the behalf of its industry, its members, and American property owners.

Professional Development
NAR and its affiliated institutes, societies, and councils offer an extensive array of programs and services to help its members enhance their professional skills and knowledge. Read more

Living in the Bay Area, we have a lot to be thankful for, from the mild, sunny weather to the lush, scenic landscape. Additionally, we’re spared from many of the severe weather phenomena that exist in other areas, such as hurricanes, blizzards and tornados. However, there’s one destructive natural force the Bay Area isn’t exempt from: earthquakes. While an earthquake may lack the portentous visual dread of a Midwestern twister, perhaps no other natural disaster is able to inflict such a devastating toll in such a brief span of time—often mere seconds. What’s worse, we’re due: Geologists predict that a large magnitude earthquake will occur in Northern California within the next 30 years, likely along the Hayward Fault. Read more

My brothers and I are fortunate to still have our 95-year-old mother in our lives, but we do have a lot of responsibility for her physical and financial well-being. We’ve helped her with estate planning, medical directives and investments, and we manage her bills, doctors’ appointments, medications, and caregivers. My older brother, a certified public accountant, has power of attorney. Like most families, we have a lot going on and it can be overwhelming at times.

Despite our collective efforts to keep things organized and do advance planning, we’ve had some glitches. Read more

Guest Post By Ron Smith, owner of J. Hettinger Interiors

Ready for a makeover? Whether your old sofa needs a facelift or you’re redecorating your entire home, selecting fabrics will be a key part of the design process. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

First, when it’s time to select a fabric for your furniture, cost should be just one of the many factors you consider. A design professional can help you choose fabrics that wear well, clean easily and keep their color over time. Read more

Earlier this week, we posted an article featuring expert tips on selecting colors for an interior painting project. One tip suggested utilizing tools like the monochromatic color scheme, as well as a color wheel for locating complementary hues. To learn about these in greater detail, watch this informative video by Diamond Certified Expert Contributor Yefim Skomorovsky of Classic Shades Painting Co.

To learn more from local top rated companies, visit our Diamond Certified Expert Reports at experts.diamondcertified.info. Read more

Many people assume there’s only one kind of termite, but in reality it’s not that simple. In fact, there are three different types of termites found in the Bay Area, which is why it’s good to know how to identify and deal with each.

1. Dampwood termites
If you find dampwood termites in your home, there’s good news and bad news. The good news: since they only eat damp, rotten wood, they’re actually doing you a favor. The bad news: damp, rotten wood means there’s some kind of leak in your home. Once you’ve fixed the leak and removed the rot, the termites will go away. Read more

Due to its superior disinfecting properties, chlorine has long been the standard in swimming pool sanitization. However, even though it’s effective at killing harmful germs and bacteria, it has one significant downside: it’s toxic to swimmers. Although it’s diluted to a safe level for pool use, a toxic chemical that’s watered down is still a toxic chemical, which is why many Bay Area pool owners have become interested in safer, alternative methods of sanitation. There are a number of options available, and each has specific pros and cons, so it’s important to do some research before making a decision. Here are a few common pool sanitation alternatives and some basic information about them: Read more

My book club just finished reading and discussing a book called I Do Not Come to You by Chance, which is set in Nigeria and written by Nigerian author Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani. What’s fascinating about the story is that it takes the reader inside the world of Nigerian 419 scammers (419 refers to the Nigerian Criminal Code section that deals with fraud, charges and penalties for offenders). Such advance fee scams are simply a confidence trick: the victim is promised a share of a large sum of money in return for a small upfront payment, which the fraudulent operator says is needed to obtain the large sum. More fees may be requested after the first payment, Read more

With Harry Mankabadi, Manager of Site for Sore Eyes – Dublin, and Sheryl Duerksen, Manager of Site for Sore Eyes – Napa

Shopping for eyewear is difficult enough for adults, but when it’s for kids, there are additional factors that further complicate matters. For example, besides selecting the product itself, parents must also be intentional about the process of choosing glasses for their children. To more closely focus on this topic, we’ve asked two Diamond Certified opticians to discuss some important considerations.

1. Educate your child. First and foremost, before you set foot in an eyewear store, take some time to talk to your child and explain why they need glasses. Read more

When it comes time to choose the material for your new roof, Paul Proctor, CEO of R E Roofing and Construction, Inc. recommends looking past what is currently fashionable.

“A lot of people will look at what their neighbors are doing and figure those must be the best roofing products, but that’s not necessarily true,” says Mr. Proctor. “This ‘follow the leader’ mentality is the reason more people install asphalt shingles today than 20 years ago. Asphalt may look nice and be easier to walk on, but it’s not a good insulator, and most homeowners fail to take that into account. That’s why it’s important to learn about all the different roofing options so you can make an informed decision.” Read more