Diamond Certified Blog

Are you a Diamond Certified Preferred Consumer? Membership is always free and comes with a variety of special benefits, including a Member Hotline number you can always call for help, questions and problem resolution; a Double Diamond Certified Performance Guarantee that backs your transactions with a $2,000 cap; access to additional tools on diamondcertified.info; a subscription to the annual Diamond Certified Directory in up to three counties of your choice; and more. Go to www.diamondcertified.info/user/register to get started! Read more

The good news for consumers is that it’s much easier to shop for credit cards than it used to be. First, consider how you plan to use the card. Most cards fall into one of three categories: cash back, travel and low interest. If you pay your balance in full every month, you should consider a cash back card with a higher interest rate. If your goal is to rack up frequent flier miles, get a travel rewards card, and if you can’t pay your balance in full every month, shop for a card with the lowest possible interest rate.

While I haven’t found an objective review of credit card comparison sites, Read more

In a typical kitchen remodeling budget, almost half the cost is allocated to the cabinets alone—especially if they’re custom made. Custom cabinetry can greatly improve the aesthetics of your kitchen, but just like any home addition, their effectiveness depends on numerous factors. Before you decide to purchase custom cabinets, consider the following tips:

Determine your cooking habits. You’ll be using the cabinets to store ingredients, plates, bakeware and more, so it’s important to understand your specific cooking habits. Take time to decide how much you’ll be using your kitchen, where you cook the most and so on.

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Moving can be a stressful experience, but if you’re well organized and prepared to deal with small problems that may arise, you can often expedite the process and even lower your moving costs. To take control of your next move, consider the following tips:

Packing

• Pack a suitcase as if you’re going on a short vacation. Include a few changes of cloths, medications, toiletries, eyeglasses and other necessities. Keep the suitcase separate from the items to be moved so you’re prepared for the first days in your new home without having to search through boxes.
• When disassembling large items like tables and entertainment centers, tape screws and other small parts to the undersides.

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When was the last time you vacuumed under and behind your refrigerator? It’s amazing how much crud builds up back there, as I discovered while getting a start on my spring cleaning. As I scrubbed away, I began thinking about the origin of this annual ritual.

To find out more, I called Ernie Andrade, owner of Allbright Maintenance Services, a Diamond Certified company. He told me that the idea originated in China. The Chinese clean homes in anticipation of the New Year. A thorough cleaning eliminates bad luck and misfortune from the previous year. In Jewish custom, Passover, which comes around April, is a time of house cleaning as well. And when homes were heated with coal, Read more

As much as half of the energy used in the average home goes to heating and cooling, so making smart decisions about your HVAC systems can have a measureable effect on both your comfort and utility bills. To increase the efficiency of your heating or air conditioning system, consider the following tips:

Annual tune-up
Just like a car, your HVAC system needs to be professionally maintained at least once a year in order to operate as efficiently as possible. Have an HVAC contractor conduct a maintenance test before the peak heating and cooling seasons begin. If you don’t know which elements to address, Energy Star’s website has a “HVAC Maintenance Checklist” that offers many useful suggestions. Read more

Even after you pick the perfect paint color for a room, you still have to choose from five or six different finishes, each with its own unique advantages and disadvantages. To determine the finish that’s right for your particular project, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the benefits of each type and make sure it’ll be a good fit for your lifestyle or personal preferences. Before making a final decision, consider the following information:

Flat or matte
Flat or matte finishes are generally used on walls, ceilings and other low-traffic areas to hide surface imperfections and create a uniform, non-reflecting appearance. Stain removal can be difficult, so don’t use a flat finish in a kitchen, Read more

Flea prevention and control are needed all year round in California for all animals, especially kittens and puppies. According to Dr. Kristina Hansson, a veterinarian with North Bay Animal Hospital, a Diamond Certified company, small animals are more at risk.  Dr. Hansson warns, “With the chronic ingestion of blood by the fleas, it can actually lead to anemia and stunted growth because the animal is not growing as fast as it normally would with the nutrient loss from the blood.”

Flea collars aren’t recommended for prevention. They often contain toxic chemicals that can irritate your pet’s skin, and they’re uncomfortable. Flea combs are useful to check whether your pet has fleas and whether your flea control is adequate, Read more

When it comes to dealing with termite infestations, prevention is always the best policy. Regular monitoring can prevent up to 90 percent of termite damage, so watch for telltale signs of termites and have them exterminated before they get too out of control.

One of the most obvious signs of a termite infestation is the presence of earthen tubes (also called migratory tubes) outside your house. These tubes are the result of termite swarms during the spring and fall, when it first starts to rain. Another thing to watch for is irregularly shaped piles of a powdery, brown substance protruding from your structure’s framing—usually in attics and crawlspaces or on windowsills.

There are several steps you can take to prevent termite damage and sustain an effective termite treatment plan throughout the year. Read more

Being more efficient with your home water usage is often as simple as making a few modifications to your water-using appliances. Low-flow showerheads, faucets and toilets can save thousands of gallons and hundreds of dollars a year without sacrificing water pressure. Aerators can cut faucet water flow from three or four gallons per minute to as little as a half-gallon per minute.

Your plumbing contractor can also help you use your water more efficiently by suggesting ways to lessen your carbon footprint at a minimal cost. Ask your plumber to evaluate your whole plumbing system to see if there are any areas where water conservation could be improved. Read more