Diamond Certified Blog

Here’s something a lot of California consumers don’t know about. The State Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) has an auto body inspection program that isn’t widely advertised due to budget constraints. Bureau Chief Sherry Mehl told me that she initiated this service to help consumers find out if they were getting the auto bodywork they paid for. The way it works is that you contact the BAR (1-866-799-3811) after a job is completed to set up an appointment. You must have your invoice. A field investigator will come to your home or office to check the invoice against the actual repairs performed. They want to know if things like the bonding and painting were done properly. Read more

Hiring a landscape company only to discover the design it has customized for your space will exceed your budget can be extremely disappointing. So how can you be sure you and your landscape designer are on the same page when it comes to design sensibilities and budget? The following tips will give you a head start:

Be honest with your designer. Before you do any other planning, meet with your landscape designer and reveal your total budget. This can circumvent miscommunication from the start and avoid the disappointment that comes from having a landscaping plan that’s far too expensive. Then, ask your landscaper for honest feedback. Is your budget large enough to work with? Read more

My neighbor in Sonoma has some beautiful trees, but a few of the limbs and branches are blocking views. I started wondering whether I was within my rights to trim some of those branches, given that they’re dangling over the fence and onto my property. Who better to ask than Darren Edwards, owner of Advanced Tree Service, a Diamond Certified company? According to Mr. Edwards, “You may have someone trim your tree without your neighbor’s permission. You’re allowed to go back to the property line. You can’t go over the property line. But so long as it doesn’t damage the tree’s health or integrity.” It’s also a good idea to discuss any limb trimming with your neighbor first, Read more

Years ago, I paid for a half-baked paint job where none of the prep was done properly. It’s sad but true. According to Greg Kuzmicki, owner of Solidarity Painting, a Diamond Certified company, many painters take shortcuts, costly ones. For example, some paint right over dry rot they because they simply want to get paid and move onto the next job. The homeowner pays later when wood fungus spreads causing mildew and mold to grow. Termites live on this stuff.

It’s best to catch dry rot early. Before hiring a painter, do a little inspection yourself by checking siding, window trim and uneven surfaces. Poke in a nail or a screwdriver, and if it goes in more than one-quarter inch, Read more

Large-scale plumbing issues should always be handled by a professional, but there are plenty of simple techniques and procedures you can use to perform basic preventive maintenance. Consider the following tips for ensuring your plumbing system is functioning to its full capacity:

Bathroom

• Run hot water down the drain once a week to help keep it free-flowing.
• Repair leaky faucets to avoid further damage to the fixtures and faucets.
• Fit tubs and showers with strainers that catch hair and soap chips. Clean the strainers regularly.
• To remove mineral deposits on your shower head, put one cup of vinegar in a plastic bag, place it over the shower head,

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You’ll be approached in a parking lot at one of the big discount stores. The dent repair impostor offers to fix a dent or scratch on the spot while you’re shopping. Bill Davis, owner of DentPro of Salinas & Santa Cruz, a Diamond Certified company, says when you come back to your car, it’s covered with white paste or wax. “They’ll tell you it needs to cure for about 4 hours.” Once you remove the paste later that day (you have to pay in advance for the repair), you’ll discover cracks in the paint or that very little was done to the car. You can’t track down the scammers either; the company business card has no phone number or address. Read more

The key to treating carpet spots and stains is to act quickly—the longer you wait, the higher the probability that a spill will become a permanent stain. Large stains should always be handled by a professional, but to effectively deal with minor spots and stains, consider the following tips:

Absorb

• Blot liquids with a dry, absorbent cloth or plain paper towels (printed or colored material may transfer ink or dye to your damp carpet). Continue until the area is barely damp.
• Start at the outside of the spot and continue toward the center to prevent the stain from spreading. Semi-solid spills, like food, may need to be scooped up with a spoon.

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The passwords to your computer and online accounts are like the keys to your safe deposit box. In the wrong hands, they can be used to steal your money and your identity. Strong passwords – those that are virtually impossible to recreate, even using a special decoder program – will keep your assets and information safe and secure.

A strong password is one that appears to be a random string of characters, including letters, numbers and symbols. The longer your password is, the harder it is to decipher. When creating a password, don’t use personal information such as your birth date or dog’s name. Don’t use real words. Do consider creating a password derived from a “passphrase” that is easy for you to remember. Read more

Phony-check scams have become so widespread that consumer groups are using a new website to issue alerts and explain how the schemes work. The National Consumers League, in cooperation with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and others, has launched www.fakechecks.org. You’ll find examples of the phony checks, video from victims and frequently asked questions.

The shocking thing is that the average loss for phony-check scam victims is between $3,000 and $4,000. The scam starts with a real-looking unsolicited check that comes through the mail. The letter describes an opportunity to take advantage of a foreign business offer, a foreign lottery or sweepstakes, or to cash in on a rental or work-at-home scheme. Usually, Read more

By Matt Solis, Senior Editor

The best way to prevent mold growth is to keep all materials in your home as clean and dry as possible. Make sure your house is well ventilated with a relative humidity between 30 and 50 percent. To reduce indoor humidity, vent bathrooms, dryers and other moisture-generating sources to the outside; use air conditioners and dehumidifiers; increase ventilation; and use exhaust fans whenever cooking, dishwashing or cleaning. To further protect your home from mold growth, consider the following tips:

• Standing water sources promote mold and bacterial growth, so it’s important to cover sump pumps, enclose fish tanks and ensure basement drains (for air conditioning hoses,

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