You already know you can use diamondcertified.info and the quarterly Diamond Certified Directory to find all types of service companies that have been independently rated Highest in Quality…but do you know how a company becomes Diamond Certified in the first place? Here’s a breakdown of our 12-step certification process and what it means for you, the consumer.

1. APPLY
The company must apply to begin the rating process.

2. SAMPLE
A random sample of typically 400 past customers is collected from all customer files of the applicant company. Read more

The Diamond Certified Directory has long been a valuable resource for Northern California consumers—in addition to full-page profiles of top rated companies across a wide range of service industries, it features a Consumer Help List with contact information for various consumer agencies, a detailed explanation of why the Diamond Certified Program is more accurate than most review sites and much more.

This year, we’ve included a brand-new section that makes the Diamond Certified Directory even more valuable: Diamond Certified Expert Contributor tips. Read more

Like house painting, preparing to prepare your tax return comprises the bulk of the work. With good preparation, actually completing your tax return is a piece of cake. If you’re one of those people who carefully manage tax documents all year long, pat yourself on the back. If you’re like those of us who find tax preparation painful at best, read on.

First: Organize
Whether or not you’re using a tax preparer, having organized paperwork will make all the difference. As your W-2s, mortgage interest statements and bank paperwork arrive, put them in a large, well-marked envelope. Ideally, throughout 2014, you’ve done the same with all of your receipts for tax-deductible expenses (if you haven’t, Read more

We are very curious.

Maybe your New Year’s resolution relates to services that Diamond Certified companies provide: you want to remodel your bathroom or get your teeth cleaned more often. Or, instead, maybe you just want to finish that novel or lose 10 pounds. Either way, we want to hear about it. Write it on a piece of paper (like we did below) and send us a selfie. You can also write your resolution in the comment section below.

Thanks for sharing and good luck!

While we wait to hear from you, here are some of the things we came up with:

Read more

2017 update: ‘Tis the season once again! Add a food bank, a shelter or another other worthy cause to your list and experience the fun of playing Santa.

‘Tis the season! Ashley and I dropped off the bounty collected from our holiday food drive at the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank  yesterday and were lucky enough to get a private tour.  Given that the San Francisco Bay Area is one of the wealthiest regions in the country, I was shocked and saddened to learn that 25% of the residents of San Francisco and Marin are in need of food assistance. Consequently, I’m so grateful that there are organizations like the SF-Marin Food Bank. Read more

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