This holiday season, we’ll be hosting fewer visitors than usual. Nonetheless, many of us will spend time tidying our homes and putting up holiday decorations. As you busy yourself around the house, perhaps your fireplace will catch your eye. A roaring fire sounds nice this time of year, but can you be sure the fireplace is in working order? Follow the tips below to learn more about chimney and fireplace maintenance. After all, there’s one annual holiday visitor who’s sure to stop by, and you’ll want to make a good impression. Read more

With our long stretches of dry weather, it can be easy for homeowners in the Bay Area to ignore drainage issues affecting their properties. Unfortunately, unaddressed drainage problems can often lead to serious and costly repairs. With the rainiest months of the year just ahead of us, we investigate the consequences of poor drainage and share solutions for some common issues.  Read more

It’s said that a clean house provides peace of mind, and this has never been truer than in the present moment. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, cleanliness and sanitization are more critical than ever—not just outside the home, but inside as well. To help you clean your home effectively and efficiently, we asked seven Diamond Certified Expert Contributors in the house cleaning industry to provide their tips. Read more

When your furnace, dryer or garbage disposal stops working, your first instinct may be to call a professional. In some cases, however, all it takes is a little troubleshooting to avoid an expensive service call. We asked five Diamond Certified Expert Contributors to share their home troubleshooting tips. Read more

Known for their excessive water consumption, grass lawns tend to get a bad rap these days. However, this judgment isn’t entirely fair. The truth is most turf grasses only need about one inch of water per week to maintain their color and active growth. So, why the bad reputation? Perhaps it’s time to shift the blame from the lawns themselves to those responsible for watering them. After all, a lot of home and property owners waste water by not following efficient irrigation practices. To ensure you’re doing all you can to conserve water with your lawn, read these helpful guidelines: Read more

I’ve been babysitting a one-year-old and a three-year-old on a regular basis this year, so I’m constantly on the lookout for choking hazards. You’re probably familiar with the obvious ones like hot dogs, seeded grapes and marshmallows, but I was surprised when the children started coughing and choking on apple slices, french fries, and beans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, you can prevent choking by making sure your little ones sit up while eating and not giving them food while they’re in the car or stroller. Kids are still developing their swallowing skills up until they’re 24 months old, so keep this in mind when introducing solid foods. Read more

The California State Licensing Board (CSLB) wants consumers to know that all home improvement contracts are required to contain certain language. If you aren’t aware of this prerequisite, the CSLB’s website has plenty of information that will get you acquainted with the elements of a proper contract. In addition, you can prevent stress and conflict during a construction project by tactfully requesting that your contract contain the following three elements:

A payment schedule with a task-by-task breakdown. The easier it is for you to read and understand your contract, the better. If the payment schedule is broken down by “percentage of job completed,” ask for a task-by-task breakdown instead so you can verify the work that has actually been done. Read more