Home Services
Ratings & Advice
The latest ratings and advice for San Francisco Bay Area home services.
Advice
- 20 Ways Consumers Can Save Loads of Money
- 30 Tricks Sellers Use to Manipulate You
- 65 Things You (Probably) Shouldn't Pay For
- About Checkbook: Why We're Unique
- Aging In Place
- Buying Area Rugs
- Closet Organizers
- Complaining: 10 Ways to Get Results
- Consumer News
- Consumer Quiz
- Credit Cards Have Consumer Protection Superpowers
- Decluttering Strategies
- Defective Products: Strategies to Get a Refund or Replacement
- Dryer Vent Cleaning
- Elder Villages
- Extended Product Warranties Are Bad Deals
- Fraud Prevention: Top 12 Ways to Protect Yourself
- Getting Rid of Your Unwanted Stuff
- Hazardous Household Waste Disposal
- Home Improvement Financing: Watch Out for Shady Deals
- Home Maintenance Plan
- Home Title Monitoring Services Mislead About a Rare Crime
- Home Warranties
- Homeowners Insurance
- Junk Removal Services
- Laundry Tips: Top Expert Explains How to Get Really Clean Clothes
- Lead Exposure: Make Sure Your Contractor Follows the Law
- Light Remodeling: Redo Your Kitchen or Bath for Less
- Old Houses: Ideas for Saving on Renovations
- Organizers
- Our Editors’ Favorite Websites and Apps
- Outlet Stores: What Do They Really Sell?
- Product Recall Information
- Saving Energy at Home
- Self-Storage Facilities
- Soundproofing Tips
- Wallpaper Help
- Water & Sewer Line Warranties
- Water-Saving Tips
- Worse on Purpose: Taking on the Big Companies that Are Gutting Your Favorite Brands
Current Issue
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Do Outlet Stores Offer Real Savings?
Consumers’ Checkbook investigated 40 brands that operate off-price stores; we found many offer lower-quality merchandise, not legitimate bargains
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Securing Your Home
Strategies and gadgets that actually work
- Win the Healthcare Prior Authorization Game
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Auto Body Shops
Help with making crash decisions
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Appliance Repair
Dealing with a fritzy fridge, broken stove, or wonky washer
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Buying Appliances
Get the best deal and avoid headaches
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Hardware Stores
Where to find nuts, bolts, and DIY help
- Estate Planning Tasks and Tips
- Getting Rid of Your Unwanted Stuff
- Picking the Best Locks and Locksmiths
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Food Package Claims
Which terms are meaningful? Which are nonsense?
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Laundry Tips
Top expert explains how to get really clean clothes
- 12 Ways to Protect Yourself from Fraud
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