Personal Services
Ratings & Advice
The latest ratings and advice for Washington, DC area personal services.
Advice
- 30 Tricks Sellers Use to Manipulate You
- 60 Travel Booking Tips
- 65 Things You (Probably) Shouldn't Pay For
- About Checkbook: Why We're Unique
- Aging In Place
- Airlines that Allow Free Stopovers Let You Design a Vacation with Variety
- Amazon Floods Search Results with Ads
- Buy Nothing, Get What You Need Anyway
- Buying Used Stuff
- Cell Phone Services
- Cell Phone Services: How to Avoid a Big Bill When Traveling Abroad
- Cell Phones: Protecting Yours
- Checkbook’s Top Shopping Tips
- Child Care: Tips for Saving
- Closet Organizers
- Clothing Rental
- Clothing Resale Options
- Complaining: 10 Ways to Get Results
- Computer Backup Options
- Computer Problems: Can You Get Your Data Back After a Device Failure?
- Computers & Devices: How to Keep Yours Safe from Hacks
- Consumer News
- Consumer Quiz
- Credit Cards Have Consumer Protection Superpowers
- Credit Cards: How to Choose the Best One
- Dealing with Your Digital Clutter
- Decluttering Strategies
- Defective Products: Strategies to Get a Refund or Replacement
- DNA Ancestry Services
- E-Read for Free
- Elder Villages
- Email Addresses for Temporary Use
- Extended Product Warranties Are Bad Deals
- Food Package Claims: Which Terms Are Meaningful? Which Are Nonsense?
- Fraud Prevention: Top 12 Ways to Protect Yourself
- Free Perks You Didn't Know You Have
- Getting Rid of Your Unwanted Stuff
- Grilling Safety
- Grocery Delivery
- Help at Home for Seniors
- Home Title Monitoring Services Mislead About a Rare Crime
- Hotel Intel: How to Find the Best Rates for Rooms
- Hotels’ ‘Refundable’ and ‘Flexible’ Rates Often Not What They Seem
- How to Make a New Fitness Plan
- Identity Theft and Fraud: How to Protect Yourself
- Is it Safe to Eat It? Understanding Dates on Food Labels
- Junk Removal Services
- Kids' Activity-Kit Services
- Laundry Tips: Top Expert Explains How to Get Really Clean Clothes
- Marketers Often Use the Same Tactics as Cult Leaders
- Medical Alert Devices
- Mend Your Clothes: Why Fashion Fixes Save Money and Help the Planet
- Nannies: Hiring Tips
- Online Privacy: How to Guard Yours
- Organizers
- Our Editors’ Favorite Websites and Apps
- Outlet Stores: What Do They Really Sell?
- Parking: Finding the Best Rates
- Passwords: How to Choose Safe Ones
- Recycling Electronics
- Rental Car Insurance: Should You Buy It?
- Restaurants Pay Steep Commissions and Fees to Order-and-Delivery Services
- Right-to-Repair Fight
- Sale Prices Are Usually Fake Discounts
- Self-Storage Facilities
- Shopping for the Best Deal? These Retailers Price Match or Make Price Adjustments
- Social Media Headshots: Dos and Don'ts
- Social Media Privacy Tips
- Stop Unwanted Calls, Mail, and More
- Taxes: Free Preparation and Filing Options
- Tickets: Saving on Seats for Shows and Sports
- Timeshare Exit Companies Deserve a Time Out
- Tipping Tips
- Travel Insurance
- Travel Websites Mislead by Falsely Declaring Few Hotel Rooms Remain
- Travel: Health and Safety Info for International Trips
- Travel: Help Finding Cheap Flights
- Vehicle Service Contracts
- Want to Save Money and the Planet? Stop Buying New Things
- Water-Saving Tips
Current Issue
-
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
-
Securing Your Home
Strategies and gadgets that actually work
-
Locksmiths
How to pick the best pros and devices
-
Win the Healthcare Prior Authorization Game
How to fight a common health insurance battle
-
Auto Body Shops
Help with making crash decisions
-
Auto Glass Repair & Replacement
The most vulnerable part on your car can cost thousands of dollars to replace
-
Appliance Repair
Dealing with a fritzy fridge, broken stove, or wonky washer
-
Buying Appliances
Get the best deal and avoid headaches
-
Estate Planning Tasks and Tips
Dos and don’ts to avoid common mistakes—and save you money
-
Getting Rid of Your Unwanted Stuff
Tips on downsizing, decluttering, what to do with hazardous materials, estate and junk-removal options, and more
-
Food Package Claims
Which terms are meaningful? Which are nonsense?
-
Laundry Tips
Top expert explains how to get really clean clothes
-
Protect Yourself from Fraud
12 top strategies to reduce your chances of becoming a victim
We aren't loyal to businesses, we're loyal to you.
Easily find ratings, reviews, and advice on local service providers.
Checkbook is nonprofit, independent, and provides unbiased information.
We don't run ads or take referral fees from business that we rate.