I needed some exterior trims replaced due to wood rot. Chuck responded quickly to set up a time,…read morecame to my house to check it out and gave me a competitive quote. Chuck was very polite and professional, and his work was excellent quality. I would definitely recommend him to my friends and others who need work done on their homes.

Working with Chuck was a great experience. As an owner of a historic Victorian, any repair work is…read morealways an adventure. Chuck ensured we understood each step as we addressed structural rot and replaced exterior siding that had to be matched because our home is on the city's historic registry. Chuck kept the job on track and exceeded our expectations. We would absolutely work with Chuck again.

If I had 500 stars, I'd give them all to Rosie the Realtor. An acquaintance recommended her after…read morewe fired our dud realtor, and we were wary. Could she work around our limited schedule and deal with ever-present, ever-loud twins in the background? Could she really find us a liveable house in our price range, in a good neighborhood, with good schools? Thanks to Rosie, I'm now a homeowner. I never thought it could happen! And Rosie was there every step of the way, with a smile and an efficient can-do attitude. Even in our bargain basement price range, she treated us like we were million dollar clients. She saved us from a number of pitfalls, helped us where others failed, and never ever wavered in her communication. With her blackberry, she was practically available 24x7! Rosie exceeded every expectation I had, delighted me in areas I didn't think to have expectations, and was a bulldog when she needed to be, badgering sluggish paper-pushers to make sure we closed as quickly as possible. I cannot recommend Rosie more highly. Call her, and you'll be pleased. Go with the service providers she recommends -- they are all true professionals as she is, and won't want to let her down. I own a house! Thank you, Rosie!!!

Rosie was outstanding in helping us purchase our first home in the Bay. From the beginning, she…read morelistened to my husband and I's need; she asked all the right questions. As we viewed homes, Rosie pointed out positives and negatives, while also giving us the space to independently get a feel for our own likes/dislikes. When it came time to pull the trigger, she was invaluable. Rosie gave us all the resources to make a smart bid and she was indispensable in closing the deal. We're delighted to have worked with her.

I have used Lou's Lagoon service twice in the last 5 years. He's very busy, and cannot stay on…read moreschedule. He's hard to contact. When he arrives, he comes fully equipped with everything he needs to get the job done. However, he sometimes shows up unannounced. I also hired him to repair our dock, which he did for a fair price. All wood was painted, and he did a good job. I will not use his service again, as he still owes me for a $100 flagpole he took from my property, and never returned to install a new one.

There is a very good reason (actually many good reasons!) that all the people who have used Govers…read moreSidewall Shingling give him 5 stars, as do I. We contracted with Govers Sidewall Shingling to re-shingle our entire house; the work was completed 5/2015. Oliver and the shinglers that work for him, Danilo, Jarol, and Killo, are really artisans and take great care and pride (rightfully so!) in their work; they are also genuinely nice people and were easy to work with. I am very, very detail-oriented which has previously been a major source of conflict with contractors. This is the first time I have found no flaws in work I have contracted out. The whole organization is detail-oriented, professional, and knowledgable about the art of shingling. Regarding cost: I had three quotes for shingle replacement and found Oliver's pricing to be similar to the other quotes; I find this truly amazing considering the quality of the work and materials.. Regarding Materials: Oliver buys his shingles in bulk from a small mill in Washington state that fabricates shingles from reclaimed cedar. If you are interested / concerned about sustainable forestry this is a unique benefit that Oliver provides. The quality of the shingles is top notch, too. Regarding the shingles: They are beautiful, and so much better looking than about 95% of the shingled houses around this area. Most contractors don't know how to properly shingle. Shingling is expensive and uses a lot of wood; you should do it right so it will look good and last a long time. I wholeheartedly recommend Oliver and his whole crew!

Best shingle work in the bay area. They re-shingled our entire 100 year old house. Price was very…read morefair, even cheaper than the option of replacing the shingles with new synthetic siding. A true craftsman. We found that details really matter with shingles. Oliver and his crew pay attention to every detail - corners where the shingles meet, edging around windows, and overall aesthetics. Quality of the actual shingles they use are top notch, noticeably more solid and appealing than the crap you get at home depot. Just take a smell of the shingles they use and you'll know it's better than the stuff most others use. Work was done on time and on budget. Many friends that visit see the before and after and compliment the shingle work. Even contractors that come by comment on the quality of the shingles, definitely a good sign. Oliver even came back to reshingle a small area around a rooftop patio that we removed recently. All beautifully done.

Lara and Jenn are great! A dear friend referred me to Lara for mortgage financing for my first home…read morepurchase. I really appreciate all the detail that Lara shared with me about mortgages and the application process as well as hers and Jenn's quick responses and advice when some of my down payment money didn't come through as expected. I would definitely recommend Lara to a friend, too! Even in this age of getting mortgage rates online etc etc, having someone with SO MUCH EXPERIENCE by your side for what is probably the biggest financial commitment you'll make means a lot. Lara is honest, detail-oriented, knowledgeable and really nice. Contact her!

Lara is amazing! Never misses a beat and always looking out for us. We have been working with her…read moresince we bought our first home, 18 years ago. She is patient, informative, honest, and hardworking. She knows the market well and explains every detail throughout the process. She just locked into a 2.75 fixed rate! It's always a great pleasure to work with her and jennifer Hartman. I would highly recommend Lara Blake to any family or close friend.

I love diamond stone. They have remodeled my kitchen, bathrooms, and fireplace. They are remodeling…read moremy bathroom upstairs and updated pictures will follow as soon as the project is complete. I have been working with diamond stone since they were called timeless countertops. The only place I would only consider to do my fabrication because they are simply hands down the best. They are a trusted vendor in my book. If you're currently remodeling, I highly recommend that you call diamond stone first. Maricela, the owner is really good at pitching creative projects.

Wow, the counter tops were an exact fit in our new kitchen. We were even able to get some stone…read moretrivets made from the leftover material. I would definitely use them again.

Over the moon service!…read more We recently purchased and installed a gas fireplace insert through Berkeley Heat, and it was a smooth, flawless transaction from start to finish. The very first day we walked into their showroom close to closing time, Nick went above and beyond by staying late to walk us through the different models. He was incredibly patient and worked diligently to keep everything within our budget. The installer, Moises, and his team were absolutely amazing. They were highly professional, and the finished fireplace looks incredibly sleek! What truly blew us away, though, was their integrity. After the initial installation, Moises didn't feel 100% satisfied with how one element sat. Instead of just leaving it, he took the initiative to come back out and spend another four hours correcting it to perfection. That tells you exactly what kind of team you are dealing with here. If something isn't completely right, they have the conscience and professionalism to come back and make it perfect. They won't just leave you high and dry to rush off to the next job. I would highly recommend Berkeley Heat to anyone. Great prices, a quality product, and unmatched customer service!

Be forewarned, they won't allow returns of Unopened hot tub chemicals. I spent $139 + on Bromine…read moretabs & tub cleaner (two items only), and was told they wouldn't return them even though I hadn't opened the items.

Robert was referred to us from my neighbor who used his service. Since our complex has unique…read morefront doors, she said that he was familiar with servicing it. After explaining to him the problem with our lock, he provided a quote of the job. I was fortunate to coordinate a time that day for him to look and fix the lock. He was prompt and assessed the lock situation. Throughout the time he was fixing the lock, he explained what was wrong and what he was doing. He also corrected other problems that he saw that was due to bad installation. I learned a lot about the front door lock mechanism from him. I cannot thank Robert, of Lockdown Security, enough for fixing our problem in a quick and timely manner. If you need locksmith help, he is definitely the person to contact!

Growing up in a family of German descent, cautionary tales and admonitions for safety were…read moreingrained in me from the cradle. I think I got my first serious sit down about the importance of whole life insurance before I started school. * Don't go in the water for 30 minutes after you eat - you'll get a cramp and drown! * Don't play in the cornfields; people get lost and die in there. * You're standing too close to the edge - for goodness sake, you could plummet to your death! * Never swallow chewing gum; it will stay in your intestines forever and you'll die like Elvis Presley. * Watch out for cracks in the sidewalk... you could trip and crack your head open. * Don't pee in the ocean, because it attracts sharks and they'll eat you. * No, you can't have a jawbreaker because you could choke to death! I followed these rules diligently and no ill befell me. I saw potential dismemberment and my fragile mortality in every dark corner, each unprotected left-hand turn; botulism in every dented can and cholera at every drinking fountain. Despite my love affair with perilously high stiletto heels, I never tripped on the sidewalk, never suffered a spiral fracture of my ankle and confinement to a wheelchair for three months (it happened to a friend. Really). Shortly after my relocation to the East Bay, while auditing a dental practice I encountered a very jittery patient. I assumed that he was anxious about his surgical endodontic procedure. * Always floss before and after brushing, or your teeth will rot out of your head, and remember that teeth are bones, after all! I was wrong. The patient was unnerved because he worked for a LANDSCAPING COMPANY. But wait - there's more! Two days prior, he and his bestest buddy were working a job and the dude's *shoelace* got caught in the intake mechanism of the wood-chipper which has the capability to turn logs 8" in diameter into mulch before you can scream "Omigod-"!!! That's right: his friend and coworker got Fargo'd. Which... brings me to WHY I sought out the most highly recommended and professional locksmith to deal when my front door failed and jammed. My Danger-Detector jumped to threat level RED! I got the number from the HOA, dialed it will trembling fingers and was immediately greeted by a cheery and professional LIVE person. Me: I have an emergency - I can't open the front door - even with the key or internal flippy thing for FedEx deliveries of highly perishable, politically incorrect food items, insane couture or eBay awesomeness. Oh, yes - and robbers might sense my vulnerability and perhaps breach my compromised front door. Robert: No problem! What's your address? I can be there in 30 minutes. Me: Today? Is this Robert? Robert: Absolutely! *professionalism with a smile permeating his voice* Me: Huh. Well... I have a Yelp event... Robert: What time works for you? Me: *scrutinizing sketchy manicure* Uhh, what about another day? I wasn't really expecting you to be so... available! This is really Robert - the locksmith - not dispatch? Robert: This is me! Does tomorrow work better for you? Me: It's Design Week. I can't. Robert: Okay - tell me what day and what time, and I'll be there. I gave him today's date and a specific time - which is exactly when he showed up, indefatigable grin on his face and gear in hand. Robert is a SIX star review, for sure; he happily answered all of my questions without making me feel like a complete moron. There was no hemming and hawing or haggling AT ALL- he identified the problem and made another adjustment to make the deadbolt more secure. Robert is a professional; he didn't sell me a single thing and gave me a short list of options with succinct explanations in response to my detailed and tedious questions. Lockdown Security does not have many Yelp reviews - and I figured out why: I asked for a handful of business cards because I had such a fantastic resolution. Robert chuckled and mentioned that he is the preferred locksmith for a number of Property Management Companies, high rise complexes and developers on both sides of the Bay. Despite his impressive roster, he gave me his undivided attention and made me feel like a VIP. I am delighted with Robert's credentials, licensing, professionalism and knowledge. If you ever find yourself in a jam, call Lockdown Security and I have no doubts that you'll get the same Kim D. approved treatment. Now that I'm all safe and sound... I'm going to celebrate by having a popsicle while running through the cornfields in high heels.