If you're getting ready for some spring yard work, be sure to get your equipment in top-notch condition now so you won't have problems this summer. Check out WISH TV's video below.  

What else should you be tackling around the house this season? Check out the Angie's List home maintenance tips for spring.

I really enjoy the conversations that have been going on here on my blog. It’s always good to hear other opinions and ideas, and I hope to see a lot of interaction. I want to be sure those discussions continue to be open and honest for everyone, so I’ve adopted a formal comment policy.

1. I love comments. The comments we receive are just as important as the posts, and provide everyone with the opportunity to add their voice to the conversation at hand. So bring them on!
2. I do not love anonymous comments. I write this blog as a way to provide value to the Angie’s List community and consumers in general. We don’t allow anonymous reports on Angie’s List, so we don’t allow them here either.
3. Spam, sales pitches and irrelevant comments will be deleted. We want lively discussions about consumer issues. You don’t have to be eloquent or even a good speller – just interested in the discussion and willing to share.
4. I reserve the right to respectfully disagree. Views expressed in the “Comments” sections are not my views or the views of Angie’s List – they’re yours and I’m happy to share them (as long as they’re not anonymous and are relevant to the discussion.)
5. Feel free to ask questions. If there’s something in a post you’d like more information on, or an elaboration, just ask! The Angie’s List Staff or I will reply to questions and comments as quickly as possible.

Check out the most recent Angie's List coverage on medical gag orders at the Magazine's site.

They've done excellent reporting, and we've already gotten some great feedback from readers--feel free to add your comments, questions and thoughts about the gag orders or doctor reviews below.

Edit 5/28: Please remember that all comments must follow the blog comment policy or they will not be posted. Thank you!

Inc. magazine has a great article on their site about customer service.

At the List, we've always got an ear to the ground to see what people are--and, of course, aren't--griping about. While every category has their highs and lows, there are always a few that stand out.

A few weeks ago I listed the top ten most- and least-complained-about categories on Angie's List. I've seen feedback to those lists on other blogs, Twitter and, now, on Inc.'s site. How did our list compare to the recent experiences you've had with professionals?

Read more about Angie's List in Inc. magazine | Tips on how to be a better customer

There seem to be two consistent complaints from the doctors who oppose online consumer ratings for the healthcare community: 1. That online sites are anonymous and 2. That there’s no accountability to ensure the posted information is accurate.

I beg to differ – at least where Angie’s List is concerned. We’ve been collecting consumer ratings for 14 years now. We know a thing or two about fairness and accuracy and we invest a lot to keep our reports as honest, fair and accurate as possible.

1. We don't allow anonymous reviews.
2. Members are held responsible for accurately reporting their experiences. We don't edit reports, but we closely monitor them to be sure they meet guidelines.
3. Service providers can't put themselves on the List -- only a member can do that.
4. We use both technological and human monitoring to catch attempts to game the system, and we take action against guideline violators.
5. We notify providers the first time a member reports on them and offer – free of charge -- to continue notifying them to any future reports so they know what's being said about them.
6. We also encourage providers to respond either on our List or directly to members.

I was intrigued by an editorial published in the Houston Chronicle over the weekend. The doctors make some great points, but they apparently don’t know that Angie’s List is already doing it right. 

I’ve been pretty direct lately about the medical gag orders I blogged about last week, but I’m not going to stop talking about this issue. Part of our job at Angie’s List is to sound alarms when bad things are happening. This trend of trying to silence doctor reviews is wrong, and I’m hoping to stop it before it becomes common practice.

Some people may have already – and unknowingly – signed away their rights.

Some of the doctors who want their patients to sign these gag orders say they’re mutual privacy agreements and imply that they’re going to protect you if you agree to protect them by never talking about the care you receive. Some put these agreements in a sheaf of papers, so it’s just one of many that you sign when you first go to a doctor as a new patient.

No one should have to choose between good health care and their right to free speech. And if someone wants you to sign away that right, he or she should do so openly.

Your doctors should be prepared to explain just why they don’t trust enough in the care you’re about to receive that they want to stop you from talking about it.

My advice: Walk away from any doctor who tries to silence you. There are plenty of good doctors out there who provide good service without stifling your free speech. If you have signed one of these forms and aren’t sure what to do, go talk to your doctors. Find out what your options are from them, first.

In the next few weeks, we’ll be identifying the doctors who are rated on Angie’s List who we know are requiring these waivers. It’s your decision whether you use them or not – but we think you need to know – going in – what you’re up against.

I explained why Angie’s List is against the waivers on Good Morning America yesterday. Check it out if you’re interested in seeing more.

Chicago Tribune reporter Julie Deardorff had a great blog post yesterday about checking out online doctor reviews from Angie's List and other medical rating sites. 

Julie mentions the information she personally found useful about a doctor she chose to visit--that the doctor was interested in cycling and Lance Armstrong--wasn't necessarily information that was going to be useful to everyone, but, because Julie wanted to exercise during her pregnancy, it was a bonding element for her.

That is a perfect example of why we so highly value the information our members share with each other, and I'm glad she's going to add it to a review of that doctor. Interesting bits of information, no matter how strange they may seem to some, can really help other readers make an informed hiring decision.

Julie does, however, point out that with few reviews on each individual practitioner, it's hard to feel like you're getting enough information. She's right. And, with that, I'm happy to say that monthly medical report acquisition on Angie's List has more than doubled since fall, but we need to keep up the pace if we're going to be able to offer the most value. Keep those reports coming!

Resumes can be tricky. I've seen thousands of them, and they're essential for making a good impression with an employer. 

Wish TV in Indianapolis recently did a segment about hiring professional resume writers and spoke with me, a professional resume writer and a woman who's used a professional. It's good information and I encourage you to check out the video.

You can read the Angie's List resume tips here, too.

Home warranty companies earned the worst grades in 2008 for the fourth year in a row, but what really jumped out to me this year was just how unhappy consumers are with their phone and cable service providers.

Furniture sales and bridal shops in the Top 10 serves as a good reminder that now more than ever it’s important to know who you’re buying big-ticket items from. If the store goes out of business soon after your purchase, warranties, returns and repairs become a big question mark. It’s especially true for home builders. (Check out my recent column on why extra research is critical before hiring a home builder.)

How do our top 10 lists compare with your recent service experiences?

Top 10 complained-about services:

1. Home Warranty Companies
2. Home Builders
3. Landline Phone Service
4. Cable TV Service
5. Satellite TV Service
6. Internet Service
7. Cellular Phone Service
8. Furniture Sales
9. Computer Sales
10. Bridal Shops

Top 10 least-complained-about services:

1. Piano Tuning
2. Music Instruction
3. Lamp Repair
4. Dryer Vent Cleaning
5. Mailbox Repair
6. Home & Garage Organization
7. Party Rentals
8. Roof Cleaning
9. Upholstery Cleaning
10. Animal & House Sitting

My column from the March edition of the Angie's List Magazine.

Last May, Scott Szala could hardly find a contractor to return his phone calls. The ones who did show up didn’t seem interested in taking the job. But times have changed.

“Now I get a phone call back the same day, and they’re out at the job site the next day wanting to bid it out,” says Szala, who’s taking advantage of the slow economy to score great deals on the remodel of his 1926 bungalow.

The Tampa, Fla., resident isn’t alone. In a recent nationwide poll of Angie’s List members, more than 50 percent agreed now is a good time to invest in home improvements. The downturn in the economy has created a good situation for consumers who are positioned to spend, and a lot of great contractors are looking for work, so they’re willing to negotiate.

Szala estimates he’ll save $10,000 to $15,000 by getting four to five bids for each project and using those to negotiate a lower price. And he’s very transparent about the process.

“I tell them straight up what I’m doing, and when I decide which contractor I like best, I say, ‘I’d like to work with you if you can meet me on price.’ None of the contractors I’ve worked with have been put off.”

According to the poll, more than 60 percent of members are planning a home improvement project this year, with additions, remodeling, painting, repairs and landscaping among the most popular.

Last year, members reported spending an average of $15,020 on their projects. This year, they plan to spend more than $23,450. Of those, 61 percent said they’ll pay cash for the project, while 14 percent said they’ll get a loan or pay on credit.

Although there really are some great deals to be found on labor and materials, be careful not to hire on price alone. Just as there are good contractors looking for work, there are plenty of unqualified ones scouting for your business, too.

Szala says he never hires solely on price. “I think there are a lot of fly-by-night contractors trying to find jobs outside their trade,” he says. “I don’t like hiring people who don’t know what they’re doing, and I’ve had to deal with a couple of those.”