We’ve been really pleased with the response our call for better contractor licensing laws has gotten in the past week, but of course this is a movement that’s going to take some time. We’ve got a laser focus on it, though, and we’re not going to let go anytime soon.

Consumers thinking about hiring contractors for home improvement projects have been amazed at the complexity of the licensing process and appreciative of just the idea that we’d help them sort through it.

But what’s been really great (and not a surprise to me at all) is the response from the company side. I’ve heard from groups and individuals representing Indianapolis plumbers, California chimney sweeps, Delaware contractors and a Kansas City mover in just the past few days – all of them offering to help be a part of the solution. I suspected this would happen because I know there are a ton of great contractors out there following the rules and frustrated by those who don’t.

We’ll be talking about the importance of bringing clarity and consistent enforcement and protection to licensing laws to any media outlet that will entertain us. I was fortunate this week to have a leading business outlet publish my perspective on the issue, and we'll be trying for more of that in the future.

Feel free to send your own letters to your local newspapers and media outlets. I doubt you need my example to get you going, but use it if you want to. It’s going to take all of us working to affect positive change.

Since I started Angie’s List 14 years ago, I’ve encouraged homeowners to hire licensed contractors and asked the companies rated on the List to tell us whether they’re licensed or not.

We’ve taken the companies word for their trade license status, but I’ve always asked members to take that extra step to verify the validity of any license their contractor claims to hold. We tried to make that check easier by providing links to state licensing agencies a few years ago, but today we’re going further.

Today we’re launching a call on lawmakers to enact uniform and understandable trade licensing laws that give consumers an assurance that anyone holding a license is qualified to do the job it covers. We’re also asking lawmakers to set aside a portion of licensing fees for consumer protection funds, so homeowners who do all that advance work and still get bilked by licensed contractors can recover their lost investments. A handful of states already do this, and I think every homeowner should have this safety net.

While we wait for lawmakers to consider our request, we’re toughening our internal policies about license status.

We’ve already started asking the companies rated on the List to attest that they are in compliance with all applicable state and local trade licensing laws. Like the IRS, we’ll audit contractors to verify they are following the law.

Companies that aren’t properly licensed will have an opportunity to get there.  Those that don’t – and anyone who is found to have not told us the truth – will face actions from Angie’s List that will include alerting members to their true status.

I hope you read The Angie’s List Magazine this month to see just how complex U.S. contractor licensing laws are. You may begin to appreciate why it is that (to the best of my knowledge) no one has ever been able to comprehensively and easily help consumers determine what the laws are, let alone trace the status of the licensees.

Most contractor licensing laws are complex, but consider the case of the person who lives in southern Indiana or the tri-state area of New York City.  Their contractor may cross a state border to do their work. He or she may cross city lines. Each jurisdiction crossed may bring a different set of rules to follow. The laws may be really well written and offer real protection and reliability. They might not. They might be well enforced. They might not.

The point that I’m going to try to make in the next few months is not whether Angie’s List supports any one particular law over another. It’s that consumers shouldn’t have to fight this hard to find reliable help. If government is going to regulate it (and we agree that regulation is needed) it should do in a way that’s easy to follow, truly enforced and offers real protection.

We’re doing our part to help improve the situation. Please do yours by checking your contractor’s trade license status BEFORE you hire.

Check trade licensing laws by state

Now that the Cash for Clunkers program for cars has come to a close, the federal government is poised to do a similar program to help consumers get rid of old, inefficient household appliances.

I’m encouraging homeowners -- whether you want to take advantage of the program or not -- to take a good look around the house and take stock of the shape your major appliances are in.  Did you know that without regular maintenance, most major appliances lose about 5 percent of their original efficiency for each year of operation? You can save a lot if you up the efficiency level of energy hogs like air conditioners, refrigerators and water heaters.

We did a poll recently, and it showed us that nearly half of Angie’s List members admitted that they don’t have their heating and A/C units serviced as often as they should, and 20 percent don’t replace furnace filters on time. When was the last time you took the vacuum cleaner to the coils on your refrigerator?

One of my friends finally agree to test my tip on that little task. She’d lived in her house for 11 years and had never done it.  She was amazed at how much stuff she pulled out of there – she said it was like cleaning out her dryer link filter – you know how if you let it go or do a huge load of towels it gets almost like a blanket? She said she was a little disgusted, and is convinced her refrigerator is breathing easier.

I’m sure your fridge won’t be as cluttered...

But back to my point – do yourself a favor and take stock of the age and performance of your refrigerator, dishwasher, heating and A/C units, water heater and washer/dryer.  Switch out a clunker appliance or two – and put those savings toward something fun.

I was in New York earlier this week and I stopped by Fox News to talk about medical gag orders. I've been strongly opposing these--and any other attempt to stifle free speech--since they started appearing.

They aired the interview this morning (check out the video below!), and this afternoon I found a great post on Bankaholic that perfectly illustrates why doctor reviews are essential for consumers.

A lot of people have put great customer service on the Endangered Species List, but a New York City consultant/blogger cites three examples of how employees in different areas of service went above and beyond to earn customers for life.

Angie’s List has taken a lot of grief over the years for our commercial about Joe the plumber who was in the midst of a plumbing repair service call at a customer's home when she called to tell him she would be arriving much later than she'd planned. She didn't think about her papillon's needs, but the plumber, on his own volition, did.

In the report we based that commercial on, the member told us Joe’s unsolicited and unexpected efforts that day make him the only plumber she’ll ever use.

Clearly, Steve Curtin the corporate trainer, got the message we were trying to deliver in that ad: that going that extra inch, or mile, will really be appreciated by your customers whether you’re in the roofing, plumbing, jewelry, hotel or any other business.

While I’m happy that our new friend Steve singled Angie’s List out as a great customer service example, I think we can all work harder to get that elusive quality off the Endangered List and back where it belongs: front and center for every company.