I am often flooded with calls, emails, and voicemails asking who the best person is to ask for at an agency (let’s be honest, some people are just hard ass and think red tape is a good thing), can I do a clinical psych evaluation to get a suicidal client an emergency bed, and a host of other clinical questions. I am always happy to be a resource.

Sadly, I do not have a resource when it comes to emergencies on the home front. A reminder popped up on my computer recently that read “clean furnace, dryer vent, gutters, and replace water hose on washing machine” How I love fall. I pulled up my contacts and our furnace guy was still in business. Yet he still didn’t clean dryer vents- too small of a business.

The guy who did my gutters informed me his price had increase by $75, bringing his minimum job to $150. I told him I would get back to him. I logged on to LivingSocial and found a company that would do it for $65. They did amazing work, and I have since added them to my keep and refer list. (Real life moment)

Then I sent out an email asking if anyone knew of a company that cleaned dryer vents. I also asked if anyone read this article and could vouch for Google home services, Porch.com, Angie’s List, or any of these other services. Not wanting to sign up for some service, I logged on to Groupon and found a company for $80. Let’s just say I will not be using their services again.

I was happy to be done with my fall list. Then we had a water leak from an upstairs bathroom (fuck my life!). I sent out another email. A friend replied with “I know a guy, but he may not be up to your standards” (my standards are being timely, removing your shoes, doing the work efficiently, clean up behind yourself, explain to me how it happened and how I could prevent it from happening again, taking all methods of payment, and providing me with a receipt. Am I asking too much?). The friend finally gave up her plumber. He was amazing, but put a big hole in our ceiling to release the water. He then referred me to a contractor to fix the hole, who has not called me back and it’s been a week. I went back to that article and looked over the companies, and felt like Karen B over at Fill your own glass. I also found myself enraged at the immigrant laws, as I am sure the gentlemen who stand out in front of the big box home improvements stores can do the work. I am not sure why I have never asked them. Has any one ever used these guys? I would bet people don’t much because my home is my investment and I like to read reviews and see profiles. I wish they could band together and start a website, as it appears they are the only ones willing to put in a hard day of work.