HACKER Q&A
📣 jlamp

Who do you call for help with your home?


I recently bought a new home. I didn't consider the stress of having to figure out how to change the locks, do floor work in the kitchen, figure out how to get trees in the backyard trimmed, etc. It's a lot to juggle, and quite overwhelming.

How do you figure this stuff out? Do you just go on Google or Yelp and search "home trimming services in the area"?


  👤 pwg Accepted Answer ✓
> how to change the locks

Home Depot, Lowes or local hardware store and a screwdriver.

> do floor work in the kitchen

Depending on exactly what you mean by "floor work" this could also be Home Depot or Lowes and a few more tools than a screwdriver.

> get trees in the backyard trimmed

If they are small enough to be trimmed using a pole saw (https://sawsreviewed.com/pole-saws/guide/#Manual_Pole_Saw) then this is also Home Depot, Lowes, or local hardware store (to get a pole saw).

If they are too large for that, then one option which often works is to ask neighbors if they have a preferred tree company.

> How do you figure this stuff out?

The vast majority I do myself. Otherwise if you are afraid of being scammed by a google result, asking neighbors who they use (if they use someone) is often a reliable way to find reasonable leads.


👤 notadog
Some possible ideas:

* If possible, it's a good idea to ask the previous homeowners who they have used or recommended for tree/plumbing/etc work.

* You could ask your neighbors who they have used in the past, or if they have any specific suggestions.

* You could ask people on a neighborhood social network (such as Nextdoor or Facebook, if you are on those platforms).

* If none of those work out, Googling or Yelping like you said also works. There are also apps for this, such as Angie's List, TaskRabbit, Thumbtack, Porch, etc.


👤 tsjq
Ask thy neighbours