We’ve all been there. A dishwasher gushing water all over your beautiful new kitchen floor. A dead battery, conveniently discovered just as you need to leave for an important appointment. Or coming to the realization that the glorious shade of golden brown you selected to adorn your 18-foot vaulted-ceiling entry 13 years ago no longer qualifies your estate for potential inclusion in Architectural Digest.

But very few of us possess the specialized skills of a licensed plumber, certified mechanic, or artful painter to address these situations. But we all have systems (everything from Angie’s List to word-of-mouth) to help us locate trustworthy professionals to address these sporadic, yet important, life needs.