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Plumbers do the dirtiest of work, but somehow the profession has garnered a reputation for rip-offs. But where would you be without them? Where would your bathroom be?

And let’s be honest. We don’t schedule plumbing appointments months in advance. Plumbers are the ones we frantically call at 2 a.m., with water pooling up around our ankles and stolen hotel monogrammed towels strewed across the floor. We call plumbers mid meltdown, and somehow they have to explain the inner workings of our pumps and valves in plain English and jump to action before more damage is done.

Just because it’s a dirty job doesn’t mean its practitioners don’t deserve our respect—or our understanding. Here are nine things plumbers wish you, their clients, knew to clear the air—or the drains, so to speak.

Your drains are dirty. Really dirty. But that doesn’t mean you are.

People have no concept of what they’re flushing down the toilet. You probably assumed that it’s pretty gross down there, but if you’ve never watched someone snake your toilet or shower, it may surprise you just how gross it is. But that’s normal. The amount of muck pulled out of your drains isn’t a reflection of your cleanliness—or of your plumber’s skill. The least helpful thing you can do is remark on how appalling the bathroom looks mid renovation. They know, and it will get better. There’s nothing sexy about sewer lines, but when they don’t work, you sure notice it.

They’ll clean up after themselves—but not after you.

Even though the process might be messy, good plumbers will leave your home exactly as they found it. They want it to look just like it did when they got there. But that doesn’t mean they’ll clean up your messes. If they walk into a bathroom and there’s already sewage all over the bathroom, they will get the clog undone, but they don’t carry a full line of janitorial supplies on the truck. Most plumbers try to go above and beyond, but sometimes it’s gonna take a coat of paint and new flooring, not just cleaning to fix the space.

Don’t feel bad for calling late at night.

Plumbing is a 24-hour-a-day job, so no reputable plumber will be miffed by a midnight emergency. Call and they’ll answer. They don’t get mad. Sometimes they get the better jobs that way because you  couldn’t get anybody else.

Don’t overestimate your DIY abilities.

Unless you’re seriously handy, leave plumbing to professionals. Know your limits. Some people  don’t need a plumber. Some get the wrong tool, taking a small problem and making it a big problem because you shouldn’t have pried. That turns what could have been a quick fix and an easy job into a strenuous ordeal that could involve pulling up floorboards or tearing into your walls. Yes, sometimes you can save money. But wouldn’t you rather spend a small amount of money now than a huge amount later? Plumbers may have to deal with waste, but that doesn’t mean they like wastefulness. If your mechanical abilities are low, leave it alone.

Stick around or leave during the job—it doesn’t matter to them.

Don’t feel bad about hanging around while your plumber is working. Unless you are really grumpy, they don’t mind you watching. In fact, many plumbers prefer it if you stay—that way you can answer questions about the home in case an emergency arises.

Maintain your appliances.

Your home does not take care of itself, even if it’s new. Most water heaters require yearly maintenance, like flushing them out and checking the anode rod for corrosion. You should regularly check your water shut-off valve for corrosion, too. Some retail stores will perform that for you, but if yours doesn’t, don’t ignore your duties. Instructions are in the owner’s manual, but a lot of people don’t maintain the plumbing in their home. That can cut down its lifespan and cause issues down the line.

Don’t wait for a crisis.

Hear a faucet dripping or a toilet running? Got a small leak in the basement? Call your plumber now, before it becomes a major emergency and your basement floods—or something equally tragic happens. If proper maintenance occurs or full attention is paid, the problem won’t rise to that level. Be aware. Fixing a small problem is far easier on your wallet—and won’t require a major renovation.

Know your home.

Quick: Where’s your shut-off valve? If you don’t know, go find out now—you’ll save your plumber precious time if something goes wrong (and save your house from further water damage). That way, if there’s a leak, or you notice water spraying or not turning off, you have the ability to turn it off at the source.

Plumbing can be expensive.

But just because it’s expensive doesn’t mean it’s a rip-off. People don’t realize how expensive plumbing can be. It requires time, expertise, training, and materials to bring things up to code. While you should always get several estimates, don’t dismiss one just because it’s expensive. When you hire cheap plumbers, chances are good you’ll get what you pay for—and they won’t provide the same guaranteed service as pricier plumbers.

Not that price alone determines quality. Check reviews online and even the Better Business Bureau to make sure the plumber you’re hiring has the integrity and the ability to handle a situation if it escalates. In particular, make sure the plumber is licensed and insured. If uninsured plumbers were injured on your property they may be able to sue you for damages—and if they destroy your pipes while working on them, they could just skip town, leaving you to pay for yet another plumber to do the repairs.

Homeowners in cold-weather climates face icy conditions, blizzards, and other cold-weather storms. Beyond barring you from being able to leave your home, severe cold weather can threaten your home’s structure and your safety. It’s important to take preparatory measures and invest in the resources you’ll need to deal effectively with winter’s challenges before it gets into full swing.

Understand the threats of severe cold weather

Blizzards: Storms with heavy winds and large amounts of snow accumulation can cause roof or other structural damage and leave you isolated.

Ice storms and ice dams: Ice storms coat structures, trees, power lines, cars, roads and virtually everything else with ice. As the ice melts, large chunks can fall and cause injury to anyone below. When ice melts during the day and then re-freezes at night, ice dams—which block water from flowing in the gutter—may form. This condition can force water back under the roof line and cause leaks.

Sleet or freezing rain: Combinations of snow and freezing rain may cause slippery conditions and coat roads, sidewalks and driveways with ice when temperatures drop.

Protect yourself from severe cold weather

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recommends that homeowners have shovels on hand, as well as melting agents such as rock salt. Some of the new, more environmentally friendly deicers include calcium magnesium acetate and sand to improve traction. Be sure to stock up early in the season, as these agents tend to be in short supply during periods before a well-publicized storm.

FEMA also advises you have enough fuel to maintain heat in your home, as well as a backup heating source: firewood if the home has a working fireplace or a generator to power heaters in case of power failure. However, use caution as these can represent fire hazards when not used correctly. Be sure to follow directions explicitly and keep a fire extinguisher. Some generators and fireplaces also require proper ventilation, according to the Institute for Business and Home Safety—so follow directions carefully and keep them away from curtains or other flammable items.

Stock up on extra blankets, warm clothing and enough food/water to sustain your family in case of a few days of isolation. And a transistor radio with fresh batteries can help keep you updated on news and information in case of a power outage.

Protect your home from severe cold weather

Before winter, there are some precautions you can take to protect your home from the ravages of severe cold weather storms.

Winterize your home: Check shutters, siding and other exterior materials to ensure they’re secure, says retired contractor, home improvement expert and writer John Wilder of Jacksonville, FL. High winds, ice and moisture from winter storms can easily strip off such outside elements if they’re loose.

Be sure that gutters are clear of debris and walkways are even—and don’t represent tripping hazards that can be exacerbated with snow or ice. Caulk drafty windows and apply weather stripping to doors, both inexpensive strategies that can keep heat in your home. Air sealing can help you save about $350 in energy costs or one-third of your average annual heating and cooling costs. The average annual home energy bill is about $2,200, according to Energy Star—of which about $1,000 represents heating and cooling. An assortment of air sealing materials and tools—including silicone foam, caulk, aluminum flashing for flues and additional insulation—will run roughly $100 to $350.

Winterize pipes: Be sure your pipes, especially those exposed or in unheated areas like crawl spaces, are wrapped in insulation to prevent freezing and bursting. Also, learn where your water shut-off valves are so you can turn off the water supply in case of a leak. Six feet of insulation can cost anywhere from $7 to $17; it’s available at most home improvement stores.

Trim tree branches: Branches that overhang roofs or areas where you park your car—or which are simply overgrown—represent a risk to structures, vehicles and people. Keep trees trimmed and remove those that are weak or sickly to prevent them from falling on or near your home. Tree trimming and removal pricing varies greatly, and you may have additional restrictions if you live in an historic community—or if the trees are close to power lines.

Check with your municipality about any regulations and contact your local Chamber of Commerce, municipal offices or contractor rating sites like merchantcircle.com or angieslist.com to get the names of reputable pros. Tree trimming and removal can be dangerous, so don’t attempt it on your own unless you’re experienced.

By keeping your home in good repair and stocking up on the supplies you’ll need before the rush for rock salt and shovels begins, you’ll be as ready as possible to tough out the storm.

For most people, retirement feels like a long way off. But, if you don’t start preparing as early as possible, you may find yourself in a place of financial insecurity when the time does come. To avoid this, consider implementing the following tips.

1. Calculate your target savings. In general, it’s recommended that you save between 10 to 15 percent of your income for retirement. However, you can always use an online savings calculator to determine the amount you need to save for your specific needs and goals.
2. Contribute to your employer’s retirement savings plan. Does your job offer a 401(k), traditional IRA, or Roth IRA? Sign up and start saving as soon as they allow you to. It’s recommended to set up automatic paycheck deductions and, once the money is in your retirement fund, don’t touch it.
3. Take advantage of employee benefits. Many employers offer matching which generally requires you contribute a certain percentage of each paycheck and your company will then contribute a matching amount with funds of their own. They might also offer health savings or flexible savings account. By contributing to these accounts, you reduce your amount of taxable income, allowing you to save more money.
4. Pay off your debts. Start by paying off any high-interest credit card debt first. Then look at other debts, such as student loans and car payments, and make a plan for paying those off incrementally.
5. Reduce daily spending. Although this feels like a no-brainer, spending your money thoughtfully now can make a big impact later. Seek out areas of your life where you can cut back.

The law of supply and demand explains what’s happening with prices in the current real estate market. Put simply, when demand for an item is high, prices rise. When the supply of the item increases, prices fall. Of course, when demand is very high and supply is very low, prices can rise significantly.

Why Are Prices Rising?

According to CoreLogic, home prices have risen 18% since this time last year. But what’s driving the increase? When we take NAR’s buyer activity data and compare it to the seller traffic during the same timeframe, we can see buyer demand continues to outpace seller activity by a wide margin. In other words, the demand for homes is significantly greater than the current supply that’s available to buy.

Where Are Prices Headed?

Many experts forecast prices will continue to increase, but they’ll likely appreciate at a slower rate. Buyers hoping to purchase the home of their dreams may see this as welcome news. In this case, perspective is important: a slight moderation of home prices does not mean prices will depreciate or fall. Price increases may occur at a slower pace, but experts still expect them to rise.

What Does This Mean for Homebuyers?

If you’re waiting to enter the market because you’re expecting prices to drop, you may end up paying more in the long run. Even if price increases occur at a slower rate next year, prices are still projected to rise. That means the home of your dreams will likely cost even more in 2022.

While prices may increase at a slower pace in the coming months, experts still expect them to rise. If you’re a potential homebuyer, message me today to discuss what that could mean for you if you wait even longer to buy.

If you’re living on your own and looking to buy a home, know that you can make your dream a reality with thoughtful planning and the right team of experts. Research from Freddie Mac shows 28% of all households (36.1 million) are sole-person, and that number is growing. Over the past 40 years, the number of sole-person households has nearly doubled, and that’s a trend that’s expected to continue. According to Freddie Mac: