Editors of Readers Digest - Insider Secrets: Thousands of Life-Improving, Money-Saving Tips from Industry Experts

Is your home a well-oiled machine or a money pit? When you know the tricks shady contractors try to pull, what turns a quick plumbing fix into a pricey project, and how movers will try to overcharge you, youll get the house you want minus the overspending and stress.

Beyond the remodelers, the plumbers, the exterminators, and the power companies, we didnt rest until we got you the complete story. Real estate brokers, housecleaners, and sketchy locksmiths showed us their cards. But the info thats worth its weight in gold? Convicted burglars told us what makes them pick your place over the neighbors.

To keep your home safe and saleable, and keep your stress level at an all-time low, check outand heedthe top secrets we got insiders to reveal.

1. Monday is our busiest day. Thats the day wives call us to correct the work their husbands did over the weekend.

2. Know where the main turnoff source is. I cant tell you how many calls I get from people screaming and crying that their house is flooding and they dont know what to do.

3. Pay me by the job, not by the hour.

4. Dont get wrapped up in how much Im charging for the materials. Sure, my material cost is different than the guys who runs his business out of his garage. But its not the copper youre paying forits the experience. At the end of the day, my material cost is between 25 and 30 percent of the cost of the job.

5. A company that has a good reputation for quality service might charge a little more up front, but youll save in the long run by avoiding callbacks and extra charges. Look for a company that warrants its service for up to a year for major installations or repairs.

6. Be wary of price quotes that are strikingly lower or higher than competitors. Get a minimum of three bids. Estimates for an average-size job should be within a few hundred dollars. Be suspicious of anything that is substantially lower or double the price of the rest, and watch out for hidden fees, like charges for travel expenses. A good plumber will not nickel and dime you like this, and many of us will offer free estimates.

7. Yes, its against the rules to remove flow inhibitors from your showerheads, but some of us will do it if you ask.

8. Sure, well be happy to check those supply valves under your sink free of charge after we finish the work youre paying us for. Just ask. Same goes for checking your water pressure.

TOP SECRET! Theres often an Allen wrench that comes with the garbage disposal. I keep it under the sink. When the thing jams, follow the directions in the manual and I wont need to come out.

9. Im not a babysitter, a mover, or an auto mechanic. Dont ask.

10. Youre calling to say your garage-door opener doesnt work ever since I fixed your faucet? Get a clueand an electrician.

11. I see this all the time: Women want a new toilet seat and ask their husbands to make the switch. If the seat is old and has metal bolts, you probably need to cut it off with a hacksaw, not unscrew it. A wrench may slip, damaging the bowl and bloodying your knuckles.

12. Dont hang clothes on those exposed pipes in your basement. Ive seen them break and flood a basement.

13. I was working in one bathroom while my client was using the whirlpool in another one. And blow-drying her hair at the same time. Her husband had told her it was fine. I told her he was trying to get rid of her.

SOURCES: Bill Stevens, owner of Berkeys Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning in Texas; plumbers in California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Wisconsin.

A burst washing machine hose is a top homeowner-insurance claim. Id replace those flimsy rubber hoses with stainless steel ones.

No bricks in the toilet tank. They can keep your toilet from flushing correctly. No liquid drain cleaners either. They eat away at the pipes. Try a plunger or, better yet, a $30 auger.

If youre going away for any length of time, like on vacation, turn off your water, and if on any of those days the temperature drops below freezing, have someone check in on your house. Ive been called to homes where the family returned from vacation and there was water flooding out from the front door.

Buy a drain strainer or hair snare if youve got a Rapunzel at home (or even a rapidly balding man). Or tell her to use a paper towel to clear the drain. (Soap can gum up the pipes, too, so use as little of that as you can.)