What to Do: Appeal to his vanity. “People who are skilled usually like to share their expertise,” says Sam Craig, president of the Oak View Homeowners Association, in Northumberland, Pennsylvania. And act interested. Say, “What should I do to prevent this in the future?” or “Is there any kind of preventive maintenance I should do?”

What Not to Do: If the person is a professional plumber, it’s fine to ask for an assessment and cost estimate, but do not assume, ask for, or even suggest discounted or free service. And no matter who is fixing your leaky toilet, “don’t ditch him to get your nails done,” Craig says. At least pretend that you care to learn how to fix it for the next time.

Sample Script: “My garbage disposal has been acting up, and I was wondering if you could take a look at it. If it’s something you think you could fix, can you explain to me what you’re doing so I can learn how to do it myself?”