"The toilet's clogged!" Who ya gonna call?

One constant truth about property — whether residential or commercial spaces alike — is that the ones that function best are those being actively cared for.

That care can take many forms.

Sometimes it’s about the space’s potential: hiring an architect, working with an interior designer, or conducting a thoughtful reimagining to implement a future vision. Other times it’s far more practical: a pipe leaks, a drain clogs, something breaks and needs fixing — now.

Many of us don’t walk around with a trusted plumber, electrician, or contractor on speed dial. That is, until there’s an opportunity.

Or a problem.

And when there is a problem, we do what people have always done: we ask our friends and neighbors.

For both personal and professional reasons, I joined local Facebook groups. I observed the conversations, and noticed a pattern. Every so often, the same questions would come up again and again.

Who do you recommend to fix “X”? Who do you trust? Who knows our buildings? Do you have their contact info?

I started paying closer attention, and eventually decided to do something about it. I reached out to service providers across a range of trades and asked if they’d be willing to be listed in a simple, community-sourced directory — based exclusively on neighbor recommendations. The first version lived in a shared Google Doc and circulated within a handful of neighborhood groups.

It worked, but not well enough.

People couldn’t find the link in buried threads. They also couldn’t really navigate Google Docs as easily as I’d hoped. Eventually, searching for the directory became nearly as frustrating as searching for a plumber in the first place.

So I decided to do something about it. Again.

As such, it gives me real pleasure to introduce the More For LES Service Provider Directory — an evolution of that original idea. Instead of a Google Doc, it now lives in a dedicated web application, custom-built with the help of a dear friend and fellow More For LES reader. (Thank you, JR.)

It’s designed to be easy to use, easy to find, and grounded in what matters most: neighbors helping neighbors figure out who to call when something needs to get done.

Visit NYC Service Pro (NYCServicePro.com) to check it out, and see details below:

• Website: NYCServicePro.com

• Invite Code: A32QYJ

Please note: You do not have to register but, if you would like to make recommendations or leave testimonials, you will require the above invite code.

Happy browsing!