I really like Bob's Magic Broom ((781) 391-7795), though they are sometimes a little slow about returning calls. The reason they win in my book is that they wear shirts that say, "GOT SOOT?" and bring flashlights. RL Oakley showed up to repair a fireplace and their employees did not bring flashlights. Shame on them and their matching Carhartt jackets. The reviews of Black Magic Chimney Sweeps aren't very encouraging; don't hire them.
Dave Davis Chimney Company is relatively good; however, they were lax about calling Cambridge to have their work inspected so the permit could be signed by a building inspector. I'd hire them again to fix chimneys, line chimneys, or do masonry.
I've had excellent luck with the folks at Massachusetts Restaurant Equipment Service. Their number is (617) 868-1930 and they're on call 24/7. They cost more to do repairs on weekends, but their staff is knowledgeable and professional, especially for stove repair. They recommend Global Mechanical for refrigerator repair, who apparently think that fixing refrigerators that aren't in restaurants is beneath them. Boston & Cambridge Appliance repair won't deal with True brand refrigerators.
I am allergic to wheat (and probably gluten, though I don't have celiac disease). I put up a poster with a list of what has gluten and what doesn't, since I was sick of people asking me, "Does King Arthur flour have gluten? Does rice have gluten? How about corn? What do I cook with if I can't use wheat? Is whole-wheat flour okay?". I also made sheets of foods with allergens (some pikans have allergies to tree nuts, citrus, yeast, and grapes).
Don't hire the Bat Guys. They never return calls and can't tell a squirrel from a rat. Bay State Wildlife at (866) WLD-LIFE are reasonable to deal with. Nuisance Animal Control's website is down, alas, though their phone number (877-5 EVICT'M) is awesome. Commonwealth Wildlife Control was prompt about returning phone calls.
Invite them over for dinner early and often. Loan them tools. Catsit. Repeat as necessary.
Three words: Costco Executive Membership. Why not get 2% back on food purchases? Home Depot will also let you get a contractor membership (?) if you bring in your tax ID number. We still need to look into this.
Harvest's hand-ground organic peanut butter is only 10 cents a pound more expensive than Costco's. Tastes far better, too. Interestingly enough, Costco's organic milk is more expensive than Whole Food's locally-farmed organic milk.
If you can demonstrate to Trader Joe's that you have non-profit status, they can donate to you the bread and other groceries they'd otherwise throw away because they're expired. Easier than dumpstering!
When purchasing appliances, check the FSILG Co-Op's list of preferred vendors, or buy from somewhere like Amazon. Rainbow appliance took over a week to ship us our washer, and didn't even give us a tracking number. Five minutes after our new washer arrived, the neighbor came by and said he had a fully-functional washer and wouldn't we like to have it? When it rains it pours.
Only take in boarders who you know. This is helpful if you're interested in collecting rent from them. Bonus points for getting them over before the summer starts so you can get some rough idea if they'll be up for regular kitchen/house duties and can tolerate various levels of chaos present in the house.
Find the least-hosed person in the house who has a track record of getting things accomplished. Encourage him or her to send email to the house regarding broken appliances to avoid using/proactive things to do regarding washer care so you're not the one constantly spamming people's mailboxes. Congratulate them on a job well done. Delegate as much as possible, so that the house doesn't rely on only you to accomplish anything. It's a consensus-based entity with no hierarchy. Why should one person feel obligated to do everything?