Frank Marinelli Plumbing & Heating Co.

Paulette Oliva thought she only needed an electrical permit to "roll in" a portable hot tub under her deck, but a White Plains, N.Y., city inspector later told her she was in violation of plumbing and building codes.

"Billy [Marinelli, the owner] understood what I needed, got me compliant, and was able to 'speak the same language' to the folks at the building department," Oliva says.