Pros hate having to break in a novice, especially one as touchy as a feral cat. "I had a homeowner call me in tears because my crew was wrecking her house," says Steve Miller, a former contractor who helps match homeowners with pros in San Jose, California. "I rushed over to check it out. Then I had to try to calmly explain to her as she continued crying that everything was going fine. Yes, the home was in shambles—it's called demolition." If rough stuff also makes you nuts, keep in mind that Rome wasn't built in a day; first they had to clear some space. Still hate to watch? Hide out at Starbucks.