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Writing for PC World hasn't made me a household name or the target of autograph hounds. But it does help me keep in touch with friends and family--at least when they're shopping for computers. Even distant cousins call for technology tips and advice on the best PC deals. And I'm sure that lots of PC World readers get similar calls from folks they know.

No doubt about it, being an expert is great. But how do we deal with those areas of life we're not so well informed about? No problem--just turn to the Web. Hit the right sites, and you can arm yourself with the knowledge you need to find the right doctor, hire a good contractor, purchase an appliance, invest in a stock, or even ace a job interview. Becoming an expert won't cramp your schedule, either. Here are some essential sites that will make you an insufferable know-it-all in short order.

What's Up, Docs?

I used to leave the enormously important decision of choosing a doctor to random factors like location--geographic or in the Yellow Pages. Now, thanks to the Web, I can make an informed choice. Of course, there's still no substitute for a thorough interview with a prospective physician, but health sites are great places to find doctors who are worth considering.

WebMD.com, for instance, puts a database of half a million doctors at your fingertips. Tell the site your zip code and how far you're willing to drive; and then specify desired specialties, a preference (if you have one) for a male or female practitioner, and how many years of experience your M.D. should have. A list of doctors will pop up. Click on a name, and you'll get facts on affiliation, education, and residency.

At Healthgrades.com, you'll find a lot of stuff that's also available at WebMD, but you can limit your search to physicians who are board-certified and have no sanctions against them. And while you're at the site, you can check to see how your local hospitals stack up and how good your health plan is.

If you run into trouble getting your insurance company to pay for a procedure because it says the price is excessive, arm yourself with statistical support by going to MyHealthScore.com and researching the cost of various medical procedures and how hospitals calculate charges. MyHealthScore.com also carries evaluations of doctors, dentists, and hospitals, but I found its ratings in these areas rather scanty.

Stay In Charge of Renovations

Remodeling is a great way to increase the value of your house. It's also an enormous task that involves surrendering your home (and a good deal of your money) to a contractor you may barely know. So it's important to do your homework. The best way to find a contractor is to get a referral from someone you know--with a finished project you can look at. But if that fails, or if you just want to get competitive bids, take your search online at Contractor.com, Contractorlocate.com, Handymanonline.com, or ImproveNet.com. Keep in mind, however, that you'll generally have to surrender information such as your address and budget, and you may not find anyone. (None of these sites could find me a contractor in my area initially, although Handymanonline did eventually put me in touch with a roofer.)

Even if you don't find your contractor online, you can get up to speed on household renovations at ImproveNet.com. The site provides an overview of the entire search, bid, contract, and construction process, and supplies invaluable tools for calculating what your remodeling job will cost. Those tools are a great way to double-check your contractor's initial quote and assess any additional charges that crop up. For instance, try changing materials (say, from granite to laminate) to see if your contractor is hitting you too hard for some last-minute changes to your renovation job. (Price gouging for project changes is a persistent problem in the contracting world.)