Photograph everything before you open it. Ten seconds, settles most disputes.

Ask for the longer appointment slot. Ten minutes is not enough for a complex history and pretending otherwise wastes both your time.

Small wins count. Walking to the mailbox is a data point. Currently on reporting a post myself.

File early. The window is shorter than people think and it starts at the transaction.

It gets smaller. Not easy, smaller. That distinction kept me going.