The past few years I've tackled many home improvement projects such as a new furniture, painting, building a deck, installing crown molding, and right now it's building a garden bed. Many of these projects are definitely easier if you have the right tools. (I made a lot of trips to Home Depot...) But really when taking on a project like any of these, it is nice to have a partner to help. But whether that is moving materials, measuring, or deciding between two designs, the kind of help varies. Please, stranger, don't offer to help me load wood into my car. But yes, my aunt can offer to pick the wall color. When should you offer your assistance to someone else, whether you know them or not?

1. When it looks like someone is struggling
• The best time to offer an extra hand is when it is obvious that one is needed. Whether it is something too big for them to handle or something new to them, it might be hard for them to do something on their own. Please time your offer to help early on though because if you're asking after two flights of stairs, you'll get a glowering reply!
2. When you are an expert
• Even if you don't see someone struggling, you may see a better way for the way they are doing things. You've done it so many times that you can do the activity with your eyes closed. You know an efficient method, a better design, or simply more detail that can help them in the future. This is a great time to offer to help BUT ask first. Make sure that your advice is welcome. They might not have time to listen, the patience to care, or they might really want to figure it out for themselves. Respect that and don't butt in regardless.
3. When it's polite
• Asking to help because you think "you should" is not a good reason at all. Sure, chivalry isn't dead, but if you aren't asking because of one of the reasons above, you aren't providing a service, you may be contributing to the problem. Offering to help means you think someone needs your help and so asking out of politeness may come across as rude instead.