A couple things...

First I just wanted to say that I think our nh is awesome, and it's our awesome members that make and keep it that way. Moving on.

Talking (I like talking.)
Our nh works so well because we communicate... a lot (some might say too much, lol). 
We say hello and good bye as we come and go. We ask for and offer items. Most importantly, we acknowledge and say thank you. The Internet is a faceless and cold place, and we actively combat that by using common(?) courtesy. "Thanks for the boat help" ... "Thanks 4 h2o,". If this is too much to ask, then maybe you should try one of those nhs that doesn't talk much. 

Tom
When you decide to spend diamonds to hire Tom, here's a helpful tip to get the most out of him. 
Turning on notifications for Tom will alert you when he is ready (every 2 hours). 
When you send him, he offer three different quantities for you to choose from. The max he can offer is nine of something. If he offers less, then you can say "none of these". He will only need to rest for two minutes (not two hours). Then you can send him again. If you have enough patience with him, he will eventually offer nine of the item. 

NevABC Hardware
I also wanted to fill you in on one of the extra benefits in our  nh.
It can be difficult to store all the mats needed for a barn upgrade... when you need a barn upgrade! As a solution, we offer to buy extra mats and lats, and then promise to only sell within the nh. Think of it as a supply closet. We don't generally deal with the town materials though, as there are so many. 
I (Nevada), have become the nh hardware store, and I love it! ...but couldn't do it alone. ABC Farm is like an extended branch: helping with extra storage, and happy to help you with your buying and selling needs. Since we are on opposite sides of the world, one of us will likely be around during the times you come online.
We typically offer our stock first-come:first-served. If you need a few items to complete an upgrade, please ask. We probably have what you need. The bulk of our mats are stored in Nevada's barn, since most members are on at the same time. 
The reason we are able to do this for everyone is because the nh as a group, contributes to the supply. It is by no means a nh rule that you sell your mats directly to us. Many members choose to do this, but you are not required to. 
"NevABC Hardware: Stocked by you- For you"