I am a handyman, so you might expect me to tell you to call for everything. I am not going to. Plenty of home repairs are a perfectly good Saturday project, and I would rather you trust me than upsell you on a job you could do with a YouTube video and a free afternoon. Here is the honest breakdown on seven of the most common ones.
The theme underneath all of it: a handyman is the affordable middle ground between doing it yourself and hiring an expensive licensed contractor for every little thing. The real money is in catching a small problem before it grows up. A quick faucet fix today beats thousands in subfloor damage later.
1. Leaky faucet
Often DIY. A worn washer or cartridge is a cheap, satisfying fix. Call if it leaks inside the wall, will not stop after a cartridge swap, or the fixture itself is corroded. That is when a swap beats a repair.
2. Running toilet
Usually DIY. A new flapper or fill valve solves most running toilets and the parts are cheap. Call if it is the wax ring or flange, if the toilet rocks, or if it keeps coming back no matter what you replace.
3. Drywall hole
Small dings, DIY. Spackle, sand, prime, paint. Call for larger holes, ceilings, or anything where the texture has to match. Texture matching and a truly invisible finish are the part people underestimate, and a bad patch shows in every wrong light forever. More on that in my drywall guide.
4. Hanging a TV or heavy mirror
DIY if it is light and you can find the studs. Call for heavy or large pieces, or anywhere you cannot hit a stud and need proper anchoring. A 70 inch TV pulling out of drywall is an expensive way to learn about studs. If you want the drywall patched and made right afterward, see my repairs and finishing work.
5. Ceiling fan or light fixture swap
DIY only if you are comfortable, the power is off at the breaker, and it is a like for like swap. Call a licensed electrician for anything involving new wiring or a new circuit. Electricity does not forgive guessing, and this is one where I will hand off to a licensed pro if it goes past a simple swap.
6. Clogged drain
DIY with a plunger or a hand snake for a single slow drain. Call if it is recurring, affects multiple fixtures, or is a main line clog. That pattern points to something deeper than a hairball.
7. Garbage disposal
DIY the reset button and unjamming with the little hex key. Call for a full replacement, which is a quick handyman job, or if it is leaking from the body.
The bottom line
Do the easy stuff yourself and feel good about it. For the jobs where a slip gets expensive or where a clean finish actually matters, that is what I am here for, usually cheaper than you would guess. Not sure which bucket your job is in? Text me a photo and I will tell you honestly, for free.