Fix it yourself
Handyman repairs you can do yourself
3 handyman problems a careful person can handle at home — and the point where each one becomes a job for a pro.
- You can do
- 3
- Pro-only
- 0
- Typical time
- 15–90 min
- 01Open
Door won't latch or close properly
Close the door slowly and watch the latch: mark where it hits the strike plate with lipstick on the latch bolt.
easy 15–45 min· $0–10 for screws and filler
- 02Open
Hole in drywall
Cut away loose paper and crumbling edges with the utility knife so the patch sits on solid board.
easy 30–90 min· $10–30 for a patch kit and compound
- 03Open
Loose or wobbly railing
Find where the movement is: at the wall brackets, at the newel post, or in the balusters.
moderate 30–90 min· $5–30 for screws, glue or a bracket
What it costs
Typical rates by country, so you can compare DIY parts against a pro's invoice.
Cost guideDo this for a living
These are the calls a handyman takes every week. Licensing, training and where the work is short of people.
How to become a handyman