12 Common Home Repairs You Can Actually Do Yourself (And Save Hundreds)

Some home fixes might seem daunting on the surface, but they're actually quite easy to do if you have the right tools and some focus. Avoid wasting money on a handyman when you can easily take care of these home repairs.

Here are 12 common do-it-yourself home repairs that you didn't know you could do yourself.

A dripping faucet can cost you a lot in water bills and damage your home. So, it's an important thing to fix and one that can be done pretty quickly.

After you identify the type of faucet you have and find a suitable replacement, shut off the water to your faucet. From there, a few quick wrench turns, and you will have it off, so you can screw on your faucet replacement. Look for any leaky o-rings or other issues while you're at it, and you should be good to go.

The average cost of hiring a professional to fix the faucet is around $270, so you'll save quite a bit doing it yourself.

It's really not that hard to have a lush, green lawn. The first step is to clean up any debris, like stones and wood chips. After that, evenly apply fertilizer throughout your lawn. Then water your lawn three times a week and place a cake pan in the center to measure the water level.

Once you fill the pan with water, you're good to go and can turn off the water. Good fertilizing and steady water will give you the grass of your dreams. Hiring a landscaper can cost you between $130 to 200 a month, so you're better off developing a green thumb of your own.

If you can see any light escaping through the tops, bottoms, or sides of your doors, that means that air (and heat) is escaping as well. Buy some self-adhesive rubber foam strips and cut them to fit your door. You'll be thanking yourself later when your heating and air conditioning bills are way down.

Depending on how many doors you're stripping and how big they are, the cost of hiring someone can range from $131 to $438, with an average of around $284.

Smart Drivers, Smarter Savings.

Compare car insurance rates in Ohio

See if you qualify for a lower rate in less than 2 minutes

Currently Insured?

Yes

No

Multiple Cars?

Yes

No

Homeowner

Yes

No

Age

30-39

• 18-29
• 30-39
• 40-49
• 50-59
• 60-69
• 70-79
• 80+

Compare Quotes

By clicking the button above, I understand and agree that this site uses site visit recording technology (provided by Trusted Form, Jornaya, and Microsoft Clarity) Privacy Policy

Smart Drivers, Smarter Savings.

Great News! We’ve located some excellent quote options just for you.

Where can we send you info and recommendations?

Enter Email

Bundle Home & Auto to Save More?

Yes

No

Active Military?

No

Yes

Compare Quotes

By clicking the button above, I understand and agree that this site uses site visit recording technology (provided by Trusted Form, Jornaya, and Microsoft Clarity) Privacy Policy

A hole in your drywall can seem like a challenging task, but it's actually relatively easy. Use a spackle knife to patch the hole with drywall mud. Then use sandpaper to smooth it out. Once it's dry, add some matching paint, and you're good to go.

While the cost of hiring a handyman depends on the size of the hole, the average is right around $609, so you could save quite a bit by patching it yourself.

A toilet that runs constantly can make your water bill skyrocket, so it's best to fix it as soon as possible. After you turn off the water to your toilet and let it drain, consider replacing the flapper or the toilet valve, as those are the most common points of failure. Once you've replaced those, turn the water back on and listen closely for any noises.

The average cost is $271 to have a plumber come out and fix the toilet, so getting your hands dirty will save you a solid chunk of change.

Electric work can be intimidating, but replacing a light switch is a simple DIY project most homeowners can safely handle.

Turn off the power at the breaker, confirm it's off with a voltage tester, then remove the old switch and reconnect the wires to the new one in the same configuration. Once everything is secured and the faceplate is back on, restore power and test the switch.

Having a professional come out to your house to replace it will cost around $150, so it's best to learn some electrical skills on your own.

Old and dried-out caulk can cause leaks and let heat escape through your windows. Look around your bathtub, windows, and faucets for any old caulk and reapply as necessary. It's really that simple, just re-caulk those areas and make sure you apply enough, and you'll have a strong, weather-resistant seal.

Hiring a professional can cost upwards of $200, so it's much more cost-effective just to do it yourself.

It's not that challenging to paint a room in your house, so long as you're prepared. With plenty of painter's tape and drop cloths for the floor, you can easily manage the task by yourself. Get a high-quality paint and plenty of rollers and brushes for touch-ups, and you can paint a room without too much hassle.

The average cost of hiring a handyman to paint your room is around $1,000, so you can save yourself a lot of cash by doing it on your own.

So long as you're not afraid of heights, cleaning your gutters is not too difficult. Get some gloves up and set up a ladder so you can reach your gutters and start taking out all of the gunk that's stuck. Once you're finished with one section, move on to the next one.

Depending on the size of your gutters, it shouldn't take too long to clear everything out. Hiring a professional cleaner would cost you around $167, so it's much more cost-effective to get up on the ladder yourself.

While it can seem daunting at first, unclogging a drain or toilet isn't that difficult. Take a plunger or a drain snake and go to work. To keep it from happening again, be sure to use a regular drain cleaner to keep all the gunk from building up in the pipes.

Hiring a plumber to come and snake your drain can cost anywhere from $100 to $275, and if you work with a big company like Roto Rooter, it can cost you well over $300 for a single visit. So, it's best to work on your own snake skills!

This is one of those fixes that can be done quickly and easily, so long as you have the right materials to work with. Get some lubricant and go to work on the door hinges. If they're still squeaking after that, look to tighten any loose screws or components.

If you're still experiencing squeaking, then find some replacement parts. You'll have to take the door off its hinges, but it's not too hard to screw in replacement parts. It'll cost around $75 to $90 to have a handyman come out and replace these parts, so you can save a nice little chunk of change by doing it yourself.

Door handles and locks are actually pretty easy to replace; they're designed that way. Remove the interior door knob, latch mechanism, and strike plate by unscrewing them from the door and jamb.

Install the new latch and strike plate, ensuring the sloped edge of the latch faces the door's closing direction. Attach the new knobs on both sides, tighten the screws, and test that the lock operates smoothly. Boom, you've just installed a new handle.

A locksmith can charge anywhere from $50-150 for a service call, so you're better off learning the basic skill on your own.

From leaky faucets to squeaky doors, these minor fixes are smart homeowner moves that can save you hundreds of dollars a year while keeping your home in top shape. A few tools, some patience, and a willingness to learn can go a long way when it comes to home repairs.

According to HomeAdvisor, the average homeowner spends more than $1,105 annually on small home repairs, but many of these tasks can be done yourself in less than an hour. Learning these simple skills not only saves money but also builds confidence in maintaining your own home.