Fix It Yourself

A leaking faucet calls a plumber: $200 for thirty minutes of work. A faulty light switch calls an electrician: $150. A sticky door hinge calls a handyman: $75 plus travel. Over a year, the calls add up to thousands in costs for repairs that require basic tools and fifteen minutes of learning. Most homeowners do not fix things themselves not because they lack ability but because they lack permissi...