2026 prices · written by a homeowner, not a content farm

Know what the repair costs before you pick up a wrench.

Real DIY-vs-pro cost ranges, step-by-step guides that tell you when to stop, and the handful of tools actually worth owning.

Get free quotes from local pros Price it first

competing quotes, usually within a day: 2–4
competing quotes, usually within a day
cost to you — the contractor pays: $0
cost to you — the contractor pays
projects priced DIY vs. pro: 25
projects priced DIY vs. pro

Cost planner

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Replace kitchen faucet$250–600$80–300

Patch drywall hole$150–350$15–40

Replace toilet$400–900$150–500

Install ceiling fan$250–600$100–350

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Do it yourself, or hire it out?

I'll do it myself

Price the job, see how long it really takes, and get the exact tool list before you buy anything.

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I'd rather hire a pro

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Guides

Fix it right the first time

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Plumbing

When to call a plumber vs. DIY: a homeowner's decision chart

Which plumbing jobs save you $200+ by doing them yourself, which ones are a coin flip, and which ones are a flood or a code violation waiting to happen.

Cost $0–$500 savedTime 5 min to decideLevel Easy

Water Damage

Water in the basement after rain: fix the outside first

Most wet basements are a gutter and grading problem, not a foundation problem. The $50 fixes to try before anyone quotes you $8,000 for waterproofing.

Cost $0–$300 outside · $3,000–$15,000 insideTime A weekend outside firstLevel Moderate

Plumbing

Water heater: repair it or replace it? (the 10-minute decision)

No hot water, rusty water, a puddle underneath, or a popping tank — which ones you fix for $30 and which mean it's time for a new unit.

Cost $0–$2,500Time 10 min to diagnoseLevel Moderate

Plumbing

Toilet keeps running? Fix it in 15 minutes for under $20

A running toilet wastes up to 200 gallons a day. Three parts cause 95% of them — here's how to tell which one, and the one case where you should call a plumber.

Cost $5–$25Time 15–30 minLevel Easy

Plumbing

Sump pump not working? Test it in 2 minutes, fix it in 30

Silent pump, pump that runs but doesn't drain, or one that never shuts off — four quick checks, the bucket test, and when a $200 pump beats a $1,000 service call.

Cost $0–$400 DIY · $600–$1,200 proTime 2 min test · 30–90 min fixLevel Moderate

Roofing

Roof repair or replace? The 5 numbers that decide it

A $400 repair or a $15,000 roof — the answer comes down to age, how much of the roof is affected, granule loss, layer count, and what your insurer will cover.

Cost $400 repair – $25,000 replacementTime 30 min to decideLevel Moderate

The homeowner toolkit

Six tools cover 90% of home repairs.

Not sixty. Six. Plus the three things you should rent instead of buy. Honest picks with no sponsored placements.

See the six