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Handyman & small repairs: the basics
Small jobs that belong to no single trade: mailboxes, shelves, caulk, hinges, drywall patches, TV mounts.
The full guide for this trade is being written. Until then, here is what we know for sure: the problems that belong here, who handles them, and how to check a contractor.
When to call a licensed trade instead
If a job involves plumbing, gas, wiring or structure, call a licensed trade instead of a handyman.
On this page4 sections: urgent, permits…
What people call about
- Mailbox broken
- Hang a TV
- Patch a hole in the wall
- Fix a cabinet door
How soon to call
Schedule it
Cabinet door hanging off
Ask for: cabinet hinge and drawer slide repair
Countertop chipped or cracked
Ask for: countertop repair
Caulk around the sink is moldy and peeling
Ask for: recaulking
Grout cracking in the shower
Ask for: regrouting and recaulking
Caulk around the tub is black and peeling
Ask for: recaulking
Shower door off the track
Ask for: shower door adjustment or replacement
Towel bar pulled out of the wall
Ask for: anchor and remount
Toilet seat is loose
Ask for: toilet seat replacement
Install grab bars
Ask for: grab bar installation
Attic pull-down ladder is broken
Ask for: attic ladder repair or installation
Downspout came off
Ask for: downspout reattachment
Front door won't latch
Ask for: door adjustment
General guidance, not a diagnosis. If anyone is in danger, call 911 first.
Permits and licensing
- If a job involves plumbing, gas, wiring or structure, call a licensed trade instead of a handyman.
- This work rarely needs a permit, but a town can still require one for parts of it.
- Licensing depends on the state: a trade license in some, a home-improvement registration in others, none in the rest. The finder shows what the record says where one exists.
Know what you're looking at
Many small repairs need just a drill and the right fasteners. If a job involves plumbing, gas, wiring or structure, call a licensed trade instead of a handyman.
General information, not legal, tax, engineering or insurance advice. Rules and prices vary by place, so get three local quotes. Problem list updated 2026-10-04.