Do it yourself, or hire a pro?

Most people can do this

• Change the air filterThe size is printed on the edge of the old one.
• Unclog a sink with a plungerIf it keeps coming back, the clog is deeper.
• Caulk around a tub or windowPull out the old caulk first.
• Paint one roomThe prep takes longer than the painting.
• Reset a tripped breakerIf it trips again right away, stop and call.

It depends

• Paint the whole outsideLadders, sun and prep make it a big job. Two stories: hire it.Painters →
• Replace a faucet or toiletDoable if the shutoff valves work and nothing is corroded.Plumbers →
• Lay a floorClick-together floors are friendly. Tile takes skill and tools.Flooring →
• Patch a hole in drywallSmall holes are easy. Making a big patch disappear is the hard part.Drywall →
• Clean the guttersFine on one story with a steady ladder. Higher than that, hire it.Gutters →

Hire a pro

• Anything inside the electrical panelIt can kill you, and many places require a licensed electrician.Electricians →
• Gas lines, gas appliances, a gas smellFor a gas smell, leave and call from outside.Plumbers →
• Roof repairsFalls are the danger, and a bad patch leaks worse.Roofers →
• Garage door springsThey are wound tight enough to injure you.Garage doors →
• AC refrigerant or anything sealed in the unitHandling refrigerant takes a certified technician.Heating & AC →
• Cutting down a tree near the house or wiresWhere it falls is not up to you.Tree service →
• Moving walls or changing the structureSome walls hold the house up, and it usually needs a permit.General contractors →
• Mold over a large area, or after a floodIt spreads when disturbed.Water, fire & mold damage →

General guidance. Your skill, your tools and your local rules decide. When a job involves gas, the electrical panel, heights or the structure, hire it.