Tools

Home repair checklists and decision guide

Everything here works on the page with no sign-up. These tools help you spot danger, check for a hidden leak and prepare for a professional. None of them tells you how to do electrical, gas or structural work, and none says a repair is safe. They are general information, not advice.

Safety first

Stop and Call Now Checklist (Home Warning Signs)A tickable checklist of home warning signs that mean stop, get safe and call for help first: gas smell, burning smell, water near electrics and more.

Printable checklists

Water Meter Leak Test Checklist (Find a Hidden Leak)A checklist for the water meter leak test: stop all water use, read the meter, wait about two hours, read again and compare to spot a hidden leak. Document Before You Call a Pro: A Printable ChecklistPhotos, dates, model numbers and notes to gather before you call a plumber, electrician or HVAC tech, so the first call and quote are clearer and faster.

Decision guide

DIY or Pro? A Home Repair Decision GuideCompare doing it yourself, a handyman, a licensed trade and a general contractor, with what each suits, what can go wrong and when to stop and call.