Home Repair Checklist: What to Check, What to Fix First and When to Call a Pro

Inside the House: Room-by-Room Checklist

Walk through each room with a notepad or your phone.

Kitchen and bathrooms

• Look under sinks for drips, stains or a soft cabinet floor.
• Check the caulk around tubs, showers and sinks for gaps or mold.
• Flush each toilet and listen for water that keeps running.
• Gently rock each toilet. It should not move.

Walls, ceilings and floors

• Look for new cracks, stains or bubbling paint, especially on ceilings.
• Note soft spots, loose tiles or boards that squeak more than before.
• Open and close every door and window. Note any that stick or will not lock.

Safety items

• Test the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
• Make sure stair rails and handrails are tight.
• Note any outlet or switch that feels warm, buzzes or does not work. Do not open it up. Write it down for an electrician.

Outside the House: Exterior Checklist

Walk around the house on a dry, clear day. Stay on the ground and use binoculars or your phone's zoom to look at the roof. Never climb up there yourself.

• Roof: missing, curled or loose shingles, and piles of debris in valleys.
• Gutters: sagging sections, clogs, and downspouts that dump water next to the foundation.
• Siding and trim: cracks, gaps, loose boards and peeling paint.
• Windows and doors: worn caulk, worn weatherstripping and soft wood on the sills.
• Foundation: new or widening cracks, and soil that slopes toward the house.
• Deck, patio and outside steps: loose boards, wobbly rails and soft spots.

Seasonal Home Repair Checklist

Adjust this plan to your local weather.

Spring

• Look for roof and gutter damage left by winter storms.
• Check the attic for leaks after a heavy rain.
• Have the cooling system serviced before hot weather.

Summer

• Paint and caulk outside trim while the weather is dry.
• Trim plants and branches away from the siding and roof.

Fall

• Have the gutters cleaned after the leaves drop.
• Have the heating system serviced.
• Seal gaps around windows and doors.
• Shut off and drain outdoor faucets where winters freeze.

Winter

• Watch for ice along the roof edge and new ceiling stains.
• Keep an eye on pipes in cold spots like garages and crawl spaces.
• Plan indoor projects and book pros early for spring work.

Urgent Repairs vs Repairs That Can Wait

Fix now

• Active leaks: water coming from a pipe, the roof or an appliance. Shut off the water if you can, then call a plumber or roofer.
• Electrical problems: sparking, a burning smell, warm outlets or breakers that keep tripping. Do not try to fix these yourself. Call an electrician, or emergency services if there is smoke or fire.
• Gas smell: leave the house and call your gas utility or emergency services from outside.
• Safety hazards: broken stair rails, loose steps, broken locks or outside doors that will not close.
• No heat or cooling during very hot or very cold weather.

Fix soon

Small drips under a sink, running toilets, failed caulk, clogged gutters and damaged siding are not emergencies. But each one lets water in, so book them within weeks, not months.

Can wait

Touch-up paint, nail holes, squeaky doors and dated light fixtures can wait. Keep them on your list and do them together later.

Signs a Small Problem Is Getting Bigger

Most big repairs start small. Watch for these signs and act early:

• A stain on a ceiling or wall that grows, or comes back after painting
• A musty smell in a closet, cabinet or basement
• Cracks that get longer or wider over a few months
• Doors and windows that suddenly stick or will not latch
• A water bill that rises for no clear reason
• Lights that dim or flicker when an appliance turns on

A simple trick: take a photo of the crack or stain and note the date. Look again in a month. If it has changed, call a pro.

DIY or Hire a Pro?

Some small jobs are easy to do yourself:

• Replacing air filters and smoke alarm batteries
• Re-caulking a sink or tub
• Filling small nail holes

Hire a pro when the job:

• Involves wiring, gas lines or the main water supply
• Needs a tall ladder or any work on the roof
• Might need a permit, so check with your city
• Involves water damage, which is often worse than it looks

Many checklist items suit a handyman. See our guide to handyman services to learn what they cover and when you need a specialist.

Bundle Small Repairs Into One Job

Many pros have a minimum charge for a visit, so one small fix on its own can feel like poor value. A list of several small repairs is worth a pro's time, and you pay for one trip instead of many.

1. Group the jobs by room or by trade, such as all the bathroom fixes together.
2. Write each item on its own line and add a photo.
3. Mark what is urgent and what is "only if there is time."
4. Say who will buy the parts.
5. Ask for one price for the whole list, with each item shown.

Keep plumbing, electrical and roofing items on a separate list, since they may need a specialist.

Get Your Repair List Done

When your list is ready, you can post it on BidHandyman for free. Add your photos and a budget if you like, and pick a start date: as soon as possible or later in the year. Local pros approved by BidHandyman send bids. You compare them, read the reviews on each pro's profile, and hire the one you like, with no obligation.

Learn more about hiring home repair pros, or post your repair list.