The most expensive words in home ownership are “how hard can it be?” The second most expensive are “I probably need a pro for this” said about a job that needed a screwdriver. Here's an honest framework.
The three questions
- What happens if I get it wrong? A crooked shelf is a redo. A bad electrical joint is a fire. Judge the failure mode, not the difficulty.
- Is the problem what I think it is? Half of DIY disasters start with a misdiagnosis — painting over damp instead of fixing the leak, resetting a breaker that keeps tripping for a reason.
- Is special equipment or licensing involved? In many countries, gas work and significant electrical work legally require a licensed trade — and unlicensed work can void insurance.
Almost always DIY
- Painting, sealing gaps, and filling small holes
- Replacing tap washers, toilet flappers/fill valves, and shower heads
- Swapping light fittings like-for-like (power off at the breaker)
- Filters: furnace, range hood, fridge water, HVAC
- Unblocking drains with a plunger or hand auger
Usually a pro
- Anything gas — full stop
- New electrical circuits, panel work, or aluminium wiring
- Roof work beyond a single accessible shingle — falls, not skill, are the risk
- Structural changes, and anything involving a load-bearing wall
- Persistent damp, mould beyond a small patch, or foundation cracks that grow
The middle ground — where most money is won and lost
Flooring, tiling, fence repairs, appliance swaps: these are skill-and-time questions. Price both paths before deciding — materials plus a weekend, versus a quote. Sometimes the pro is only marginally more; sometimes DIY saves four figures.
When you're not sure what you're looking at
That's the exact problem the My Home Genius app was built for. Snap a photo of the leak, the valve, the crack, or the mystery switch and ask. The AI tells you what it is, what to do next, and honestly whether it's a DIY job or a pro job — before small problems become expensive ones. It works anywhere in the world, and your home's whole history stays in your pocket.