(Photo : James Kovin on Unsplash)

Whether you're a new homeowner or you've nearly paid off your mortgage, everyone can use a little advice when it comes to fixing things around the home. Because let's face it, unless you specialize in performing home repair and maintenance, there are probably a few things that you simply don't know how to do.

There's nothing wrong with hiring a pro for the big jobs. But when it comes to simple fixes, you might be wasting a professional's time, along with your hard-earned money.

No matter if you're trying to install new tile in your bathroom and you can't get the spacers just right, or if you're stumped trying to figure out how to operate your fireplace, chances are there's a simple way to do any job you can think of. And knowing a few tricks will save you time and money.

In the following, we'll explore a few simple fixes for your home that anyone can perform with a little instruction.

Fixing a Hole in Your Wall

No matter how it happened, it needs to get fixed. And no, placing that large painting over a hole in your wall will not fix the problem. 

Whether you got frustrated and slammed your fist through the drywall, or you weren't paying attention and knocked a hole in the wall while moving, the good news is, you can fix it without breaking the bank or spending hours doing the job.

Here's a shortlist of the supplies you'll need to get the job done:

• Sheetrock 

• Sheetrock knife or saw

• Popsicle sticks 

• Fast-drying adhesive 

• Wall-Joint compound 

• Paint

It's good to note that you may not have to purchase sheetrock for this job if you have a small hole in your wall. Chances are if you check with your local hardware store, they often have broken sheetrock that you can grab for free. All you have to do is cut it to size.

The process is simple. Cut the broken area away to form a square running from stud to stud, or stud to center. Then cut your replacement sheetrock to fit the square. 

Apply adhesive to your popsicle sticks and adhere them to the inside of the sheetrock on the wall, not on the studs. Allow them to dry, then apply adhesive to the replacement sheetrock and stick it onto the popsicle sticks. Finish with wall-joint compound and sand any rough areas before painting. 

Cleaning the Gutters

You already know that if you don't clean your gutters, you're inviting in a host of pests such as mice, spiders, birds, and wasps. And before you know it, your gutters will begin to sag and break. So it's a good idea to clean these yourself. Luckily, the process is simple because this is one home repair job that you don't want to overlook.

If you want to do it the hard way, you can get up on a ladder and use a trowel or a hand rake to pull out wads of debris one at a time. But if you want to do it the smart way, simply place your ladder at one end of the gutter and use a spray hose attachment to blow out all of the debris. Then do the same for vertical gutters.

Once you've loosened the debris, you can finish the job by repeating the process with a leaf blower. And this process will reduce any hand pulling that you may have to do in the stubborn spots.

Repairing a Loose Sink Drain

You've probably been frustrated by this type of repair for a while. All of a sudden, you can no longer pull up your drain stopper. Then you try to grab the stopper to manually drain the sink and you find out that it's stuck. Well, this is perhaps the most simple fix you'll come across and it often doesn't require any new gadgets to get the job done.

If you look below the sink, you'll likely see a long rod that's attached to the sink stopper. And if you inspect closely, this rod may have come unhinged.

Push the rod up to drain out the sink. Then follow it down to the hinge. For most sinks, you simply have to reconnect the rod and it will be back in operation. But be advised that sinks will vary by design. 

Knowing how to perform basic home repairs will not only save you from being frustrated, it will likely save you hundreds of dollars a year that you'd normally spend if you hired a professional to come out and do the job. Remember, there's a quick fix for just about everything. And it's probably worth your time to find a DIY solution.