6 Handyman Skills Every Flipper Should Master

Dusty Rhodes • May 3, 2021

As a rehabber, there are some jobs that are worth knowing how to do. Relying on handymen to fix every small problem is expensive—and time-consuming. Why wait for your go-to person’s availability to open up for a tiny repair?


Or perhaps the job is too small to hire out, and you can’t find anyone who will do it. Most contractors don’t want to pick up tiny jobs. Not worth their time. Or maybe you ran out of money due to unforeseen problems. There are a number of reasons why simple repairs become suddenly (and surprisingly) not-so-simple… or just extremely expensive. That’s when it’s extremely handy to be extremely handy.


And don’t worry: Just because you’ve never picked up a hammer before doesn’t mean you can’t perfect these skills. Basic home maintenance is surprisingly simple, although it may look convoluted, complicated, or simply too-hard on first glance. No need to be muscled, either. Anyone can learn 101-level plumbing. Anyone can spackle a hole in the wall. You might even enjoy teaching your kids a few basic how-tos—you might find they enjoy painting walls or helping place tiling. (Maybe skip the electrical until they’re older, though.)


Whatever the case, here are six jobs that are worth knowing how to do. 


6 Handyman Skills Everyone Should Master


Whether you’re flipping or renting your properties—or just wanting to up your DIY skills for your own home—mastering these handyman jobs keeps everything running smoothly.

 

1. Painting


Everyone should be able to paint. Few supplies are needed—and even fewer skills. A paint roller, paint pan, and paint. Perhaps an extending handle if you are on the shorter end of the yardstick. You can paint the bulk of the wall first, then get the edges… or reverse that order, depending on your mood. Personally, I like to get the edges and corners first.


I choose not to use tape to block off edges. I learned how to “cut in” by watching videos on YouTube. (This one is my favorite.) Too many times, I would tape off the ceiling or edges, only to have the paint lift off when I removed the tape. It is really frustrating painting those edges again, and it doesn’t look nearly as good. The best way to learn how to cut in is to first watch the tutorial, then practice in the corners. They need to be painted anyway. Once you get the hand of it, painting goes really quickly.


Invest in a high-quality angled brush, about 2-1/2? wide. Smaller than that and you have to make too many trips to the paint bucket; larger than that and you start to lose control.


When the edges are done, get out your roller and start rolling. When rolling on textured walls, use a slow but steady movement. Going slower will allow the paint to settle into the deeper parts of the texture, reducing the number of coats you need to apply. A 10 x 10 room can be completed in just a couple of hours.


Pro tip: Buy quality paint. I purchased the cheapest paint I could find when painting my first house, and I ended up needing five coats to cover the color beneath. Fifteen dollars a gallon for the cheap stuff, but I needed five times as much as the high-quality, $30- to $50-a-gallon paint. Buying mis-tinted “oops” paint can save you a lot of money.


2. Basic electric


Chances are good that your new house comes complete with ugly light fixtures. Swapping them out isn’t a whole lot harder than changing light bulbs, and you certainly don’t need a contractors license to do so. Learn how to make these small changes yourself, rather than hiring an expensive electrician for a simple job. While I wouldn’t recommend a complete rewire job on your first try, updating lighting—or even installing a ceiling fan—can be done safely.


The library is full of books explaining how electrical works and outlining the how-to for any electricity-related odd jobs. YouTube is another great source of information. Even better than a book, you can find a step by step video tutorial that you can watch again and again.


I’m sure I’ll hear from the electricians on the site who will say that it is not something to be messed with. They’ve surely got stories about homeowners who burned down their houses doing their own electric. And I’m sure that has happened. So if you aren’t comfortable with doing this kind of work, have someone who is more experienced help you out.


3. Basic plumbing


Plumbers make a lot of money. Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, plumbing was done with copper pipes, which had to be soldered together. This is definitely a skill I don’t recommend learning on the job. One mistake and the whole house is flooded.


But there is a new sheriff in the plumbing department, and he goes by the name of Sharkbite. I cannot tell you what sort of engineering magic goes into the Sharkbite fittings, but they have made copper pipe repair lightning fast. You literally take the pipe and shove it into the fitting. Turn the water back on and no leaks. It is ridiculous how easy it is. Of course, you will pay for the convenience—but still not as much as hiring a plumber.


Even better, supply lines can be plumbed with PEX (in most cities), which is far easier and cheaper than copper. PEX stands for cross-linked polyethylene. In reality, if your state allows you to use PEX, it stands for Preposterously Easy X…undertaking (nothing starts with an X). We re-plumbed our entire house using a book from the library and watching YouTube videos when we needed more instruction.


Sinks leak pretty darn often, and it’s not always because your tenants screwed up. Knowing how to handle runny faucets, a funky sprinkler system, or any other basic plumbing maintenance work will save time and money.


4. Tiling


Easily the skill that has benefited us the most is tiling—and it’s unbelievably simple to do. Lay mortar down, put the tile on top. There are nuances to this process, and I highly recommend watching several YouTube videos to see how it is done before you start in on your floor.


Many Home Depot and Lowe’s both offer free tiling classes about once a month. They let you learn with their supplies, showing you the right techniques. There is no limit to how many times you can take the class, either.


My advice: Take your time and use a level. Mix small batches of mortar at first, and don’t be afraid to throw some out if you can’t use it in time.


Additionally, I recommend buying a tile saw and learning how to use it. We paid $70 for our first saw about 10 years ago. Other than replacing the blade once, we haven’t had to do a thing to it. We have used it for more than 1,900 square feet of tile, including ceramic, glass, slate, and travertine.


5. Drywall repair


While hanging drywall from scratch can be an advanced-level DIY skill—bad results can be very obvious—every real estate investor should know how to do basic drywall repair. There’s absolutely no reason to pay your contractor money to repair a hole in the drywall left by an angry tenant (or a rambunctious kid, or a failed attempt at hanging a TV). Patching drywall is simple. And, as always, YouTube is happy to guide you in the right direction.


Keep spackle stocked for the small repairs. Once you know how to quickly patch a nail hole, there’s no need to panic about tenants hanging artwork against your wishes. Bigger holes take a bit more effort, but it’s nothing a handy DIYer can’t manage. You might have to cut out the drywall and go down to the stud in a small area. (Here’s a great Home Depot tutorial.) A saw, some drywall tape, and that ever-so-helpful spackle and you’re in business.


6. Simple carpentry


No one’s expecting you to create a to-order built-in shelving. But understanding the basics of woodworking will go a long way when you want to repair or update molding, attempt a DIY flooring installation or door installation, or patch rotting boards in your properties’ patios. Consider picking up a few basic tools, like a miter saw and a basic crosscut saw.


Plus, there’s a bonus to perfecting basic carpentry: Woodworking is an enjoyable hobby with lots of uses. If you find these simple repairs enjoyable, keep practicing. Soon enough, that built-in bookshelf might be no problem at all—you might even enjoy making furniture and building full decks.




Starting a career as a real estate investor certainly doesn’t require handyman training. Perfect these six easy trade skills, though, and you’ll be able to save significant money on one-time contractor fees. Is the stove misbehaving? Dining room chandelier flickering? Electrical training might help you identify the cause and make simple light repairs.


Source:   Bigger Pockets


Dusty Rhodes Properties is the Best Realtor in Myrtle Beach! We do everything in our power to help you find the home of your dreams. With experience, expertise, and passion, we are the perfect partner for you in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. We love what we do and it shows. With more than 22 years of experience in the field, we know our industry like the back of our hands. There’s no challenge too big or too small, and we dedicate our utmost energy to every project we take on. We search thousands of the active and new listings from Aynor, Carolina Forest, Conway, Garden City Beach, Longs, Loris, Murrells Inlet, Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Pawleys Island, and Surfside Beach real estate listings to find the hottest deals just for you!

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Here’s Where To Start if You’re Selling and Buying at the Same Time

By Dusty Rhodes • August 3, 2026
If you’re a homeowner getting ready to move , one question usually comes first: should you buy your next home before you sell, or sell your current house before you start looking? There’s no single right answer. The best call depends on your finances, your local market, and your timeline. And a trusted agent can help you weigh all of it. But in a lot of cases these days, selling first puts you in the stronger spot. The Advantages of Selling First Selling is usually the trickier half of a move today, so getting it done first clears your biggest hurdle. And that’s especially true right now , because there are more homes for sale than there are buyers, which means houses are taking longer to sell than they did a year or two ago. So how does leading with your sale pay off? Let’s start with the money. 1. You Won’t Get Stuck Paying Two Mortgages Buy before you sell, and you could end up carrying two mortgages at once. And especially since houses are staying on the market longer these days, that overlap may drag on for more time than you’d planned. And if unexpected repairs come up, it could get even more expensive. Selling first takes that risk off the table, so you’re not multitasking homeownership. As Ramsey Solutions puts it: “It’s best to sell your old home before buying a new one to avoid unnecessary risks and possible headaches.“ 2. You Can Use Your Equity To Fuel Your Move This is always true, but one of the biggest perks of selling first is that you’ll know exactly how much money you’re walking away with. And one of the big figures that matters in that conversation is how much equity you have in your current place. Equity is basically your house’s value minus what you still owe on your mortgage. And it adds up fast. According to Realtor.com , homeowners who’ve been in their home for 5 years have about $180,000 in equity on average. And those who’ve had their home for 6-10 years? They have over $340,000. After you sell, you can use that money to cover your down payment or even buy your next home in cash. And knowing that profit up front helps you plan your next move. 3. Your Offer Will Be Hard To Pass Up When your house is already sold, you don’t have to make your offer contingent on that sale. In a market where buyers are taking their time, that’s exactly what a seller wants to see. Picture it from the seller’s side. If their house has been sitting for a while, they’ll gravitate toward the offer most likely to close without a snag. That can also give you room to ask for a little more, like repairs, since a motivated seller would rather keep things moving than lose you and wait for another offer to come in. Your agent can help you make the most of your upper hand in that scenario. Is There a Catch? Selling first has its tradeoffs too, and it helps to see the pros and cons side by side before you decide. Here’s a quick breakdown based on information from Zillow (see visual below) : 

7 Reasons to Use Real Estate Drone Photography for Your Listing

By Dusty Rhodes • July 26, 2026
Online listing photos often shape a buyer’s first impression of a home. They want to understand the home’s setting, the size of the lot, and what makes the property unique before deciding whether it’s worth a visit. That’s one reason real estate drone photography has become a popular addition to many listings. That said, aerial photography isn’t a must-have for every home. Whether you’re selling a home in Houston, TX or listing a rental in Asheville, NC , knowing when to use this style of professional photography can help highlight the features that matter most to buyers. Here are seven situations where real estate drone photography can make a listing more compelling. Key takeaways: Best for homes where the setting is part of the selling point. Shows lot size, layout, and nearby amenities at a glance. Helps buyers visualize features that aren’t visible from the ground. Less valuable for standard homes on small lots. Should be performed by a licensed drone operator following local regulations. 1. The property sits on a large lot or acreage Large properties are difficult to capture from the ground. Aerial photos show the property’s full footprint and help buyers appreciate how much land they’re getting. Bradley Harkey, owner at LuxRE Photos , says drone photography is especially valuable for homes with room to grow. “Drone photography can really be essential when you are selling a home with a lot of land. A view from above can showcase the potential even when it’s not exactly obvious from the ground.” He says buyers often struggle to picture what an undeveloped yard could become. “Oftentimes an unprepped backyard can just look like a bunch of weeds to a potential buyer, but when seen from above, you can visualize where that pool can go, or that basketball hoop, or that go-kart track you always wanted as a kid. Some homes have so much potential, but it’s hard to see between the weeds.” Whether it’s acreage, an equestrian property , or simply a spacious backyard, aerial images help buyers see the property’s potential. 2. The home has waterfront views or scenic surroundings Some of a home’s best features aren’t visible from the front yard. Waterfront access, mountain views, wooded privacy, and distinctive architecture all benefit from an elevated perspective. Doug Smith, principal and founder of Houzpics LLC , explains, “Aerial photography is especially valuable for waterfront or estates with large, feature-rich lots, multi-story architecture, and homes with scenic surroundings. Aerial images help buyers understand the property’s layout and highlight features that traditional ground-level photos may not fully capture.” Rather than focusing only on the home, aerial photography showcases the entire setting.

Psychology says people who keep going back to the beach aren’t just relaxing, they may be restoring something deeper

By Dusty Rhodes • July 21, 2026
Some people enjoy the beach. Others seem drawn to it. They choose beach vacations over city breaks. They find excuses to visit the coast whenever they can. They feel calmer the moment they hear waves crashing or catch sight of the ocean on the horizon. Friends and family may joke that they're "obsessed" with the beach, but psychology suggests there may be more happening beneath the surface. For many people, a love of the beach is not simply about sunshine, swimming, or beautiful views. Research suggests that coastal environments may provide something the modern brain desperately needs: a chance to recover from constant mental demands. Attention Restoration Theory may explain the attraction to the beach One of the most influential explanations comes from Attention Restoration Theory, developed by environmental psychologists Rachel Kaplan and Stephen Kaplan. The theory suggests that everyday life requires large amounts of what researchers call directed attention. This is the mental effort people use to focus during meetings, answer emails, ignore distractions, make decisions, navigate traffic, and manage responsibilities. Over time, directed attention becomes fatigued. Natural environments appear to affect the brain differently. The Kaplans proposed that nature creates a state known as soft fascination. Instead of demanding concentration, environments such as beaches gently hold attention without effort. As a result, the brain gets an opportunity to recover from mental fatigue . For frequent beachgoers, this may help explain why a few hours by the ocean often feels more restorative than an entire day spent indoors. Research on blue spaces supports the idea Psychologists and public health researchers often use the term blue spaces to describe environments that contain visible water, including oceans, lakes, rivers, and coastlines. Over the past decade, a growing body of research has linked blue-space exposure to improved psychological well-being . A 2020 research, Blue space, health and well-being: A narrative overview and synthesis of potential benefits, led by environmental psychologist Mathew White has found that people who spend more time near coastal environments often report better mental health and higher life satisfaction. The authors propose that water environments may improve mental health through several connected pathways: Increased physical activity (people walk, swim, or move more near water) Psychological restoration (reduced mental fatigue and stress) Social interaction (waterfronts often encourage gathering and recreation) Environmental effects such as improved air quality and aesthetic satisfaction Importantly, the review also highlights that blue spaces share similarities with green spaces (like parks and forests), but water environments may have unique psychological effects due to their sensory characteristics and emotional associations. Why the ocean feels different from other environments Many people report feeling calmer almost immediately when they arrive at the beach. Psychologists believe part of the reason may be the unique combination of sensory experiences. The sound of waves is rhythmic and predictable. The horizon creates a sense of openness. The movement of water captures attention without overwhelming it. Unlike social media feeds, traffic, news alerts, and crowded urban environments, the beach provides relatively low levels of cognitive demand. In simple terms, the ocean gives the brain less work to do. That reduction in mental effort may help explain why people often describe feeling lighter, calmer, or more clear-headed after spending time near the water. Place Attachment Theory says beaches can become part of identity For some people, the connection goes beyond relaxation. Psychologists study a concept known as place attachment, which refers to the emotional bond people develop with specific locations. Certain places become connected to family memories, childhood experiences, important life events, or feelings of belonging. Over time, the beach may become more than a destination. It becomes part of a person's identity. This may explain why some individuals return to the same stretch of coastline year after year, even when countless other travel options are available.