This isn't a 'how-to' manual, as such.  It's more of an overview of the jobs so you can gauge for yourself whether or not you want to tackle them.  If I think there's a chance you'll get over your head, I'll tell you so.  Otherwise, as you'll see, the vast majority of home repairs are actually fairly simple. 

I was a sub-contractor for 14 years in San Jose, working primarily for property management firms and homeowners associations.  It was actually terrific, as I didn't have to worry about bouncing checks, and, because the people at home weren't the ones paying me, everything was very casual and friendly. 

In that 14 years, I had one call-back.  A faucet supply line was defective and started leaking after I left.  The tenant called me, I had her turn off the water under the sink, then I replaced it the next day.  That's it for call-backs over a fourteen-year period. 

I attribute this fine record to quality parts and doing the job by the book.  Scrimp now, pay later. 

Some miscellaneous tips: 

Always use new washers, gaskets, o-rings, etc, whenever you can.  It's a terrible place to save a buck.

  

Along the same lines, use quality parts.  If you buy a faucet supply line at the Dollar Store and it bursts while you're out at the movies a year later and causes $20,000 worth of flood damage, who ya gonna blame?  The Dollar Store, for selling you something worth a dollar?

  

I harp on surface preparation in some of the sections, but this really goes true throughout the handyman realm.  Whatever it is, get rid of the old crap and get things back to original.  The job will not only go more quickly, but your chances of having something go wrong down the road are greatly diminished.

  

There are two sides to the old expression, "Use the proper tool for the proper job":

  
When I got into handymanning, I heard the expression, "When in doubt, use a bigger hammer."  As the budding professional, I scoffed at such a notion.  "Pshaw!  The true professional always uses the proper tool!" 
  
Fourteen years later, I would have used a rock as a hammer if one had been nearby.  Yes, in general, you want to use the proper tool, but if you're out fixing some fence in a place that no one ever sees and suddenly you need to bend some bracket and your hammer's way up in the van, sure, pick up a rock and smack it a good one.