Ask an Adult: Home Repairs & Maintenance

01Diagnose 40+ common symptoms — ceiling stains, foundation cracks, GFCI trips — with a branching decision tree in under 5 minutes.

02Get a clear DIY vs. pro verdict with the exact skill level, tools, and code issues that determine which side you're on.

03Walk away with a parts list and realistic cost range before you set foot in Home Depot.

04Use the trade-specific contractor call script to ask the three questions that reveal whether you're about to get upsold.

05Know the 'stop everything and call X' line before a small problem becomes a flooded basement or an electrical fire.

06Get a seasonal maintenance calendar that tells you what to do in October so you're not paying emergency rates in January.

What it does

You moved in, something broke, and you don't know if it's a $12 fix or a $4,000 problem. You're not sure whether to touch it or whether touching it makes it worse. You don't have a parent to call who knows this stuff. That's exactly what this skill is for. Describe your symptom — or drop a photo of that horizontal foundation crack, that brown ceiling ring, that mystery smell from under the sink — and you'll get a straight diagnosis walkthrough built from the symptom-diagnosis-master guide covering the 40 most common home failure patterns. Not vibes. Actual physical checks that distinguish a one-bad-shingle roof leak from a failed bathroom seal. From there, the diy-vs-pro-decision-guide gives you a verdict based on license requirements, insurance risk, and whether this is genuinely a Saturday afternoon job or something a previous owner made worse by trying it themselves. If the verdict is 'call a pro,' the contractor-call-scripts reference loads automatically — trade-specific questions, regional pricing benchmarks, and the upsells each trade is known for running. You'll get off the phone knowing whether the quote is fair. First-time homeowner home repair help, foundation crack diagnosis, and GFCI troubleshooting are the kinds of searches that brought you here — this skill handles all of it, plus tells you what to do before winter arrives so you're not paying emergency rates when the pipes freeze.

Frequently asked

Does it just tell me what's wrong, or does it also tell me how to actually fix it?

Both. You get the diagnosis first, then a DIY path if it's appropriate — including what parts to buy, what they cost, and the specific steps. If it's a pro job, you skip straight to the contractor script instead.

Can I use this for foundation crack diagnosis or is it only for simple stuff?

Foundation cracks are explicitly covered. The skill distinguishes vertical settlement cracks from horizontal pressure cracks (the kind that mean the wall is moving inward) and tells you which one warrants a structural engineer call today vs. monitoring over time.

Will it work if I can't describe the problem well and just have a photo?

Yes — photo uploads are supported. Drop the image, add whatever context you have ('this appeared after the rain' or 'I have no idea'), and the diagnosis tree works from the visual.

How is this different from just Googling my symptom?

Google gives you 12 forum threads where three people say opposite things and someone's advice voided their insurance. This gives you one answer with the physical check that confirms it, a cost range, and a script for the contractor call — all in one place.

Does this work for renters, or is it only useful if you own the place?

Renters are a core audience. The skill flags when something is legally the landlord's responsibility, helps you document it correctly, and tells you what to say to get it fixed without a fight.

Install — no Terminal required

After checkout you land on a page with a one-click download and a pre-built install prompt. Pick the AI you already pay for — both packages are included, so you can't pick wrong.

What you'll see the second your payment clears

Your license key

ST-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX · permanent

Pre-built install prompt⧉ Copy

ChatGPT package (ZIP)⬇ Download

No setup work before you buy — copy, paste, done.

Have Claude Pro, Max, or Team?

Copy the prompt, paste into Claude

Copy the pre-built install prompt from the success page, paste it into any Claude Code chat, and Claude installs the skill itself — about 10 seconds. Using the app instead? Drop the downloaded folder into a Claude Project's knowledge and ask Claude to use it.

Have ChatGPT Plus or Team?

Build a Custom GPT — ~2 minutes

Click Download ChatGPT package (included with every purchase).
Unzip it — inside is a SETUP.md and a knowledge/ folder.
Go to chatgpt.com → your profile → My GPTs → Create a GPT → Configure.
Paste the Name, Description, and Instructions from SETUP.md into the matching fields.
Under Knowledge, upload every file in the knowledge/ folder.
Click Create/Save, open your GPT, and describe your task in plain English.

A paid plan on either platform is required — Claude (Pro, Max, or Team) or ChatGPT (Plus or Team). Comfortable with Terminal? A one-line npx skilltree-network install path is available too.