Learn how to do necessary repairs properly yourself, there is lots of advise, help both in book and electronic form (YouTube and other Web Sites) available.
Additional popular home improvement outlets provide free how to do courses.
In the moment you call a 'professional' you start paying big time, whether he or she does a good job or not. 
Also stay away from the going 'handyman specials' at the moment selling for exorbitant prices pending on location, especially old buildings with plumbing and electricity from 50-100 years ago, with crumbling, leaking basement walls, this would require not only repairs but sometimes demolition with a new start, out of hand for most regular working or retired homeowners.