Drywall takes a lot of abuse: doorknobs, moving furniture, a house settling over time, and in Los Angeles, the occasional earthquake. Most damage is cosmetic, but knowing what you're looking at helps you decide what to fix and when.
Hairline cracks running diagonally from the corners of doors and windows are common after a house settles or shakes. They're usually cosmetic. Taping, mudding, and sanding them properly holds up far better than filling them with caulk or spackle, which tends to crack again.
Nail pops, small round bumps in a neat line, happen when framing lumber shrinks or shifts. The fix is to re-secure the drywall with a screw next to the popped nail, then patch and paint.
Holes from doorknobs or wall anchors need a proper patch, then texture matching. Most LA homes have some texture, whether orange peel, knockdown, or skip trowel, and a smooth patch on a textured wall stands out once it's painted.
Water stains or soft, bulging drywall are different: they mean moisture. Get the leak fixed first, then cut out and replace the damaged section. If you're not sure what a crack or stain means, we'll take a look during a free estimate.