I always double the amount of time it takes to take something off. I like to take things slow at first, go through all the steps and just make sure everything is being removed safely. For example i sat for ten minutes looking at an electrical connector so i can get it of without breaking it. Eventually I will buy all the special tools there are.
What about a torque wrench? Or is that too obvious to mention?
The guy at Mr. Tire said they don't use torque wrenches often. Even on engine jobs. The only thing that would make me more confident doing some jobs is a torque wrench. I changed my friend's coolant elbows with a small ratchet and two sockets lol. No torque wrench but it scares me when i think about the fact that something can be warped or a bolt may have vibrated out because I tightened it by hand. I did that job MONTHS ago.