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Although not to code, you can cut a trench in the drywall and run the wire through it. Then tape over the trench, mud sand and paint. However if anyone ever puts a screw in that wall, they will hit the wire. Although it is low voltage and amperage, and not likely to hurt anyone, it woudl ruin the wire to put a screw through it. You could also put a safety plate over the wire, but it would be pretty hard to make the safety plate disappear. I good drywall man could do it. For someone like me, it woudl take a lot of tries to get it right. I would also stick the safety plate down with adhesive. You do not want it to pop after you paint.
If you are lucky and the wire is 5" from the next stud, then it can be pretty east to just punch a new hole and move the wire over. However if the wire needs to penetrate the stud, then you have a mess. Also if your wire does not have 5" of slack, you will have a problem moving the thermostat. You could tie into the wire, but that might require an expose J- box. I am not sure whether that requirement applies to low voltage.
Personally, I would just to the trench and safety plate or tape method.
And yes, any handyman should be able to do this. Some will be better at figuring out less expensive alternatives than others. Some will just rip out the drywall and replace it.
I removed both the old programmable thermostat and the evaporative cooler controlers when I got a new furnace and central a/c. I had my nephew patch the whole where my evap cooler control was and just had the furnace guys install the new thermostat where the old one was in the hallway.
The new thermostat is one that lights up when the screen is touched, or it can be set to always stay backlit. I hated not being able to see information when passing through the hallway so I set it to always stay lit. Makes a great nightlight for late night trips to the bathroom, but the glow (although not that bright) shines right into the master, right where I'm sleeping. Wished I'd have thought about this when getting the new furnace.
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