I'm also a VW novice, been driving for years and never tinkered. This site is excellent, and some you tube videos have been helpful.
So far Ive change the grab handle and found the videos on you tube really helpful, nothing beats watching how one does it. Try and search on VW Golf Mk5 door panel removal, which will then will show you how he removes the handles, this should give you some idea.
my 2 cents as a noob