Home ownership can be an intimidating adventure. Just committing yourself to hundreds of thousands of dollars and a mortgage payment for next 30 years will give you pause. Here is a breakdown of the right tools.
In addition to buying a house, many new homeowners worry about potential repairs and maintenance. Even the best house will need some type of work to transform it from a house to your home. Having the right tools to get things done is a must for any homeowner. The following is a list of “Must Have” tools to help when working around your castle:
Tools Needed:
Cordless Drill
Battery technology has come a long way in the last few years. The uses for a cordless drill/driver are virtually endless. It’s rare for me to do much of anything around my own house without grabbing my drill at some point. If you think you might be the handyman/handy-woman type, consider purchasing a cordless combo set with a drill, saw, etc.
Tape Measure
There’s a famous saying in the construction industry that says, “measure twice, cut once.” Anyone who has done much construction work will quickly agree with this concept. Tape measures are pretty simple but buy one at least 25’ long and make sure the numbers are easy to read.
Level
Similar to a tape measure, you would be hard pressed to complete a project and be happy with the results without getting it level. Levels come in different sizes but a 3’ level should work for most projects.
Screwdrivers
A screwdriver is probably the most basic tool every homeowner should have. There are a few different types but not so many that you can’t have one of each. Phillips, flat blade, square head and star type should round out your collection to get most projects completed.
Electrical Testers
A voltage sniffer and a basic “wiggie” contact tester go a long way in keeping you from getting “zapped” when working on outlets and other fixtures in your new house.
Stud Finder
This handy device only works on 2x4s not guys. Being able to quickly and accurately locate the wall studs around your house will save you a lot of frustration. Hanging pictures, installing television mounts, and many other projects are made considerably easier even with an inexpensive stud finder.
Hammers
Another of my favorite sayings is “anything will fit with a big enough hammer.” While this isn’t always the best advice, a good assortment of hammers and rubber mallets is a must to getting things done around the house. Consider having a small ball peen hammer for little projects, a 16 oz hammer for nails, and a small sledgehammer for larger demo work or driving stakes in the yard.
Straight Edge, Chalk Line and Squares
Similar to having a level, being able to mark out square/level lines is a must. Cutting sheets of plywood or other stock accurately is a must for many projects and these inexpensive tools will get you started in the right direction.
A Shop Vacuum
Working around a house can make a considerable mess of dust and construction debris. Standard household vacuums are not made to pick-up construction debris and if you try you will likely ruin your vacuum.
An Internet Connection
I’m not that old but when I bought my first house the internet wasn’t even invented. The education available these days with just a few mouse clicks is truly amazing. I promise that any problem you are having in your house has already been conquered by some other poor soul and you will find step by step instructions which get you out of just about any jam.