It doesn’t matter if you are the King of DIY or you are just starting out with your first studio apartment and need to get yourself on the way to tool ownership, all homeowners should have a full basic toolkit.
To help get you started, here are our top tips!
A Ladder
That’s right – we said took KIT, not tool BOX. The best place to start is with a ladder for one good reason; safety. Some of the most common injuries incurred in the home during repair work are caused because the DIYer should have been using a ladder.
It doesn’t have to be one of those ladders on TV that transform into a million different configurations, but it should be good enough to stop you from using the chair to reach higher.
A Screwdriver Set
Yes, we said SET. But this doesn’t mean that you should head down to your local hardware store and buy every size and shape you can find. Instead, browse through the Groupon Coupons page for Home Depot and look for small sets where each different attachment can be switched on a single screwdriver head. This is a great way to get a large number of tools in one handy device.
Wrench
Don’t worry – we aren’t expecting you to perform your own plumbing maintenance. However, if you return home to find a leak has flooded your apartment then you will at least need the tools to fix it.
If you think you will enjoy fixing things more than most, consider purchasing a set of different sizes. Otherwise, look for one which you can adjust to match the size you need. This is a great everything-in-one option if you don’t need to do a lot of work with it.
Pliers
I’ll just use the scissors! This is a sentiment said by many a homeowner when attempting to maneuver an object when they don’t have a pair of pliers. As you can imagine, and likely remember, it doesn’t get you very far.
For this reason, a simple and small pair of pliers is going to be a great addition to yours took kit. If you feel like splurging, a regular set and needle-point tips will give you a good range of tasks and repairs you can perform.
Hammer
This one can often go forgotten simply because of its simplicity. However, a hammer has a range of uses. Its primary use will be to hammer in nails as you work. However, use a small cloth on a table leg and give it a tap with a hammer to help adjust it. Similarly, a hammer can also help to remove lids which have become stuck on their bottles. The uses for a hammer are endless, and they are extremely cheap.
As you can imagine, you are going to need more than five items. However, tools aren’t always cheap and growing your collection could take time. However, these are great items to start you off and give you a good range of available repairs you can complete.
