The first house I ever bought was what’s called a “landlord special.” It was a rental before we owned it, but the term really stems from the terrible Band-Aid fixes to every problem on the property. We learned how to do just about every type of home project while we lived there, from removing carpet and laying tile to hanging a kitchen cabinet.
Not everyone is into the DIY approach, but even the most common household tasks (and emergencies!) often require some use of tools. Hanging a picture, replacing an outlet cover, repainting a room — if you don’t want to call in a pro every time, you’ll need a toolbox. But if the word “jigsaw” makes you think of puzzles instead of projects, no need to panic; we’re talking about the basics. Here’s what to keep handy.
Tape measure. This is essential even if you haven’t bought or rented your place yet. Take a tape measure with you to showings so you can measure the rooms and figure out if your furniture will fit. Measuring apps are great for small things like photos and posters, but they get less accurate in larger spaces.
Stud finder. Save your walls by using a stud finder before you hang heavy items, like large framed art or load-bearing shelves. Don’t buy the cheapest one — it’s a pretty important item.
Cordless drill. Corded drills can be more powerful than cordless, but when you have any kind of outside task with no outlets nearby, they really come in handy. And you may want to get a specific kind, suggests Steve DeLeon, who knows plenty about working on houses through years of experience with real estate investments. (He now helps others learn how to invest in real estate through his North Texas business, MCM University.)
“If your house is brick and you’re going to hang some things on the outside … you’re going to want an impact drill,” he notes. Make sure you get a set of drill bits suitable for interior and exterior surfaces, especially if you have a brick or stone exterior.
6- or 8-foot ladder. While it won’t fit in a toolbox, a mid-sized ladder is another must. Dusting, changing out smoke detector batteries, cleaning out gutters — a ladder is much safer than dragging over a piece of furniture to reach out-of-the-way places.
Wet-dry vacuum. This gadget can help clean up wet messes before they do major damage, and you can also use it for everyday chores like blowing out dryer vents or cleaning your vehicle. Once you know what kind of filter you need, set up a recurring purchase every six months to a year at your favorite online retailer. (You’ll never remember what kind you need when you’re at the store.)
Screwdriver set. Screwdrivers come in handy for a variety of small tasks: tightening a door handle, changing a light fixture or hanging a curtain rod, for example. A good screwdriver set will last you a really long time, but only if you put everything back after you use it. Look for one that has all the parts inside it and swaps from Phillips to flathead in seconds. You also want a variety of sizes when it comes to screwdrivers. There are large and small flatheads; there are also screwdrivers with different handles that allow you to get into awkward spaces. You can even get motorized ones that turn on their own, like a miniature drill.
Water shutoff key. “Let’s say a faucet broke and now you can’t get it to turn off, or there’s something with the dishwasher — now you’ve got water that’s spewing onto your floor,” posits DeLeon. “A water shutoff key would be something that I would always have handy, because that’s something that in an emergency, you go to the meter and cut the water off. … Then you can call a plumber to come and help fix that issue.”
Multimeter. This is a handy little tool that you can plug into an outlet and see if it’s getting power, which is essential if you’re doing repairs with anything electric. It can also help you diagnose a problem before you decide to call an electrician.
Pliers. A good pair of pliers comes in handy for all sorts of things that are stuck, jammed or bent. You can also use them to hold something in place while you adjust or tighten something else, like a closet pull or a piece of pipe.
Adjustable wrench. Anything in your home with a bolt can be fixed with an adjustable wrench. It’s also useful if you’re changing out bathroom or kitchen faucets.
Hammer. A claw hammer is the most common type of hammer. It has a long back that can be used to pry things up or apart, or to get nails out of walls. You can even use one to pull stubborn weeds.
Pipe snake. A small pipe snake can help you fix drain clogs before you get a plumber involved at $150 an hour or more. It can also be used on dryer vents, slow-draining pipes, drains with an odor or those that are bubbling or gurgling.
Drop light. A drop light is just a light fixture on an extension cord, but it’s super handy for bringing light to dim places when you’re trying to make repairs. They generally have hooks on them, so you don’t need someone to hold the light steady like you do with a flashlight.
Extension cord. “Let’s say you have a refrigerator in the garage and you lose power for some reason in the garage. Well, you need an extension cord for something like that,” says DeLeon. Always buy one more than you need, and don’t go for the least expensive options on these, either. Cheap extension cords are prone to cracking and breaking. Store them in a temperature-controlled area if you want them to last as long as possible.
