Tools every home owner should have. If you’ve just moved into your first home or will be soon, stocking up your toolbox may not necessarily be at the top of your priority list. But, it should be.
As a home owner, there are tons of things that could go wrong at any time and the last thing you’ll want is to be stuck with nothing on hand to solve a problem. In addition, with thousands (if not millions) of videos on YouTube available to show you how to tackle simple tasks around the house, you’ll be empowered to take care of some things yourself rather than leaning on family, friends or a costly repairman.
Tools every home owner should have – let’s look at the top 15. And, I should add, it’s important to make sure you’re using the right tool for the job. Otherwise, you could put yourself in a potentially unsafe position or one that takes longer to do (round hole, square peg type of idea).
So, here they are!
DON’T MOVE ANYTHING WITHOUT MEASURING FIRST
Before you even move into your new home, you should make sure you bring a tape measure so you can double check the dimensions of each room. This is especially important if you plan on buying any new furniture (keep in mind not to rack up any new debt before your home closes however as that could create a set of issues when it comes to your mortgage broker or bank!).
In terms of length, tools every homeowner should have includes a 25ft tape. This will generally take care of anything you need to measure inside your home and out. In addition, try to find one that breaks down the fractions of an inch as far down to 1/16. This will help you can focus on what you need to measure any worry let about the tiny little tick marks along the tape for precision.
Credit – WiseUp
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A HAMMER
When you’re moving into a new home, you’ll want to have a hammer on hand to hang pictures, mirrors etc., You need them to close paint cans, pull out nails and in some cases, hammer things into the ground. If I had to put any tool at the top of the list of tools that every homeowner should have, the hammer would be it.
Keep in mind that there are also various types of hammers. These include a ball-peen, a mallet as well as a sledge hammer. It’s the 16oz claw hammer with a head that’s split and curved on one side it the one that you’ll find you need most and it isn’t too heavy to work with. The others noted can be added to your toolbox and list of tools every home owner needs later on.
Credit – Canadian Tire
PAIR OF PLIERS
Tools every home owner should have would not be complete without a pair of pliers (or even an entire set). If you’re not ready for a full set then just start with a standard three-piece set to start. This will include a 6” slip joint, a needle nose plier as well as a diagonal (also known as a cutter). Pliers will help you get a grip on anything. This is important when you’re working in tight, small spaces. Diagonal are great if and when you need to cut any wiring or cables.
In addition to the pliers listed above, tongue and groove pliers are important as well. These pliers are adjustable which means they are good to tighten any threaded fittings. These can be found in sink drains, turning handles or valves. Think of them as your plumbing pliers ??
Credit – Home Depot
SCREWDRIVERS CAN SAVE THE DAY
If you aren’t ready to invest in a big set of screwdrivers, at least start with a handy four in one. You could find yourself needing this to assemble furniture (or toys, if you have kids), change batteries or tighten hinges on cabinet doors. With a four in one screwdriver, there should be double sided bits including a couple of Phillips heads along with a couple of flat heads. These can be very easily swapped in and out of the handle.
Credit – Amazon
LAY IT ALL OUT WITH A LEVEL
You may not think a level is a super important tool as a home owner, but you really need at least a couple in your arsenal. Ideally a smaller one that is 6-8 inches long as well as a larger one, ideally around 4 feet. The smaller of the two is great to hand pictures, shelves etc. The longer one could be for bigger pieces of furniture or even leveling larger outdoor projects such as pavers or even a hot tub!
Credit – How Stuff Works
THE SITUATION WITH SOCKET WRENCH SETS
You could be wondering, how is a socket wrench any different from a conventional wrench. Well, it does the same job, only better. You really don’t need to buy a huge kit of wrenches, you just really need a single handle with removable sockets that come in variable sizes. A socket wrench like this, with its ratcheting handle will let you turn a bolt or nut without repositioning the tool on the fastener (as you would need to do with a regular wrench) if there isn’t enough room for a full circle. A set with 25 sockets should cover you in just about any situation. They are a must on the list of tools every home owner needs.
Credit – Amazon
PAINTING MADE PERFECT
If you’re moving into a new home, there’s a good chance you have some painting in your future. One of the best tools to have for these kinds of jobs is a five-in-one painter’s tool. This relatively inexpensive contraption is amazing. It looks similar to a putty knife since it has a wide/flat blade and it also has a point for gouging. It also has a square end opposite of this point and a curved cutout. If you’re wondering why this is useful, this tool can be used as a bottle or can opener, to scrape, clean paint rollers, act as a screwdriver and even help unstick windows that have been painted shut.
Credit – Next Day Inspect
CORDLESS DRILL
Of all the powertools a homeowner needs, the unassuming cordless drill has to be my favourite. Say good bye to the allen key that comes in every box of furniture! I’d recommend investing in a cordless drill with interchangeable bits. They start fairly low in cost, around $40, and they generally have good long-lasting rechargeable batteries. If it costs extra, getting the full set of bit including drill, hex head, star head and screwdriver will make it as efficient and as versatile as possible.
Credit – Dewalt
MAKE LESS MESS WITH A MAGNETIC STUD FINDER
Don’t go putting a bunch of holes in the wall until you have a magnetic stud finder. Don’t know what a stud is? Well, it’s the wooden frame holding up your wall. When you want to hang an item, especially a heavy one, you’ll want to drill into the stud, not just the regular drywall. Otherwise, the item may fall and you’ll end up damaging your wall unnecessarily. A magnetic stud finder is inexpensive (around $10). You move it over the wall and should stick to the screws/nails in the wood framing.
Credit – Amazon
ALLEN KEY SET
Of all the tools you may need, I probably like the allen key the least, but sometimes, it’s the only thing that will do the trick. Now sure what an allen key is? If you’ve ever bought furniture from Ikea, then you’ll know what this tiny tool is. Also known as a hex key, the allen key is used for turning bolts and screws that have hexagonal sockets. They are generally used for tightening assembled furniture, towel rods etc. To get it extra tight, you can also put it into your drill.
Credit – Home Depot
UNPACK WITH A UTILITY KNIFE
You shouldn’t need to damage your kitchen cutlery opening boxes; there’s a utility knife for that. They are retractable knives that come with replacement blades that allow you to cut through everything from tape and cardboard to rope, foam and much more. Tools every home owner needs can sometimes be as simple as these helpful items.
Credit – Canadian Tire
WD-40
What do you think you could possibly need WD-40 for? You’d be surprised. This blend of lubricants and anti-corrosion can be used to quiet or totally silence doors and hinges blamed for making a lot of noise. You can also use it for lubricating locks, loosening bolts or zippers that are stuck. You can even use it to remove crayon marks or stains on some surfaces. Just make sure you read the bottle so you don’t create any damage.
Credit – PartSource
DUCT TAPE
This may be the simplest tool of them all but one that’s super handy to have around. Duct tape is the ultimate adhesive used to seal up boxes, corral cords, patch up holes and more. You can also find it in plenty of different colours to match whatever you’re trying to patch up.
Credit – Amazon
Once you’ve compiled your tool kit, make sure you stay organized. Invest in a heavy duty duffel bag, tool box or even a large paint bucket to store everything in. If you have the space, you can even set up a small work shop to stay nice and organized. The longer you’re a home owner, the more likely it is for your tool collection to grow. I hope you’ve found this article “Tools Every Home Owner Needs” to be helpful as you start down this path!
If you liked this article, here are a few others you may enjoy:
– Home Renovations That Will Increase Your Property Value
– Home Safety Tips
– Home Owner Tips for Reno and Repair Rebates
If you’ve been thinking about taking the next step in your home ownership journey, let’s talk! I can be reached at 647.896.6584 or info@serenaholmesrealtor.com or by filling out this simple contact form. I’d love to help find you a house to turn into your perfect home!
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