Whether you own or lease your home, you’ll need to handle some basic maintenance tasks. It’s good to have a basic tool set for various household tasks. Keep them in a tool bag, box or a belt with pouches. Ensure they’re stored in one location to easily find them during an emergency and return them afterward.
Essential Tools
• Plunger: Essential for unclogging toilets and sinks.
• Utility Knife: Handy for cutting materials like cardboard, drywall, and plastic. Get replacement blades too.
• Flashlight: Useful for work in dark or dimly lit areas, especially during power outages. Have extra batteries.
• Hammer: A versatile tool for driving nails, removing nails, and light demolition work. Handles can be wood or metal.
• Tape Measure: Essential for measuring dimensions accurately for various projects. Available in many lengths.
• Extension Cord: Provides flexibility for working in areas without nearby power outlets. A 100-foot cord is ideal.
• Screwdriver Set: Screwdrivers adjust screw tightness. Have both flathead and Phillips head in various sizes.
• Adjustable Crescent Wrench: The single tool is useful for tightening or loosening nuts and bolts of different sizes.
• Step Ladder: Allows safe access to higher areas for tasks like changing light bulbs or accessing storage.
• Duct Tape and Electrical Tape: Versatile for temporary fixes and small repairs. They are not interchangeable.
• WD-40 or Similar Lubricant: Helps loosen rusted or stuck parts and prevents squeaks in hinges and locks.
• Pliers Set: Includes regular pliers, needle-nose pliers, and locking pliers for gripping, bending, and cutting wires.
• Putty knife: Works as a scraper, cutter and spreader.
• Cordless Drill/Driver: Makes drilling holes, driving screws, minor grinding, and mixing paint faster and easier.
• Work Gloves and Safety Glasses: Protect your hands and eyes during various maintenance tasks.
• Safety Equipment: Dust mask, ear protection, and specialized gloves are advised depending on the task.
Overlooked Tools
• Water Main Key and T-bar: The key opens the meter box, and the T-bar shuts off a house’s main water valve for repairs.
• Voltage Tester: Essential for checking if electrical circuits are live before working on them.
• Stud Finder: Helps locate studs behind walls to hang heavy items securely. It can also detect electrical lines.
• Level: Ensures pictures, shelves, and other items are hung straight both vertically and horizontally.
• Painter’s 5-in-1 Tool: Functions as a paint roller cleaner, paint can opener, putty knife, scraper and gouger.
• Square: Accurately measures in inches and centimeters, verifies right angles, and has a metal edge for straight lines.
• Caulk Gun: Essential to seal gaps and cracks around windows, doors, and other surfaces. See “Let’s Talk Caulk.”
• Pipe Wrench: Preferred for plumbing repairs and installations. Adjustable head grips and turns pipes.
• Rubber Mallet: Ideal for assembling furniture or tapping items into place without damaging them.
• Hacksaw: Handy for cutting through metal pipes, rods, and other materials. Has a fine-toothed, hardened blade.
• Wire Stripper: Necessary for easily removing insulation from electrical wires for repairs or installations.
• Sheet Metal Snips (scissors): Makes straight and curved manual cuts through various sheet metals and plastic.
• Drill Bit Set: It’s not required in an apartment but will be necessary for all other housing. See “Let’s Drill Into Bits.”
A major remodel, anything involving high voltage, or gas pipes should be handled by licensed and trained professionals. However, these tools can save you time and money during emergencies or while tackling projects around the house.
I've Got Your Six!
Mark M. Hancock, GRI, MRP, AHWD
REALTOR, New Build certified
214-862-7212
DFWmark.com
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