Tools new homeowners should own

Part of the joy of buying a first house is owning a piece of property and having the freedom to manage the landscape and decorate the interior without needing the permission of the landlord. Along with the joyous accomplishment of becoming a homeowner is taking on the responsibility of the maintenance and upkeep of the property. Leaky faucets, loose ceiling tiles, overgrown hedges and other regular maintenance jobs are now the homeowner's responsibility and these responsibilities require tools to get the jobs done. Listed below are a few tools to start with that will help complete basic routine tasks.

POWER DRILL AND DRILL BITS

Some work needs to be done even before moving into the new home. At the very least locks need to be changed, curtains need to be hung and beds need to be put together. These jobs will be finished much faster and easier with a power drill/driver. A good set of drill bits will drill holes of various sizes as needed and the drill can also be used for screwdriving with straight and Phillips head tips. Power tools are great for finishing projects quickly and easily but require more safety precautions than hand tools. Always follow the safety and usage guidelines that are provided by the manufacturer.

MEASURING TAPE

A measuring tape is an inexpensive measuring device that is compact, flexible and can measure longer lengths than a ruler or yardstick. Closets, doorways and stairways may need to be measured before trying to fit large pieces of furniture into a particular room. Also, measure any laundry or kitchen areas before purchasing appliances to make sure they'll fit through doorways and designated spaces. Windows need to be measured for window treatments as well and rooms need to be measured for floor coverings and wallpaper. Once moved in, measuring tapes will continue to be useful in countless situations and projects around the house and yard.

HAMMER

Mark Petersen writing for Family Handyman says, "A hammer is a tool most often used to drive in nails, spikes and stakes. It's also used for demolition tasks like pulling nails and breaking up concrete." A new homeowner will find a hammer useful for securing brackets for window treatments and putting together furniture. Hammers

are such a necessity around the house that a new homeowner may already own one and will get even more use out of it as a homeowner rather than a tenant.

SCREWDRIVER SET

A good set of screwdrivers with a variety of sizes and heads is another invaluable set of tools to own. The most common are flat head, Phillips head and hex key. The type of screw head determines which screwdriver and which size needed. For example, Bob Vila.com says, “Hex-head screws are typically small and commonly found in doorknobs, towel bars, faucet handles, even some mechanical installations and require a hex key screwdriver (also called an Allen screwdriver) to tighten or loosen.” It’s handy to have a good variety of screwdrivers on hand for when a repair project becomes necessary.

SET OF PLIERS

A basic set of pliers consisting of needle-nose pliers, slip-joint pliers, diagonal pliers, and groove-joint pliers is invaluable around the house. Sal Vagliga writing for ThisOldHouse.com says, “Use them to straighten bent power-cord plugs, replace old showerheads, slice wiring, and get a good grip on just about anything.” There are many more types of pliers to add to the toolbox, but these basic types will be used repeatedly over the years.

HAND SAW

Different projects require different saws. A traditional hand saw is handy for cutting lengths of wood by hand and is a good choice for the home saw collection. According to LeRoy Demarest writing for familyhandyman.com, “A hacksaw is a hand-powered, small-toothed saw used for cutting metalpipes, rods, brackets, etc. Hacksaws can also cut through plastic.” Different blades with different size teeth are available for the type of material being cut.

TOOLBOX

A new homeowner may have dreams of a fully stocked work area in the basement or garage, but to get started a small inexpensive toolbox will easily hold the tools listed above and more. A small toolbox is great for keeping essential tools in an organized easily transportable container. Home centers also sell toolboxes as a kit already loaded with the basic tools all homeowners will need. Keeping tools organized and remembering to return them to the toolbox after use will save time and energy when the next project presents itself.

WHEELBARROW

Homeowners with nearly any size yard, large or small, will benefit from owning a wheelbarrow. BobVila.com says, “In a small yard, a wheelbarrow might only be occasionally useful, but on larger properties, one-wheeled helpmates of this kind are virtually essential.” Easily move dirt, rocks, brush, snow, garden tools or anything else that would be difficult to carry by hand from one place in the yard to another. Easily moving supplies from the car to the porch can also be easier with a wheelbarrow. A little research will educate a new homeowner on which style is best for them.

STEPLADDER

Changing lightbulbs in ceiling lights, hanging window treatments, painting and wallpapering are just a few tasks that require the need for a stepladder. Climbing onto a chair or other piece of furniture instead of using a proper ladder can result in needless injuries and other damages. Follow the manufacturer’s guidance printed on the side of the ladder or on the manufacturer’s website. When choosing a ladder make sure it’s the right type for the job and for the user’s height, weight and reach.

Becoming a homeowner is an exciting accomplishment that also requires an investment in repairs, upkeep and the tools needed to get the jobs done.