10 Must-Have Tools for Homeowners

When you own your home, things are going to break. Unless you want to spend your money on visits from a neighborhood handyman, you’re going to need to fix them yourself. Luckily, you don’t need an arsenal of tools to handle most home maintenance fixes. These ten tools will cover most of your basic projects.

1. Cordless drill. A cordless drill is a must-have for installing cabinets, drawer pulls, hinges, picture frames, shelves and hooks, and more. Whether it’s for do-it-yourself projects or repairs, you’ll use your cordless drill just about every month.
   
   
2. Drain cleaners. Shower and bathroom sink drains are susceptible to clogs because of the daily buildup of hair and whisker clippings. You can use chemical clog removers like Drano, but they’re expensive and the lingering chemical scent is unpleasant. Instead, buy some plastic drain cleaners that can reach into the drain to pull out the clog of hair and gunk. You can purchase them on Amazon or at a local hardware store for a low price.
   
   
3. Shop-vac. No matter how careful you are, spills and accidents will happen and there are some tasks that just can’t be handled with paper towels or a standard vacuum, like pet messes or broken glass.
   
   
4. Loppers. Even the minimum amount of care for your landscaping will require some loppers to remove damaged branches, vines, thick weeds, and any other unruly plants in your yard.
   
   
5. Flashlight. You’re going to want something a little more powerful than your iPhone flashlight when you’re in the crawlspace!
   
   
6. Plunger. This is one tool you may not think to have on hand until you need it and at that point you don’t want to have to run next door and ask a neighbor to barrow.
   
   
7. Measure tape. We’ve all heard the phrase “measure twice, cut once...” This applies to laying out furniture as well, so it’s helpful to measure first and buy later. If you’re looking to rearrange or bring in new furniture, keep this tool handy.
   
   
8. Level. When it comes to finding a level surface, guessing is not an exact science.  Whether you’re hanging a picture frame or a 60-inch plasma screen TV, you want to get it right the first time.
   
   
9. Utility knife. You can use it to open boxes, trim the edges of the carpet or remove the paint around the windows. It’s something you appreciate even more when you have it.
   
   
10. Hammer. Use it to attach a painting on the wall, to remove or pound nails or to even take down a wall. A hammer will last you a lifetime and more.