While we often discuss the importance of a home inspection, especially when you are buying a new home, it is also important to maintain your home. Routine maintenance can keep your systems running smoothly – and help keep issues from decreasing the value of your home. This is especially helpful when you are ready to sell, since a properly-maintained home can also mean fewer issues noted during an inspection, which will make your future buyers more comfortable choosing your property.
Not everyone can be a natural handyman. No one expects you to have built your home yourself with nothing but a bucket full of nails and a pile of lumber. At the same time, there are some things that every homeowner should have in their arsenal for quick and dirty DIY home maintenance. There are, of course, countless tools you might need, but here are some of the most important must-have tools for your home that you shouldn’t do without.
Safety First
Before you begin, you need to take steps to ensure you’ll be safe from harm. That means a full array of standard safety gear: sturdy work gloves, safety goggles or some other sort of eye protection, and a respirator or a pack of disposable paper face masks. You also might want a good pair of steel-toed boots, as the last thing you want is to drop a heavy tool on a bare or sandaled foot!
Other tools you’ll need include a solid pocket flashlight so you can see what you’re doing in cramped, dark spaces. Also, get a good first-aid kit stocked with plenty of bandages in the event that you pick up a few cuts and scrapes along the way.
Screw This
Next, you’ll need tools for managing nuts, bolts, and screws. A reversible screwdriver that features both Philips and flat-head screw bits is a great all-in-one tool, as is an adjustable wrench and a pair of slip-joint pliers. A compact combination wrench rounds out this category nicely, as does a claw hammer for when you’re driving nails instead of screws.
Measure Twice, Cut Once
For cutting and measuring, you’ll need a solid tape measure at your disposal. Cutting can be done with a hacksaw, as they feature replaceable blades and can cut through metal with ease. A torpedo level will help you make sure that picture frame you’re hanging is straight, and a pair of wire cutters can cut and snip on a smaller scale.
The Rest of the Best
Finally, there are those tools that don’t rightly fit in a specific category. You need a good plunger on hand for any plumbing issues, for instance, and a caulking gun to patch up any sudden leaks or help weatherize a window or door frame.
Finally, what toolkit would be complete without a roll of good old duct tape?
Semper Fi Home Inspections can assist with residential and commercial inspections. Book your inspection by calling 682-351-2267 or schedule your home inspection online.