Home Improvement

Must Have Items & Supplies As A New Homeowner

Moving into your first home can be extremely exciting. You are out of the world of renting and into the world or mortgages. However, many first-time homeowners are not fully prepared when small projects start popping up around the house—there’s no calling maintenance for that leaking sink—which is why you should always be prepared with a few essential items. Before you go out and buy the entire home improvement store, check out this list of must haves that can save you a lot of hassle, say, for instance when you are trying to figure out how you will ever get onto your roof without an extension ladder.
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Get the Tools to Get the Job Done

The first thing you will want to get is a pretty well stocked toolbox. MSN suggests that the following are absolute, must-haves:
–          Toolbox (to house everything)
–          Hammer
–          Mixed screw drivers (Phillips head and flat in various sizes)
–          Tape measure
–          Pry bar
–          Vise grips
–          Wire cuter and stripper
–          Needle-nose pliers
–          Handsaw
–          Utility knife
–          Electrical tester
–          Reversible drill, with bits
–          Torpedo level (they suggest 9-inch)
–          Safety googles
MSN also explained that certain items would be a nice addition to your tool supply, but are not as vital as the above. Eventually you should look into getting clams, a staple gun, a circular saw, an electronic stud finder, a random orbital sander, and a carpenter’s square. You can get all the essential and nice-to-have items suggested for less than $400, which is not a cost many new homeowners consider.
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Out of the Box

There are various odds and ends that you should always have on hand for those ‘you never know’ moments. For example, Apartment Therapy suggests that a few cans of WD-40 is a smart investment. You should also make sure you have:
Extra light bulbs: you should make sure you have a couple of each kind in your home, you never know when one will go.
Extension cords: if you are in a situation where you need an extension cord, the last thing you want to do is make a trip to the store.
Ladders: you should have both sturdy extension ladders for any outdoor needs and a smaller stepladder for not-as-high projects. You can keep the larger one in your garage while the smaller one can be easily stored in a closet, or even better, on the side of the fridge—viola, utilizing completely unused space!
Of course there are the other items you should always have like batteries, flashlights, and duct tape. Knowing the items you will need for around the home projects when you are a first time homebuyer will save you a lot of headaches, and a lot of trips to the store, later down the line if you prepare in advance.

Featured images:

License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=home%20improvement&ex=2#ai:MP900426550|
License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/results.aspx?qu=home%20improvement&ex=2#ai:MP900430492|

John Shelton enjoys writing about DIY projects and home improvement ideas.