As I have been saying recently, “there has rarely been a better time to buy”. Not only are rates at their lowest but home prices are there too. From here, everything is looking up. Additionally, for the first-time buyer or someone with skills, gently bruised homes can turn into real money makers! With my many years of experience I can help find the right home without the risk of picking up a lemon. I have personally created lots of sweat equity in several homes.
If you know anyone who is ready to capitalize on the real estate market let me know and we’ll get them all “tooled-up”. If they are a first-time buyer, I’ll give them a free toolkit at move-in!
Attached I have provided a list of tools that every homeowner should have to get started. Save the list as a good resource for ‘gifting’.
“A fool and his money are soon parted but a homeowner and his tools just might get wealthy!”
Ultimate Starter Toolkit
- Power drill: A battery operated drill doubles as a powered screwdriver and a drill. A 14 volt lithium battery drill offers a good balance of power and cost, plus it holds its charge for a very long time. Add in a set of twist bits and screwdriver bits and you have a very versatile tool at a reasonable cost.
- Hammer: Get a 16 ounce straight claw rip hammer. A lightweight fiberglass handle will hold up longer than wood and is lighter than steel. Another versatile tool that works to pull nails and drive nails up to 16 penny.
- Tape Measure: A 25 foot, 1” wide blade should do most jobs. The blade is wide enough to stand-out without buckling. Get one with clear markings based on inches not metric. It’s a good idea to have high visibility color to allow easy finding during a project
- Screwdriver: A 4-in-one driver is the best starter. This tool saves space and allows for a great range of bits. When getting bits consider an assortment kit but make certain to at least include small and large flat-head and Phillips bits plus #1 & #2 square drive bits.
- Level: A small “spirit’ level (a.k.a. Torpedo level) with magnet plus a 4’ level should do most everything. If you can, pick up a ‘speed square” combined with a spirit level.
- Wrenches: Adjustable wrench (a.k.a. Crescent wrench). Get a 6” and a 14” to cover most needs. Also get a combination plumbers wrench (get the $5 stamped steel wrench not the big heavy adjustable one, it will do most of the work of the larger heavier one).
- Pliers: Get an assortment including needle nose for reaching into tight spaces, channel-lock (slip-joint) pliers for gripping larger items, standard pliers (tongue & groove) and lineman’s pliers also known as side-cutters or ‘diags’ or ‘dikes’.
- Saws: Nothing beats the usefulness of a standard cross-cut manual saw but you will also want a hack-saw with blades.
- Utility Knife: The standard knife with a retractable blade and a pack of spare blades is very useful. The blades by themselves can be used for scraping paint and the knife can cut, score, carve or mark.
- Painting tools: Most jobs require a 9” roller frame, pan and smooth covers. Also get a 2-1/2 angled brush for “cutting in”, a roll of blue painters tape and canvas painters tarp. The canvas tarp is more expensive but lasts for years and works much better than plastic.
- Outdoor: A garden rake, a leaf rake, round nose shovel with fiberglass handle and a hand spade. A 25’ garden hose and hand sprayer are a nice add-on.
Do you have a favorite tool you can’t live without? I’d love to hear about it!
Courtesy of Linnea Jones – Windermere Real Estate / Northeast, Inc. 425-765-2211
