For example, I think I’ll need a ladder. I’m looking for any suggestions from tools to security cameras, or whatever else you can think of. What should every new home owner consider getting?
Edit: in Canada btw, somewhere that gets a lot of snow in the winter
On the power tools front if you want to save money don’t buy into the battery pack craze. The replacements are really expensive and for 99% of tasks corded works just fine.
Shop Vac. Tool chest. Beer.
Definitely a shop vac. Specifically a wet/dry vac so if something good wrong and leaks all over, you have a quick solution.
Besides a typical big corded model, I also have a small cordless one which is super convenient. Depending what kind of stuff you plan to do, the small one might be enough. Be aware this can be another way to start the vendor-specific battery lock in. (Though you can get adapters.)
I don’t own many tools, let alone enough tools that would necessitate an entire chest. What in particular do you suggest I fill it with?
Inevitably you are going to need tools after you tire of paying contractors to fix or install things.
A set of screwdrivers, pliers, tape measure, hammer
That’s your starting set. As a homeowner trust me, you’ll find places to use them.
Get cheap tools. Buy everything at harbor freight. Don’t splurge on anything that’s not a safety hazard (get a quality ladder, but buy cheap screwdrivers)
If the tool breaks, buy a quality one to replace it.
Project Farm is your friend to find the cheap option, and the quality option.
Start collecting tools from yard sales.
Great option
Do not cheap out on a power drill. Get a nice one with a light and everything. Otherwise, you’re just pissing money away.
The target here is home owners, not trades. The cheapo ozito drill I bought is half the price of a “good” one, and for the homeowner use case is plenty. Spending more on a drill would have been pissing money away.
Disagree, drill drivers are cheap these days. Don’t lock yourself into an expensive battery platform yet.
Don’t get anything more than a Ryobi drill and see if you need a good one, once it breaks, then you can decide what color you will use for the next 20 years.
Makita gang rise up
My Makita drill is honestly baller. Lightweight and easy to handle, but still powerful enough for almost anything. And it has a light! That said, I still have a big honking Dewalt 18v(?) with the heavy ass batteries that is still going strong after 20 years (even the heavy ass batteries!), that I break out for the really heavy duty stuff. (Or when I can’t find my little Makita. Which is now).
Hell yeah brother.
I have Rigid stuff I inherited from my dad. Some of the lipo batteries are from 2011 and still kicking. And I fabricate and restore cars semi-professionally, before that my dad was a handyman and not gentle on them for the first 5-6 years he used them. We built a 30 foot porch, and installed a metal roof with those drivers for instance.
It’s mid grade between Ryobi and Milwaukee which I have a couple of. Besides some specialty tools, I think the red tools are just status, I don’t see a real difference in quality. And I think they all have flashlights in them now too. Some even have ring lights that are super handy.
Buy the kit when it’s on sale (Father’s Day, or Black Friday are good ones, but pretty much any holiday sale). It’ll usually get you a free battery or charger and having a separate drill and impact driver is pretty handy when installing shit around the house.
My 2 cents, get a good drill and good screwdriver set, cheap out on everything else until you replace it.
get a quality ladder, but buy cheap screwdrivers
I disagree, don’t buy cheap tools, especially screwdrivers. You don’t need to break the bank, but the cheapest options are going to be problematic for a number of reasons. Not only are the cheap tools, themselves, prone to breaking, but they also have the potential to strip your screws. Depending on what you’re working on, that screw may be almost impossible to replace, if it’s not in a standard sizing.
Personally, I suggest Wiha tools, based on a recommendation I received here on Lemmy about a year ago. They’re made with high-quality materials so they’re a bit more expensive than your typical Craftsman garbage, but they’re not unreasonably priced, and far from being the most expensive in their category. I’ve got a few Wiha driver sets that I make use of pretty frequently, and they’re all still in excellent condition, and none of them have ever stripped a screw yet, despite my clumsy ass handling them.
Plunger, plumber’s snake, and step stool. Watch out with that ladder; ladders are killers. Up to a six foot folding ladder is pretty safe, but I won’t go up an extension ladder.
I thought about all the things I’ve bought for this house and wondered what would I miss the most if I couldn’t replace it.
The bidet.
First thing I installed when I moved into my current rental!
I literally just finished installing them in both of our bathrooms. So glad for them.
Electronic programmable thermostat. Don’t need it to be WiFi connectable. But program it for different times of the day. It will save a ton of money for you.
If you’re techy at all, get an iFixit toolkit for small or proprietary screw heads. What a lifesaver that’s been; even for things like hex heads in furniture.
Always have a stocked liquor cabinet. Doesn’t matter if you drink or not - if you wanna be an accommodating host, make sure you at least have something to offer. You’ll feel like a bad host if you don’t at least offer.
I use my Neat steamer at least once a season for deep cleaning all over the house.
Air filters are great and seriously help keep the air clean and less stale, especially if you have pets. Most guests have no idea I have a cat until I show her off.
A good cooler is always useful. You don’t need to splurge for a yeti, but from having people in the yard, to keeping canned drinks cold for a party, a good cooler that can hold ice and drinks is invaluable for an event you’re hosting.
Always have a stocked liquor cabinet. Doesn’t matter if you drink or not - if you wanna be an accommodating host, make sure you at least have something to offer. You’ll feel like a bad host if you don’t at least offer.
As someone who doesn’t drink, I couldn’t give two shits if you come to my home and want an alcoholic beverage. If they feel like I’m a bad host because they came to the home of someone that doesn’t drink and I don’t have alcohol to offer, then suddenly they’re the person that I’m the reevaluating if they need to be in my life.
Really depends on your home, but a few that I had…
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If you have wood floors, a bulk pack of sticky felt pads for furniture you buy to not scratch them up
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Robot vacuum (or vac/mop)
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Basic power tools
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Electric lawn mower/weed whacker that uses the SAME BATTERIES as your power tools
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if you’re a nerd and wanna do “smart home” stuff, don’t buy smart lights, buy smart switches
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a touchless live-wire tester
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A label maker
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Big pack of furnace filters
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an accordion folder thingy for the billions of documents you’ll wanna keep (receipts/user manuals for appliances), property tax assessments, etc
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Bulk pack of lightbulbs with the same colour temperature (it looks idiotic if all your lights are different hues)
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nail-in picture frame hangers, wall anchors (they’re YOUR walls now!)
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keycode deadbolt
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most microwaves have a way to enable “silent mode”, do that
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water sensors (smart if possible), put under your hot water tank and dishwasher
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double check your laundry room drain actually has a slope to it, and isn’t the damn high point in the room
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if you’re not living with a romantic partner… I’d suggest not blowing your budget decorating… Let them have the space to feel like they can make the space thiers as well, and accept that means some of your decorations are going to be retired
most microwaves have a way to enable “silent mode”, do that
are you fucking kidding me. the thousands of times i have thought about why this didn’t exist, fantasizing what changes would be required in the world economy to get rid of those awful noises. you are telling me it does exists?!
Yeah! If you can find the manual for your microwave (can usually find a pdf one online) there should be instructions on how to do it. Usually a wacky sequence of buttons you gotta press and hold.
- a touchless live-wire tester
This right here. Everybody should have one of these - not just homeowners, everybody. They’re cheap and easy to use.
Circuit breakers can fail shorted. Miswiring happens. Just because the switch is off doesn’t mean the wire is dead.
You may avoid electrocuting yourself or someone else, or starting a fire. It could literally save your life.
Can you recommend one? I have a non-touchless volt meter that I can’t figure out for the life of me.
Klein tools are reliable: https://www.kleintools.com/catalog/electrical-testers/non-contact-voltage-tester-pen-50-1000v-ac
But really any similar pen-style non-contact voltage tester that you can find at your local hardware store should work just as well. They’re simple devices, and for this function probably the simpler the better. Should be in the US$10-20 range, don’t overspend for fancy features. Nothing wrong with a store-brand tool in this case. I’d be concerned if it were $5 or less, might be junk.
100% on the water sensors! Gas sensor and carbon monoxide sensor too! I have a gas stove and people are always leaning against it and turning the gas knobs on.
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A box running homeassistant with the appropriate zigbee / zwave dongle.
-Drill/driver with a decent set of drill bits -set of screwdrivers -pipe wrench -adjustable wrenches -hammer and rubber mallet -at least a couple flashlights -plunger and drain snake -extension cord -tape measure -pliers -ladder and step stool -multimeter -good scissors/shears -snow shovel, snowblower, and ice melt -extra lightbulbs and batteries
Go to whatever the Canadian version of harbor freight is and they probably have a home owners tool kit that’ll have most of the hand tools you need. You can cheap out on most stuff to start out and if you use it enough to break it or wear it out buy a better one.
Also not specifically stuff to buy but knowing where the electrical and water shut offs are and having a well labeled breaker box.
Before you go out and spend a lot of money on stuff, check local resources - tool library, your neighbor, estate sales, etc. You’ll still want your own stuff eventually, but setting up your first home is expensive and there’s going to be hundreds of things you need to pick up. Borrow what you can, pick up what you can’t borrow or will need regularly as inexpensively as possible.
First day or two move-in pack, packed completely separately from everything else, and preferably moves with you in the car so you know where it is: two full sets of clothes, plus nightwear. Cash - for pizza, or tipping, or whatever else might come up. Toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, comb. Shower curtain, washcloth, towels. Shampoo and body wash. Soap for the bathroom sink. Paper towels. Flashlights. Phone chargers. An assortment of bandaids. Sharpie. Packing tape, garbage bags. Drinks. I’m another bag: pillows and one set of bedding.
The most basic toolbox: regular and Phillips screwdrivers, both small and large bits. Hammer. Vice grip, a couple of adjustable wrenches (large and medium), pinch nose pliers.
My best advice: buy a box of heavy-duty quart and gallon sized Ziplocs and a sharpie. As you put things together, you’re going to have parts left over (“if installing on a wall, use mounting plate A; if installing on a ceiling, use mounting plate B”, etc). Every time you have leftover pieces, even if it’s just a couple screws, put them in a separate Ziploc, and label it with a description and the model number of the item: “hoover vacuum, model xyz345”, “phillippe cat door, model 17b”, etc. Get a decent sized box and all those spare parts go live there together. When you need it, it’s in the box, kept separate by the Ziploc, and labeled. And every five years or so, to through the box and, if you no longer have the item, either get rid of it or move it to general use (is, the spare screws).
If you’re going to want wall-to-wall carpets or need to fix flooring, replace them before you move in – or at least while things are still sparse and it is easy to move stuff. Paint your walls now, too. Need more insulation? Better sooner than later.
If it is an older house, you probably want more electrical outlets, and may want to add circuit breakers for new lines to the fuse box (I needed to do that to run window air-conditioners plus several PCs on the upper floor).
It seems like all new appliances die in 10 years, but they’re more energy effcient. I’m glad I put a water filter on the line into the refrigertaor so I can replace the exterior filter instead of the one for the current refrigerator (which gives ice and water from the exterior with no need to open the doors). How’s your water heater? What type of home heating do you have?
Edit: and try to introduce yourself to your neighbors! try to catch them while yuo’re both doing yardwork or some such, but neighbors can watch out for one another … but of course, some are real jerks, so until you get a feel for everyone, it is best to be diplomatic and not share opinions on things like politics or relgion.
Things I haven’t seen mentioned: Fire extinguisher. Socket set. Battery storage and fill it up. Shelving for backstock items like TP, paper towels, other things you tend to blow through. You don’t want to have to get out during some of those northern winter snow times.
You’re up north? I’d be thinking of ways to keep the house insulated, warm and with pipes unfrozen.
Pipewrap. They come in a few different options. The cheap foam works ok, but can be a pain around elbows and expansions. The insulation roll is a bit easier to get done well but takes more time.
Pipe heaters - relatively cheap, somewhere around $20-40. Run it along the pipe and plug it in.
Do you have a well or city water? If a well, make sure that cement encasement is lodged in the ground good and then stuff insulation all in it. Pipe warmer may serve you well here too. If city, then you’re in a bit of an easier situation.
If you have a crawl space, seal the door well. Don’t forget to open the vents in the summer and for sure close them in the winter. If you have a basement, make sure your water barrier is doing its job and get a dehumidifier to prevent mold. Try to get one with a drain tube so you don’t have to empty it all the freaking time like I currently do.
Get one of those foam dohickeys for your outdoor faucets and for the love of all that is unfrozen do not leave your hoses attached in the winter.
Get a preventive maintenance plan on your big ticket items like furnaces boilers and aircons. People neglect these and then end up with an eventual $8k unexpected bill. At least the pms will tell you if you’re close to their expiry so you can prepare. They may also help you prevent mold in your aircon before it becomes a problem.
Get pest control, we do monthly. It’ll help keep out the ants, mice, bats and squirrels.
Get yourself a backup battery that can run a fridge for a day. Or invest in a backup generator.
Figure out what your secondary source of heat will be (e.g wood stove, propane, kerosene.) Make sure you have it stocked. If you burn anything, make sure to get a CO sensor and that your fire alarms are working. Houses are so tightly built nowadays that you’ll need to ensure anything burned has proper ventilation.
Change your air filters every 3 months depending on use. Make sure to clean your fridge air filter every 6 months. If you have a kitchen stove exhaust fan, make sure to clean that up every few months as well.
Invest in some salt and a snow shovel if you don’t already have one. You’ll need it. .
Change out your locks. Who knows who the previous owners gave a key. If your doors have the smart key system, then it’s very easy to do nowadays.
Learn where your electric panel is, make sure you don’t have two or even three elsewhere around the house, sometimes inside, sometimes out.
Don’t be a stranger, talk to your neighbors. They’re your best resource in a pinch
Congrats on owning your own castle. It’s a lot of upkeep but it’s a lot of piece of mind too.
Change out your locks. Who knows who the previous owners gave a key.
Do people actually forgo this step? I can’t imagine. This is like the first thing my parents taught me.
Depends on the kind of home and how “handy” you feel yourself to be. There are a lot of minor things around the home which can save you boatloads of money (and be faster to deal with) if you do them yourself.
Tools:
- A multi-bit ratcheting screwdriver. It’s my #1 go-to for assorted small fixes. Wirecutter recently recommended the Megapro 211R2C36RD, for what that’s worth.
- Multi-tool. Another good “it’s not the best at anything, but I use it for everything”.
- Adjustable wrench and/or pliers. Good for tightening nuts, holding things tight, bending, and other small tasks.
- Sponge mop. One of the ones with a little handle to help squeeze it out. Great for cleaning floors without killing your back.
- Speaking of which, a good-quality hard plastic bucket. Look for something in the 10-15 liter range. Dirty water, clean water, road salt, supplies, anything which is easy to carry.
- If you are comfortable with power tools, a good quality cordless drill can be a huge help as well.
- If you’re comfortable doing your own minor electrical repairs, one of those little outlet checker tools. Saves a ton of time.
- Good quality measuring tools, like a measuring tape and/or bubble level. These needn’t kill the budget, but are handy to have.
Comfort:
- I am a firm believer in ceiling fans as a great room cooler. Put one up and be amazed as the room feels comfortable at a range of temperatures.
- Similarly, a small room air circulator or pedestal fan can really help, especially if you’re doing some heavy work.
- If you don’t have good chairs for the table, I’m a personal fan of Ikea’s Bergmund.
Convenience:
- “Lazy susan” cabinet organizers. Game-changer for kitchen cabinets.
- Mr Clean abrasive cleaning pads. You can scrape off a lot of grime with these.
Lastly, for furniture and other things, unless you’re in a really small area, check various community marketplace kinds of sites. You can find a lot of critical stuff for less than MSRP, and non-critical stuff at a point that won’t break your budget.
