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
Shop Vac. Tool chest. Beer.
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?
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.
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
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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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.
Buy good quality air filters (highest particle rating). Just the dust control alone will make a huge difference, especially in an older home.
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One good power drill
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One good set of driving bits
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One good set of drill bits
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Duct tape
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Lubricating oil (wd40 or a 3in1 style oil)
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Hammer
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Drywall anchors for having heavier items
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Kit of random screws and nails
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Flashlight
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Fire extinguisher
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Old towels (for WHEN you spring a leak)
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Measuring tape
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Channel lock wrench (the kind that can be various sizes)
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Wrench/socket set
This will cover a LOT of issues. Outside the drill/bits feel free to cheap out on tools. When they break, then replace with better quality
Small pet peeve of mine, wd40 is NOT a lubricating oil, it’s a penetrating oil, and a cheap one at that.
Penetrating oil is what you use when things are stuck. It will dissolve whatever old oil or grease was in a joint, and flush it away, and it can be useful for rust removal as well, but it is NOT protective. Get some kind of protective oil like silicone, lithium grease, or balistol for lubrication and protection.
Absolutely agree, 3in1 oil usually raises eyebrows which is why I mention wd40.
You’re doing the gods’ work
Know what needs filters or other consumables now - get and read the manuals. No one does all the ‘required’ maintenance but you should be making an informed choice to ignore them. Example, my water heater recommends a full flush every 6 months to prevent scale buildup - lol yeah right. Add up all these kinds of tasks and say goodbye to any free time you have. BUT now I know and if I am doing some other maintenance or have the water/power off for some other reason then maybe I’ll tack on a flush of my water heater while I’m at it.
Also check the anode rod (might have a different name) in the water heater from time to time. It will save your ass a huge failure down the line.
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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.
Solar panels and home battery 100%, but you have to do it before Dec 31 2025 because the tax credit is going away due to the GOP and Trump
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.
-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.
I am also a new home owner. Would anyone be interested in a community for swapping tips, answering each other’s questions, ranting about our favorite power tool brands, etc.?
A homeowner handyperson help and discussion space would be great.
Congratulations!
Yes, you’ll definitely need a good quality ladder and:
– Set of screwdrivers. My Stanleys are over 20 years old
– Separate flathead for kitchen use only (instead of using your forks to open stuff)
– Fire extinguisher (leave one in kitchen)
– All-purpose or silicone caulk and caulk gun. (In case of emergency and if your house is old).
– Scissors
– First Aid Kit (you can make your own, I did)
– Multi-tool or Utility knife (I love my SOG)
– Flashlight (combination of battery-powered, rechargeable, heck even a tealight will do). Ideally, some form of light for each room in the house if you lose power (nothing expensive).
– Shovel and Salt before it snows (If you have pets, get the [blue] pet-friendly salt). Always buy it before it snows. Keep it in the house the night before it snows so you can dig yourself out.
– If your windows are old, read up on removable window film, magnetic window film (3M makes them also)
– 409 (they clean almost everything)
– phone number of a good electrician and plumber (my GC is awesome but she’s stateside only)
– Plunger. Don’t buy the orangey-plastic snake - they don’t work.
– I have DeWalt (and a bunch of batteries) but prefer my Makita. Black & Decker is a toy, don’t do it. Milwaukee sucks. If you’re not using power tools now, don’t buy them or wait until they go on sale.
– Surge protectors (the higher/more joules, the better). You definitely need those.
– WD-40
Canada has some very good quality wind turbines (for home use, not the gigantic ones) that you might want to consider; I hear your solar panels are pretty good, too.
Buy what you can afford; check out thrift shops, yard sales, flea markets for some tools.
Most of all, know your limitations. My house is old and I knew what I could do myself, what I would be willing to do and the rest I need for someone else to do.
Every year you’ll have more questions and we will be here for you… with answers you may or may not like.
Good luck and Enjoy!
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.
240V electric heater wired with a plug that fits the dryer socket. If the furnace craters, you can probably keep the house from freezing up, especially in the water line areas around and above the laundry.
Plunger.
Impact driver and bits.
Multimeter.
Plumbers tape. Electrical tape. Wood glue. Colored markers that match wood flooring. A fire extinguisher is a good thing to have on hand
I’d ask in !dadforaminute@lemmy.world they’re great for advice on tools, safety, home management etc.
