Building a Home Toolkit: The Tools You Actually Need

Let's be honest: in most homes, the "toolkit" is a junk drawer containing one screwdriver (wrong size), a hammer with a loose head, three dead batteries and a mystery key nobody can identify.

And every time something needs fixing, you end up hanging a picture with the heel of a shoe and tightening a screw with a butter knife.

It doesn't have to be that way. With a basic home toolkit, you can handle most minor repairs and weekend projects yourself, even if you never took shop class. (And yes, as you can see, the tools come in pink.) Here's what to buy first, what can wait and how to keep it all where you can find it.

The short version:

• Start with about a dozen basic hand tools.
• Add power tools only when a project calls for them.
  
• Stock a small supply drawer of screws, nails and tape.
  
• Keep it all in one place, and put it back when you're done.
  

The Starter Home Toolkit: 12 Must-Haves

If you're building a toolkit from scratch, start here. These cover the vast majority of everyday fixes:

1.     Claw hammer. For nails, picture hooks and the occasional stubborn lid.

2.     Screwdrivers. Several sizes of both flathead and Phillips (or one screwdriver with interchangeable bits).

3.     Adjustable wrench. Tightens nuts and bolts of almost any size, and stops drips at the base of a faucet.

4.     Tape measure. At least 25 feet. Measure twice, buy furniture once.

5.     Cordless drill and a set of bits. The single most useful tool you'll own. Drills holes, drives screws and makes you feel very capable.

6.     Pliers: slip-joint for general gripping, needle-nose for tight spaces and small wires, and wire cutters.

7.     Small level. Because a crooked picture will haunt you forever.

8.     Stud finder. So your new shelf stays on the wall.

9.     Utility knife. For opening boxes, cutting carpet and trimming just about anything.

10.  Putty knife. For patching nail holes and scraping paint.

11.  Flashlight or headlamp. Repairs always happen in dark places. A headlamp leaves both hands free.

12.  Plunger. You'll be very glad you have it at 11 p.m. on a holiday. Here's how to handle minor plumbing fixes like a backed-up toilet.

With just these tools, you can hang shelves and pictures (drill, stud finder, tape measure and level), tighten a leaky faucet (adjustable wrench) and fix wobbly cabinet doors and loose drawer pulls (screwdrivers).

Level Up: Handy Hand Tools to Add Next

Once you've got the basics, these make bigger jobs easier:

• Tongue-and-groove pliers (also called channel-lock pliers), for gripping pipes and big nuts

• Locking pliers, for holding things tight so your hands don't have to

• Hacksaw, for cutting metal and plastic pipe

• Handsaw, for cutting wood

• Square, for marking straight lines and perfect corners

• Socket wrench set, for furniture assembly and bolts in tight spots

• Staple gun, for reupholstering chairs and hanging holiday decorations

• Non-contact voltage tester, to make sure the power is really off before you touch a wire

• A work light and heavy-duty extension cords (outdoor-rated if you'll use them outside)
  

Power Tools for Bigger Projects

Stock the Supply Drawer

The right screw at 9 p.m. is worth its weight in gold. Keep a small stash of:

• Assorted screws, nails, nuts, bolts and washers

• Rubber washers for leaky faucets

• Picture-hanging hooks and wall anchors

• Duct tape, painter's tape and electrical tape

• Fine sandpaper

•  Lubricant for squeaky hinges

• An all-purpose glue and super glue

• Zip ties (they fix more than you'd think)

• Spare batteries and lightbulbs
  

Safety Gear Belongs in the Toolkit, Too

• Safety glasses. Especially for drilling, sawing and anything overhead.
• Work gloves.
  
• Dust masks for sanding.
  
• A fire extinguisher within reach of your work area.
  

And know your home's shutoffs before you need them: the main water shutoff, the circuit breaker panel and, if you have gas, the gas shutoff. Label the breakers, too. Future you, standing in the dark with a dripping pipe, will be very grateful.

Keep Your Tools Together (and Findable)

A toolkit only helps if you can find it. Here's how to keep everything in one place:

• For on-the-go repairs, keep the essentials in a wide-mouth tool bag or tool box you can carry from room to room.

• Store screws and bolts in clear jars. Old baby-food jars work great. Screw the lids to the underside of a shelf, so you can grab a jar and open it with one hand.

• Hang tools on a pegboard and trace the outline of each tool with a marker. Everyone can see exactly where each one goes back (and which one's missing).

• Short on space? A roll-up canvas tool bag fits in a hall closet or kitchen drawer, ready for quick fixes.

• One rule for the whole family: if you borrow it, you put it back. (Yes, this one's mostly for the teenagers.)
  

When to Call a Pro

A good toolkit makes you capable, not invincible. Call a professional for:

• Anything involving gas lines

• Major electrical work beyond changing a fixture or outlet cover

• Structural repairs, like load-bearing walls

• Roof work and anything that requires a tall ladder you're not comfortable on
  

Home Toolkit FAQs

What tools should every homeowner have? A hammer, screwdrivers, an adjustable wrench, a tape measure, a cordless drill, pliers, a level, a stud finder, a utility knife and a plunger cover most everyday repairs.

What's the most useful tool to buy first? A cordless drill with a set of bits. It drills holes and drives screws, so it handles everything from hanging shelves to assembling furniture.

What should be in a first apartment tool kit? Start small: a screwdriver set, hammer, tape measure, adjustable wrench, level, utility knife, picture hooks and a plunger. A compact drill is a great next step.

How do I organize my tools? Keep everyday tools in one carryable bag or box, store small hardware in clear jars and hang larger tools on a pegboard with outlines.

Put Home Maintenance on Autopilot

Now that you've got the tools, make sure the little jobs actually get done. My book The Daily Home Reset includes a month-by-month home maintenance checklist, so the little upkeep jobs get done on time, and that shiny new toolkit actually gets used.

Keep Going

Keep your home running smoothly with these related guides:

• Home Maintenance Guide: Repairs, Checklists & Seasonal Care: Seasonal upkeep that saves money and headaches.

• Fixing a Backed-Up Toilet: Put that plunger to work.

• Garage Organizing: Make room for your tools and the car.

• Bare Minimum Garden Tools: The outdoor version of your starter toolkit.

• How to Save Energy at Home: Easy fixes that lower your bills.

• How to Organize Your Home: A room-by-room guide to getting every space under control.

• How to Declutter Your Home: Start with that junk drawer.

• Safe at Home: Keep your family safe from household hazards.