so i just bought my first house and the more i think about initial setup and whole house maintenance the more oddball things i realized i've never thought to buy before.
what sorts of items and/or tools do you all find essential in a mostly livable house (after major cleanup and a bit of paint) that is going to have a fair amount of finishing/updating projects?
BandAids
Good set of screwdrivers (#1,#2 of both philips and standard).
Hammer, prybar.
Wire snips/strippers.
Long heavy duty extension cords.
Adjustable ladder. (make sure it reaches the roof easy)
Work Lights (the new LED ones)
Misc WD40, Acetone, etc
Bribeable friends
These arent really essentials but...Installing trim? Small portable air compressor from harbor freight & nailgun. Mitre saw & table saw for cutting things like trim, or cutting your own shelves. Practice and learn how to paint a room without taping off the edges, it's a huge timesaver (buy the more expensive brushes)
Wife.
I have more tools than Home Depot, but I have found reducing quantities of tools to be a better strategy to home maintenance.
So, for example, I don't keep a set of screwdrivers around. I keep several 5-in-one screwdrivers. That way, I never have to look for a particular one- they all do the same job, regardless of what screw I come across. I also prefer bright orange handles, so I can find them easily.
A cordless drill is a must. It eliminates a power cord. But a kit that includes a flashlight, and a skillsaw is even better.
I make kits. So, my cordless drill is in a toolbox that includes the charger, batteries, and all drivers, bits, etc. I walk out to the shop and pick up the box, and I'm ready to work.
The faster you can find stuff and put it too work, the more likely you will actually do the maintenance.
Too many tools is just more stuff you have to look through to find the one you want.
It's the outdoor/gardening tools that will get you the first time. Up to me I would have paved every square inch of the lot.
As far as fixing the house, the parts are all pretty low spec and amenable to cheap tools and vice-grips. Good cordless drill is a must. If you have a mechanics tool-box, you should be covered.
SVreX wrote: Wife.
SVreX wrote: Wife.
By far the most costly addition. Get a boat instead. 
SVreX wrote: I have more tools than Home Depot, but I have found reducing quantities of tools to be a better strategy to home maintenance. So, for example, I don't keep a set of screwdrivers around. I keep several 5-in-one screwdrivers. That way, I never have to look for a particular one- they all do the same job, regardless of what screw I come across. I also prefer bright orange handles, so I can find them easily. A cordless drill is a must. It eliminates a power cord. But a kit that includes a flashlight, and a skillsaw is even better. I make kits. So, my cordless drill is in a toolbox that includes the charger, batteries, and all drivers, bits, etc. I walk out to the shop and pick up the box, and I'm ready to work. The faster you can find stuff and put it too work, the more likely you will actually do the maintenance. Too many tools is just more stuff you have to look through to find the one you want.
This. Before I organized my basement and built a bench it would take me half an hour to find the tool I needed, if I found it at all.
A ladder.
Aside from the common tool stuff:
A step stool, a 5 gal plastic bucket, variable speed cordless drill, LED work light, air compressor, 100' heavy duty extension cord, putty knives, box cutters, thick pencils you can sharpen with a box cutter, a decent level, T-square, mitre saw, tape measure, string/chalk, safety glasses and crazy glue.
Checkbook
snow shovel and lawn mower
Basic plumbing tools for late night failures. A few buckets for heavy rain storms.
The looooooong brush for cleaning out dryer vents
I'll add painters tape (the blue stuff). Any time I need to make something stay put until I get to doing a proper repair, it gets blue taped. It sticks out, looks ugly, and reminds me to fix whatever broke.
Zip ties are good as well.
You should also have a coffee can full of miscellaneous screws, nuts and bolts. Before I junk anything (usually an appliance) I strip it of all the hardware. Amazing how handy some of that stuff has been.
Several plastic tool boxes:
I keep my electrical tools in one, plumbing in another, and a general on with hammer, screwdriver, etc.
This makes it easy to make are you have the right tool for the repair on hand.
As for the actual tools, a basic circuit tester to check if a circuit is live although a lamp or radio makes a good substitute and let's you tell from a distance if you found the right circuit breaker.
Also a good pair of vice grips, water pump pliers, assorted drill bits, handsaw, good step ladder, and plenty of flashlights ( they alway seem to disappear or need batteries in my house).
a shovel cause just when you want to go dig a hole.. you'll not have one.
I forgot shopvac. And a plunger.
Wally wrote:SVreX wrote: Wife.By far the most costly addition. Get a boat instead.
Exactly. A boat will give you at least two happiest days of your life.
I'll second the handy dandy multi tip screw driver, cordless drill and some basic plumbing tools.
A step ladder.
SVreX wrote: Wife.
Access to a pickup. I have made it through 15 years of homeownership while only having one for a few years but I do borrow the shop truck at least once a month.
You will need a bunch of these:
I will reiterate some of the above: A bucket (or two), a plunger, a mop and a shop vac. Something wet WILL eventually be someplace you do not want it... Fire extinguishers aren't needed often, but it's something that you'll be glad you have close at hand that one time you do need it.
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