Ahh, doesn’t it feel relaxing? You’ve dropped off the moving truck and you know that you’ve completed one of the last steps in a DIY move. All that’s left to do is to unpack and make that new home truly yours! But what about that ding you put in the wall (should have used the forearm forklift) when you moved the couch in? Or that wall that looked a little less purple last time you saw it?
Knowing how to make basic home repairs can save you thousands of dollars over the life of your home — not to mention instill a sense of pride knowing that you can say “Yeah, I did that!” when the project is over.
Make a Basic Tool Kit 
First things first. No matter what home repairs you’re going to do, you’ll need a good set of tools. If you don’t want to invest in a toolbox, don’t worry — a shoe box works just as well for a starter kit! These tools will surely come in handy in the future, whether it’s on one of the projects listed below or on something else that pops up on your honey-do list.
- Claw Hammer
- Philips and Flat Head Screwdriver
- Set of Hex Keys
- Adjustable Wrench
- Pliers
- Utility Knife
- Tape Measure
How to Paint a Room
Painting is an easy fix and doesn’t require too much time out of your day. The key to a successful painting project is all in the preparation. Make sure to invest in high-quality supplies — a good roll of painters tape or two, a drop cloth or a tarp, brushes and rollers, and obviously, good paint (that is a color of your liking). There are many techniques to painting so we won’t go over them all here, but the general process is simple. Set up, tape, cut-in, roll and repeat.
I recommend having a chat with the paint pros at the hardware store for specific advice on your particular can. They will be able to tell you how many coats are needed, if you need to use a primer or sand the wall beforehand, and even how long the paint is expected to last.
How to Unclog a Toilet
It doesn’t always look the prettiest, but when it comes time to use it you’ll be glad you have it.
We won’t name any names here, but let’s face it — everyone is going to come across a clogged toilet one of these days.
While many people think you need to call a plumber to take care of this problem, you’ll be happy to know it’s one that you can actually fix yourself. Just see if you can remember where you put the plunger! Here’s how:
- Clear anything from around the toilet that could get dirty (bath rug, shoes, etc.)
- Put the plunger in the clogged toilet and form a seal around the hole.
- Gently, I repeat, gently, push in at a diagonal angle. You should be able to hear and feel the suction.
- Repeat as many times as necessary. If you’re still having trouble, you may need a drain snake to clear a tough clog.
How to Spackle a Wall
A good spackle job comes with practice. Remember, it’s all in the technique.
Here’s the first of many holes in your new home that need to be spackled! Just kidding. But really, if you grew up in a home like mine, my brother and I were always finding ways to put a new hole in one of the walls.
Thankfully patching up those holes is usually pretty fairly simple. All you will need is a putty knife, spackle (I recommend the one that changes from pink to white when dry) and sandpaper.
To Spackle a Wall
- With the putty knife, apply a generous amount of spackle to the hole.
- Applying even pressure, pull straight down the wall stripping excess spackle. Wipe excess back into the can.
- Repeat motion at different angles until spackle creates a smooth transition.
- Let dry.
- Sand excess spackle so that the wall is flush.
- Paint where applicable.
What project did you have to do when you moved into your new house? Do you have a secret tool in your toolbox that you think we all should have? Let us know in the comments below.
