Sign up for our Email
Newsletter

Knowledge/Skills - Some skills you might have, others you will need to learn. Today you have many choices for gaining the skills to handle routine home maintenance. Try them all and find what works best for you:

• Learn from others by volunteering to help build a deck, tile a floor, etc.
• Research projects on the web where many sites offer how to instructions. Good sites have step-by-step instructions with photos, and some offer video. Be careful with sites that make projects sound too simple, i.e. replacing a door threshold can be complex and better left to a professional like My Handyman. For the better web sites ...
  
• Read "how to" books that explain things in detail, including detailed instructions with supporting photographs and/or graphics. My favorite book is The Ultimate Guide to Home Repair & Improvement. For other good books ...

Tools - Think of tools as an investment that will save you money over time. You will be more successful and enjoy projects if you spend a little extra for quality tools that will last a lifetime. Your career as a "do-it-yourselfer" will be short if you try to save money on tools (or materials) that prevent you from finishing a project in a reasonable amount of time, or leave you dissatisfied with the quality of the finished product. 

To start collecting basic home owner tools, I like Tomboy Tools. They are designed for use by women, lighter and smaller grips for smaller hands

Tomboy Tool Combos
	Tomboy Traveler Wide mouth bag with multi-bit screwdriver, pliers, hammer, tape measure, level, mini hacksaw, rubber grip gloves, sanding block plus safety glasses. 2008 price $59.95	Beginner Drywall Kit Includes flexible putty knives (2, 3 and 5 inches), 8 inch mud knife, utility knife, wallboard saw, sanding block, fiberglass mesh tape and nylon zipper bag.2008 price $39.95	Plumbing Kit Includes water pump pliers, adjustable wrench, caulking gun and utility knife in a easy to store, nylon zipper bag. 2008 price is $49.95
Realtor Special allows realtors to embroider their logo (10/more bags) or use a special business card bag in either blue or red. Traveler pricing is same $59.95 or you pick the tools to include.
Tomboy Tools also offers a variety of hand and power tools to help anyone just starting to develop their skills and home maintenance toolkit. You can order tools online (please use consultant ID #381220) or through your local consultants.		12v Power Drill	Pink Tools Too!

Materials - A great paint job includes preparing the walls, using quality paint and good paint brushes. For the time you will invest in any project, do not skimp on materials. Paint should be purchased at a paint store and you should be prepared to spend at least $20/gallon.

Please visit the My Handyman library for articles about materials to repair, maintain and improve your home.