There’s hardly anything more exciting than owning your own home for the first time ever. Habitat for Humanity has a lot of experience with that giddy, landlord-free feeling. Your home is yours, with all the responsibility that comes with it.
Whether your new home is move-in ready or a fixer-upper, the Habitat for Humanity ReStore is ready to guide you through your new adventure. At ReStore, you’ll find must-have supplies at a steal, and know that every dollar spent helps other families achieve the dream of homeownership. Read on for our best tips on how to put together an affordable homeowner’s toolkit with your local ReStore!
Drill
If you’re going to buy your first ever power tool, it’s gotta be a drill. You might be making do with a hammer and a screwdriver, but a power drill will make even the most basic coat rack install easier. You may be tempted to buy a cheaper corded drill, but you can find affordable battery operated drills at ReStore. You’ll notice the difference when your new shelf is juuust too far away from the nearest power outlet.
Gloves
It only takes one nasty splinter to learn the golden rule of DIY: Always 👏 Wear 👏Gloves 👏 Obviously, gloves are a must for yard work. But anything oil based like primers or stains won’t play nice with water, and gloves can save you a lot of scrubbing!
Paint Supplies
Even if your new home is freshly painted, it’s always a good idea to have a beginner’s paint kit on hand. If you’ve got little ones around, you know how quickly a pristine painted wall can become… not so pristine. A pro tip is to always keep leftover paint on hand for easy touch ups. And if you’ve got a bigger paint job ahead of you, always go for one more roll of painter’s tape than you think you need. Thank us later.
Utility Knife
A sharp utility knife will make any DIY project easier. You’ll immediately notice the difference from your dull, ten year old Swiss Army knife. A dull knife can actually be more dangerous and lead to accidents. The more pressure you need to put on a dull knife to cut, the likelier it is to slip and send you to urgent care. When in doubt, always use a new blade.
Flashlights
When you’re on all fours in your crawlspace, you don’t want to be relying on your very expensive phone flashlight to see what you’re doing. Battery operated flashlights should also be part of your emergency kit in case of a classic California power outage or earthquake.
When you’re ready to level up, ReStore is there for you. From Shop-Vacs to caulk, ReStore always has a wide variety of tools and supplies, whether it’s for an exciting new project or a surprise burst pipe. While you build and improve your home, your purchases will help Habitat for Humanity support other local families doing the same. Find a ReStore location near you to start building your toolkit!