Guide · Home care
A Basic Home Toolkit
A friendly, practical guide to the simple tools every home should have, how to use them safely, and how to know which small fixes are yours and which to share.
Where to start
- Just moved in?
Find the main water shutoff, the electrical panel and the plunger first. They are near the end of the toolkit checklist.
- Something just went wrong?
Take a breath and stop. See if a small fix goes wrong for what to do next.
- Building a kit?
Tick through the toolkit checklist below. Your ticks stay on this device.
The short version
A few good tools turn small annoyances into five-minute fixes, and knowing when to share a problem matters just as much.
Keep a small kit together: flashlight, plunger, screwdrivers, adjustable wrench, pliers, hammer, tape measure and a step stool.
Changing bulbs, batteries and filters, plunging a clog and tightening loose screws are often fine. In a rental, ask before anything more.
Leave plumbing beyond a plunger, gas and electrical work to licensed professionals, and stop and share when a fix doesn’t go smoothly.
Who handles which repairs differs from place to place and lease to lease, so we’d gently encourage a quick look at the rules where your home is. If you ever have questions, we would love to help.
Four simple rules
- 1A few good tools, in one place
Keep a small kit together where everyone in the home can find it.
- 2Small fixes, with permission
Tightening, replacing and resetting are often fine. In a rental, ask before anything more.
- 3Never water, gas or wiring
Plumbing beyond a plunger, gas appliances and electrical work belong to licensed professionals.
- 4When in doubt, share it
A quick message with a photo is always better than a fix that goes wrong.
Your home toolkit checklist
From the guide’s own checklist. Tick each one as you go. These are examples; your home may need others.
All done. Your home is ready for the small stuff.
If a small fix goes wrong
- Take a breath, and stop what you’re doing.
- If water is leaking, turn off the nearest shutoff valve or the main water shutoff.
- If you smell gas, see sparks or smell burning, leave the area and call for help from outside.
- If someone is hurt, take care of them first and call 911 if needed.
- Take photos of what happened and what you were working on. Then share it honestly, in writing, right away.
Owning a mistake early makes it much easier to fix. You did exactly the right thing.
Guides that go well with this one
Like it on paper?
The printable checklist for this guide is fillable, with a screen version and an ink saver print version. Keep it on your phone or pin it to the fridge.
How much do you remember?
4 quick questions from this guide, with a one line why for each. Totally optional, no sign in, and your answers are never saved.
Go deeper with The Perfect Toolkit
Can I fix this, or should I call someone? The Perfect Toolkit is a calm, plain book for residents and owners on building a basic home toolkit, using it safely for small everyday fixes, and knowing exactly when to stop and call the owner or a pro.
Keep the full guide handy
The PDF has everything: everyday habits, what to do when something goes wrong, common myths, helpful resources and plenty of real-world tips. Print it, save it or share it with anyone who could use it.
Download the PDFMore guides
This guide shares general information to help you, and is not legal or safety-code advice. Please follow the instructions that come with your tools, and use licensed professionals for plumbing, electrical and gas work. Bunklow does not inspect properties or make repairs.