Taskers across cities, suburbs and countries all have their go-to tools for the most common Home Improvements tasks. Hopefully this list and these Taskers’ suggestions will help you feel well-equipped for your tasks in this category. But keep in mind that knowing what tools you need for each task type comes with experience, and it may take trial and error to develop the best tools for your toolkit.
Basic tools:
- Drill and hammer drill
- Drill bits (for tiles, metal, masonry, wood)
- Driver bits (Philips, flathead, Torx, square, ratchet)
- Rubber mallet
- Pliers (from needle nose to vice grips)
- Hand vice
- Screwdrivers (Philips, flathead, ratchet)
- Measuring tape, ruler, pencils
- Sawsall, hacksaw, woodsaw (particularly for door-related tasks)
- Level (torpedo, 2’ & 4’)
- Channel locks (big enough to work on 1.5” plumbing nuts)
- Voltage meter tester
- Wall plugs, wall filler
- Cutter with blades
- Paint scraper
- Scraps of wood for drilling into something
- Your own supply of various types of screws
- Air nailer (battery-powered)
- Socket ratchet wrench
- Handheld hoover
How Taskers organise their tools depends a lot on whether or not they have a vehicle, and if they work in an area where hardware stores are readily available. A prime example is that most Taskers aren’t able to travel with ladders, especially in multiple sizes–so always ask your client if they have the ladder type you know is needed for the task!
Tasker Tips
Here’s how Home Improvements Taskers keep their toolkits organised and prepare for any type of fix-it task that comes their way:
- Greg S. keeps separate tool bins in his truck, labelled ‘Mounting,’ ‘Plumbing’ (with different size washers) ‘Electrical’ (with wire nuts, screws, threaded rods), etc. He also has a bin of sorted screws. In addition, his everyday toolbag goes over his shoulder, which comes in handy when he’s tasking at a large apartment building and can’t easily run back and forth to his truck like he can at suburban task locations.
- Joe A. keeps customised sets of tools in his hatchback car: one has basic tools (i.e. straight blades, screwdrivers), another one has a wrench, sockets, teflon tape (especially handy for plumbing), miscellaneous nails and wall plugs (particularly useful for IKEA products), electric drill, ruler, and level. Joe typically carries a step stool but not a ladder unless the task calls for it (and will ask the client how high a ceiling is to scope the ladder type he needs).
- Iulian D. carries a backpack full of tools to help him navigate London’s public transit to get between tasks, and is able to run to a hardware store to grab any parts that he’s missing–particularly on same-day tasks when he may not have had the opportunity to add a part to his pack in advance.
