A new home usually calls for measuring, tightening, hanging and small repairs before it calls for a giant tool kit. These ten tools cover those ordinary jobs with a clear reason for each one. Buy for the work in front of you, and add specialized tools when a project actually needs them.
Klein Tools 11-in-1 Multi-Bit Screwdriver/Nut Driver
One handle carries common Phillips, slotted, square and Torx tips plus three nut-driver sizes for loose handles and ordinary household hardware. The interchangeable shaft saves space, but this model is neither magnetic nor insulated, so it is not a tool for working on live electrical parts.
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STANLEY PowerLock Tape Measure, 25-foot
A 25-foot tape covers furniture clearances, shelf placement and most room measurements without needing a separate measuring tool for every job. The blade lock holds a reading while you mark, but the maker specifies a seven-foot unsupported standout, so longer reaches need support or another person.
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Estwing Curved Claw Hammer, 16-ounce
E3-16C
A smooth-faced 16-ounce claw hammer handles ordinary nail driving and pulling without starting with a heavy framing hammer. The one-piece steel construction and molded grip suit a lasting basic tool, but the smooth face still needs care around finished surfaces and fingers.
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Klein Tools FLICKBLADE Subcompact Folding Utility Knife
single orange folding utility knife
A folding utility knife is useful for opening packages and cutting cardboard without borrowing a kitchen knife. This compact FLICKBLADE has two locking positions and tool-free blade changes, and folds closed for storage between jobs.
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CRAFTSMAN 9-Inch Magnetic Torpedo Level
9-inch magnetic aluminum torpedo level
This compact level fits easily in a household toolbox for checking small shelves, frames and appliances, with a magnified center vial to help you read the bubble. Its magnetic strip can hold it against suitable metal surfaces, although a nine-inch body cannot span a long shelf the way a longer level can.
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IRWIN VISE-GRIP Adjustable Wrench, 8-Inch
An adjustable wrench handles a range of nuts and bolts when you do not want to reach for a full wrench set. This eight-inch IRWIN has a cushioned grip and both metric and inch scales; adjust it snugly and keep the jaws square on the fastener.
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CHANNELLOCK SPEEDGRIP Straight Jaw Tongue & Groove Pliers, 10-inch class
430X
Push-button adjustment makes these pliers convenient for gripping different-sized fittings and awkward hardware. The hardened crosshatch teeth provide a firm hold, but they can mark decorative finishes, so choose the gripping surface to suit the job.
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CHANNELLOCK Long Nose Pliers, 8-inch, without cutter
Long, narrow jaws help retrieve a small dropped part or hold hardware where fingers will not fit. The crosshatch teeth improve grip, but this 3017 version has no side cutter, so choose it for reaching and holding rather than expecting it to cut wire.
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Klein Tools Pro Folding Hex Key Set, SAE and Metric, two-pack
Two folding holders keep SAE and metric hex keys together for furniture assembly and hex-socket hardware. The square-cut tips need to seat fully in the correct-size socket, and the folding body can be bulky in a recess where a separate L-key would fit more easily.
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Purdy Premium 6-in-1 Multi-Tool
Purdy’s painter’s tool combines scraping, spreading filler, opening cans and cleaning rollers in one hand tool. It earns a place in a first-home kit for paint preparation and touch-ups, but it does not replace every flexible finishing knife for larger patching jobs.
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Start with the screwdriver, tape measure and the next tool your first repair needs, then build gradually. Match bits, keys and jaws to the fastener before applying force, and keep sharp blades closed when stored. These tools support ordinary small jobs; electrical, structural and major plumbing work may still call for a qualified professional.