With one of our kids nearing the end of her college career, I can’t help but wonder if we’ve taught her enough of the life skills she needs to take care of herself and her things when she heads out into the world on her own. After all, DIY is becoming something of a lost art. There was a time when all homeowners were able to make repairs and upgrades to their living spaces, but in this day and age, many do-it-yourself skills are dying out. With the rise of mobile devices and the internet, it is now easier than ever to find and hire someone to fix an issue in your home. Whether it’s a power outage or a water heater installation, help is just a click away.
Still, there are many benefits to having a few essential home maintenance skills. Not only can you repair issues quickly and efficiently, but you can also save money and improve your self-confidence, too. And it is fairly easy to learn the basics.
Before she gets her first place, here are a few ways we’re hoping to help hone her DIY skills and feel more confident taking charge around the house. Hopefully, they’ll help you, too.
Get the right tools
There are some tools everyone needs to have. Ask my husband. He’ll tell you all about it, make you a list, and go straight to the hardware store to find whatever you’re missing. Even with someone like him leading the way, you don’t need to spend a fortune to have almost everything you need. There are a few key items you will want to start off with, and the rest you can acquire over time. A hammer, screwdriver set, tape measure, spirit level, and pliers are a good place to start. Purchase more as the jobs in your home demand it. You can pick up good quality tools in your local hardware store, and they should last you a very long time.
Take a course
As with any new skill, it pays to learn from a professional. There are a range of online and in-person courses available designed to instruct newbies in the art of home maintenance. You can learn how to do everything from putting up a shelf to fixing a leaky tap. Although you’ll have to pay a little money for the privilege, the benefits will be worth it in the long run.
Use YouTube
YouTube is a veritable treasure trove of DIY advice and maintenance tips. There are countless channels designed to help you with the most basic of household tasks or the most intricate of DIY challenges. If you ever have a problem in your home that needs fixing, type your query into YouTube, and you’ll find plenty of videos designed to help you solve that specific issue.
Ask for help
There’s no shame in asking for help, and everyone knows a person who is great with a set of tools. Ask a friend or relative to show you a few things, or even ask a tradesperson for advice next time you have someone round to do some repairs. You’ll be amazed how quickly you can pick skills up by watching an expert.
Start slow
Patience is very important when it comes to home maintenance. You don’t want to start your DIY journey with anything too difficult. Break yourself in easily with some simple jobs like building a bookcase or applying caulk to a window frame. Once you have mastered the basics, you can then work up to more complicated projects.
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