Living on your own for the first time is an exhilarating experience. Whether you are off for college and living with roommates, or you have just saved up enough to move out of your parent’s home, having your own apartment is going to make for a great time.

However, one of the other considerations to make about living on your own for the first time is the amount of work that you may need to do around your home as well. And while replacing a light bulb or fixing a frame may be easy, you’ll likely have a lot of other tasks that will require a bit more DIY handiness.

Here is a look at Handyman 101 – our easy tips to maintain your living space.

Start Small
The first rule of being a handyman is knowing how much you can take on with a given task. Whether this is your own apartment or one that you are renting from a leasing agency, you won’t want to go around bashing holes in walls or tearing things up if you don’t know what you are doing. That is why your Handyman 101 tool book starts by suggesting that you should only take on the projects that you know you can handle at first. By starting small and working your way into bigger projects, you’ll become handier and more adept to the projects you take on at home.

Insulate Your Windows

Looking for a great beginner task? You can’t go wrong with insulating your windows. By making sure that there are no leaks or cracks in your windows or the sealing around them, you can also help save hundreds of dollars each year on your energy bill. In addition, ensuring that your windows are in great shape requires very little in the way of tools or equipment needed. This is a perfect example of a starter project for Handyman 101.

Unclog Your Drains

Another task that will have big rewards is unclogging your drains. But before you go and pour a harsh chemical down the sink, take a second to think about what that will do to the pipes. Instead of ruining the foundation with any of those harsh products, use a snake tool to see what you can pull out of the drain. Not only will this help you keep your drains unclogged and free of hair and other gunk, but it’ll also help to protect the integrity of your drain piping as well.

Look Out For Moisture

If you notice moisture anywhere around your home, this is a task you’ll want to fix right away. The reason is that moisture in dark places can then lead to mold, which will create a mess of issues for you and the rest of the tenants in your apartment complex. It’s very important that you avoid any sort of mold growth, which is why looking for, and then riding of, moisture is a task you should expedite to the top of the “to-do” list.

We know that you love your home, so it doesn’t hurt to also be a bit more familiar with some of the inner-workings. But if you are new to living on your own, then consider the tasks here as the perfect Handyman 101 projects.

For the most part, one of the best reasons to live in an apartment is because of the on-site maintenance that will help you in the event that you ever need assistance. This can be great in the event that you have something wrong with your apartment, but it’s unlikely that this assistance will still be available when the time comes for you to just do general DIY tasks around your home. When that occurs, then it’s important that you have a tool kit readily available.

This tool kit doesn’t have to be anything extravagant. Instead, you’ll be quite pleased with a set that includes:

• A hammer
• A Phillips screwdriver
• A flathead screwdriver
• Measuring tape
• Various nails or screws
• A ladder

With just these few tools, you’ll be able to do much more around your apartment. You’ll also be able to avoid some of the embarrassment that comes from having to regularly ask your next door neighbor to borrow their tools.

Here is a look at some of the other tasks that will be easier to complete with the must have tools for your apartment that were listed above.

Hang Photography Or Art

The decorations that you add to your apartment are going to say a lot about who you are and the type of personality you hope to share with others. In order to make sure that you have an apartment that really expresses who you are, be sure to have artwork and photography hanging on your walls. Not only will this artwork add aesthetic appeal to your apartment, but it’ll also cause for some great conversation starters when you have guests over. However, it’ll be hard for you to hang this photography or art if you don’t have the right tools. Luckily, a hammer and a few nails will come in very helpful.

Build Furniture

Unless you plan on having your guests sit on the floor, you’ll want to have plenty of furniture options in your apartment. However, the problem with a lot of furniture is that in comes in a million different pieces, and it can be difficult to put together. Luckily, things will be much easier to piece together if you have the right tools to help you. A hammer is great for making a tight fit, and screwdrivers will often help with connecting pieces.

Fix Something Broken

You’ll quickly realize that it’s not worth it to call a repairman every time something goes wrong in your home. And if you have the right tools, you won’t have to worry about that. Instead, you’ll be able to fix a leaky pipe, replace a broken door handle, or do whatever DIY tasks that come your way.

To make sure that you really enjoy your apartment, you’ll want to be prepared for anything. With the right set of must-have tools, you’ll be ready for whatever comes your way. Not only will you learn to be more handy around the home, but these must have tools for your apartment will also help you save money as well.