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DIY skills you need when buying a home

Nov 12, 2024
DIY
Whether you’re buying a new home or an older property, having some basic DIY skills will serve you well. This may mean being able to do the plumbing yourself or simply installing kitchen shelves – whatever you can do will save you money and time. If you want to know what DIY skills you may need when becoming a homeowner, read on to find out. 

Essential DIY tools

Whether you’re a hero or a zero when it comes to DIY, you should always have these tools at hand:

  • Tape measure

  • Pliers and screwdrivers

  • A hammer

  • A cordless drill

  • A circular saw

  • A jigsaw

  • A nail gun

  • A palm sander

 

DIY skills for a new build home 

New build homes are ready to go as soon as you move in, meaning you won’t need to learn many DIY skills. However, it’s always worth knowing how to use a drill and a hammer to add personal touches, such as photos and mirrors. 

 

Basic painting and decorating skills are also handy if you want to be creative and give your property a unique character. As the months and years go by, you may need to perform basic maintenance on your new home. This might be clearing the gutters, changing the lightbulbs and keeping the garden in check. Other basic DIY tasks usually include:

  • Assembling flat-pack furniture

  • Testing your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors

  • Making sure rooms are well ventilated

  • Putting up shelves

  • Changing light bulbs

 

Our Barratt new build homes are protected by an NHBC Buildmark Warranty, which includes a 10-year structural warranty and a 2-year fixtures and fittings warranty as standard.

 

DIY skills for an older home 

If your new home is a few years old, you’re likely to need more DIY expertise. Some jobs may need to be done immediately, such as fixing doors or dealing with issues in the bathroom. You might also need to upgrade the kitchen or replaster walls. Other complex DIY tasks include:

 

  • Refinishing surfaces

  • Building custom cabinets and adding mouldings

  • Unclogging drains

  • Replacing electrical outlets and switches

 

 

If you don’t feel like doing these yourself, you can get professional help by searching online, whether in local community groups or on social media. Alternatively, you could also ask for recommendations from friends, family or neighbours. 

 

Remember that you’ll be moving into a home which has been designed with somebody else’s taste in mind. This means you’ll have to factor in time for decoration and DIY. You'll also need to consider the safety of children and pets as the work is taking place.

 

Which is right for you?

If you’re still refining your DIY skills, it’s worth moving into a new build home. This way, you can slowly improve over the years that follow rather than being thrown in at the deep end. 

 

If you’re ready to become a homeowner, why not browse our wide range of brand-new, energy-efficient properties across the UK? These include stylish 2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom homes for first-time buyers, growing families and downsizers. 

 

Discover fantastic offers to help you get moving, from Deposit Unlock and Parent Power to Movemaker.

Call our Sales Advisers today to learn more.

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