When I moved into my first apartment, I signed a lease with my landlord. The terms were simple: I would pay my rent every month, and he would make any needed repairs around the apartment. It was the perfect arrangement. I kept my end of the bargain. Unfortunately, my landlord didn’t. I then made a deal with him that I could do my own minor repairs, as long as I cleared them with him first. I would provide the labor, and he would pay for any needed parts or materials. My landlord gave me a test run by allowing me to fix the leaky faucet in my kitchen. Once I did that successfully, he agreed to my offer. All I needed then was to learn how to organize a renter’s toolbox.
The first thing I did was to buy a medium-sized, open tray with a handle at a local department store. It was an inexpensive, plastic, double-sided tray that would hold my tools perfectly. Since space in my small apartment was short, the tray could be slid underneath my bed out of sight. Then, when I needed a tool, I could slide the tray out and quickly grab what I needed.

In any toolbox, a hammer, a Phillips head screwdriver, a flat head screwdriver, and a pair of pliers are the four basic tools you must have. Screwdrivers are essential to tighten loose door knobs, remove light switch covers, or tighten hinges, for example. The pliers can loosen or tighten bolts and other fasteners. So, I started to organize my renter’s toolbox by making sure I had these tools. Since I wasn’t going to be doing any major construction in my apartment, I chose to include a lightweight tack hammer in my toolbox instead of a clumsy claw hammer.

You can visit your local dollar store or Big Lots® store and pick up a tray, or a toolbox, and these basic tools for cheap.

Now that you’re basically covered, you’ll need to determine what other kinds of tools you’ll need. That decision will depend on the types of repairs and home improvement jobs you’re going to do. For example, if your landlord allows you to put nails in the walls to hang pictures and other decorative items on, you should buy a pack of assorted-sized nails for your renter’s toolbox. Otherwise, if you’re only allowed to hang pictures and other items on the walls by using stick-on hangers, then buy a pack of two of those.

I used a measuring tape to make sure that items were hung up straight on the walls, so I included a small measuring tape in my toolbox as well.

Later on, I realized that a level made hanging shelves easier, so I bought a small, inexpensive torpedo level to organize my renter’s toolbox. A level is also a handy tool to make sure your cooking stove, refrigerator, and other such appliances are level as well.

Of course, nowadays, you can buy a laser level to include in your toolbox. Laser levels cost more money, but they are easier to use.

A small can of household oil is another helpful item to have in your renter’s toolbox. A drop or two of oil can silence squeaky hinges, loosen rusted nuts, bolts, and screws, and more. And finally, I added an adjustable Crescent® wrench to organize my renter’s toolbox. A pair of pliers can be used to loosen or tighten most bolts and fasteners. But, large, or hard-to-turn fasteners can be turned easier by using a Crescent® wrench.

The specific contents of your renter’s toolbox, of course, will depend on the house or apartment you’re renting. And, it depends on what kind of repairs you’re going to make. You may find that you need a set of Allen wrenches or maybe even a plumber’s wrench, for two examples. But, the basic toolbox I have described will serve you well around your home for making quick repairs.