I’ve just moved out of mum and dad’s house and into a cottage with my fiancé. There are quite a lot of odd jobs to be done, and as the ‘man of the house’ I want to get them out the way and impress my wife-to-be. I was wondering what basic items I would need in my toolkit, as I don’t want to keep borrowing my dad’s!

Any DIY task is made considerably easier with the right tools to hand. This will ensure your cottage is up to scratch in no time and dad’s tools stay put in the garage! I would recommend that any budding DIYer has the following tools in their kit:

Screwdriver set

This comes in handy for so many tasks, including prising the lid off a tin of paint, changing a fuse or screwing something to a wall. You will need a couple of different sizes with both flat and cross heads.

Hammer

A ‘claw hammer’ will suffice for driving home or removing most nails. It’s also a useful tool for making general ‘minor’ adjustments or even ‘minor’ demolition!

Saw

A tenon saw can cut most wood and a junior hacksaw is ideal for metals and plastics. It’s also a good idea to have a Stanley knife to cut or mark anything – from paper to plasterboard.

Pliers

Pliers are great for gripping or bending metal objects and its cutting edges can cut through electric wires. They also make a good spanner for small nuts; a small adjustable spanner is another worthwhile investment.

Measures

A steel rule and a tape measure will measure anything from a few millimetres to a room. The steel rule has the additional benefit of providing a straight edge to guide a trimming knife. It’s also a good idea to get a spirit level for keeping things straight and level.

Drill

A small cordless drill will cover most basic DIY jobs – from hanging a shelf to assembling furniture.

These are the basics you’ll need, but it’s likely that your toolkit will expand over time as you pick up the odd specialist tool to tackle the more adventurous DIY tasks.