Eleven months ago we closed on our first home. Ten months ago we moved in to our work-in-progress from the tent in the backyard. The time has flown by at record speed and we can't quite believe that last April we didn't know the difference between a reciprocal and a miter saw. Older and wiser now (chuckle chuckle, snort snort), we're often asked what items make good "fixer-upper" housewarming gifts. Our list below the jump:
We're going for practical here. We have to admit, when one friend showed up with a roll of butcher paper and a 10-pack of painter's tape, we swore it was the most beautiful gift we had ever seen...
Home Improvement 1-2-3: Expert Advice from the Home Depot (aka our Bible)
a good quality respirator
leather work gloves
safety glasses
a plybar (invaluable...really.)
shop vac!!!!
contractor trash bags (don't laugh, we ALWAYS ran out and ALWAYS needed more)
a digital camera to document the process (if you feel like dropping some dough on a gift)
a fantastic mix tape or cd 'cause the radio gets old real fast
a bottle of whiskey (or wine or beer or...you get the idea)
Any more suggestions?
yeah, I noticed the Tecate in the first picture. Cold beer ALWAYS makes a nice gift...
view Imblebee's profile
coupons/gift cards for local carry out places especially if the kitchen is involved...(arranged in a basket with menus and nice quality disposable (or plastic) dishes and wine and corkscrew)
spa/massage gift certificates or gift baskets.
view Enamorada's profile
Plybar definitely. The bigger the better.
Also if you were looking to drop some coin, a good quality 1/2" cordless drill. I spent a couple hundred on a DeWalt a couple years ago and have used it constantly.
view dollarvines's profile
I like to give a gift box of various little gift certificates that they might need for their projects ... Home depot, Target, whatever as well as one for pizza and a case of beer and a little note with my number to call if they need an extra pair of hands.
view ridge_van_winkle's profile
Totally second the shop vac recommendation. My husband insisted we get one and I thought it was going to be a waste of money ... but it has been a real workhorse. We've also used our sander a lot too.
view roundabout's profile
I had a "before" party for my fixer-upper for people who wanted to see it before I started the renovations. I wasn't expecting gifts but people brought stuff that I've come to rely one. One person brought a big plastic bucket packed with assorted screws, pencils, cleaning supplies, plastic gloves and masking tape. I've used everything, even the bucket to stand on when the ladder is in the other room.
view MiklakMiklak's profile
Shop vac is a must. Helps keep life sane. My friend bought me a toolbelt sized for women - shorter pockets and I could actually tighten it enough to fit me. Super handy for jobs like tiling where you need ready access to hundreds of little spacers in addition to your tools.
view LauraII's profile