As a Home Stager & Interior Redesigner, I carry a number of tools in my Re$ale Design tool bag. Here is a list of my personal favorites:
- One 16 foot FatMax retractable tape measure by Stanley
- One 25 foot retractable tape measure
- One small carpenter's level with attached magnetic strip
- One FatMax Laser Level kit
- One medium weight claw hammer
- One light weight ball-peen hammer
- Two needle nose pliers
- One slip-joint plier
- Makita 12V Cordless drill with light and a variety of bits - slotted & phillips -all sizes
- Two batteries for above
- Battery charger
- Stud finder
- Hot-Glue guns and lots of sticks for each -both low and high temperature
- Staple gun- Black & Decker Power Shot & staples
- 2 Flashlights - 1 small maglite and 1 large maglite
- 409 or some type of cleaner & rags
- Not technically a tool but more a life necessity - Duct Tape
- Slider pads for moving furniture
- A lifter for getting the pads under the legs
- Extra tiny screws & something to put them in with
- Emery board
- Small bar of soap for squeaky drawers
- Removable mounting squares
- Toilet paper
- Krud Kutter
- Magic Erasers
- 3M wall hooks
- Masking tape
- Hot glue gun and lots of glue sticks
- Thumb tacks and push pins
- Rubber bands or vinyl (or the allergic ones like me)
- Crazy Glue
- Zots
- Zip lock bags
- Windex or pop up glass wipes
- Quake Hold
- Scissors - large and small
- Tape gun
- Bubble wrap
- Wasp spray
- Granite magic
- Stainless steel magic
- Bed risers
- Dry wall hooks - i.e. Hercules Hooks or a similar product
- Felt pads for under wooden furniture legs
- Steamer or iron & board
- Brown, white, black & tan extension cords
- Microfiber cloths
- Adapter for 3 prong to 2 prong outlet
- Sewing machine needles (leave only tiny hole)
- Febreeze
- Light bulbs
- Brown & black permanent markers
- Vacuum & cordless vacuum
- Goo Gone or my new favorite - Pure Citrus Air Freshener for removing labels and black marks on vinyl floors
Now, what's in your tool bag?
Kathleen and Allison Lordbock
Re$ale Design & Home Staging
~changing the way homes are sold in the Brainerd Lakes~
Welcome from the Brainerd Lakes - where outdoor and indoor recreational opportunites abound. Looking to buy on one of our many lakes? Ready to move up or down? Having trouble selling your home? Falling behind on payments or already in the foreclosure process? I am a Certified Short Sale Specialist as well as a Home Staging Expert.
Call me!
Kathleen, I like your list and would say that you could eliminate the Febreeze since the Pure Citrus gives a lovely scent to any space -- and it's 100% natural and safe for people, pets, etc. Glad to see you posted this in the Newbies Group too.
Kathleen, this is a very complete list. The only thing that I can add without a trip to the van to look through my stash is a step-stool or small ladder. Neither will fit into the tool box but I use mine at every job.
Great list! I find Krud Kutter, available at Home Depot, to be a very effective cleaner, and it doesn't seem to have any negative effects on paint.
Whoops I forgot two very important item...for ME, TP because you just never know what might be missing from the house. (-:
My work apron with large pockets for important items...keeps me from leaving things laying around and having to find them when I need them The items that I use repeatedly are in the apron.
TP is always in my bag! Also: magic erasers, masking tape (also good to wrap around the end of your meassuring tapes so they don't scratch wood floors or walls), nails, hammer, 3M wall hooks, cement hooks (for hanging on cinder block walls), & of course, my iPhone! Great for music as well ;-)
Maureen - The one problem that I have found with the Pure Citrus is that on a hard surface flooor - it will make it a bit slippery.
Aloha Ginger - Yes TP is a necessity - I will add it up above.
Kathi - I will add it to my bag.
Connie - I do use the magic eraser but sadly have no iPhone.
Kathleen: your list is very comprehensive! My favorite tool is my hot glue gun. It has been a quick fix to a fallen hem and a broken frame! I always carry lots of extra glue sticks!
Thanks for the complete list, I thought I had everything, but not compared to your tool bag, off to the store for me.
Joyce
Add thumb tacks and rubber bands please for a pretty complete list.
Don't you guys use that blue tacky gummy stuff for keeping pictures straight? I can NEVER remember the name, but they sell it specifically for flattening into a little ball on the corner of pictures? I don't leave home without it.
~Michelle
I use the clear tacky gummy stuff called Zots. It does the trick when wanting to ensure a ribbon lies flat, etc..
Crazy Glue as it dries faster than glue sticks (smile).
Windex is a must-have as is wire hanger.
Another handy item is little plastic bags as they can be used to keep things together when de-staging. For example, shower curtain hooks; napkin rings, etc..
Harps used for some lamps is also a good item for the tool box as is extra fennels.
Kathy
Sharpie's for labeling and filling in scuff marks on black picture frames ect
Also a tape gun with extra rolls of tape, handy for taping area rugs, bubble wrap around furniture for de-staging. I'm always mad when I forget it!!
I need one of those furniture lifters...thanks for reminding me!!
Lisa
Kathleen,
Being prepared not only to assist, but to show your experience and ability to adapt quickly makes you a top professional......thanks for sharing.
Kathy N. or anyone -
"Windex is a must-have as is wire hanger.".
I am not familiar with this - can you explain?
Scissors(full size), box cutter, cuticle scissors, Quake hold (to hold the pictures in place once they are level), Granite Magic & Stainless Steel Magic for making those surfaces look great, 2 strong good looking men, and a sense of humor. Don't leave home without it!
Kathleen, you might want to consider wasp spray. Vacant homes tend to become breeding grounds for them, and other bugs.
I am so glad I read your list. I forgot to put an extra extention cord in my car. I needed one more today than I had today at the home I staged. Great, complete list!! Thank you!
Hercules Hooks for hanging large pieces of art were life savers for Margo and I. They are so easy to use and don't leave a big hole when they are removed. Love your list. Betty
Great list - thanks for sharing. I've got some shopping to do! You must have a big tool box to be able to fit an "iron and board" in there LOL. I too want to know what the "wire hanger" is for. It's not obvious to me why its a must have.
Kathleen, I love your list, lots of things that I had not thought about.. Thanks for sharing. God bless,
Kristina - a handy glue gun can do wonders.
Joyce - I add to my tool bag(s) all the time!
Terrylynn - Put them in my bag - thanks for the add.
Michell Molinari - If you come up with the name - comment and I will add it in.
Kathleen, I'd bet that this is what Michelle is referring to. I did a blog about it LONG ago. It's generally know for holding up posters in classrooms because it won't damage the walls, but I call it sticky putty. All of my clients know me for my putty. And if it's not in my toolbox it's a mistake. (-:
Yes -- use the putty and not Zots when making pictures hang straight -- I learned this the hard way when I discovered that Zots takes the wall paint off when you remove it!!