Toolbox for 2000
Prepared to Fix the 21st Century Home

(ARA) - Home technology is going space age so fast it’s scary. TV’s hang from the wall and can be paused while you surf the web from the couch. Ovens can cook with light and refrigerators come with computers that will order your groceries. Pretty soon we won’t have to lift a finger.

But no matter how hi-tech life becomes, newlyweds are still going to be faced with the same age-old problems around the home.

Even in the new millennium, pipes will leak, gutters will need fixing and there will always be yard work. But by being prepared with a handful of timeless tools and some centuries old know-how, you can save yourself one 21st century headache.

Most homeowners make the mistake of thinking if they can handle a few fix ups around the home. But if it’s high-tech, chances are it’s high-maintenance.

Before you go poking around in the wiring of many of the gadgets we’re being persuaded to install in our homes, think again. Some jobs need a specialist.

Get one to tackle the techie problems and save money when you handle the more routine repairs yourself.

Once you decide which repairs to do yourself, get some expert advice to save you time on the job.

Here’s where you can make technology work for you – by checking out some of the dozens of websites that show you the professional’s shortcuts to just about any repair job you could name, the job will be done in half the time.

Among the recommended sites are www.todayshomeowner.com – an online version of the popular magazine – that includes quick-fix tips as well as in-depth stories, www.americantool.com, which can help you choose just the right tool for the job, and www.homedepot.com, the mega-hardware store’s site, has tips for a wide variety of projects.

The right tool is important, but you don’t need to spend a fortune on the latest flashy model.

Get your hands on one or two trusty traditionals and you’ll be set. A pair of vise-grip locking pliers (shown) should be top of your list. They’ve been around for years and one pair will last a lifetime. Pick up a seven inch and a large jaw 12-inch and you’ll have every stubborn bolt and plumbing fixture in the home covered.

Other essentials should include the obvious tape measure, a handful of screwdrivers – Phillips and straight head – a good craft knife and when all else fails, strong multi-purpose glue.

In addition, it is worth spending a couple of extra bucks, however, to take advantage of tools that will take the pain out of home repair. Tool design has come a long way in the last 10 years.

Lightweight handsaws combine a handle designed to minimize wrist strain with super light materials that take the pain out of repeated use. Even drill bits are now designed to save time and effort, with one bit tackling a whole bunch of materials including wood, metal, tile and marble. A little careful selection will go a long way.

The best way to take advantage of the future, and all of its technological advances, is to keep it in perspective.

Sure, get the toys and gadgets that make your new home fun, but remember when you’re tempted by that automated lawn mower or some other hi-tech home help, there’s also a lot to be said for do-it-yourself.