5 Home Repair Skills Students Should Learn Before Renting a Place

The thrill of renting your first apartment as a student can be great, but it comes with its fair share of responsibility. Major repairs are commonly taken care of by landlords, but you may have to do minor maintenance. This is why you need to have some basic house repair skills ahead of time to avoid wasting money and time and save yourself a lot of stress. Here are five essential home repair tips any student needs to know before renting an apartment.

Basic Plumbing Fixes

You will always encounter dripping faucets, overflowing sinks, or little toilet issues in a rental home. Learn how to fix the plumbing yourself and avoid having to call a plumber for minor issues. Understand how to unclog a drain, how to change a faucet, and how to use a plunger properly. These skills are fairly simple, but they’ll save you much time and lots of money. Baking soda and vinegar for drain declogging, for example, is environmentally friendly and effective. It also does not require you to be a plumber.

Patching Holes in Walls

Pictures or hanging shelves can leave wall holes. Most landlords will fund the repairs from your deposit if your walls are damaged, so knowing how to patch small holes is essential. Any small holes can be quickly repaired using a spackle and a putty knife. The drywall patch kit might be needed for larger holes. Don’t forget to use sandpaper to finish it off after the patching. It’s a technique that may sound hard, but after some practice, you’ll get all those marks right out. Furthermore, this also preserves the property, and when you are ready to leave it, you will receive your deposit back in full.

Electrical Basics: Changing Light Bulbs and Fixing Switches

The idea of electrical trouble may sound scary, but there are a few simple electrical repair tasks you can do safely by yourself. Switching out a lightbulb is no secret, but if a light switch or outlet won’t switch on, you might not need an electrician.

The answer is sometimes as simple as turning the breaker in your apartment’s electric panel. It’s not that difficult to know how to change a switch plate or replace a fuse, and it can save you time and money. Make sure you switch off the power before working on electrical components and never try to do complicated electrical fixes yourself. If you are unsure, you’d better make an appointment with a professional.

Mastering the Use of Basic Tools

Every first-time student-renter should have a starter toolkit and know how to use it. From hanging artwork to building furniture, you’ll use some basic tools often. A toolkit should, at minimum, contain the following items:

• Screwdrivers: Both flathead and Phillips.
• Hammer: Useful for small repairs or hanging decor.
• Tape measure: Essential for ensuring furniture fits properly.
• Utility knife: Handy for opening boxes or cutting materials.
• Pliers: Needed for gripping and turning objects.

If you have access to these tools and learn how to work with them, you’ll make your life as a renter so much easier.

HVAC Maintenance: Cleaning Filters and Vents

To maintain the heating and air conditioning in your apartment, you need to do a little routine cleaning. The most common job is cleaning the filters and vents in your HVAC or AC unit. Dust and debris can accumulate and make these systems run worse and be more energy-demanding.

A simple sweep of the vents and routine filter changes/cleaning will maintain good air quality and reduce utility costs. Doing this small routine maintenance will help you maintain your apartment and spare you from potential breakdowns. That said, major HVAC repairs should always be the responsibility of professionals.

If you are a student busy with both home repairs and your essays, you can get professional help with both. Go ahead and ask UKWritings to complete your assignment, and you will have more time to handle the repairs. Whether you decide to do them yourself or hire a helper, you will have one less stressor to worry about.

Summing Up

Renting an apartment as a student is an incredible leap toward independence, but the responsibility for minor repairs and upkeep can be new and unwelcome. But if you’ve learned simple things such as plumbing, wall patching, basic electricity and bought essential tools, you’re prepared to tackle little problems as they come up. This will not only save you money but will help you survive your renter’s life. Get into the habit of learning these home repair tricks, and you’ll feel much more comfortable and competent.