The Harbor Freight Tools New Homeowners Should Consider Buying, According To Reviews

So you bought a house — congratulations! This is an exciting time of saying goodbye to renting and hello to the next chapter of your life. Of course, it can also be an overwhelming time. The list of essentials you need if you're a first-time homeowner can seem to grow by the day, and it can be tough to figure out what you'll actually put to good use in the years ahead.

To help you sort it out, we headed to the reviews of some potential must-have gadgets offered by Harbor Freight. The tool retailer is a one-stop shop for all the stuff you'll need as you get settled in your new place, whether you're tackling a DIY project, trying to avoid common artwork hanging mistakes, or figuring out how to manage your brand-new backyard.

Why the review section? It's a great place to get the real talk from longtime homeowners who've seen it all, and who know their way around a toolbox. They're honest about whether the tool is actually something that comes in handy around the house, and if it's priced fairly. We took their advice on what's a hit and what's a miss, and made you a list of the tools every homeowner should consider for their new place.

This one is first on our list for good reason — everyone from a total newbie homeowner to a seasoned DIY expert needs a solid set of tools. And according to reviewers, the Pittsburgh Tool Set with Case fits the bill for both groups (plus everyone in between). It's got just about everything you need for any small repair around the home, and comes complete with a case that makes it easy to sort and find each tool. Tons of reviewers noted that since it was such a dependable, comprehensive set at a solid price point, it's their go-to gift for all the new homeowners (or even renters) in their lives.

Reviewers are pretty unanimous in agreeing that a fire extinguisher is an essential item to keep around the house — after all, there's no more landlord-provided hallway extinguishers once you move into your own place. They're grateful that the First Alert Fire Extinguisher, which checks in at just under $25, is affordable enough to keep a couple around where you need them most (like the kitchen and garage). Grab a couple and cross your fingers that it never goes to use — but if it does, reviewers love that you're keeping these for years before you have to replace.

Hitting a water pipe while hanging a shelf isn't your landlord's problem once you're a homeowner. In other words, take a few extra seconds to use a stud finder before you start hammering into the walls of your new space. The Franklin Sensors ProSensor M150 Stud Finder isn't the absolute cheapest product on the market. But reviewers promise the extra couple of dollars is well worth it, since unlike competitors, it's "dead on" at finding both studs and electrical wiring, and is easy to use even for beginners.

New house, new lawn. Time to find a new way to manage that grass! And Harbor Freight reviewers say the Atlas Brushless Cordless Self-Propelled Lawn Mower is that new way. The biggest reaction in the comments was surprise — surprise at how powerful it was for an electric machine, surprise at how actually quiet it is, and "pleasantly surprised at how smooth it cuts." Maybe it's time to see what the surprise is all about.

The term 'leaf blower' is a bit of a misnomer. Sure, this thing will blast leaves off the driveway or patio, but it's really a multipurpose product that can clean your gutters, sweep out the garage, or drive the debris out of your car. So which one should you get? Harbor Freight reviewers swear by the Bauer Electric Jet Fan Blower, despite the fact that it's got a cord. They say its power can't be beat (even labeling it a "post-apocalyptic version of the classic Call of Duty World at War Zombies Thunder Gun"). Ready to say a thunderous goodbye to debris? This is your pal.

If you're in a climate with even a small possibility of snow, don't forget to stock up on a shovel or two (plus your other snowstorm essentials) before winter hits. The One Stop Gardens Aluminum Scoop Shovel with D-Handle is a favorite among the Harbor Freight reviewers. They love that it works all year round for you — doing jobs like scooping gravel or clearing leaves — but that thanks to a heavy-duty aluminum blade and fiberglass handle that won't crack in the cold, it also holds up well for shoveling snow and scraping ice.

Meeting the new neighbors is a fun part of moving in. Meeting the new weeds? Not quite as exciting. Get ahead of the game and eliminate them with a weed eater right off the bat. According to Harbor Freight reviewers, the Atlas Brushless Cordless String Trimmer is your best bet. One commenter bought one because they borrowed their neighbor's and just had to have their own; several called it powerful and surprisingly long-lasting.

It's worth it to splurge on a quality cordless drill as a new homeowner. You'll use it early on, as you set up your new space, but also for little projects around the house in the years to come. And good news — reviewers agree that at just over $50, the Bauer 20V Cordless Drill/Driver Kit is hardly a splurge for the value it provides. One notes that it's "inexpensive but not cheaply made," and others say that five years or more in, it's still serving them all the time.

Once you've got the cordless drill, you can't forget the drill bits to go with it. A good drill bit set will make sure you've got the right size and shape to dig into any product or material around your new house. So which one is a good one? Reviewers have given their stars to the Bauer Titanium High-Speed Steel Index Drill Bit Set. They praise the ultra durability and the wide variety of drill bits in such an affordable set.

A utility knife is going to be a new homeowner's best friend in those early days, as you cut open moving boxes and break them down again. But reviewers contend that the Gordon Folding Lock-Back Utility Knife is going to be, well, utilized long after you're done settling in. They praise this one for being in it for the long haul, thanks to being super sturdy, having an easy-to-use folding apparatus, and blades that can be switched in and out quickly. Plus, the great price point is a happy bonus.

Do yourself a favor and spring for the Franklin 2-Step Steel Stool instead of risking life and limb just to change a lightbulb or measure the cabinets in your new home. Or, as one reviewer more simply put it, "Just get it." Others loved that the step stool is both lightweight and sturdy. It's also ideal for new homeowners moving into compact places — commenters agreed this one collapses well into a slim, easy-to-store stool.

Once you've got both indoor and outdoor messes to clean up — think leaves on the patio, carpet spills, sawdust from DIY home projects, and everything in between — you'll be grateful to have one efficient tool that can do it all. Reviewers raved about the affordable price point on Harbor Freight's Bauer Wet/Dry Vacuum, and many appreciated how light and truly portable it was. As one cheeky commenter put it, "This thing sucks." Of course, they added, that's exactly what it is supposed to do — so they were a satisfied buyer.