When you think of “essential home improvement tools” I bet your cell phone doesn’t rank up there with “hammer” or “screwdriver” but it probably should! I am a firm believer in using a cell phone or smartphone like an iPhone or Blackberry for small and large home improvement jobs. I started using an iPhone last year and I can now honestly say I don’t do much work on my house without it anymore. Most smartphone and cell phones can assist in DIY home improvement projects in a variety of ways, but here are some ways you can use today’s cell phones to help you with projects around the house:
Cell Phone: I’ve also learned to carry my cell phone with me whenever I’m working on projects around the house, especially outside or when I have to climb up on the roof. If I happen to get stuck or I need help or I hurt myself, then I know I don’t have to worry about whether or not someone can hear me yelling. The whole world is just a phone call away. It’s also pretty handy when you’re in the middle of something and you don’t have to run inside to answer the phone if it rings.
Camera: Most smartphones now have a camera built in which is great for taking quick photos of projects that are partially done or parts that need to be replaced and then carrying those photos with you. I have, more than once, taken a photo of a part or situation and then gone to the hardware store to look for that part and made sure they had what I needed before I took things apart. I recently found myself taking pictures of plumbing parts while I was replacing the old shower valves in my bathroom.
I’ve taken photos of serial numbers, part numbers, rusty items and lots of other things around the home and then I just hit my hardware store and pull up my photos to help me figure out what I need for lots of projects. Need to remember a measurement? Take a photo of a ruler or tape measure next to that thing. Instead of sketching out a job site or an area, just take a quick photo or two.
You can also do the reverse while you’re shopping for home improvement items. If you find something you like in a store just snap a picture of it and then come home and look at your picture to see if it would fit or work in your home. My wife and I have been taking photos of lots of items like counter tops and lighting options for our ongoing basement remodeling project.
Text message/Email/Notes: How many times have you walked in to the hardware store and realized that you forgot to bring along a crucial measurement or thought to yourself that you could buy something if you only had one minor detail? I now regularly enter all sorts of measurements and notes into my cell phone (or I at least send myself an email about something) as I come across new problems. Just last week I took 10 minutes out of my day and walked around my house, taking measurements for all the windows in every room of the house. I entered all those measurements into my cell phone. Now if I stumble across a good deal on blinds or curtain rods I can check to see what windows they might fit right on the spot.
Calculator: Almost all cell phones have a calculator built into them now, so it’s easy to quickly run simple measurements like area (height x width) or other calculations that you may need. My math skills aren’t nearly as sharp as they used to be, so having a handy calculator has saved me from making mistakes in materials needed more than once.
Hammer: Only kidding, but there are some days when I’m so tempted to use it for one.
If you have a great story of how you used a cellphone in a home improvement project, I’d love to hear it.
