Tranter Banter

Sometimes the joy of home ownership can become very challenging. Home repairs and home improvements can be a big problem. Well, several apps now exist to make life easier and get the tasks accomplished much faster.

     1. The Home Depot app allows you to research and purchase over 100,000 products directly from your phone. You can purchase research and purchase from appliances to kitchen to paint to tools and hardware and even doors and windows. This app will help you find the nearest store and even provides in-store maps. You can create lists and even perform account activities. The app is available for iphone and Android and is free.

     2. ihandy Level. One of 5 tools in the ihandy carpenter app, including the very popular ihandy flashlight. This digital level makes it so easy to hang a shelf or a picture and get it right the first time. No need to keep banging nails into the wall. Available for iphone and Android. Cost is free.

     3. WikiHow for Android (Free) and WikiHow How To and DIY Survival Guide for iphone. “Instructions for Everything” with other 120,000 how to articles, with categories ranging from Computers to Health and Travel and home repair, you are bound to find the answers you need. Free App.

     4. Handy Man DIY. Home improvement starts from the ground up with the ability to categorize products and estimate costs. Includes materials, notes, measurements and so much more. Includes step-by-step tutorials. Rated 4+. Cost $1.99 for iphone.

     5. Handyman Sidekick available for iphone has a paint calculator, flooring calculator, wallpaper calculator and garden calculator. The application will save you time and money on all your improvement projects. Designed with simplicity and functionality in mind. Cost $1.99.

There are a number of apps available for matching paint and helping you to choose color palettes for painting. Unfortunately the apps I found claiming these features have received very poor ratings and reviews from actual users. I would suggest that before you spend any money on purchasing apps for these types of projects that you investigate a little further. I’d love to hear your experiences with handyman apps.