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Step 1
Start with a few slotted screwdrivers. These are the general all around screwdrivers with a tip that looks like a bar at the end. They come in countless lengths, sizes and price ranges. Choose 3 or 4 from the mid-range sizes. You can get sets but avoid those with too many really huge or tiny ones which you'll almost never need.
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Step 2
Buy 2 or 3 mid-range-sized Phillips screwdrivers. These screwdrivers have a star shape at the tip. Choose a small, medium and large out of the middle range.
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Step 3
Buy a magnetic stud finder. They're cheaper than the electronic ones and they take a few moments longer to work but they are pretty accurate. It shifts when it finds a nail which tells you there's a stud. This will save you from making a ton of nail holes and is well worth the small investment.
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Step 4
A nail punch that's used for pushing nails below the surface of the wood you're nailing it into is also a good investment. Otherwise you'll use a hammer and dent the wood up doing so. This is also an inexpensive item that is worth the purchase. Anytime you have to nail something together when you want to have a smooth surface, you'll need this little gadget.
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Step 5
Keep your tools together. A peg board in a shed where you can outline your tools is the best way to notice when something isn't in place. A tool kit with drawers that are labeled is also a good thing. Make sure to always keep your tools and work area clean so that you can find what you need when you want it.
