Today we’d like to introduce you to Chad Neal.
Hi Chad, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
After my retirement, my two children introduced me to social media. As I watched videos online, I noticed there was A LOT of DIY content. Many of the people I watched were very talented, but most of their videos were designed to show their finished projects rather than teach someone how to do it. There was often an assumption that viewers already owned specialized tools (and knew how to use them).
One day, I came across a video from an electrician who shared that he charged a customer a $75 repair plus a $100 service fee for a job that took him less than ten minutes. It reinforced something I had already been noticing, which was that more and more people were hiring professionals for simple household repairs. It wasn’t that they were unwilling to do the work themselves, but because no one had ever taught them how.
That sparked an idea I had that there was room for someone who could make home maintenance more approachable for the average person by offering simple, practical, step-by-step guidance. I’m not a contractor or licensed tradesperson… I’m just someone who grew up learning how to fix things. I believe those skills are worth passing on.
With the help of my daughter, Grandpa’s Toolkit was born. Together, we create videos that help people build confidence and tackle projects around their homes.
From the beginning, though, I wanted Grandpa’s Toolkit to be about more than the DIY videos that we post. As a grandfather and a man of faith, I also wanted to encourage and uplift people. If someone leaves one of my videos feeling more confident, more capable, and a little more encouraged than when they started, then we’ve accomplished what we set out to do. I am so appreciative of every person who watches and engages with my videos.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like most families, we have busy schedules and unexpected things come up, so finding the time to consistently create new content can be a challenge. Every video requires planning, filming, and editing. We always want to make sure it’s something that will genuinely help people and be relatable.
One of the biggest challenges is deciding what to create next. We constantly ask ourselves: Will this be helpful? Will it be engaging? Can we explain it clearly in just a few minutes? We really want every video to provide practical value.
Another challenge is creating content that applies to a wide audience. For example, we’ve had many requests for appliance maintenance videos. While we’d love to cover every appliance, the reality is that models vary so much that demonstrating a repair or maintenance task on one appliance may not be helpful for someone with a different model. We try to focus on skills and concepts that are as broadly useful as possible, while still responding to what people want and need to learn.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Grandpa’s Toolkit is built on the idea that DIY and home maintenance don’t have to be intimidating. My goal is to provide simple, easy-to-understand guidance for everyday home maintenance and repair in a calm, encouraging way. I want people who view our content to feel like they’re learning from someone who is approachable and genuinely wants them to succeed.
One viewer described the channel as “Mr. Rogers meets This Old House,” and that is pretty high praise.
What sets Grandpa’s Toolkit apart is that it’s about more than fixing things around the house. I think of the people who watch my videos as part of my extended family. I’m not just showing how to complete a project, but I’m really trying to be the kind of grandpa who helps them believe they can do it and reminds them that they’re capable.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
People are often surprised to learn that my favorite part of creating videos isn’t the actual how-to or the teaching, it’s encouraging people. The world can be a discouraging place, and I believe we all need more kindness. That’s why I try to end every video with a word of encouragement, and why I’m passionate about making my “Minute with Grandpa” videos. My hope is that people leave not only knowing how to fix something around the house, but also believing a little more in themselves.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://grandpastoolkit.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grandpas_toolkit
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grandpastoolkit
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@grandpas_toolkit
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@grandpas_toolkit
