The Sims 4 Handiness Skill Guide
There are some skills that every sim will get some of in their life and the sims 4 handiness skill is one of those.
Your sims are going to have to sometimes fix things in their house and they will gain some of this skill if you don’t want to hire a repair person!
What is Handiness Good For?
The Handiness skill has so many uses in the game that you need to know.
With this skill your sims are able to fix anything that breaks inside of their home quicker than before.
They’ll also be able to craft sculptures and even upgrade items around their house!
How to Gain The Sims 4 Handiness Skill
There are three main ways you can earn the handiness skill in The Sims 4. The first way is through handiness skill books that you are able to purchase by clicking on bookcases in the game. You’ll find three handiness books:
- Handiness Vol 1: Try Not To Die!
- Handiness Vol 2: Sparks Are Nature’s Kisses
- Handiness Vol 3: Upgrading The Soul
When you start learning skills through books you want to start reading the first volume until your sim gets bored from knowing all the info, then move onto the next book.
The next way you can earn this skill is by making things on the woodworking table. You can purchase this in the hobbies section of the buy catalog.
You’re able to create sculptures at first but can work your way up to even making a wooden bath tub.
The final way you can earn the handiness skill is by fixing things that break or upgrading items around your sim’s house. You’ll notice things are broken all the time with water coming off sinks or toilets and sparks coming off electronics.
Upgrading items requires you to have upgrade parts, you can purchase these on the computer.
Best Mood to Practice Handiness
Every skill that your sims can gain has an emotion that is connected to it and will help your sims gain the skill more quickly. The best emotion for handiness is focused.
To get your sims to feel focused they can do a few things including playing chess, having mathematical diagrams on the wall or using a telescope.
Best Traits for Handy Sims
Next time you create a sim you should think long and hard about what traits you give your sims. Their traits can have a huge impact on both your sim’s mood and how quickly they are able to gain skills. The best traits for handiness include:
- Genius: Sims that have the genius trait are going to randomly get focused moodlets which is the ideal mood for gaining this skill.
- Cheerful: This is just a great trait to have because cheerful sims will get happy moodlets more often and those can stack with focused ones.
You should also be thinking of what lot traits you give to your sim’s household. The best traits for the lot if you want a sim to gain handiness are:
- Home Studio: Increases the quality of items made with woodworking
- Homey: Increases skill gains for handiness
How to Cheat The Sims 4 Handiness Skill
Cheating skills is for smart people, so of course I want to give you a cheat code for handiness. The code is stats.set_skill_level Major_Handiness 10 which will max out the skill.
If you want a different level of the skill change the 10 to another number like stats.set_skill_level major_handiness 6 to get the sixth level.
Handiness Skill Levels
| Skill Level | Level Rewards |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Your sims can repair items and salvage parts from scrap piles. |
| Level 2 | Your sims can now talk about handiness with other sims. They’ll now be able to purchase upgrade parts and can add new upgrades to toilets, sinks and showers. |
| Level 3 | Sims can now find rare parts when salvaging from scrap piles. |
| Level 4 | Unlocks new upgrades for your sims to do including upgrades on toilets, showers, sinks, and fireplaces. |
| Level 5 | Sims can now use the brag about handiness social interaction with other sims. They can now do upgrades on microwaves and fridges. |
| Level 6 | Sims can now find electronic parts from salvaging from scrap piles. |
| Level 7 | Sims are now faster at doing upgrades. The sim can now add things like Unbreakable to their fridge or self-cleaning to their oven. |
| Level 8 | Sims can now upgrade their TVs, Microscopes and Observatories. |
| Level 9 | Sims can do the highest level of upgrades on all items at this point. This includes things like ECC Ram on Computers or Perfect Inner Workings on the microscope. |
| Level 10 | Sims can now mentor others in handiness, upgrade items faster and get rare upgrade parts more often when salvaging. |
Making Money Through Woodworking
I’m always looking for the best ways to earn an income with skills and the best way to do this with the sims 4 handiness skill is through woodworking. To get started your sim will need a woodworking table which you can get for 750 simoleons.
Once you have this table you’ll be able to start with crafting sculptures like a horse or a knife block, this will take your sim some time but you’ll make your money back with a higher skill.
As you improve your handiness skill you’ll unlock new things your sim can craft including bath tubs, mirrors and tons of cute little sculptures. You can sell these from your sim’s inventory to make some quick money!
Handiness Mentoring
When a sim reaches level 10 of this skill they have the option to start mentoring others. When another sim is doing something like woodworking you can click on them and mentor and they will gain the skill quicker than if they were earning it alone.
If you have Business & Hobbies installed you can also mentor for money, if you’re maxed in the skill you’ll earn 430 simoleons per hour. Just click on a woodworking table and choose mentoring > offer paid handiness mentoring and choose a sim.
You’ll get paid once you cancel the action!
How to Get Upgrade Parts
Upgrade parts are a necessity if you want to make any upgrades to your appliances, plumbing and electronics and there are a few ways you can get them.
The first way is to pay for them by ordering them on the computer. Click on your computer and choose order > purchase upgrade parts and a menu will appear showing all the available parts for purchase and they will be delivered to your sim’s inventory.
The next way you can get upgrade parts is through fishing or digging up dirt piles and breaking rocks. The probability of getting parts this way is random.
The final way is to scavenge for parts in piles that are created when you repair items or choose to salvage for parts on various items like stereos.
Available Upgrades for Handiness
My favourite part about handiness is all the upgrades you can make to various items around your sim’s house. It covers everything from appliances to plumbing and electronics. Here are some of the incredible upgrades you can make:
Plumbing Upgrades
- Bathtub
- Clean Coat: Clean coat equals clean water equals cleaner sims
- Requires 3 Common & 2 Plumbing Upgrade Parts
- Sturdy Faucets: A great way to lower the frequency of breaking
- Requires 3 Common Upgrade Parts
- Self-Cleaning: Never clean the bathtub again after applying a thick layer of anti-grime coating
- Requires 3 Common & 1 Plumbing Upgrade Parts
- Clean Coat: Clean coat equals clean water equals cleaner sims
- Sink
- Auto-Soap Dispenser: Soap-up and wash-up faster under the watchful present of the Auto-Soap dispenser
- 3 Common & 1 Plumbing Upgrade Part
- Sturdy Faucets: A great way to lower the frequency of breaking
- 2 Common Upgrade Parts
- Self-Cleaning: Install the Aqua-Pura self-cleaning faucet attachment and never clean the sink again
- Requires 2 Plumbing & 1 Common Upgrade Part
- Auto-Soap Dispenser: Soap-up and wash-up faster under the watchful present of the Auto-Soap dispenser
- Toilet
- Self-Cleaning: No more cleaning the toilet
- Requires 2 Plumbing & 3 Common Upgrade Parts
- Superior Flush: Reduces how often a toilet will clog
- Requires 2 Common Upgrade Parts
- Add Bidet: Some would claim a bidet is more hygienic
- Add 3 Common & 2 Plumbing Upgrade Parts
- Self-Cleaning: No more cleaning the toilet
Appliance Upgrades
- Fridge
- Reinforced Door: One way to make the fridge break less often
- Requires 4 Common Upgrade Parts
- Fresh maker: Fresher ingredients means better meals
- 2 Common & 3 Kitchen Upgrade Parts
- Fridge of Steel: Like the man, the fridge of steel is unbreakable
- 2 Common & 3 Kitchen Upgrade Parts
- Reinforced Door: One way to make the fridge break less often
- Stove
- Coated Exterior: A dirt resistant coating
- 3 Common Upgrade Parts
- Self-Cleaning: Install a self-cleaning high density heating element and never clean the stove again
- Requires 3 Common & 3 Kitchen Upgrade Parts
- Heat Sensor: With a heat sensor, food should come out higher quality
- 2 Common & 2 Kitchen Upgrade Parts
- Coated Exterior: A dirt resistant coating
- Microwave
- Flavor Enhancer: Improves the taste of food cooked in microwave
- 3 Common & 2 Kitchen Upgrade Parts
- Coated Interior: A coating to help the microwave stay clean
- Requires 3 Common Upgrade Parts
- Self-Cleaning: Install the self-cleaning Splatter Platter and never clean the microwave again
- 2 Common & 2 Kitchen Upgrade Parts
- Flavor Enhancer: Improves the taste of food cooked in microwave
- Coffee Maker
- Self-Cleaning: This upgrade keeps the brewer cleaner longer
- Requires 2 Common & 2 Kitchen Upgrade Parts
- Infuser: For the coffee lovers who want better tasting coffee
- Requires 3 Common & 2 Kitchen Upgrade Parts
- Self-Cleaning: This upgrade keeps the brewer cleaner longer
- Dishwasher
- Make Extra Reliable: While not the most reliable, the extra reliable control panel reduces how often the dishwasher breaks
- Requires 2 Common Upgrade Parts
- Make Run Quieter: Install the silent running water pump and never be disturbed by dishwasher noise again
- Requires 1 Common & 1 Kitchen Upgrade Part
- Increase Cleaning Speed: Replace the factory sprayers with the dual blast spray arms to speed up the wash cycle
- Requires 1 Plumbing & 1 Kitchen Upgrade Part
- Make Unbreakable: Industry-Rated as Indestructible, the unbreakable heater coil delivers on its namesake
- Requires 2 Common & 2 Kitchen Upgrade Parts
- Make Extra Reliable: While not the most reliable, the extra reliable control panel reduces how often the dishwasher breaks
Electronic Upgrades
- Computer
- Better Video Card: Any gamer would love to have an upgraded video card
- 5 Common & 3 Electronic Upgrade Parts
- ECC RAM: ECC RAM or Error Checking and Correction Memory will reduce the chance of the computer breaking
- Requires 5 Common Upgrade Parts
- IP Spoofer: A handy upgrade for those interested in hacking
- Requires 4 Common & 3 Electronic Upgrade Parts
- Better Video Card: Any gamer would love to have an upgraded video card
- Alarm System
- Take That! Shock Upgrade: The alarm will shock the burglar when triggered, forcing them to drop any stolen objects.
- Requires: 3 Electronic & 4 Common Upgrade Parts
- Robust Inner Workings: With robust inner workings comes a reduced likelihood of breaking
- Requires 2 Common Upgrade Parts
- Police Link Security Upgrade: The alarm will automatically call the police when triggered
- 2 Electronic & 3 Common Upgrade Parts
- Take That! Shock Upgrade: The alarm will shock the burglar when triggered, forcing them to drop any stolen objects.
- Stereo
- Better Components: While not the best components, better components reduce how often the stereo will break
- Requires 3 Common Upgrade Parts
- Firaxium Wiring: This revolutionary wiring makes the stereo unbreakable
- 3 Common & 2 Electronic Upgrade Parts
- Super Reception: With better reception, who knows what stations can be picked up?
- 4 Common & 2 Electronic Upgrade Parts
- Better Components: While not the best components, better components reduce how often the stereo will break
- Television
- Super Reception: Who knows what new channels can be seen with enhanced reception
- Requires 2 Electronic & 4 Common Upgrade Parts
- Better Components: Reduces how often the screen will break
- 4 Common Upgrade Parts
- Firaxium Wiring: This revolutionary wiring will make the screen unbreakable
- 3 Common & 3 Electronic Upgrade Parts
- Super Reception: Who knows what new channels can be seen with enhanced reception
Other Upgrades
- Fireplace
- Fireguard: Eliminate accidental fires with the ultra-tempered fireguard finish
- Requires 3 Common & 2 Plumbing Upgrade Parts
- Auto-light: For sims who want the fireplace on when they enter a coom
- Requires 3 Common & 2 Plumbing Upgrade Parts
- Fireguard: Eliminate accidental fires with the ultra-tempered fireguard finish
- Crib/Toddler Bed
- Add Baby Mobile
- Has options to add birds or space themed mobiles
- Convert to Toddler Bed (50)
- Switches a crib to a toddler bed for less money than buying a new toddler bed
- Add Baby Mobile
Making The Sims 4 Handiness Skill Better With DLC
Most of the base game skills are made better when you add DLC, you’ll find new ways to earn the skill and fun ways to sell items that your sim makes.
Discover University
With The Sims 4: Discover University you have three new ways your sims can gain the handiness skill. The first way is by taking the salvaging for handiness elective class when getting a degree in University.
Your sim will gain the skill when they are in class and when they are doing their coursework!
The next way your sims can gain this skill is by heading to campus and sitting in on a skill class. This will cost 250 simoleons and will give your sims a small amount of skill without effort.
The final way is to grab yourself a Research Archive Machine and research Professional vs. DIY Handiwork and your sim will get the handiness skill and the research & debate skill at the same time.
Nifty Knitting
If you want your sims to sell their items in a more interesting way, you can list these items on plopsy. Now, this only works for sculpture sized items that are in your sim’s inventory, not for large furniture pieces.
You’ll need The Sims 4: Nifty Knitting installed in your game and once a sim finishes an item you’ll see it in their inventory. You’ll want to click on this item and choose list on plopsy.
When you do this the item will turn pink with it turning into a plopsy listing. After a while you may get a notification letting you know that someone wants to purchase it.
When this happens the listing will turn blue and you can click it and choose to ship on plopsy and your sim will go to the mailbox and send it off and you’ll get paid.
