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Handiness

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Handiness

A Sim improving their Handiness skill by tinkering with an object

For the similar skill in The Sims and The Sims 2, see Mechanical.

Handiness is a skill in The Sims 3 which replaces Mechanical from The Sims 2 and The Sims Stories. The skill is augmented by the Handy trait. It allows Sims to fix and upgrade objects.

Statistics

  • Objects Repaired
  • Electrical Objects Repaired
  • Plumbing Objects Repaired
  • Objects Upgraded
  • Unique Upgrades Completed
  • Percent of Unique Upgrades Completed
  • Times Electrocuted

Challenges

Electrician
Electricians have repaired at least 10 electrical objects. The experience gained means they will never be electrocuted by an electrical object again.
Plumber
Plumbers have repaired at least 10 plumbing objects. They are so good at repairs that plumbing objects repaired by them never break again.
Tinkerer
Tinkerers have finished at least 10 unique upgrades on household items. Installing the "Unbreakable" upgrade on multiple objects only counts as one unique upgrade, so it helps to experiment with different upgrade options! Tinkerers never fail when upgrading objects.

Abilities

 
An electrocuted Sim
Level Ability Notes
1 Tinker Allows the Sim to tinker with an object to add a random upgrade
3 Upgrade (Self Cleaning) Cleanable objects can be made self-cleaning
4 Upgrade Features

Fireproofing (Stove), Improved Speakers (Stereo), Silent Running (Dishwasher) Improved Jets (Hot Tub)

6 Upgrade (Unbreakable) Objects can be made unbreakable
7 Upgrade TV & Other Seems to unlock most of the remaining upgrades
10 Discount Objects in the Buy and Build Mode are cheaper

Upgrades

Lvl Upgrade Applicable Objects Difficulty Rating Function EP
0 Auto Refill[1] Juice keg   The juice keg no longer needs to be refilled. &EP09
 
1 Foghorn Helm      &EP10
 
2 Tech Level 2 Brain enhancing machine   &EP09
 
3 Auto Fill Water trough     Automatically fills the horse's water trough. &EP05
 
3 Custom Doorbell Sound Door   Changes the sound of the doorbell. &BG
 
3 Improve Speakers[2] Stereo   Increases effect of "Enjoying Music" moodlet by 10. &BG
 
3 Self-Cleaning Plumbing, stove, all-in-one bathroom   This object will clean itself every time it's used. &BG
 
3 Silent Running Cheap dishwasher   Makes the dishwasher run silently. &BG
 
3 Improve Speaker[2] Wall-mounted speaker     &EP06
 
3 Space Travel UFO     Enables the ability to travel to the space with an alien's UFO. &EP08
 
3 Improved Jets Hot tub      Changes the hot tubs' bubbles effect. &EP03
 
3 Upgraded Extinguisher Fire extinguisher      Requires level 5 in Firefighter profession. Sims can extinguish fire faster. The extinguisher color changes from white to orange. &EP02
 
4 Add Speakers Not So Routine Machine Gives Sims a fun boost whenever they use the machine. &Store
 
4 Auto Water Sprinkler   Automatically waters the plants every morning. &BG
 
4 Cosmic Bowling Bowling lane   &EP09
 
4 Fireproof Stove, fireplace    Will never set things on fire. The Fireproof Homestead lifetime reward makes this upgrade useless in the active household. &BG
 
4 Engine Speed Helm      Increases the speed of the houseboat. &EP10
 
4 Improve Fire Alarm Fire alarm      Requires to be in Firefighter profession. The alarm responds faster to firefighting emergencies. &EP02
 
4 Laser Cannons UFO        Gives the ability to invade community lots with an alien's UFO. &EP08
 
5 Improved Pressing Nectar maker     Adds an extra one bottle of nectar on each production. &EP01
 
5 Never Loses Dartboard      Hacks the dartboard, allowing the Sim that hacked it to always win. &EP03
 
6 Improved Crushing Trash compactor     Allows Sims to store more trash. &BG
 
6 More Efficient Solar panel, windmill     Bills are reduced by 3% (Solar Panel) and 6% (Windmill) instead of 2% and 4%. &Store
 
6 Unbreakable Electronics, plumbing, etc.[3]     This object will never break. &BG
 
6 Clean Polymer Injection System Washing machine      Makes the Fresh Clothing moodlet last longer. &EP02
 
6 Inkinization 2.0 Expensive tattoo chair      Always gives good result when using the device. &EP02
 
6 Look-Good Mirrors Styling station      Customers will be more likely to be satisfied with their makeovers. &EP02
 
7 Tech Level 3 Brain enhancing machine   &EP09
 
7 Auto Light Cheap fireplace     The fire turns itself on whenever Sim walks into the room. &BG
 
7 Boost Channel Cheap TV     Unlocks advance channels which are not available in cheap televisions. With higher skills, more channels can be unlocked. &BG
 
7 Faster Cooking Microwave     Sims cook food with microwave faster. &BG
 
7 Improve Meal Quality Stove     Increases the quality of cooked meals. &BG
 
7 Perfect Teleportation Teleporter     Disables the possibility that Teleporter fails. &BG
 
7 Always Good Fortune Fortune cookie maker      Always gives Sims the positive moodlet from the fortune cookies. However, with this upgrade, Sims with Loser trait or "Unlucky" moodlet will always get bad fortune. &EP01
 
7 Autopilot Helm      Enables autopilot mode to the houseboat. &EP10
 
7 Glow Umbrella      Enables the umbrella to glow when used. &EP08
 
8 Teleport Anywhere Not So Routine Machine Enables Sims to teleport anywhere with the machine. &Store
 
8 Inertial Stabilizer PlasmaPunch Gyroscopic Conductor     Sims will never get nauseous again. &EP06
 
8 Singing Synthesizer Karaoke machine     &EP06
 
8 Improved Graphics Computer, holo computer      Sims gain more fun playing with computers. Technophobe Sims cannot do this upgrade. &BG
 
8 Wire House with Speakers Stereo      "Enjoying Music" moodlet follows all around the house. The stereo interrupts sleep throughout the house instead of just nearby rooms. &BG
 
9 Flavor Enhancement Nectar maker     Increases nectar flavor by 15%. &EP01
 
9 Change Fire Color Cheap fireplace       The player can choose between blue, purple, green and normal for the fire color. &BG
 
9 Improved Memory Food replicator       Every subsequently stored meal will have 20 copies available instead of the regular 10. &BG
 
10 Dimensional Gate PlasmaPunch Gyroscopic Conductor     Creates a dimensional gate when the PlasmaPunch Gyroscopic Conductor is used. &EP06
 

Opportunities

Settle an Argument
Reward: Cash
Location: Specified Sim
Description: [Sim] is a bit peeved with modern technology, and has taken the opinion that it's unreliable and breaks too often. Have a chat with [Sim] and provide a convincing argument about the greatness of modern technology. You'll earn a little money and improve your relationship with [Sim] for settling the disagreement.
Bring Back the Jams
Goal: Upgrade the Stereo and return it to [Random Sim]
Reward: Cash
Location: Specified Sim
Description: A Stereo belonging to [Sim] is barely pumping out tunes like it used to, and it's making [Sim] look really uncool. [Sim] will leave the stereo with you (in the family inventory) to Upgrade. Once you're finished, bring it back and [Sim] will pay you for the work.
Broken Laptop
Goal: Repair the Laptop and return it to [Random Sim]
Reward: Cash
Location: Specified Sim
Bad Reception
Goal: Repair the TV and return it to [Random Sim]
Reward: Cash
Description: [Sim] has a TV that's busted and there's nobody around to fix it. Take the TV set (It will be placed in your family inventory.) and whack it a few times to see if you can't get it working again. [Sim] will pay you for the repair work.
Not Music, Not Fun
Goal: Repair the Stereo and return it to [Random Sim]
Reward: Cash
Location: Specified Sim

Glitches

Unbreakable and Perfect Teleportation

The player can give both Unbreakable and Perfect upgrades to the same Teleporter by taking advantage of a glitch by completing the Perfect Teleportation upgrade first, then starting a new upgrade for Unbreakable, and canceling it after only some work is done.

Gallery

  •  

    Unclogging the toilet helps with the Handiness skill.

References

  1. ↑ Sims need to at least learn Handiness once and fill up the skill bar just partially, not necessarily earn 1 level, in order to allow them upgrade the juice keg.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Improve Speaker" on wall-mounted speaker counts as a different upgrade from the "Improve Speakers" on stereo.
  3. ↑ Jukebox and PlasmaPunch Gyroscopic Conductor requires level 1 and 5 Handiness for "Unbreakable" upgrade, respectively.
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