A multi-meter is a must have for any homeowner that wants to be able to test and diagnose issues with almost anything that uses power. If you have never used a multi-meter before, it can be very intimidating and confusing on how to use one. Multimeters can range in price from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars. The majority of the time the average homeowner will use a multimeter to test for continuity and sometimes for voltage and amperage. Aside from that any additional settings or features will probably never be used, so an entry level meter is all you really need.
The video below will walk you through all the basics that you will need to know. If any of the topics covered in the video need further explanation, or if you have a different looking multi-meter, head over to YouTube as you will find a large amount of easy to follow videos diving deeper into each topic and almost every brand of multi-meter.