Introduction

Congratulations! It’s exciting to enter the world of homeownership for the first time. And with that excitement comes possibilities, like buying new curtains, throwing a housewarming party, remodeling the kitchen—the list only seems to grow.

Whether you’re about to move in or have already spent some months getting settled, sit down for a minute and realize one thing: You can’t do everything at once. And if you don’t do some of the boring, sensible stuff now, it may never get done, which could cost you money later. So let this chapter help you cover some basic tasks, like:

• advising people of your new address and phone number
• organizing your records and home so you’ll be able to claim insurance proceeds, tax deductions, and more, and
• making sure your home is safe and secure.

Don’t worry, we’ll take this step by step. And in later chapters, we’ll get into some of the details, like budgeting, maintaining your home, and dealing with neighbors.

Tip: Haven’t moved in yet? Think before you set the date. It’s easiest to do many fix-ups (like painting, or replacing floors) in an empty house.

Next: I. Getting the Word Out: You’ve Moved!

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