A comprehensive guide to protecting--and increasing-- home investment value The latest in the hugely popular Tips and Traps series, Tips and Traps for New Home Owners contains all the information you need to move in, financially operate, and successfully maintain your first home. From financial record keeping and obtaining insurance to surviving the move-in and ensuring home value, real estate expert Robert Irwin provides practical, real-world advice that: Shows ways to maximize investment expenditures, including minimizing taxes, timing refinancing, and more Outlines ways to avoid home ownership pratfalls, from a thorough premove checklist to an annual maintenance schedule Offers expert guidance in home improvement and modernizing for every part of the house Explains how to evaluate a home's current value and future price